MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 999

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Sylvia/lapdogs/singing
	by "Emily L Cartier" <ecartier-+AT+-engr.udayton.edu>
  2) re: music
	by freakola <freakola-+AT+-geocities.com>
  3) Re: Questions for all to answer
	by deniz<dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA>
  4) Spider Robinson
	by Rozanna McNeer <rozanm-+AT+-wow.com>
  5) kittys /Father Christmas /for Cennydd /for HtH /
	by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
  6) Divination in Velgarth
	by Eleonora <infodyn-+AT+-distrinet.com.uy>
  7) re: music
	by nme848-+AT+-hecky.acns.nwu.edu (Nina Ehgartner)
  8) Re-introduction, of sorts (rather fluffy, too)
	by Joan Ferguson <joan_ferguson-+AT+-harvard.edu>
  9) Songs/Esme&twins/starting over/catching up
	by Wintershard <peallen-+AT+-naz.edu>
 10) sex for YA?  intro
	by CelticKim-+AT+-aol.com
 11) SKitty Stories?
	by khu286-+AT+-merle.acns.nwu.edu (Kay Huang Perry)
 12) Spider Robinson?/divination/Chanukah FLUFF
	by Rainwood/Jefferson <macstager-+AT+-earthlink.net>
 13) Monsters/Fluffy replies
	by Wintershard <peallen-+AT+-naz.edu>
 14) hello, sorry
	by "JAIME HATHAWAY" <JSJAHATH-+AT+-future.judson.edu>
 15) Chanukah thanks/ companions
	by Rose <prose-+AT+-ctol.net>
 16) Braid:IDIC/First Contact/Singing/chopsticks/SB Spoiler
	by myktshr-+AT+-ldd.net (miyako hirao)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 10:21:23 -0500
From: "Emily L Cartier" <ecartier-+AT+-engr.udayton.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Sylvia/lapdogs/singing
Message-ID: <9612031524.AA03373-+AT+-udecc.engr.udayton.edu>

This is mostly going to be a response to Cennydd's last post, but I 
may work in bits from other people. We'll see how it goes.

A while back Cennydd said: "Who is Sylvia and what is she, that all 
our swains commend her?"
I found it familiar but couldn't place it at all.
He just explained:
>Oops.  Now that I said this, I cannot find the reference.  The poetry 
>book that has it is at home with my mom (it is her book).  Anyway, I 
>am almost positive that it is Shakespeare, one of his comedies, but I 
>can't remember which.  And I am sure that there is a character by the 
>name of Sylvia that it is referring to.
Hmm. That would explain why I found it familiar (McDevitt's senior 
English Lit class is called Shakespeare, and I _loved_ it). Since I 
found it familiar it is probably in _Merchant of Venice_, _Twelfth 
(sp) Night_, _A Midsummer Night's Dream_, _Much Ado About Nothing_ or 
_The Tempest_ because those are the "comedies" that I know the best. 
I kinda doubt that it's the last two though.

On Fri, 29 Nov 1996, Mel the Redcap wrote:
> And yes, Treesa was a lapdog person. Cats usually have more 
>dignity. <g>
Hmm. I didn't really want to touch this subject, but... Most of the 
undignified dogs that I know are large (say, over about 30 lbs/60kg). 
These dogs run around barking their heads off at the least thing and 
will tolerate almost anything from almost anyone. They also don't 
seem to be as picky about having one or two special people who can do 
literally anything to them.
Most of the small dogs that I know are _very_ picky about who they 
associate with and the behavior they will tolerate, and the older 
they get, the pickier they get. They tend to choose one or two 
special people who can do anything, and the dog will at most complain 
mildly that this is not pleasant. Cats also seem to be rather picky 
about the people they associate with, but I have no experience here.
_IF_ Treesa had a dog, I rather think that it would be small and 
rather well trained. Treesa seems to have a knack for arranging her 
life so that she doesn't have to deal with anything she finds 
unpleasant, and there is nothing more UNpleasant than a badly trained 
and badly behaved dog, small or not. They do things like bite, bark 
constantly, go to the bathroom inside the house, eat any food left 
out and jump up on people and scare them. And this stuff is something 
I don't think Treesa would tolerate, and a small dog tends to only 
listen to the person who trained them about these things so...

Cenny said:
>Hmmm.  Are you sure you aren't my sister?  This sounds exactly like 
>the arguments that she and I always had (she was/is a concert-level 
>bassoonist and could play any instrument she set her hand to).  Of 
>course, as a former vocal music specialist, my side was always: "any 
>one can play an instrument, it is just a matter of hitting right 
>buttons."  (BTW, I know that this is not true.)
Nope <g>. I'm the vocalist (as Mary my mommy pointed out) and my sister 
is the instrumentalist. Even if I work at learning an instrument 
(besides voice) I can't get beyond the "finger pattern" stage so I 
know that playing an instrument is a _lot_ harder than it sounds. I 
_really_ admire people who are good enough at their instrument to go 
beyond just hitting the right buttons. And as Mary said, I learned to 
sing from her and she's formally trained as a vocalist. When I was 
little I sang voice excercises for fun <g> and I still do. She 
corrupted my father enough so he's half decent, and ran most of the 
music at our church for a _very_ long time. I didn't hear any really 
badly trained vocalists til I started listening to pop music, so I 
learned to sing well by a strange kind of osmosis. I'll never be a 
pro, but I'll always be able to get a spot in a church choir if I 
want one.
All I can say about your experience Cenny is OUCH! That would hurt 
_BAD_! 
I'm not talking about being a top level pro, just about 
learning to sing well enough that you won't hurt people's ears (or 
your own). And learning to do most of the stuff you would do in a 
typical church choir (mine isn't typical).

