I think secretly I always had half an eye on making ita laugh. Like, it's great to be COMM'ed, but if ita laughed...

Yes, this. Getting COMM'd by ita was always a bit more special.

Stupid as it is, it was one of the things that always cracked me up and, to this day, when someone calls Vernor's ginger ale, I get shirty with them about it. Because ita.

I loved that, it inspired a COMM: Cass "Coffee On My Monitor" Jan 9, 2007 3:21:12 pm PST. Erm, three times in a row: Pix "Coffee On My Monitor" Jan 9, 2007 3:20:11 pm PST.

I never met ita face to face. Some of my most enduring memories of her are from her COMMs (because they were hilarious, and thanks to the BRQG I read them over and over). Because she was sharp, and fierce, and so capable, and she was also damn funny. "We must counter pernicious mansplaining with a grandiose vagenda." "No praying during Monopoly! First off, there's no God otherwise there'd be dinosaurs in the Bible, and secondly, if there is, he's not allowed to help your dice roll." "NO ONE IS GAY ENOUGH TO MAKE SHADOW WHITE."

I hope this isn't excessive; but this is how I remember her:

I have heard less whining from guys I have actually smashed in the nuts. It's been years since I've heard a guy pull the "well, excuse *me* for having a penis!" screaming flounce.

I am not Anita. Or Rita. Or Sita, Mr. Spammer. It used to be short for something, but once I got, it's all it needs to be. It's a "t", like in ... let me think ... "tee". And it will keep being a "t", thanks. I know it rhymes with lots of cute things. I also know how to kill you. And if they could find a jury of my peers, I'd get acquitted. It's only three letters. And some of them are vowels! I'm not asking much.

I'm a terrible student. I'm not the lean forward and "Uhuh. Uhuh." sort of student that gives the presenter feedback. I'm the lean back and "You really think so?" sort of person. So when the trainer looks around for validation, my face is painted with "As if. I am stank. I disdain multitudes." where a simple nod would suffice. I'm congenitally designed to think they're going too slowly. Even when I'm completely out of my depth, I'm out of my depth too slowly.

Are you about ready to explain it to those of us less ... well, I have no idea less what, since I have no idea what the hell you're on about? Or do you need some more time to ... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

The guy who sold me my car was named Cas(s). I took that as a sign. From above. He gripped me tight and raised me from public transportation.

askye: So who plays Legolas in your Worst Lord of the Rings Ever special?
ita: Carrot Top.

Alibelle: My computer wants to change "Aguilera" to "uglier"
ita: Too late -- her stylist already got there.

Trudy: He might just be the dumbest man alive though.
ita: If you can say that in a world with Keanu, I need cites.

Betsy: Are all Jamaicans dangerous?
ita:All except ... wait, no, we killed him ... yes, we are.

And this one, which is just too long to type out: Polter-Cow "Coffee On My Monitor Again" Nov 27, 2012 3:30:17 pm PST

While looking through the COMMs, there were two that felt especially appropriate concerning ita and this site, which she built:

Pix "Coffee On My Monitor Again" Apr 27, 2013 3:01:17 pm PDT
Nicole "Coffee On My Monitor" Apr 28, 2006 6:58:09 am PDT

Madrigal? I've always felt badly about her leaving the board.

I don't know how to reach her. I've tried. She covered her trail pretty good.

and that one kept hitting me last night and today because I DISAGREE SO MUCH.

It's funny - I remembered the times that I disagreed with ita, of course, those were vivid in my memory. But then I thought about all the times I fought alongside her because god knows we had many a raging debate on these white pages.

But it was good. Disagreeing with ita was an education in itself.

Oh, man.

Allyson: When you see 300 pairs of footprints in the sand, that was when Buffistas were carrying you.

Gutted.

Disagreeing with ita was an education in itself.

This is true. I have some semi-cringey memories of getting into it with her a bit over in the SPN thread (I had not comported myself well, to put things mildly). She was always good at giving - and demanding - explanations for a position. For someone who is naturally conflict avoidant, it was valuable to learn that disagreement didn't necessarily mean censure.

My fondest memories of her were from this fall, when she emailed me draft after draft of artwork for a SPN Big Bang as she worked to get them as perfect as she could make them.

Rick, that is a beautiful poem.

Allyson: When you see 300 pairs of footprints in the sand, that was when Buffistas were carrying you.

Gutted.

Yes.

Oh, man. Thank god it's not just me, and that one kept hitting me last night and today because I DISAGREE SO MUCH.

Oh, Plei, me too! I was looking forward to arguing with her about it. I mean, having a lively discussion.

Has alibelle checked in or been contacted?

I've been digging around in boxes for photographs and looking at random unlabeled CDs, but not finding pictures of ita that I remember having. This is going to turn into a quest where I resurrect ancient computers, look at old 3.5in floppies, and excavate boxes from my parents' basement.

Has alibelle checked in or been contacted?

Alibelle "Natter 73: Chuck Norris only wishes he could Natter" Jan 13, 2015 6:55:20 am PST