Time Warner Cable Customer Service 41-61 Kissena Blvd Flushing, NY 11355
Dear Time Warner Cable Customer Service:
I am writing this email at 1am. My cable modem is blinking impotently. This is the third time this summer that the cable modem has been taken offline around this time.
This is unacceptable.
I understand that maintenance is being done this summer. I get that most people are not functioning and awake at this hour, but some of us are in the middle of doing important things, and it is obnoxious that we are always affected this way.
Additionally, it is obnoxious that when I asked for a schedule so I at least KNOW when I shouldn't schedule myself as working, I am told that the customer service people are only aware an hour in advance. This is unacceptable, as well.
Furthermore, what is even MORE obnoxious and unacceptable is that the service interruptions are less than the arbitrary time of 4 hours, meaning I have not been able to get any credit for the outages. (This was rectified tonight by a nice operative who gave me a full day's credit because he could tell I was irate, but still warrants mentioning.)
I pay around $150/ month for this service. I expect this service to work when I need it.
I cannot threaten to cancel my service because there is NO other cable modem service provider in my building and DSL is too slow for the important business I do.
I am losing money waiting for the blinking to stop – not to mention writing this letter.
I expect to be compensated in some way, and I expect an official apology. In the future, I would nicely ask that I be given 24 hours advanced notice and financial credit for any maintenance going on, so I can plan accordingly.
I will be posting this message in my blog, assuming I ever have a connection again so that the world will know how Time Warner treats its customers. Thank you for reading this letter and for rectifying the situation in any way you can.
I have an audition for a new reality show -- JINGLES -- to air on CBS this summer. But I am in a quandary. So I figured I'd blog, and you guys can all vote if I should do it or not...
First off, I will say I am leaning towards at least auditioning... for if I do not get ON the show, then this is all moot... but I am under the opinion given how well my other auditions for reality type things have gone that I would virtually be a shoe-in... however, there are caveats which I will list below.
Second off, I should say more about the show. It's called Jingles and jingle writing song-teams compete weekly, much like American Idol, but by writing jingles for top companies and products. I was really excited at first, but tonight I was reading the fine print. The show is having an open call on 5/28... at 8am. I already asked permission to come at 1pm, and was told that they end at 2, and that there probably would be no line by 1... callbacks are 5/29. Then, if I get picked for "finals" I'd have to fly to LA in June for up to 8 days. If I am selected, then I go back to LA for 10 weeks. I found online that the show is airing 7/27; however, I was told mid-August, so I don't know what to even believe at this point. Then, I'm in LA for 10 weeks unless I get voted off by America. If I win it's $100,000 and a contract to write jingles + exposure...
POSITIVES:
There's really only one positive to this whole situation. I would be on national tv doing what I love - writing. Not as a character... not as a geek... not as a random contestant on a game show... as a writer. National exposure is a pretty big thing. It would do wonders for my webpage. And my youtube videos. And maybe even my musicals.
NEGATIVES: (the list is very long, and sometimes petty)
1. The first major problem is they specifically asked for duos and trios. I asked 2 friends to form a team with me... both said yes... both found out more and more info... both said no. Then, I found another partner, and she said yes... found out more info and said yes. Found out that it might start 7/27 - oops, she's out of the country until 8/12. Moral: she can do the show but only if it starts after 8/12. This poses a problem b/c what if they don't let me do it alone? What if they don't want me to switch partners? What if I can't FIND another partner? I would need someone who was a writer and a performer. Someone who knows me well, works with me well, and can censor me well (more on that later).
2. June. I have showcases every single week in June. If I cancel one at this point, I am going to have to pay Don't Tell Mama $150. Unless by some miracle I can find a replacement. That's already $150 invested in this reality show that I might not get on, and that I have even more caveats below about. And what if by some horrible act of fate the week manages to overlap over 2 of my showcases?
