deadlines know no days of rest...

[lagilman]

why writers get cranky...
An actual ad placed on Craiglist-NY:

"I am very busy, but I would like to be a published author. I am looking for an *experienced* author (published a plus!) to write a novel for me. This is for a "ghost writer". I would like to pay 500-750 dollars, or best offer. "

Anyone who wants to come over and finish writing this damned book for me, I'll not only pay you $500, I'll even make dinner...


Meanwhile, under the heading of "only my mother...."
Someone called the house. Wrong number. Most apologetic. A little while later, another call. Same woman, same wrong number. "I'm so sorry. My sons just opened a restaurant in (area) and I keep dialing the number wrong." My mother asks where the restaurant is -- literally around the corner. They make small chit-chat about the restaurant, discover that the woman lives near where my folk used to in NJ, has four sons, etc. Finally, the woman says she's going upstairs to find the number, rather than trying to remember it, since that clearly isn't working. An hour or so later, the phone rings again. "I found it, the number is xxx-xxxx (one numeral off my folks' number, as it turns out). You must stop by, tell them their mother sent you, they've heard all about you now!"

It would be funny even if this were the first time this sort of thing had happened to my mom. But no, it happens all the time!

And proof there are some useless bits you never forget, I was woken this morning by Boomer and Pandora playing hiss-and-swat. And before my eyes were even open, much less consciousness engaged, I said "if you guys are going to lion-and-unicorn, I'd appreciate you doing it elsewhere." *6 points for identifying the reference source*

And now, since I'm semi-awake, to work...

Comments

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

"The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown.
"The lion beat the unicorn all around the town.
"Some gave them white bread, some gave them brown..."

[lagilman]

"and some gave them cat food, and drummed them out of town."

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I don't recall "cat food" in the original...

[lagilman]

Traditionalist.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Editors. Always have to change _something._

(Although I have to admit your version fits the context...)

Re: Lion and Unicorn

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

Lewis Carroll.
I just finished "Through the Looking Glass" again.

Re: Lion and Unicorn

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

I think the rhyme predates Carroll.

Re: Lion and Unicorn

[(Anonymous)]

By a couple of centuries. The rhyme originally referred to the coat of arms of King James (I of England, VI of Scotland) who inherited the English throne in 1603 on the death of Queen Elizabeth, and thus united the two kingdoms. The English royal coat of arms had two lions as supporters: the Scottish royal coat of arms had two unicorns. So the new royal arms had one of each - and still does (though the versions used in England and Scotland differ as to which supporter takes pole position...)

--
JP

Re: Lion and Unicorn

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I didn't know this.

[ex-fashioni.livejournal.com]

Anyone who wants to come over and finish writing this damned book for me, I'll not only pay you $500, I'll even make dinner...

*is boggled*

You know, I've never summoned the nerve to check out Craig's List in FL-- I think I'm too afraid of what I might find.

[lagilman]

It's amusing as hell, in the writing/editing section (at least up here). An interesting mix of professional and clueless.

[vincam.livejournal.com]

For years we had people calling our house wanting someone called the McAnultys. After a while we discovered their prefix was just one digit different from ours, so we began referring people to the correct number. After about a decade of this, I got a phone call one day from Mrs. McAnulty, who said, "You'll be happy to know we're moving." Then about a year later, I ran into her at the bank, where she was working as a teller.

Then I started getting calls for someone named "Antwon," and guess how come I know how to spell his name. For a while the callers were abusive, mostly teenagers, who accused me of covering for this guy. It took a while, but I finally convinced these kids they really did have the wrong number. Then, several years later, I was taking a class at the local JC, and met this guy named Antwon. When I had occasion to learn his phone number, and found it was just one digit away from mine, I laughed. And laughed. Now when I get the occasional call for him or his mother, I can refer them to the correct number and ask them to say hi for me.

That's life in the small. Dunno how your mother manages it in New York.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

One of the local synagogues has a number one digit off from ours. We learned where to find the rabbi long ago...

[lagilman]

Dunno how your mother manages it in New York.

That's sort of the point -- my mother manages it everywhere. The world is a small town to her.

I seem to have inherited some portion of it, but thankfully not the full measure. I'd do nuts having that many people want to chat with me, all the time.

[vincam.livejournal.com]

I was agreeing with you. It's allowed, yes?

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

I've answered calls for the wrong continent.

The area code for Minneapolis is 612; and when I answered the first one, that area code also covered St. Paul.

The country code for Australia is 61; I forget which city is 2.

And if someone messes up the dialing instructions....

[lagilman]

Of course, the next step is when your mother tries to set you up with one of those four sons

A restauranteur? She could do worse by me...

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

Yes, but then you would get as round as dumpling.;-)