(Finger-)Painting the Town Purple: Boston RealSpace Report
Katherine Bryant
moon, at any rate!) decides that it's high time for a RealSpace Report...
especially since she's already thwapped /* several times for references to
it!
"Well, there I was, about five minutes before two o'clock, sitting on
one of the sets of steps of Faneuil Hall in Boston, on the Quincy Market
side....with a posterboard sign that said "REALSPACE" in big red letters.
The tourists kept looking at me funny. I felt sort of like I was either
a doomsday prophet (repent! the end of space as we know it is coming!) or
a salesperson (get your space here!). One of the ranger-types asked me
what it meant...
"Finally, a man came walking straight over to me with a smile on his face
and introduced himself as Castellan. Over the next half hour or so,
he was followed by Calico Mouse and Tom (who lurks -- hey you! get down
from those joists!), Tink, and Signe. Our general happiness and nonstop
babble was temporarily halted when Signe brought word that Red Sonja and
Shakti would not be joining us after all, since Shakti was in the hospital."
She pauses for a moment. "Get well soon, Shakti!"
"Anyway, after standing around trying to decide what to do with ourselves
between then and 5:30 when the second installment of Callahanians was to
arrive, we started wandering Quincy Market. For those not familiar with
the area, it's a series of buildings full of lots of little (mostly
expensive) stores, craft stalls, and restaurants/bakeries/fast-food spots.
"We spent a good long while browsing through Sharper Image, playing with
blood-pressure readers that kept telling Tink and me we had no blood pressure,
strange-looking finger massagers (which prompted Castellan to make a crack
about "I am Loqutus of Borg..." -- they really did look like something a
Borg would wear!), chrome laser pointers, and the rest of the usual strange
stuff found in such a store.
"Then we went to find something to eat; Calico Mouse and Tom hadn't had
lunch. The next order of business was finding a purple ink pad, whose
purpose will become clear..." She grins at the other RS attendees. "We
sort of felt we'd done the Quincy Market thing, so we started walking
over toward the waterfront. It was still there... we wandered around for
a while, and then found ourselves back at the Market. We were all hot
and tired by this point, so we found a (somewhat) shady spot to sit, talk,
trade stories about cats, gardens (I want Calico Mouse to do my next garden!),
siblings, Signe's family's ice cream parlor, and so on. Oh yes, and take
pictures.
"This was still hot, and we were getting thirsty, so we adjourned to a
nearby McDonald's for drinks (four large Sprites, two large Cokes) and
air-conditioning as well as lots more talk.
"So the time passed until it was getting close on the time we were supposed
to be back at Faneuil Hall to meet Merlinvin, /*, and Biotic Girandole.
So the inkpad came out, and we laughed at ourselves as each of us carefully
pressed the palm of one hand onto it, presenting a very nice layer of
purple ink. We wondered just how washable it really was, especially after
Calico went and washed her hands and still had quite a pronounced purple
stain." Valentine looks at her right hand. "Three days later, and there's
still a purple tinge! Anyway, we blotted ourselves off as best we could,
debated the best way to disguise the purple hands, and set off for the
meeting place.
"Merlinvin was the first of the later group to arrive, but declined to
be in on the purple plot." She smiles. "What purple plot, you ask? I'm
getting to that...
"Castellan and Merlinvin had met the other two before, so it wasn't long
before ...Castellan, I think it was, spotted them across the way. The
rest of us turned, and immediately picked out /*." She laughs. "Between
the purple shirt and shorts and the long braided tail of hair, it couldn't
have been anyone else....
"There were many hugs and shaking of hands, when suddenly I looked down
at my hand and cried, 'It worked!' The expression on /*'s face was
priceless.... You see, Tink had suggested that it would be fun if we
could make the purpleizing seem to happen in Real Life (TM) too.... /*
promptly asked to be purpleized too, so we handed over the inkpad.
"The next order of business was finding some dinner! Someone suggested
the Boston Brewing Co. (do I have the name right?), so we all piled
into the subway and emerged in Kenmore Square. /* and Biotic G. entertained
us with tales of B.U. (which is right near there) as we approached the
restaurant.
