More than you ever wanted to hear from Jenny Crusie.

PORT After the Horned Altar

I knew I should never have left you alone this long. You plot.

I’ll take a picture of the red thing tomorrow, in between trying to finish D&G and answering my contractor’s questions (there are ten million little things that need done here and he’s trying to do them all before he starts a big project) so I can have all the lights in my kitchen working and a door at the bottom of the stairs to keep Milton from harassing Bob when he comes to stay and lights by my back door so I can see out at night and . . . well, you get the drift.

At the moment I’m trying to get back into D&G. There’s a time when the window closes on a book and it’s done, you can’t see that world or hear the voices anymore, and that happened with D&G. I can do minor edits after that, clean up, but I can’t fix major problems. But Jen had some major problems with my characters which meant a major rewrite, so after I hyperventilated and stared into space, I thought, “Well, you know what you have to do.” Which is reinvent the book so it’s new again. Problem is, it’s a collaboration so I can’t violate Krissie and Lani’s finished plot lines or characters. So it’s tricky.

But I went back to the music and the collage, and I kept humming and cutting and pasting and now it’s midnight and I just made a horned altar out of styrofoam. There’s a reason Bob screams.

But I think I’ve got a new way in. Maybe. And I checked with Krissie about some changes I wanted to make in the relationship between her goddess and mine, and she’s good with it–actually she’s great with it–so if I can just stay immersed in this do-over long enough to fix my stuff, then I can go on and write AKMG which I have to do because it comes before Wild Ride and Bob has just killed his henchwoman (whom I think bears a startling resemblance to me; he took a lot of pleasure in telling me she was history) so he’s on his way out the door on that. After that he’s got Who Dares Wins and then he’s gonna be knocking on my door asking what Mary Imogen is up to, and I can’t even remember her last name.

And in the meantime, I have to discuss bathroom vanities with the contractor–because nobody is impressed with the utility sink in the first floor bathroom now–and paint this horned altar gray and, oh yeah, take a picture of the red thing. It’s going to be a HUGE anticlimax, I’m telling you now.

And I do not want to hear any chanting about POTHA, either.

101 Comments so far

  1. Yvonne Lindsay on April 9th, 2008 at 12:05 am

    And here we all thought you’d been busy or something :D

    Really looking forward to the PORT. Did Bob mention what his henchwoman was wearing by any chance?

    Hope the menagerie like the contractor. All the best with the improvements!

  2. Courtney De on April 9th, 2008 at 12:28 am

    Ah, satisfaction….mention the badgering won’t stop until Picture of Red Thing appears, walk away, meander about, check back in to find that badgering has gone on very well without me and we are promised a P.O.R.T.

    I wish to say it again, seeing as I missed all of the actual badgering, and because, while you SAY there will be a picture, you could be trying to mollify us with false promises. Ha!

    P.O.R.T.

    And, since YOU brought it up…POTHA! I see no reason why we can’t have it all. Next we would like to see the “before” and “after” renovation pics.

    Write faster–if we had new books in hand, we would have less time to badger you. Probably. (Yes, you may-gleefully-slug me for the “write faster!” comment. Bygones.) Once more:

    P.O.R.T. That was fun.

  3. Louis on April 9th, 2008 at 12:32 am

    Horned Alter?

    Hmmmm.

    Interesting!

    Definitely interesting!

  4. Christine on April 9th, 2008 at 12:48 am

    My dad has been renovating, and I just went to visit. Of all the things he’s had done — siding, wood flooring, new furniture, new paint, new deck, new windows, new shower with a light in it — the thing he took the most pleasure in showing off was the bathroom vanity. Maybe this is old hat to people in bigger towns, but at night, when you open the cupboard doors, it looks like there’s a light on in there because the countertop is actually translucent and lets the light through from above. Just thought I’d share.

  5. Jenyfer Matthews on April 9th, 2008 at 1:59 am

    While you’re taking pictures, you better include one of the horned altar. I can’t believe you would even tease us that way…

  6. talpianna on April 9th, 2008 at 4:04 am

    Have you considered combining your options and putting in a new utility sink shaped like a red horned altar? I’ll bet THAT would impress people!

