Saturday, April 23, 2011

Mingle 2

Continue mingling. Just here now instead of there.

199 comments:

_*rachel*_ said...

First in!

...juvenile, I know.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Well, you ARE the youngest of us.

Evil Editor said...

ANd I'm the oldest.

_*rachel*_ said...

Young doesn't mean juvenile... but in this case I'm bound to argue that oldest means wisest, for fear of what might happen if I didn't.

Evil Editor said...

As it happens, I'm also the most juvenile.

Aika said...

Happy anniversary Evil One! I've been away for the weekend; what a surprise to find all this.

Can we say thanks too? :) I think it will be another five years until I finish reading all your archives. You rock!

Evil Editor said...

Maybe I should shorten the archives. Remove the least funny stuff.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Nah. It's ALL good.

_*rachel*_ said...

A best-of wouldn't be bad, but don't shorten the archives--when I first started, I read most of them, and once school is out I'd like to read the last few months'.

Evil Editor said...

I could remove the films, as they now have their own site. Same with the book chats.

_*rachel*_ said...

That might be decent--or whatever happened to the hall of fame?

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Oh yeah. A best-of or crash course tag would be good. That way folk could just click on the tag url and all the tagged stuff would come up!

Evil Editor said...

There's a new Hall of Fame. it's called Evil Editor Teaches School.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

No need to physically remove anything. Let technology work for you :o)

_*rachel*_ said...

There is? Oyyy, I really have been away too long.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

See what you've started, Aika.

Evil Editor said...

I wasn't thinking of deleting stuff, just saving lots of stuff as drafts, which allows me to bring it back.

Evil Editor said...

Also, the stuff that makes the best of the year votes is all tagged.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

How about new digs for the next 5 years? You could do a really funny image for your blog header?

_*rachel*_ said...

We could have a Best of the Half Decade contest.

Evil Editor said...

This'll never last another five years. We run out of queries and openings every few days.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Hey Rachel, are you still putting out your periodical?

_*rachel*_ said...

I need to make up the school year's last Poets in the Potty tonight, if I can get a break from Syntax homework.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Yeah, I don't get that. Where's everyone going to get critted now?

Aika said...

Could you get a random page generator to pick a random Facelift? (Like Wikipedia's random article feature). Not that I'm not already kept busy for hours here :)

Hmm maybe that's why there's a new query drought. We're all reading instead of finishing our own novels. (Yes, that's me.)

EE, what's the tag?

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Ditch the homework! Who gives homework over Easter anyway???

Evil Editor said...

Twitter. They post 145 characters for feedback.

_*rachel*_ said...

I can't ditch the homework--between my procrastination, my business, and my teacher's procrastination, it's all due at once.

Anyway, I've got to go--it's Easter night. I should show up tomorrow morning, I think, and read the comments during breakfast.

See you soon!

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Well, EE, you were one of the first to do query crits. Maybe it's time to reinvent yourself. With so many self-pubbing now, maybe you can start critting product description copy instead!

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Bye Rachel! It was good to see you again. See you in summer!

Evil Editor said...

I believe face-lift awards, new beginning awards, and cartoon caption awards are the tags for the best of the year.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

I emailed Robin. She said she was gonna show up here. I also Tweeted.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

You may be joking about Twitter crits, but agents really ARE doing them! And they're holding contests via Twitter too.

Evil Editor said...

Yes, I need to be Evil something else. Shrink, sports fan, politician, critic.

Aika said...

That's a brilliant idea Phoenix (re self pub crits).

Thanks EE (re tags).

Many happy returns!

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Ah ha! I knew you were posing all along ;o)

Evil Editor said...

It's a holiday, maybe more people will show tomorrow morning. There's not much activity on my blog on weekends even if it's not a holiday.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Well, I certainly won't hold you. If you've got others nagging after you, go attend.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Bye Aika! Thanks for dropping by. Be sure to enter the CONTESTS!!!

Evil Editor said...

I've got a were dingo who wants his walk followed by his post-walk treat followed by his dinner followed by his dessert followed by a petting session followed by his evening snacks.

Evil Editor said...

The walk and petting session, of course, are not mandatory.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Hehe. I get that completely! See you tomorrow morning.

Evil Editor said...

OK, bye. At least with only a few people it's easier to tell who's answering whom.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

I don't know how the young kids follow multiple conversations the way they do. Ah well. Toodles!

Chris Eldin said...

