Vincent's voice always gave me shivers--the good kind.

Beverly is me. That voice just slays me. And the wounded nobility and all. ::puddles up:: I just wish they didn't throw in the Rambokitty rides on top of the subway in every, single episode.

Go you Joe with the VA possibility. I'm serious, with your CS background, wit and fixy-ness, you could make a hugely rewarding career for yourself out of VAing. Plus, 99% of VAs are women. You could brand yourself as the "OTHER VA meat." By which I do NOT mean porn.

Pretty photo, GC, even if it was a sad occasion.

Begone~ma to connie's headache and vw's migraine.

Vortex is made of the most legendary awesome, we all knew this. But Nora, I don't think it's beyond normal expectations to confirm arrangements that were made more than a week ago. You've made that effort and either your friend hasn't gotten the messages or has neglected to respond. Call, and don't feel like a nag. Resent that she's making you feel like a nag, a little, but being the grownup often feels like being a nag, so.

Cashmere, your sister is really beautiful, as she should be on her wedding day. But you? My gods, woman, you're luminous! You're gorgeous as a goddess, and the picture of you and your DH is wonderful.

Also, I think Sparky is sassier now that she's an East Coast girl. I like it.

It's the humidity.

I've missed the Joe and Aimee show. I think MiL was...misguided, at best.

I'm with Zen on the tooth-whitening thing. I've never tried the strips. My dentist just zaps the gel on there and hits it with the light as part of my cleaning. It's not the deluxe $500 job, but it goes a couple shades lighter, enough to tell a difference, but not enough to give me chiclets.

I'm having dental work done next month, and I'm pretty sanguine about it, even a little happy, as it will correct a mistake made years ago by a cowboy dentist. If I'da sued, I'd have enough to fund the procedure.

Go you Joe with the VA possibility. I'm serious, with your CS background, wit and fixy-ness, you could make a hugely rewarding career for yourself out of VAing. Plus, 99% of VAs are women. You could brand yourself as the "OTHER VA meat." By which I do NOT mean porn.

Though the porn is a last ditch possibility I suppose.

I wouldn't even know how to begin getting work as a VA, though.

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Here's an article on it, babe. And how cool - you *could* be a stay at home dad! Part-time anyway once Em starts pre-school.

Or, you know, not.

I learned how very good an actor Ron Perlman is watching that show.

I was part of a production of Strindberg's Ghost Sonata; we performed in masks and heavily gothic, body-morphing costumes, and getting any sort of emotion across the footlights was an exercise in patience, concentration, ensemble acting at its most synergistic. Everything was slowed, a little, because we had to use body language and voice to convey everything. For an actor to convey the necessary emotion past facial appliances and makeup, even in onscreen closeups, is a hallmark of his or her ability (Kim Hunter and Roddy McDowell in the Apes movies, frex). To use the voice, and in this case with dental appliances as well, to convey subtleties that the masked face isn't capable of, as well as Perlman did, is awesome.

One scene I remember, though, we didn't even get Vincent's face--only his back, his body language, and his voice. That scene still leaves me in tears.

Huh. I could set up the fax machine, get the Batcomputer up...

Were we in our own place, this would be a total possibility.

Aimee, your MIL was misguided, although I'm sure she meant well ... I hope she did. My mother insists on sending me dumb stuff that's been forwarded around the internets for years - "funny" pictures and stories - and they're always forwarded umpteen times. Only when she sends them they arrive as an attachment to an attachment to an attachment to an attachment ... so it involves opening at least five attachments. So ... mostly I delete them without even reading them - I'm telling her that our office system (which is the only e-mail address I've given her for me) deletes them after a certain number of levels. She's decided it's because I don't want to hear from her.

And my dentist has suggesed the deluxe - $950! - tooth whitening. My teeth are fairly healthy, but badly discolored. 40+ years of coffee, tea, cola ... I'm tempted, but damn that's expensive!

Which is total Catch-22 cause no place of our own unless you're working.

Suckin'.

Vortex is made of the most legendary awesome, we all knew this.

For reals. I just got a vmail from my friend so it looks like things are a go, but now I'm sort of sad that this means that I will not be seeing Vortex this weekend! Harumph.

I wouldn't even know how to begin getting work as a VA, though.

Social networking, baybee. Absolutely everyone you know...and millions you don't know yet, needs help with admin tasks, research, creative management (like web content upkeep...which is HUGE).

We've seen it right here!

If you are really intrigued by the idea, look at some of the VA training sites (but don't bother with accreditation if you really don't think you need it) and get their ideas for marketing. There is a TON of information out there in this topic.

Pick a field you enjoy or have experience in and start looking at trade mags, websites...and local events. Like the Board of Trade, or local law bars or chambers of commerce.

On the Hill, we have two papers that are dedicated to local issues and people. Find one of these and write an article about VAing (which you can find almost wholecloth by googling...then modify) and submit it for print. Contact podcasters and offer yourself for interviews on some pithy topic that can become your niche.

Figure out what problems you enjoy solving and then find people who have them...education is the very best marketing tool.

Ooof. Too much information! I'm just uber-passionate about people finding work they enjoy...and can sustain.

One of the primary benefits of exploring the VA thing is that you can do it in between other stuff until you attract a big enough client base.