Do I need an ObMisty or do my comment's about Treesa's hypothetical 
lapdogs count? Hmm. Does Valdemar have stories about the person who 
gives anonymous gifts (St. Nick, the Wise Men, Father Frost...)? 
MidWinter Festival seems to be the time to give gifts, and most 
European cultures seem to have an anonymous gift giver, so who would 
be the Valdemaren equivelent. Would they have different ones for 
various cultures? Would some of the cultures not have a character who 
gives anonymous gifts? I know that there is probably no textual 
evidence, but these are interesting questions none the less.

Emily the invisible


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 10:48:09 -0800
From: freakola <freakola-+AT+-geocities.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: re: music
Message-ID: <32A475E9.59B0-+AT+-geocities.com>

Emily L Cartier wrote:
> Woodlark says:
> >i object, m'lady!  learning to sing without damaging your body and
> >using all of it, etc. is not easy to learn.  and the talented fingers
> >is partly from starting from a young enough age.
> Well, to me singing was pretty easy to learn (never heard anyone do
> it really _wrong_ til I was about 10 or so). The niceties like an

granted, singing when one is that young is usually done instinctively
correctly unless (and this happens quite often) you get a bad example. 
however, there usually comes a time when one tries too hard, and in my
experience, it's usually choruses that manage to screw everything over
royally.  because of choruses, i've always straightened and
overcontrolled my voice, trying to get a purity of pitch (common
phenomenon).  this means that now (i've only been having private lessons
for three years) i'm working on relaxing, and letting go of my iron grip
on my throat, and i know i'm having some success because my vibrato is
finding me (*it* finds *me*, if you start faking vibrato, you're still
screwing it over royally).

> absolutely wonderful ah, ee, ay, i, oh and oo were harder, but
> nowhere near as hard as it seemed to be for everyone else. Phrasing
> is obvious once you know what it is and can read both music and the
> language you're singing. Range is mostly a matter of practice

the trick to wonderful vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u) is focus and
resonance, and placing them in the right spot.  just quickly say the
vowels i wrote out (ah, e (like bacon w/ irish accent), ee, o (obey),
oo), and see if you can feel their placement moving from back to front
in your head.  that's step one, is getting to sing each sound (there are
plenty more) in the right spot.  you also have to focus each sound, so
they don't sound breathy.  this is all assuming, of course, that you've
got all these noises hooked into the diaphragm and are supporting well. 
that's another of my problems in that i'm just now encountering
intercostal breathing (as opposed to breathing w/ just my stomach), and
am finally learning good support.  phrasing is mostly being able to hear
the phrase, but legato is wicked hard work in keeping intensity level,
and vowel sounds the same over a run, etc.  but when legato comes, it
pours out of the mouth, and is really beautiful.  to me, music is a ton
more than the words (not saying that's all Emily thinks it is).

> practice practice.

Couldn't agree more.

> Once you have the basics of voice, all the rest is just polishing
> cause the only way you can screw your voice up is by trying to sing
> too much, too loudly.

which happens often if you're in choral groups.  i've been trying very
hard not to do it with Handel's Dixit Dominus, because i love that thing
and won't stop singing it, and really should save my voice some more.

> With other instruments, you really do need talented fingers. I know a
> few flautists who started in 4th grade (ages 8-10) and they range in
> skill from useless (can't play more than scales) to downright awesome
> (you throw the music at them 2 days beforehand and they can play it
> in a concert). These people are all players of at least 5 years of
> experience. I started piano at an even earlier age and never got much
> beyond useless, so I don't really think its an age thing. And my dad

i started piano when i was eight and did it for five years, but don't
think i'm really that good.  i never got the hang of practicing or
sight-reading two claves.  i did clarinet for five years (started when i
was 11) and consider myself much better on it (i don't know if i
practiced a lot more or not -- i had to practice some because i was in
bands).  i'm not saying that age is the only factor, i said it was
*part* of the meld.  it could be my early experience with piano helped
when i got to clarinet.  i think it definitely helped with my typing
skills.

> (who is almost tone deaf) started guitar in his teens and learned to
> play pretty well. I've never heard of someone who started late in
> life (after about 25) becoming a total whiz at a musical instrument,
> but they can learn to play well enough that they can be useful to a
> choir. But they need the talented (agile, flexible and easily
> stretched) fingers as well as a lot of practice and sheer
> determination. That's why I said that any fool can learn to sing.
> Singing "just" requires practice and determination, no other physical
> skills required. You may not be someone people would pay to hear
> sing, but you can learn to sing well.

you need to develop all the muscles from the diaphragm to the
intercostals to the chest to the throat to the brain.  a lot of this
comes from practice.  i'm not talking weeks of practice, though.  i'm
talking years upon years.  i guess i just don't see a fool with that
much determination.  with fingers, if you've always been using your
fingers since you were little, you're likely to have more responsive
ones, than if you weren't the type.

> And about "ordinary people", I didn't say that my hypothetical bard
> does nothing interesting, just that they don't save Valdemar. In
> fact, saving Valdemar is so common that it's getting _boring_. I'm

i didn't say he does nothing interesting -- especially not to us.  just
to the mainstream audience out there, it's the glorious things they
really want(oh, the fools, they).