  7. DownUnderGal on April 9th, 2008 at 7:20 am

    Yep, horned altar - leaving that one right alone.
    Pleased just to see another post. Needed a pick-me-up tonight.
    Thanks.

  8. Mary Stella on April 9th, 2008 at 9:08 am

    *sigh* To think I could have saved all of the badgering had I not lost sight of you after your presentation at NINC. Someone distracted me and I couldn’t find you to even say hello and thank you. Otherwise, I would have taken a picture of you and the PORT.

    I obviously dropped the ball as an Argh Ink Cherry.

  9. Office Wench Cherry on April 9th, 2008 at 9:54 am

    Good luck with the renos and the rewrites. My husband and I were thinking of doing some major work to our house and then we decided that we might want to move within five years so we changed our minds. I’m not going to put fifty thousand dollars into the basement (currently unfinished), move and then not get a decent return on my investment.

    But I’m sure the utility sink has got to go.

  10. Jenny A, Cherry Harpy on April 9th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Good luck with the contractor.

    Eleven years after the fact I’m still trying to live down the day I stood in the middle of the (unfinished) kitchen and screamed, “I don’t care. Just go buy a f***ing dishwasher.”

    (The dishwasher’s still working just fine, by the way. But new, larger-size dinner plates are too big for it.)

  11. inkgrrl on April 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am

    What I want to know is if there’s blood on the POTHA so that’s why you’re painting it, and if so, whose blood it is?

  12. Bob on April 9th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    I think the altar is for me.

  13. Bob on April 9th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    I think the altar is for me.

  14. Caryn on April 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

    I’m glad you are finding your way back into the story. Thanks for detailing these struggles, because they are exactly what I’m dealing with right now. I am rewriting a book that I first wrote two years ago, and I’m having these same problems.

  15. McB on April 9th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    Bob’s repeating himself. But it makes sense. Bob sacrifices the Jenny/Henchwoman, Jenny sacrifices him. That’s the writing duo we know and love.

  16. Slave Driver on April 9th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

    After you clean up Bob’s blood can we get a goat sacrificed on that altar? I’m thinking of next fall, trying to help the Cubs win the WS.

    Glad you are back.

    (Make sure your contractor sees the bloody altar…and possibly a sharp and jeweled knife alongside it. Maybe it will inspire him/her to pick up the pace and not goof around too much)

  17. Marilyn K on April 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    I completely sympathize with the renovation. Gutting a whole house right now. Husband out of country. I’m dealing with contractors. Big ARGH.

    Read POTHA. Thought pic. of anti climax. Brain is fried from dealing with renov.

    Don’t need to see altar. Unless certain contractors on it.

  18. Reb on April 10th, 2008 at 12:31 am

    I wanna see the altar. Just so I can be impressed with your creativity. Mind you, Welcome to Temptation means I’m already incredibly impressed with your creativity.

    How about putting on the red thing, setting the camera to self-timer, standing by the altar, and taking a photo. Two for the price of one!

    And very glad to hear you’ve been busy instead of sick, and that you’re getting back into D&G. Good luck with it all.

  19. JanLo on April 10th, 2008 at 6:40 am

    I second standing by the altar in the red thing, possibly with the jeweled knife in hand. Post on refrigerator for contractors to see when they get the a.m. cup of coffee!

  20. Mary Stella on April 10th, 2008 at 7:57 am

    I third standing by the altar in the red thing, holding a jeweled knife in one hand while cuddling Milton. We need the whole Dog and Goddess visual.

  21. JulieB on April 10th, 2008 at 9:32 am

    I vote “Aye!”

  22. Carol on April 10th, 2008 at 10:03 am

    POTHA but isn’t it Wolfie?

  23. hollygee on April 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
  24. McB on April 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    Ooh, great visual … red thing, altar, jewelled knife, cuddling dog. Maybe a flickering candle?

  25. robena grant on April 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    Oh, good. You’re writing and humming and making collages/altars. All great signs. Sniff, sniff. I smell a book cooking and it’s delicious.

