Pagan Films and Book Writing

Hi, it’s Greenygrey. I’ve returned to the U.K. today, but zipped ahead of myself last night for a run in the sun, after seeing on the weather forecast that I’d be dominating the landscape today and most of the weekend. Today we’ve got another Werewolf of Oz episode, after talking pagan films, writing chapter fillers and The Code numerical twists.

Pagan-Monotheism Realistic Greenygrey Movie 

International Poster “Vahalla Rising” Mads Mikkelsen Jamie Sives (Photo credit: sweetonsigmafilms)

Talking of greenygrey dominating the landscape, our film correspondent, Quentin Tarwolftino alerted us to greenygrey dominating the landscape in Valhalla Rising, which is available to watch on BBC iplayer (only in the U.K. unfortunately) until Sunday.

The film provides a realistic portrayal of the clash between paganism and monotheism a millenium ago; we like to think that the dominant greenygrey with a little yellowyblue landscape was instrumental in creating its realism.

While we relate to its historic warrior paganism, we don’t want a return to those times of conflict and war, and think that a more feminine new-age-paganism is the best way ahead for Britain and the world: humanity, environment and wildlife.

Apologies to Marc Latham 

First of all today I’d like to apologise to Marc Latham about criticising his leaving place names out of the notes when he was editing Grey’s great fantasy travel quest. While I was checking the Smashwords copy I noticed Marc did write in the book preface that place names were mostly real, and those that weren’t real would be explained.

Having said that, I think that for this serialisation of the book it’s better that connections are explained more clearly. For example in this episode, that the Railway Hotel is a real place in Castlemaine, and that’s the connection-inspiration for the Railroad Song being played.

While you may think book writing and publishing is easy work; and it is more pleasurable than most jobs in my experience; there’s a lot of thought and time needed to get it as correct as possible. This ‘quick blog’ was meant to have a paragraph or two introduction, but now has ten or twelve; and it and all its extras will take about two hours!

Narcissus (Photo credit: pogobee)

While we write with care and love for our work, you may decode it as soft sell egotistical ramblings; and maybe there’s truth in both… in line with Greenygrey theory…

Werewolf of Oz Catches Its Breath… Good for You Too 

After the run, the above introduction, and what I consider a Magnificent Seven classic comedy satire fantasy travel quest episodes of Werewolf of Oz: Fantasy Travel by Google Maps; which is now not only available on Amazon for paperbacks and the Kindle Ereader but on Smashwords for other Ereaders; I’m quite relieved that today’s episode is a bit of a filler lull… but this blog could now be considered a classic!?

Before you think the Werewolf of Oz is bad value for money because it has filler chapters, this is a common technique in book writing. It allows character development, the back story to be told, and the readers to catch their breath. I just googled it, and this was the best ‘Writing “Filler” Chapters‘ result I found on the first page.

Railroad songs (Photo credit: tannersjackson)

However, although it’s not a classic chapter/episode, hopefully you’ll find it quite enjoyable. And I think you will if you’re a Lynyrd Skynyrd rock band, Castlemaine beer or town, The Code documentary or Greenygrey Combination Colour fan… it also hopefully provides a little comedy.

My favourite little twist was the way Angry wanting two beers meant the beer order was 6-4-5 in a chapter/episode built around The Code documentary. The programme was about how some mathematical equations seem to dominate nature.

79.  RAILROAD SONG IN THE RAILWAY HOTEL, CASTLEMAINE BEER IN CASTLEMAINE

After the meal and passer-by had left us dazed and confused, we decided a drink or three was needed. So we headed up to Castlemaine and chose the Railway Hotel because it reminded us of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Railroad Song. We ordered six 4Xs for the five of us, because Angry wanted two.

The Code

Space-filling model of the chlorophyll a molecule, the most common form of chlorophyll, the green pigment that all plants use for photosynthesis, and one of the most important chemicals in nature. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was a quiet afternoon, and our finking was frankly frazzled, so we lounged around watching a documentary called The Code.

It argued that there were numbers naturally embedded in nature, and that some numbers seem especially common and important.

I wondered if green and grey would be a top colour combination in a similar study on colours. I didn’t say anything to the others because I thought it might sound supercilious; be treated as super silly, and not be taken super seriously.

We didn’t overdo the beer this time, and all left the bar compos mentis.