> thinking of something along the lines of _Dragonsinger_ and the other
> Harper Hall books. Menolly is just a girl who loves music, becomes a
> Harper, and then writes pop music and goes around listening in
> corners at parties for "unrest". When you put it that way, it doesn't
> sound all that interesting, does it? Yet Menolly is my favorite char

wait a minute.  Menolly gets promoted to Journeyman in record time, has
the personal interest of Master Robinton, and goes on to become one of
the leaders of the Harper Hall.  she wasn't ordinary.

> on Pern. I want this Bard to do ordinary, Bardic things. Get in
> trouble for singing the wrong song in front of a noble, have someone
> get jealous cause our Bard is a better musician than they are, go
> travelling and get rained on, have sore throats, get arthritis....
> These are things that happen to musicians that are interesting. The
> nasty gossip and catfights that go on among a soprano section are
> unbelievable unless you've been there (Stephie can tell you all about
> flutes and _their_ catfights). I can think of no greater tragedy for
> a singer than to have a sore throat and have to miss a performance
> and I'm sure that Misty can write about _that_. Is all this too much
> to ask?

those are cool ideas, and to me, they'd be great.  imagine a singer
getting... oh... laryngitis.  not only would you worry about this
person, but they might also start an epidemic, and if it's timed just
right, it could screw major performances over royally.
Kaatje said:
>The voice is a musical instrument, just like any other.  It 
>takes superior muscle control, constant practice, dedication, musicality, 
>and a good ear.  There is just as much mechanics involved in forming words 
>properly so they'll be clearly understood, in phrasing music so it is 
>flowing and beautiful, as there is in getting the fingers right in a 
>piece by Ganne or Mozart.  People do pay to hear me play, and it's not 
>because I was born with talented fingers.  It's because I've worked like 
>hell to make the most of those fingers, just as vocalists work like hell 
>to make the most of their voices.

i definitely agree with what Kaatje said.  and yes, you're likely to get
a lot further in music and have more teachers willing to help you out if
you happen to have a beautiful voice.  i think, however, that a lot of
people with "ugly" voices are really faking it.  when a voice isn't
being faked and still sounds wrong, it's probably the music.  i wouldn't
want to have a pinkish lyrical soprano doing "batti," just like i
wouldn't want to have a Wagnerian Tenor doing "olim lacu" from Carmina
Burana.

i love singing in churches with three second reverb.  it makes it that
much more pleasurable to sing legato.

love,
free bard woodlark, Acolyte in |"So don't you question my counseling
Music and Song, Knight of Amber|technique!"  -- Deanna Troi
and Marigold, and party to     |http://www.gecities.com/CollegePark/9359
deniz's thoughts and computer. |freakola-+AT+-geocities.com

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 96 11:02:12 -0500
From: deniz<dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Questions for all to answer
Message-ID: <199612031612.LAA01239-+AT+-sirocco.CC.McGill.CA>

Stephanie wrote:
>Okay I have decided on a few quetions for everyone to give me answers to.
>Just so you know I am asking these questions out of pure unadulterated 
curosity.
>
>1.) What is this thing you people have with sheep? ( it is rather annoying
>not knowing what it means when others give out sheep.)

Some people have already answered this question.  Before it was explained by 
Kory and Heather, all us newbies have been enjoying ourselves imagining 
different explanations.  Also, don't forget about the end of Promise, what Van 
says to Withen.

>4.)  Tell me what it is you people have with birthday presents.

Ah-HAH!!!!!  A call for the Holy Custodian of the Birthday List to explain 
herself.  Well, in October (the 8th, to be exact), Mat announced his birthday 
the day of, and everyone was giving him birthday gifts, and it was all a 
little frantic.  So, I volunteered to compile a list of birthdays and warn 
everyone when they approach so we can make them feel loved (because they 
are!).  It turned out that this wasn't a new idea to the list, it's just the 
old birthday list died, but I got sent a copy of it, and all the newbies and 
other people who weren't on that list sent me their birthdays, and I pasted 
everything onto a notepad file.  Now, I try to give the month's birthdays near 
the beginning of the month, and 2-day warnings for each birthday.

>     Also there is one December b-day you forgot or mabey on one told you
>the 29th is Mary's b-day (don't forget. She hates when people forget).

It has been so noted.

love,
Deniz - dsarik-+AT+-PO-Box.McGill.CA -- http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/9359
"Time continuum?  This is no time to be talking about time!  We don't have
the time... what was I saying?" -- Deanna Troy


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 12:07:14 -0500
From: Rozanna McNeer <rozanm-+AT+-wow.com>
To: "mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk" <MERCEDES-LACKEY-+AT+-HERALD.CO.UK>
Subject: Spider Robinson
Message-ID: <199612031207_MC1-C95-F4D5-+AT+-compuserve.com>


okay, it seems Spider fans are popping up all over the place, so I thought
i'd share with everyone... :ahem:

HEAR YE, HEAR YE! <g> NEW CALLAHAN'S BOOK OUT!
  Callahan's Legacy can be found, in Hard cover, at your local book store.

(sheeps) - i got it the same time as Firebird, and actually read Legacy first.
skillfully dodges flying monty python white coconuts and levin bolts from
the list at large

And as Undine remarked on the LotPW list, "Jake's in rare good form."
<snicker> you can say that again, Undine!

