I love the universe. She provides. Aside from my personal moment of revenge from this morning (which really isn’t a huge deal, it was just a sweet moment of symmetry where I felt vaguely vindictive and satisfied, like a dictator or something) – a beautiful and funny and perfect thing just happened.
If you have been paying attention, you know that a reader got upset. You know, he didn’t like the focus on “your junior high school friends about puppy love crushes.” You know, he thought he was on a serious film site and he balked at me, uhm, writing about what I want to write, for free. Please let’s not dwell on it. I’m already sick of it. What I want to focus on is the comment I JUST GOT on an old post I wrote. Literally, the comment came in 10 minutes ago from a person I have never heard from before, she probably got there through a Google search.
I have written at length (thank God Oliver wasn’t around for that! His head would have exploded) about how much I loved a TV movie from my childhood called Orphan Train, with Jill Eikenberry who played a Victorian-era woman who took a group of street kids by train out West to find them homes. Based on a true story. I LOVED Orphan Train. I DIED for Orphan Train. I loved it so much that I basically, at age 11, wrote it all out in novel-form. Because it was before the days of a VCR in every house, and I just didn’t know when I would ever see it again!
For a time there, I was posting “chapters” from my “novel” of Orphan Train (again, because it amuses me) – and please go to the post right now and see the comment I just received.
Sometimes you don’t have to wait 7 years to settle the score.
Sometimes it only takes 10 minutes.
Thank you, Rachel!
There you go. THAT’S who you write for.
Hooray for Rachel!
Stalin made a bunch of orphans. Was he in Orphan Train? And I swear that will be my last comment in reference to that particular joke. As usual, I can beat a joke deader than dead. To be serious, Rachel’s comment and connection are the kinds of things that make cruising the internet enjoyable. You just never know what you might find.
I can haz 0rFnz?
St@7!n
(sorry)
Ken–that’s really pathetic. Much worse than my nonsense. LOL.
Oliver’s first comment was at least this side of reasonable. His second comment was amazingly presumptuous, contemptuous and scornful. What a douchebag.
At least YOU’RE writing about YOUR OWN trivialities!
…annnd just read the third comment. oh my FUCK now I want to punch something. :( Glad you finally brought down the banhammer on him Sheila! (Also, go Tracey!)
Ken! oh my God!!!!
WHAT???
I am howling. That’s awful and funny at the same time.
Beth – I certainly wouldn’t ban someone for telling me my blog wasn’t their cup of tea. Recently, it’s happened every other day (but strangely my traffic is up! And score!)
I wasn’t picking up on the clues from our earlier interaction because I was still reeling from early January – but the weird need was there, the need to be acknowledged – that the blog was somehow about HIM. Normally red flags go off immediately for me with stuff like that and I have rarely been wrong. I’m not quick on the ban finger, believe it or not, but dripping with condescension like he did, and going for the jugular – with his comment about “unfulfilled fantasies” and “if you were the woman she was”, etc. – forget it. Buh-bye.
Back to Ben Marley!
I’m sorry, Sheila. I just wrote that comment over there before I read your “let’s just move on and get over it” request. Delete away if it annoys you too much, please!
Yes, back to Ben Marley!
You know, to be totally honest I don’t even really into Ben Marley (in spite of his obvious cuteness), but a get a real kick out of how much you and everybody else is. I am fascinated by this kind of obssession. Seriously Sheila, I just like to read whatever you have to say, just because of how much you are into things. It’s so refreshing to find someone whose best talent is to say good things, to point out the positive. Specially in the internet, where vicious criticism is so common.
Please Sheila, keep having obsessions!
Ops, I mean, “I’m not even really into Ben Marley”.
And I guess just by saying that again people here already like me less.
Alessandra – thank you thank you for really getting it, for really understanding what I’m doing here.
And “people here” are, all in all, a good bunch. Typos are expected, and nothing could make anyone like you less.
I like your observation about me finding the good, and being positive … it is not easy for me, but that is really really what I am attempting to do on this site.
Thanks again!!
