Feels like February, finally

[annathepiper]

According to The Doyle's last post on the GBS From the Road page, the B'ys have been fighting off a touch of the flu. Erk. Here's hoping they stay healthy enough to sing for Seattle on Saturday night! *fingers crossed*

I finished City of Pearl. Picoreview: two definite thumbs up. More detailed comments to follow in another post. I shall be purchasing Crossing the Line and The World Before at my earliest convenience. It amuses me, further, that Karen Traviss writes Star Wars novels as well. I haven't actually read any Star Wars novels in some time, but I still have a soft spot for them. What can I say. ;)

In other book news, I have also now begun Rachel Caine's Ill Wind. I'm only forty pages in so far, but already I'm liking it. It's full of fun snarky-first-person big-bad-magic promise. And Jim Butcher endorses it! Doesn't get much better than that.

I'm very happy that the weather has turned towards the sunny here in the greater Seattle area, finally. Which means it's also gotten colder. There's been frost in the air the last couple of mornings, which pleases me; it makes it feel almost like winter around here for once.

There has been actual work to do around here for once, which is good! So I'd better get to it.

Days till the Great Big Sea Show (YAY!): 2
Wednesday evening miles: 1.85
Thursday morning miles: 1.6
Miles out of Hobbiton: 685.85
Miles out of Rivendell: 227.85
Miles to Lothlórien: 236.15

Comments

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

In other book news, I have also now begun Rachel Caine's Ill Wind. I'm only forty pages in so far, but already I'm liking it. It's full of fun snarky-first-person big-bad-magic promise. And Jim Butcher endorses it! Doesn't get much better than that.

Also, she's a lovely lovely woman and a fun roommate at conventions. *grin*

Needless to say, I endorse her and her work heartily. ;)

[annathepiper]

You've met her? Neat! I noticed you were in her Friends list, yeah. :)

[casirafics.livejournal.com]

Keep going with those books and you'll find my name in there too, eventually. :)

[annathepiper]

NEAT! I myself am waiting to see if mizkit made good on her threat to have a blonde-haired flute player show up in one of her books... ;D

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping they stay healthy enough to sing for Seattle on Saturday night! *fingers crossed*

Fingers are definitely crossed for you. Apparently Séan and Bob have both already had it and were able to make it through the shows, but Alan's got a bit more to do than they do.

[annathepiper]

Erk, Séan had the flu too? I saw the reference to Bob fighting it off in Alan's post, but I didn't know it had also hit our lovely and talented Mr. McCann. Glrk. I've seen the B'ys valiantly take to the stage anyway when one of them was ill--Séan had some form of crud when I saw them on St. Paddy's Day back in 2001, and I vividly remember that just because a) Alan sang all the songs and b) it was the same show after which my crowd actually got to talk to Alan very briefly. ^_^

Here's hoping that they all hang in there, though. It would totally suck if they had to cancel shows due to illness. -.0

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

The good news is that it seems to be a 24-hour type thing, because there are reports of Bob seeming to be much better the next night.

There was a report from someone on the OKP (or the Fishtank, don't remember which) that she'd met 4 of the 5 guys (last night?) because Séan had already gotten on the bus and wasn't feeling well. Someone suggested they get some Airborne :)

It would totally suck if they had to cancel shows due to illness.

Yes, but at least they've got a couple decent breaks built into the schedule where they could conceivably reschedule, if it became necessary. 'Twould suck for the fans, though.

[annathepiper]

Hopefully this thing'll blow through the B'ys quickly, indeed! I saw Alan's reference to Bob getting over the bug, yeah.

TWO MORE DAYS TWO MORE DAYS... I'm starting with the incessant anxious fidgeting, as we speak. And my plans to check out Seven Nations via Rhapsody today just got pre-empted by the urgent need to make another sweep through The Hard and the Easy!

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Hey, you can never listen to THatE too many times :) I'm fidgeting already, and I've got another week to go! LOL

BTW, Jaime gave me a gift certificate to Amazon for my b-day. I'm considering getting Play, since it's $27.99, and maybe tacking on Road Rage as well. What would be your recommendation? I'm also planning to pick up one of the albums at the show next week...

[annathepiper]

If you have enough room on the gift certificate, get them both!

