Post by SnicketFires on Sept 3, 2006 21:47:43 GMT -5
I received this email in early August, inviting me to an 826 Seattle event starring Daniel Handler:
So, of course, I immediatly signed up. This past Saturday, the date finally arrived!
Note: I will be transcribing this event soon, since I recorded it on my MP3 player. I've started, but it's two and a half pages for every six minutes, and I have more than an hour recorded. So, bear with me.
We (my mother and I) drove to Greenwood Space Travel Supply , the pseudo shop through which one must walk to get to the 826 part of the building. It sold things like the Almost-Death Ray and pocket universes. ( Greenwood Space Travel Supply and from across the street. ).
When I entered the shop, Nelle, a volunteer I had met the night before, gave me a card which I was to trade for a book. I was then told to "teleport" through this shuttle (revolving walls on a platform) and I did and came out on the 826 room. And bam, there he was talking to two children. I hadn't expected him to be there already, since I was ten minutes early. Teri Hein, the 826 Seattle Director, was there too.
I walked over to where he was, and he said "Hi" and I greeted him. He remembered me from the signing at the People Talking and Singing event (!). And then he extended his hand to me and we shook. (!!!) That is right, I have shaken hands with Daniel Handler. So then I was invited to have a doughnut, which I did to be polite, although I have worked at a doughnut shop for two months and am heartily sick of them. Handler was eating his own doughnut (old fashioned glazed, if anyone cares) and small-talking with the two other children, who both appeared about eight or ten years old. He was saying how the type of doughnut one chooses is a reflection on themselves. "I am eating an old-fashioned glazed, and I am a little old-fashion-y, but I'm not sure what the glaze is. I mean, what the glaze says about me."
So, after about fifteen minutes, all the other guests had assembled, and Handler alternated between welcoming them to outer space and mingling with the guests. Most of the guests were kids and their parents, and I was the only person who came alone, as far as I can tell. There were a few teenagers there. I actually spoke with him quite a bit, more than most other people, I believe. At one point, our conversation headed from my large purse ("You have a very big purse. I like that in a woman."), to the fact that society finds it unacceptable for him to carry a purse, to the purse his father recently got as a gift from Europe to utility kilts. Very interesting.
So, after he had mingled, he decided to start the show. Like the Lemony Snicket show I attended, there were three moral lessons. The first was "If you see Count Olaf, Scream and Run Away." The second was "If you squeeze anything hard enough, it will make a noise" (as demonstrated by child Nate, squeezing his mother, Cindy). Handler was picking on this girl named Natasha, begging her to pay attention. After the second moral lesson, he kicked his accordion case to the centre of the congregation, and opened it. He demonstrated how to work it. He took off his suit jacket (a dark suit with green pinstripes, white shirt, black shoes, a purple flowered tie, and green socks) and gave it to Natasha to hold. Then he played "Scream and Run Away" on the accordion.
Similar to the last show, he had us drum our feet on the floor when the word "run" was repeated, and slump over at the word "die." It was good fun.
Afterwards, he moved on to the third moral lesson, which I forget the exact wording of. The point of it was, however, that he had a bunch of Beatrice Letters to give us so he could sign them, so we'd better get on with it.
Then we lined up behind a table (on which were scads of Beatrice Letters) and a volunteer handed us each a copy in return for our card. I was near the front.
See here.
Handler signed TBL "To Kelsea, if she dares" with the date. He remembered that I had an unsual spelling. He also signed my copy of TPP, which I had brought even though I think it was stated that he'd only sign TBL. He signed it "To Kelsea, with admiration and dread."
Me: Have you ever visited the forum 667 Dark Avenue?
DH: ...I've peeked, but I haven't contributed. Are you a member?
Me: ...a staff member actually.
DH: Ah.
...So there you go. Then he lapsed back into the Composer is Dead conversation we'd had the night before.
Then I talked to a nice man who was there with his daughter and wife. The father was "obsessed" with ASOUE, which I thought was nice. He was anxious to ask Handler if there would be a second ASOUE movie. Handler's answer was that he still doesn't know.
