Administrivia: 05 October 2024

Oh hey, hi! I know it’s been a bit since I last updated. Honestly I need to quit doing these sorts of updates here, but I’m not gonna beat myself up too badly about it until I get this thing sorted out to where I wanted it to be in the first place. I’ve been procrastinating again. Bad Admin.

But! Someone messaged me recently on Instagram to ask me about Rory’s middle name. Because other people might be wondering, here’s my logic process with that whole subject.

Basically, no one’s got a source “proving” Rory’s middle name is Phillip (or Philip). I used to see it on Wikipedia but there was no source cited for it. And since I have seen it there, it’s been removed. If there were anything to back it up I feel like it would have been cited with a source and not edited out.

However, I did find a website that specializes in astrological birth charts for celebrities, and they claim they’ve seen his birth certificate. And they say his middle name is Frederick (and also that he was born in Paisley, which, I have had another fan inform me that he’s been sighted there, and perhaps he was visiting family?). I realize that’s not a much better source than Wikipedia since I don’t even know if I could acquire a copy of his birth certificate to follow up and verify, and I really don’t want to try to do that anyway because hello, creepy. But I feel like if they had incorrect information, maybe someone would have contacted them about it by now and they’d have corrected their information. But lo, here we are. If you want to try to contact them, be my guest. I’m moderately satisfied their information is accurate.

As to the other sorta-question I got from this person, about whether people have seen him in public with his wife? Yes. This has happened at several restaurants and pubs and even when they haven’t personally seen her, sometimes he mentions her in conversations with management or staff. What convinced me that accounts of his marital status are valid is that one pub he visited last year (two Januaries ago; quite memorably, it was soon after I went homeless and on the day after my birthday so that was one fuckarow of a week) told me by DM that he’d told them that his wife had set up his Instagram. I still have that conversation in my DMs, in fact, though I will not be telling you who the pub is. I recall that when he was in Portugal in 2020 and a restaurant owner there spoke of seeing him with his wife, the fangirls harassed the owner until he deleted his restaurant’s Instagram. That was a shitty thing to do to him. Marital status is public knowledge for a reason and it still wasn’t something worth ruining his social-media life over. So I am not going to facilitate that happening to anyone else. If you don’t want to take me at my word, I completely understand because you don’t know me from Eve. But you’re going to have to take me at my word, because that’s all you’re getting.

(Why was this pub talking with me via DM? I had said something in their comments and they were following up. And that conversation ended very abruptly so I suspect someone fussed at someone else behind the scenes like “Wait! Don’t tell her things!” It wouldn’t surprise me. But there you go.)

I still personally want to know if he was married yet when he went to Norway in 2019. Just an idle curiosity because it’s mostly none of my business. But — and I think I’ve mentioned this before — I do appreciate that he works so hard to protect his wife’s privacy. That woman would not last six months under you fangirls’ gentle ministrations and I bet Rory knows it. Yes, I find him quite attractive too. Plus he’s only five years older than me and weird in some of the ways I’m weird. Do you think I like this situation either? But at the same time I’m really pleased for him that he’s apparently found that sort of happiness (he’s always had other kinds). And given how long it took him to find it, it’s got to be all the sweeter for that. He did introduce me to Scotland in a big way, too (almost as big as he is!), and I’ll always be grateful.

And I still get to admire him from afar. And that’s even more fun than Dutch ovens and divorces.

Besides, these days I’ve got an in-person infatuation and I’m spending too many emotional and mental spoons trying to figure that out to fret overmuch about a guy half a world away who wouldn’t be attracted to me in the first place. I need to do something about my fondness for unavailable men (officially this other guy is single; emotionally, I’m not so sure), but at least he’s really nice, and we seem to be forming some sort of friendship. So that’s been an interesting plot twist this year. So… famous man? What famous man?

Nah, I’m kidding. I still enjoy running this site even if I’m shit at updating it. I expect I’ll do another little burst of work here soon. Won’t promise when. ‘Later…

Administrivia: 03 September 2024

YOU GUYS

Remember how I used to screenshot The Book Group off of Tubi? And then they took it off Tubi and I was mad?

Happy to report there are at least TWO Rory films on Tubi currently! Solomon Kane‘s there (search for it), but best of all? Beowulf and Grendel is there! I LOVE Rory as Breca. He did great in this one. I’ve also long wondered if doing this film was what got him bit with the boating bug. (It is definitely what kicked off his love affair with Iceland!)

Also see SK, although don’t expect to see the big man immediately — he turns up pretty far into the film, but he’s kind of funny in that one. There had been talk of it being the first film in a trilogy, so we probably would have seen more of his character, who I think was a lot more important in the original comics. But what can you do. Turned out for the best, I guess; I doubt he’d have had time for Game of Thrones if he’d still been filming those when that started.

