Maureen’s Comments (group member since Mar 02, 2009)

Maureen’s comments from the fiction files redux group.

Kerry wrote: "I love you Mo!!!"

i <3 you! it has been too long! but i decided i am going to try to come back to goodreads so hopefully i will get to tell you that more often. :)

i think Dan and i already created one at some point but since i haven't been on facebook on the regular in ages, i'm not sure it's even the same kind of group you mean. :) here's a link. it looks like they have a subgroup there? i think dan is on facebook more than me, so he could make you a co-administrator or something if you wanted. though again, a new group could never hurt!

wonderful that you and ms flamehair had a chance to meet.

i would just like to note i am now lousy at social media but i still play words with friends through facebook so if anybody would like to battle me there, feel free to send me a game invite. i usually play once a day -- though sometimes it takes two or three days. :)

hello everybody:

i've been meaning to throw in my two cents for a while -- sorry i'm so late. anyway, i'm kind of depressed about the abandonment of the eurodork as the capper on this series of gatherings but i can understand budget limitations. for myself, i can't justify a three day west coast dork like the one you did last year, especially with the canadian dollar being in the toilet. if it was a three day dork on the east coast, that might be another matter, but again, i'm not really going to be in the clear financially until march, so i can't really commit to anything at this point and i really need to stop putting myself in the hole by making financial choices with my heart and not my head.

i think it's really great that lara got the conversation going. leaving the planning of this thing to the 11th hour always makes it more stressful than it needs to be and it sounds like there is quite a bit of interest so i'm curious to see where the group lands.

hope you're all doing super well. mo/xo

oh hey! awesome to see adrian and patty and the skipper all together on one thread celebrating another amazing accomplishment. congratulations skipper! happy that things are going so wonderfully well for you!

(btw, i think adrian wants the scoop on you and sherman alexie, and i am currently theorizing that he will end up being in town after all, then showing up and meeting you but not telling you who he is and then coming back here to gloat that he is still the ff's own snuffleupagus :)

thanks for posting these patty! since you busted me on adrian's thread, i've been thinking about replying and posting but the sad truth is, i'm still more scattered than i would like to be. that said, i'm more likely to actually read one or two of these since you have provided handy links! i am actually reading a collection of de maupassant's stories right now. i'm glad he was so prolific in his short life. but as usually happens, when i read maupassant, i always think i should go back and read moliere again. :)

if i can scrape together the entry fee i'll give it a whirl!

i had a look and the contest is open worldwide (entry form and details at this link) : https://wincenterlovellinn.wordpress....

here's the inn's website. spanakopita is already on the menu!
http://www.centerlovellinn.com/index....

and finally when you were all planning this upcoming dork, i looked up b&bs in sequim and found this dandy train-themed one (though the owners are just selling it regularly, not essay style. :)

http://www.redcaboosegetaway.com/ - check out the cabooses! i am in love. :)

they have that at the reference library so if it turns out to contain stories not in the one i've requested then i can make a trip there. i try to avoid reading books in the reference library because invariably i just wish i could take them home and read them comfortably instead. :)

i had never heard of hesba (what a great name!! i want to name myself that too now) stratton until your message number 5! i am fascinated and will be curious to hear what you think of her book.

i've always loved finding writers through other writers and their influences, or books mentioned within books but then there are times when it's just so surprising that the whole world has forgot, that the books are rare and out of print. and i sort of shudder at the sheer breadth of literature, with its own undiscovered country, and how i am like burgess meredith, a bespectacled human in the twilight zone, dreaming of time enough at last. :)

of course, i am mad for james branch cabell but found lady chatterly's lover boring, so it's not surprising that none of it makes sense to me. looking forward to seeing where i land with our friend gerald kersh.

:)

Patty wrote: "I'm going to the library tomorrow. I'm going to see if they have the same collection that you have on hold, then we could maybe read them together-ish."

This is the library info for the one i got. Somebody has it checked out now and they're supposed to be returning it March 3rd... but I am first in line for getting it next so it would be great if you can find that one and we could read it at relatively the same time. i'll let you know when i get it in my hot little hands. hurray! :)

The best of Gerald Kersh
by Kersh, Gerald, 1911-1968.
Contributors: Raven, Simon, 1927-
Year/Format: 1960, Book , viii, 343, [1] p. ;
Publication information: London : Heinemann, c1960.

there doesn't seem to be an ISBN listed.

i will reply to your other message too but i have to run out into the freezing for coke zero. i'll be back though! :)

i am happy i did not read your latest comment before i put the only book in my library system of his to borrow (best of gerald kersh -- i think these are the short stories. they have others but only available at the reference library) on hold because i am not a particular fan of bodily fluid fiction. i used to get so mad about the quantity of snot in stephen king novels. :P

i am curious about the sexual explicit thing and the phrasing of that. how mainstream is mainstream? can we compare kersh's commercial success with a juggernaut like lady chatterly's lover? anyway. it's like my boyfriend james branch cabell i suppose and his immorality trial for jurgen. maybe i have trouble believing they were mainstream because they were then so completely forgotten...

