rdfreak

:):) wow! that is all I can say! She's a babe! she rules!!! oh man! A is here but I had to get on and write in this before I forget any detail because, everyone knows me as a complete analytical freak! (It is sooo funny! A does not know what's got into me. she can't get anything out of me!) anyway!
wow, OK well I met a about 12.30. We went to lunch at Mackers. Then we went to Hawthorn and walked for miles as I should have got us out at Glenferrie. anyway, good old A found it in the end, and good thing is, i know where it is now myself!
OK well we got there in heaps and heaps of time cos we knew we might have trouble finding it with my vague directions I got from the guy the other day, (more like my vague memory). so when we found it we went to a near-by Mackers to have a drink. then about 3.30, we wandered in, and we were led to the seats and we snagged the front row. I was on the edge and I said to A "will you be closer to Grettel?" she's like "yeah probably. we can swap if ya want" Lol so we did.
She doesn't get totally obsessed with celebs like me can be :) anyway we waited for about three quarters of an hour and then this guy came up to the mic and announced grettle. she was right near me laughing cos the guy said "she's also hoasted a show who's name escapes me right now". and I'm like "oh that groovey Grettel laugh which is what I first fell in love with" Lol!
anyway she came on and spoke all about her childrens books. There were people of all ages there and she did such a great job of interacting with everyone. I didn't ask any questions of course!
And, oh boy, she's an amazing author! One of the things that cracked me up was she was telling us that her books are largely based around her children. anyway, she just happened to kmention that the other day her 15-year old son wrote a text message to her that read "see you soon babe", Lol not meant for his Mum. and Grettel wrote back "yeah man" Lol and he's like "wrong person"! Lol!
anyway she did her usual kind spells to the little kids. And then finally the guy said it was over and thanked her. and then ... then ... then! :):) she took a few steps to me and said "who's lovely dog is this?" My feeling is that she knew, but wanted to break the ice, as previous, she would have seen me clap like crazy and utter a small "yeah" when she was announced.
and I'm like "she's mine" and she's like "oh she's gorgeous!" and she asked if she could pat her, and I said yes though when they're working, the usual rule is you don't. so she goes "I won't then" and I'm like "yes, go for it!" man I wanted her to pat her!)
So she started to pat Heartly (who will never be getting another bath! :), and she jumped on G! Apparently she looked rather surprised but she didn't say anything at all.
And she said "what's your name?"
R: Rachel!
G: Oh we're very similar. everyone seems to call me Rachel for some reason!
R: (laughs)
(then i went completely weird. I just all of a sudden registered it was grettel (I did know it was her but guess I hadn't let it sink in) so I all of a sudden said
"oh, Grettel!
G: Yes!!!
R: Hi!!! :)
G: Hi!!!
Then I felt like I was going to burst into joyious tears!
anyway, yeah for the courage rachel; I said in a really "crazy-fan-like" voice, Can I give you a hug?" and she's like "of course" in a really touching way, so, stupid me stayed seated so she had to bend down a bit. anyway I put my arms around her and my stupid bag fell off. It was such a warm hug that lingered a while, and as she squeezed me a little harder, I pat her back, Lol! how dodgy is that?! :) Lol haha, and as we were still in the "aaah, embrace" Lol I said "I went all the way up to dreamworld to see you and at the end, was near the stage, like, arms length away from you and was too shy to say anything to you!
G: Oh, How come?"
R: Oh I'm just like that - shy :) I went to see jamie get evicted.
G: Well next time, you *must say Hi!
R: (laughs) yes definitely!
G: Where abouts are you from?
R: Oh, here in Melbourne.
G then turns to a (Hello, what's your name?"
A: a-----
(she honestly said nothing more to Grettel.
G: I must go over and start signing books.
R: Well yes I'm getting one signed.
G: Oh, well see you in a second.
So A helped me pick one of her books "MY LIFE IS A WEDGY" i ENDED UP BUYING.
THEN WE GOT IN LINE FOR HER TO SIGN IT. lOL i WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE THE LAST, SO i COULD TALK TO HER FOR A while. Lol!
anyway we finally got up to her. and she said "hi"
R: Hello again!"
R: (hands her the book) and man, I so didn't want this to happen, but I forget bits and pieces already. But she said something and I said
"well you can read it on tape for me!"
G: yeah, how does that work exactly? Like how can you read it? can you put it into braille?
R: Well I could. I scan it into my computer and then I can just read the text in word or something. I can also, if i want then, put it into my portible notetaker braillenote so I can have it in braille.
G: So when you scan it into word, how do you read it on your computer?