Firemist

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 96 18:40:12 +0100
From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: kittys /Father Christmas /for Cennydd /for HtH /
Message-ID: <9612031740.AA03999-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl>

hola, heyla, hi'there

Khenta Blaufalk wrote:
> Deniz writes:
>
>> i read the "A Tale of Two SKittys" today when i 
>>was there -- real cute.  why is it SKitty, as opposed to Skitty, or 
>>skitty?  is there a reason for this? 
>
> AFAIK, it was an abbrev. of sorts for Dirk's kitty -> SKitty (Dirk? huh?)

Wow - that's Dirk's, Tom's and Sam's we've been offered so far. Is this
a multiple-owner cat (sorry, kitty)? I haven't read it so can't add to this
list of names, :>

==========================================================================
She also wrote, and several others then picked up on it:
> Well, we can always blame it on Coca-Cola, can we not? As one of my 
> classmates told me today, Santa Claus (Weihnachtsmann to speakers of 
> German) was an invention of said company. She said originally he was one 
> of their employees, clad in red-and-white. <shrug> I do not know what to 
> think of that, I certainly haven't heard that theory before.

It was Father Christmas we have Coke to thank for - the overweight bloke with 
the scarlet suit, white beard and "Ho ho ho" nonsense. He was based on the
 european traditions, but Coke jollied him up a bit (the ad men at Coca Cola 
I mean, not a quick snifter!) - the rest, as they say, is history.
=====================================================================

On the thread of Companions (not) meddling:
It seems to me that if you and your Companion shared mindspeech, then they
were more likely to have an input into what you did, simply because you'd be
used to talking things over. If you were like Lores or Talia, with no real
mindspeech, then the Companions "interference" would be far more subtle. Of
course, if you're Elspeth in the throes of puppy lurve, then you might not
chose to listen - 'grief, why should Chosen teenagers be any different from 
the unchosen. And before I suffer the wrath of the many teenie on this 
list, I sure as hell didn't want "them" telling me what to do when I was
a teenager and my 3 stepsons sure as hell didn't when they were teenagers 
(May the Lord preserve you from teenage stepsons - I love 'em dearly, and 
they're lovely guys now, but at 14? 15? 16? Definitely not!).

=====================================================================
Cennydd wrote:
> Esme (Weatherwax?) 
watch it sunshine, I recall a certain thought train that took me from 
green silences through trees to forests to Forest Gump. So If you want
nicknames, Gump me old mate, I'm more'n happy to participate.
Recipes - you want recipes? Savoury? Indian? English? Desert? this is
a dedicated foodie here, I'm having chicken balti and nan tonight - all
from my fair hand - which reminds me , it's time to go home ......

Babysitted???? You cannot be serious - you don't really say that do you?
Surely not, I sitted down when I read that, so shocked was I. Sitted 
straight down onto my fanny. (Uh oh - american english strikes again -
apologies if fanny is rude, it ain't in english. Like tush - apparently in
Glasgow it's akin to cun* (nasty, harsh word, ick), but in London it's 
another euphamism for  ...... well fanny really, <sigh> I think I'll quit 
now.

=====================================================================
Aw Heathe - I'm sorry you feel that way. Sure there are days (weeks?) 
when I have nothing really to contribute, so I just potter on through.
I've enjoyed reading your mails, you present a very different, well-
articulated slant on life, I wish I could write like what you do, ;>.
Drop us a line or hundred every now and then, please?

 =====================================================================
re: heyla - well the spanish use hola, and I'm always getting my holas 
and heylas muddled - my colleagues in Madrid probably just think I can't 
spell!

right, my man is in London for a few day, there's now't on the telly to
tempt, so I plan to shut the winter out, and retreat to bed with a book -
I might try Storm 1 again - it's been a while, or maybe a Pern - all this
McC talk - or .................

my stomach needs feeding, and it's late,
ciao ciao,
Esmeralda

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 15:12:55 -0300
From: Eleonora <infodyn-+AT+-distrinet.com.uy>
To: Mercedes Lackey Mailing List <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Divination in Velgarth
Message-ID: <32A46DA3.2B59-+AT+-distrinet.com.uy>

I was sort of thinking (at least there is smoke coming from the top of
my head, but then it may be the heat ;))
Do we know of any divination skills in Velgarth? I do not mean foresight
as practiced by Heralds, but things like tea leaves reading, or buzios
or Tarot, or something of the sort. I can't think of any, but then, as
expressed previously, my mind is about to melt ;), so there may be a lot
and I don't find them <g>.

Love,

Ele

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 12:55:45 -0600
From: nme848-+AT+-hecky.acns.nwu.edu (Nina Ehgartner)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: re: music
Message-ID: <199612031853.AA207089190-+AT+-hecky.acns.nwu.edu>


>i started piano when i was eight and did it for five years, but don't
>think i'm really that good.   i did clarinet for five years (started when i
>was 11) and consider myself much better on it (i don't know if i
>practiced a lot more or not -- i had to practice some because i was in
>bands).  
Me too!  I started playing piano when I was 7, and I picked up my first
clarinet when I was 10.  I always enjoyed the piano more, and I'm better at
that than the clarinet.  Although, there's not many things that can surpass
the rush I got when I played really good music in concert band (our section
always got music with great clairnet solos).