Hi Dearest and Most Juvenile Evil Overlord,
Miss you, and sorry I haven't been around. I even haven't kissed or done anything sexy with Robin in, oh...
well...
oh well.
Will have to settle on air kisses through your blog.
Wait. We were talking about you, then I got sidetracked.
Any pics this year?

:-)

Xenith said...

OK that's weird. I comment. I get email notifying me about comments but they don't appear on the page :(

Xenith said...

(Unless I use a different brower. Grrr.)

Robin B. said...

Sorry I'm running so late! It was a crazy day in Robin Land, house-for-sale and otherwise.

Anybody around????

Robin B. said...

I gotta go look and see what time HRH is comin' tomorrow...

Robin B. said...

Also - I scanned but missed - what's the time tomorrow?

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Hey Robin: EE'll be here at 9 am your time.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Chris! Glad you could pop in. So sorry you missed Robin, er, I mean EE.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Xenith: Sorry about the gremlins. :o( Bad, browser. Bad!

Xenith said...

They were such witty and thought provoking comments too

Xenith said...

Well phone works... Not that i'm reading here during ANZAC Day service of course

_*rachel*_ said...

Woo, ninja-comment and back to homework!

150 said...

*mingles*

*disappears*

Sarah Laurenson said...

I've been waiting for e-mails to show up to let me know when you guys were back. Totally forgot you started a new thread. *sigh*

Tomorrow morning - maybe. It'll be early for me.

Landra said...

Hello, hello... and I'm late to the party. Crikey!

Whirlochre said...

Stuck in the void and unable to participate fully. I want to rub the big guy's belly, drizzle his muttonchops with the scanted oil of adoration but I'm drilled down elsewhere. Plus, I mislaid my ladle. Down to the rest of you to sit him on an embroidered cushion and bear him about the like some weird elephant god.

pacatrue said...

I have a suspicion the mingling is over. Sigh. Mingling with my self again.

Mingle, mingle, mingle, mingle. If anyone drops by, hello.

Mingle mingle mingle.

fairyhedgehog said...

It's four o'clock in the morning for most of you so I doubt if there's anyone around to mingle with.

I can't mingle at sensible times because I'm on holiday and can't play on the computer all day.

Anonymous said...

I'll mingle with ya FHH!
;-)

Hey EE!

This blog could still last 5 years...or another 50!

Chris Eldin said...

PACA!!!!!!
ROBIN!!!!!
PHOENIX!!!!
MINIONS!!!!!!!!
:-)
(On caffeine...)
:-)

Stacy said...

I'm here, finally. Somehow this weekend I managed to catch my first cold in ten years.

Stacy said...

I should have stayed home and partied with you guys.

Robin B. said...

I won't be able to be here right at 9:00 am - it'll be more like 9:30-ish when I can get here - doing college transfer stuff with youngest that requires me to be on a call that's set up for, yep, 9:00 am.

I'll be on as soon as I can with you guys! Hold HRH here, please!

Evil Editor said...

Greetings. Anyone here?

ril said...

Yes, though I'm multi-tasking with a conference call...

Evil Editor said...

How about we reconvene in a half hour?

ril said...

I think Robin said that's when she'll be here.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

I am, too. And multi-tasking with a synopsis crit.

Robin's on a call, but she'll be here as soon as she can.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Works for me.

Evil Editor said...

Then it's settled. Seeya then.

ril said...

Heh, not the same call, though...

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Here to talk to EE?

Come back at the bottom of the hour!!!

Dave Fragments said...

That was a long weekend

_*rachel*_ said...

Aww, but I have to leave for class by 9:50 at the very latest....

Dave Fragments said...

hi

Robin B. said...

YAY - I am FREE! Plus, looks like my youngest is gonna be attending U of Miami for sophomore year on, so....happy days.

How's everybody? Anybody here?

Evil Editor said...

I'm back.
I used the time to create three cartoons so ril could multitask.

_*rachel*_ said...

Tired, but awake. You?

Robin B. said...

Well, you ARE creative for a Monday morning!

Dave Fragments said...

I'm recovering from traveling

Evil Editor said...

I hope you mean Miami of Ohio, because the other one will eat her alive.

Robin B. said...

I've been nuts busy all morning. That should be illegal on a Monday.

ril said...

I'm here, but still two-timing...

Dave Fragments said...

I hate Mondays and all the get back into some routine

Robin B. said...

Nope, I mean Miami of Miami. Expensive out the...you know....but her closest friend attends there, and another friend in pre-med also attends.

