Stranger enters, goes to corner table
SjPete
A dark haired lady, more Rubenesque than svelt, enters calmly and glances
arount the room. Seeing an empty table in the corner she unassumingly
takes it and sits so she has a view of the entire place. She has visited
once or twice before and know sooner than later the usual intellectual
crowd will wonder in. Then the conversation will be amusing, fun, or
give her some thing to think about. She orders a drink and starts to
nurse it as she waits for the regulars to appear.
Greycat Sharpclaw
David comes up and states, "I noted the TTT echo. Let me indroduce
you to one of our native intellectuals."
He snaps his fingers a few times, and a cat (silver makerel tabby)
jumps onto a nearby stool. David starts scratching the cat's ear, who
responds by purring loud enough to be heard half-way across Amethyst.
"This is Cork," David says, "Harper brought her and her sister
Kilkenney in here 3 years ago, when they were still kittens. Although
she hasn't been seen in the main room much lately.
"By the way, what is your favorite tree?"
-- David, still paying royaltees on that line.
SjPete
Greycat Sharpclaw wrote:
> David comes up and states, "I noted the TTT echo. Let me indroduce
> you to one of our native intellectuals."
>
> He snaps his fingers a few times, and a cat (silver makerel tabby)
> jumps onto a nearby stool. David starts scratching the cat's ear, who
> responds by purring loud enough to be heard half-way across Amethyst.
>
> "This is Cork," David says, "Harper brought her and her sister
> Kilkenney in here 3 years ago, when they were still kittens. Although
> she hasn't been seen in the main room much lately.
>
> "By the way, what is your favorite tree?"
Although often shy of strangers, Cork is just too much to even pretend to
be aloof from. As a smile crosses her face, she gently lifts Cork into
her lap inabiling her to give the full two hand scratching under the
chin, around the ears and cheek job while enjoying the feel and sound of
Cork's purring. The smile increases as the volume begins to get Really
Loud and Cork starts to "gentle knead" the coat protecting her lap.
Suddenly our dark haired maid reallizes all her attention has gone to the
cat and she has _almost_ forgotten the gentle man who introduced them.
She looks up quickly to first see if he is still there, (Known for being
oblivious to people and surroundings when truely enjoying herself.) upon
seein him, chuckles selfconsciously and says, "friends call me Sharry.
And you are?"
"And if you really want to know, I like both Ginkos and Blue Spruce. May
I ask why you ask?"
Charles A. Lieberman
gre...@idt.net.spamguard wrote:
| Harper..."put in" the
| fireplace.
"No wonder she needs to know what everyone's favorite tree is," says Charles.
Charles A. Lieberman http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/WhiteCat/25/index.html
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Frank Schmidt
Robin Carroll-Mann wrote:
> SjPete <sjpr...@qnis.net> wrote:
> (Sharry)> I'd enjoy hearing how she "put in" the fireplace,
> (Harper)[] blushes. "I didn't *mean* to. It's just that, Amethyst being
> constructed out of an old Victorian house, I assumed that it had a
> fireplace in the main room.[...] by the
> time a oldtimer pointed out to me that there hadn't been one
> originally, it was too late."
Frank, having just returned, hears this. "Hello Harper, Sharry", he
greetsthem, then adds to the topic: "As long as we gain something, it's
fine... but
it's been some time since somebody mentioned the sunroom/wintergarden,
or even the famous bay windows..."
> > and why that question is put to visitors,
Frank: "Well, originally it used to be a nice surprise question for
peopleexpecting to be asked about their favourite book, or band, but meanwhile
it's tradition... some years ago I had the question 'What's *your* opinion
about Veil's hypothesis?' in my signature, but never got any answers..."
> > and whatever else
> >you think might cure my ignorance while we wait for other regulars to
> >join us."
Frank once used to be a regular here, but is currently more of a regular
lurker...
"By the way, if the news didn't get through, I've got a job and moved over to
Heidelberg (now who of you knows where that is? :-) ), and I'm currently deep
in the process of learning... It's quite diverse what I'll have to do,
including even
some administration, and I haven't got much time to learn since I'll be on my
own very soon...(December, actually)"
> >"Please join me. I'll order us drinks -- that is if it is acceptable in
> >your land for a lady to be so forward."
> "Our 'land' is northern New Jersey. And yours? Oh, and pardon if
> you've already mentioned it, but I don't think I heard your name?"