ObMisty:  Well, back to the holidays in Valdemar discussion.  Besides
Midwinter, the only other "holiday" I can think of was Selenay's wedding.
When she married Daren, tons of people were there.  IIRC, Elspeth in Winds
(somewhere) made a comment that most of the Heralds were there (something
about there being a lot of white at the ceremony, more so than at Talia's
wedding).  It's the only other time that I can think of that almost everyone
takes a break to celebrate.  Now, whether they continue to celebrate
Selenay's anniversary is another matter entirely.


Christmas:  I think it was Emily who said that people tend to forget the
real meaning behind Christmas.  I can only take so much of the
commercialization.  I love the decorations,  shopping for gifts, and the
generosity and kindness people show at this time of year.  But it makes me
wonder why people revert to being rude and uncaring on Dec. 26.  To me,
Christmas is about family and friends being together.  It's that simple.
The best part for me is going to my aunt and uncle's house for Xmas eve,
heading to church for midnight mass (we get there early to hear the choir
sing carols), and then going home and preparing for the deluge of realtives
that come over on Christmas day.

Hmm...me preaching again.  Will wonders never cease.  
Wishing you all (early) Holdiday greetings.

Nina Ehgartner
Admissions Assistant-Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
email:  nme848-+AT+-hecky.acns.nwu.edu
Phone: (847) 491-3308
Fax: (847) 491-4960


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 14:15:01 -0500
From: Joan Ferguson <joan_ferguson-+AT+-harvard.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re-introduction, of sorts (rather fluffy, too)
Message-ID: <199612031915.OAA16543-+AT+-elmer.Harvard.EDU>

I've been here over two years, but I hardly post, so I suppose I'll speak a
piece and then keep my peace :-)

I hope to be known as Kessira, Goddess of the Web (waiting patiently  for
permission from Lady Thess and Cennyd).  Not necessarily the Web as it is in
Velgarth, but the web one creates while weaving - I'm a weaver, knitter,
crocheter, sewer and (hoping to re-learn very soon) spinner.  I worked for
several years in a fiber supply store in Western Massachusetts named Webs
:-) (great source of yarn, all you knitters and weavers on the List!), where
I learned spinning and weaving.  Stuck with the weaving, and wish I'd done
the same with spinning.  I also like spiders, so all creatures, human and
otherwise, who live and work with a web are welcome in my presence.
I suppose I could call myself the Fiber Goddess, but I want *nothing* to do
with bran!  And Fiber Arts Goddess has none of the ring of Goddess of the
Web.  So, that's who I hope to be.

In the dreaded RL, I'm Joan Ferguson, almost 32 (next month), and a
librarian (I catalog books for the Harvard University Library Preservation
Center).  Besides the above mentioned, I enjoy all sorts of music and
literature, want to own a horse again someday (I had a wonderful Morgan
horse as a teenager), and will start taking Folk Harp lessons in January.  I
sing passably well (but haven't sung with a group in many years :-( ) and
have almost perfect pitch (which can be a rather painful Gift!!!), spent
most of my childhood playing the piano as well as saxaphone, guitar, and a
smattering of violin, and love the theater in all its amazing varieties.
I'm in a relationship with a wonderful woman I met in college, and we'll be
celebrating 11 years together next month ... if the relationship lasts that
long.  She's still wonderful and the relationship works without a doubt, but
things change, and we're in the process of working things out for the best
for *both* of us.  I've recently "come out" all over again (as bisexual),
and that has put a definate spin on how we see each other and ourselves, and
what we want out of life.  Okay, I'll stop being depressing now, and get on
with this!  If anyone out there feels like discussing bi stuff, or has
experience with couples therapy, I'd love to chat with you off list!!

That's really all I have to say.  If you've read this far, thanks!  It was
nice to meet (and re-meet) other Listees, and I'm looking forward to
spending a few more years here :-)

ObMisty: Do we see much in the way of the "fiber arts" in Velgarth?  There's
the mending scenes in Arrows, but that's all I can think of off the top of
my head and without the books (can't have a second set of everything here at
work, even though it is a library ... Harvard University is not a good
collector of contemporary fantasy :-( )

Kessira, Goddess of the Web (hopefully!)


    
     
                              joan_ferguson-+AT+-harvard.edu
            ******************************************
"If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on
our skull, why then do we read it?  Good God, we would also be happy if we
had no books, and such books as made us happy we could, if need be, write
ourselves.  But what we must have are those books which come upon us like
ill fortune, and distress us deeply, like the death of one we love better
than ourselves, like suicide.  A book must be an ice-axe to break the sea
frozen inside us."                  -Franz Kafka
           *******************************************      


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 14:24:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Wintershard <peallen-+AT+-naz.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Songs/Esme&twins/starting over/catching up
Message-ID: <Pine.ULT.3.95.961202171854.12713A-100000-+AT+-orion.naz.edu>

Tip of the day: Don't leave the list on 'digest' for a week and plan on
reading it when you come back; it donna work <g>. I got through about 4 of
them, and said 'the hell with it.' Okay, I'm done babbling now.
--------------------------
Summersong wrote:
>>Let's see.... A-ha! It would be nice for Dirk, I think. I mean, it's a
really beautiful song, and the words:
        "If I could reach the stars
        I'd pull one down for you
        Shine it on my heart 
        So you could see the truth..."
Yup. Definitely Dirk and Talia.<<

You're so right! How about the part where Talia is in the bed and first
shows her love to him?  ... Ah, then it'd be Talia to Dirk, wouldn't it?
-------------------------------------------
Esmeralda (sp? sorry), Why can't you use a little of both or all or
somewhat in re to the twin's death, like have her leave, then come back,
or have her sister bring her back, etc.?
-------------------------------------------
Cen wrote:
>>(of course, for all I know, they may *still* think I am mean and a
flamer, but at least it will be an unbiased opinion).<<

I'll have you know, Cen, that many if not all of us love you dearly :) and
would miss you dearly were you not here.

