I haven't blogged in a few days. Monday was a holiday, and I've been having a hard time getting started this week, although I've managed to write 26 pages in the past three days. I'm hoping to write the remaining eight for the week which will take me to page 260, leaving 140 pages until I finish the book. 140 divided by 7 days a week divided by 3 weeks? I should hopefully finish the book by the second or third week of March. Which means that I've written the first draft in roughly two months. Not bad for a 100,000 word novel. The second draft should also take me 2-3 months.
I had a Tarot card reading last night, and actually got some good ideas from Joe, my reader. I had gone to find out whether or not I was making the right decision turning down a job offer at MS. I've been ambivalent about taking the job for many reasons, the biggest being that one of the guys in the group is one of the biggest assholes on the planet. I'm 40, and frankly I would like the rest of my life to be a little less stressful than having to deal with a jerk who feels entitled to my time 24/7 just because I'm his assistant.
I've also been fighting off a really bad cold for the past few weeks, and it's caught up to me. Rest and relaxation are on call for the weekend. I plan on skipping body sculpting for a yoga class at home, which will be more soothing to my tired weary joints.
Anyway, Joe's suggestions were that I have at some point, my character possessed by the ghost, which I think would be cool. I might have her act a little outrageously at times, developing a taste for rum and using a french accent at times. It might take the book to another level. He doesn't think the book will make the bestseller lists but if it sells out it's print run, I'll be happy.
As I said before I have several other chick-lit paranormals that I want to write in various locations, New Orleans, Scotland, New York to mention just a few. I have to run to the library today to pick up some videos for research. Plus I have to read up on smuggling. I might have the information about smuggling revealed by the historian at the Museum.
I also still think letters should be found. And I have my villain for the book, a customs official or soldier that is courting Verity. Richard St. Merion will basically bribe him to marry Verity in exchange for looking the other way while the smuggling goes on.
Looking forward to our workshop next week. Kathleen O'Reilly, one of our members is giving a workshop on creating characters.
One of the things that I want to do is make sure that the relationship in my book is believable as a love relationship, despite the conflicts. I really want the reader to feel that Caroline and Philip belong together. I think that's really going to be the hardest part of the book.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Million Dollar Movies
I spent my President's weekend doing absolutely nothing really but shopping, exercising, and agonizing over whether or not to take this job that I've been offered. Oh, and I went to the movies on Sunday to try and catch up on the movies that have been nominated for the Academy Awards before the ceremony on Sunday. I've seen most of the movies, apart from Kinsey (Laura Linney), Vera Drake and Hotel Rwanda. I plan on renting Maria, full of Grace and Ray tonight if possible to see Jamie Foxx's performance since he's almost a lock to win Best Actor.
I did go to see Million Dollar Baby on Sunday. This film directed by Clint Eastwood, stars Hilary Swank as an over the hill female boxer who wants her shot. When I mean over the hill, I'm speaking in boxing terms since she's only 31 and looks 21 in the film. Although I enjoyed Hilary Swank's performance, I sort of wish that Maggie had been played by an actress that was a little tougher, more like Michelle Rodriguez in Girl Fight, a little more worn down by her life waiting tables. However, the character is written as an optimist, and the girl next door, which when you see the bruiser that she's up against in her final fight, the contrast is that much greater. I have to admit that I watched the movie pretty much with my eyes covered during the boxing scenes. I hate violence, and I hate boxing which to me is gratuitous violence.
The performances particularly by Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood were wonderful. I think that Morgan Freeman truly deserves this award. His performance was what the award is all about, supporting the other actors. He has no flashy scenes, he's primarly the narrator, but there is so much going on behind his eyes, and his relationship with Clint Eastwood, and with Hilary Swank is wonderful. I sincerely hope that he wins the award, although I did admire Clive Owen's performance in Closer and Thomas Haden Church in Sideways.
However, I'm hoping that Annette Bening wins for Being Julia. I adored this movie, because as a former actress, I could relate to Bening's character, probably more than I could to Hilary Swank's character in Million Dollar Baby. Annette Bening knew exactly when to pull back her character and when to let her be over the top. I'm reading a biography of Tallulah Bankhead, and I imagine that Tallulah was the epitome of the type of character that Annette Bening played.
I can't wait for the Academy Awards on Sunday. I always like to prepare a special meal if I'm not watching the show with friends, and have a split of champagne ready to drink as I watch the show.
I did go to see Million Dollar Baby on Sunday. This film directed by Clint Eastwood, stars Hilary Swank as an over the hill female boxer who wants her shot. When I mean over the hill, I'm speaking in boxing terms since she's only 31 and looks 21 in the film. Although I enjoyed Hilary Swank's performance, I sort of wish that Maggie had been played by an actress that was a little tougher, more like Michelle Rodriguez in Girl Fight, a little more worn down by her life waiting tables. However, the character is written as an optimist, and the girl next door, which when you see the bruiser that she's up against in her final fight, the contrast is that much greater. I have to admit that I watched the movie pretty much with my eyes covered during the boxing scenes. I hate violence, and I hate boxing which to me is gratuitous violence.
