August 06, 2004
our story so far
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August 05, 2004
yikes!
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Well, dear readers, Allen's new love interest Liselot showed up to write with us. Surprised? We were!
but for what it's worth --- Allen is a good guy, a good designer, a good friend. If there's any way for you to find in your heart to give him another chance ---- to view what happened here in the last month as a cool, weird, funny courtship story to tell, together, years from now --- I beg you to do it!August 04, 2004
i also can hear you
This is certainly a very sad little society you have gathered here, Allen, to talk about me as if I don't exist.Only because I don't like computers does not mean I cannot use them when I need.
I am myself at my home and I decide to search on the Internet for Allen and there you are, discussing me. Hello, I can discuss also!
How it is very amusing that your friends tell you many of the same ideas that I tell you. Your fears of politics and and of love are the same fears. As false as your American party political conventions ---- like a dreary game show --- a great amount of smiling, but no point.
Allen you have written here a "reality show" of love with "reality people" like character Allen and like character me. Oh! Now it is time for a commercial!
Allens Friends, I address you now. Especially Rob, who tried to prevent Allen against writing about me in public in your glog. You are good friends to Allen, all of you! Your advice is generally good advice. Beverly, I want to meet you especially. You are intelligent and kind.
But really Allen, you talk about me as if I do exist . . . though, as if I exist too much. A "gi-normous" (word that you taught me) Liselot, much too big for this life, for this world. You must climb this gi-normous Liselot like a mountain climb champion in order to love me . . . or put a flag on me. Which do you want? This Liselot is woman-size, body and blood, for real.
I want to say goodbye to you Allen, but not in this place, in this moment. Only I thought to let the readers of Rob's blog know that Yes, Hello, Liselot is a real person, with real emotions, and a real loving feeling began to grow for Allen until I read him treat me like a schoolboy love in public on the internet.
Si tu m'aime tant . . . show me some "reality."
August 03, 2004
I can hear you
Hell O! Did anyone figure I might actuallyread this blog, too, since I am one of its coauthors? It was veryentertaining to see my personallife discussed overlunch in the last message! Actually, myfriends, once I gotover the initialshock it was kindofsweet. Muddleheaded and misguided, but sweet. Glad to see that I got a resounding "vote of ambiguity" on the love of my life -- yes from my man the 'wordsman, not-so-much from Rob, and thumbs down from Beverly. So --- not very helpful, in practical terms. Since I now am intheposition of forking over for tickets to New York to see Liselot or not. Ofcourse Beverly's opinion counts for tentimes the both a youse guys, so her lack of confidence's got me a bit shaken. My mind is mush when I'm with her and my heart is spinning. In a good way. Idon't know. It's early in the relationship, granted. But a guycan dreamabout the future, can't he? I guess I'd betterlet her know that I'm fantasizing longterm loving, right, Bev? Call my cell if you guys want to call.August 02, 2004
minutes of the literary lunch in exile
12:04 'wordsman and Beverly order iced coffee. Summer is great. Rob arrives and demands to know if 'wordsman is behind the penguin newspaper on the blog. 'wordsman pretends to fumble his denial and acts guilty. Beverly cracks up. 12:07 Rob is dejected --- 'wordsman obviously is not impersonating the penguins. It must be some hacker. Could it be Joe Tabbi's handiwork? Or Anne Burdick? 12:09 What's the deal with Allen? Is he ready for a Real Relationship with this French woman he hardly knows? 'wordsman says yes. Rob says maybe. Beverly says no way, Schmozay. 12:14 Beverly wants all the Olympic Track and Field men to be nude like in the original ancient Olympics. Rob and 'wordsman wince. Beverly says: Exactly! She wants to see what happens to it. Does it shrink and get out of the way? If it knows what's good for it, says Rob. |