  I was going to write a mini-rant on things that happened here, but since
y'all did it so nicely without me, I'll just start over :)
<clears throat - ewww, hair ball <g>>
  My name's Peter IRL. I'm 18, and I'm a junior in college. I like to
sing, dance (some), read (duh ;), write (BTW, whoever was asking about
starting a writing group of poets, please mail me), and play on the
computer. I'm trying to study more on Wicca, and like what I've seen so
far. Wintershard was and soon will be on the Mage War list (hopehopehope).
I like fun, challenges, and, well, ah . . anything else that catches my
fancy. Jeez, this is starting to sound like an ad in the personals <g> - I
think I'll stop while I'm ahead ;)
  The problem is, I'll have to leave the list soon. My account's gonna be
closed because I'll be taking some time off at school :(. As was said so 
many times before, you're all almost like family to me, and I hate to
think about not being with you. Oh well, I'll be back ASAP [insert
muttered curses from crowd] - I heard that!
---------------------------------------
Catching up some, for all of you with B-days I missed, or will miss, I
give to each of you a bottle. Open it on a particularly bad day, and I'll
allow the sun to shine for as long and as warm as you need/like.

Also, I don't know which digest I'll get on, but -
<taking deep breath>
WE'RE AT THE 1000th DIGEST!!!!!   YAY!!!!!
POUNCES, SHEEPS, and CHOCOLATE FOR ALL!!!!!
 
And to you, Auntie Mel, I give a single white rose for your love and
patience with all of us. Thank you. May both its and your beauty bloom
forever and a day. (Yeah, it's sappy - I know ;)

-=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=
Wintershard                          |Demon of Subtlety, Discreetness, and
wintershard-+AT+-geocities.com            |   Crappy Weather
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/6620 |'Consciousness: That annoying time
'He who laughs last thinks slowest'  |   between naps.'
-=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 15:24:59 -0500
From: CelticKim-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: sex for YA?  intro
Message-ID: <961203152458_1718173516-+AT+-emout04.mail.aol.com>

hello.  this is my first posting to the list, so please be gentle with me.

I have been following the discussion on how ML does not seem very comfortable
with overt sex, and was reminded of a scene from the Winds trilogy.  (Sorry,
I don't remember who said it, because this stupid computer won't let me find
deleted files.  AACK!)  It's the scene with Darkwind and Dawnfire at the hot
spring.  I don't know about anyone else, but I thought that scene was pretty
descriptive.  (Can't say that I minded, though.  :-)  )  

Well, I guess it's time to introduce myself as well.  My name is Kim, both
online and in the World.  I am a senior in college (YAHOO) and am a double
major in math and medieval studies.  I was introduced to ML quite by
accident.  I was in the college bookstore, dying for something to read, and
the LHM was the *only* trilogy for which they had all the books.  I picked
them up and was hooked.  The next time I went home, I ordered every other
book by her in the Science Fiction Book Club (and almost had a heart attack
when the bill came).  The other authors I read are Raymond Feist, Robert
Jordan, etc.  <blushing>  I need to admit something.  I also read romances.
 I can't help myself, I am a hopeless romantic.  My friends at school think I
am cooky.  I have been told I talk alot (but I think they're full of it).  My
favorite ML is definately the LHM, followed closely by the first Bardic
Voices.

Been nice meeting all of you, but I have a term paper giving me dirty looks
from the bed, so I had better go.  <sigh>  

Kim

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 14:55:24 -0600 (CST)
From: khu286-+AT+-merle.acns.nwu.edu (Kay Huang Perry)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: SKitty Stories?
Message-ID: <199612032055.AA102656524-+AT+-merle.acns.nwu.edu>

> >> i read the "A Tale of Two SKittys" today when i 
> >>was there -- real cute.  why is it SKitty, as opposed to Skitty, or 
> >>skitty?  is there a reason for this? 

Does anyone have a list of all the SKitty stories and where they
are located?  I know that SKitty is in Catfantastic, but what about 
SCat and the above story.  And, of course, any stories I haven't heard
about yet.

Spencer



------------------------------

Date: Mon, 02 Dec 1996 23:50:15 -0800
From: Rainwood/Jefferson <macstager-+AT+-earthlink.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Spider Robinson?/divination/Chanukah FLUFF
Message-ID: <32A3DBB7.41FC-+AT+-earthlink.net>

Rozanna McNeer wrote:

> HEAR YE, HEAR YE! <g> NEW CALLAHAN'S BOOK OUT!
>   Callahan's Legacy can be found, in Hard cover, at your local book 

<Rainwood apprehensively raises her hand> Er,<whispers quietly> everyone
on the LotPW list has been talking about this Callahan's - and I've
never read it or even heard about it before.  Could somebody please mail
me off list and explain what all the whooping and hollering is all
about?

Ele said:

>>>Do we know of any divination skills in Velgarth?<<<

Well there was the Weather Witch, but I guess she sortof goes into the
Gifted category. I can't find any textevd, but I'd stake a guess that
there were fortune-tellers who traveled with the traderfolk - the
traveling faires that Elspeth and Co. went into Hardon with? C'est
possible?

