(no subject)

[mijan]

I'm a bit late in writing this, but I've been busy with work over the past few days.  So, allow me to give you a run-down on my excitement over the past week.

On Saturday after work, I went to the bus station to pick up azhure1.  (In case you don't know her, she co-writes "Per Solum Lacuna: By Words Alone" with wintermoon3, and it's one of my absolute favourite fics in the fandom.)  She's from Australia, and had been travelling around the USA for the past couple of weeks.  She had been in New York City, and on Saturday morning, she left NYC for Boston.  After an afternoon in Boston, she came the rest of the way north to my little corner of New Hampshire.  We'd had a minor snowfall over Thanksgiving, and snow isn't exactly common where she's from.  It was the cutest thing... she was absolutely thrilled with the snow, although there wasn't much snow, and it really wasn't very good snow.  Although I did treat her to a minor *cough* snowball fight.  And did I mention she's obsessed with squirrels?  Anyway...

While she was at my house, we talked fandom, we talked fics, she picked on my Gryffindor-ness, appreciated the strangely Slyther-claw colour scheme of my room, bought lots of chocolate from the store I work at, talked to my rocks (she's really good at it, actually), and was just generally awesome.  I know I've said this before, but I swear, fandom people are the greatest people on earth.  Seriously.  Yeah, our sweet little fandom has wank, but when it comes down to it, overall, I've met some of the most awesome people ever through the fandom, and Azhure is no exception.  Okay, got side-tracked there.  I had to work on Sunday, so she did some shopping while I worked.  We met for my lunch break, and then my boss gave me permission to leave early so we could go see "Rent" in the nearby movie theatre. 

Okay, so the "Rent" movie wasn't so terrible.  In fact, some parts were awesome.  I think the movie rendition of "La Vie Boheme" was great - as good as they could have done it for a movie - and the "Without You" sequence was heartwrenching.  In fact, I think I cried harder for the movie version than the play for that part.  Some parts felt like they could have been done better, but I guess that's up to artistic preference.  However, there was one MAJOR continuity glitch that even Azhure noticed, and she's never seen the play.  Why the hell do they have the "Rent" song (the one where they complain about having to pay "last year's rent") BEFORE Benny tells Mark and Roger that they have to pay?!?  The whole thing starts when Benny calls them to tell them the rent is due.  That whole sequence was just backwards, and it still pisses me off.  Oh, and why wasn't Roger playing the guitar when he serenades Mimi at the end?  *growls*

Enough of that.  Back on track.  So, on Monday morning, Azhure and I slept in a little bit, then packed up the car, and started heading south to New York City.  ROAD TRIP!  Well, mini road trip, anyway.  The driving conditions were good, and we arrived at duhmom's and desdomonda's place at a reasonable hour.  I can't thank them enough for letting us stay again, especially knowing that they'd just had a HUGE houseful of people for Thanksgiving (including mistful), and at that point, anyone would want to have their house to themselves again.  (Again, I can't express how awesome fandom people are, and duhmom and desdomonda and the rest of their family - including the cats, dogs, birds, fish, and everyone - are all some of the nicest people I've ever met, and I can't tell them how much I appreciate their hospitality.)  Anyhow, we settled in and got some rest after the long drive, and the next morning, we drove into the city. 

I took the Hudson River Parkway until about 44th St., intending to find parking.  Well, suddenly I found myself driving through the middle of Times Square.  Bear in mind, while I'm not a timid driver, I grew up in the middle of the woods.  I learned to parallel park between two tree stumps.  Talk about a case of HOLY FUCKING HELL.  Just the sudden sense of realization of  "I'm driving HERE!"  But really, it wasn't that bad.  We turned down 42nd St., got parking, and hit the town.

For a shoestring budget, we got to do and see some cool stuff.  We got metro passes, took the Staton Island Ferry so I could see the Statue of Liberty, came back and walked through Battery Park.  Azhure kept taking pictures of squirrels.  I'm telling you, it was the cutest thing ever... she kept sneaking up on them with the camera.  I didn't tell her at the time, but I couldn't help it... I had this mental dialogue of her talking in the Steve Irwin voice, stalking squirrels like they were crocodiles.  "Look at this one, 'ere mates!  Isn't she a beaut?  Oh, we've got a feisty one..."  I'm sorry, Azhure, but it was too funny! 

Anyhow, next we did Ground Zero.  There was some definite negative energy there, to an extreme degree.  Gave me a pretty nasty headache, kinda like being repeatedly hit in the back of the head.  It got better when we left the area.  Next, we went to Chinatown, which was just loads of fun.  Cool stuff to see, inexpensive but tasty food.  And then, it was on to Greenwich Village for coffee with epicyclical and mistful.