Frank: "I think she called herself Sharry... remember how much time ittook us
to find out Springer's name... where is he, actually? I haven't
heard from or about him in months. I don't know what my land currently
is, except in the geographical sense, since I'm very new around here...
I'm the resident foreigner here (there were others whose native language
wasn't English, but I don't think any of those stayed), and if you want
something to laugh about, just ask me about my ideas about the non-
existance of black holes..."
Frank, speaking foreign like a real foreigner.
(Btw, what *is* your opinion about Veil's hypothesis?)
Robin Carroll-Mann
frank....@docnet.de (Frank Schmidt) wrote:
>Frank once used to be a regular here, but is currently more of a regular
>lurker...
"I think that description fits a lot of people these days," Harper
says ruefully. Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouts, "Allee
allee oxen free!" She shrugs. "It was worth a try."
>"By the way, if the news didn't get through, I've got a job and moved over to
>Heidelberg (now who of you knows where that is? :-) ),
"I'd have to consult an atlas," Harper confesses. "So, do you have
any scars yet?" :-)
> and I'm currently deep
>in the process of learning... It's quite diverse what I'll have to do,
>including even
>some administration, and I haven't got much time to learn since I'll be on my
>own very soon...(December, actually)"
"They're tossing you in at the deep end to see if you can swim, hmmm?"
>Frank, speaking foreign like a real foreigner.
"I wish I could speak any of the languages I know as well as you speak
English. Sometimes, in the library, I have to speak to Hispanic
patrons... it's a good thing they're very patient with me... my
Spanish is abominably rusty."
>(Btw, what *is* your opinion about Veil's hypothesis?)
"Blue. Willow. 47. Charles Dickens." Harper looks hopeful. "Am I
getting warmer?"
Harper, feeling hypothetical tonight
Harper %@%@% Robin Carroll-Mann
To email me, remove the fish from my address
"Mostly Harmless" -- Douglas Adams
Harper's Bread Basket http://www.geocities.com/heartland/3967
mart...@netcom.com
Robin Carroll-Mann (har...@fish.idt.net) wrote:
: "I think that description fits a lot of people these days," Harper
: says ruefully. Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouts, "Allee
: allee oxen free!" She shrugs. "It was worth a try."
Katie pokes her head out shyly from the kitchen. "I wasn't
hiding for the sake of hiding, you know," she says with an obviously
faked pout. She then fully emerges carrying plates of pumpkin and
pumpkin-chocolate-chip muffins, setting them down at the bar. "I was
disguising my latest batch of cookies so that Lars wouldn't immediately
detect them. See?" She waves her hand at the plates. "Betcha couldn't
tell those were really oatmeal raisin cookies. =)" She then dives clear,
anticipating an attack from the cookiephage.
She waves to all the new people. "Hi. I'm Katie, I'm originally
from Oregon (TTT: Hi Daniel and Andrew - I still love you guys!), and am
now living in Richardson, Texas. I blame Martello." She winks at him.
"Anyway. About 5-foot-10 or so, 265 lbs or so, reddish hair, bluish
greenish eyes; about the only thing I can say with any sort of certainty
about myself is that I'm REALLY FREAKIN' WEIRD!
"I never answered the tree question when I first dropped in, but
my favourite is the cherry blossom (sakura) tree. Salem, Oregon is
full of them. In fact, the city is nicknamed 'The Cherry City'." She
pauses. "They don't have any sakura in Richardson, and I guess I'm sort
of glad. I've never had to deal with anything resembling homesickness,
but it's nice to have something in your head that is an unchanging symbol
of home and where you came from."
Katie
Andy May
> Robin Carroll-Mann (har...@fish.idt.net) wrote:
>
> : "I think that description fits a lot of people these days," Harper
> : says ruefully. Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouts, "Allee
> : allee oxen free!" She shrugs. "It was worth a try."
>
> Katie pokes her head out shyly from the kitchen. "I wasn't
> hiding for the sake of hiding, you know," she says with an obviously
> faked pout. She then fully emerges carrying plates of pumpkin and
> pumpkin-chocolate-chip muffins, setting them down at the bar. "I was
> disguising my latest batch of cookies so that Lars wouldn't immediately
> detect them. See?" She waves her hand at the plates. "Betcha couldn't
> tell those were really oatmeal raisin cookies. =)" She then dives clear,
> anticipating an attack from the cookiephage.