JB and I are moving to Britain this summer...

Dave Fragments said...

Kids only go to college once. Then you can throw them out of the house or demand rent.

Evil Editor said...

The good news is I often need a place to stay when I visit Miami.

Robin B. said...

Hi ril and Dave!

Yep, looking forward to college being finished up. Hassle but worth it in the end.

ril, I never took you for a two-timer!

ril said...

JB and I are moving to Britain this summer...

Just as all the British are leaving...

_*rachel*_ said...

And until then they can live in the basement and work at fast food in the summers.

Robin B. said...

All kidding aside, EE, if you go to Miami and you let me know soon enough, I have a friend who can help you with hotels.

ril said...

It's always the ones you least suspect...

Dave Fragments said...

And then there are Monday phone calls. I hate the phone.

Dave Fragments said...

At least London will be over the Royal Wedding.

Evil Editor said...

Are you aware that Britain doesn't have modern conveniences like remote controls, microwaves and toilets?

ril said...

They'll be glued to the sets for the royal conception.

_*rachel*_ said...

It's why we rebelled!

Robin B. said...

Tell me about it - the day of the wedding, we'll be in Miami, actually.

Yeah, it IS weird we are moving to London area now, but there ya go. It's a work thing for JB, so it has to happen.

Dave Fragments said...

If I can say so, the Royal Bang.

Kinda makes you want to cry in your shoes when you're lying in the gutter drunk and passed on on "Kiss me Kate Beer" (a pilsner, I think)...
Or hugging the Will and Kate toilet seat.

Evil Editor said...

The TV rights to the Royal Conception could pay off Britain's national debt.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

And Rachel's still rebelling!

Xenith said...

Bah. Forgot about the disappearing post things (they actually appear on the page after I "publish" but when I refresh they're gone).

Robin B. said...

I'm likely going for dual citizenship, but only if I don't have to swear an oath to anyone who thinks they're better than I am, ie, royal.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Is someone getting married?

ril said...

The TV rights to the Royal Conception could pay off Britain's national debt.



Or blind a generation.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Did you switch browsers, Xenith?

Dave Fragments said...

In the USA, we can sell the rights to Newt Gingrich's fourth wedding or Donald Trumps hair weave that's kept in a secret vault once owned by Al Capone and made from Geraldo's recycled mustache hairs.

Robin B. said...

Hi Xenith- Long time no see! How are ya?

ril said...

I'm likely going for dual citizenship...

You taking language classes, innit?

_*rachel*_ said...

*sigh*

Off to class; I may pop in for one or two comments later.

Xenith said...

Yeah. I usually use Opera, which is the one that doesn't work (but it does on phone). Now I'm on Chrome. But everything I said in the previous half hour has disappeared.

Xenith said...

But I should be off to bed anyway

Dave Fragments said...

I wouldn't mind living on Scotland for a time but in all truth, I'd have to try to search out the family origins with side trips (and they are in Italy).

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Learn good, Rachel!

Evil Editor said...

She's not an Inuit.

Robin B. said...

Bye, Rachel!

ril, I've had enough language lessons over the past 13 years, visiting 2 or 3 times a year.
The word that still surprises me is 'chuffed' - apparently it's a good thing, but it sounds like someone's pissed off.

Dave Fragments said...

I use Firefox, Xenith and it works better than Opera and Chrome for me.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

I wish everything I'd said in the last half hour would disappear too. Actually, the last half century.

Robin B. said...

It would be fun to find relatives, Dave.

Robin B. said...

So EE - what are your plans for the blog? You're amazing - 5 years!
Are you getting tired?

Xenith said...

Be careful what you wish for?

ril said...

The word that still surprises me is 'chuffed' - apparently it's a good thing, but it sounds like someone's pissed off.

It can also mean somebody farted. (as in, Who just chuffed?)

Dave Fragments said...

Considering how little my parents actually documents, I don't think they even know if my last name or my mother's maiden name is spelled correctly.

Evil Editor said...

I was thinking of phasing out the blog as it reaches various milestones. No more facelifts. new beginnings or cartoons after #1000.

Robin B. said...

Ha - didn't know about the fart part! I'll keep that in mind, and keep my mouth shut (for more than one reason) if someone mentions chuffing...

ril said...

That's not so far away...

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Noooooooo.

Dave Fragments said...

(as in, Who just chuffed?)

That's the only context that I"ve heard it used. . .

Gee, I can't type this morning. It's like the fingers are twice as big and hit everything at once.

