I wanted to come up with a clever and creative title for this post, which I would also like to be clever and creative, but the truth is I'm still feeling a bit dry these days. Not even Debbie's excellent post on Wednesday, nor the great questions you all came up with on Monday seemed able to inspire me. But I'm in the middle of an editing project (Volume 2) for a friend who used to skate with Ice Capades, and I'm soon to release a new novel, so that's where my clever and creative juices are flowing these days. So instead of writing about writing topics that you probably know as well as I do -- if not better -- I thought I'd write about the fellowship of the, hmm, bats? Doesn't have the same ring to it as, well, Ring, but you'll get my point before long.~
One of the truly great things about being a part of Novel Matters is the fellowship or camaraderie that has developed amongst those of us who meet here. It began with the six of us, who only came together in the fellowship of blogging at the suggestion of our agents. And what a suggestion it was! Divinely inspired if you ask me. We have become close, close friends, even though we've only all been together one time, and that was three years ago(!) But distance means nothing in our brand of fellowship as you're soon to discover. Because you too have joined our fellowship, and you mean more to us than you realize. We love the friendships that have sprung up between you and us, and between you and you. It's fun to "listen" to your interaction between each other, apart from us. We're like proud mamas -- not to be confused with Proud Marys ala Credence Clearwater. Uh, see what I mean about clever and creative?
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Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share a conversation I had yesterday with Megan Sayer, who lives about as far away from California as she possibly can, in Australia, mate, and that's what I mean about distance being insignificant in our fellowship. This conversation began on Facebook between Megan and me, and expanded to include Lynn Baker Worley. So here it is.
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(Megan:) Guess what? I was just doing some channel-flicking for my early-riser, and discovered BASEBALL on some obscure channel. Yay! I got very excited, and just watched the Yankees win against some people in white shirts. I didn't understand any of it, and I only got to watch one ball before it finished, but it made me terribly happy. Thought you'd be pleased : ) (She thought this because I am an avid baseball fan -- Go, Dodgers!!)
(Sharon:) You have me laughing, Megan. But it would be like me trying to understand Rugby. The Yankees are an American League team. The Dodgers are a National League team. We are National League team fans. The National League plays the American League in the World Series. And the team in white is always the home team. The visiting team wears gray, so I assume the Yankees beat some team on their home turf. Bummer. But I am pleased that you tuned in.
Okay, just spent 15 minutes on Wikipedia trying to get to the bottom of all this. Which I haven't. But I know enough for it to make sense, and I won't ask the big question of WHY. BUT ... I did read the other day something between you and Lynn Baker Worley where the Dodgers (National League) were playing the Mariners, who I've just discovered are American League. And if it's August, and the World Series doesn't happen until October (I like research), why are they playing each other now? That bit doesn't make sense.
I actually have a whole new respect for America after this. Between the complexity of major league baseball and having to keep track of 52 states, there's a lot to know.
(Lynn:) Some years ago the powers that be decided there should be interleague play during the middle of the season, which is why Sharon's Dodgers played my Mariners.
(My answer and Lynn's crossed in the mail.) Very good question, Megan. I'm impressed! Actually, the past few years MLB has added some extra inter-league games throughout the season. I think most fans aren't crazy about it -- I know we aren't. It used to be that the leagues didn't play each other until the World Series. That was in the good ol' days. Oh, and there are 50 states unless something happened this week that I don't know about : )
The Yankee game (and Sharon and I both hate the Yankees) must have been an old one. They haven't played yet today.
I'm sure it was. Lynn, do you like the inter-league play?
You didn't catch the last thing I wrote on Mindy's cake page I guess ... not really a fan of it at all. Not sure why they did it in the first place. I think it takes away from the World Series. Not sure I like the All Star Game deciding "home field advantage" either.
No, you're correct. I didn't see what you wrote on Mindy's absolutely YUMMY cake page. (Mindy is my daughter.) I'm so with you. Don't like the inter-league play at all. I also think it takes away from the World Series. But I DO like the All Star Game deciding home field advantage. I guess the only alternative to that is alternating from year to year -- and that would be fine with me.
Oh, 50 states, eh? Oh dear. Oops. I've added Milwaukee again, haven't I?
And ... dare I say it ... I like the Yankees. The Yankees are the reason I like baseball. Sorry.
Or the twin cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis. You're so funny, Megan.
Oh, no! Oh, NO!! Swoon. There goes a great friendship. Sigh.
Minne -- sota is the state, but you have to say it with a Swedish accent to make it count.
Swedish, eh? Susie says it with a silly accent too. I know a little about this from watching The Big Bang Theory and subsequent research (because I'm weird like that). I wonder if anyone's ever written a book called "A Short History of America for Dummies." I'd read it.
And the next time I fall in love with an entire country I'll have to try to pick a smaller one ...
I'd read it too. I still couldn't fill in a map with all 50 states in the right place. But if you're going to fall in love with a smaller country, make it California : )
No, actually, I'm pretty sure California IS a STATE. Well ... I was sure ...
Hmm. Really?
You two are really cracking me up. And there has been talk through the years of splitting the country of California in two! So it would even be smaller, Megan!
My husband, who travels the world for missions, always says he's from the proud state of North California. Says he'd like the dividing line to be just south of Lodi : )
Just so you know ... The Yankees are losing right now. Weather looks really bad in Atlanta so don't know if the game will continue or not! Go Braves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KNEW I shouldn't have posted that! Yanks are winning now and I'm heading on a walk!
So, while the Yankees won and the Dodgers lost, the pitcher for the Giants, our arch nemesis, pitched a perfect game for only the 22nd time in MLB history. Well, I take my hat off to Matt Cain. Debbie, are you getting this? Just glad it wasn't Lincecum!
So tell us, what brought you to Novel Matters in the first place, and what keeps you coming back? Whatever it is, we're so glad you're a part of our fellowship.