  26. talpianna on April 10th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    Question: Is Bob stretched on the altar ready to be sacrificed, kneeling at your feet, or hovering in the air over the altar, being worshipped?

    P.S. Despite promises, no P.O.R.T. yet. There are rumblings of mutiny among the crew, Cap’n…

  27. Kieran on April 11th, 2008 at 6:54 am

    I know I wouldn’t want to have to pose in my favorite thing for a photograph. I have picture-phobia. Perhaps this is holding Jenny back from posting a picture of the red thing. Let’s let her off the hook. Let her enjoy her red thing with no pressure!

  28. Evesie on April 11th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    alright, it must be said, PORT!!! POTHA!!! AND POST !

  29. Absolute Cherry on April 11th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    WE can’t be left alone? I’ve gotten up to some pretty random stuff when left too long without adult supervision, but I’ve never built a horned altar…

    portportportportportportportportport. And potha. ;-)

  30. Kaila on April 11th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

    Just wanted to say I love your books…all of them. They are so uplifting. Next to your books, I love Nora Roberts of course, who doesn’t? Barbara Delinsky and Kate Rizor.

  31. talpianna on April 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    Kieran: We’d be satisfied with a pic of the red thing on a bedspread. Or a hanger. Or Veronica. Jenny doesn’t have to be in the picture if she doesn’t want to be. Although we’d love to see her–AND her altar ego!

  32. jackie on April 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm

    You guys haven’t caught on yet have you? Or at least not all of us. The POTHA is a canard.

    PORT

    and POTHA

  33. Merry on April 12th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Did someone abort the PORT report as a last resort?

  34. Ellie Wilson on April 12th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

    http://tiny.cc/q3AuY
    Now that you are revisiting D&G, check out these goddesses. I know they’re Greek (or Greek-American, perhaps) but thought you might enjoy…

  35. McB on April 14th, 2008 at 11:43 am

    Perhaps we should alert the PORT authorities?

  36. Slave Driver on April 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    My take on the picture of the red thing:

    The red thing interests me because:

    Jenny mentioned that is had tie thingies. So, are we talking straightjacket type tie thingies, or dance of the seven veils type tie thingies? Or little tiny tie thingies that a ham-fisted individual like myself would not have the dexterity to tie? I am knot-challenged, and am fortunate to tie my shoes correctly. I bless the person who came up with Velcro fasteners for sandals.

    Maybe Bob could hold a Knot-Expo. I’m confident he knows his half hitch from his sheepshank.

    I’m also curious about what color red it might be. Coca-Cola red? International Harvester red? Target Bullseye red? Some reds have more blue, some more yellow. If you could convert the color of the red thing into HEX code would it be dark and mysterious aa0000, a bright and light ff1100 or a luscious lipstick ff2222?

    As far as the shape of the red thing goes does it have sleeves? A cape? A Peter Pan collar? Dare I wonder…spaghetti straps? Long? Short? Blousy or tight? Is it silky? Burlap? Sheered? Polar-Fleece, maybe? Does it look like someone skinned a Muppet and processed its hide? Because an “Animal” red thing would look a lot different then, say, “Kermit” or “Fozzy Bear” red thing.

    So, as you can see, my sense of NYC fashion is sadly out of whack. This is why I need a visual. My Pomeranian has more Haute Couture then I ever will, unless Milan decides that concert t-shirts and cut offs are the newest en Vogue.

    And besides, if you show us a picture of the red thing, I promise not to bother you for anything else ever again…

    Slave Driver flutters her eyelashes, scuffs her toe in the dirt with her hands clasped behind her back so you cannot see her crossed fingers. Then she does a little curtsey

    from behind her comes the sound of maniacle laughter

    Umm, thank you. :)

  37. talpianna on April 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    It’s been almost a week, and tomorrow hasn’t come—Jenny has not posted a picture of The Red Thing. If it doesn’t show up in the next couple of days, I’m passing out the torches and pitchforks!

    P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!! P.O.R.T.!!!!!