—————————————————————————————————-

Notes 

There is a Railway Hotel in the centre of Castlemaine, Victoria.
Railroad Song is a classic Lynyrd Skynyrd hobo travel song.
Dazed and Confused is a Led Zeppelin song.
The Code was a real documentary.
finking – thinking.
4x is a Castlemaine brewery beer.
–————————————————————————————————–

Comedy-Fantasy Thrilling Battle Below the Sea

Hi, it’s Greenygrey. Although Greenygrey literature classicists might choose other episodes of Werewolf of Oz: Fantasy Travel by Google Maps as the finest piece of poetry and prose in Grey’s epic comedy-fantasy travel quest, today’s episode is my favourite.

The Time Crocodile (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although I wasn’t the current me at the time of course, and that might give you a clue as to why it’s my favourite. I don’t want to spoil the thrilling episode for you, so on with the show:

67.  BATTLE BELOW BASS STRAIT STRETCHES CREDULITY 

Deeper and deeper we did descends,
down to the lair of the sharpest biting bends.

But the crocodile lost its glinting glare,
as a ghostly apparition increased the scare.

My fear turned to joy as it became clear,
the newcomer was nothing to beware.

Siamese crocodile. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was MiMo Moby swimming our way,
hopefully just in time to save the day.

The crocodile at once lost interest in us,
as its nemesis joined the rumpus.

Then Elle shot out from below deck,
and grabbed the crocodile’s slippery neck.

They grappled amidst the ocean ripples,
like drunken sailors after too many tipples.

And then I couldn’t believe my eyes,
as a green kingfisher showed enterprise.

It flapped its wings under the crocodile’s thighs,
making it change into a form we could recognise.

The two monotheists were together as if in sleep,
as the mild dragged the monotonous farther deep.

Female Green Kingfisher. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We managed to control the ship’s direction,
navigating north to the sun’s reflection.

Back on the surface I did jump with joy,
as the kingfisher shapeshifted into the real McCoy.

It was my other half Green; reunited at last,
we hugged so hard to the top of the mast.

Australian Weekend Begins with Werewolf of Oz: Beginning of the End

Hi, it’s Greenygrey, our summer-September photos reminded us of Grey’s epic comedy-fantasy travel-quest epic saga Werewolf of Oz: Fantasy Travel by Google Maps, so we thought we’d end the week with another thrilling episode of your favourite werewolf travels Australia by Google maps to a Wizard of Oz theme story.

Woman dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And it is an important episode, because with Bonzo now travelling alongside it, Grey Werewolf meets its nemesis for the rest of the story: the Monotonous Monotheist. The MMs take the places of the witches in the Wizard of Oz.

Thousands of women and men have been executed/murdered for the power, greed and politics at the historic heart of organised religion, so who’s the baddie? Monotheistic religions did help end pagan life-sacrifices, so they have done some good, although it could be argued that the execution of innocents by monotheistic religions on trumped up charges, and the slaughter of animals without a ‘humane’ system are a kind of sacrifice, to make the persecutors/executors feel closer to their God.

All aboard, then here we go…

19.  ORLOVS OF OZ suffer MONOTHEISTIC MADNESS

The storm seemed to be catching up with us, so I shapeshifted into a flying elephant, which is one of the hardest single-species shapeshifts to accomplish. Looking back on it, I was probably showing off in front of Bonzo; or below him to be more exact. My new friend hung on to my ears for dear life as we flew high over the Kalbarri National Park, which looked so beautiful I somewhat regretted not being on the ground.

Washington DC – National Museum of American History: Dumbo car (Photo credit: wallyg)

A couple of hours later I caught sight of Meekatharra for the first time, but couldn’t see any meerkats; I was sure Barry said there was a big community. All I could see was a single human, who seemed to be ranting.

I started to descend slowly, but the storm caught up with us just afterwards. I was spun out of control and we were soon falling like a rock and pebble; until I landed trunk-up on the human. Bonzo was sent sprawling, but was back on his feet before me. I shapeshifted out of elephant first.

The Meerkats Emerge from Hiding

I felt awful to have landed on the human, and Bonzo was distraught. I felt better when masses of meerkats emerged from hiding and seemed to start celebrating with a song that went something like: ‘ding-dong, the monotheist has been put to bed, the monotonous monotheist has been put to bed…’

I was still shocked though, and asked the meerkats what they were so happy about. A couple introduced themselves as Bruce and Sheila Orlov, before telling me their story.