R: Oh, I have a screne reader, speech synthesizer that echos the screne to me basically.
Publisher (or who-ever else was next to her) what do you scan under?
so just told them it was a normal scanner.
R: I also recently have started using Curzwel which was designed for the blind specifically with self-voicing. And a lovely female British narrator (I said in that posh voice.
G: Yes, was going to ask what the speech is like.
R: (immitating voice on Curzwell) Jane! (said in the English accent"
G: (laughs) "My life is a wedgy! say that!
R: My life is a wedgy (in the British accent.
I was also immitating my default computer synth and told G the American accent was far better for me to listen to than the British english.
I immitated it saying "start menu" and she laughed!
G: Well as long as you don't start talking with that accent!
Man Grettel and I were talking for ages about all that! It was sooo cool! and unlike when I met Celine Dion, I was just sooo relaxed.
Oh, good part is coming. Oh, I said
R: thank God for my speech synth. I'd bbe lost without the Net.
G: Do you get on there much?
R: All the time. Too much.
G: (laughs) too much? how do you mean? what should you be doing?
R: Um, studying for my exams (laughs)
G: Oh, when is your next exam?
R: um, tomorrow, (with a half laugh, half sob voice).
G: (laughs) ah Rachel??? (in that voice people use like a jokingly "that's terrible. you should be home studying" kinda way.
R: Well I had to come and meet you!
G: aaah, sweet" (think she was going to say "sweetie" but she didn't.
G: What exam is it?
R" Australian History.
G: well this book won't give you much of that.
R: (laughs)
G: gives me some name of someone (presumed relating to Aus History but had me completely confused Lol!then says "that's all I know. I'm not much help! What's it on?"
R: things like aboriginal landrights which, I just *hate!
Then she asked me if my spelling was "AEL" and I just said "EL" the best!!! :) And, forget what she said after. oh yeah
G: So will your scanner pick up my messy handwriting?
R: Well it doesn't actually pick up any handwriting, but once in a while I'll get someone to read it and remind me"
G: Aaaaaah (in that really touched way.
G: So want to hand me that paper bag? (that I was holding in my hand; but didn't want her to see it. :)
R: Um, yeah, OK?!
so I handed it to her and she placed the book inside for me and handed it back.
G: Do you want that in your packpack?
R: Oooh it's OK thanks. (But Lol gee, I should have let her come and put it in for me! How damn sweet! :)
G: So what's your dogs name again?
R: Heartly. You can pat her again if you want. (damnit, I actually wanted Grettel to pat her more.
G: No, she's working, don't want to distract her again. I have been told you're not meant to pat them while they're working. why is that exactly?
R: It's just to basically reinforce that they're working. They can get very distracted especially Heartly.
Then, i think that was about all. she said to A:
Do you want anything signed?
A: Oh, no thanks!"
G: Well good luck to you both!
R: yeah thanks same to you. Do you have an email address that you can give me, or not really?"
G: you can write to ... --- (wasn't her personal one)
the other lady said "just put "Grettel Killeen" in the subject line and we'll pass it on to her.
G: and write me a little note.
R: so you don't check your email a lot, or you need others to filter out the bad stuff for you?
G: nah I'm just a lazy cow!
R: (laughs)
Well, awesome to finally meet you! I am your biggest fan!
G:( Laughs)
Then we said our goodbyes!
so! OMG! wow, talk about amazing!
OK well there are lots and lots of bits and pieces I have forgotten and/or got in the wrong order(which is why I had to write it now so I could remember as much as possible while it was only a few hours ago)! But A just can't believe how analytical I am!
Oh and also I bet G didn't give me her email address cos there were others there. I reckon she may very well be able to give it to me when she writes back to me! I've got this "warm friendship" feeling happening and felt that through our interactions.
But man she was sooooooo nice! absolutely so sweet! And I was sooo relaxed around her which is good!
I know I got some dialog mixed up so she wasn't as abrupt as I made her out to be sometimes.
Oh, and before I asked A "Was I the only one that hugged her?" and she laughed at me of course :) and said "yes you were!" so that made me feel good!
wow, can't believe I'm gunna write to her. I tell ya, we could have spent the rest of the night talking. We were sooooooo conversational with each other! it was just amazing!

OK am going to go so as not to totally bore a, but the bits I missed and remember later, I'll always come back to this entry and fill them in, so, fans, keep a watch on this entry.
exam tomorrow, wohooo! that so makes me laugh when she jokingly told me off about not being home to study! anyway I'll be alright!
OK all for now!
Til next time,
RdFreak