  38. Mary Stella on April 15th, 2008 at 11:44 am

    I wish Jenny would blog every day, but I know she has other, important things to do — like write books.

    The bright note is that the longer the gap between Jenny posts, the more flat-out funny comments are made by the Cherry peanut gallery.

    Thanks for the laughs, everyone!

  39. MJ on April 15th, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    With Talpianna threatening pitchforks, it’s clear Jenny faces a choice. Does she want a blog riot, or will she post?

    Talpianna’s riot? Or post?

    T.R.O.P.??? T.R.O.P.??? T.R.O.P.??? T.R.O.P.???

  40. Elizabeth on April 15th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    While cuddling a dog in front of THA sounds wonderful, the image of Bob hovering over it is just too gross.

    PORT and POTHA

  41. talpianna on April 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    What I’m planning isn’t exactly a riot; it’s the march on Dracula’s castle by an enraged peasantry who are Mad As Hell And Not Going To Take It Any More. And Jenny may be too busy to write a blog entry, but she made a SOLEMN VOW to post a pic!

    And after MJ’s post, I’m feeling a bit de T.R.O.P. around here…

  42. MJ on April 16th, 2008 at 10:49 am

    Oh, no, Talpianna, no one would consider you superfluous around here. I’m sure they’d be in favor of you.

    Which would make them PRO T.

  43. Slave Driver on April 16th, 2008 at 11:03 am

    My take on the P.O.T.R.

    I looked for my torches and pitchfork yesterday, and came up with zilch.

    Then I remembered: I got all excited when y’all talked about moving this bunch to Cl*toris, I cleaned out my garage and donated my peasant weapons to D.I. They’re probably in the hands of a FLDS mother as we speak.

    So I guess I need to borrow some. Anybody have extra?

    Next, who is mob-planner here? I need more info before I head out. Are we going to eat before the gathering? And if so are we talking IHOP or a potluck? ‘Cause someone needs to make a list, there’s only so much “Funeral Potato Casserole” and Jell-O salad with coconut and mandarin oranges I can stand.

    Oh, and is this a B.Y.O.B. event?

    (No, Mr. Mayer; Bring Your Own Booze, not Bring Your Own Bob).

    Also, what is the location of this castle we are laying siege to? You know, two days ago it was 80 degrees here, yesterday it snowed. I have to know the climate to pack, which leads me to dress code: Formal? I have a Tuxedo Jacket I wear at work sometimes, but it smells like horse and if I wear that I’ll have to have it dry cleaned to rid it of the oily/smoky torch smell. Or are we talking pajamas and fuzzy slippers? That seems to be the in thing to wear to the grocery store out here.

    Finally, are we forming a flash mob? Will it be festival seating? Are we going to proceed in order of height? Alphabetical? Age before beauty? What? I always get stuck behind someone as tall as Kareem Abdul Jabar, and frankly I’m a little tired of it.

    I know one thing for certain; we put Mary Stella in charge of the photos to make up for dropping the ball in NYC. All those in favor say “Aye”

    I need specifics here, people. Or, Jenny could just P.O.R.T. and be done with it.

  44. McB on April 16th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    Personally, I’m in favor of stocking up on scones from Panera before we storm the castle. PORT-able fuel. I think black tie is optional at the average mob event, but perhaps someone should consult Emily Post first. And some of us may be flashing but I don’t think that constitutes a flash mob.

    Jenny, for the love of Bob, PORT already before we reach critical mass.

  45. Slave Driver on April 16th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    McB, I’m not big fan of scones but I learned how to make Garlic Nan in a tandoor oven today. Whoever has the list, put me down for that. And I’ll throw in a box of tic-tacs pre-storming so we all have minty fresh breath. I did check with Emily Post and fresh breath during a crusade is de rigueur.

  46. JulieB on April 16th, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    We just can’t over-do the carbs. We don’t want to be sluggish.