Robin Smith finds himself surrounded by foraging meerkats while filming them (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Meerkat-Monotheistic History

They said most of their family had settled in Meerkovo after emigrating from Africa, but they had continued to Oz; building an idyllic meerkat community amongst the wonderful nature in this area. Then a monotonous monotheist (MoMo) arrived, introducing itself as enaB. The MoMo persuaded them to cut all the trees down to build a big new temple, promising them that it would safeguard their future.

There were no problems during the next decade, and they thought they’d done the right thing, but then the rains came. With all the trees chopped down there was nothing to stop flooding in the area. This also polluted the river, so they were left without food and water, and needed to call on their reserves to save the community.

That was when they found out the MoMo had traded all their riches, and left the area while they tried to survive the disaster. It had used its money to grow ever more powerful, and they had been hiding from it ever since. So they felt liberated from a great evil.

I said I knew how they felt after my recent experiences in the Greenygrey world.

—————————————————————————————————-

Notes

Grey’s elephant flight with Bonzo is reminiscent of Disney’s Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse.
Wizard of Oz, Wicked Witch of the West (classic film and character).
Orlovs (Compare the Market [Meerkat] advert characters live in Meerkovo).

—————————————————————————————————-

Body, Mind and Spirit raised by Mildly Monotheistic Moby

Hi, it’s Grey. My 140th of 142 Werewolf of Oz blogs has just arrived in the Greenygrey world, so I thought I’d post it here straight away, as it’s quite big, it’s getting so exciting and there’s not much left to wait for. But that’s not to say there’s nothing left to wait for. Do you remember the commotion in the Tasman Sea I kept seeing and hearing. Well, I found out about that before I left Oz…

Here’s the latest episode, which perked up our spirits after the Great Dame didn’t deliver.

Moby tells it as it is, Which is…

We were about to leave, when a porcelain pod came around the corner, and MiMo Moby emerged from it. We were ecstatic, and greeted him with gusto; he seemed equally pleased to see us.

I told him the Dame had been a disappointment, so Angry, Cathy and Elle were uncertain of their future in Oz, and I didn’t know if I could return to the Greenygrey world.

Moby Pep Talk

MiMo looked at us all, and then back at Elle, before saying, ‘Why, Elle had body issues when she joined you; she had lost all her strength. But she has been using her body with great dexterity throughout the Ozyssey, and now has her confidence back.’

I had to agree. Elle leapt into the air with joy.

‘And Angry was letting the Neighbours’ opinions of his mind get to him; making him feel inadequate. But he has been using fantastic judgement all through the epic adventure, and working well within your travel team.’

Once more, I had to agree. Angry sang a celebratory tune he spontaneously created.

‘And Cathy was in low spirits when you met; but freedom, movement, natural space, friendship, being valued and success have helped lift her spirits since joining your epic adventure; and also raised yours at crucial times in this rousing ramble.’

Yet again, I had to agree. Cathy saluted the sun.

‘And you, Grey, you have reached your destination, and helped bring the hats of hope home to Emerald. Deep down you know you have the power to return to Green whenever you want. The Greenygrey world is free again; as free as Emerald.’

I thanked MiMo Moby for everything, and we all said hearty farewells before he disappeared around the corner in his porcelain pod. Not long after, Brian arrived from the same direction.

Book Burning: Two Thousand Years of Monotheistic Sillyness Poem

Marc Latham latest FM poem is a comment on the book burning controversy that’s been going on over the last few days, as well as all the other crimes done by those proclaiming to be working in the name of a good God; and how he thinks it shows up all the sillyness and destruction that the monotheistic religions have been spreading around the world for two thousand years… with no respite in sight judging from the media and believers’ reactions!

Not that everything done by the religions is bad, or all the believers at fault, but there has been a lot of what they would consider devilish acts done in the name of the monotheistic religions, and they have many a time created Hell on Earth.

Long after Jesus Christ is said to have left the Earth, the Devil was created out of pagan gods like Pan, who were then disposed with.  The poem therefore makes the point that the Devil is only in those who believe in it.  The title is derived from an old horror film.

The Devil Rides Out…Of You!

Devil, Devil,
repent thyself,
the Devil must be
within you, because
you don’t believe
in what we say.

pagan gods Frankensteined to Devil

you say what pays
and create fear
around us, with
the Devil inside you.
your belief,
Devil, Devil.