3. Leaving woes. There are so many that I will start using letters:
a. First off, I will need to find someone to sublet. I pay a lot of $$ for a really tiny studio... that's already filled with a lot of stuff. I do not want a stranger living here, which makes it even harder to find a subletter, especially given the fact that most people I know can't afford this much rent... not to mention, I am not even sure if I legally CAN sublet, and I'd have to tell my landlord b/c they'd find out... especially b/c...
b. I'm renewing my lease on 8/1. I would have to ask to do this a few weeks early. That's not a huge problem, but it brings up the point above that I would have to tell them I would be gone for 10 weeks... oh, and what if I'm voted off? Then I have to kick my subletter out or be HOMELESS!
c. SMEE - I'm putting him up high. My poor cat would have to live w/o me for 10 weeks. And I would have to find a subletter who would take care of him... maybe I would knock off a little on the rent, but still... and then if the subletter wants to use the a/c, he/she'd have to pay electric that comes out of my account automatically, and since I'd be sequestered I couldn't even let him know about it...
d. TIVO -- poor tivo!! that's a minor concern. I know. It's foolish. But I'd seriously hate to fall behind on my shows -- 10 weeks is a long time, and I'm afraid it'd run out of space... unless they allow me to watch tv there. Which they'd have to or I'd go insane!! Which brings me to....
e. Being sequestered -- I don't know if I could do that -- would I even have a career to come back to if I didn't respond to anyone's emails for 2.5 months? I would have to forward all calls to a voice mail service? I don't even know how strict they are! I wouldn't be able to respond to emails... or anything... like it would be seriously horrible!!!
f. I would have to postpone my next cabaret in Sept... not to mention give up gigs with companies who hire me annually... and once you give up a company, you rarely get it back... when I got back, I would virtually have to start from scratch... unless the prestige from the show worked in my favor... but what if it doesn't? (down below)
g. I will briefly mention my hatred and fear of flying since this is a complete list.
4. Bad exposure isn't always good exposure
a. No I don't mean that literally -- I mean they say there's no bad press, etc... well reality shows pretty much OWN you and COMPLETELY distort you for the viewing audience... what happens if I'm portrayed negatively? That negates the ENTIRE positive list.
b. Speaking of my webpage... the show is on CBS -- the most conservative network... my webpage has a lot of sex songs. A lot of them. I would have to completely destroy the webpage for them to allow me on that show. Am I willing to compromise who I am? Do I really want to sign a form becoming a huge corporation's possession?
c. I already don't have respect of a lot of people for some reason. I fear that being on reality tv isn't the best way to get people's respect. In fact, I fear that I would be ridiculed and disliked even more than I am now... with the other 50% of the viewing audience loving me beyond belief? Or on a national level will it not be a 50-50 split? What about the purple states??
5. A horrible experience? Much as I always say I would like to have a camera follow me 24/7... I fear it would get exhausting. I do not know what I would DO for 10 weeks, given that writing a jingle probably takes me at most an hour to write. That's a lot of time to kill. I suppose I could use it to finish up More to Love and the kid's show... if they let me...... but also I have no LAPTOP, which is ANOTHER huge negative... and I can't really demand that they furnish me w/ one, although I would like to... so I wouldn't be able to input anything into the computer program I use... which is a problem for the show in general, as well!
6. Finally, $100K is barely anything. Especially if I'm splitting it. Split after taxes, it's $30K. That is a nice sum, but not enough to buy anything really. I would love to eventually buy an apt, but that will be $500K at the least. $30K isn't even a down payment. And they barely pay you anything for the rest of your time out there... I'm told it's about $250/ week... that's ridiculously low. And I'll be treated like a minion.
Did I miss anything? I think I was very thorough. As I said, since they haven't officially said when we're starting, and since there's a chance I could go and not be picked, I figure it's worth it to just audition. Just to be on tv for a split second, perhaps... I think that the best thing to do is to see if I'm cast, and then address my concerns in a sane manner... leaving out things that really will make me look like a crazy person...
So there you go. There are a lot of worries and concerns, but I feel better having them all spelled out in a blog. Even if I already knew what the plan was before I wrote it! But now if I do get asked to do the show, I can print out my list and find solutions for things... or just tell them straight up, this isn't happening.
But honestly... how could I tell someone wanting to put me on tv no? That runway guy got his own show didn't he? The stars of Grease right now are still starring on Broadway, right?
I had a very long day today. The first half was exhausting and rifled with bad news. But then I had my 20th Talent Showcase, and that all changed...
I love my showcases. I absolutely love them. I feel great being on stage with new talent - giving them their first exposure to performing in NYC. I love working with them to improve their sets, and watching them as they land their jokes. I love everything about them. Including only in New York stories... like this one...
