I'd like an opinion on a couple of Story ideas

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

I have two seperate story ideas floating around in my head, and I'd like to see which one you guys like best:

Gilligan Acres: On the fourth anniversary of their shipwreck, the castways are unexpectedly rescued by a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Howell. But more unexpected is their rescuer's death soon after they get back, and his will leaving the castaways...a farm. The castaways make a deal with his lawyer to stay for three months to try it out. The idea is, of course, based on Green Acres, but you could probably tell by the title.

Marriage Ritual: The castaways think it's their lucky day when some non-head-hunter natives come and perform a ceremony marking the castaways as friends. Until they learn that the "Friendship ceremony" was actually a Marriage ceremony for Ginger and the Professor. And the chief won't reverse it.

I know they sound corny, but this is Gilligan's Island. Both ideas will feature Mary Ann/Gilligan, and Ginger/Professor, though with Gilligan Acres it could take longer to get the plot going.

Opinions please?
~I Luv Lucy Fan

[JWood201]

Haha! Sounds good! I like both of 'em. We definitely need some new stories going on this board.

And we all know I'm not helping at ALL b/c I'm lazy and slow w/ mine.

I'll be looking forward to 'em!

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

Thanks, Courtney. You're sweet. You're right, we definitely need some new stories, especially since not many people update their current stories. Don't worry, though, I am determined to finish my story, even if it ends up being eternally long.

Anyway, Gilligan Acres is the one I'm working on more, and I have a better idea about it's plot, so I'll probably post that one if no one else chimes in.

Where have you been, anyway? I haven't seen you here in a while.

~I Luv Lucy Fan

[JWood201]

Yeah, there hasn't really been much going on around here, so I've been kinda lurking. I've worked on my story a little bit, and sort of have an idea of where I wanna go with it, but I had to do a HUGE revision since one of the scenes just didn't look/sound right.

ANYway, I'm excited about your story, and it's cool if it's really long - I usually like the longer, more-involved ones anyway.

Good luck and, again, I'm looking forward to it!

PS: You could always IM/PM me or comment in my LJ if you wanna chat.

[Julie the GI girl]

OO! Nice ideas! Hey, I'll take anything that involves GP and MAG pairings.

I've been a lurker too, somewhat. I check in here every so often, but I haven't posted in ages. And I um...haven't...really...been working on my story. *sheepish grin* I've grown frustrated with it, I need to cut some stuff and what not. Also, I got very much into the X-Files, and um...being a nerdy fan has taken up most of my nerdy fan time (and...I've been...um...writing an X-Files story. *ducks* Don't hate me!) And also, I'm lazy. BUT, I promise that someday, I WILL finish that whole enormous GI can of worms that I opened up. Even if I wind up changing the original intent of it. There might not be a bunch of sequels. Who knows? I write when the spirit moves me. Hee.

Anyway, I'll try not to lurk too much, and once again....good fic ideas!

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

Thanks, Julie. Good to hear from you. I like what you have up of your story on here, and I'd love it if you'd keep it going.

Courtney, I'd love to IM you, but your profile doesn't give an AOL screen-name. Julie, I think I told you that I added you to my buddy list, but I'm kind of afraid that if I IM'ed you, you'd think I'm stalking you or something. (Which I'm totally not. )

Anyway, I'm working on Gilligan Acres and will probably put something up soon. I promise. So glad you like my ideas. I'm always a little paranoid about telling people about my stories.

~I Luv Lucy Fan
(aka Karen)

[Julie the GI girl]

Naw, I wouldn't think you were stalking me unless you asked for my address and suddenly appeared at my door. IM away, I'm rarely doing anything of importance online. I'll be back at college on Sunday, so as soon as my internet connection gets hooked up there, I'll be on a lot more often.

[JWood201]

I thought my profile had my AIM screen name in there? It works for both AOL and AIM. I also do nothing of importance online and I get really excited when people IM me. Haha.

But, um, yay for stories!! (Trying to stay on-topic here. Haha).

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

Well, I saw when when I went back to your profile, and added it to my list, but it doesn't say you're online right now, anyway. Oh, well. I get really excited when people IM me, too. [subtle hint]

I'm working on my story, and will post the first part soon.

~Karen

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

Gilligan Acres
By I Luv Lucy Fan
aka Karen

It was a lovely day on the island as Gilligan went down to the lagoon to empty his lobster trap. Although the island itself didn't look particularly lovely to anyone at the moment, thanks to the Professor's announcement that morning that they had been on the island for exactly four years. It was the first time Gilligan had seen anyone else get hit with Skipper's hat, after the announcement made the girls cry. Hopefully, he'd caught some good lobsters for dinner. That should cheer everyone up.

Gilligan had never really been in any rush to leave the island. He was happy there. They were getting enough food, they had shelter, and they were getting along okay. The Professor once suggested that his comfort on the island was the subconscious reason why he was always screwing up their chances of being rescued. But Gilligan still thought it was just him being a klutz.

Gilligan pulled the trap up and found five lobsters inside. He would need two more for dinner. Well, he thought, with Skipper at the table, better make it three.