[edit] Also the UK version of Shameless. I believe that’s the first two episodes of Season (series) 3. That’s the one where Rory plays the priest. Now, he’s kind of awkward in that one but (1) nervous actor — we’ve all known that from way back — and (2) I’m suspicious, just based on the lines he had, that the awkwardness might have been part of the point. I think the writers were taking the piss with the institution of the Catholic Church, just a bit. Which actually might have been why Rory took the role. I wish entertainment writers would ask better questions in interviews. ‘Cause there’s shit I end up wondering about and I never get to find out because big man hides out in Scotland and never talks to anyone. GRUMP.

Okay. Have fun with all of that. ‘Later, kids.

[edited again] Did you ever see Sixty-Six? It was another Rory film, except he just has a bit part in it near the end. It’s about a Jewish boy who’s about to have his bar mitzvah and it just happens to be scheduled on the same day as the World Cup. Anyway, the actor who plays the boy’s father is the same guy who played the Irish priest in Beowulf and Grendel. I don’t know why I didn’t notice that last time. Possibly I had seen B&G first, and then the other, and it didn’t even register. I also find that if I’m screenshotting something then my focus is very different than when I am just watching it straight. So maybe that was the problem. I wasn’t screenshotting this time.

Still, I wonder if Rory remembered the dude from one film to the other. That would have been cool.

Administrivia: 30 August 2024

I don’t know how seriously I take ScreenRant’s ability to assess which TV characters have the best scary-to-cuddly arcs, but I will say they ranked the Hound well above Negan from The Walking Dead, which is saying something.

I would recommend TWD to Rory, but as we more… dedicated? …fans are aware, Rory’s not into horror films. Ends up covering his eyes against the jump scares and such. Can’t see him making an exception for gory TV shows. I have no room to talk. When I used to binge TWD, I’d make sure I was knitting or crocheting something so I could look down at strategic moments. Not gonna say Rory’s a gigantic fanny because that would be really mean (and untrue, except possibly when he’s pranking around on set), but I looked less like one when I could fake having to watch what I was doing with my hands. Not that it was fake. I really did have to watch. But you know what I mean.

Never did knit anything for Rory, though as I understand it, he did get quite a few knitted things from fans. Do I want to know? Probably not.

But hey big man, if you’re ever in the market for a handknitted hat (you’re not), you know where I am. I completely sympathize with having a huge cranium. I don’t know if the UK has the same hat-size system as the USA, but on this side of the pond I wear a seven and a half. As with shoes, designers of women’s hats assume we’re all on the small side. It’s so ridiculous.

Okay, I will stop nattering at y’all for now. It’s just been a while so I figured it was babble time.

Administrivia: 16 August 2024

For those of you who are newer, you may be surprised to learn that Sandor “The Hound” Clegane, Rory McCann’s most popular role, isn’t actually my favorite role he’s done. That label more properly applies to Kenny McLeod, the sweet guy in the wheelchair who featured in The Book Group in 2002-2003.

Rory McCann as Sandor "The Hound" Clegane, about to throw down with Brienne of Tarth in season four

But that doesn’t mean I don’t like Rory as Clegane, of course.

"...Cunts."

So I just wanted to peek in and mention that I’ve been seeing reels of the Hound on Facebook and YouTube and I gotta say, if Rory had any notion that fans have forgotten him, I’m happy to report that is not the case. In fact, I just saw some comments today asserting that the Hound was the best character in the entire Game of Thrones show.

"I have ahmah.  And a big fuggin sword."

THE best. Not third-best, not tenth-best, not “hey he had a cool cameo that one time, didn’t he?” THE best.

Kristofer Hivju and Rory McCann from the set of Game of Thrones (3 of 4) posted to Instagram 7 May 2019

Made my heart happy to see. Thought I’d pass on the happy. 💛🖤

You will pry this from my cold dead fucking hands (yep... still got it)

Administrivia: 05 August 2024

Was dusting off my personal Twitter (I will never get used to calling it X) and started following Emptage Hallett and damned if they didn’t have a photo of my dude from his turn in The Damned.

Rory McCann in The Damned

Love the big man all wild-looking like this. I don’t know if I’ll be able to see the film ever, but it ups my chances if it’s ever released on DVD. Ahem.

Administrivia: 30 July 2024

Seeing Rory’s Instagram story today reminded me: I got a message the other day from someone, I have no idea who, claiming affiliation with him and advising me to report anyone I saw impersonating him. I didn’t reply, because for all I know THAT was an imposter pretending to be affiliated with him. Did not see a need to encourage the behavior. But in case she reads here: Yes ma’am, I did get your message and I assure you, I already report these assholes. No problemo.

But I’ll spell it out again: This is Rory McCann’s only legitimate Instagram account. Accept no substitutes. I don’t even have a Rory-related account there anymore. I shut it down a couple years ago.