"Dinner was full of more talk and story-trading, and picture-taking. And
laughing. One of the best lines of the day was when, not long after we'd
taken a group picture with everyone holding up their purple hands, another
diner came up and asked why our hands were all purple." She grins. "We
couldn't quite come up with a good explanation on the spot, though we did
eventually come up with one.
"After dinner, we debated where to go next. After first thinking that my
place would be too small, I agreed to have people come over. So nine
people crowded into my rather small living room, drank soda and talked
yet more and took yet more pictures. People started fading and left
around 11 o'clock, to make sure of catching the last subways back to
where they all needed to get to.
"Best lines of the day, at least those I can remember:
"I'll drink bad soda, so long as it's purple!" -- Mike "/*" Holmes
"How did you finally get out of the handcuffs?" -- a waiter at the restaurant
"Oh, and my fedora, which I wore in honor of the occasion, became the
RS equivalent of throwing peanuts. Fedoras make very nice thwaps.
"On the whole, it was a great day. I loved meeting everyone, and I hope
we can have another sometime sooner than a year from now!
"Anyone else have anything to add?" (Silly question!)
Valentine, of the Order of the Purple Hand
Michael J M Holmes
: One of Valentine's various instantiations (the one that isn't going to the
: moon, at any rate!) decides that it's high time for a RealSpace Report...
: especially since she's already thwapped /* several times for references to
: it!
[cut to: /* rubbing the side of his head from being thwapped!]
[...earlier descriptions deleted, but it was nice to read...]
: "There were many hugs and shaking of hands, when suddenly I looked down
: at my hand and cried, 'It worked!' The expression on /*'s face was
: priceless.... You see, Tink had suggested that it would be fun if we
: could make the purpleizing seem to happen in Real Life (TM) too....
"That _was_ *hysterical*. I wish I could have seen my own face -
I was totally shocked, at least momentarily. TOO much VR overlapping
into RL, it seemed!"
: /* promptly asked to be purpleized too, so we handed over the inkpad.
<grin> "Although Biotic G. declined. However, he's subjected to
enough purple most of the time, so perhaps he's forgiven!"
: "The next order of business was finding some dinner! Someone suggested
: the Boston Brewing Co. (do I have the name right?), so we all piled
: into the subway and emerged in Kenmore Square. /* and Biotic G. entertained
: us with tales of B.U. (which is right near there) as we approached the
: restaurant.
: "Dinner was full of more talk and story-trading, and picture-taking. And
: laughing. One of the best lines of the day was when, not long after we'd
: taken a group picture with everyone holding up their purple hands, another
: diner came up and asked why our hands were all purple." She grins. "We
: couldn't quite come up with a good explanation on the spot, though we did
: eventually come up with one.
"Anyone remember the wine/beer descriptions?"
/* explains, for those who weren't there. "At last year's
RS, we went to a Chinese restaurant. For the fortune cookies,
we played a 'game' that has a few variations, but I'm sure
many people are familiar with it - you add a phrase like
'between the sheets' to the end of your fortune... like
'You have a winning personality... between the sheets.'"
"Since we didn't have fortune cookies this year, we were at
a loss! Until we scanned the descriptions of the beers and wines
available, which were a little extravagant. Adding the phrase
'between the sheets' to a liquor description like 'fruity, toasty,
yet ostentatious' served the purpose equally well!"
(although the real-life examples were much better, and I can't
remember them!)
: "After dinner, we debated where to go next. After first thinking that my
: place would be too small, I agreed to have people come over. So nine
: people crowded into my rather small living room, drank soda and talked
: yet more and took yet more pictures. People started fading and left
: around 11 o'clock, to make sure of catching the last subways back to
: where they all needed to get to.
"My eyes are STILL filled with teal spots from the flashbulbs!
Speaking of, who can I beg to get copies?"
: "Best lines of the day, at least those I can remember:
: "I'll drink bad soda, so long as it's purple!" -- Mike "/*" Holmes
: "How did you finally get out of the handcuffs?" -- a waiter at the
: restaurant
"Oh, we should have written these down... I know there were QUITE
a few more!!"
/* still giggles every time he thinks of that waiter passing
by... and the purple guy wonders who the heck he was talking to!