"Oooooh - cookies ! Hmm - I'm not sure that I've ever had
pumpkin-flavoured cookies (or biscuits as I should say over here) but I
suppose they're rather appropriate for this time of the year."
"Oh yes - I suppose I should introduce myself for the benefit of the
newcomers. Welcome, I'm journeyman (aka Andy in Real Life[tm]) and I'm
one of the token Englishmen around here, helping to give the place that
truly international flavour."
"I used to be a www neighbour of Harper and JennyK over on geocities but
I've rather let that site lapse since I got my own web space with my
ISP, and at the last count I was a REAL neighbour to JennyK in that we
live about a mile apart, but have never met each other."
"Please remember that the Amethyst bookcase mentioned in the FAQ is also
in existence on my web site http://www.argus.demon.co.uk - but again
it's probably rather out of date. If you need a link through to your own
home page then let me know and I'll update the page."
"Favourite trees - well I grew up with a big pine tree in my garden at
home in Devon which I used to climb a lot, so I love pine trees
(especially that wonderful smell) but then again I had a visitor from
the Bar down the Road this summer with whom I went wandering around London,
and she and I ended up climbing a willow in Hyde Park, so I'm
rather fond of willows as well."
[journeyman]
>
> She waves to all the new people. "Hi. I'm Katie, I'm originally
> from Oregon (TTT: Hi Daniel and Andrew - I still love you guys!), and am
> now living in Richardson, Texas. I blame Martello." She winks at him.
> "Anyway. About 5-foot-10 or so, 265 lbs or so, reddish hair, bluish
> greenish eyes; about the only thing I can say with any sort of certainty
> about myself is that I'm REALLY FREAKIN' WEIRD!
>
> "I never answered the tree question when I first dropped in, but
> my favourite is the cherry blossom (sakura) tree. Salem, Oregon is
> full of them. In fact, the city is nicknamed 'The Cherry City'." She
> pauses. "They don't have any sakura in Richardson, and I guess I'm sort
> of glad. I've never had to deal with anything resembling homesickness,
> but it's nice to have something in your head that is an unchanging symbol
> of home and where you came from."
>
> Katie
>
--
***** Andy May - journeyman, traveler, friend to kittens ******
*** http://www.argus.demon.co.uk andy at argus.demon.co.uk ***
mweidel
Robin Carroll-Mann (har...@fish.idt.net) wrote:
: frank....@docnet.de (Frank Schmidt) wrote:
: >Frank once used to be a regular here, but is currently more of a regular
: >lurker...
: "I think that description fits a lot of people these days," Harper
: says ruefully. Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouts, "Allee
: allee oxen free!" She shrugs. "It was worth a try."
Madeleine strolls through the open door. "Sometimes it's just a mattr of
luck, you know. I never read this newsgroup until tonight."
She takes a chair near the center table. "Do you mind if I stick around
awhile? Things look interesting." She helps herself to a cookie from
Katie's platter. "Thanks, Katie! They look delicious."
Her voice becomes slightly cookie-muffled as she continues: "As far as
favorite trees go, I just moved from a town called Maple Shade. The tree in
front of my new house has a tall sycamore out front. Maybe that's what I'll
claim as my favorite."
"So what about the rest of you?" she asks, brushing crumbs from her lap.
"Are favorite trees a common topic around here?"
--Madeleine
--
*Real* e-mail: mweidelATcyberenet.net
SjPete
Robin Carroll-Mann wrote:
> >it's been some time since somebody mentioned the sunroom/wintergarden,or even the famous bay windows..."
Wow! Frank, is there any chance, when it is convinient for you- of course,
you could show me these. I love wintergardens and haven't sat in bay
windows for ages. I feel all warm and happy thinking about the memories it
brings back. What all is growing in the garden.
And how often did you have to explain your reference to Veil's hypothesis?
And would you do it one more time?
> >Frank once used to be a regular here, but is currently more of a regular
> >lurker...
Certainaly we can cure that minor malady.
>
> "I think that description fits a lot of people these days," Harper
> says ruefully. Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouts, "Allee
> allee oxen free!" She shrugs. "It was worth a try."
Oh my gosh! How will we ever keep track of all these glorious folks?!?!!
Why they're even falling from the rafters! Harper, you are definitely an
asset to Amethyst.