Well it is that time of year again, time to light the candles and
celebrate Chanukkah.  For those of you who observe these days, I wish
you a sweet and happy Festival of Lights.  For those of you who don't I
still wish you sweetness and joy in the coming days.  And, I fully
believe in giving EVERYBODY chanukkah presents so, here goes:

1st night- a gelt card with a crisp $100 bill inside.
2nd night- A book you've been dying to buy, but couldn't afford.
3rd night- A gift certificate to the restaraunt of your choice - enough
to cover a full meal, drinks of your choice, dessert and coffee, with
enough left over to leave a lavish tip. Oh, and the waitperson will be
the gender of your choice, stunning to look at, personable, quick and
will never ask you "how is everything" the second you fill your mouth
with food.
4th night- A gift basket filled with the goodies of your choice,
including a dreidel and several bags of chanukkah gelt (foil covered
chocolate coins).
5th night- The outfit you've been coveting all month, brightly
gift-wrapped.
6th night- The CD of your choice.
7th night- A trip to a serene outdoor hottub place, with private hottubs
featuring a stunning panoramic view, starry skies, soft music, pastries
and coffee drinks delivered to your tub, and the companion of your
choice.
8th night- After all that, a one-month health club membership with
unlimited classes and your own personal trainer. :)

Chanukkah isn't for another 2 days, but I've got to find 24 presents in
those 2 days, and I may not be on-line much, so I thought I'd gift you
all now!

Happy Shopping,

Rainwood

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 16:41:20 -0500 (EST)
From: Wintershard <peallen-+AT+-naz.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Monsters/Fluffy replies
Message-ID: <Pine.ULT.3.95.961203160124.2298B-100000-+AT+-orion.naz.edu>

See what happens? I delete the recent digests, and find out I missed stuff
about me <g>. Well, thank you Auntie Mel for the lovely archive pages, and
Cen, I hope you pay your priestesses well, 'cause I know one that did her
job to me (caring jab to you know who).

Okay, just to get it out of the way <g>: 
Do we ever hear of any underground monsters in any of her books? There's
the gryphons for air, a whole slew of land enemies, but what about
underground? Or water, for that matter?
-------------------
Okay, here're some replies to things I deleted (sorrysorrysorry):

Vicki wrote -
>>I love any sort of intelligent discussion, political, spiritual, 
literary, whatever--and Wintershard, I'm going to write you back as soon 
as I get time and rid of this headache--<<

Don't worry about it. I've had the same cough for the past two weeks. And
time? <giggle> I've got about forty hours worth of homework due by Friday,
and I live off campus. And what am I doing?  !Darn! Tithe to Mat: one
vanilla sheep for every hour I wait to start (ppbbth to the chocolate
lovers ;)

and Ele sigged -
>>Priestess of Karma (who is wondering if Wintershard has accidentally
become a radish due to a stray thought of hers and that is why he is not
posting ;))<<

It'll take more than a simple stray thought, milady. But, just to show you
how healthy I am, I promise that next storm of yours'll be completely free
of charge ;)
  Ah, wait- I can't still have that cough and be healthy, can I? Weeelll,
how about I just crawl over and throw a snowball at ya?

-=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=
Wintershard                          |Demon of Subtlety, Discreetness, and
wintershard-+AT+-geocities.com            |    Crappy Weather
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/6620 |'I'm not a complete idiot!
'i soupport publik ejucashun'        |     Some parts are missing!'
-=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=


------------------------------

Date:          Tue, 3 Dec 1996 16:03:05 CST
From: "JAIME HATHAWAY" <JSJAHATH-+AT+-future.judson.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: hello, sorry
Message-ID: <BF829F2ECA-+AT+-future.judson.edu>

Hi, I'm back. I went away for thanksgiving, and I had so many 
messages when I came back that I had to delete them all, so if 
anyone's emailed me, I'm sorry, please resend.  I will get back to 
all of you who responded to my shaych questions...it may take awhile 
as finals are coming up next week, but I promise i'll get back to you.
jacquelle
Ex astris, scientia


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 03 Dec 1996 17:38:49 -0500
From: Rose <prose-+AT+-ctol.net>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Chanukah thanks/ companions
Message-ID: <32A4ABF9.2605-+AT+-ctol.net>

Thankyou, Rainwood, for the wonderful thoughtful presents. This being my 
first celebrated Chunkah and all, those were my first presents <grin>!

I mentioned something over the break about why doesn't the Monarch have 
a grove born/major guardian spirit Companion, and Kory replied that that 
would be too much meddling by the powers that be. In response, who do 
the Chosen listen too more, their trusted confidants (a.k.a. the MO) or 
their Companions? When we see Talia in action, it seems like they listen 
more to her than their Companions. If you remember that Herald that she 
listened to out by a pool? His Companion couldn't snap him out of it, 
but she did, and all her great speach  (what little there was) came from 
Roland. The Heralds seem to have a difficulty listening to their 
Companions over humans and this seems to be exploited by the MO's 
Companion. If the monarch would better listen to advice from a person, 
then that person is carefully chosen by a great spirit. This, to me, is 
a much greater case for meddling power-heads, than if the Monarch had 
his/her own grove born Companion.
                    Kawryathen

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 3 Dec 1996 16:52:55 +0000
From: myktshr-+AT+-ldd.net (miyako hirao)
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Braid:IDIC/First Contact/Singing/chopsticks/SB Spoiler
Message-ID: <199612032246.QAA03366-+AT+-cdale3.midwest.net>