hey patty! i haven't read anything by him... yet! but i put Night and the City on my to-read list in 2009! it is number 37 of 514. i suspect i was reading something similar which name-dropped the title (i was re-reading some cornell woolrich at the time) and that prompted the add.

will be curious to see if anybody replies with a different recommendation as that seems to be his most popular book -- at least on goodreads. of the dorks i know well, ben and neil seem to be the most likely candidates to have read kersh. while it might be vexing to some, sometimes i really wish you could tag people on posts on goodreads because it seems to be hard to find them -- even myspace used to tell do a better job of alerting me to new posts, i think (though i suspect i have idealized myspace in my old age)

<3

here's a link to mine on google+. i have a lot more of the aquarium than there are of the actual dork but there are a few of our folk lounging. :) https://plus.google.com/photos/104058...

thanks for letting me know, les. sorry you can't make it sooner and that the phone is being such a hassle. i hope you can work it out but i will definitely bring along my extra, just in case. :)

just goes to show you how much filtering google does behind the scenes (do a search for internet stick in canada and you get a lot of hits.

anyway, patty and i have that sorted out, i think.

les, sorry to hear virgin is letting you down -- i thought for sure you'd be okay. two things i can suggest: try going to a virgin mobile kiosk in canada -- they might be able to set you up for a short term prepaid thing. the other alternative is i have an old phone if you wanted to get a pre-paid package and a sim card for it while you're here. not sure how expensive that would be though.

i have a question for all of you. is anybody able to get to the cottage for noon on friday? i know the check-in was set up for 4 pm but ed wrote me asking if i could show up at noon and i can't because we planned for 4. i wrote him back saying i didn't think it was possible but would check in with you other guys and see what you had to say. i know it's tough to estimate with going over the border and all but i thought i'd ask.

dan and less, mostly looking at you since martha comes in on sunday and i know the rest of the group can't do it. if you can't do it, that's totally okay. dan, do you want me to ask about the coffee grinder? or is it too late?

hello and hurray for fun and so soon. :)

regarding cell phone service: ed tells me cell signal is excellent at the cottage but no wifi. he usually uses an internet stick when he's there. i don't have an internet stick so if somebody is going to need a whole bunch of time on the internet they should let me know asap and i will look into seeing if i can get one short term. i have 2gb/month of data on my phone and can link it to my computer if people need to do quick checks on email.

of course, beyond signal and access, there are roaming charges you'd have to consider. when i go to the US i usually buy a data/voice plan on arrival that is offered by my service provider that replaces roaming charges because it's easier to control/cap (they send you a text if you are getting close to eating it all up).

hope that helps!

hello chums:

martha (thanks love!) and i passed on the last payment on the cottage to ed and i had some more cheery correspondence with him i thought i'd share.

ed: "Yes, winter and spring have roared by, now into full summer. Water at the cottage is higher than last year, now great for swimming, boating and fishing.
We caught a 5 pound pickerel directly in front of the cottage last week using a bobber and worm casting from the raft. WOW great on the Barbecue."

this of course prompts a comment from me about how some of our group might enjoy a good fish -- i explain that i am ashamed to admit that even though i have Portuguese lineage i have never fished in my life but do not admit i do not know what a bobber is. then he reminded me about fishing licenses and i was floored by how expensive they are for people who aren't from ontario (it's more expensive for other canadians and still more expensive for other countries). he advises if we are bound to the letter of the law we can get one at Canadian Tire. ed opines on this issue:

"Fishing is great. We caught the 5 pound pickerel while sitting on the raft and casting out about 20'. The O.P.P. marine unit don't patrol much in our area, but if they come around Midland Point, you won't see them until
they are right there. Just tell them you are guests and didn't know. I wouldn't worry, they are mostly looking for boaters who are drinking, open liquor in their boats.
Don't forget I have lifejackets for you, I think 5 or 6."

this prompts a question about the boats and he further elaborates:

"Yes, there is a canoe and 12 aluminum row boat. The best fishing is right off the raft. You can sit on the raft and cast further out towards the weed bed,
which always works well. Actually sitting on the raft you can also enjoy a refreshing beverage as they are only looking for people drinking / open liquor
in boats, plus life jackets. Don't think you will have a problem with fishing licenses. Just go for it. My thinking it's not as though the money they collect
goes towards the environment or monitoring fish populations. It all goes into a general pool of funds and spent on govt travels, expenses, etc.
Just like drive clean. lol (Ha, don't get me started...)"

