The road goes ever on and on
I write quicker than I think. I’m often surprised when I read the text I’ve just put together. It’s as if my fingertips have their own mind and will.
They’re a little bit unreliable though and not always as smart as they think. It happens that they sneak out statements and promises that I will regret in the future. And this is what happened when I wrote about my nomination for the Lammy award “Best new LAMB” a while ago.
I was delighted about even being considered for the award, and in the rush of enthusiasm and bounciness, my fingers tossed out a promise to make a more eloquent thank-you-speech in case I won.
What were my fingers thinking? Making promises about being eloquent? How cocky! How silly to put such a burden on yourself.
I suppose I just didn’t expect this to happen. But it did. With the smallest margin possible, after a drawn out extra tie-break voting and the final revelation in a video inspired from Survival, it turned out that this Lammy was mine.
Eloquent is the last thing I feel like in a moment like this. All I can come up with is a plain “thank you”. Thank you all. Thank you all who voted for me, all who aren’t LAMB members, but cheered from the sideline. Thank you readers, writers and film fans from all over the world. You are a constant source of inspiration and I owe this to you.
Passenger
When you’re running out of words of your own, you can borrow from others to express what you feel and that’s what I’m going to do.
I want to share something with you from YouTube (and please accept my excuses if there are regional limits that prevent you from watching it).
Someone – obviously a cinephile – has come up with the idea to illustrate Passenger by Iggy Pop with clips from movie classics. I stumbled up on this little film a few months ago and I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve watched it. It’s not just that it’s beautifully cut, syncing with the text, or that it’s a catchy song. It also captures the magic of movies and the magic of blogging about them. What am I but a passenger, riding through the night, watching the stars that are yours and mine?
And now, with this award behind me and the one year anniversary of The Velvet Café approaching, where am I heading? Where will my continuous movie watching and blogging lead me?
I don’t know anymore than Frodo did as he hit the road. All I know is that the road goes on. And you’re invited to join me.
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
The Velvet Café 
Congratulations on winning! Time to update “nominated for a lammy” image 😉
I’m happy to hear you’ve won as I did vote for you and your excellent writing. It’s always a joy to read.
Nostra
June 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Thank you for your kind words and support Nostra! I will update as soon as they send out the badges, which hopefully won’t be too long.
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Congratulations! It was well earned. With all due respect to lots and lots of other great LAMB writers, I think you’re the best writer out there. It’s obvious that you’re a professional.
As for eloquence, honest enthusiasm is a really great replacement.
John
June 25, 2012 at 4:33 pm
I’m in agreement with John from the bloggers I read on a day to day basis you are probably the one that I found the most interesting to read. Very well deserved win!
Joel Burman (@joelburman)
June 25, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Thank you Joel! Very much appreciated!
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 8:24 pm
While I do have a background in writing, I don’t aim to approach the blogging in a professional way. I’m always a bit dissatisfied since I feel that my lack of profound knowledge in English hampers me. By reminding myself that it’s only amateur writing that I’m doing for fun, I manage to get over it.
Anyway: your words are very kind and I appreciate it a lot. Thank you!
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Impressive! I’m not that into LAMB and everything, but I understand it’s big. Grattis!
Nice video. It feels like that song can be put on top of any video material and still make it look good.
Pladd
June 25, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Thanks Plodd! There’s nothing that stops you from applying! Non-English blogs are also welcome.
And yes, that song is really useful. I think it’s been used in some movie scores as well, even though I can’t come up with any right away. I think I saw something very recently… hm…
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Congratulations, although new to your blog I know excellence when I read it. May this be the beginning of a path strewn with enlightenment, joy, and reward.
Vicki Love
June 25, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Thank you very much Vicki! I love your blog as well. Your way to discuss between you gives the blog a nice extra touch, a dynamic of your own.
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Congratulations Jessica. That was a tough group of blogs you were up against but that just shows, all the more, how good your stuff is. Well done!
