The State of the Cleo

[cleolinda]

I am not doing so well today. Well--it's funny, I actually feel really good in writing/working terms. Even though the recap of the new Twilight book ate up two days of my life, I feel a sense of accomplishment akin to the glow you get from a really good workout. I feel limber, in other words. Which is good for getting back to gainful employment. I'm having ideas for a fresh round of novel (re)drafting, I'm moving pretty steadily on organizing links for the Vampires footnotes--and I have a slight tingle in my scalp, which makes me wonder if I'm entering a pleasantly hypomanic phase of productivity. The problem is just that my stomach is really, really upset, and I feel really nervous, but I don't know why. Actually, this might also support the hypomania hypothesis, now that I think about it. I am also super, super behind on Google Reader, Tumblr, LJ, email--pretty much everything you can think of, and also, Twitter is fussy today. And I depend on Twitter--LJ is still my base of operations, but Twitter is a very quick, easy way to keep up with news and friends when you don't have a lot of time to spare. GET IT TOGETHER, PEOPLE.

(I think it also helped to just post something--I mean, not any crappy old thing; something I did put a good bit of effort and polish into--and get feedback. Earning positive feedback from people--anything from outside your own head--helps you get off the hamster wheel of your own anxiety. Or maybe "echo chamber" is a better metaphor.)

(Seriously, though, I am not really having a meltdown over the "dark red hair" thing. It's fun to indulge in "What? What? WHAT?" for a day, and a vehement reaction is more entertaining than "Well, that's a bit odd," but I'm not losing sleep over it or anything. This is not on the level of The Rocking Chair Revelation or Oh My God the Wolf Kid Just Imprinted on a Newborn, What in the Sweet Name of Sparkle Just Happened.)

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I'm on the phone with my mother right now--$752 has been stolen from my parents' checking account AGAIN, and it looks like someone from Pizza Hut stole the numbers off Mom's debit card. (The only people she pays in person with a debit card and presents her driver's license to are pizza delivery people.) It was spent at Home Depot in Pelham, which we have never been to, so they're going to pull up the surveillance video there and see who it was. This happened a while back as well, as you may recall (in fact, rather than someone stealing checks, as we had previously thought, it's entirely possible it was Pizza Hut employees back then, too). It's actually Home Depot (or whoever else the thieves hit) that's been stolen from, because they'll then go return the merchandise and get refunds of money they themselves did not actually spend. It's just that now Mom has to close the account, get a new one, get new debit cards, have no way to pay for things for a couple of days, borrow my checkbook and pay me back later, smite down the wrongdoers, see them driven before her and hear their lamentations, etc. Very inconvenient.

Back to what I was saying. Twitter is having issues, so I am cut off from a lot of news. (I wonder if it's being denial-of-service attacked?) Fnarr. Not that it matters, because I didn't check Google Reader at all yesterday in my determination to knock the recap out, so now I have 1000+ items to wade through eventually. It actually stops counting at 1000; there might be 2000 headlines in there, for all I know. I didn't even hear about the latest Joran van der Sloot development until my mother started talking about it.

Let's spend a moment on that. The Natalee Holloway case is something of a local obsession, since she was from here--from Mountain Brook, a wealthy suburb of Birmingham that is right up against my (more modest) suburb. I know people who knew her. We're both deeply invested in it and, five years later, a little sick of it going in these endless circles without any justice or closure. So it is deeply satisfying to finally see this guy get nailed for something, although I wish it hadn't been for murder. I mean, this is a guy who recently demanded $250,000 from Natalee's mother in exchange for the location of her daughter's body (he has been charged this week with extortion). My understanding is that he has currently confessed to the murder of the girl in Peru--a girl whose father is, apparently, an influential public figure. So, whereas van der Sloot's father, a lawyer training to become judge in Aruba at the time, allegedly pulled strings during the Holloway investigation... what goes around comes around, and irony is about to bite this kid in the ass.

On a more positive note, brainchild129 writes that a friend of hers is working with the Peace Corps in Niger, and they're trying to raise $1200 for a goat microfinance program, which is probably the most awesome combination of words I will hear today--that is to say, a program that helps Nigerien women learn business and teamwork skills and earn income of their own, by raising goats. Go to the link if you're interested in helping out.

Comments

[r-a-black.livejournal.com]

For the record, I didn't think you were overreacting to the redheadedness thing. While my brain did jam when I read that bit in the book, it is, as you say, more entertaining to flip a little than to just be like, "Oh well that's odd." *shrug* Just my two cents so you don't feel self-conscious or anything.

[zahavah.livejournal.com]

psst -- tiny, nit-picky thing. Nigerians are from Nigeria. Nigeriens are from Niger. :)

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Ah! "Nigerians" was the word she used, so I didn't notice. I'll go change that.

[brainchild129.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware of that either, so thank you for letting me know.