After he went through the line (I was listening to his conversations, it was hilarious, he was singing his version of "Lets call the whole thing off"). I refused to leave until he left. Oh! The last kid in line, Sam, a regular at 826, brought his notebook, and Handler actually brought his out to show him! It was about palm-sized, and was a flippy type with spirals along the top. He had maybe four lines used on each page, and said he wrote down things that people told him that he would like to research or read (he gave an example, but I can't remember it; I'll look for it on my recording). I thought that that was pretty cool. I wanted to see what colour it was, but I was fifteen feet away and trying not to appear like I was eavesdropping, plus stacks of BL and candles were in the way. Close-up.
"I'm suspicious that this will end up on a bulletin board somewhere."
My mother accosted him ask he was walking out the door and asked if his son had written any books yet (she is aware that Otto is only two). He says yes, if "chewed" and "read" equals the same thing.
Walking down the street. He got into a white car with the volunteer who handed out the copies of the book and she drove him off.
My copy in a ziploc bag, for protection.
Please find attached (and cut and pasted below) a pretty wonderful opportunity for 50 Lemony Snicket fans. This is an important fundraiser for 826 Seattle – 100% of the proceeds will support our writing assistance to young people. (and...I happen to have it on good authority that Mr. Snicket might, just might, bring his accordion.)
Dear Reader,
If we were you, we would stop reading this invitation immediately because it will undoubtedly result in something unpleasant, if not costly, as well as hardly healthy, unless you consider doughnuts good for you.
You, the unwary recipient of this invitation, are only one phone call away from meeting Mr. Lemony Snicket personally at what could be referred to as an exclusive event held on Saturday, September 2 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at 826 Seattle in Greenwood, where the rather unpleasant Mr. Snicket will casually converse with the unfortunate guests over doughnuts. Unfortunately, only 50 people will be able to attend and unfortunately the only book available for purchase that Mr. Snicket will personally sign will be A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Beatrice Letters which, unfortunately, won’t be available, we believe, for purchase anywhere else in Seattle but at 826 Seattle on this date, which happens to occur before the book is officially released to the unfortunate public.
This potentially unpleasant event will cost anyone wishing to attend $100 per person, even if the person in question is six months old or 60 years old or somewhere between these ages. Equally unpleasant is the fact that any person under the age of twelve must be accompanied by an unfortunate adult.
If for some reason you wish to come, you should call 826 Seattle (206-725-2625) immediately with your credit card to reserve your spot(s). In spite of our concerns about this event, some people have already reserved, either because of a wish to meet Mr. Snicket personally, to eat a doughnut, or to support the work of 826 Seattle. 100% of all proceeds will go to support the work that we do.
Sincerely,
The Staff at 826 Seattle
Dear Reader,
If we were you, we would stop reading this invitation immediately because it will undoubtedly result in something unpleasant, if not costly, as well as hardly healthy, unless you consider doughnuts good for you.
You, the unwary recipient of this invitation, are only one phone call away from meeting Mr. Lemony Snicket personally at what could be referred to as an exclusive event held on Saturday, September 2 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at 826 Seattle in Greenwood, where the rather unpleasant Mr. Snicket will casually converse with the unfortunate guests over doughnuts. Unfortunately, only 50 people will be able to attend and unfortunately the only book available for purchase that Mr. Snicket will personally sign will be A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Beatrice Letters which, unfortunately, won’t be available, we believe, for purchase anywhere else in Seattle but at 826 Seattle on this date, which happens to occur before the book is officially released to the unfortunate public.
This potentially unpleasant event will cost anyone wishing to attend $100 per person, even if the person in question is six months old or 60 years old or somewhere between these ages. Equally unpleasant is the fact that any person under the age of twelve must be accompanied by an unfortunate adult.
If for some reason you wish to come, you should call 826 Seattle (206-725-2625) immediately with your credit card to reserve your spot(s). In spite of our concerns about this event, some people have already reserved, either because of a wish to meet Mr. Snicket personally, to eat a doughnut, or to support the work of 826 Seattle. 100% of all proceeds will go to support the work that we do.
Sincerely,
The Staff at 826 Seattle
So, of course, I immediatly signed up. This past Saturday, the date finally arrived!
Note: I will be transcribing this event soon, since I recorded it on my MP3 player. I've started, but it's two and a half pages for every six minutes, and I have more than an hour recorded. So, bear with me.
We (my mother and I) drove to Greenwood Space Travel Supply , the pseudo shop through which one must walk to get to the 826 part of the building. It sold things like the Almost-Death Ray and pocket universes. ( Greenwood Space Travel Supply and from across the street. ).