Star wrote:
>>>It just makes SENSE...  and it keeps me from killing my family and some
of my co-workers.  I also really loved McCoy's speech in Spock's World. 
For someone who's a "doctor, not a public speaker," he certainly spoke
well.<grin><<<

Huh. I've never read that book. Is it any good? _Sarek_ is wonderful. It's
by A.C. Crispin, and it focuses on Spock's father and his mother, Amanda
Greyson. In the book, she is terminally ill, but Sarek must leave for a
diplomatic mission. This, of course, makes Spock ticked (as much as a
Vulcan can be ticked). This book actually shows some of the sensitive sides
of Dr. McCoy that he exposed in many of the old episodes and esp. in Trek
III: The Search for Spock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deniz sigged:
>>>"I'm a doctor, not a doorstop." -- EHF?<<<

EMH -- stands for "Emergency Medical Hologram." Don't you just love that
scene? Anyway, I went to see it for the second time, and I want to go
again. And again. And again. You see my point? Yes, I'm a Trekkie. A
baby-Trekkie, but still a Trekkie. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Woodlark (I knew it was two people!!!) wrote:
>>>That's why I said that any fool can learn to sing. 
Singing "just" requires practice and determination, no other physical 
skills required. You may not be someone people would pay to hear 
sing, but you can learn to sing well.<<<

Actually, I think any fool with some semblance to a good ear can learn to
sing. I think a "good ear" is as much instinct as learning to listen. In
chamber choir at school, we do sight-reading and tonal memory exercises,
and it has improved my ear considerably over the last three months. 

One can learn to sing well, but to be truly successful (as in making a
career as a professional musician), one must have talent, too. So many
people I know (including myself) have not-so-great voices but technically
they're great. I have an okay voice, I think, but not enough to make a
career out of music (but then again, I think I have a better voice than
Alanis Morisette <sheeps from Cenn and other fans>). 

Mylee wrote:
>>>Mylee: As to "any idiot can sing"...  /me smiles 
idiotically.  I'm in choir, but I have no idea how 
I got in.  My parents weren't musical, and neither
was I.  My voice is so bad that, well, I always 
assumed I was an alto, then the prof said "you 
don't sing much, do you?" and I said "no" and he 
said "you'd be a soprano if you sang more."  I 
don't quite know what that means, anyone want to 
explain it to me?<<<

I think it supports Woodlark's earlier point. She said that range is
practice practice practice. I agree. I had about the range of middle C to B
(a seventh) before I started taking lessons. Now I have about a 2 1/2
octave range on my good days, except now that I'm an alto in choir (last
year I was a soprano because I could sing it & we were in a shortage of
sopranos) my range isn't that good. I think range also has to do with *how*
one practices. If one practices wrong, one could ruin his/her voice or not
get any better at all. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cennydd wrote:
>>> Of course, need I mention, that I had once
planned on becoming the first occidental male geisha. *giggle*)<<<

Since you became an OoUL/L, you no longer need that fantasy, do you;)

I have a feeling that you can probably eat with chopsticks better than I
can. I am not graceful, lady-like, or any of that sort of things. A fussy
Asian person would have a fit with me when they see me eat. 

Then he wrote:
>>>(BTW, for any of you have read _Crystal Singer_, I
*WAS* Killashandra Ree!).  <<<

Yes, I have read that book -- and I sympathized with her, too. I love
singing too much to give up lessons and choir, but when my mother (of all
the people!) told me that I really should go (no, it is imperative that I
go) into medicine (science, etc. which I'm not so good at) because I'll
never make a career out of music. She's not a professional; she has no
right to say that to me. But I still sympathized with Killashandra anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SB Spoiler:



















Kory wrote:
>>> And while the end was rushed, I don't 
think all the Empire stuff should have been cut--ok, some of it could 
have been, but I actually *liked* that part. Rather, she should have 
paced the writing better. She was trying the 
multi-point-of-views-at-once that GGK does, but she ran out of time. And 
I want more of Karal and Natoli. We should have had parts about Natoli, 
too. And the conversations they had (It's amazing..a Misty ROmance that's 
evenly paced and not going super-fast;>).<<<

I hope she someday writes a book about Karal and Natoli. Did their romance
survive? I really hope so. They were, I think, the first non-part-Heraldic
couple other than Keth and Jadrek. I felt that the book needed about a
hundred more pages. I wouldn't have minded the wait if it meant getting a
better product. 

And Mylee wrote:
>>>The ending could have definitely been
better. <<<

I wish the ending was more in detail. I think the ending switches between
POVs too much, and it's really distracting. 

















End Spoiler
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I need some Misty links for my homepage, too! I'm on geocities (Area
51/Vault <gee, ya think?>), and my username is "beta22charlie". Can you
Trekkies or people who saw FC guess to whom that access code belongs (hint:
It's not Data). It's pretty pitiful, though, because I'm still learning
html and in the last week I've had zero time to work on my page. So don't
go there unless you want a really good laugh (it's pitiful. very pitiful).

That's it for today. Bye-bye.

Love and logic,
Summersong & Spiffy the Cat
*************************************
Akiko Hirao <myktshr-+AT+-ldd.net>
"Captain, I believe I speak for everyone here 
when I say ... To hell with our orders!" 
-- Lt. Cmdr. Data from Star Trek: First Contact
*************************************


------------------------------

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 999
*********************************