Evil Editor said...

Then every day I remove one post from the blog until it dwindles to nothingness. Sort of like the universe expanding and then imploding.

ril said...

There are lots of innocent sounding words that'll get you in trouble over there...

Xenith said...

My last name is rarely spelt correctly (a cousin got a write up in the newspaper yesterday, and they managed to get it right!!) and my mother's maiden name is almost guaranteed to be wrong in documents but, hey, that didn't stop us doing the family history thing.

Robin B. said...

I figured you might be prepping for something when I saw the (and bought the) latest best of...

But I sure hope your minions can still stay in touch - even if it's in a different format/way/etc.

Xenith said...

If you're tired of the blog, there's no much point continuing

Dave Fragments said...

When I started on the blog business about five years ago (there weren't blogs before that because of work, don't ask, long story, possessive and cruel bosses)...

There were six to eight blogs I read every day. EE is the last one left. One by one they dropped out. Miss Snark most notably, several agents descended into repetition. Others just burned out.

EE at least has tried to remain relevent and fresh.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

That sounds like a good way to get the family you always wanted, Xenith. Even if it really isn't yours.

Xenith said...

I didn't think of that Phoenix. I wonder if it's too late to trade them in for a better one.

Robin B. said...

EE, I remember that last year so said something like "I think I can make it for one more year"...
It has to be hard to keep it going - hell, it's a business!

ril, now that I'll be in the Richmond area of Londontown, hope we and families can get together sometime.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

The blog really is like teaching school. No matter how well trained the alumni, there are always new students to make the same mistakes.

ril said...

That sounds like a good way to get the family you always wanted...

I wanted the Addams Family.

ril said...

@Robin

I usually get back there each Summer...

Xenith said...

Or old students to make all new mistakes.


It's the only place I feel comfortable posting my queries.

Robin B. said...

There was a time when I wanted the family on "Lost in Space", but I was gonna off that idiot Dr. Smith, of course.

ril said...

It's the only writing blog I consistently visit every day...

Dave Fragments said...

Five years ago, well may be more like four, but you get the idea, I looked at self-publishing platforms like LULU and whatever other self-publishing houses were called.

the flirtation lasted about 5 minutes before I figure out what a gyp they were.

Now, today in 2011. There are entire publishing houses that only print on demand and the Amazon kindle market has grown. It's barely two years old.

And the much hated FACEBOOK and Twitter are marketing tools. They are (what) eighteen months old?

That's a new publishing market in less than five years.

Robin B. said...

Ril, excellent. Let's see about getting everyone together, then. When we actually have an address, I'll send it.We'll be moving there sometime over the summer, but when depends on the timing of the house sale.

ril said...

I'm kind of strange in real life, though. I just put on this "normal" facade on the internet.

Robin B. said...

EE, I do't think I would have been able to finish writing my novel if I hadn't found your blog. And I certainly wouldn't have the amazing, creative group of writing friends I have now, without you - because your blog is where I met them.

Robin B. said...

yeah, ril, I've noticed how normal you are...

Evil Editor said...

The only friends I have are my minions. All my other friends dumped me for spending so much time blogging.

ril said...

Yeah, I saw them whining on their blogs about it.

Robin B. said...

We'll be happy to come on over for a party.

Do you have a hot tub, by any chance?

ril said...

There's one just North of where I am...

Wonderwood said...

So, Robin, you're moving across the pond, eh? Is this a permanent kind of thing or what?

Hiya, EE. Thanks again for all the time and effort you've spent on us the last five years.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

I'm betting you don't get much company for awhile there, ril.

Xenith said...

I'm off to bed while I can still remember how to type. Night!

Dave Fragments said...

Good night.

Robin B. said...

Bye, Xenith!

Evil Editor said...

I don't really do it for you guys, WW, it's just to keep me out of trouble.

Robin B. said...

How's your hot tub doing, ril? Any chance of unpligging that sucker and having it cool the hell off?

Hi WW! Don't know yet about London - whether it's for a few years, or more...

Agree about EE. He's made a lot happen!

ril said...

I don't really do it for you guys, WW, it's just to keep me out of trouble.

Doesn't seem to be working....

Dave Fragments said...

It's nice to stay our of trouble

Robin B. said...

Hmmm..trouble, huh, EE?

Wonderwood said...

Well, it's win-win then, and we're glad to help out.

One thing I've noticed over the years, the Minions have gotten softer. When I first came around, the Minions were brutal. I remember Hawkowl (or something like that) would rip the New Beginnings. Cold-blooded. Now we mostly deliver gentle beatings.