We met at a little coffee house, but mistful was still at work, so epicyclical got a light supper while I had coffee and Azhure had a latte, and we just kicked back and chatted about all sorts of stuff.  Writing, fandom, and that stupid troll that plagued all three of us for a while.  If you don't remember the troll, just ask, and I'll explain it.  Oh!  And Cassie brought the manuscript of the original novel she wrote, and I got to see it.  NOT to read it... although I did read the first line.  I'm sworn to secrecy... and I've forgotten it anyway, actually.  Lack of sleep does nasty things to short-term memory.  But either way, it was lots of fun.  The coffee was okay, the service was mediocre, but the company was great.  Cassie is a really cool person.  Sadly, just as Azhure and I had to leave to try to get rush tickets for "Avenue Q", the musical we'd planned to see, Maya finally arrived.  We barely had time for a quick hello before dashing out the door. 

Rush tickets - the hope of every monetarily challenged theatre lover in Manhattan.  Front row for $21.  But... it's luck of the draw, you have to be there three hours early, and if you don't get them, you either have to pay over twice as much for the worst seats in the house, or suck it up and not go.  Well, I'm never lucky, but this time, I was.  My name got pulled first, and we got a pair of rush tickets, DEAD CENTER of the front row.  We had two hours between the drawing and the start of the play, so Cassie (with her boyfriend) and Maya caught a cab uptown and met us at a cute little diner, and we all finally got to hang out and chit-chat all together.  Maya is very sweet and a bit more quiet than the rest of us, but she's definitely got a sparky sense of humour.  And Cassie's boyfriend is pretty cool, too.  I say again, I love fandom people.  Anyhow, time ran out, and Azhure and I had to make a fast exit again, and proceeded to run up 45th Street, right through a set of "Law and Order: SVU" being filmed there, and got to the theatre just in time to get seated, hit the ladies' room, and settle in.

The play was fucking awesome.  With fucking puppets.  Oh yes.   We laughed, we chuckled, we snorted... we watched Muppets having sex on stage.  And you can be as loud as the hell you want when you're making love, according to Gary Coleman.  *giggles*  You've gotta see it.  Avenue Q rocks my slashy socks.  And there was slash!  Because Rod (who is the analogue of Bert from Sesame Street) is gay... but in severe denial until... well... you'll have to see.

So, with the play over, Azhure and I head back to my car, and try to find our way back to the Hudson River parkway, but the exit is closed.  Somehow, we went all the way into Harlem before we finally said "enough is enough", and drove back to 78th Street and got onto the parkway there.  We got back to duhmom's house just before midnight, which is about when they arrived back home from a concert.  Azhure and I stayed up late while she packed, although I admit I fell asleep on the bed.  Oh, and she gave me a Christmas present... a Harry Potter Quidditch ornament for my Christmas tree.  It was so sweet... she really didn't have to get me something.  I love it, I really really do.

Anyhow, the next morning, we drove her to the airport, and said sorrowful goodbyes.  It was an awesome few days, and I made a really great friend.  I miss her muchly, and wish I didn't have to wait until 2008 to see her again.  Maybe I can save my money carefully for a trip to Australia... but I also want to go to England, too.  I guess I'll have to really pinch my pennies. 

So, again, my sincere thanks to duhmom for letting us invade her beautiful home, despite the hectic time of year.  Much love and glompage to Cassie and Maya - I'm glad I got to meet you guys!  And massive tackle-hugs and evil-pokes-of-doom for azhure1, for she is absolutely awesome.  :)

And now... I've gotta go collapse.  I worked two different jobs today, but that's all good, because now, I'll have some money!  And then I can buy people Christmas presents!  *grins* 

~P

Comments

[awaywithpixie.livejournal.com]

**poke, poke**

Crikey! Look at that one, mate! She's HUGE!

Enough teasing about the squirrels. Snapetoy is equally enamoured, so I'm guessing I'll be rolling my eyes when you come over here and squee over our kookaburras or cockatoos or koala bears or wombats or something equally as common here!

But you put it all so succinctly, I don't need to elaborate on my own post about the trip. I don't think you've forgotten anything. Duhmom's directions were pretty good, and we got to our destination.

And yes, snow. I'm now sitting here in shorts and sweltering and truly missing those snowballs!

[oboros.livejournal.com]

amazing adventure! Thanks for sharing! *squees*

[kurla88.livejournal.com]

Oh good lord.

