Hi . . .hey.
Originally, I was going to write a Merry Christmas post to the list, my best wishes for everyone in this little small town of 200 or so that our list has become.
I might as well admit it, I think that many of us have, out loud on the list or in our hearts, there is something about this list that has a unique feel to it.
We often talk about the community that it is. And so, I want to do the equivalent of strolling through the quiet snow, peacefully, alone and introspectively, from house to house, dropping off little gifts and cards, good wishes, a little show of support for this person over here, a little chicken soup for someone over there. I hope that each of you reading this message considers that I have done this, in my heart, in spirit, and delivered a little something for -you-.
While in this mood, I thought it might be fun to name our town, and for each person to describe what their house looks like, what surrounds it, whether it's a hilltop or a valley home, whether your home / manor / castle has a nickname, and so on.
If this catches on like "The Form" did, maybe one day I will be moved to use my seldom-used drawing talent and make a little map of the town. Scan it and post it in my MSCL page.
Either way, I consider it more important for you - yes, you - to know that I thought of you, that I am grateful for the kind things that have been done for me here, and that I walked alone through the quiet snows of our little town and brought you a little something.
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From: Derrick
to alfredo that was wonderful I have only been on the list 2 days and I already feel welcome in this "town"
thanks merry christmas everyone
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From: Cory (Carl & Bonnie D)
Oh, why thank you! I do hope it wasn't chicken soup. ;) (Cory knows Alfredo knows what she's talking about.)
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From: "alfredo" <alfredo>
Alison <so-called@netcom.com> sez :
> On Sun, 22 Dec 1996, Carl & Bonnie Dickason wrote:
>> this, I, too, took Bremstrahlung's approach, and invented a house
that I
> > lived in in Liferville. Was this not what was intentioned?
> ---> I hope so, cuz thats what I did.
Yup, that's exactly what I was looking for! :) Although, I'm just as glad that people described their real homes, as Eric and Sara and a few other people did.
Hmm, what about a description of what your totally imaginary house in our imaginary little town that this list really is. You know, population 200, give or take.
The town whose snowy and silent streets I walked door to door yesterday, acoompanied only by a big glowing orange sunset. I hope people liked their present from yesterday. :)
I also wondered what we should call it. Three Rivers is almost too easy, but at least it would be very fitting. So would a seemingly-generic "Our Town". *Seems* generic, but we know that it's encoded with meaning for lifers. Cory's "Liferville" is in there, too.
For me, I'm living in a hilltop house, surrounded by forest but within walking distance of the neighbors and the town. One side of the house looks out on the warm lights of the Norman Rockwell-like town and the river beyond. In the distance, you can see Brehmstralung's obelisk.
The other side looks out on a large and unspoiled ancient forest that falls away to offer a clear view of the ocean, miles away. Lots of floor-to-ceiling windows. Most of the house is surrounded by large decks. The decor is modern but is very cozy and not sparse.
An area for launching fireworks for public town events, such as when Winnie Holzman comes to visit. A computer room that provides T3 internet access for the entire town, a large home-theatre setup for the frequent showings of MSCL and other movie lovers' presentations. (Kent would probably be a frequent invitee).
A fireplace and a sunken living room that overlooks the town, for the frequent impromptu chatting/dinner parties for which people would drop by spontaneously, and be welcomed.
A swimming pool and lots of grassy expanses around the house for racuous summer parties, and for the cats. (*Visible* ones :).
Of course, everything we need is provided magically. Money is meaningless, but work is still highly meaningful. We don't need to work for survival, we work with what interests us. For me, that would be astronomy, computers, conversations, lucid dreaming, flying my personal UFO all over the world, and writing books. And lots of other stuff.
I thought about creating myself as the mayor (hey, I started this town!), but realized that in such a society, authority relationships would not be necessary, and that they would run counter to the spirit of the town. Each person can make whatever they wish for appear. Having a mayor would not only be unnecessary, it would be ridiculous, probably.
Rather than being static and boring, we would find that once freed from petty everyday concerns, there was a rich and diverse inner life that would find many varied, creative, and exciting outlets, according to the temperament of each person.
And, before the holidays, I would take a quiet walk through the town at sunset, delivering a little something for the people there.
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From: laura
Alfredo writes :
> And, before the holidays, I would take a quiet walk through the
town
> at sunset, delivering a little something for the people there.
I included all you wrote for effect...
This place is so utopian sounding...all I can say is I wish I was there. I love this whole community idea...and I like Lifeville personally.
So should we have a world happiness dance to kick off the town's opening?
Maybe Tino can come and cut the town ribbon...
Thank you for this gift, Alfredo...
I think it will be the best one this Christmas...
Merry Holidays to all my neighbors...
Have a time this Christmas
LAURA
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From: Tanya
First off all, I too, want to thank alfredo for the wonderful gift that he sent us it seem so magical, mistical. I can almost see myself walking through the streets. I would like the streets to be filled with snow (down here we never ever get to have a white X-mas) and the twinkling Christmas lights would shine so nicely. Look there's another lifer inviting us to some hot chocolate or Egg Nog.
