At nine my little doings are begun

I have just realised how close I came to breaking the time limit, and I apologise profusely. I should imagine you were getting quite worried. "Where is darling Adam’s blog post?" you must have been moaning in a pool of tears. "I do so miss his wonderful words." Well, you need no longer fear, for I am wholly and utterly here. React to this fact however you see fit (leap about with joy, smile distractedly, sigh with annoyance, stop reading in violent anger, etc.).

My life is dismantling around me. Boxes tower cheerlessly, figures smiling inanely from their sheer cardboard faces, whilst secretly sneering at me as they withhold my most precious and bliss-inducing items. But I must not complain, for two very good reasons:

1. This is extremely temporary, and I will be unpacking in a new room in just a few days.
2. I have already told you all about this, Reese, and I do not wish to bore you.

I have also just realised that my tea is cold. Damn and custard.

I'm glad to know that more people are reading this than just me and Reese. In my last post I asked you all to leave a comment, which turned out to be a foolish thing for me to do since the settings were such that only people with certain accounts could comment. It is now set so that anybody can leave a comment, so please feel uninhabited to do so.

On that note, Reese recently emailed John and/or Hank about this glorious project, so there is a good chance that they're reading this as well. If this is the case, please accept a special personal invitation from me to leave a comment below. It really would exhilarate both of us.

As a little treat today I'm including in this post a picture of me dressed as Captain Hook on the occasion of my seventh birthday:


















Unfortunately I couldn't find a full-length one of me (those ones are the best, really, since I had an excellent coat which went with the outfit), but that one will suffice. As another bonus, and to make up for the lack of a full outfit, here’s another one of me when I was a lot younger:


















Yes, I know. I was adorable (I still am, of course).



QUESTION 5:

What do/would you do when something or someone you've been earnestly supporting loses or fails at what they or he/she/it are/is trying to achieve? What do/would you do when they or he/she/it do/does achieve their or his/hers/its goal(s)? Be specific, if possible.

Well, that's an interesting question, because it has an interesting answer.

It really depends upon how I learn about the news. If I'm watching an awards ceremony and someone whom I greatly admire and adore fails to attain a particular award, I usually go bananas. My throat is normally sore five minutes later because of my shouting. This is, of course, due to the tension which builds up during a ceremony like this. If, however, I hear about it on the radio, in a newspaper, by word of mouth, or on the internet, I am much calmer. I'm dying inside, you understand, but I am calm about it. Slight shouting, but overall very composed. General grumpiness will often ensue.

If someone whom I greatly admire and adore succeeds at something, it is the same case, but for different reasons. I will shout at the television, but in joy. I will calmly accept the news, but I will smile. I will then proceed to skip about in a bubble of euphoria.


It's now time for . . .





Well, today on Interesting Picture Time, we have this little treat for you:














Yes, your eyes are fine. That is indeed sheep made from old telephones. What is the artist trying to say here, do you think?


QUESTION 6:
Apart from Emma Thompson, who is your favourite actor/actress, and why?

Yes, I know; simple, basic, shallow question. But it's what I want to ask, so there.

My favourite actor – or, more specifically, the actor I hold in the highest regard – is a man named Jeremy Brett. He was quite simply magnificent, and there will never again exist an actor with his level of skill and charisma (though many can come close).


















Jeremy Brett's Wikipedia page



There's nothing much more to say than that. I'm sure you'll find much more to say about your chosen actor/actress than I have done.

Reese, I am awed by your Perfect Day, and only wish that I was with you in your hypothetical world.


Well, what a melancholy occasion this is. Time, like a thief in the night, has smashed our near-side window, and stolen thence the stereo from our dashboard therein. Wiping a sad, soft, salt tear from my crimsoning cheek, I bid you, dear reading several, a disastrously gentle and gently horrified farewell, in anticipation of our future encounter on the highway of time. (Oh shut up, Adam. Where do you get off on that sort of language? Hmm? "The highway of time"? Really? Jesus . . .)

♥ always, Adam.

P.S. Congratulations go to Patti Lupwn for winning the Tony Award.
P.P.S. The title of this blog is from an E. B. White poem, by the way.
P.P.P.S. Take the pumpkin!

Before I die of either excitement or grief...

Salve! Scisne Latine? I sure don't.

I do hope we've gained more readers over the course of this blog correspondence. I've been finding it very informative and quite enjoyable and hope that you, dear reader, think likewise. I still cannot fully grasp what it is we're doing here and how in the world we came to be. We seem to go through life believing that things will never just fall into our laps, that all things, good or bad, must be fought for and attained for ourselves. Yes, it is wonderful to have something amazing result from persistent and difficult dedication, but do we not all dream to have it simply and willingly given to us without having to be indebted in one way or another?
This, my friend, is what we have right here.