    And, I hate to point it out, but it may be that Jenny has actually opened a PORTal to another dimension — one with scary horned goats. It may have seen her, wearing the red-thing, and whisked her off to another time-space contiumun, where, instead of riding on a white horse and prancing along the sea-shore in lovely, sea-shell shawls, with “(K)nights in White Satin” sweeping in as both background music and romantic love interests, she is bound to a horned cloven-footed being with the earworm soundtrack “Angel is a Centerfold…..”

    It might actually be a rescue mission.

  47. talpianna on April 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    Slave Driver, isn’t “mob-planner” sort of oxymoronic? Of course, the sort of people who form mobs usually ARE airheads and morons…

    But we’re different, aren’t we?

    I hadn’t thought about having a sign-up sheet and a potluck. Perhaps YOU would like to be the mob-planner, as you obviously have a talent for it?

    Equipment may be ordered from this catalogue:

    http://www.gameslore.com/acatalog/GRR3001TN.jpg

    This is the effect we’re aiming for:

    http://wcfgoldmine.com/villagers.jpg

    Dress code is leather jerkins, coarse linen smocks, and basic sans-culotte gear. Liberty caps, made famous in the French Revolution, are to be worn as an expression of solidarity with the Red Thing:

    http://www.thedyinggod.com/images/subimages/phrygian.gif

    As for food, the Domino’s 4-for-$4 deal looks pretty good.

  48. Merry on April 16th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

    Maybe if we bring dinner with all the fixin’s, it would be considered sup-port?

  49. Marilyn K on April 16th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    Port or get off the pot?

    Love you Jenny!

  50. Marilyn K on April 16th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    OOh, that was rude. Sorry! Ducking!

    I’d rather you be writing or blogging. I am curious about Red blouse/wrap. Just not enough to annoy you.

  51. talpianna on April 17th, 2008 at 1:14 am

    I hate to admit it, but Jenny’s right. When she leaves us alone, we DO plot!

  52. Reb on April 17th, 2008 at 3:51 am

    I’d love to come join the siege, but I’m in New Zealand so I’m just not that portable.

    Sorry, couldn’t resist!

  53. Louise on April 17th, 2008 at 5:58 am

    I agree with JulieB, it’s a rescue mission. I mean, when you consider Bob is doing double speak, the contractor is talking vanities and there’s an angry demonic dachshund bearing down on the capitol.
    Besides that, those of us who have to fly to get there can’t bring pitchforks in this age of airport security. I can, however, bring food. What would you like? I’m thinking Pavlova, all that sugar has got to be good in a rescue situation.
    And if it were me, I wouldn’t be putting my picture up here for the whole world to see, no matter how good the red thing is. So I will not be saying the ‘P’ word.
    Although, I have to admit, I’m curious about the red thing. And the horned altar.
    Maybe if you hung it on a shop mannequin Jenny, right beside the altar.
    All the best with the rewrites. And the renovating.

  54. Courtney De on April 17th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Jenny:

    Methinks it is important that you report post-haste with a portrait of That Which Shall Not Be Named. You can try skipping to Portugal, but, purportedly, the mob is losing all sense of comportment. Signs and portents indicate that they will come for you, importing and exporting via seaport, airport, and carport. There is no portal of escape-not even deportation. Portions of my “Portable Guide to Mobs” portray their apportion of troops as proportionately formidable. Therefore, I suggest that you fortify yourself with a glass of port, and be a sport.

    I’m just trying to be helpful and supportive.

  55. talpianna on April 17th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Courtney, go to your room.

  56. MJ on April 17th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

    Wow, Courtney - transports of PORT joy!

  57. Merry on April 18th, 2008 at 1:04 am

    Truly, O Jenny, Courtney spake with words of great import, so be a sport, cease to cavort, and please report!

    (else thou shouldst gird thy loins and prepare thyself for more bad wordplay ;)

  58. Merry on April 18th, 2008 at 1:07 am

    Hmmmn… do you think Miss J is off reading Portnoy’s Complaint?

  59. talpianna on April 18th, 2008 at 3:19 am

    She’s probably consuming a dinner of porterhouse steak with baked portato, accompanied by a mug of porter, with Port Salut cheese for afters….