The performances particularly by Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood were wonderful. I think that Morgan Freeman truly deserves this award. His performance was what the award is all about, supporting the other actors. He has no flashy scenes, he's primarly the narrator, but there is so much going on behind his eyes, and his relationship with Clint Eastwood, and with Hilary Swank is wonderful. I sincerely hope that he wins the award, although I did admire Clive Owen's performance in Closer and Thomas Haden Church in Sideways.
However, I'm hoping that Annette Bening wins for Being Julia. I adored this movie, because as a former actress, I could relate to Bening's character, probably more than I could to Hilary Swank's character in Million Dollar Baby. Annette Bening knew exactly when to pull back her character and when to let her be over the top. I'm reading a biography of Tallulah Bankhead, and I imagine that Tallulah was the epitome of the type of character that Annette Bening played.
I can't wait for the Academy Awards on Sunday. I always like to prepare a special meal if I'm not watching the show with friends, and have a split of champagne ready to drink as I watch the show.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Half Pint and Me
I’ve been an avid reader from as far back as I can remember. In fact, I think one of my first words was newspaper. Today I still remember those books like old friends. When I was in the first grade, I’d already read my way through all the first grade reading books when my teacher, Sister Mary Tobias read us a chapter of Little House in the Big Woods during story time. I was enchanted by the story of Laura and her sisters living with their parents in rural Wisconsin in the nineteenth century. I couldn’t wait to get my own copy of the book from Scholastic. Here was a story about a little girl like me, someone I could relate too even though we lived in different centuries. Little House in the Big Woods was the first ‘real’ book that I read over and over again. I even tried to make maple syrup candy with snow like Laura and Mary!
As I grew older, Laura did too as I devoured the rest of the books in the series, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek, Little Town on the Prairie, The Long Winter, By the Shores of Silver Lake, and finally These Happy Golden Years. I even enjoyed Farmer Boy, even though it was about Laura’s husband Almanzo and his childhood growing up in rural upstate New York. I remember how sad I was when the series ended and how happy to find out that there was one last book, The First Four Years about Laura’s marriage to her beloved ‘Manly.’ Reading these books opened a whole new world to me, and started my life long love with American History.
I learned what a harsh life it was on the Prairie in the 1880’s, and how easily things could go wrong. I sobbed when Mary went blind; bit my nails when the Ingalls family suffered through the long harsh winter on the South Dakota prairie, I was fascinated by her struggles as a sixteen year old school teacher in a one room schoolhouse in the middle of nowhere. Laura and her family became my friends. I knew them as well or better than I knew my own family. Although other writers and stories captured my attention, Nancy Drew, the stories of Madeleine L’Engle, I never forgot my initial infatuation with Half-Pint and the Ingalls family. I read every biography that I could find on Laura, to learn more about this woman who’s books first captured my imagination.
I later learned that Laura had been in her seventies when she finally set down the stories of her family on paper. She wrote simply to preserve tales of a lost era in American history, the pioneer period, which she lived through and wrote about vividly. By the time she finished writing the nine volume series, she had left us an invaluable portrait of life in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Kansas at the turn of the century. Since her death in 1957 at the age of ninety, the Little House books have never been out of print and have continued to entertain readers for over fifty years.
Carolyn See in her marvelous book Making a Literary Life (a must read for every writer) suggests writing a note every day to a writer you admire and you inspires you to write. If I could write a note to Laura Ingalls Wilder, I would tell her that she made me want to be a writer, to tell stories that were as exciting as the Little House books were for me.
As I grew older, Laura did too as I devoured the rest of the books in the series, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek, Little Town on the Prairie, The Long Winter, By the Shores of Silver Lake, and finally These Happy Golden Years. I even enjoyed Farmer Boy, even though it was about Laura’s husband Almanzo and his childhood growing up in rural upstate New York. I remember how sad I was when the series ended and how happy to find out that there was one last book, The First Four Years about Laura’s marriage to her beloved ‘Manly.’ Reading these books opened a whole new world to me, and started my life long love with American History.
I learned what a harsh life it was on the Prairie in the 1880’s, and how easily things could go wrong. I sobbed when Mary went blind; bit my nails when the Ingalls family suffered through the long harsh winter on the South Dakota prairie, I was fascinated by her struggles as a sixteen year old school teacher in a one room schoolhouse in the middle of nowhere. Laura and her family became my friends. I knew them as well or better than I knew my own family. Although other writers and stories captured my attention, Nancy Drew, the stories of Madeleine L’Engle, I never forgot my initial infatuation with Half-Pint and the Ingalls family. I read every biography that I could find on Laura, to learn more about this woman who’s books first captured my imagination.
I later learned that Laura had been in her seventies when she finally set down the stories of her family on paper. She wrote simply to preserve tales of a lost era in American history, the pioneer period, which she lived through and wrote about vividly. By the time she finished writing the nine volume series, she had left us an invaluable portrait of life in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Kansas at the turn of the century. Since her death in 1957 at the age of ninety, the Little House books have never been out of print and have continued to entertain readers for over fifty years.