*ded*

That is so awesome. *jealouses* I wish I was an adult already. (Not that my parents would let me go anywhere even then, but still!)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*giggle* "Oh good lord" about what? The whole thing? The Broadway play? The delightful companionship?
*glomps*

[waterbird.livejournal.com]

What a fabulous time! Unfortunately, my whirlwind trip home was absolutely packed and there was no time for any real fun in NYC other than a quick meal on Sunday with some friends. Glad you had such a great time and got to meet up with some cool folks. I am going through serious fandom withdrawal (British Telecom continues to fuck up every order we've placed for phone service ... and until that's set up, I'm only checking email for one precious hour a day!) so it's extra nice to hear about your adventures!

[mania-regale.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you guys had a fabulous time! I'm so happy to hear that.

Driving through Times Square? Are you nuts?! :) I avoid that place like the plaque in any type of vehicle. FYI - If you're ever in a cab in NYC and headed anywhere that could possibly be in the direction of Times Square - tell the cabbie to avoid it! They love to take unsuspecting people through there with all the traffic to drive up the fare.

Haven't seen Avenue Q yet, but reading your description makes me want to move it up on the list of things to see.

Hope work isn't too painful today *hugs*

[kurla88.livejournal.com]

Whole thing, and delightful companionship. :D

[blonde-cecile.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I had an Australian friend come stay in the US for a while before, too. She would run outside with a t-shirt and shorts and play in the snow! She loved it. We'd be lke "You crazy Aussie! Get back in here!" lol.

New York sounds like so much fun. Alas, someday I shall save enough money to visit the city where muppets have sex on stage... ;)

-BC

[canellaphile.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is the coolest trip/visit ever. And azhure1...omg! *fangirls*

[ice-is-blue.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun! I've been wanting to see Avenue Q for a while now, ever since I heard some of the soundtrack.

How far are you from Boston? I'll probably be attending a professional conference there in mid-March.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Well, by March, if I'm not in Iraq, I'll be working in Cambridge and living in Winthrop, which is all just minutes away from Boston. Want to come visit? :D

[singlewoman.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time. And "Ave Q" is just scream out loud funny. My favorites are "The Internet is for Porn" and "It Sucks to be Me"! Even have a t-shirt with that slogan. Get really funny looks when I wear it. Makes my day.

Avenue Q

[cool-tre-cool.livejournal.com]

I so love Avenue Q! I'm jealous that you got to see it, I've only heard. I love that song, Loud as the Hell You want. I also love Everyone's a little bit racist. It's so true. I'm glad you got to see your friend, and hope your day goes a bit better for having heard something nice.

[imperial-dragon.livejournal.com]

lol. a day in new york sounds like so much fun!

[ice-is-blue.livejournal.com]

*pokes head from hole of finals paper writing*

Visit? Definitely! :D I haven't had any in-person interaction with HP fans.

The conference will be at the Hynes Convention Center (900 Boylston Street), and it looks like it's 8 miles from there to where you are. Any chance, military aside, of your whip-cracking beta bunking it on your couch or other mostly-uncomfortable-surface for five days? *hopeful chibi-eyes* I'm fairly adept at mass transportation so I'll get myself around and I can pay ya a small sum for the sleeping space.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I'll have to ask my other roommates, but I don't forsee a problem, as long as it doesn't overlap with the weekend they've got their kids. The living room is technically common-area, but they don't seem like the types who would mind. Plus, they have a guest bedroom with two bunk beds that the kids stay in when they come every other weekend. My guess is that they'll be perfectly willing to let you use either of those. And if not... I've got a queen-size bed, I don't toss and turn, and I don't snore. You're welcome to share, if that doesn't bother you.

[ice-is-blue.livejournal.com]

Yippie! I don't mind sharing, if it comes down to that. I'm an edge-sleeper and, reportedly, equally quiet. Remind me, though, to tell you the story of the bashful boy at the anime convention hotel room where we packed in seven people with only two full-size beds. The librarian conference, getting back on track, runs mid-week... March 21-25th, although my flight dates may vary a little from that if I want to stay for sightseeing or whatever. I'll have a clearer picture for you in early January once I've had time over the holidays to sit down and plan. *glomps* It's rare that I get excited about things, but this trip sounds like it'll be really fun. The last library conference I went to was in Chicago over the summer. That got darkened by my psychotic mother who had flown out for a wedding held at the same time. (Another story, in and of itself.) But in March, with her and I on opposite ends of the country, this trip might actually turn out decent. Yay!