So, as most of you know, I end every show with a little ditty I’ve written called "If Only I Were Gay" -- about how I would be having a lot more sex if I were. The Siegels of talkinbroadway.com reported that last week I "had the nearly packed house roaring with laughter" during this song.
After the show, this older woman came up to me. She was going on about how she had seen a lot of cabaret and how she knew talent when she saw it. She told me I had talent. Then she said that she thought I was funniest in the last song... she proceeded to then say... and this is a direct quote:
"I’ve swallowed a LOT of cum in my day. I don’t particularly like it either."
She then continued to tell me how she preferred letting the man orgasm during sex so that she didn’t have to swallow. And if that wasn’t enough... she told me that she was still able to have 8 orgasms in a session even at 72.
Isn’t it nice when your on-stage affectation is so approachable that people can tell you information you never imagined existed?
Well, Lauren suggests that writing a blog will at least give me some sort of catharsis. I am starving. I might want to make some food first...
Let me preface this by saying that I was having a conversation with a client today about how impractical and unlikely it would be to break into a 5th floor apartment.
I went to rehearsal for Chaz's show at 7:30 and came back at 10:30. Sometime in that 3 hours, someone came through my window and stole $60 and my digital camera.
How did they get in? Well, since it's 150 degrees in here, I sometimes leave the window open a crack for Smee.
The roof door was wide open, as well -- so the theory is that someone buzzed into the building, and went up to the roof... then, they came down the fire escape, and saw that my window was ajar. They lifted it, crawled over the desk, barely knocking anything over such that it took me a full 5 minutes to realize that something was amiss. They went through my top desk drawers only.
Took the cash I had in the top drawer, which thankfully was minimal since I had a showcase last night and had moved all the cash to the very hard to find secret hiding spot. Thankfully, all that cash is still there.
Yeah, so I'm really upset. I loved that camera. It almost would've been no cash had I not had a client today, alas!
The cops came. They almost didn't believe me b/c it was such an unlikely time and such an unlikely brief burgulary.
So now I have to wait for the finger printing evidence team b/c there's only one working tonight, and they're on another call. He said it wouldn't take very long when they got here, but there's no telling how long the other case is going to go... so, I'm kind of left waiting here, unable to bolt the window yet, which is what I really, really want to do.
I feel upset and violated and frazzled.
I had thought that I needed to blog before my birthday like I had last year... but I hadn't had any ideas for one.
So I guess voila... I can't even find anything funny to say. I'm sorry. This is probably my first unfunny blog.
There is nothing funny in this situation at all.
From now on, I'm going to put the grate on and lock it permanently. I believe that I can get the window open through the grate w/o a problem. I wish I had realized that I would need to do this earlier, but obviously, I've been living here 1.5 years, and it hasn't been a problem ever.
I put nails over the A/C in the other window, so that that one will be impossible to break into, as well.
In any case, I received a lot of cards and phone calls and text messages and wall postings already, and it's only been an hour, so that's nice of people.
I have to be up at 10 to play auditions, and I don't even have a number to call about when this guy is coming... That's so frustrating b/c I would like to try to relax now, but I'm on edge worrying when he's going to show up...
I just never ever thought that someone could access my fire escape b/c it's in the back. I didn't even know that the roof had access to it b/c I've never been up there...
I mean I'm really lucky I wasn't here -- what if he had a gun or something? And I'm really really lucky that I cleaned out the $$ from the desk last night. Like super lucky.
And from now on my window will be locked and grated. Forever.
Well, they just came while I was making soup. There aren't any fingerprints anywhere.
So I think it's unlikely I'll be getting my camera back. There's a used one on amazon for $100...
I guess it's also lucky I don't have a laptop.
I feel like the burgular could be reading my blog right now.
But I highly doubt it. It doesn't look like he touched my business cards.
See? There's some humor... good sign, right?
I feel better now that the cops are gone b/c it means I can bolt the window... I have now placed the grate over my window and a lock, but I fear it will serve as a reminder of this day... and the checkered view will forever sadden me.
However, I also can be solidly secure that no one will ever steal my muppet stuff.
