Star Struck

When this woman walked into my office on Monday I nearly fell off my chair. I had watched her interview on Andrew Denton's Enough Rope, and loved it so much that I re-read the transcript. I've seen her on Oprah, listened to her on Ted Talks and put her on my "I'd love to be like her when I'm older" list.

She's awesome because she's a feminist who loves men, a philanthropist, an amazing novelist and an incredibly passionate human being.

I told her that I loved her interview on Denton, and then later she stopped by my desk to chat. (!!!!!)  She shook my hand and told me she hopes I do become a writer - I may have gushed that I hope to be half the woman she is. (I have no shame.)

The girl from the company who had booked her interview slipped me Isabel's latest book (Island Beneath the Sea: A Novel) and I was so overwhelmed by the unexpected generosity of the afternoon that I cried.

It Begins

“Good night, Ally” my boss said as he passed in front of my desk towards the door on Friday evening.

“Good night!” I beamed as I sat down and made an incredibly loud farting noise.

My boss closed the glass door behind him, and I reached underneath me to retrieve a whoopee cushion, obviously planted there by my lovely co-workers.

I started to chuckle, then looked out the glass door and saw my boss staring in, as he waited for the elevator. I held the whoopee cushion up and pointed at it desperately, as a means of explanation. He squinted at it, then nodded quickly before the elevator doors opened and he disappeared inside.

In tears of laughter, I buzzed my co-workers to issue a clear warning: Let the prank wars begin.