I've always thought it was the FE in Joyce's skin, but I've never been sure about the Joyce who appeared in Buffy's dream, who kept telling her she needed to get some sleep. I was so sure that was the PTB, telling Buffy she needed to get some sleep so she could have a prophetic dream that would show her the way. And when she curled up with Spike and actually did get some decent rest, I was sure she'd wake up in the morning with the answer. Heck, maybe she did, but if it was tied together, they didn't mention much of it.

That would have been a nice bit of follow-up. Sigh.

Oh, and an actual reason to get Buffy out of the house. It was too noisy there for her to get a decent nap.

I recently read a Joss interview where he more or less stated outright it was the First Evil in "Conversations with Dead People." I've seen nothing official about Buffy's dream though - could have been a visitation, could have been symbolism in a prophetic dream, could have been Buffy's common sense speaking via the image of her Mom.

Coming in late -- Harry Groener was (and has been again, I think, in very short appearances) the Secretary of Agriculture in the Bartlet administration. Bartlet's ep-ending speech to him in that State of the Union episode had me shouting "just ascend already!" at the TV.

"You got a best friend? Is he smarter than you? He's your Cheif of Staff" vomits.

From what I understand though, Jane specifically addressed the Joyce?FE issue in that interview (that I still can't get). Did anyone who read the interview see that?

Cindy, from the interview (do you want me to e-mail you the text of it?):

AICN: You wrote the Dawn scenes in CONVERSATIONS WITH DEAD PEOPLE. Now that BUFFY is no more, some fans wonder what Joyce was talking about when she said, 'Buffy won't choose you.' But surely that was just The First messing with Dawnie's head, yes?

JANE: Yes indeed.

Bless you, Nilly. You not only answered my question, but your link took me right to the interview. Thanks!

How are you doing? I can't make it to Natter these days and feel like I haven't seen you in an age. Of course, with all the talk of Nilly Goes Hollywood - I can understand how busy you must be, because a star's life is just relentless. ;)

I can't make it to Natter these days and feel like I haven't seen you in an age.

I know, I feel like I haven't 'seen' you for ages, too - I think Theo said that you were on a family vacation when I mentioned you once (with your 'will convert for food' motto).

a star's life is just relentless

Oh, yeah, very demanding. Though it's good that my Hollywood trip came up only now, when my students' exams are over, and I can return to doing actual work.

t /so exclusively natter I can't even pretend to try and connect it to BtvS in any way

erm... let's see if I can fanwank a topic-connection...

There's talk of you going Hollywood, because of your inborn talent to find references. The references which you usually find for us are written in words. Jane Espenson is a writer (and linguist). You linked me to her interview which I just read (and I must say here that I just adore Jane). Naturally...

Nope. I haven't yet had enough coffee. :)

We were only away for a few days around our holiday; it wasn't our actual vacation. We're still waiting to see when our contractor (builder of the addition to our house) is going to start working here, before we plan that. It's just with Benjamin out of school, I can't find Natter time. (except, obviously, for here, and now).

I have to go see why Chris and Julia are still sleeping. (Ben is away with my mum.) I'm suspicious that there's mischief afoot. Thanks again, Nilly. Take care.