The Tale of Chimney Bird

The tale begins on the morning I was preparing to embark on a treacherous journey to the mall for free comic book day (not a fan of interstate driving), when I heard an odd scraping sound in our basement/family den type room. I actually remembered hearing the same sound the night before, and assumed it was one of our cats getting behind something.

So after my day's exploits (comics, TARDIS, Storm Troopers, shopping, Toys R Us, very large Icee, you can view pictures here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1808184639100.2096461.1074473835&l=f087c73ab8 ) I returned home to find one of my indoor cats who is very afraid of coming downstairs (because that is typically the dogs' domain) at our fireplace sniffing around. It was then that I heard the scraping again.

I assumed it was a bird or a squirrel that had made its way in the chimney. I first called all the outdoor cats to make sure they were accounted for (and not stuck in there). But not really knowing what I should do - or if I should do anything at all - I left it alone hoping that if it got in there it could get out again.

But the next day I came down to hear it again, so obviously whatever it was could not climb/fly back out again, and it was surely at the bottom near the actual stone opening. I finally took a flashlight and looked up the dirty, sooty chute and saw that it was blocked - the vent thingy was closed! So the poor little thing was trapped in there without food or water for who knows how long before I noticed.

So I opened the vent, and sure enough it was a bird. A very pretty black bird whose feathers had a slight iridescence. He hopped out of the fireplace and was understandably very frightened, I had to use a broom to gently coax him to the open door (but he had to fly all over the place first, and all the cats decided to come in while the door was open). When finally he got the hint that 'hey, this thing waving a broom at me is trying to tell me to go this way' he found the door and flew off to I assume stuff his beak with bugs and chug as much water as he could fit into his tiny body.

I'm very glad that this had a happy ending, he could have been injured or we could've ignored his scratchings until it stopped for good, but now there's a bird that gets to fly again for another while, forever known to me now as 'Chimney Bird'.

Maybe he could be friends with Skippy, the squirrel I once saved from our Great Dane. I truly am a friend to the woodland creatures (except when they scare my cats away from their food. I'm talking to you, raccoon brothers! How are you even reading my blog anyway?)


Also, Happy Mother's Day, here is a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRK99Oy1VY





ALOFC





-Celia

Fantasy Casting of Original Characters: Cause It's fun

I said over on my twitter that I would discuss my whole 'fantasy casting' thingy (and I know you all have just been waiting on tenderhooks for me to post about it *wink* ;)

Basically what I was tweeting about was that I have made up a list of actors and actresses that I would most like to have play my characters if an actual movie/show/radioplay were made about them. This is my 'fantasy cast' in no way to I think that my stuff will actually get made into movies, and that the people I cast will care in any way (Simon Helberg I'm a lookin' at you :P) but I did it anyway, it's for fun.

One of the characters I have had the hardest time casting for is Leo Berkowitz, my version of Timon's father. I really wanted someone who sounded young (for young adult Leo, anyway) but who could also believably fit vocally into this family. We already have

Nathan Lane

(Timon) Julie Kavner (Timon's Ma, whom I call Kavie), and Uncle Max (Jerry Stiller). All three are sort of loud, a bit gravelly, and  - this is not a criticism - sound vaguely Jewish. This is a good thing, since the meerkats in LK1 1/2 use Yiddish phrases and really give off a 'Tradition!' vibe at least at the beginning. Plus I based some of the cultural things I use in SSF off of Jewish ceremonies.

So using all that criteria, and adding that I had cast Don Rickles as Mel (Leo's and Max' father) when my first choice Peter Boyle passed away...who would make a good Leo?

I'd also want him to sound comedic (his son and brother are comedic characters) but also heroic since he is our mainest of the main characters in SSF.

I had to really give it some thought, for a while it looked like maybe James Marsden, but he sounded a bit too heroic, then Ben Stiller since his dad was already Max. But I might possibly want him to play young adult Max if he could do a good enough impression of Jerry.

As of right now I have decided on Simon Helberg (Big Bang Theory, Dr. Horrible), and I am actually quite happy with that decision.

I did do a meme over on dA with a few of my choices http://katrinamyla.deviantart.com/gallery/611173#/d2xd5iy

and here's a more full list:

SSF characters

Leo Berkowitz - Simon Helberg
Kavie Akono Berkowitz - Julie Kavner
Max Berkowitz - Jerry Stiller/Ben Stiller
Mel Berkowitz - Don Rickles
Ann Berkowitz - TBD
Ruth Zaro - Angela Lansbury (but still debating)
Clea Zaro-Akono - Laurie Metcalf
Chio - Suan Egan
Scruffy - Maurice LaMarche
Joe - Jason Rudofsky
Lee Zaro - Hank Azaria
Molly (formally Zaro) - Molly Shannon
Laita Suricata - Lacey Chabert
Swifty - Amy Poehler/Kristen Chenoweth

TitEoaD characters:
Li Ching Lan - Jennie Kwan/Michaela Conlin
Li Deshung - TBD
Li Yun - Michelle Yeoh
Kuo - TBD
Cousin Ping - TBD
Cousin Miki - TBD but leaning towards Lauren Tom
Cousin Shu - TBD\
Ping - TBD
(all original characters same cast)

Other Original Characters:
Myla Suricata-Berkowitz - Tina Fey
Kima ( of Myla Alone) - For now Jessie Flower
PB - For now Seth Rogan
Angry Sammy - Frank Welker (Nibbler voice!)
Lana Anderson (Of The Otherwise Normal lana) -  Jeanette McCurdy
Lillian LeStaus (of future Up fic) - Susan Sarandon



And I know not many of you out there care, but that's ok. It's still fun! ^^ You should try it sometime.

I have even picked two actresses for a friend of mine (Narfy on FF.net)'s character Conga. I'm thinking Freema Agyeman or Lenora Crichlow. English to match Zazu (she's his daughter afterall) but sassy and can take charge and no guff.

But yeah, that's all; that rambling sorted. Hope you enjoyed it.

I did get some writing on TitEoaD done last night, let's hope for more of that, and I should be finishing up recording for a new ODS fandub tonight. So all in all, yay!




ALOFC





-Celia






Also I recently have had a new character fall victim to the tragedy of first-choice passing, one I've been developing for a future Up fic named Lillian LeStauss (I was going back and forth between Elisabeth Sladen and Susan Sarandon).