With the strike postponing any REAL tv, I have come up with the following ideas for realITY shows:
1. Kid Swap -- Parent Swap combined with Kid Nation! Kids are swapped and put with parents of diabolical interests -- yes, that's right -- the repressed Catholic kids get put with the hippie drug parents and vice versa -- the devout Muslim tots get put with the Agnostic Jew parents and vice versa -- the Evangelistic teens get put with the gay parents and vice versa... non-stop chaos ensues!
2. Blind Dating -- Blind Date combined with blind-folds! Is love really blind? Couples go out on dates without being able to see their prospective partner and pick whether or not they're interested in a person by what they say and how they say it, rather than what they look like or how they dress.
3. Illegal Immigrant Survivor -- Survivor for illegal immigrants -- the immigrants go head to head in a series of tasks -- the winner gets... amnesty -- the losers get... deported.
And finally...
4. Hung Man (not to be confused with the porn reality show hung MEN) -- Death row inmates play hang man to postpone their actual hangings (or illethal injections). If they win 5 times, they get their sentences commuted to life in prison!
Be sure to tune in for mind-numbing reality tv in 2008 until the selfish, rich corporations give into the writers' demands!
letter writing pays off -- conclusion to insurance!
Well, as updated blog readers will know, I sent a really long letter to the Pet Care Insurance company about my unhappiness with not getting reimbursed after being assured I would be. I expected to never hear back... or to get a form letter thanking me for writing, etc, but I just felt I had to write a letter explaining the injustice I felt.
The most amazing thing happened, however!!!!!!!
They called me, and offered me most of my $$ back!!!!!!!!!!!
That is RIGHT!!!!!!
Pet care DOES indeed care.
The actual CEO actually read my letter.
Now, first, I must say that this is a CANADIAN company, so this could be why they actually care, but I must encourage you all to have the balls to write letters if something is bothering you b/c it does pay off!
I'm not getting reimbursed for the fecal test that the vet talked me into having. So I'm out that $35, but at least I know Smee's shit is fine? And there is a $50 deductible. But $85 is a fine price to pay to cure Smee's ringworm, right? Certainly better than $270.
Not only are they paying my claim, they are reimbursing my monthly fees!! Which is something I asked for but NEVER expected.
So, that's my $24.40 back, as well!!!
So, out of the almost $300 I put out for this whole fiasco, I'm getting all but $85. And given that most cat adoptions are indeed $100, not $25... it kind of all works out.
Anyway, I feel much, much better about companies and life. Maybe it's b/c they're Canadian, but this just shows you that big companies do have hearts sometimes.
Now if only the producers on Broadway and the production companies of TV and film could grow some...
First off, I must apologize for my lack of blogging lately. But I am back with a vengeance!!!
So, as many of you know will know I adopted a kitten after my cat died of cancer this August. I went to the ACC, Animal Care and Control, and found my kitten online. I was fortunate enough that he was still there when I went in. I had a series of problems at the ACC. The first day the computers were down, and I couldn't adopt him. I had to argue for almost an hour just to be able to reserve him. Then, it took me 4 hours or so to adopt him due to the incompetence and DMV like wait. And then, he had an infection, and I was fortunate enough to realize this before allowing him to stay over night to be neutured.
Fine. I was so happy to have him home, I overlooked these facts. I didn't write a scathing blog.
Then, I took him to the vet, and he was diagnosed with ringworm. But I was assured the insurance would cover the check up and medication by the shelter, the vet, and then by the insurance saleswoman on the phone.
But it didn't. Not in the first 30 days of free coverage. And after weeks of trying to get my almost $300, I had no choice but to forego a check up visit, cancel my insurance, and write the following nasty letter to the CEO of the company today.
I am posting it below for catharsis, since I am sure the CEO will throw it out and send a form "sorry we can't do anything" letter. At least, here it can live forever.
Incidentally, I had to get up at 7:30am a few weekends ago to take Smee back to be neutered, and this week he started exhibiting signs of his shelter infection again, probably from being back there. Thankfully, today he has been less runny and sneezy, such that I think he is finally healthy.
And he's less fiesty now that he has no balls. (Wouldn't we all be?)
Anyway, without further ado; here is my letter:
C.E.O
Pet Care Insurance Ageny, Ld.
P.O. Box 2150
Buffalo, NY 14240-2150
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To Whom It May Concern:
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I am very disappointed with Shelter Care.I feel lied to and cheated.
