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Post by Foxy on Sept 18, 2018 7:08:48 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
When we went into the mill, there was a note saying we have to work in the lumbermill. Violet and Klaus were trying to look on the bright side. “Snevi!” I shouted, which meant, “You never know. Our new guardian might be an elephant, and we could take turns riding him!”
We went to the dormitory where the note said we are supposed to live, and a man covered in sawdust opened the door. “Cigam!” I shrieked, which meant, “You don’t look like an elephant!”
The man told us his name is Phil, and he is not our guardian. He said they never see the owner, but they see the foreman, who I think Phil said is named “Foreman Flatulence,” all the time. “Teruca?” I asked, which meant, “Is the foreman an elephant?” I am really getting my hopes up to go on an elephant ride. But the mill workers said the foreman is just a terrible person, not a terrible elephant.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 2 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Dante on Sept 18, 2018 12:02:42 GMT -5
So Sunny's fondness for elephants is why she was the only one of her siblings to remember The Blind Men and the Elephant, then?
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Post by Foxy on Sept 19, 2018 8:30:59 GMT -5
I have to admit, sometimes I just fall into these coincidences on accident.
Dear Dairy,
The foreman is a terrible person! He woke us up by clanging pots together, and he did not give us any breakfast. He looks very scary, and he called us midgets. I still have not learned what that word means, so I have to remember to ask Klaus.
It all started when the foreman made us pick up his pots. “Bram!” I said, which meant, “At this point, I would be willing to eat oatmeal for breakfast.” I despise oatmeal, but it did not matter. The foreman was not using those pots to cook breakfast. He led us into the lumbermill, and I saw a saw with teeth perhaps sharper than mine.
Then I actually got to do something fun, which was use my sharp teeth to scrape tree bark off of logs. But I don’t eat tree bark, so I was still very hungry when lunch came around.
Imagine my disappointment when the foreman gave us gum for lunch. “Tanco!” I shrieked, which meant, “I want a taco!”
Violet and Klaus said they would make sandwiches tomorrow, but Phil said there are no sandwich ingredients and no money. He took out tiny scraps of paper. “Nelnu!” I shrieked, which meant, “Daddy used to use those to save money at the grocery store!” One time he bought me a chocolate bar, but I was not allowed to tell Mommy.
The foreman, whose hair was all squiggly, banged his pots together and said back to work, except us. Now we are going to meet our guardian, whom I am still hoping is an elephant, or, at the very least, owns an elephant.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 3 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Foxy on Sept 20, 2018 9:34:46 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
We waited outside our new guardian’s office, and I felt a lot of bark stuck in my teeth. Violet and Klaus started talking about Briny Beach, and I said, “Wora,” which meant, “I need some dental floss.”
A tall man came to meet us. He had a peach in his hand. “Molub!” I shrieked, which meant, “Are you going to eat that?” The man said his name was Charles, and then a short guy whose face was covered in a rain cloud came. “Batex!” I shrieked, which meant, “I don’t see an elephant trunk coming out of that cloud.” I think I must give up on my dreams of becoming an elephant rider.
The cloud-man said his name is Sir. He said we are going to work in the lumbermill, and he will keep Count Olaf away from us. When Sir went away, Charles gave us his peach. Klaus gave us each part of it. My part had a hard thing attached to it. Normally I would have enjoyed chewing on something hard for a while, but I was very hungry, so I swallowed it as fast as I could.
Charles showed us the library, which only has three books. The one has Sir on it, so I am guessing that one is about thunderstorms. There is another one with a post office and a shoe on it, so I think that one is about buying shoes online. The last one has an eye on it, so I am guessing it is Count Olaf’s biography.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 4 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Dante on Sept 20, 2018 15:08:25 GMT -5
The raincloud is a fun interpretation. I guess Sunny isn't old enough to know what cigars and smoking are.
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Post by Foxy on Sept 21, 2018 6:59:27 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Every morning Squiggly Hair wakes us up with his pots and pans, and we work hard in the mill. “Elund!” I said one day, which meant, “I hope one day when I have more hair, it does not look like the foreman’s.”
Violet and Klaus were talking about Sir, and how he might be Count Olaf, but probably wasn’t. “Chorn!” I said, which meant, “I really don’t mind these chores Sir gives us.” Violet gave me a piece of wood to chew on. I hope next week we get a shipment of Maple trees, so the scraps will taste like syrup.
Klaus suggested it might take Count Olaf years to find us. “Pelli!” I exclaimed, which meant, “In the meantime, maybe we could steal some of these wood boards and build a fortress to keep Count Olaf out!” I added architect to my list of possible career choices.
Phil said to look on the bright side, to which I replied, “Tenpa,” which meant, “But Mommy told me never to look directly at the sun.”
Violet and Klaus talked about what they want to do when we can use the fortune, and I said, “Dolc!” which meant, “And I will open up a restaurant which only serves hard food!”