I met Adam on the Nerdfighter Ning's new member's page by chance (links to our pages in the right sidebar--I've always wanted to say that). I must admit that, when I find myself with no good films or videos to watch or books to read, I go onto other Nerdfighters' profiles and listen to music, look at pictures, read the "About Me" sections, etc... This day, however, I had decided to say, "Hello!" and "Welcome!" to any new members that I found. I picked at random and found Adam. We soon began leaving each other extremely lengthy (and absolutely fantastic) comments and becoming great friends. Ultimately, we decided to channel our loves for writing too much and talking about anything and everything into one string of corresponding blogs, one consequent to the other and so forth. Thus, the project of Consequent Bloggers began.

It is magnificent, Adam, doing this with you. This is not work. It is not difficult.
Consequent Bloggers: The Nerdfighter Project is wondrous.

I'm not exactly sure why I had to write that this morning, but I did. I hope you don't mind. ♥

Change in topic...NOW.

Comments would be too wonderful. I'd love to read what other people think of this blog, especially John and Hank. Adam, do you think we need more exposure? Could this blog be on the list of Nerdfighter Projects on the Nerdfighter Ning's main page? Is that only reserved for VLogs? Do you have any idea on how we can do this? Leave us what you think about this in the comments, reader(s), please. :]

Adam, you deserve the most stupendous birthdays in the world. I do desire that this past one was and more. I've always believed that age is all in the mind. Physical age is nearly irrelevant. I've always felt older than what I actually am. I don't think that meditating on your physical age makes you appreciate your youth more, but it does make you come to terms with the fact that you've reached that point where you realize that you have all the potential you could ever possibly want and all the time in the world to use it. How resplendent!
That cake sounded too delicious. We need smell-o-vision and/or taste-o-vision. Now.
Lanhydrock House is too gorgeous. I should have taken a train to visit the house when I could. :/

I love that sort of weather. I guess it's because I don't get a lot of it where I live. When people go inside when it rains, I bask in the glory of the small, gleaming droplets of water lazily dripping from the clouds. I'd love to see little you in a Captain Hook costume with an eye-liner moustache.
I'm terribly happy that you would go to the Wizarding World. We should go together. :]

Moving on to the stalk of this head of broccoli...

QUESTION 4:

What would be your idea of a perfect day?

My perfect day consits of many simple things that, probably, only I will love.

I'd wake up, alone, early in the morning, only to find that right outside my window is the most glorious environment: comfortably cold, soft winds, and only the slightest slivers of sunlight peeking through the great thickness of clouds, gently illuminating every inch of the rolling, hilly landscape that is complete with cows, horses, deer, wild rabbits, and, of course, sheep. I'd get dressed in my favourite clothing and head upstairs to discover my breakfast comrade lounging in the parlour in one of the armchairs near the mid-morning spread of fresh fruit, pastries, and good coffee and the Steinway baby grand (which I have in my own house, by the way). He is Stephen Sondheim. We'd spend the next couple of hours eating, drinking, laughing, singing, playing the piano, sharing stories, telling secrets, giving and taking advice, creating lasting memories. This would last for hours. During the next part of my day, I'd paint, on a very large canvas, something absolutely brilliant that Steve and I had discussed previously in the day with great poise and knowledge. Following that experience, with dry paint still left on my hands, I'd write outside, on a simple wooden table in a comfortable chair. The chair and table would be waiting for me in the center of an almost ethereal, windless, pleasantly-cold moor. I don't think that I would write a novel, though. I'd write anything that pops into my head, all of it excellent and thoughtful. To finish my day, I'd apparate effortlessly from my home into a private box of my favourite theatre in the city. There, I'd see all my favourite shows, one after the other. No one would get tired, and we would all be enjoying every minute of it. After the last performance, I'd teleport home and take a walk outside, ultimately laying out in the field of grass, breathing in the scent of the coming morning dew. There, I would stare at the heavens, looking at the stars, close my eyes, and sleep the heaviest, most-satisfying sleep not even a human is capable of.

QUESTION 5:

Here is a question asked and answered in honor of the Tonys:

What do/would you do when something or someone you've been earnestly supporting loses or fails at what they or he/she/it are/is trying to acheive? What do/would you do when they or he/she/it do/does acheive their or his/hers/its goal(s)? Be specific, if possible.

Sorry for all the forward slashes. :]

Anyone who has ever seen my Ning profile or spoken to me for over five minutes knows of my deep admiration and love for an incredibly talented woman named Patti LuPone. She is one of just three women who have influenced me greatly artistically over the past eight or nine years(the other two being J.K. Rowling and Emma Thompson). LuPone is also nominated this year in one of the many categories for Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre which are being presented this Sunday during a live telecast starting at 8pm Eastern Standard Time. I can proudly say that I am supporting her 100%. There is one thought, though, that came to me recently in a moment of weakness.