[pinstripe-bindi.livejournal.com]

Goats make everything better. Especially if they're those awesome fainting ones.

[corinnethewise.livejournal.com]

I think most stores have a policy that if people try to return stuff, it either goes back on the card that they used, or on a home depot gift card, which doesn't do them any more good than buying the stuff outright with the stolen card numbers. I'm not sure that's any comfort at all, but at least the thieves might not have an easy time making money.

[noirem.livejournal.com]

If you can get a store credit/gift card, you can sell those on ebay

[noirem.livejournal.com]

(I handled returns for $Corporate_Bookstore and I kept asking "but why would anyone do that?" and now I think of ways to scam return policies and I feel dirty)

[chulacabra.livejournal.com]

The redhead thing made me meltdown because of the inconsistency. The rocking chair and baby imprinting were fucked, but completely in line with SMeyer's brand of crazy. But to be five books and three movies into your outrageously successful, wildly popular series, and then suddenly change the hair color of the sparkly dream man of literally millions of women around the world? That takes it past crazy and into incomprehensible.

[barrelgoddess.livejournal.com]

This. It'd be one thing if a character dyed their hair as a plot point, but you really ought to know what your own character's hair color is at THIS point. And if she got the descriptive words mixed up, I... I just... it makes it burn even more that she's so successful, you know?

[cupcakery.livejournal.com]

The redhead thing makes me think that she's writing from RPattz now; he has darker hair than what I imagined Edward to have (bronze ≠ red! My hair is red; Amy Pond's hair is red). That's how my brain is rationalizing it because it doesn't want to spend time thinking about it or it might explode.

I'm willing to bet that Natalie Holloway and Stephany Tatiana Flores Ramírez aren't his only victims - five years between kills is a hell of a long cooling off period; too long.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have severe doubts that he was just twiddling his thumbs the whole time, although I do think a good year or so of that was taken up with his legal troubles. But once he was at large again--at the very least, he was probably wreaking more havoc with date rape drugs.

[cupcakery.livejournal.com]

Going from killing to raping is a de-escalation, which doesn't (as far as I know, which is fairly far) happen because of the high that it would give a murderer, especially a sadistic one. De-escalation doesn't get a murderer off anymore, once they've killed.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Well, there's long been a question of what actually happened to Natalee, whether it was an "accident" or an overdose or something. As far as we know, the same level of blunt violence was not involved. Although it could have been--but at the time, it looked like a night with an asshole who was partial to roofies took a turn for the (even) worse.

[kirsdarke.livejournal.com]

I pity the fool who will indure the wrath of Mama Cleo.

[windancer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my initial reaction to Twitter being down this morning (and again currently) was I CANNOT PLAY ECHO BAZAAR WITHOUT TWITTER NOOOOO.

The goat program is amazing! I donated to that and to the Red Cross after reading your Bree-cap.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Aw, yay!

I am trying so hard to keep my Echo Bazaar addiction quiet, but me shouting at the computer is not helping.

[amaz0n-princess.livejournal.com]

Twitter has been driving me nuts today too!

Hope you find out who stole from your mom, WTF!

RE: Reading

[darcy1013.livejournal.com]

Last year I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Loved them. Recently I went to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Swedish with English subtitles. Loved it. Next I find out that Hollywood is in preproduction for a version of the trilogy and none other than Kristen Stewart is being bandied about for Lisbeth Salander's role. So, I'm curious if you have thoughts on the subject, inside info, etc. If nothing else, read the books. They're awesome. Lisbeth is fascinating.

Re: Reading

[miss-eponine.livejournal.com]

none other than Kristen Stewart is being bandied about for Lisbeth Salander's role.

Oh, god. NO! Bella Swan as Lisbeth? I cannot see it.

I can't imagine a better adaptation than the Swedish film. The books were excellent (I ordered a copy of Hornet's Nest from Amazon UK so I wouldn't have to wait), and I loved the film version. I'm cautiously optimistic about the remake, but I really can't see Kristen Stewart in that role.

Re: Reading

[darcy1013.livejournal.com]

I'm not sold on Kristen, but the leading candidate seems to be Carey Mulligan, and I totally can't see that. Lisbeth is attractive, but she is also antisocial. Kristen seems to have the "deer in the headlights" downpat. Is there any "Hollywood actress" who has awkward more nailed?

However, I'm not sold. I do think the actress in the Swedish film did a fantastic job. She could totally pull it off in an "English" version, but I understand she doesn't want to "redo" the role. Who can blame her?

Gosh I love Lisbeth. I can't see Anne Hathaway or Natalie Portman or Keira Knightley pulling off that role.