Anyway, you would always be welcome at the observatory of our town. We could watch the stars together and speculate on the existence of life on other towns (I mean worlds). Or just see sunsets over some volcanoes (those are the best) and have the most romantic time of our life. Anyway, please come to the official Our Town observatory. The towers would look like giants mushrooms, instead of the usual boring towers you see. Hey, meybe someone can help me paint them. What do you say, eh (<------- I'm learning)?
Thanks again alfredo.
Tanya (a.k.a. the mushroom)
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From: Sara
Alfredo writes :
>I might as well admit it, I think that many of us have, out loud
on
>the list or in our hearts, there is something about this list that
>has a unique feel to it.
Yep. I agree. :) but that's because we make the list what it is, and that is a special place to be. :)
>Either way, I consider it more important for you - yes, you -
to know
>that I thought of you, that I am grateful for the kind things that
>have been done for me here, and that I walked alone through the quiet
>snows of our little town and brought you a little something.
aw, thanks. :) And I know that you have. :)
Love and gumballs, -Sara:-)
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From: Alison
alfredo writes :
> While in this mood, I thought it might be fun to name our town,
and
> for each person to describe what their house looks like, what
> surrounds it, whether it's a hilltop or a valley home, whether your
> home / manor / castle has a nickname, and so on.
----> Since, for personal reasons, I've been living in a little imaginary world for the last few days, this seems like fun.... My house is an older house, its been one of those houses that has been in the community for years, like the houses in Downtown St. John's. Its dark blue, with white trim, and is kinda large. It has land around it and is surrounded by a white picket fence. A coupla cats play, and I have trees. It in the mid to center of town, again, for those who can get the reference, Like its on Circular Road, or Empire Ave. Each month, my house is host to a MSCL party. We just get together and talk about life, eat chocolote, and various MSCL referenced foods (next month, everyone bring their fondue fork things!!)
This of course isn't what my real house, that I actually live in it like. I really live in a small split level, on the east end of town, in what used to be the community of EastMeadows (aparently it was a community, I moved here after that). I have a basement room with posters of the water and womens stuff (like my storm spirits poster) hung on the walls. BUt I like my MSCL town house better. but thats ok anyway ALI
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From: laura
Alfredo wrote:
> If this catches on like "The Form" did, maybe one day
I will be moved
> to use my seldom-used drawing talent and make a little map of the
> town. Scan it and post it in my MSCL page.
Anyways...my so-called house would be an older home with the huge front porch outside. You know the kind that you can put a swing on and all. It has a huge fireplace inside...and has all the old type fixtures...and built in bookcases...arched doorways...leaded glass doors...claw footed tub.
All my list friends live all around me and we meet in the evenings on a Sunday or something and sit around talking about the show...and our so-called lives.
Everyone in the community is a lifer and sees the world in our so-called special way...it all has that small town feel to it.
Oh...and my house is red brick...not painted over...and I have a big oak tree in the front yard. And a black lab running about in the back yard.
I guess that's it for now...
Of course this is nothing like the 2 bedroom apartment I live in...in anyway. But this is where I see myself in dreams.
LAURA
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From: Shimelle
i was just thinking about this listie town we're building and all... why don't we call it liberty?
just a thought, shimelle.~*
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From: Brem
Salutations
>i was just thinking about this listie town we're building and all... >why don't we call it liberty?
What a fine, yet Idealistic Idea: I certainly second this one.
BSX
ps. I hope that someone is saving all these messages...
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From: Lisa X
Hey gang, How's the Sara-Skeie-Cory-Club doing today? :O) Hope you don't mind me butting in. Well, I think in our little town, my humble abode should be like so:
I would live in a flat (apartment) with two floors, I think it's called a maisonette. It would be at the end of a little cul-de-sac. There would be two other people living in the rooms below (any takers?) Every room would have a theme, and visitors would have to abide by the rules which would accompany each room. For instance, there would be a Manic Street Preachers room where 'La Tristesse Durera' would be played continuously, and people in this room would have to wear lots of eyeliner and be very passionate and creative. This would be, like, the drawing room. Then, there would be a movies room ( this would probably be my bedroom). And it would have, maybe, six walls (hmm...me no good architect). On each wall would be a massive poster, so that each took up the whole of their respective wall. The posters would be:
- North by Northwest - Edward Scissorhands - The Breakfast Club - Bedazzled - Umm...one other.