: "Oh, and my fedora, which I wore in honor of the occasion, became the
: RS equivalent of throwing peanuts. Fedoras make very nice thwaps.
"As several of us came to realize that evening!" ;-)
: "On the whole, it was a great day. I loved meeting everyone, and I hope
: we can have another sometime sooner than a year from now!
"Seconded!"
: "Anyone else have anything to add?" (Silly question!)
"Yup! The CROUTONS! The CROUTONS!" (Time to duck from another thwap!)
: Valentine, of the Order of the Purple Hand
"and Queen of the... hmmm, what was that again? I'm SO forgetful
lately... I'm sure SOMEBODY must remember!"
/*, purple guy... it was a great and happy time and he was
pleased and privileged to be there... what a great bunch of people!
--
/* Mike Holmes, Happiness Patrol, BU Geog Dept, HAPPINESS WILL PREVAIL!
"he's MAD!!!!! MAD, i tell you....MAD!!!!!!!" (says kitten)
"I wonder who it was defined man as a rational animal. It was the most
premature definition ever given." -Wilde, _The Picture of Dorian Gray_
the calico mouse
(Katherine Bryant) wrote:
>
[much snippage]:
> and tired by this point, so we found a (somewhat) shady spot to sit, talk,
> trade stories about cats, gardens (I want Calico Mouse to do my next garden!),
> siblings, Signe's family's ice cream parlor, and so on. Oh yes, and take
> pictures.
"That's just because you know I can make you a garden that
you don't have to weed or water. :-) But sure, if I make it up there
this September, I'll do a spring bulb garden for you." [Image of
a hungry calico mouse nibbling on a crocus bulb.]
>
> "So the time passed until it was getting close on the time we were supposed
> to be back at Faneuil Hall to meet Merlinvin, /*, and Biotic Girandole.
> So the inkpad came out, and we laughed at ourselves as each of us carefully
> pressed the palm of one hand onto it, presenting a very nice layer of
> purple ink. We wondered just how washable it really was, especially after
> Calico went and washed her hands and still had quite a pronounced purple
> stain." Valentine looks at her right hand. "Three days later, and there's
> still a purple tinge! Anyway, we blotted ourselves off as best we could,
> debated the best way to disguise the purple hands, and set off for the
> meeting place.
"I managed to get rid of the purple before my job hunt, but only
because I was a wimp and started scrubbing before /* showed up. I am
now purple-free, and the sadder for it."
______________________________________________________________________
We like knowing what is to happen, with small surprises. But sometimes
we must endure or create gross shocks that stretch us until we break.
--Marge Piercy
the calico mouse
wrote:
>
> Katherine Bryant (kbr...@scws32.harvard.edu) wrote:
> : "There were many hugs and shaking of hands, when suddenly I looked down
> : at my hand and cried, 'It worked!' The expression on /*'s face was
> : priceless.... You see, Tink had suggested that it would be fun if we
> : could make the purpleizing seem to happen in Real Life (TM) too....
>
> "That _was_ *hysterical*. I wish I could have seen my own face -
> I was totally shocked, at least momentarily. TOO much VR overlapping
> into RL, it seemed!"
"Yes, shock, and then a lovely laugh. It was worth risking
permanent purpleness to hear that."
> "Anyone remember the wine/beer descriptions?"
>
> "Since we didn't have fortune cookies this year, we were at
> a loss! Until we scanned the descriptions of the beers and wines
> available, which were a little extravagant. Adding the phrase
> 'between the sheets' to a liquor description like 'fruity, toasty,
> yet ostentatious' served the purpose equally well!"
>
> (although the real-life examples were much better, and I can't
> remember them!)
"How about the zinfandel that was 'full-blown and swaggering?'"
[about pictures]:
> "My eyes are STILL filled with teal spots from the flashbulbs!
> Speaking of, who can I beg to get copies?"
"I haven't developed mine yet, but if I have any good ones,
I'll give you copies. I didn't get some of the group shots, though.
I dont think I want to see all the 'dismayed' shots of me!"
>
> "and Queen of the... hmmm, what was that again? I'm SO forgetful
> lately... I'm sure SOMEBODY must remember!"