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When I got my kitten from the Manhattan shelter, Animal Care and Control, I was told that my insurance covered the first 30 days.So, I took my kitten promptly to the vet, where he was diagnosed with ringworm.Since I was going to have to bring him back for a check up, I called the insurance company.The friendly lady on the phone informed me that I would have to renew the coverage, so she put me into the introductory plan, which I was told was $2.40 for the first month than $12.40 each additional.I told her my cat had ringworm, and I had papers from the vet, and she told me just to send them in, and that any follow-up visit would also be covered.
Being a starving artist, I figured paying $16 was better than paying $80 for the next check up.So I signed up.After I was assured I would be covered.
However, I was not covered.First, I had to call for them to send me a letter in the mail saying I wasn't covered.After receiving it, I spent angry hours on the phone, where it became clear to me that ringworm or "dermatophyte" was not covered in the first 30 days package.
But I was told I had complete coverage by the shelter, and lied to on the phone with the amiable representative, who obviously did not foresee the problem I would have.(I would rather believe that than believe she actively lied to me.)
I realize that "dermatophyte" is not in the contract for the first 30 days.However, I am very upset because the point of the insurance is to make it so people like me, who have very little extra income to spend on a pet (which is a necessity for coping with the loneliness of living in a studio apartment) do not have to fret about getting a sick cat from the shelter and saving its life.
I do not regret saving my kitten from being exterminated.
However, I am saddened that the shelter and the insurance company lied to me.
First off, I was charged $12.40 twice, instead of $2.40 the first time.I called to get this corrected, was assured that they would reimburse me my $10.That did not happen.I cannot afford a lawyer, and if I could the $10 would be less than his/ her fees.However, I want my $10 back.
Second off, I feel like I was completely lied to, and would like a complete refund of the $24.80 since I was unable to use it.
Third off, I feel like I have been swindled out of my claim of $269.78.I would very much appreciate being reimbursed for my expenses, as if I had known I didn't have insurance, I would not have had them run any tests since it was obviously ringworm since I was infected personally.This would have at least reduced my bills to $104.78.
(I do not have insurance myself since I cannot afford it, but fortunately was able to be diagnosed at a free clinic, which gave me free medication.)
I find it completely unfathomable that I am not receiving payment because of a technicality and bureaucracy.And inhuman.
If I had done any of the following, I would've been paid instead of writing this letter:
Had the vet check off a box instead of write in what the problem was.The coverage covers many things that are less expensive than ringworm.I feel it is arbitrary and that we easily could've called the ringworm an ear infection, since it affected his ear, or a mite infection, since fungi is like mites, etc.
Post-dated the vet visit so it fell into the coverage I ended up paying for and not being able to use.
I realize that it is too late now.I was on the phone for almost three separate hours trying to brainstorm ways to be paid that were legal.I know that you will respond by saying you cannot give special treatment to me, even though you have the power being the CEO.
I am pleading to your decency as a human being in this letter.Insurance is about helping people – not scamming them.I realize to you the near $300 is barely anything – a meal for 2 perhaps at a fancy restaurant – to me it is 30-40 meals of pizza or fast food, etc, and ¼ of a month's rent.
There e is nothing else I can do besides tell people not to adopt kittens from the ACC and not to use Shelter Care.I will be posting this letter in my blog, as well as emailing it to my mailing list of a thousand persons.It will probably not make a single difference to your business or to your life and rich life-style, but it is all I can do. I urge you to at the very least give me my $10 back.That is legally mine.I would appreciate the $24.80.And it would change my perspective about evil corporations if you would consent to reimburse my claim and monthly fees by sending me a check for $294.50.In fact, if you were really nice, you would even reimburse my stamp, and send a check for $294.91. But, as I said, I fear this letter will be thrown out or shredded.Please change my opinion of your company.I cannot afford the almost $300.If I could, I wouldn't have spent an hour of time writing this letter.
I bought a shirt today! For the first time in 28 years, I bought my own shirt!
Now, you're thinking -- how can a 28 year old guy have never bought a shirt?
Well, first off, I do not like spending money. At all. On anything. It takes a lot to get me to spend money, as many people know. I don't subway often; I don't eat out anywhere except the diner and the pizzeria; and I rarely pay for shows or movies.