"Hey, you!" Gilligan stood up suddenly. Had he really just heard that? He looked around, but didn't see anyone.

"You, on the shore!" On the shore? He looked back out to the lagoon and saw...

"A boat?!" Not only a boat, but a guy in a boat. "Oh, boy! A boat! I gotta tell the others! Don't go anywhere!"

"Where am I gonna go?" The man shouted back. "Where are you going?" But Gilligan didn't hear him. He was already halfway across the sand, headed for the clearing.

********************

Mary Ann dabbed at her face with her handkerchief. She couldn't believe it had already been four years! Oh, she missed home. She missed civilization, and her family, and her farm. She didn't even want to think about how her crops must look. Hopefully, someone was taking care of her farm while she was away.

She couldn't say that it was really that bad on the island. It could've been a lot worse. And it wasn't like they were going to be there forever. Eventually someone had to come along that would help them get rescued. Though it wasn't like they hadn't had plenty of guests before. They'd had plently of chances to be rescued, and they had all fallen through.

"Did you hear that?" Ginger asked. Mary Ann looked up at her and the Professor sitting across from her, but Ginger seemed to be the only one who had heard something. But before she could say anything, she heard Gilligan's voice coming from the forest.

"Was that Gilligan?"

"Yes," The Professor answered. "And he said something about a boat."

As if on cue, Gilligan came running into the clearing, yelling, "A boat! A boat! In the lagoon! It's a boat!" And, of course, he promptly fell on his face in the sand.

Mary Ann instinctively lept to her feet to Gilligan to his. "Oh, Gilligan. Be careful!"

"Did you say something about a boat, Gilligan?" The Professor asked.

"Yeah, Professor, down at the lagoon! There's a guy in a boat, and he was yelling at me."

"Well, don't just stand there," Ginger insisted. "Show us!"

"Yeah, follow me." Gilligan turned to take off and again fell over his own two feet. Mary Ann bent down and helped him up again, only to be pulled by her arm off to the lagoon.

*******
It's pathetically short, I know. Hopefully the next part I post will be a little longer.

~Karen

[JWood201]

YAaAaAY! I like it! Keep going!

[Doo Dah 16]

Hey! Lookin' good so far.
Nice to see you again, JWood and Julie.
~ ¤§ Jillian §¤

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

Okay, I got more! It's not as much as I planned on posting, but I want to go ahead and get it up. Slight G/P. So slight you might miss it. Sorry!
******
Running through the trees trying to stay caught up with Gilligan and Mary Ann, Ginger decided that whatever man invented high heels (because no woman would do something like that to her fellow females) had definitely never had to run in them. They were beautiful shoes, but not sensible in the least, especially on an island. Although, she thought, they weren't exactly made for running across sand or through jungles. Or running at all, actually.

Gilligan was right. (For once.) Just like he said, there was a boat right on the bank of the lagoon, and elderly gentleman (about the Howells' age) casually leaning against it. As Ginger walked across the sand towards him, she noticed he was wearing a fancy suit that probably cost a fortune.

"What's the deal?" he yelled to Gilligan. "You tell me not to go anywhere, than run off on me. Where'd you go?" He suddenly noticed Mary Ann. "And who is this lovely mademosielle?" He asked in a softer tone, bringing her hand up to kiss it.

"She's not a mademosielle," Gilligan said. "She's Mary Ann."

Ginger laughed to herself, while their visiter looked at Gilligan as though he were nuts, and Mary Ann blushed. "Gilligan, 'mademosielle' is a French word for an unmarried lady," The Professor patiently explained. "Such as Mary Ann."

"Oh." Gilligan pointed to the Professor, and told the man, "That's the Professor. He's the smart one."

"I hope so. And you're Gilligan?"

"Yeah," Gilligan answered. He pointed to Ginger. "And that's-"

"Ginger Grant!" The man cut him off, and kissed Ginger's hand like he had Mary Ann's. "Another lovely mademosielle. Hollywood has missed you."

"Well, I've missed Hollywood." Ginger suddenly felt a little pang of longing for her Hollywood home.

The Professor cleared his throat, and their visitor took his eyes away from Ginger to look at him. "Not to be an ungracious host, but who are you?"

"I, my dear Professor, am Fredrick J. Friedman! And that-" he pointed to his boat "-is the Mary Jane."

"Mr. Friedman," the Professor addressed him. "would you be willing to allow us to use your boat to get off the island?"

"Of couse I would," Mr. Friedman answered, and Ginger let out a squeal of excitement before hearing what he said next. "If it was still seaworthy. I was tossed around for hours in an awful storm. Everything important probably got drenched."

"What if we could repair it?"

"I believe it's hopeless, my boy." Mr. Friedman took off his hat and held it over his heart, and out of the corner of her eye, Ginger saw Gilligan do the same. "I'm afraid my dear Mary Jane has gone on to the great marina in the sky."

"Well, Mr. Friedman, we salvaged some parts from our boat when we arrived, and perhaps we could use them to fix the Mary Jane."

"Professor, if you can fix my boat, you can sail it anywhere you like!"