12:18 Nude Olympics; Beverly says Nude Boxing and Rob and 'wordsman wince. Rob says Nude Archery and Beverly winces. 'wordsman says Nude Badminton and everybody winces. 12:22 Beverly is scandalized. How can 'wordsman say Allen is ready? 'wordsman has inside information: Allen's sister has two kids and Allen loves them. Beverly says: Nonetheless. Rob says Allen covets his bachelorhood. 12:30 Allen is intensely loyal with his employees. To a fault. Proof that Allen is not afraid of attachment, says 'wordsman. Employee/employer is a different relationship. Theoretically, says Beverly. They reminisce about Greta, Allen's former employee and long-time, on-and-off lover. 12: 37 Rob says Allen learned his lesson with Greta. Plus Allen's skin cancer put the scare in him. Guys have biological clocks, too. 12:42 'wordsman wants nudity to be the theme of the whole Olympics. He's very old school. Bike racing, too. Rob says the Olympics already have a theme: performance-enhancing drugs. 12:47 Performance enhancing drugs are natural --- part of human nature --- and should be legal, says 'wordsman. The true test of a national prowess is to see how jaked their scientists can make their athletes. 12:54 NASCAR is a battle between the engineers, not the drivers, says Rob; maybe 'wordsman's right. Imagine an Olympics of completely jaked, raving, jittery athletes. 12:55 Nude, adds Beverly 12: 59 Beverly thinks she, Rob and 'wordsman should get on a conference call to Allen. An intervention. Just to make sure that he's OK and not going off the deep end. 1:04 Rob sweeps up the tab. Hugs all around. Beverly will call about the conference call with Allen. |
July 31, 2004
note to self: get a grip
Oh cripes and crikeys, you guys! What'shappening tome? I'm starting tohave terrifying dreams. Dreams with Liselot in them ofcourse! I miss her! I'm dreamingof roomy houses withbackyards and Liselot and I both living there --- together! Aaaagggh! I'mdreaming of beingwith her next year, and the year after that, and the decade after that, and the century afterthat! Eeek! And I'mdreaming of dandling a littleAllen and a littleLiselot in myfatherly lap! Yoiks! Worst ofall --- the dreams feel good! Realgood. WhatamI, nuts? Prose & Cons. Cons: I don't know herthatwell. Whoknows what hiddenagendas shemight have? The bloomfades. Pros: Liselot, Liselot, and more Liselot. Brains and Body, Attention and Affection. It's gonna mean lots of travel. I'm nuts, I'm nuts. I'm changing. I'm readyreadyready!July 28, 2004
on fire
Oh, oh, uhoh only 28 more hours tospend with her, the onlyher, the besther, the one her. Such urgency. Sleep can wait. She flies back to NY and I to Chicago tomorrow. Amazingly weare both doinggreat work at the brainstorming meetings. The executiveslove our ideas. Weare in the zone. We are onfire. Weare brainstorming for eachother and eachother only. Only 27hours 54minutes, butwho'scounting? I'mcounting, that's who. I count! She counts! Nothingelse counts. Herfreckles form constellations allover, constellations I have named. Lovesick stargazer. Tick, tick, tick. I found a woodtick (insect) on her hip amongst the stars and I burned it out, she across my lap on hotel bed with matches and hilarity. Sore from laughter, et cetera. Whatwill I do without my golden sky?July 26, 2004
ponder well
| googlepoem for allen: ponder well | ||
... unconditionally perfect love typically not based on reality. ... immoral and represents ... moderate feelings, as one finds them in nature (Bovary 59 ... new life and the potential for ... a free Spirit Card to your friends; Apply for our new Love and Light ... and perhaps
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July 23, 2004
allen, as your friend . . .