Pleased to meet you Katie, Journeyman (aka Andy), Yikes! ... (Someone
working hard to get their breathing back to normal heard as great gasps
are being taken in and let out.) Ummm, and you Tracey.
Katie, can a cookiephag become a cakephag? Or are the treat specific? Are
there any strickly chocolaphag, without texture distinction?
Sharry
SjPete
Upon looking over she sees the emergence of a facinating woman from the
sofa near the fireplace.
> On a comfy sofa near the fireplace, a plump red-haired woman in her
> late 30s slowly stirs out of a codeine-induced lethargy. "Did I hear
> my name? Sorry -- I had a root canal done on Monday, and between the
> pain and the painkillers I've been kinda out of it until recently.
> I'm Harper. Resident breadbaker, librarian, Buffyatric, occasional
> pirate wench, and quondam Irish harper. Welcome to Amethyst, etc.,
> etc., although it looks like David has been doing a good job of
> welcoming you already."
David has been excellent, as has Cork. Both provoke smiles with their
presence. I extend my sympathy for you suffering from dental work. I've
been through enough to desire small handed dentists that are patient with
their work. I hope you recover quickly.
A Buffyatric? Might I have an explaination on that one? And when was
your last jont as a pirate wench and whereforth did you journey?
Thank you for the welcome. I'd ask you to join us, but am not certain
you yet want ot move from your sofa. And will also not offer you a drink
now, although I'd like to in the future, as it doesn't go well with
codeine. Rest, recover, and we'll move our chairs closer.
> Anyway, ... by the time a oldtimer pointed out to me that there hadn't
> been one originally, it was too late."
Sharry chuckles and appreciates how easy it is to gain luxuries here.
"I'd love to be able to improve my home in that manner. I need a dining
area, higher shelves in the kitchen, more counter space, a coat closet
near the front door rather than the end of the bedroom hallway, and ...
Well, any thing you can add with you wit and wisdom will be appreciated.
Especially if it makes my home as cosy as this.
> "Have you read the FAQ? It's quite nicely detailed."
Not yet. Might you give me the web site, or should I just go to Deja
News?
> "Our 'land' is northern New Jersey. And yours? Oh, and pardon if
> you've already mentioned it, but I don't think I heard your name?"
My origins I'd prefer to keep to myself for a while. But my name, for
now, is Sharry.
Robin Carroll-Mann
SjPete <sjpr...@qnis.net> wrote:
>Upon looking over she sees the emergence of a facinating woman from the
>sofa near the fireplace.
>
>> On a comfy sofa near the fireplace, a plump red-haired woman in her
>> late 30s slowly stirs out of a codeine-induced lethargy. "Did I hear
>> my name? Sorry -- I had a root canal done on Monday, and between the
>> pain and the painkillers I've been kinda out of it until recently.
>> I'm Harper. Resident breadbaker, librarian, Buffyatric, occasional
>> pirate wench, and quondam Irish harper. Welcome to Amethyst, etc.,
>> etc., although it looks like David has been doing a good job of
>> welcoming you already."
>
>David has been excellent, as has Cork. Both provoke smiles with their
>presence. I extend my sympathy for you suffering from dental work. I've
>been through enough to desire small handed dentists that are patient with
>their work. I hope you recover quickly.
"Thanks. I seem to be back to what passes for normal now. My dentist
was quite skilled, but I had some moderate pain afterwards, followed
by extreme fuzzy-headedness from the painkillers. The whole
experience has made me vow never to take codeine-based medications
again, unless I *really* need them and can afford to be out of work
for a day."
>A Buffyatric? Might I have an explaination on that one?
"An older fan of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'."
> And when was
>your last jont as a pirate wench and whereforth did you journey?
Harper grins. "Every once in a while we bend reality a bit in here.
Now and then the Amethyst spontaneously erupts into 'Pirate Week' or
'Superhero Week' and then the pillows fly!" Her gaze lingers fondly
on the sofa cushions.
>Thank you for the welcome. I'd ask you to join us, but am not certain
>you yet want ot move from your sofa.
Harper arises and stetches sleepily. "Now that I'm recovered, it's
not a problem."
> And will also not offer you a drink
>now, although I'd like to in the future, as it doesn't go well with
>codeine. Rest, recover, and we'll move our chairs closer.
"Mrs. Shelley doesn't permit alcoholic beverages in here, but I thank
you for your consideration."