Play is worth having for "Greenspond", "Jakey's Gin", "Jolly Rovin' Tar", and the fabulous "Recruiting Sergeant". It's also got the original studio version of "Donkey Riding". And if you don't have Rant and Roar yet, it's also got the holiest of holies, "Ordinary Day". ^_^

But if you have to make a call between one disc or the other, get Road Rage!

But you might be more likely to find Road Rage at the show... I don't know how many albums they tend to have with them at the shows these days.

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Last week it looked like they had all of them. Maybe I should wait to see if they have Play at the show...get it for less than $27.99? Road Rage is the live album, yeah?

I have other b-day money to spend, and sooner or later, I'll have all the albums :) Sooner than later, hopefully!

[annathepiper]

$27.99 is a bit stiff of a price to pay, yeah! That's because it never got released in the States, so Amazon has to pay U.S. import prices, I think.

You might also consider finding out whether your gift certificate could be applied to amazon.ca, in which case you might be able to get it at a better price. But you should definitely check the show first and see what albums they have on hand! :)

And yeah, Road Rage is the live album. Though actually it's live album #1 these days, since you can also buy the Great Big CD/DVD and get the entire concert from that on CD as well. (I had bought the original Great Big DVD release myself, before they packaged it with an audio CD, so I wound up buying the audio tracks from the iTunes music store.)

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

I was lucky enough to get the "Great Big DVD/CD" combo. It was the first GBS album I was ever able to find here in town. They're sadly few and far between.

Much as I want to go to Amazon and buy everything they've got :) I think I will wait until I get to Tucson and see what I can get there. I also want to hit the merch counter so I give the two Canadian quarters I still have from vacation to Glenn :) It'll be so long until I get back to Canada that I'll lose them before I get the chance to spend them. Figure it'll accomplish two things: someone will get to use the dumb things and they'll no longer be taking up space in my wallet! :D

[annathepiper]

Waiting till Tuscon sounds like a plan! (Here's hoping that there will actually BE a Tuscon show at which you can buy albums...!)

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping that there will actually BE a Tuscon show at which you can buy albums...!

No kidding! My fingers are going to be crossed for the next week. Or at least until I hear what's going to happen.

[annathepiper]

Now that we know things are proceeding as planned, I'll definitely look forward to hearing what albums you get to pick up!

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Now that we know things are proceeding as planned

Whew...that is such a relief to say/hear/read!

I think, if they've got it, I'll pick up Play, definitely. If not, then Road Rage. And I'll spend my gift certificate after I make the trip.

Now the question is this: As it won't be quite so bloody cold as the last concert, do I try to convince Kate we should make the effort to try and meet the b'ys after the show? We do, unfortunately, have to drive back to Phoenix that night...

[annathepiper]

Such a relief indeed. :D

Mmm, a tough call you have before you! I think it might depend upon whether they are playing a show the following day--it might affect how likely they are to hang around somewhere local. And if y'all DO have to drive back to Phoenix that night.... mrmrmmm. I guess if it were me I'd probably keep an ear out during the show and see whether any of 'em say anything about hanging around anywhere local. OR, watch and see whether you see any throngs of autograph seekers. If neither of those work out... eh. Driving home while still coherent is probably the responsible thing to do!

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, they've a day off the next day. And it's only about a 90 minute drive back and Kate doesn't have to work until ten the next morning.

~grumbles about being responsible~ But I don't wanna...! ;) We'll probably play it by ear...see where fate takes us.

[annathepiper]

I guess the big interesting question then would be whether the B'ys might feel inclined to do post-show autographs and whether you can find the bus, OR whether there's a good local pub-type place where they might go hang out.

We've got one, and we're already planning to hit that place after the show as it's VERY near our venue. :D

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

It doesn't seem as though the bus has been all that hard to find for people. Shoot, it was parked on the street right next to the Fitz last week!

I've never actively attempted to meet band members before. I usually just end up running into them backstage when I don't have time to talk (literally 'run into' them, in the case of Billy Joel!) My luck I'll get to meet them all (yeah, like that's gonna happen) and act like a total moron or something :)

[annathepiper]

I've said something to Alan or Séan three times now... the second time I said something to Alan I think I sounded pretty goofy, but the first time was something I was happy with just because I was able to thank him to his face for inspiring the formation of our jamming group. ^_^

And asking Séan what key "John Barbour" is in was fun, too. ^_^

I figure if you just thank them to their faces for putting on a hell of a show and bringing such joy to their fans, you can't go wrong!