"Seems to me there were some pretty subservient croutons in
my salad."
Katherine Bryant
>: "There were many hugs and shaking of hands, when suddenly I looked down
>: at my hand and cried, 'It worked!' The expression on /*'s face was
>: priceless.... You see, Tink had suggested that it would be fun if we
>: could make the purpleizing seem to happen in Real Life (TM) too....
/*:
>"That _was_ *hysterical*. I wish I could have seen my own face -
>I was totally shocked, at least momentarily. TOO much VR overlapping
>into RL, it seemed!"
Valentine laughs. "You certainly looked it!" She looks down at her hand.
"Hmm, looks like it's finally pretty much faded."
/* again:
>"Anyone remember the wine/beer descriptions?"
"Oh.... of course!" Valentine says. "I can't remember any of them...
what was that zinfandel one? Something about a swaggering zinfandel..."
>: "After dinner, we debated where to go next. After first thinking that my
>: place would be too small, I agreed to have people come over. So nine
>: people crowded into my rather small living room, drank soda and talked
>: yet more and took yet more pictures. People started fading and left
>: around 11 o'clock, to make sure of catching the last subways back to
>: where they all needed to get to.
>
>"My eyes are STILL filled with teal spots from the flashbulbs!
>Speaking of, who can I beg to get copies?"
"I just took my film to be developed yesterday, and if any of them actually
turn out, I'll be happy to get copies."
>: "I'll drink bad soda, so long as it's purple!" -- Mike "/*" Holmes
>: "How did you finally get out of the handcuffs?" -- a waiter at the
>: restaurant
>
>"Oh, we should have written these down... I know there were QUITE
>a few more!!"
"Yeah...."
>: "Oh, and my fedora, which I wore in honor of the occasion, became the
>: RS equivalent of throwing peanuts. Fedoras make very nice thwaps.
>
>"As several of us came to realize that evening!" ;-)
"Yup!"
>: "Anyone else have anything to add?" (Silly question!)
>
>"Yup! The CROUTONS! The CROUTONS!" (Time to duck from another thwap!)
But not quickly enough! Off comes the fedora....
>: Valentine, of the Order of the Purple Hand
>
>"and Queen of the... hmmm, what was that again? I'm SO forgetful
>lately... I'm sure SOMEBODY must remember!"
Another thwap!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What's hard is simple. What's natural comes hard." --- Stephen Sondheim
Valentine...........................................kbryant@husc.harvard.edu
Michael J M Holmes
: In article <30hcvv$d...@news.bu.edu>, mj...@bu.edu (Michael J M Holmes)
: wrote:
: > Katherine Bryant (kbr...@scws32.harvard.edu) wrote:
[...about purpleizing in real life...]
: > "That _was_ *hysterical*. I wish I could have seen my own face -
: > I was totally shocked, at least momentarily. TOO much VR overlapping
: > into RL, it seemed!"
: "Yes, shock, and then a lovely laugh. It was worth risking
: permanent purpleness to hear that."
/* blushes. Then laughs again. "Of course, to *me*, I'd
risk _anything_ for permanenet purpleness!!" ;-)
"And I still have the inkpad!"
: > "Anyone remember the wine/beer descriptions?"
: "How about the zinfandel that was 'full-blown and swaggering?'"
"Yes!" /* starts chuckling again.
: [about pictures]:
: > "My eyes are STILL filled with teal spots from the flashbulbs!
: > Speaking of, who can I beg to get copies?"
: "I haven't developed mine yet, but if I have any good ones,
: I'll give you copies. I didn't get some of the group shots, though.
: I dont think I want to see all the 'dismayed' shots of me!"
"I'd grapely appreciate it! And I seem to recall that there
will probably be a few pictures of 'Mike Holmes with blank
look #5 on his face' 'Mike Holmes with blank look #7' (and so on, and so on!)"
: > "and Queen of the... hmmm, what was that again? I'm SO forgetful
: > lately... I'm sure SOMEBODY must remember!"
: "Seems to me there were some pretty subservient croutons in
: my salad."
<grin> "You know, there's nothing quite like regal croutons...
must be why I like them in my 'Caesar' salad!"