It’s that time again! And I kinda almost forgot because, well, I’m just really distracted these days. But a gentle nudge came in my email yesterday from the adorable sarahk:
Please please please tell me you’re doing Best Thing Ever with Wimbledon this year. I already have Anthony Head all picked out.
(Sarahk is currently obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I totally understand. I came to that show very late, but there is one episode that is BY FAR the scariest, creepiest thing I’ve ever seen on TV.)
Anyhoo.
There WILL be a giveaway but I’m still deciding what it will be. Still mulling. It may include coffee; it may include tea; it may include some small mixed-media piece I’ve done; it may include some Caramel Almond Freakout Popcorn. These are all possibilities. It may be a combo of things. Not sure yet. But one thing I know the game will now forever include is this:
The Official Best Thing Ever CUP:
This is the 2008 Best Thing Ever England Edition. (Out-of-focus shot courtesy of my cruppy cell phone. Stay tuned for another out-of-focus shot from a different angle. In person, it looks — well, I hesitate to use the word “better” — uhm, like a weird shiny coffee cup make by a total weirdo who needs to get a life.) And yes. It is a coffee cup. And yes. It is collaged or altered or whatever you wanna call it. I made several of these in the last dying days of Boheme when I’d lost my will to live but not my will to create. Even if only with coffee cups and scraps of paper and food coloring and glue. So this … well, it’s really a timepiece, you know? Of an era. Soon-to-be vintage. Basically, I have enough paper coffee cups of various sizes left over from Boheme to last for this project until … you know, Iran goes nuclear and KA-BLOOWEY or something. Each new game winner will receive a new cup. Each is an original work du great art. Not suitable for holding beverages. Official Best Thing Ever Cups for prominent display purposes only, of course.
All right. Down to the game. If you’re not familiar with the rules, go here.
Okay. Last year, honestly, I nearly ran myself ragged with 16 players — what with finding photos and posting match results and trying to keep on top of results with the time difference and so on. It was all a little dizzying. Huge fun, don’t get me wrong, but just dizzying.
So. This year, I’m going with 8 players only. We’ll try that. Basically, these will be the quarterfinal matchups. I’m going with the ladies’ side of the draw. The men’s seems a bit too predictable — although I could be wrong this year. Roger Federer keeps winning over and over, but this just may be sexy Spaniard Rafael Nadal’s tournament. (Fingers crossed.)
The THEME this year is different. I want to mix it up:
The Best Thing Ever England: English Literary Characters.
(Sorry, sarahk! But I’m saving a slot for you regardless, okay?)
I have 8 slots only. If you want to play, leave your name and your English Literary Character in the comments. Duplicate picks will be decided based on a first-come basis. If a comment goes into moderation for whatever reason, the same rule will apply.
All right. For the Queen! For the Cup!
The Best Thing Ever: English Literary Characters.
Ready? GO!
Dibs on Artful Dodger!!
JAAAAANNNNEEEE!!!!!
I LOVE these choices and I am not surprised by either of them. 😉
Also if anyone has a preference on the image used for their charc., please send the image to me in an email. Otherwise, as game mistress, I will choose.
Lisa — There are so many Jane Eyre images out there from movies, etc., but I don’t want to use one you hate. The actress from the latest BBC version (which I liked a lot, actually) looked pretty good for Jane, but what’s your preference?
Lisa – hahahahahahaha
I could hear that scream across the space-time continuum!!
sheila — There’s a Jack Wild image that’s good. Any preference?
I totally understand if people prefer illustrations or something. Draw your own if you want, pippa, just send it to me pronto!
Yes!! jack Wild! My long-lost love!
Hahahaha. Okay! I’ve already uploaded! Yay!
Tracey, I think it’s so funny that you asked if you should put me down for Harry Potter. Because my English literary character candidate pool really does go no farther than the Potterverse, and you know that. Ok, but not Harry. Severus Snape is a much better character.
And yes, go ahead and use Alan Rickman. I know Severus is supposed to be all skinny and greasy and whatnot, but who cares, I want the Rickman version.
P.S. If someone takes this one before me, give me Remus Lupin.
Oh! Tracey. Are you talking about “Hush”? That’s the creepiest we’ve seen so far. The Gentlemen are straight out of nightmares.
And you have no idea the extent of my obsession yet. Just you wait. It’s going to make ALIAS look like a little weekend fling that I forgot about as soon as it ended.
Haha, as if I would know what a weekend fling looks like. But you get what I’m saying, pip.
sarahk — Severus it is! I agree; he’s a better character than Harry.
And yes, it’s “Hush.” Oh, sweet mammy, I can’t let myself even think about it.
I love David Copperfield.
Yay Severus! Slytherin for the Cup!
The Gentlemen are by far the creepiest monsters of all time ever.
P.S. Thanks for doing this. I love your blog games!
Leslie — Great choice. Okay! Got you down for that!
Zaphod Beeblebrox.
“If there’s anything on this ship more important than my ego, I want it caught and shot.”
Oh, yay, it’s the BTEBG! The Pardoner from The Canterbury Tales, if I’m in time. Not sure about an image, but he was described as having “the little voice a goat has got,” so, um, a goat as the last resort maybe?
Mercutio, from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. 🙂
Jeez, what was I thinking? There are tons of images of the Pardoner on Google.
Cullen — Eh?? Please enlighten.
Kate P – I love your choice! Ha!!
Zaphod Beeblebrox, from the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Sheila, thank you! I wanted to go a little “old skool” and I’m pretty sure that the first real analysis paper I wrote was on the Pardoner. I think I’m gonna be 95 years old and not remember where I keep my shoes, but I’ll remember most of the papers I wrote.
Wow, I’m just in time, I think. I may lose my chance coming up with a good character!
OK – Faramir. But the good one from the books, not the emasculated little mope from the movie, if it’s possible. Kthxbai!
(You can just take a headshot of Mr. Darcy and paste it onto somebody with a sword – that’ll work. If I’m going to dream I may as well dream BIG.) =D
Are there still spots available? Am I too late?
I admit that I am not very well-versed in English Literature. I am hoping to read more of the classics this year. So, my decision is based upon current reading.
And, since Sarah K already stole Snape (who is the best character in Harry Potter and Alan Rickman makes that even more so), I’d like to throw my hat (or tennis ball) in with Gilderoy Lockhart. Kenneth Branagh plays his part so well.
NF — I’ll do my best. Sure you don’t want Boromir? Sean Bean’s nice to look at. I mean, you know, for ME.
Kathi — Oh, so sorry! “Missed it by THAAT much!”
Gilderoy Lockhart is a scream!
Charlotte Gainsborough played Jane in the only version I’ve ever seen of Jane Eyre but use whomever you see fit.
I’m a wee bit tardy. So I will just give a nudge to Cullen… Bravo Chap, Bravo.
Kathi, I wish Rowling didn’t have a ban on anyone not from Great Britain being in the movies, because the best choice for Lockhart would have been Owen Wilson.
Bummer I’m too late! Brian and I will have some tea in honor of this game.
SarahK – I never thought of Owen Wilson – he would have been a riot to play Lockhart! Next to Branagh, Emma Thompson plays a fun, quirky Trelawney.
It had to be a Rowling thing, banning non-Brits. Eh, OK I guess, but Wilson would have been terrific! And though I like David Thewlis, I don’t think he’s quite right for Lupin. Hard to see who else could have done it, though.
I can’t believe I’ve missed out on this again!!! That’s what I get for going on vacay with the in-laws…I’ll just have to sit on the sidelines and cheer again this year…