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

And asking Séan what key "John Barbour" is in was fun, too. ^_^

seimaisin told me that story, I think. Lucky lass! :)

Yeah, saying thanks is probably the way to go (though I like the woman who told Bob he smelled good!). I've also got the added topic of having to travel a couple thousand miles to see them live since they never come to my friggin' city! And it's not like St. Louis is a small town!

[annathepiper]

Heh! I figure if there's ANYTHING I can ask members of GBS about without sounding like a complete and utter fangirl, it's musical questions! I STILL want to ask Alan what tuning he uses on his bouzouki.

I would be too damned chicken to say anything physically complimentary to them. Not because they are famous, but because they are simply devastatingly gorgeous, and devastatingly gorgeous men do that to me! ;)

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Tell you what, if I meet Alan I'll ask him what tuning he uses for you :) Hell, it'll give me something to say!

I would be too damned chicken to say anything physically complimentary to them.

And how many times do they hear those kinds of things? Though I have to agree with the 'devastatingly gorgeous' statement. I'd be afraid to meet Séan face-to-face for fear I'd fall to the ground at his feet, babbling incoherently. :D

[annathepiper]

Why thank you! ^_^ You're too good to me!

And yeah, the likelihood that they already get such gushy compliments is part of why I'd never want to say something of that nature. I could BARELY manage to look Séan in the eye and ask him about "John Barbour" as it was!

[raise-a-jar.livejournal.com]

Oh, but what lovely eyes to look into! ~swoon~

~giggle~ Sorry. But that's what'd happen to me LOL

Yay! My week's finally over. Time to go home! Been good chatting with you. ::hugs:: Have an excellent time tomorrow. I'll be waiting to hear all about it!

[annathepiper]

Oh my yes, loverly eyes indeed. ;)

*hugs!* Likewise, and I hope to! There WILL be lengthy squeeage by Sunday afternoon!

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

Putting City of Pearl on order from the library, always looking for good books instead of rereading the stuff on my shelves. :)

[annathepiper]

Cool! Hope you like it. :)

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

I am sure it will be worth every cent of the 55 cents we pay to put books on hold and have them shipped to our local library. ;)

[annathepiper]

Hee! That's a hard price to beat for a book, that's for sure.

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

Brisbane has an /excellent/ library system. Their entire catalog is online, you can browse and search and put things on hold, then it emails you when it's at your local branch to pick it up. And, our local branch is in the same mall where we do all our grocery shopping and such, which is an added bonus. I rarely buy books anymore, because of this and because they are SO expensive in Australia. Like, AU$15+ for a paperback.

[annathepiper]

Sounds like a neat system! I've heard tell from mamishka that the Seattle library system is actually pretty good as well, and solarbird has been putting books on hold sometimes via a similar system.

But wow about that price. What's the rough exchange rate right now between Aussie dollars and U.S. ones?

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

AU$15 is US$11.10 or so by today's rates. And that's an inexpensive paperback. I considered getting Eldest recently, and they wanted $35 for it. :/

[annathepiper]

Yowza! And that's for a mass-market-sized paperback? That's pricey indeed! I'm used to paying that for a trade-size book.

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

On an unrelated note, what ever happened with Google?

[annathepiper]

They said no. :P So I'm at Real until June regardless, and we'll see what happens at that point. I still have a standing offer to come back to the team I've been contracting with at Microsoft, so if Real doesn't renew me, I'll probably do that. That'll let me stay employed at least through the end of the year, which'll be good.

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

It's good to have a plan!

[annathepiper]

And a JOB! And with that in mind, I saw you post about another upcoming interview, good luck on that!

[mistwolf.livejournal.com]

I had two interviews last week for a tier one tech support job, supporting macs and ipods. Not sure yet if I will take it. We also, on friday, got my situation picked up by a recruiting firm who specialises in placing in Cisco people. The woman was very adamant that she doesn't care if I've been home with the kids, that she thinks she can get me something. It's a hard choice. The former wants a firm 12 month commitment and contract, the second is a gamble.

[annathepiper]

Oof, sounds like a challenging call to make indeed. Hope one or the other of 'em can give you a good solid opportunity worth your while!