Re: Reading

[miss-eponine.livejournal.com]

I can't say I've seen Stewart in anything other than the first Twilight movie, so I might be a little biased as far as she goes.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any well known Hollywood actress that could pull it off. I kind of hope they go for an unknown for her. I've heard Daniel Craig and Brad Pitt's names for Blomkvist, and I think I'd prefer Craig out of those two.

And I seriously love Lisbeth too. When I was reading Fire, I got so mad at some of the characters for saying all those bad things about her. It's been a while since I've gotten that attached to a character.

Re: Reading

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I really want to see the Swedish movie, and yeah, I've heard Lisbeth is great. But since I haven't yet, I don't really know who should play her. Isn't David Fincher doing it? That's at least a good sign up front.

Re: Reading

[greedyskunk.livejournal.com]

I just finished The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo last night and I'm still mulling it over in my head. I'm not a techie, so I kind of skimmed those parts (not many, thankfully), but I really liked the rest. And I think the movie is playing at our indie theater.

Kristen Stewart could possibly pull off a credible Lisbeth. I agree, she can do pissed-off antisocial really well. I do think Keira Knightley might also be interesting. She certainly has the "anorexic" look down.

[narnian-dreamer.livejournal.com]

I just want to note that my hair is reddish-brown, though I'm not sure I'd call it bronze, and that everyone outside my ginger family considers me a redhead. Perhaps by dark red, she meant, "darker than orange-red, which is what my sister has?"

[nonmagicpoet.livejournal.com]

that reminds me of the "red hair" discussion from Requiem for a Dream. "It's a red. It's not a RED red, but that's red. That's red? Then what's orange??"

[iamsmr.livejournal.com]

I didn't comment on the previous entry, but I'm happy to add my positive feedback- your recap was all-around hilarious. (Literally laughing while reading it.)

:-( Sorry about the return of the asshat Pizza Hut thieves.

[nonmagicpoet.livejournal.com]

I was pretty invested in the Natalee Holloway case too because I'm a justice student strictly because I wanted to help strengthen women against things like this...

[sethrak.livejournal.com]

Possibly they're experiencing a Twitterquake caused by everyone ranting about Edward's hair retcon, or gushing about how awesome Smeyers is and totally ignoring the retcon?

[nimlotbradamant.livejournal.com]

It's just that now Mom has to close the account, get a new one, get new debit cards, have no way to pay for things for a couple of days, borrow my checkbook and pay me back later, smite down the wrongdoers, see them driven before her and hear their lamentations, etc.

Let's face it, it's the last two clauses right there that have us sitting up in anticipation.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

So awful that this piece of filth had to claim another life before they could catch him. But thank God they *did* catch him. My mother's family is from Mountain Brook and she's been very interested in this case. That poor girl.

[robinmc.livejournal.com]

That sucks about your mom's credit card, but I'd be lying if I didn't giggle at the thought of her smiting the wrongdoers.

The thing about the red hair makes me wonder, yet again, about SMeyer's editors. Do they even read what she sends them at this point? Did they ever?

[chellytastic.livejournal.com]

ya know, i had my credit card canceled and replaced because of fraud and you know who did it? BORDERS. I was so upset! Barnes and Noble has better shipping anyways. Borders sends your package all over the goddamn country first. >_

[puredeadthingy.livejournal.com]

At least you HAVE a Borders :( [/is English] [/the closest one was forty minutes away BUT IT HAD A STARBUCKS so I could happily spend all day in there]

[darkfrog24.livejournal.com]

Maybe Bree's vampire ability is vampire color blindness, like a kind of supernatural saturation level.

Glad to hear you're feeling limber. And the Bree summary was fun to read. I can imagine your mother's enemies being whipped before her, while she's on a chariot like Broadecia. It's an amusing image.

[mdmbrightside.livejournal.com]

It's probably just personal preference, but the hamster wheel metaphor is so very, very apt.

[girlbyjuly.livejournal.com]

i have a stress-sensitive stomach, and sometimes i feel completely nervous for no reason too. it usually means i'm just stressed.

[wondergirl-dv.livejournal.com]

I keep reading that you shouldn't use your debit card for its actual purposes. Ever. It's way too easy to steal things from it. However, you can use your debit card but ask them to do 'credit' on it...which will deduct from your bank account. Much like going 'debit' but not having to use a pin number.

[trash-addict.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's bad that I see the potential for another great Cleo's Mum story...
(seriously though, that really sucks).

This goes to 11

[castleatmydoor.livejournal.com]

An anxiety hamster wheel in an anxiety echo chamber.

[pervert-bitch.livejournal.com]

Peruvian here, and yes we are getting a lot of information of Joran van der Sloot's case. Almost everyday newspapers and TV news talk about it. The girl he killed was the daughter of a businessman and car racer.
Thing is now his layer is saying he's being pressured to confess by the local police... which is a lot of bullshit.

[corbyjane.livejournal.com]

"Echo Chamber of Anxiety" would make a great emo band name...

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