Charles came to visit us, but Squiggles McGee said it was time to get back to work and called us midgets again. He tripped Klaus and made his glasses break. “Rotup!” I shrieked, which meant, “Nice going, Foreman Flatulence.”
Charles said he was going to take Klaus to the Count Olaf building. Violet and Klaus tried to tell Charles not to take Klaus to that building, but he could not hear them over all the lumbermill noise. “Yoryar!” I shouted, which meant, “It is louder than a lawnmower mowing your yard in here!”
Now Klaus is gone, and I might never get to ask him what a midget is.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 5 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Foxy on Sept 22, 2018 8:08:16 GMT -5
Dear Dairy, Klaus did not come home for dinner. Phil said we should not worry, but Violet said we should worry. “Becer!” I said, which meant, “I am worried, because this is the only meal Klaus is going to get, and if he does not come home, he will miss it.” Good nutrition is very important. Phil said Dr. Orwell must have gotten behind on his appointments, and that is why Klaus is not home. “Suski,” I said, which meant, “Or maybe he runs a used car business on the side, and he was busy being a used car salesmen all afternoon.” Then it was time for bed. I made my sad, squeaky noise because now Klaus was not going to get any food today. Violet blew on my fingers, which we sore from tying the wood boards together with string, but neither one of us fell asleep. “Stintamcunu,” I whispered, which meant, “Do you want to sneak out of the dorms and see if Klaus is out singing karaoke at a café somewhere?” Violet nodded, and we got up. We got to the courtyard when I said, “Klaus!” Klaus was finally home! But he was not acting like himself. Violet said he must be tired. “Libu,” I said, which meant, “Singing karaoke for half the night can be exhausting.” Klaus went to sleep in his bunk, but Violet and I are very worried about him.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 6 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Dante on Sept 22, 2018 11:41:10 GMT -5
For all that TMM generally ranks low in people's affections, it's worth remembering that it did have these emotional scenes which were quite effective, and which we seem to get fewer of as the series goes on and the Baudelaires become more confident in themselves and in each other.
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Post by Foxy on Sept 23, 2018 8:25:12 GMT -5
I love the scene with Violet and Sunny there. I never had a sister, but I like to see how Violet and Sunny were very close sisters despite their age gap. Dear Dairy, Klaus went to work in the lumbermill without his shoes on today! “Grummle?” I asked him, which meant, “What did you drink at the karaoke café last night?” Klaus was still not acting like himself. Klaus didn’t say anything to us all morning. Violet thinks Dr. Orwell did something to Klaus at his appointment. “Eshan!” I shrieked, which meant, “I hope he sold you a car so we can get out of this place!” After our lunch break, Squiggly Wormhair said Klaus would be operating the stamping machine. Violet brushed a string out of my hair, which reminded me of when Mommy used to brush my hair. “Sunny,” Mommy told me, “You never know what kind of trouble you might find yourself in one day. This is why Daddy and I have signed you up for fencing lessons.” While Violet and Phil were talking, I said, “Wiro,” which meant, “I don’t see how fencing lessons are going to help us out of this mess.” The next thing we knew, Klaus had stamped Phil’s leg with stamping machine. It was quite violent. Then Klaus went back to his normal self. “Nojeemoo!” I said, which meant, “See, violence solves all kinds of problems!” Then Foreman Badhairday tripped Klaus again and broke his glasses. The foreman said Klaus has to go back to Dr. Orwell. Violet said we would take Klaus to Dr. Orwell. “Derix!” I shrieked, which meant, “Maybe Paltryville has a zoo, and we can escape on an elephant!” I’m still keeping my hopes up about this elephant business. Now we are taking Klaus to the Count Olaf building, and I am not very happy about it. [This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 7 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Dante on Sept 23, 2018 14:53:21 GMT -5
There's a lot going on here which I want to comment on: The way you've introduced a new flashback to Sunny's time with her parents, which is something the canon books also do in each volume; the way you're setting up the otherwise very bizarre fencing scene later; and in fact the way the Baudelaire mother was so ready to sign her baby up for fencing lessons now feels very volunteerish.
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Post by Foxy on Sept 24, 2018 8:17:50 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Violet talked about running away, but Klaus said he has to have new glasses. I shrieked in agreement with Violet. I would love to live on the lam. Daddy told me about sheep farming once, and the idea has always appealed to me.
Klaus told us about how he tried to tell Charles not to take him to the Count Olaf building, but Charles said doctors were his friends. “Ha!” I shrieked, which meant, “Dr. José is a good doctor, but that guy is not my friend!” He gives me too many shots and not enough lollipops.
Then Klaus came to this conclusion: he was hypnotized! He told us all these stories of people who were hypnotized. “Mazée!” I shrieked, which meant, “Can you hypnotize someone into making waffles for us?”