it occurs to me i should query him on two other things, one being the alarm system, given last year's experience:


ed: "No worries with an alarm system.. We do have alarm force but it is completely shut down during the summer months.. Even if someone pushed buttons on the key board nothing would happen."

hurray, right?

and finally, i queries about the bug population.

ed: "Mosquitos were an issue in the fall it was so wet, not so much now, but they are still around in the early evening.. The gazebo behind the main cottage,
on the patio is fully screened, very comfortable and well protected. Black flies are not an issue at all. Citronella candles to sit on the table in the gazebo are a good idea.
We stopped using the citronella lamp torches as a guest almost burnt the gazebo down a couple of years ago."

so that's good to know. i will not buy torches but i will pick up some candles. i think i saw some at the dollar store. or maybe we can make one of those pop bottle mosquito traps.

sadly, we may not get a chance to meet ed.

ed: "Maureen it's beginning to look as though I may not be at the cottage to finally meet. If I am not able, my son James will be there for sure and will spend approximately
one hour with you showing our boundaries and operation of the cottage systems. I will keep in touch regarding this and will let you know as we get closer."

i'm going to add james' number to the google spreadsheet so i'm not the only person who has it. :)

ed also sent me a comprehensive set of directions to get to the cottage from toronto. i've uploaded it here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0nW...

i love ed. we also had a discussion about our outdated electronics: his VCR just crapped out on him and he has still has an 8-track player. :)

so that's all the news i have to share. i sure am looking forward to seeing you, my friends. i have to give ed a final list of guests at some point -- if it stays the small group that it is, my friend j. bone might come up for a couple of days but he's working and has a deadline so we'll see. i think you would all like him very much: patty and kerry have both met him, and he loves science fiction and jane austen. he's a comic book artist. my old avatar was drawn by him. :)

Elizabeth wrote: "Hello... Just wanted to check in here, especially with whoever is coordinating.


hey elizabeth:

it sounds like you have a lot going on. i hope you are keeping your chin up during these major life changes.

we still have "room at the inn" for you and would be happy to see you. i'm not an expert on US passports obviously, but i did a quick search on the Canadian site. things did change after 2009 so you can't just use your driver's license to come back over the border by land anymore, (unless you have an enhanced license and apparently this isn't available for illinois.) there is a passport card you can apply for but i imagine it would give you the same hiccups as the one you're currently experiencing.

have you called the US National Passport Information Center
(1-877-487-2778)-- maybe they can help you figure out how to expedite, or some kind of alternate documentation you could provide?

i did notice this as well from US travel FAQ: If you have begun using a different name but cannot legally document the change with a court order, divorce decree, or marriage certificate, then:

Submit Form DS-11 in person at an Acceptance Facility or a Passport Agency, along with your evidence of U.S. citizenship, a valid ID and photocopy of that ID, a color passport photo, and all applicable fees. You may:
Use our online guide to fill out and print Form DS-11; or
Print Form DS-11 and complete by hand.
You must also present a valid ID issued in the name you currently use.
You may also need to provide secondary identification evidence that you have been using the name for at least 5 years, if your ID is less than 5 years old.

http://travel.state.gov/content/passp...

good luck and keep us posted!

hey everybody:

smartykate reminded me that this event is only five weeks away now! skipper's news traumatized me so much i couldn't come near this thread for some weeks (a dork without the skipper at its head just doesn't seem right -- i had a silly, special gift for him but i guess i'm going to have to just mail it out to him at some point) but we've got a contract for a cottage and some of my very favourite people in the world are coming here, if not ALL my favourite people. still hoping for some last minute yeses. :)

Patty wrote: "Maybe we should set up an actual "event" on the FF calendar. Are there check in/check out times?"

hi lovelies:

i'm racing out the door so i don't have time to set up an event but wanted to let you know:

Check-in to cottage: Friday July 18th at 4pm and check-out Friday July 25 at 11am

i've been trying to sweet talk ben into splitting a rental car with me to get up there but not sure if it's working or not. :P

Mary wrote: "hey everybody. I've never been to the dork, and every year i think "maybe this year," but my son up and decided to get married in Washington DC on August 2, and I already bought plane tickets, rent..."

mary! hurray for you celebrating your son's happiness ad marriage to a daughter-in-law! i am happy for you but sad for me because i will have to continue loving you from afar which is not as exciting as meeting you in person. :( mo/xo

fyi, porter airlines has a pretty good sale on right now... 60% off base flights. this is for the next three days. :)

https://www.flyporter.com/

i've been checking the air canada site and all their cheap flight offers from the U.S. have a travel by june something date on them so i'm guessing next month we'll start to see the sales for july... don't forget those prices will all be in canadian dollars. :)