It *is* an octopus. We--okay, I'm from Michigan, and Detroit Red Wings hockey fans throw octopuses onto the ice (http://www.detroitredwings.com/history/octopus.jsp) sometimes. It's a tradition. And, now that I think of it, it implies a degree of fannish devotion that I don't think I'll ever reach--you have to be pretty hardcore to smuggle an octopus into an arena under your clothing. It's a YAY!, it's a salute, it's . . . squishy.

Worry not about the username. *handwave*

And YES with the cumulative weight of lots of authors. The angst! It is exponential! (And the glee!)