So, the sixth wall would actually be a window. However, it would actually be a cinema screen. <GRIN.> And it would show every film, even ones that aren't that great (because all of them would show us something about film-making.) And my bed would be so enormous that it would actually be the whole room. I mean there would basically be no floor. In this room, everyone would have to act really snobbish and wrinkle their noses at everything, except when I want them to get in their pyjamas and jump around on the colossal bed. Then they'd HAVE to do that. (HEY, this isn't a house, this is a PRISON!) This room would have two levels, and there would be stairs up onto a kind of balcony, where the kitchen would be. And the kitchen would have to be really futuristic, all block colours and sharp angles. Everyone in here would have to do things in the oddest way they possibly could. Why? Who knows? Okay, the bathroom would be very girly and childish. The walls would have Hello Kitty and Little Twin Stars murals painted on them, and the bath would be big, round and pink. From here there would be a gentle water-slide, connecting me to the homes of those in our town who are nice to me. I think it would be girls-only in here, although a man could be admitted if he said or did something that made me consider him worthy. Oh, and don't get me wrong - any un-worthy girls would be straight outta there. The last room would be the living room, which would have lots of sofas. This would be the 'words' room, and the walls would be covered with song lyrics, poetry and passages from books. Everyone would have to be a little quiet in here and they could not leave until they had added a thought or so to the walls, which would be very colourful. There would be a deep corner, for if anyone felt they wanted to discuss the meaning of life, or the fragility of man (though they could always just go the Manic Street Preachers room.) But mostly I'd stay away from there and go the My so-called life side of the room, where there would be a simple shrine where one could bow down and worship and...the finishing touch to any home...a complete set of tapes of the entire series, not recorded off T.V., but purchased from any major retailer, in their own cases with pictures on the front. Mmmmm....bliss.
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From: Cin-D
Okay, I haven't picked up my mail in over two weeks. (yeah... LOTS 'o' mail!!!) in the twenty minutes it took to pick them all up I was considering getting off the list because of the amount of mail it brings. The first thing I read of allmy mail was "This list is a small town...". Too cool! Too sweet! And then I went on to read something of Skeie's (did I miss this sweety before, or is he/she new?!?!) Anyway, I don't say much usually, and if I do it's usually a question, but I do like listening to you guys, and no way would I move out of this town!!
>>>-Cin-D->> (back from vacation)
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From: Brem
Salutations
A Man's home is his castle. Except (obviously) mine isn't.
It is a Giant, Polished Obsidian Pyramid, which dwarfs the Great Pyramid on the Banks of the Nile. It's surface is completely smooth, with no visible entrances, though some who pressed their oh-so-curious noses against it's mighty form claim to see swirling lights and iridescent gliffs embedded deep in it before gaining the overpowering urge to turn away and go and have a soothing Pint. Those who resist this subtle warning have been turned hopelessly insane, doomed to spend their pitiful lives gibbling about "The Tentacles, No, not the Tentacles", "No! Don't lower down the Aardvark!" and soiling their undergarments.
At each side of the Pyramid their are two guardian statues, who are in the form of Giant Emperor Penguins with a gaze with seems both sympathetic and mightily Arrogant. On the Northmost Penguin there is a plaque, engraved in what appears to be tempered gold, and written in achient Arabic stating "Here Lies C-Monster, King of Kings. See his works, ye mighty, and Despair".
No one ever see's Bremstrahlung Enter or leave this Edifice, which has lead to many speculation that he is either a evilly cunning Engineer who has developed an intricate set of Secret Doors, Compartments and Tunnels running underneath all the town, or is a diabolic Sorcerer of Infinite power, who has brokered his very soul to the Great God Krakow for his abilities. The Suggestion that he can't get in either, and merely sleeps in a Hammock in the nearby woods, listening to his Manics Street Preacher Records is scorned by all.
The only people who Bremstrahlung Allows inside his edifice are the delicately nubile creates who he seduces in local nightspots, but even they must submit to a Blindfold and earplugs before entering, and are forbidden to remove them when inside. Some of the survivors of this ordeal claim that the inside of the pyramid is "strangely Leafy".
Bremstrahlung refuses to comment.
BSX
ps. Curiously enough, this is not a mere story, but I actually do live in a giant Black Pyramid. It's on Dexter street in Denver, and you can't miss it.
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alfredo <alfredo@crl.com> sez :
From my hilltop home in the town of Liberty, I can see the winking colored lights, and the listies strolling in complete peace and safety in the valley below.
Amid the chatter of my guests, I feel the need to send a message to our town, something that expresses my heartfelt thanks for the incredibly sweet, wonderful things that many people have said to me personally, and in contribution to the "creation" of "our town".
I walk out in the crunching snow and approach the bank of synchronized fireworks tubes. With a few flips of some switches, at the stroke of midnight as Christmas day begins, there is a series of powerful subsonic THWOPS from the tubes.
There is a few seconds' wait as the fireworks climb their parabolic trajectory towards the sky with amazing speed, rising above the town.
The fireworks explode, thousands of tiny points of light, of different colors, briefly flashing shapes in a beautiful arranged pattern composed of thousands of colored lights.
<boom!> The letters "MSCL"
<boom!> A peace sign
<boom!> A green-and-blue sphere of our home planet, the Earth
There are flashing responses from Laura's porched home, Lisa's cul-de-sac home, Cory's creative house, and Tanya's astronomical observatories. Brehmstralung's pyramid remains, as always, stately and silent.
I stay outside for a moment, watching the town . . . and walk back into the warmth of my home.