>> "Have you read the FAQ? It's quite nicely detailed."
>
>Not yet. Might you give me the web site, or should I just go to Deja
>News?
"I'm not sure if it's on a website, but Deja News should work. If
not, I can mail you a copy."
>> "Our 'land' is northern New Jersey. And yours? Oh, and pardon if
>> you've already mentioned it, but I don't think I heard your name?"
>
>My origins I'd prefer to keep to myself for a while.
> But my name, for now, is Sharry.
"Pleased to meet you." Harper resists a temptation to curtsey.
Alan Flesch
> > And when was
> >your last jont as a pirate wench and whereforth did you journey?
>
> Harper grins. "Every once in a while we bend reality a bit in here.
> Now and then the Amethyst spontaneously erupts into 'Pirate Week' or
> 'Superhero Week' and then the pillows fly!" Her gaze lingers fondly
> on the sofa cushions.
"Harrrrr?" Alan pokes his head in for a moment.
"Sorry, thought I heard a Pirate Week reference..." Alan
has an enormous three-cornered hat on, black with a
little skull on it. "Just in time for Halloween!"
"Oh!" he notices the newcomer. "Sorry! My newsfeed is
_very_ wonky. I only get third-or-fourth hand replies
anymore. :( My name is Alan, and I'm the hedgehog. I've
missed your name..."
Casual observers may note that Alan doesn't look
like a hedgehog. He looks like a tallish,
middle-weight, youngish lad of 27 or so. He
still has a little birthday cake in front of him,
as a matter of fact.
"I'll have to post a status check of my life soon,"
he says, "It's been very hectic."
He does a graceful bow. "Glad to have met you.
I'll be looking in now and again; I'm one of the
regulars, though you wouldn't know it anymore.
Back when we were Amethons..."
Alan grins widely and begins tidying his table.
Alan (aj)
Cap'n of the Pirate Ship Hedgehog.
Charles A. Lieberman
Charles, inspired by her temptation he picked up over the TTT, curtsies
himself
Frank Schmidt
> [Frank]>>it's been some time since somebody mentioned the sunroom/wintergarden,or even the famous bay
> windows..."
>
> Wow! Frank, is there any chance, when it is convinient for you- of course,
> you could show me these. I love wintergardens and haven't sat in bay
> windows for ages. I feel all warm and happy thinking about the memories it
> brings back. What all is growing in the garden.
Frank has to admit he doesn't know..."It's been some time since someone mentioned
the bay windows, or even sat in them, and it's years ago for the wintergarden, and
the Amethyst is just preparing for its 4th birthday (Wednesday next week). Traditions
come and go with the changes in the regular crowd, and although some know this
place from its very opening, most of today's regulars came later and brought their
ideas that created new traditions... this doesn't mean old traditions neccessarily fall
overboard, and even if, they still can be reintroduced..."
> And how often did you have to explain your reference to Veil's hypothesis?
> And would you do it one more time?
Frank: "Actually, nobody ever asked. The hypothesis is taken from the '5th head
of Cerberus' in which it states that the settlers on Ste. Anne and St.Croix did not
actually kill the native Annese people but instead the natives killed the settlers and
took over their civilisation. (The book and its two sequels play on St. Croix and
Ste. Anne). The opinion I asked for is for a broader sense of the hypothesis: Are
you sure you're on the side you believe to stand on?"
> > >Frank once used to be a regular here, but is currently more of a regular
> > >lurker...
> Certainaly we can cure that minor malady.
Frank wonders which minor she meant, and which lady she was talking to.
> > "I think that description fits a lot of people these days," Harper
> > says ruefully. Cupping her hands to her mouth she shouts, "Allee
> > allee oxen free!" She shrugs. "It was worth a try."
> Oh my gosh! How will we ever keep track of all these glorious folks?!?!!
> Why they're even falling from the rafters! Harper, you are definitely an
> asset to Amethyst.
"Don't try to keep track, just enjoy their presence... that's the way."
> Pleased to meet you Katie, Journeyman (aka Andy), Yikes! ... (Someone
> working hard to get their breathing back to normal heard as great gasps
> are being taken in and let out.) Ummm, and you Tracey.
Frank: "Hi Katie *hug*, journeyman, and Tracey. Where have you been, and
did you bring some stories back?"
Frank, wondering where he himself has been.