Sheila – I just wanted to add. I love roaming about on IMDb and a little while ago I got a private message from some dude (I think). All he basically said was “Hey. I read your profile. Nothing to say really. You’re a bitch.” I swear I actually got a little dizzy I was so taken aback. And I blushed like I was embarrassed. I don’t know if he read something on my profile that made ‘him’ say that. But I suppose people really like he anonymity of the internet to let out their inner douche. Still doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting a little.
Nicola – Jesus. That made me shiver.
I seriously wonder about people like that. It never ceases to baffle me – and I guess I’m glad I’m baffled. It’s good to be baffled at random unwarranted cruelty.
Oliver made a common mistake. He liked it when I focused on one topic – that was what he was there for – so he took it as a personal affront when I didn’t do what he wanted. Why he couldn’t utilize his “scroll” functionality, I will never know, nor do I care.
I’ve often said that I have all kinds of regular readers from different countries, sensibilities, with different interests – but one thing that all the regulars have in common is an ability to segue.
I think they all know how to ‘scroll’ too, past the posts that don’t interest them, and onto the ones that do.
There is also an element of sexist condescension in his comments – like the shrieking of women about some actor is not worthy of him to read. (Again: then don’t read it!) I would remind Oliver that shrieking swooning women are among the most powerful demographics in the entertainment world – cue Elvis Presley, cue Frank Sinatra … or also in the book world – cue The Twilight books. To condescend to that group and its frenzy (and boy it happens a lot) is ridiculous. A-historical. Smart marketers and publicists know that if women go insane – then they will buy tickets. They will buy tickets repeatedly.
I’m not embarrassed of being the kind of fan I am. He may not have realized it – because he was too busy being affronted and embarrassed for me – but writing about Cary Grant, and Mickey Rourke, and all the others – comes from the very same place that my writing about Ben Marley comes from. A desire to appreciate, analyze, and obsess.
He just didn’t respect the TOPIC this time. Boo-hoo.
The ability to segue LOL
Did you ever get to where Ben Marley is these days?
I think the worst part about your obsessions is how is makes others HAVE to go GET what you are writing about RIGHT NOW (or at least, want to). I still have In a Lonely Place in my Amazon basket, along with one of the Iranian films you described, waiting to be purchased someday, although Square Pegs has got the top spot. I had to pass on that Brandon Fraser time travel flick though. In the end, although you made it sound fantastic, I just couldn’t.
What I also like is that as we are of the same generation and cut from the same sort of bookwormy cloth from that age, when you get nostaglic, I remember. So when you write about Riki Tiki Tavi, which I LOVED LOVED LOVED as a girl, I get prodded, like, omg, yes, why did I not get that for my daughter before? And you break my bank again. Square Pegs is SOOOOO going to be for her in a couple years. And, even though my mother sent it to her without having ever read your blog, she’s now watching Anne of Green Gables and everytime I see the DVD Cover, I think of your bloggy obsession (which I shyly admit to seguing over at times, I was more of a Laura Ingalls gal). (OMG Is that like the Stones vs the Beatles?)
Anyway if you haven’t made an Amazon store out of everything you’ve ever discussed, you should. You would make a bomb. (And if you have, I will direct my future purchases through it)
I think Oliver wanted you to be a hipster artiste, and to be able to claim you as part of the in-crowd. He must have segued over those parts of your blog that get into the whole concept of embracing what you love without shame and not being ‘over it’ or ‘ironic’.
I am just waiting for the day, like what magically happened with Dean Stockwell, when Ben Marley shows up, gallantly holding the doors open for you or offering to carry your books and bag while you get a cup of coffee on a crowded NY street. Will his hair be tousled, will his jeans be ripped? YOUR READERS WANT TO KNOW!
Carrie – hahahaha
Will the real Ben Marley please stand up?
Since I do tend to become Nancy Drew in these situations, finding out art gallery openings in freakin’ New Mexico where Dean Stockwell will be, and etc. … I am on the case. IMDB is not very revealing, it makes it look like he dropped off the grid, but I know for a fact that that is not the case.