The Professor smiled. Ginger just loved that smile. "We sure appreciate it."

Mary Ann let out a squeal of excitement. "Oh, we're going home!"

"Could you girls go find the Skipper, please?"

Ginger smiled. "Sure, Professor."

"Maybe you should tell Mr. and Mrs. Howell, too." Gilligan suggested.

"Did you say Howell?" Mr. Friedman said. "As in Thurston Howell the Third?"

"Yeah."

"Thurston Howell the Third, the billionaire?"

"Is there another Thurston Howell the Third?"

"Dear God, I hope not."

"Do you know the Howells?" the Professor asked.

"Yes, yes. They're dear friends of mine! Gilligan, you must show me to them. Tell them that Fredrick Friedman is here!"

********************

"Thurston?"

"Yes, Lovey?" Thurston Howell stood up from his desk as his wife (of twenty-something years) came into their hut, obviously very excited about something. It was a big difference to what her mood had been like earlier that day, when she'd been crying with Mary Ann and Ginger.

"You'll never guess who I just saw down at the lagoon speaking with the Professor, and Gilligan, and the girls. Fredrick Friedman!"

Fredrick Friedman? It was certain now: his poor Lovey had been on this island way too long. "Lovey, have you been drinking that, um, water I keep in the cabinet?"

"No," she answered, sounding suspicious. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. I was just wondering." Good, his secret stash was still safe.
******

I'm not as happy with this part as I was with the first one, but it's longer, and I had to get this part out of the way. Hope you like.

~Karen

[Doo Dah 16]

I actually like this one better. It's funny, and I like the way you write-especially that part with the Howells. Good characterization, too.
~Jillian☼

[I Luv Lucy Fan]

Hi, Jillian. Glad you like my story, and the characterizations. I'm afraid that in this part, I made Mr. Howell a little too mean. I hope not, though.
******
"Mr. Howell! Mrs. Howell!" Gilligan's voice came in from outside.

"Oh. why do people insist on dropping by without announcing?"

"Don't worry, darling. It's just Gilligan."

"Hey, Mr. Howell. Mrs. Howell," Gilligan greeted them from the doorway, silently waiting permission to come in.

"Come on in, Gilligan," Thurston said. "What can I do for you. Or, rather, what can you do for me?" He chuckled a bit at his own joke.

"Mr. Howell, you'll never guess who's down at the lagoon!"

"Fredrick Friedman?"

Gilligan's face suddenly wore a look of surprise. "How'd you guess?"

Rather than allow her husband to answer, Lovey turned to face him. "Now, see, I told you I saw him down there."

"Lovey," Thurston tried to reason. "There is no possible way Fredrick could be on this island. He doesn't even know we're here."

"It's absolutely impossible!" Mr. Friedman called from the doorway.

"Thank you, Fredrick. That's exactly what I was trying to say--" Thurston let his words trail off as he realized who he was talking to, before fainting face-down onto the sandy floor of his hut.

********************

"Here you go, Skipper. These are all the parts I could find in the supply hut." The Professor set down a box of boat parts from the Minnow on the deck of the Mary Jane, right next to where the Skipper was sitting.

"Thanks, Professor. Oh, where is Gilligan?! He should've been here by now."

"Don't worry, Skipper. He's probably still at the Howells'." But the Professor was slightly concerned, as well. It had been about fifteen minutes until he sent Gilligan off. The Skipper had come just a few minutes later, but not even Gilligan took fifteen minutes to walk from the clearing to the lagoon.

"Here he comes now." Professor turned around, and saw Gilligan walking across the sand to the boat, just as he had earlier with Mary Ann in tow. Only this time he was alone.

"Hi, Skipper."

"So nice of you to join us, Gilligan," he answered sarcastically.

"Oh, that's okay, Skipper. I wasn't doing anything."

Wrong thing to say, Gilligan, Professor thought suddenly.

"In that case," Skipper yelled. "What took you so long?!"

"Um, well, I'm sorry, Skipper," Gilligan stuttered. 'But I thought it would be impolite to leave before Mr. Howell came around."

"Came around from what?"

"His fainting."

"He fainted?"

"Yeah, but he's okay now."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Skipper said, sounding like he meant it, which was no surprise, despite the many fights Mr. Howell and Skipper had had over the time they'd known each other. "Why did he faint?"

"Probably from seeing Mr. Friedman," Professor answered. "It was simply the shock of seeing a good friend after a long time."

"Yeah," Gilligan agreed. "Four whole years."

"Thank you, Gilligan," Skipper said. "We know how long it's been!"

Thank you, Gilligan. As if Professor hadn't mentally kicked himself enough for that morning's announcement. He had regretted it as soon as the women started to cry. He hated to see Ginger upset. He hated to see any of the women upset, but their was somthing about Ginger that got to him. Over the years, his heart seemed to have grown a soft spot for her.
******
Sorry it ends so suddenly.
By the way, would any of you happen to know whether, when somebody dies, if the Reading of the Will is done before or after the funeral? Or does it differ depending on what the victim's family decides?

~Karen