A funny story related to this: When I had the fan Instagram, I got a direct message once from a lady wrestler. I can’t remember her name and probably wouldn’t tell you if I could. She thought I was Rory and thanked me for supporting her career. I knew he takes the nephews to professional wrestling matches, or he used to, so I figured that had something to do with it — he probably met her backstage or something. Also I suspect he’s into brown-eyed blondes, and she was at least one-half of that description. So that likely added to the fandom quotient. But anyway, I informed her that sorry, no, I wasn’t Rory, just a fan IG about him — which, by the way, it always stated that in my profile, which she would have had to see when she went to message me so I’m not sure what happened there. She went quiet after that. Not even an “oops, my bad.” I found the whole thing amusing anyway. If there was ANY flirtation there whatsoever, thank fuck she didn’t try it in the DMs. Talk about awkward…

But anyhoo… please stop DMing me about this shit. I don’t know who you are, I’m already aware that Rory-impersonation is a big problem (as it is for most celebrities actually), and I do report them when I see them. I suggest you all do the same. IG will take them down faster.

Wish they’d do something about the lunatic who took up my real-name handle and stole my photo. I have lost count of how many times I’ve reported that asshole. But I’m not important at all, so what can you do.

Administrivia: 25 July 2024

Does it count as a sighting if the big man himself is reporting it?

There is definitely one other person aboard, which was also true when he went to Norway (he’s in Norway) five years ago. Probably the missus. Last time (or five years ago; he’s probably gone since) it was the guy from his home marina. I can’t fathom sailing a boat that size on that far of a trip all by yourself, though I’m sure there are people mad enough to try it. But also, someone would have to hold the phone to photograph him, sooooo.

I wonder if he’s just going because he likes Norway, or if there’s another concert, which is what it was five years ago. (Robert Plant! Who, I heard, actually invited him. Big Game of Thrones fan? Possibly.) Maybe we’ll hear at some point and maybe we won’t. Keeps it close to the vest, does oor Rory.

(Mwah.)

P.S. I actually saw his post ON THE SAME DAY. Not three weeks later. World fuckin’ record!

[edit] Oh for fuck’s sake. I SAW his words “Throwback Thorsday” and my mind skated RIGHT over them. Know what this is? It’s THE trip to Norway from FIVE YEARS AGO.

Because I KNEW I had seen that sweater (jumper) before. He was wearing it then! I saw pics of him in it.

Okay I’m gonna go feel dumb now. Don’t mind me. I thought it was weird he was giving coordinates…

Administrivia: 06 July 2024

[singsong] Somebody’s gonna get suuuuued [/singsong]

But… If you ever wanted Rory McCann in your bed, I suppose this is as good a way as any, and better than most. For one thing, he can keep his marriage vows. Convenient!

Here’s the archived page because even if the seller’s not sued or taken down, eBay listings eventually expire. You’re welcome.

NO, I’m not getting this, though I could use some bedsheets. I would like his poster from this film but for bedsheets, if I ever do lose my everlovin’ mind, I’d prefer him in his thirties and a kilt. He got way too far into the bad-guy thing as he got older and, well, I still find him quite appealing, but… you know.

Anyway. How ’bout them Mets. I’m gonna go… get some more coffee. Yeah. That’s it.

Okay… we’re there

All right! Everything that had been missing thanks to the hosting transfer is now back in. Except the header photos but we already saw I was being indecisive about those. But I’ve got a pretty one of Rory up from Alexander and he’ll do for now. Mrowl.

(Sorry, Mrs. McCann. That was a platonic mrowl.)

There are a couple things that make me absolutely happy with New Host besides the price (you might have missed this: I paid ahead for a year and it was less than fifty bucks all together). One, I can afford a security certificate for this site now. (The price is even righter than for the hosting.) Two, I don’t have to pay for domain privacy. I am not ready to get a post office box yet, though I want one, and domain privacy is the next best thing if my host is fucking cool and lets me have it for free. YAY.

Okay. I am going to tweak one or two more things here and then I’ll call it Good For Now. I already changed some things that I had missed even before the transfer. All better now. I’m sure I will find more things I overlooked eventually, but I think the worst stuff’s better.

There are more changes coming, but they’ll be building on or improving what’s here. So look forward to that.

Still puttering

I found I had not fixed the comment functioning: to wit, I hadn’t turned it off. Grumble. But I think we’re good now. I’ll know when this post publishes.

No I am not done adding the pics back in! I AM SO SORRY

I got sidetracked. That’s happening a lot lately. I’m also wrestling with depression, which is probably why. There is a specific reason for it which I never spell out anywhere because, on top of the shit I’ve already been handed in the past three years, this is a new wrinkle and me spelling it out might cause me local problems. So I won’t. There is nothing I can do about it anyway, if I’m right in my assessment of the situation.

Okay. But I’m in front of this thing now and I SHOULD, no promises, finish it today. Um, not FINISH finish — there’s always something to add, it seems — but at least get stuff back mostly to how it was? Right. There you go.

Am debating about the header though. Do I want to put that completely back how it was? Because I’ve long been contemplating taking it in a different direction. But I am nowhere near ready to try the other thing I wanted to try, so. I dunno. We’ll see.

[edit] Yep, that worked! No more comment box. Woohoo!