  60. Mary Stella on April 18th, 2008 at 9:28 am

    If Jenny didn’t want us to bug her for the picture, she shouldn’t have PORTended that she would post one.

    Going back to her original post on the subject. She’s a little wrong in her assessment. It doesn’t matter whether she leaves us alone too long — we’ll plot whenever.

    It just takes on more importance as time goes by.

  61. McB on April 18th, 2008 at 9:41 am

    I’m sure she’s busy preparing for Wild Ride by reading The ImPORTance of Being Mary Imogene. PORTions of which, rePORTedly, porPORT to be proPORTionally relevant. Says one rePORTer.

  62. Slave Driver on April 18th, 2008 at 10:04 am

    Online there’s a writer names Jenny
    For a Red Thing she paid quite a penny,
    When it came time to share,
    She refused to go there,
    And PORT’s of the Thing? There weren’t any.

    Sorry, that’s all I got.

  63. Slave Driver on April 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am

    PS - in the interest of using clean language I decline to include the word “Nantucket.”

    There are soooo many places I could have gone with that
    little beauty.

    ;)

  64. JulieB on April 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Who felt the earthquake? I think Jenny’s Portal of Goatdoom opened.

    Or she shrunk the red thing in the dryer…

  65. Jeepgirl on April 18th, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    I felt the earthquake. I live in a suburb of Cincinnati so you might be right about the portal.

  66. Melissa Blue on April 18th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Wow, when you leave Argh People alone they plot mayhem.

  67. Evesie on April 18th, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    ok, is it sad that I am actually getting pretty pissed at no new post?!! what the frecky fracking freck - it’s been a long week and since Jenny doesn’t write quicker nor can I read another one of her books for the zillionth time, I want some literary relief even in blog form! Bamboozle me woman already!

  68. Evesie on April 18th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    oh and McB - cool post!

  69. robena grant on April 18th, 2008 at 11:32 pm

    Ya know, I’m not a genius or anything but maybe Jenny is in that wonderful state of bliss that writer’s get into at times where everything is going so well they dare not stop to insert commas or periods or any damn thing like posting on blogs or returning phone calls or writing emails just in case they should lose their momentum and the whole manuscript turns to crap and they are left tearing their hair out and saying I will never write another word and eating chocolate and drinking wine and getting totally shitfaced and … well, you get the picture. Nah, probably not. PORT. I think that is an alcoholic drink that old men drink while smoking cigars and retiring to the men’s club, but do I look like I care? Huh? PORT, I say, PORT or get off the pot.

  70. Reb on April 19th, 2008 at 1:13 am

    I’m starting to feel an inclination to change the chant. Just by one letter, mind. Not a biggie.

    POST!

  71. talpianna on April 19th, 2008 at 3:48 am

    Robena, if you’re going to participate in this, you’re going to have to go through basic training first. You just lit your pitchfork.

  72. Merry on April 19th, 2008 at 9:16 am

    Yeah, but Talpianna, this is not exactly what you would call a serious mob, is it? A bit on the frivolous side, I would say. I mean, they’re doing The Wave, and I swear I just saw someone tossing a beachball… oh, well that’s not an issue any more. Turns out beachballs and pitchforks don’t make a great combination.

  73. JulieB on April 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    Um, yeah, sorry ’bout that…

  74. robena grant on April 19th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    Oops. Were you organizing a sneak attack?

    Stamp, stamp, ouch, puff puff, stamp … okay the pitchfork is now unlit. Got no skin left on my feet though. You guys go ahead without me, I’ll just sit here on the treestump, alone with the coyotes and the other night critters.
    Don’t mind me.
    Sob.
    Sniffle.

  75. Slave Driver on April 19th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Robena, I’m working right now, but as soon as my shift is done I’ll pick you up. I’m easy to recognize, I’ll be driving a Vis-a-vis. We can arrive at the mob together. Of course it might take us 6 weeks to
    get there, so be sure to pack a lunch. Okay, several lunches…
    oh, a
    nd bring hay.