Not a criticism, just an observation.

Dave Fragments said...

I have a friend who left a blog and became a Judge Judy aficionado. Now, a half bottle of scotch wouldn't improve her conversational abilities that survived...

Robin B. said...

Agree -the tone HAS changed. I got there just after the Hawkowl era...


I miss the riffs. We had comment strings in the 20s through the 80s - it was a blast-a-rama that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Evil Editor said...

There's a name from the past. As I recall Hawkowl started driving a truck 24-7.

ril said...

People don't like hard feedback, though. EE's style of masking the feedback in humor works well.

Evil Editor said...

I get fewer death threats than I used to. Maybe it's a good sign for society.

ril said...

I always thought Hawkowl acted in good faith...

Dave Fragments said...

Blogs somehow fell out of favor.

I mean, you needed to write to do a blog and if you have any relation to teenage and college age kids, they can't see, to write in anything but 140 character twitterfied shorthand and socialize like (what we geezers always thought were) normal people because they are used to socializing on text messages and FaceBook updates and tweets...

Robin B. said...

Yeah, ril, agree - the humore took the sting out - while still giving us a place to come out with our work, show it, and have it blasted with humor and other stuff. Makes you able to withstand criticism, which you have to be able to do.
Another thing to thank you for, Sparky.

Evil Editor said...

I'm surprised no one has started a Twitter-like network with a 75-word limit for people who are tired of seemingly endless tweets.

Wonderwood said...

RIL, Hawkowl didn't seem mean-spirited, but she was brutally honest with no attempt to spare the feelings of the insecure.

ril said...

That's life. Funny thing is, her own blogs were kind of gentle...

Evil Editor said...

It's starting to sound like I'm being eulogized. At the rate stuff comes in, it'll probably be another year before everything reaches 1000 and I shut it down and go on a writing retreat with all my minions.

Dave Fragments said...

When I read the comment strings of My Niece's sixteen year old son's hockey team, I shudder...
Not only is it poor grammar, it's vacuous and kiddish (I know they are kids)... It's like "I weep for the future" then I sit back and remember that every generation terrorizes the old folks the same way.

ril said...

One does wonder where the minimalisation of communication will lead...

Wonderwood said...

Cool! A writing retreat! I'm in.

Robin B. said...

The other thing about learning how to handle criticism on your blog - that worked well - was realizing that not everyone has one thin clue how to: 1)write and 2) critique. It's very freeing, seeing that, and being able to discern the difference. It's amazing how many people spout off who should be keeping their mouths shut. Good to have experience with - thanks for that as well.

ril said...

@EE

Looking forward to having this conversation again in 12 months.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Looking forward to EE's hot tub.

Dave Fragments said...

All criticism hurts but the trick is what you do with it.

Robin B. said...

Yes, PLEASE do have a writing retreat with your minions! Damn - that would be freakin great.

Another year would be good to wait, though. Glad you're not in a hurry. My 2011 is shaping up to be intense and 'busy', as in crazed busy. A retreat in 2012, I'm so up for that.

ril said...

I can bring beer.

Oh, wait. No I can't.

Robin B. said...

Ha, Phoenix!!!

Evil Editor said...

Actually, I do have an endless pool. It throws water at you, allowing you to swim in place, sort of like a treadmill. But if you turn it off it's a hot tub for about twenty.

Wonderwood said...

I'll bring something for the pipe.

Just kidding.

Or am I?

Dave Fragments said...

...go on a writing retreat with all my minions...

I might actually travel for that. I haven't traveled in a decade.

Robin B. said...

Remember how we used to write about the writing retreats?! That was a hoot.

I'd be happy to show up for a turned off but hot endless pool, and a barrel full of iced-down booze....and hanging out with you guys. But we'd have to crash either there, or somewhere close.

ril said...

No worries, part of the party can be build your own igloo!

Dave Fragments said...

Being a detail-oriented chemical engineer, I went back through my rather anally well-ordered files and looked up all the Writing Exercise.

That was scary. Really scary

Phoenix Sullivan said...

I just put up another post where we can continue the comments without having to go to a new page.

Evil Editor said...

Too late, everyone's ready to leave.

Wonderwood said...

Shoot, I gotta take off for a while. I hope y'all keep the party going. Back later.

Phoenix Sullivan said...

Well, the party goes for another 7 hours. Others may drop by ad hoc. Because ... PRIZES.