Date: Fri, 14 Feb 1997 15:45:12 -0500 From: Catherine Berchtold Subject: Re: INT: F: HHR: Contest Winners Announced! At 02:51 PM 2/14/97 -0500, BARBARA HARRIS wrote: I am SO excited, I can hardly stand it!! I'm baking cookies today and ran upstairs - just for a minute - to check my mail. Well, I burnt 14 ch. chip cookies and the house stinks. And I don't care. To be a part of a contest with writers that I respect and admire, and to be one of the winners...... is amazing! ;) Of course, no one outside the world of WRITERS will understand that. Thank you so much, Barbara, for holding the contest again, and thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. Cathy, >-- [ From: Barbara Harris * EMC.Ver #2.5.1 ] -- > > Barbara pulled herself from BT's side as her patted her shoulder gently >, and looked nervously around the now-crowded Hall, clearing her throat. > Hagatha and Bunny were supposed to help make the announcements, but >were nowhere in sight. She decided to just go ahead up to the podium >and start. As she stepped onto the platform, the band stopped playing >their music, the drummer beat a drumroll, and the dancers stopped and >turned their attention to her. A hush fell over the room. That made >her so nervous that she dropped her list of winners, but it didn't >matter. She was sure she had them all memorized anyway! > She looked around the room and cleared her throat again, and suddenly >realized her memory had gone totally blank. The microphone screeched as >she took it in her hand, and she took a deep breath and smiled. >Fortunately, she saw a lovely brown-eyed brunette crossing the room. >The woman had a colorful bird on one shoulder, and Jacob's Dragon, Jewel >, was flitting about her other shoulder curiously. The woman's dress >had intricate cross-stitched embroidery across the bodice and edging the >sleeves. Barbara also knew she had moved her Pegasus into the stables >with the Haven's Unicorn, and hoped someday her alter-egos Rufia and >Grindstone would stay at the Haven long enough to weave them all a tale. > > Smiling at Michelle, for that's who the visitor to the Ball was, >Barbara said, "Hi everyone! Well, the first thing I want to say is that >I could *not* have managed this contest this year, given my shoulder >injuries, without the very, very appreciated help of my Able Assistant, >Michelle Hakala, aka Winebird! She stepped forward and volunteered her >time and energy, and has been an absolute treasure, picking up the slack >when and where ever I needed it, often without being asked to do things. >.. just jumping in and assuring what was needed got done. I couldn't >have asked for anyone better, and I hope you'll all show her your >appreciation... she did a fine, fine job! And one of the nice side- >benefits for me has been getting to know this lovely person a little bit >better during the course of the contest!" > Applause rocked the room, and Barbara paused briefly and took the >moment to pick up the list of winners. She was beginning to think she >should have taken that public speaking course that she never thought >she'd need. > She cleared her throat again, and said, "Okay, first the Essay category >! There were only two entries in this new category, and I'm very >appreciative to both for trying something new. The Essays entered are: > >'For Women Only' by Pat Fish, and >'Can Valentine's Day Be More Than An Obligatory Romance Day' by Maria >Murphy. > > And, this year's WINNER in the ESSAY competition is:" she paused for a >drumroll... "MARIA MURPHY!" > > Barbara again paused and took the opportunity to take a sip of water as >applause filled the room. She looked up just in time to see Bunny come >in the front door with Alcmaeon, and motioned her to hurry up to the >podium. Alc hopped along behind Bunny, and took a front row position. >Being only two-foot tall had it's disadvantages in a crowd. > Barbara handed the sheet of winners and the microphone to Bunny, who >with great ease smiled at the crowd, and said, "One-Act Plays also had >only two contestants this year. This category has always struck me as >one of the most difficult to pull off; I wouldn't even feel capable of >trying it yet! So I greatly admire anyone who does! The entries are: > >'Till Death Do You Part" by Carolyn Farkas and >'The Lake Trip' by Dr. Alcmaeon Frog. > > Bunny smiled down at the now-impatient Alc bouncing in front of her and >said, "and the WINNER of this year's ONE-ACT PLAY competition is DR. >ALCMAEON FROG!!!" > > Applause again rocked the room, and Barbara spotted Hagatha whispering >in a corner with the Secret Elephant. She impatiently motioned her to >hurry up, and Hagatha left SE's side and came to the podium. On her way >, she thought she spotted some Octopus-like creatures and that Odd >Lupine Creature sparkling into the transporter area, and Hagatha was >glad to see they'd finally made it to the Ball. In another part of the >room, two peculiar fellows seemed to be trying to tear Snow White in >half. Beauty was snuggled back in Beast's arms looking decidedly >content with the whole situation. TJ was there with his wife, seeming >far more mellow than he used to be. The List Curmudgeon and the List >Mommy were lurking quietly at the back of the room. The whole room was >filled with an interesting bunch of people and creatures, and that >always made Hagatha smile. She was one who loved a good story. > "Hi guys!" Hagatha positively sparkled. She didn't seem to have a shy >bone in her body, and Barbara watched her wistfully. "I'm going to >announce the Short Story category, always one of the favorite categories >to enter! The entries are: > >'Tribute' by