h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Lil enters wearing her favorite color in a dress with modified garibaldi sleeves, with her hair swept up in the usual Gibson Girl chignon, her healthstone set in a brooch at her throat and a figure from thirty years ago. She wears the harkonnen as a corset under the dress, which is why she is holding herself upright so carefully*

http://www.bonitovalley.com/h2g2/partydress.html

Limoncello for me please.

*walks in wearing a fabulous purple frock*


*looks for bbq prawns*

http://www.the-gothic-shop.co.uk/long-silk-gothic-summer-dress-p-2186.html

*wanders in wearing a form-fitting midnight blue-colored silk dress and strappy silvery sandals*

Matina, a kir royale please. And keep them coming!

Oh, lovely shoes, FG ! Everybody looks spiffing.

And I'll have a bacardi cocktail. Hold the umbrella. *looks around to see whether everything is in order* We should be seeing the menu soon. It's going to be quite something.

I'd like to touch on a few things, if I may, but I must needs have a Blanton's on the rocks first.


Think back a decade. The world was a much larger, possibly safer place. Where were you back then? Who were you then? I was working a job that helped train me to become the professional that I am today. I was living with friends in a hellish bachelor pad. I was single with no thought of changing that. I was in my early 20's and had few ambitions other than the upcoming weekend.

Today I am still single. While I live in a bachelor pad I am proud to say that it's neat, full of books, art and cooking implements. I still hate my job, but I am proud of the work that I do. While still single, I have been engaged twice in that time (but I got better both times). I've moved thousands of miles from my home town, and thousands again to return. I've been the beneficiary of some amazing friendships and relationships all formed online. The Web of today so completely dwarfs that of just a few years ago that any of us would be hard pressed to have predicted what it has become.

Central to my life in many ways, has been the Salon. My h2g2 days were pretty stagnant other than my participation in Salon related conversation and activities. I've traveled from the East Coast of the US all the way to the West Coast just to visit MR and Courtesy. I flew on a turboprop pigeon to Joplin to drive with Hypatia to Lincoln NM for a meetup with our gracious hostess. I've flown from SLC to Montana to see FG and MR (and to miss my boys winning the Stanley Cup, but that is a different story all together). Soeasilyamused drove from LA to SLC in the fall to go to Denver to a meetup with Gw7en, myself, and a few other souls only to see snow for the first time in her life. I've found new books, new music, new ideas all in my discussions here. I've made friends that are dear to me, even if I don't often participate in the discussions these days. I've changed in ways I can't really quantify. I do believe I am a better person for it.

In our time here we have been witness to marriage, divorce, births, deaths, graduations, retirements. We have seen each of us grow in some way as we venture forth in our world of text boxes and imagination. We were there when SEA was in high school and stayed with her through her college graduation. We saw Dr Zen through his education to become a healer. We've been beside Kelli as she married and spawned. It's our lives that unfold on these pages. My friends here (and a couple of other places) were central to me retaining sanity through the loss of my father. You've all been with me through my roller-coaster of a career. I hope you will all remain with me for whatever else is coming up in my life.

The world that we have created is at once intimate and well defined as well as open ended and ever-changing. While we bend the rules of physics, and those of continuity, we strive to remember the universe that is the Atelier. We explore (christmas tree hunting anyone?) we role play (Who can forget the Mary Celeste?) we sit quietly and discuss the day.

There has been so much to happen in the world. Governments change, wars, terror attacks, natural disasters, so very much sadness. But we can come and circle our wagons and remind each other that we are still here. We are still friends. We have great love and respect for each other. And just maybe, we can help others around us in RL to see that borders are just a line on a map and that we are all people. We can lead by example. People find it strange that I have intimate details of the lives of people in the UK, in Sweden, in Canada or wherever else a Salonista may hail from. I try to explain, but I seem to fail to push the point across. The only way that you can know someone is to talk to them. To experience them. I feel that is what we do incredibly well here.

I wish to propose a couple of toasts. First, to Lil. Our gracious hostess. Our bastion of continuity. Our friend. May your presence here continue to enrich us all. Cheers!

Secondly, to the rest of you. I've grown more as a person than ever I could in my provincial viewpoint of the world by our discussions. I owe that to each of you. Thank you for letting me see your lives, and I hope to continue to gain insight by your company. To you all I say Cheers, Slainte, Probst, Na zdorovje, Skål and Get Hard (just for Loony, though long gone).

*appears wearing a floaty dress in a velvety blue the color of the sky Venus decorates 30 minutes after sunset, in sandals of starry crystal, and carrying a comet's slender tail as a cane*

Oh, everyone is so gorgeous! I'm feeling quite sparkly this evening. Barbot, might I please have a chilled Lemoncello?

Lil, this is fabulous, and a tribute to your care of this corner of the Guide for the last 10 years. I hope the Atelier shines for many more!

*feeling very warmed and a bit misty after Marv's eloquent toast and reminiscence*

Hear, hear!

Awesomely said Marv.

*Raises his glass*

To all of us and uspecially to those of us who are no longer with us.

Great piece of writing Marv!

Barbot, another G&T with added cranberries please

A toast to present and absent friends

*raises glass to toast friends*

Oh! It's miraculously refilled itself! How very clever. Lil, you really have created a marvelous space here.

*emerges from under a leaf where she had been listening to Marv*

I may have only been here a short time, but I hear you, Marv. That was eloquent and heart-touching.

*the fairy waits until nobody is watching, then quickly shivers until her skin and wings are aglow with fairy dust - not too bright but just enough so that people don't miss her and sit on her by mistake*

Now, where's my drinking thimble...

Well said Marv! I wouldn't dare attempt to add to that, so I'll just hoist my 2nd Talisker and toast you all for being who you are.

Swoops in holding down the hem of his Manx tartan kilt with best sporran and Charlie jacket.

Apologies for being late, a large glass of Chablis please.

Hear Hear Marv
A very good speech Sir.

One decade back, I had hardly started getting to know the Salonisstas.

It was also the first time I attended a meet-up in London. The only researcher I knew the looks of was Galaxy Babe, who kindly guided me through the whole experience.

I appreciate you all sharing the details about your every day life as well as the details during specific events, such as the US elections or the more recent UK ones.

And I'm a backlogoholic - if I'v been away I *have* to read what you all did or what happened to you.

Because I care about you.

Thanks for that speech Marv

*kelli is wearing pink but it is hard to tell exactly what the dress looks like as it changes every few minutes from a pretty, floaty, chiffon, knee-length girly-pink summer frock with pretty wedge sandals to a floor-length dress in hot-pink silk, simmilar in shape to my wedding dress (mermaid skirt, pulled in waist, corset top, sweetheart neckline) and delicate-looking silk shoes with sparly bits and 3 inch heels*

Will there be dancing? Not sure I can eat in the corset, so will have to have some nibbles when in summer dress phase.

Everyone looks gorgeous, such handsome men and beautiful women (and elves)! Not sure of the appropriate term for the feathered and furry members of the salon but 'fine' should cover it.

It is wonderful to spend time in such good company, thank you Lil, for keeping this place in such good order.

*saunters in, wearing a purple bow tie*

*sniffs in the air, keeping a wary eye on Titania, who will most probably prevent him from eating any carbs*

*walks towards Ripley*

*spots a bowl of food*

*eats*

Sorry people, I couldn't find a thing to wear, I was going to try the Spiderman tshirt but Tifa seems to have eaten most it.