Allen --- what's re:ally going on with this Liselot per.sonne? Is this a f(ar-f)li(u)ng? Is she even based in the U(.)S(.) per(temp)manent(orari)ly? Will she return to F(a)r.ance after the pro.ject you're working on? Allen --- wha!t about all our conver(sen)sations about in.tim(e)acy and being rea(ll)dy for a re(a)lationship? Are you (w)r(ong)ight back to your old(e) pat.tern? Take a moment and con.sid(h)er. |
July 20, 2004
idyll
Oh, it allgets pretty simple! Life is reduced (or Ishould say, Life is expanded) to two(2) simple questions: when will I get to see her again? and how much time can I spend with her? Wego to meetings and nod andpretend to be engaged (did I say "engaged"?) but all that's on our minds is gettingback to the hotel. At least that's all that's on mymind. She's dragging me over the coals about both Bush and Kerry. "American politics spans the poltical gamut --- from A to B," she says. We send each other messages on our handheld BlackBerry devices constantly. It's like holdinghands. We are so damned cute. We have a thousand ways to act efficientlybusy and bustle among our effects inorder to secretly keyboard sweet nothings.July 15, 2004
poem for allen: when it really happens
| when it really happens | ||
when it really happens, breathe when it really happens, remember the time and date when it really happens, don't read this when it really happens, groove on the smells and textures when it really happens, let your fingers do the talking when it really happens, separate then from now when it really happens, let it be new
(hard to do)
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for real
Success. Success, my friends. Success, or is it? The real thing is so very, well, real, really. The "ouch" and "excuseme " of it all. Really. The elbows and taste of her. For real. The underwear and toothbrush and towel of it. The armfallenasleep and and and the smell of cigarettesmoking-as-I-woke-up of it all. But real. But nice. But real. But reallynice. But real. Help! Uh oh. Happy? Happy. Now what? Coo unsyn?July 14, 2004
souvenir means memory
Iam the proudowner ofa souvenirashtray. Proudstealer, Isuppose. But, hey,it's advertising forthe hotel, right? Why, youask? As wetalked lastnight, Liselot twirled thisparticular ashtray. As shetalks, her handsmustplay. The accoutrements of smoking areherfavorite toys. Besides me, that is. Aswe talkedabout her childhood outside of Dijon (yes, she is a fine Burgundy) her lefthand spun the ashtry counterclockwise. When shetalksabout emotionallydifficult incidents (drunkenmom, cruel highschoolgirls) the pace of the ashtrayslows toacrawl, her beautiful finger tips walk ing the rim care ful ly. When she's talksabout elated times (coming to Paris for University, travels in Tunisia) her wholehand gives thething a spin, spin, spin and the ashtray wanders the table between our wineglasses, traversing napkins and skipping straws. The whirling ashtray (dumping the longtime slug boyfriend, comingto theStates for the job we're on) at the height of happiness even surfed a long tablepuddle of icewater condensation andmade a plunge for the tableedge! She held the ashtray tight as she said: "Allen, youact like your littlefriends are coachingyou whattosay tome. Only relax!" Well, my littlefriends, I amplunging for the tableedgemyself. Wemeet for dinneragain tonight and Ihave a tingly feeling about it. Herromm or myroom? Hmmm. Betterget my socksoffthefloor.July 13, 2004
quest ions yes quest ions
Yes, Iam in LosAngeles. Yes, Iamstaying at the same swankyhotel as the fascinatingLiselot.Yes, Iwas wellprepared to meetandgreet withher at the barlastnight. No, shedidnotshow up. No, Idonot knowwhy. I took thebest from everyone'sadvice. From 'wordsman Itook the encouragement to begoofy andnatural in whatIsay. From 'wordsman's otheradvice Itook amoment toaskmyself whatIreally want. (It's her. Yep. That's the answer. Yep.) From Beverly Itook theprinciple to listen, listen, and listensomemore. Buthow can Ilisten if she's not talking with me? If Idon't know whereshe is? Isshe ditching me so early? AmI too intoher? Ishould seeher in the generalmeeting thisafternoon at 1:00. Oh, timemoves so slow. Shesmokes and shedoesn'tlike computers. Iknow Iknow. Red Flag City. Yes, I know. No, I care not.July 08, 2004
ease-play elp-hay
Ohgreat, youguys! Now I'mtotally confused! I'm goingtofollow 'wordsman'sadvice and go inthere and sayto Liselot: "Coo unsyn! Let's gamble! Weeee!" and she'sgoingto fall into myarms. And/or I'm goingtofollow Beverly'sadvice and justlistentoher and gofrom there. Ineed a plan, I needa plan! Liselot and I arehavingdinner again tonight, and then we both fly apart forafewdays, then wewill see eachother again in LosAngeles on the 12th, for anotherseries of meetings onthis project. Howcan I keepher thinking ofme until then? Yeah, howimportant is thefact that she shuns computers? Is it a deal breaker? Should I (agggh it feels so embarrassing tosayit thisway) should I "make my move" tonight, or wait untilthe 12th?July 07, 2004
don't listen to him
'wordsman, ma dearie, you are so lame! 1st, you ply poor Allen with horrifying pickup lines ---
2nd, you tell him 2B (or knot) himself! 3rd, you sc(are) him into p.u.!lling back a.cross the solar system! Let the ma(lle)n m(ache)ake his ow!n miss.Take's. And ear.n h.is own try.umph!s. Just *listen* to her, Allen, c'est tou.t.hat's all. |
July 06, 2004
advice; things to do
| romance advice to allen, 2 | ||
But humorously, Allen . . . B & B. Breathe and Be yourself. Although it's fun to get intense about a new love interest, don't put too much gravity in it. Don't get too goal oriented. Don't assume a liaison is what you want. Take it step by step, and ask yourself at each step: "Is this really working for me? Is it really still fun?" I know you, my friend. your love of winning can blind you to the big picture. Treat yourself to a big picture snapshot every 20 minutes or so to keep your perspectitve. Look at things, say . . . from the other side of the solar system for a moment. That said, bon chance, mon ami! May the sun's wind be at your back and the moon's gravity at a 34 degree forward angle toward your intentions! |
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advice; things to say
| googlepoem, romance advice to allen | ||
| ... My Petpet! This is my Barbat named Turkey! He's really great! I love it when he
says "Coooo Unsyn"! I think he says I'm cool!! Back to the Top! My Abilities! ...