Second off, my mommy always gets my wardrobe. But don't worry -- my sister is the fashion consultant, so that explains my hip dressings (not to be confused with fancy French dressing).
Third, not being gay (just acting it), I rarely even care what I'm wearing or how I look. It is not an important thing in my career. The important thing is writing well, and being clever and being funny... those are the things I've focused on.
However, today that all changed. At KMart.
I was playing auditions for a show about the Andrews sisters from 11-3. However, the turn out was abysmal, so we called it a day at 1 (and I still got paid till 3!).
(Side note: I always love it when companies use me over and over; it reminds me that I do a good job and am appreciated. Honestly, I have had such a demand that I have stopped active whoring (nowadays, I'm merely a passive whore), which is relaxing but somehow feels lazy...)
I had to get a new mattress cover. On my way to the bedding section, I passed the men's clothes section... there was a BIG balloon that said 50% Clearance... A BALLOON! How could I resist a balloon? And the Jew inside me did cartwheels at the thought of 50% off...
So I checked out the merchandise, and there was this light green, button shirt. Now, I LOATHE button down shirts... but it was my shade of green -- Kermit green! Well, it's less bright than Kermit green. I do prefer being bright (and winning at facebook Scrabble), but it's still such a nice shade... and it was 50% off... and I could wear it instead of boring white shirts... (not that I have occasion to dress up that often, but a shirt lasts forever...)
But, NO! I thought back to a few weeks ago when my father tried to get me to buy shirts. There were shirts on sale. But none of them had been bright enough... I hate dark colored shirts. I guess I'm such a morose, maudlin soul that I need bright colors to exude happiness...
Afterwards, my mother had chided my father for letting me pick out my own shirts... I had almost picked out a bright orange one, and she hates orange, she had said.
I went to the bedding section and picked up my mattress cover.
On walking back passed the clearance section, I had a psychic vision of me wearing the shirt. I had an intense feeling that something good will happen to me wearing that shirt. I had to get it. I quelled all other thoughts of ambivalence, and picked it up.
I had had the preminition to put a $20 bill in my wallet last night... not a $10 one. This proved to be paramount to the successful purchase of the shirt, for the mattress cover and shirt came to $20.07.
Yes! That's right! All of those pennies that I pick up off the street had finally paid off! I had a $20 bill. I had 7 pennies. I laid them for the amiable cashier to remove from my position... in exchange for my new shirt.
(I do realize that I could've put the tab onto my credit/ debit card, but I hate credit cards, in general, and much prefer to pay for things with cash.)
And that was that. For the first time in my life, I had bought an item of clothing. An item that I picked out myself. And I tried it on, and it actually fits.
In conclusion, I very much doubt this will become a trend. In 28 years I have only been drawn to one shirt. However, I think this blog will translate nicely into a song for my next, next cabaret act, At Least I'm Not 30... to premiere fall 2008. (Why Am I Not Famous Yet? plays 9/27, 9/29 & 9/30 at Don't Tell Mama - 18 new songs of bitter frustration.)
Finally, as proof that this shirt exists, here's a picture of it, WITH the receipt, and one of me wearing it:
I will NOT put SPOILERS in my blog. This blog is about my reactions and thoughts about Harry in general, without any specific references.
First off, let me publically reprimand the New York Times for its spoiler-filled review. Not only did they, against the wishes of the author, receive a copy of the book before the 21st, but they went out of their way to talk about certain things. I am pleased that I didn't read it before I read the book, and very happy to have avoided any spoilers.
The book was incredible. Really. Brilliant, beautiful. Many more superlatives. I was not disappointed. I am supremely impressed with how smart J.K. is. She left not a single thing unused or unexplained. Wow. Just wow. And every minor character from the previous 6 books got to come back for a cameo.
I wish I had a better way of expressing my thanks to her than this blog, but I am sure she gets too much fanmail to read it.
I am very glad that I managed to put aside both Saturday and Sunday for reading. I, unfortunately, had to see a client for an hour Saturday and play auditions Sunday for 2 hours... but it all worked out fine.