Mark Walker
June 25, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Thank you Mark! Next year I hope you’ll be one of the competitors for this award. At least if I have a word to say.
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Those are very kind words indeed Jessica. Thank you! Coming from yourself (and now a recent award winner 😉 ) that means a lot. Cheers!
Mark Walker
June 25, 2012 at 8:37 pm
Congratulations Jessica. I hope this award will bring more people here to enjoy your wonderful writing.
Bonjour Tristesse
June 25, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Thank you Bonjour Tristesse! Those awards are really an opportunity for us all to expand our blog reading territories going into places where we haven’t been before. I’ll try to do that myself. I’ve certainly found some new blogs to keep an eye at through the nomination process.
Jessica
June 25, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Congratulations on the win. Well earned.
Dave Enkosky
June 26, 2012 at 2:40 am
Thank you Dave!
Jessica
June 26, 2012 at 7:28 am
A VERY deserving winner. Congrats Jessica, I’ll continue to read and admire your work greatly. You are a huge source of inspiration and a wonderful person.
Tyler
June 26, 2012 at 6:10 am
Thank you Tyler! I don’t know about being a wonderful person, but at least I’m glad if I manage to give that impression. 🙂
Jessica
June 26, 2012 at 7:29 am
Congratulations on the win, Jess. You deserve it: you have an awesome blog, and I always enjoy reading your stuff…
Rodney
June 26, 2012 at 11:44 am
Thank you Rodney! You’re a frequent and very much appreciated commenter here. ❤
Jessica
June 26, 2012 at 11:47 am
I know that Vicki commented on your victory, but I wanted also to give my hearfelt congratulations to you Jessica. Let’s just say that there’s no doubt that “The Velvet Cafe” IS the best new blog, both in Sweden & here in the US!!
Yippee!!
Karl Kaefer
June 27, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Oh, thank you Karl! I really appreciate your support and kind words! And I hope you feel at home here with the fairly high amount of sci-fi and geeky stuff I’m into. 🙂
Jessica
June 27, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Congrats on winning BEST NEW LAMB! I’m glad I discovered your blog, your writing is awesome and you always have such original topics. Well done, Jessica!
ruth
June 27, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Thank you so much Ruth! I’ve only recently started to realize what a great place Flixchatter is. You have managed to creat such a thriving communtiy, which really makes you feel at home. Your nomination was very well deserved, so congrats to you as well!
Jessica
June 27, 2012 at 8:20 pm
Thanks for the kind words! Hope you come and visit one day 😉
ruth
June 27, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Congrats to you both. I find this all a very male oriented environment and appreciate a female point of view very much. It’s refreshing to have you both going so strong. Cheesy? Yes!.. But true. 🙂
Mark Walker
June 27, 2012 at 9:23 pm
That thought has definitely crossed my mind too Mark! The Lammy awards this year mostly went to men. There were a handful of female nominees and a few that got awards: Steeve, FTS, myself… but they’re still few. Not sure of how well it corrensponds to the amount of movie blogs that are run by women though. Perhaps it equals.
Jessica
June 27, 2012 at 10:49 pm
Congrats on the LAMMY! Keep up the great work.
Eric
June 27, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Thank you Eric! I’ll try to!
Jessica
June 27, 2012 at 10:46 pm
An awesome post, like always. Congrats are in order, Jessica. I’m so happy for your win 🙂
fernandorafael
July 1, 2012 at 6:39 am
Thank you Fernando! I really appreciate your continuous support. Awards are fun, but returning readers to hang out with matter more in the long run.
Jessica
July 1, 2012 at 7:48 pm
You’re right about that 🙂
fernandorafael
July 1, 2012 at 10:47 pm
A bit late but no less sincere: Congrats! You deserve it.
Sofia
July 4, 2012 at 9:33 am
Thank you!
Jessica
July 4, 2012 at 9:35 am