  76. talpianna on April 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Robena, you can illuminate the darkness with a burning pitchfork handle, but what good is an unlit torch going to do you? Of course, Bob could teach you to kill myriads with it, but is he even on our side in this?

    Perhaps we should try insults before actual violence? Synchronized yelling of “Jenny has cooties!” under her window?

    Or shall we start posting our own Red Thing pictures, inviting Jenny to visualize herself wearing them? Like so:

    http://kungfurodeo.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/wonder_woman.jpg

  77. Melissa Blue on April 19th, 2008 at 10:31 pm

    Talipiana, that picture should have come with a spew warning. *snort*

    Hmm, I always wanted gold shiny bracelets.

  78. Reb on April 20th, 2008 at 4:39 am

    This do-it-ourselves PORT could be fun.

    What about this?

    http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/87/21/22662187.jpg

    Or this?

    http://www.wholesalesarong.com/crochet-bra/l-wholesale-crochet/crochet-bra-top4red.jpg

    Jenny, will you let us know if any of us come close? ;-)

  79. Yvonne Lindsay on April 20th, 2008 at 5:53 am

    Hmmm, just had a thought. Jen said she’d take a photo…she never said she’d post it

  80. Evesie on April 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am

    it’s been a week and a half let’s call in reinforcements - BOB. let’s annoy him on his board and he could call her and annoy her and eventually we WIN!

  81. Kieran on April 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Have you ever thought that maybe something is going on, and Jenny needs a break for whatever reason? She’s delivered way above 100% to her readers all these years…there’s a time when people should sit back respectfully and wait. At least IMO.

    Not that the Cherry mob isn’t cute and everything with your adorable whining! But anyone who’s had kids knows when the adorable whining becomes like nails scratching on a chalkboard. I can’t speak for Jenny, but I do think it’s time to step back and wait patiently.

    Now go eat some cheesecake or something. No more whine.

  82. Penny on April 20th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    Sorry group but I agree with Robena and Kieran. Jenny has said in this post that she is really busy writing and editing and editing and writing. We want to read these books she’s working on so let’s cut her some slack.

    If it goes on too long,like more than two months, and you are serious about an assault on her battlements, I used to be in Canadian Air Force and can give secret commands to Aircraft. ;-)

  83. Evesie on April 20th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Did I just get bitchslapped by people I don’t know?

  84. Penny on April 21st, 2008 at 6:21 am

    Not my intention. Just pointing out what Jenny has said in this post. You obviously missed the last part. ;-)

  85. Penny on April 21st, 2008 at 7:31 am

    That would be the last part of my comment.

  86. Kieran on April 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am

    I wish women wouldn’t call each other bitches so much. Woman Power, people! Treat each other nicely. If I offended you, I’m really sorry.

    Arghinkers are a riot–except now you’re about to riot in another sense, with flaming pitchforks and such. All I’m saying is…tomorrow’s Earth Day. Or is it today? We can talk about other things until Jenny is ready to write in, no?

    And don’t you hate when people act French when they’re not, ending their questions with no?

    See, I did it again.

    We can have endless discussions of relevant and irrelevant things without bothering Jenny while she’s taking care of her world(s).

  87. Diane (TT) on April 21st, 2008 at 9:44 am

    Hey, Kieran -
    I’m going to try to take the train all week, for Earth Day! It costs a bit more, but it’s been nice enough that walking from the station should be a pleasure.

    Also, I planted trees at http://www.plantabillion.org to help the Atlantic rainforest - and offset some of the less-avoidable carbon.

    See, I can talk about nice things! I’ll let the rest of you decide whether it belongs in the relevant/ irrelevant category.

  88. Evesie on April 21st, 2008 at 12:18 pm

    Diane,

    the plantabillion.org is great - thanks for the note and great job!

    Go Earth Day!

    Sorry, girls. I’m just on edge as there is very little pleasant fiction left and if I read another commentary on the wrongs of this world, I’m going to go bezerk. Hence, my antsiness for some sort of funny in Jenny’s wonderful literary style.