Amazon.com buzzed the buzzer -- okay the postman did -- at 12:45pm Saturday -- much earlier than I had expected. I was pleasantly surprised, however, b/c it meant I could start. I felt 13 hours behind people who had gone to a midnight book party... but who really wants to wait on a long queue when the book can just come to you? (Oh, that was totally unintentional rhyme!)
I actually told the guy who wanted me to play for auditions that I couldn't do Saturday afternoon, so that's why he held them Sunday...
Before book 7 came, I reread books 1-6. I had begun the massive re-reading project mid-June. I left a month. And I finished book 6 Friday night before 7 came. The last week and a half was intense given that 4 and 5 were monstrous, but I managed to allot my time and pages such that I finished perfectly.
(Unlike when book 6 came out, and I had decided to just re-read book 5, and then I didn't finish 5 early enough, and 6 came, and I was delayed even more...)
So, anyway, I finished book 7 at 6pm Sunday. By that time, a few of my friends were already done -- the hardcore freaks who didn't sleep at all Saturday night were done. Or those whom had gotten the book at midnight and stayed up all night Friday night were done... and at least one who read pretty much at my pace, but just gets up earlier...
So I called them, and we dished.
And last night, I got really maudlin. And that didn't pass till a few hours ago. SO the rest of this blog will delve into my emotional experience with Harry.
January 2001. The twins on my hall (girls, not George and Fred) somehow got dragged into the Harry Potter cult. Since it was IAP, I had plenty of time to read. So they leant me books 1-4, and I read them. I finished book 1 in like a day or 2, took a day off, read book 2 in 2 days, I think, took a day off, etc... Even with book 4 being really long, I managed to get through the books in a week or a week and a half, I believe. (This, in fact, is the also the only known case of me saying: "We can't have sex now. Maybe at the end of the chapter.")
I was hooked. Obviously. Very hooked. Book 3 has always been my favorite b/c it is the start of the complexities that will follow -- and there are just so many fun concepts introduced, that I won't delve into here, b/c I don't want to put spoilers of any kind in my blog. Of course, book 7 is now my ultimate favorite b/c she managed to make EVERYthing fit into the puzzle so impeccably.
Anyway, book 4 ends in such a cliffhanger -- it was so spooky and scary... sadly, we all had to wait for book 5. It was a horrible wait for 2 years. But then book 5 arrived...
It had been a good 2 years since I read them, so I re-read them again. AND book 4 is SO BRILLIANT, that even the 2nd time I couldn't remember who the bad guy was... (My biggest problem w/ the movies IS the 4th movie, where they make what is happening and whom the bad guy is SO FUCKING OBVIOUS, that EVERYone knows really quickly, and people who haven't read the books go "This Potter stuff is far from complex - who couldn't guess the ending?")
Book 5 also ended with such a cliffhanger that the next 2 years to 2005 were hard, as well. Book 6 was shorter than 4 and 5 had been, which was very upsetting. But it was so good. But also, so obviously setting up things for book 7, such that the 2 years to 2007 were almost unbearable.
But now it's 2007. And I reread all 6 books, as I've said, and read book 7... and now I feel...
Maudlin and upset.
Not at the book's ending.
But at the books ending.
I will never again read a Harry Potter novel without the knowledge of what is to come. Ever.
I cried a lot last night; I woke up today in tears, after having Harry-filled dreams.
It's over. Forever. A 6 year journey. It's almost as upsetting a tv show ending... however, most tvs show lose their quality at some point. Harry Potter never did. Never did for a second.
And just reading is so sublime... few other books have the power to take you away so quickly and fervently. I had trouble doing anything else Saturday. I could barely take an hour off for a client. I did end up taking a few hours off to be online and watch tv at night b/c of exhaustion... but in general, I was pulled to read virulently, almost incessantly.
I have felt a void all day. I'm in mourning. I don't know if there will ever be a series this good. Yes, I will reread the novels at some point. But I will always know what happens. Unless I suffer amnesia like Kermit in the Muppets Take Manhattan.
I feel better after talking to people on the phone. And just breathing. I have decided to re-read book 7 at a slower, relaxed pace.
I am sure something new will come along... I still have most of season 2 of Battlestar to watch this summer... I am revamping my webpage completely... and I have to finish "Why am I Not Famous Yet?" which is premiering in almost 2 months!!
But in any case...
Thank you, J.K. Rowling. Thank you for everything.