Dr. Orwell came out, and he was actually a she. I did not see any used cars in the vicinity.
Dr. Orwell asked us about flies and honey and vinegar. “Tuzmo,” I replied, which meant, “I think I could cook a nice meal with honey and vinegar, but I would rather not eat flies, as I am not a frog.”
Dr. Orwell told Violet and I to wait in the waiting room, where we would get to eat cookies, and I was very excited until I saw Count Olaf dressed as a woman.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 8 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Foxy on Sept 25, 2018 8:08:34 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Count Olaf tried to tell Violet and me he is a receptionist named Shirley. “Fiti!” I shrieked, which meant, “I don’t know why anyone would choose to wear lipstick instead of just sticking with their natural lip color!”
Violet and Shirlaf had a conversation, and then Shirlaf crossed his legs and show stockings covered in eyes to disguise his tattoo. “Popinsh!” I shrieked, which meant, “Those stockings are hideous!”
Dr. Orwell brought Klaus back, and he was clearly hypnotized again. Dr. Orwell told us to leave, and that she would see us soon. “Roopish!” I shrieked, which meant, “That jewel on your cane looks fake!”
After Klaus waved to Shirlaf, we left Dr. Orwell’s office. He said she seemed like a nice lady! “Ballywot!” I shrieked, which meant, “And wombats eat gumdrops!” I can be surprisingly sarcastic for a baby.
Violet suggested we talk to Sir about what has happened to Klaus. “Guree,” I said, which meant, “Maybe he will send Shirlaf to court where he can be judged by a panel of his peers.”
But when we got back to the dorm, Phil gave us a note from Sir. He says we are bad workers, and he might send us to live with Shirlaf!
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 9 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Foxy on Sept 26, 2018 7:58:58 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
When Violet read the note to us, I bit my lip. But my teeth are sharp, so my lip started bleeding. Violet said it was time to go see Sir. “Dinel,” I said, which meant, “I was hoping to have lobster tonight for dinner, but I guess I will go with you.”
Violet decided to leave Klaus behind with Phil. “Wub,” I said, which meant, “I love you, Klaus.”
We went to Sir’s office, but only Charles believed Violet. Sir said he met Shirlaf, and she was a very nice lady. “Palsh!” I cried, which meant, “She is a he!”
Sir and Violet kept arguing, and I kept thinking about Shirlaf’s lipstick. “Fiti!” I shrieked again. I am a strong believer that people should just be themselves and not wear makeup. Sir kicked us out of his office.
In the hallway, Charles said he would help us. “Ulo?” I asked, which meant, “Will you get us an elephant so we can ride away from Paltryville?” “Henipul?” I asked, which meant, “Can an elephant pull a cart?” I had a few belongings I wanted to take along with me, which I may or may not have just swiped from Sir’s office. But Charles said he was just going to bring us raisins, which are the least tasty part of cookies.
Now I am crawling to the library, because libraries have gotten us out of exactly three messes so far.
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 10 of The Miserable Mill.]
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Post by Dante on Sept 26, 2018 10:47:17 GMT -5
Sunny is a budding kleptomaniac, again. Reassuring to know that she already has basic pattern recognition down, though.
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Post by Foxy on Sept 27, 2018 7:28:17 GMT -5
Dear Dairy,
Violet started reading Count Olaf’s biography. After she read the first sentence, I said, “Garj!” which meant, “Wait, so this book is not about Count Olaf?” Violet kept talking. “Yash!” I said, which meant, “This book is about eyes! Maybe it can help us!”
Violet told me I could go to sleep. I dreamt about Viper. He and I were playing bite, and he kept singing a song to me. The only words were “Hmmm hmmm hmmm.” It was a nice song. I had no idea Viper could sing.
Then Violet woke me up to discuss something she read in Count Olaf’s not-biography. She kept saying, “Hmmm” while she read. “Hmmm?” I asked, which meant, “Could you hear Viper singing in my dream?”
Violet read to me about hypnotism, and she said there is a word which makes Klaus obey you, but she does not know what it is.
“Heece,” I said, which meant, “Well, when you figure it out, let me know. I’ve always wanted to see Klaus dance.” Violet said she was going to keep searching for information, and I said, “Brewol,” which meant, “I will keep dreaming about Viper.”
I fell back asleep and dreamt Viper and I were picking apples while he continued to sing. Then his singing got so loud it woke me up.
Violet told me there must be a word to unhypnotize Klaus and save us from Shirlaf. “Skel,” I said, which meant, “Viper sure likes apples.”
I thought more about my apple dream with Viper, and I tried to sing his song. “Hmmm,” I sang.
Then we heard someone really loud singing, “Hmmm!” Only it was not a someone, it was a something. We went to check the noise out, and the foreman is telling Klaus to push Charles into the lumbermill saw!
[This section of The Sunny Baudelaire Diaries correlates with Chapter 11 of The Miserable Mill.]
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