... Re: calling all bed-wetters and ambulance chasers. agreed, i also love it when he says "sinew" and uses alliteration. god bless the bookish boys. ... ... comes bursting thru that door, mama leaps and hits the floor Calling himself Louis Quatorze, he's so young and dangerous Oh I love it when he says so seriously ... ... I would love to meet him. hehe. He is my favorite player. I love it when he says lets gamble. sends shivers down my back hehe. Posted ... ... In short, love, emotion and broken hearts," Donnelly says. I love it when he says "wee,'' which he does every couple of sentences. ... ... I love it when he says "all our fears fall on deaf ears" and "they burned the roads ... I LOVE Dragonball Z! It's the best show ever! And Captain Ginyu is the best character! I love it when he says "GOOOOOO GINYU!" and shoots his Ginyu-shot! Yeah! ... ... Custom (Admins Only). REMOVE. BAN LOCK TOTAL ERASE. lol, i love it when he says "we did them" or when he shouts "COMING" stuff like that. ... .. t-shirt. On the back it would say "It's harrrible." "You are just the cutest thing eh-va!". I love it when he says that. But I don ... |
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July 05, 2004
advice to allen
oh my dear U R in a particuler p(r)ickle R N 2? My ad(vice) in a nuts!hell: 1_not.hing is less new than the news how ever it be.hoves U 2 stay in.form.ed; read a new (nonU.S.) spaper ([b]rush up ur hi, school frahnsay!) or a new (nonU.S.) ssite 1nce daylei 2_get O.ver the e(x)otica factor, boi; this is a woman U R deal.ing w,i,th pur et simple, re.member the gol.dern rule, gol.dern it |
July 01, 2004
heck
Here's me last night: "Oh, yes Monsieur Waiterperson, I shouldlike to eat my foot, witha side order of my words, andhave a healthy order of crow for dessert." Dining with La AmazingLiselot, I feltlike a complete stoopenheimer! Westarted talkingabout Iraq andsuddenly she'slecturing me on the intricaciesof the USGummint, like the relationshipbetween the Dept. of State and the Pentagon and the ExecBranch. Wherewas I during civicsclass? I remember pentagonsfrom Geometryclass. Themore Isaid, the deepera hole Idug. Man, Bushis making us lookbad from abroad. And what'sworse --- he's making me lookbad to the futuremotherofmychildren! I couldn't tell whether shewas madatBush or madat me. Beverly, you havealot of Frenchfriends --- help! WhatshouldI do?June 30, 2004
heaven
Who woulda thunk that a stripmall chainhotel sportsbar could be heaven on earth? Picture afine European chestnut haircut --- a better haircut thanisavailable any where onthese shores --- and under it a fabulous fine mind . . . an expressiveexplosivemind, quickto laugh, quickto refine, quickto seize the bigpicture . . . all fronted by a lovelyface, deepdark eyes, narrow winelipsticked lips and perfume luscious enough tomake a feller stomp his foot on thefloor! Wowie Kazowie! Andofcourse all of her is framed by the sweet floating multicolored magiclights of myriad beer signs, heaven, heavenly beer signs! Youguys I'm bit bad. Already. I want to spend the rest of my . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . rest of my time at these businessmeetings with her. Andno, Rob, shedoesn't read the web she's a cute French Luddite. No believy in computersy except for worky. But, inherdefense, a playful, Ludic Luddite. We meet again tonight after the last session! Tell me I look OK!
someone?
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