    ME sowwy :(

  89. robena grant on April 21st, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    Nobody needs to be sorry. Grin. Jenny loves her crazy fan group. The whole plotting and pilaging (was there going to be pilaging, cause I’m not going if there isn’t) thing is an inside joke from the days of the Cherry Bombs. Jenny gets it. Honest.
    I bet she’d be disappointed if she came back here and found nobody had written anything because everyone was behaving themselves while waiting for another post.

  90. Kieran on April 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    Oooo, Diane! I love your idea of taking the train! Our mayor is working hard to convert an already existent track to commuter rail. I can’t wait! But it might be several years.

    One thing I think the US should have extreme regret about is our lack of a decent public rail system. Any urban planners out there? How did this happen? What were we thinking?! When I lived in Scotland, I could take the train anywhere. It was awesomely convenient, not to mention much less polluting than the 2-car-per-family scenario we have here in the US.

    Robena, Evesie, yeah, no one needs to apologize. We all love Jenny’s blog. That’s what matters.

  91. talpianna on April 21st, 2008 at 7:16 pm

    Wednesday will be the Molar Equinox (midway between two National Mole Days), so celebrate the occasion by wearing taupe and buying lavish presents for your favorite Mole.

  92. JulieB on April 21st, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    What everyboday said about Jenny getting the jokes. This is a good group. No one here signs on to complain that her series has jumped the shark and to pick apart her blogs. We Lurve Jenny.

    And, like any teacher, she knows that if she leaves the room to make dittos for too long, someone in the back of the room will poke someone else (not naming names here), someone else will pass a paper airplane note, and eventually, spit wads and pencils will be sticking to the ceiling.

    Someone had better erase that message on the board before she gets back because that’s not how you spell PORT….

  93. JulieB on April 21st, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    Oh, and General Motors paid the government to build highways and reduce funding for Mass Transit systems after WWII.

    Saw it on Frontline.

  94. JulieB on April 21st, 2008 at 7:44 pm

    On a tangent: Anyone who loved Jenny’s blogs on cover design, what works, why decisions are made, etc., should take a peek at Teach Me Tonight (Link below because I don’t know how to do that fancy link thing). Laura V. has a great blog on Rosina Lippi/Sara Donati’s books and covers, and questions of genre and marketing.

    (Am I the only one who didn’t realise Lippi/Donati was/ere the same person? Did I know and forget?? Sigh)

    Anyway, the link:
    http://teachmetonight.blogspot.com/

  95. Evesie on April 21st, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    JulieB thanks for the link. I’ll check out the author Rossina Lippi (or smtg like that). Anyone read her?

  96. Yvonne Lindsay on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:47 am

    Hmmm, the Molar Equinox, is that the skin clad celebration for dentists?

  97. Yvonne Lindsay on April 22nd, 2008 at 7:48 am

    or should that be sky clad…

  98. Mary Stella on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:10 am

    Jumping into the Enviromental thread . . . For my birthday this year, a friend counted up all of the airline travel I would do visiting family, going to conferences, etc. and bought me a Terra Pass. She calculated how much carbon my travel would dump into the environment. Terra Pass uses the money to fund carbon offset projects. (www.terrapass.com) Cool!

    I’m also big on the whole Reduce, Reuse, Recycle credo to the point where I rinse out resealable plastic bags and reuse them. I have several canvas bags from the supermarket that I reuse each week for my groceries, etc.

    There are so many things each of us can do on a daily basis to help the environment.

    See. Jenny leaves us alone for awhile and we alternate between pillaging and saving the planet.

  99. McB on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am

    Talpiana, you’ll need to send me your address if you expect to receive gifts.

    Robena, what’s this “from the days of the Cherry Bombs”? Cherry Bombs are au currant, contemporary, happening and now. These are the days, my friend.

  100. Jenny on April 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 am

    Oh. My. God.

    Okay, I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never go that long without posting again. But I’m warning you, you’re going to see some pretty boring posts. It’s really better that I wait until I actually have something to SAY besides “Still working on the book . . .”

  101. talpianna on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Yvonne: It’s a good day to go see Dr. Moler the Dentist.

    http://www.moleplace.com/images/New04.JPG

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