"What if she doesn't win?"

My initial thought is the following:

"I'd die."

More realistically, I'd shut myself in my room, in complete darkness, wrap myself in my comforter with only my face peeking through, sit directly in front of the television, pop in the DVD and watch Sweeney Todd Live in Concert on a loop until I feel well enough to come out of my hovel. In the week after it occurs, my demeanor would probably change for the worse. I would be distant and quiet and use very few words (which is very off-colour for me). Maybe, just maybe, a bit after that, I'd begin speaking normally again and continue in my usual routine.

If (WHEN) she wins, I'd tell everyone I know even if they don't know her. Then, I'd send her an e-mail congratualting her. Following that, I'd listen to everything she's ever recorded in celebration. I may even hold a party with my Patti-loving friends.

I wanted to write this before I knew if she won or not. If she loses, and I had planned to write this blog on Monday instead of today, this blog would be extremely short and entirely uncolouful. This could also go the other way. I could write WAY too much about topics that would be completely irrevelvant in the sheer exctiement of it all.

Well, I have to go unpack now (I got home yesterday), and the extension you gave me was perfect. I really hope that you're having as grand a time with this as I am.

Speak to you soon, I hope

♥, Reese

P.S. Patti LuPwns, and I love the new banner. :]

May 26th, 2008 — Recollections and Responses (I do so love alliteration)

Greetings, greetings; compliments and adulations. Once again, I find myself here, writing this article, this blog, this assembly of words, for you, Reese, and for whomever may be fortunate enough to be reading this.

On that note, for a little experiment, I wonder if anybody reading this would be so kind as to comment on this humble discourse below, merely for my own knowledge and pleasure.

Well, I am writing this on Monday 26th May 2008, the last day I have before I turn sixteen. Strange as it seems, the progression from fifteen to sixteen isn’t substantially important to me: I suppose it’s because I’ve never really thought of myself as fifteen years old. One might say that this depletes my appreciation of my youth, but this is not true. Anyway, enough of my wretched musings.

It has come to my knowledge that every year my birthday week brings with it the most miserable, dreary, and cheerless weather that our great atmosphere is able to bestow upon us. This makes it incredibly hard to hold a successful birthday party. I have had gatherings in the garden with my friends, many years ago, where the wretchedness has descended upon us, forcing us inside the house. Gazebos have been worshipped like gods that will save us from the agony of standing in the rain wearing only a polyester Cinderella costume bought in Woolworths (I am not, unfortunately, referring to myself; I was clad in a very fetching Captain Hook outfit, complete with eye-liner moustache). Bouncy castles have been abandoned and left to grow limp and wet, whilst barbeques have been transferred to the oven and frying pan, causing widespread disappointment. One year, we had the foresight to book a splendid little hall in which we held a delightful fancy-dress party; the only problem was that it was gloriously sunny outside.



Previously on Consequent Bloggers:

QUESTION 3:

If you were given two tickets to travel to any place at any time (fictional or non-fictional), who would you take, where would go you and why?

A wonderful question, and one which I pondered for a considerable amount of time. At last I concluded that I would have to agree with you: France in the late twentieth century, Cheshire in the late eighteenth century, or London in the early twentieth century, cannot compare to the majesty of the Wizarding World.

Hello. My name is Adam, and I am a Harry Potter fanboy.

I would not like to travel into the future, for it is a dangerous place in which, or with which, to meddle. So that leaves either the present or the past, as is a painfully obvious fact. I suppose I would go with what you said: I would go to just after the war, so that I could experience the beginning of a new age without the fear of Voldemort and his followers. It’s bizarre, really, that out of every location and time period on, and in the history of, this planet, we chose a place which, in essence, doesn’t exist. But I think this just demonstrates J. K. Rowling’s extraordinary achievement in creating a world which does seem real, and does seem appealing to us. I would take my sister, Jessica, for she too delights in this world.

On an entirely different subject, we went to Lanhydrock House yesterday, in Bodmin. It’s the most glorious building: built in the seventeenth century, and containing many years of life and progression. Most of it inside is late Victorian, but the gardens are timeless. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera with me, so the only photographs I have are by other people—

All the way around, all me and my sister could think of was stories: histories to dozens of rooms and hundreds of items; sinister murders in the grounds and secret affairs in the bed chambers. But my sister (who is also a writer) managed to attain some very good plot ideas, or sparks of ideas, so it seems our slight lack of interest in some parts of the building were for good reason.

QUESTION 4:

What would be your idea of a perfect day?

I think this is a really interesting question, and one which can obviously tell you a lot about a person. You can do anything you want, Reese. Think carefully.