More later.
I like your observation about the “artiste hipster” thing … which means that some people have huge snotty MISFIRINGS when they realize one of my favorite movies of all time is Blue Crush. “But … but … but …” they splutter. “I RESPECTED you!” They feel a sense of betrayal. I am not even being dramatic.
They are unable to hold two opposing things in their head at the same time. Or then there were those (and these douchebags still hang around too) who loved my politics and felt validated by my political ranting – but then couldn’t figure out why I posted articles from the arts section of the NY TImes without some snarky comment about the “liberal MSM”.
They prized CONSISTENCY over all things – and I am not consistent.
I like to SEGUE.
From James Joyce to Kirsten Dunst, with nary a breath. More rigid-minded people go through a roller coaster when reading me. “Oh!! I respect her now! Therefore I feel validated in liking her because she seems like she makes the right choices!” Next moment: “Oh. I don’t respect her choice here. This makes me feel confused and lonesome and betrayed. It must be HER fault.”
Then we just have the good old-fashioned sexist pigs who cannot BELIEVE that a woman – a WOMAN – writes in a way that would hold their attention! So they write me emails dripping with vicious contempt for me, and my topics – meanwhile, though, they have read EVERY WORD I WRITE.
Seriously, these boys are way too high-maintenance. Why can’t they just move along? What is so disturbing?
I enjoy writing about James Joyce, Orphan Train, Blue Crush and Michelle Kwan all on the same day? Who says I can’t???
Oh, and I did set up a store – it’s over on the right somewhere – but I haven’t really monitored it … or updated it. I should rectify that!!
And yes yes! It was SO fun to re-discover Rikki Tikki Tavi – another indelible moment from my childish TV-watching.
//From James Joyce to Kirsten Dunst, with nary a breath. More rigid-minded people go through a roller coaster when reading me.//
hehe. That’s why I like it here I feel like it’s totally ok to be equally obsessed with Mamma Mia! as well as The Wrestler (which I’ve finally seen by the way! – oh my lord. I loved loved loved it.)
Speaking of segueing…where is the rest of your Orphan Train novel from when you were 11? It couldn’t have ended with Gloria giving her jewelery to Miss Sims. Does Liverpool decide to come? Does Sarah finally find love? How does everyone find out J.P. is really a girl?
Amy – ha!! Sadly, I did not finish the damn novel when I was 11, I moved on to, oh, Skyward and other things – but there is definitely more to share!
I should post more chapters. Thanks for the reminder. I get them all the way up to the discovery that JP is a girl!!!
Ha!
Now if the damn thing would only be released on DVD!
Oliver’s behavior is verging on the sociopathic. what a douche. but on a lighter note, I am so happy about Rachel’s comment – this is the beauty of the internet. In so many times in life, it is the one negative person who has the power to bring us down (say, when you are bartending on a busy summer day – everyone loves you and appreciates your efforts, and then the one douche bag with one tooth left bitches about how you didn’t make his drink strong enough – why him? why does he get to bring you down?) We have to practice letting this person drop and focusing on the Rachels! f u oliver!
Let’s express this mathematically:
Ben Marley’s Exposed Thigh = The Traveling Cosmic Yurt
Random obsessions > monomania^2
Blog as you like = inverse of [(1/blog what I want) + (1/tiresome idiots)] * Ï
Music = awesome = kitty/puppy pics
Rachel > Australian Rules Football > a statue > paying taxes > root canal > glass splinters under a toenail > worm spittle > Oliver
Cancer = FTFOAD * knobs on
We love you, Sheila. Keep on being you.
EDIT – should be kitty PLUS puppy pics… I forgot that mathematically that would be kitty DIVIDED BY puppy pics, and that is just stupid. C+, dammit.
PS – I’ll shoot my eye out.
Orphan Train love lives on–all right! Vindication, indeed, Sheila.
I didn’t think anyone on the planet loved Orphan Train but me.
This is why I love you so much. This is why.