When I entered the shop, Nelle, a volunteer I had met the night before, gave me a card which I was to trade for a book. I was then told to "teleport" through this shuttle (revolving walls on a platform) and I did and came out on the 826 room. And bam, there he was talking to two children. I hadn't expected him to be there already, since I was ten minutes early. Teri Hein, the 826 Seattle Director, was there too.
I walked over to where he was, and he said "Hi" and I greeted him. He remembered me from the signing at the People Talking and Singing event (!). And then he extended his hand to me and we shook. (!!!) That is right, I have shaken hands with Daniel Handler. So then I was invited to have a doughnut, which I did to be polite, although I have worked at a doughnut shop for two months and am heartily sick of them. Handler was eating his own doughnut (old fashioned glazed, if anyone cares) and small-talking with the two other children, who both appeared about eight or ten years old. He was saying how the type of doughnut one chooses is a reflection on themselves. "I am eating an old-fashioned glazed, and I am a little old-fashion-y, but I'm not sure what the glaze is. I mean, what the glaze says about me."
So, after about fifteen minutes, all the other guests had assembled, and Handler alternated between welcoming them to outer space and mingling with the guests. Most of the guests were kids and their parents, and I was the only person who came alone, as far as I can tell. There were a few teenagers there. I actually spoke with him quite a bit, more than most other people, I believe. At one point, our conversation headed from my large purse ("You have a very big purse. I like that in a woman."), to the fact that society finds it unacceptable for him to carry a purse, to the purse his father recently got as a gift from Europe to utility kilts. Very interesting.
So, after he had mingled, he decided to start the show. Like the Lemony Snicket show I attended, there were three moral lessons. The first was "If you see Count Olaf, Scream and Run Away." The second was "If you squeeze anything hard enough, it will make a noise" (as demonstrated by child Nate, squeezing his mother, Cindy). Handler was picking on this girl named Natasha, begging her to pay attention. After the second moral lesson, he kicked his accordion case to the centre of the congregation, and opened it. He demonstrated how to work it. He took off his suit jacket (a dark suit with green pinstripes, white shirt, black shoes, a purple flowered tie, and green socks) and gave it to Natasha to hold. Then he played "Scream and Run Away" on the accordion.
Similar to the last show, he had us drum our feet on the floor when the word "run" was repeated, and slump over at the word "die." It was good fun.
Afterwards, he moved on to the third moral lesson, which I forget the exact wording of. The point of it was, however, that he had a bunch of Beatrice Letters to give us so he could sign them, so we'd better get on with it.
Then we lined up behind a table (on which were scads of Beatrice Letters) and a volunteer handed us each a copy in return for our card. I was near the front.
See here.
Handler signed TBL "To Kelsea, if she dares" with the date. He remembered that I had an unsual spelling. He also signed my copy of TPP, which I had brought even though I think it was stated that he'd only sign TBL. He signed it "To Kelsea, with admiration and dread."
Me: Have you ever visited the forum 667 Dark Avenue?
DH: ...I've peeked, but I haven't contributed. Are you a member?
Me: ...a staff member actually.
DH: Ah.
...So there you go. Then he lapsed back into the Composer is Dead conversation we'd had the night before.
Then I talked to a nice man who was there with his daughter and wife. The father was "obsessed" with ASOUE, which I thought was nice. He was anxious to ask Handler if there would be a second ASOUE movie. Handler's answer was that he still doesn't know.
After he went through the line (I was listening to his conversations, it was hilarious, he was singing his version of "Lets call the whole thing off"). I refused to leave until he left. Oh! The last kid in line, Sam, a regular at 826, brought his notebook, and Handler actually brought his out to show him! It was about palm-sized, and was a flippy type with spirals along the top. He had maybe four lines used on each page, and said he wrote down things that people told him that he would like to research or read (he gave an example, but I can't remember it; I'll look for it on my recording). I thought that that was pretty cool. I wanted to see what colour it was, but I was fifteen feet away and trying not to appear like I was eavesdropping, plus stacks of BL and candles were in the way. Close-up.
"I'm suspicious that this will end up on a bulletin board somewhere."
My mother accosted him ask he was walking out the door and asked if his son had written any books yet (she is aware that Otto is only two). He says yes, if "chewed" and "read" equals the same thing.
Walking down the street. He got into a white car with the volunteer who handed out the copies of the book and she drove him off.
My copy in a ziploc bag, for protection.