My answer is as follows.

Most of my day would involve writing. I would wake up refreshed and sparkling, with a great new idea for my novel. I would sit down and write at least two thousand words, before taking a break to eat a highly satisfying lunch. After that, a good dose of efficient composing would be nice, before a few hours spent in good company in generally pleasant surroundings. Perhaps I might see a play, have a meal, and discover at the most unexpected moment that that twenty pound note which I hideously mislaid several weeks ago was, in fact, in my coat pocket all along, and I would spend it on others (something which is usually very gratifying). I do not ask for much: you will not find me wishing to win the lottery, or to spend the night with a Brazilian lap-dancer. Heaven forbid.

My chocolate birthday cake is cooking, now, and a sublime scent of warm chocolate is spreading throughout the house. I must go, but not to eat the cake (I shall be doing so tomorrow, after I have spent the day traipsing around the streets of Exeter, leaving with several books, no doubt, and a rather lighter wallet).

As an ending note, I am officially modifying the time-limit rule so as to accommodate your holiday. You have until Monday 16th June to write your blog; is that enough time? If not, feel uninhibited to notify me, and I will amend the rule appropriately.

Until then, your friend,

Adam.

P.S. Reader, don’t forget to comment, if it’s not too much trouble. It will be appreciated, I can assure you.

May 18th, 2008: How Could My Response Blog Possibly Follow That?!

Hello, Dolls!

For anyone new that's reading this (which I highly doubt, in the best sense, of course) and is a bit confused as to what we're doing, please refer to the last two blogs in this series of instalments. We (Adam says it more eloquently) try to explain it as best we possibly can. It's not confusing; the project is still developing, I think.

How could I possibly be consequent to that blog?! His description is absolutely perfect. I remember hearing that song for the first time when I was nine.; it immediately captivated me. Songs like that entirely altered my views on music. I realized that it could be more than mediocrity coming from a computer-enhanced synthesizer; music is a science, a great coalescence of specific sounds and tones, sometimes accompanied by carefully mulled over lyrics. Magnificent. Just magnificent.

The format needs work, I think. If you have any suggestions, I'm ready to comply. :]

QUESTION 2:

What real person, alive or dead, do you most relate to?

I cannot believe that I'm actually going to say this (I'm not worthy to grace the ground she walks on), but I would have to say that I relate to Emma Thompson the most. She is a strong, driven woman in an industry that is known for objectifying and prostituting individuals, particularly of the female sex. I can identify with her views and goals. She doesn't work towards fame or money. Emma is person who works purely for her art. In an interview she revealed that she's not very rich (by celebrity terms, anyways) at all; all she has is a house for her family and a small sum of money in her savings. The rest goes to charities and such. I absolutely love that. She's not caught up in the idolatry of disgustingly-large sums of money. Along with her views on the separation of her art and the media, we share a lot in common. We both are actresses, writers, extreme lovers of Jane Austen, witty, thirsty for knowledge, hilarious, and not afraid to be different or controversial. Emma Thompson personifies what every celebrity should be but is entirely not.

Well, I could go on and on about Thompson for hours, but I won't because this site must have some sort of word limit. Both Adam and I know very well that we could go on writing without desisting.

Adam, about the video embedding, you have to go to edit HTML when composing your blog and enter the code there. I hope that helped. :]

I love the banner. It's perfect.

QUESTION 3:

If you were given two tickets to travel to any place at any time (fictional or non-fictional), who would you take, where would go you and why?

This question is not very difficult to answer, but it does require a lot of sorting through adored locations and their glory years. I finally have come down to one and an honourable mention. I know that this sounds like such a stock answer, but I'm going to say it anyways. I want to go to the Wizarding World. I want to be in the same land as Harry Potter.

Hello, my name is Reese, and I am a Harry Potter fangirl.

I would want it to be right after the war and want to be involved with the new beginning of a life without the kind of fear Voldemort brought upon the people of the wizarding community. Id probably bring my friend Victoria with me, because I feel that she would benefit from it and enjoy it most (we both are very avid Potter readers). We would travel into the world by thestral or magical train to the Burrow. From there we could use the Floo Network to get around.

My second choice would be the world of The Borrowers. When I was younger, I wore my copies of the series down to their delicate little bindings. I just think that there something attractive about being very small in a very big world. I also like the idea of using thimbles as cooking pots.

I'm quite interested in reading your response, Elated Mango Jam (very clever). I hope that this response hasn't been that pathetic.

By the way, I leave for my trip on May 27th (I return on the 12th of June), so I may not be able to respond to your blog within the time limit unless you respond before I leave. No pressure, I just didn't want to leave you hanging for a couple of weeks. :]

I can't wait for your response,

Reese