Paula D. Smith >'Belinda' by Michael J. Hultquist >'Always, Forever' by Robyn Meta Herrington >'Mary's Love' by Coyote >'From the Heart' by Barbara Vaughan >'Cupid and the Cardinal' by Pat Fish >'Why' by Youngblood Brasket >'The Final Gift' by Catherine Berchtold >'Roses and Weeds' by John Anderson >'Levee Break' by Michelle Hakala >'Snowflakes' by Maria Murphy >'The Princess Finds A Stone' by Xprincess >'The Corsage' by Christopher Vaughan >'Heart's Desire' by Dee Churchill >'Tranquillity Tower' by Raini Madden (with Christopher Vaughan), and >'Immaculate Sex' by John Brinkman " > > Hagatha paused a moment for dramatic effect. "The FIFTH place winner >in Short Stories is: 'Tranquillity Tower' by RAINI MADDEN (with >Christopher Vaughan)!" > > "FOURTH place goes to: 'Always, Forever' by ROBYN META HERRINGTON!" > > "THIRD place is awarded to: 'Cupid and the Cardinal' by PAT FISH!" > > "SECOND place goes to: 'The Final Gift' by CATHERINE BERCHTOLD!!!" > > Hagatha paused for the drumroll and smiled radiantly. The hush in the >room intensified. "And the FIRST PLACE WINNER in this year's SHORT >STORY competition is: DEE CHURCHILL with her wonderful story, "Heart's >Desire!!!" > > Applause again filled the room, and Barbara took her place at the >podium, though she wished mightily that Hagatha would just finish the >announcements, since she was so much more at ease. "Okay, now the >Poetry competition... boy was this one a tough call for everyone this >year! So many entries and so much fine work! The entries in the Poetry >competition are: > >'The Boy Who Cried for Roses' by Kennedy Dane >'The Orange Juice Poem' by Pam >'Loves Lost' by Cami Jo Keller >'A Valentine Ball' by Pat Fish >'Buffer' by John Brinkmann >'Soul Mates' by Teena Shields >'Star Struck' by Roz Shoshonna >'Still' by Carol Hair >'Surrender' by Melissa Anne Morse >'Evensong' by C.K. Tower >'Michael' by Jeffrey A. Watts (Jarakis) >'Forever' by Steve Cripwell >'Banyan Tree' by Ashok Gupta >'Today' by Youngblood Braskett >'Mastectomy Whimsy' by Sue Hunter >'Knowing' by Audrey Friedman >'Love In The Lights' by Christopher Stolle >'Renascence' by Donna M. Buschmeier >'The Woman' by Pat Maloney >'Hearty Limerick' by Barbara Vaughan >'Song of Cybercupid' by Carolyn Farkas >'The Rose' by Diane (Jade Cow) >'For Peter' by Anitra Freeman >'Nightwind Confession' by Tori Wilfred >'Two Lovers' by Micheal J. Hultquist >'Dog Love' by Sharon Moskowitz >'Complete' by John Anderson, and >'Comfort' by B. T. Murtagh " > > Barbara paused after that long list and took a big gulp of water. "Boy >, there were a lot of entries," she repeated nervously. "And this race >was really close, so much so that there are a few runners-up whom I >think deserve mentioning. > "Anitra Freeman actually tied for fifth place if we went strictly by >point count, but she was one first-place vote less than the person who >won. Very close behind her in point count were Sharon Moskowitz and B.T >. Murtagh. They all deserve credit for such fine work even though they >didn't quite place! They all came so close that another vote or two >could have entirely changed the balance." > > She took a deep breath. "And the FIFTH place winner in this years >Poetry competition is AUDREY FRIEDMAN for her poem 'Knowing.' > > "FOURTH place goes to PAT MALONEY for his poem 'The Woman!' > > "THIRD place goes to C.K. TOWER for 'Evensong.' > > "SECOND place goes to TORI WILFRED for 'Nightwind Confession." > > She paused again while the drumroll shook the room. "And, this year's >FIRST PLACE WINNER in the POETRY Competition is: CAROLYN FARKAS for her >poem 'Song of Cybercupid!!!" > > She paused and took a deep breath, knowing that in a flash, the word of >the contest winners would be out all over BarkerVille, even to those who >hadn't been able to make it to the Ball. What a wondrous age they lived >in! Communications could take place almost instantly at very long >distances. Applause rocked the room, and she motioned Bunny and Hagatha >back to her side. > "We want to thank all of you... entrants and voters... without you >there couldn't be a contest. I also want to sincerely thank Tink/ Mike >Barker for so kindly keeping all of this contest hoopla updated on his >web page! It's so much easier when the entries can be accessed so >easily by the voters. > "Congratulations to all the winners! I'll be contacting the first >place winners about their prizes tomorrow, and I'm also going to make a >gift for Michelle, to show my appreciation for all she's done to help >out. I hope everyone doing this had fun!" > The Three Faces of Barbara bowed and left the stage open for acceptance >speeches and congratulations.... > >(I'll post a short-form list of winners to ALL in a little while... just >to be sure everyone who wants to know gets to see it! And truly... >thanks to everyone who participated! Later, I'm gonna see if I can't >get Granny Roz Frog back on her rocker... and the rest of you should >party, Party, PARTY!!!) > Love & Light, Barbara > > > > > > > > >-- >@>-->-->------ Love & >------<--<--<@ Light, Barbara, wishing Spring would get sprung! > >@)--,--'-- @>-->-->-- @}~~~~~ @)--,--'-- @>-->-->-- @}~~~~~ @)--,--'-- >Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical >ratio. Subsistence only increases in an arithemetical >ratio. > -Thomas Robert Malthus (1798!) >(He said that without seeing "The Trouble with Tribbles"!) >--'--,--(@ --<--<--<@ ~~~~~{@ --'--,--(@ --<--<--<@ ~~~~~{@ --'--,--(@ > >Barbara Harris ~ TCZJ32B@Prodigy.com >"The A-Bomb enables no man." -Bigfoot >Heh, and I thought the *Adam* bomb caused the population >explosion! -Hagatha, wielding Eternal PUN-ishment. >