Carolyn See in her marvelous book Making a Literary Life (a must read for every writer) suggests writing a note every day to a writer you admire and you inspires you to write. If I could write a note to Laura Ingalls Wilder, I would tell her that she made me want to be a writer, to tell stories that were as exciting as the Little House books were for me.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
The Writing Life - Part Deux
It's Wednesday, so it must be hump day! It is now 1:5o p.m. in the afternoon and I have done very little today in terms of the way of writing. I've written half a page so far. My goal is of course 5 pages, and the past two days I've managed to crank out 8. I'll still make my goal of 40 pages this week, but I would have liked to have done more.
I have started working on my character sheets, stuff I should have done before writing the book, but since I'm in the let the words flow stage, alot of stuff has come up as I've been writing. I have however been thinking about the book. I've just killed off a character that really served no purpose in the book. I was bored writing her which always tells you that the character was not working. I'd already done the bitchy model in another book. So Justine, the ex-wife model is now dead. I can still have it come out that Jeremy, the villain (I'm using the British actor Simon Russell Beale as my inspiration when he played Iago). I've decided to make him a comic figure with a sinister side. I've added a new character, Penelope the perfect. An old college friend of my hero, she once had hopes of a romance with the hero until he met Justine the model and fell in love and married her. Now Penelope has hopes again (I'm imagining Olivia from Guiding Light but without the bitchy side). They had a brief relationship soon after Justine died, but the hero didn't want to use Penny, so he broke it off. She still has hopes though, she now is dating Jeremy. I'd love to give her a really cool job. I could have her be in PR, like the heroes sister, Henrietta.
I don't want her to be the stereotypical bitchy ex-girlfriend who comes between the hero and heroine, staking her claim. I do think that the fact that she's know the hero since childhood is a good idea, and he's always seen her as a good friend, but nothing more, although she would like more.
Her friendship with the hero, could lead my heroine to feeling insecure, because she knows the hero so well. Plus, she comes from the same background as the hero, and knows his lifestyle. She knows alot of the right people, who can help him get the estate up and running. She should have a quieter style than my heroine, but still she should be friendly towards the heroine. No ulterior motives. I don't know if this is going to work, but who knows. I can always fix it in the second draft. After all that's what they are for!
I have started working on my character sheets, stuff I should have done before writing the book, but since I'm in the let the words flow stage, alot of stuff has come up as I've been writing. I have however been thinking about the book. I've just killed off a character that really served no purpose in the book. I was bored writing her which always tells you that the character was not working. I'd already done the bitchy model in another book. So Justine, the ex-wife model is now dead. I can still have it come out that Jeremy, the villain (I'm using the British actor Simon Russell Beale as my inspiration when he played Iago). I've decided to make him a comic figure with a sinister side. I've added a new character, Penelope the perfect. An old college friend of my hero, she once had hopes of a romance with the hero until he met Justine the model and fell in love and married her. Now Penelope has hopes again (I'm imagining Olivia from Guiding Light but without the bitchy side). They had a brief relationship soon after Justine died, but the hero didn't want to use Penny, so he broke it off. She still has hopes though, she now is dating Jeremy. I'd love to give her a really cool job. I could have her be in PR, like the heroes sister, Henrietta.
I don't want her to be the stereotypical bitchy ex-girlfriend who comes between the hero and heroine, staking her claim. I do think that the fact that she's know the hero since childhood is a good idea, and he's always seen her as a good friend, but nothing more, although she would like more.
Her friendship with the hero, could lead my heroine to feeling insecure, because she knows the hero so well. Plus, she comes from the same background as the hero, and knows his lifestyle. She knows alot of the right people, who can help him get the estate up and running. She should have a quieter style than my heroine, but still she should be friendly towards the heroine. No ulterior motives. I don't know if this is going to work, but who knows. I can always fix it in the second draft. After all that's what they are for!
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Valentine's Day Rant
Okay, I'm not really going to rant about not having a Valentine for the 3rd year in a row since we all know that Valentine's Day is a corporate conspiracy to sell lots of stuff. No one should really need a special day to celebrate their love, they should do it all year round. Not to mention the pressure of coming up with the best way to celebrate the day.
One year, my ex made a reservation at Benihana of Tokyo. For those who don't know what Benihana of Tokyo is, it's a restaurant where they cook your food right in front of you, with lots of fancy chopping and slicing and dicing. It's like Iron Chef, the original version. I'm sure my ex thought that would be a wonderful place to celebrate V-day, but not me. I made him cancel the reservation, and book a table at Barbetta, because that to me was romantic. Looking back, I should have just gone with the flow, and had dinner where he wanted. After all he made the effort to book the reservation himself, but for me it was just not romantic to sit on the floor and watch food as theatre. I wanted the whole nine yards, romantic restaurant atmosphere, candles, flowers, in an old brownstone built by the Astors in the theatre district on Restaurant Row.
Which of course brings me back to the Bachelorette. Since I'm not currently dating anyone, I thought I would live vicariously through Jen Schefft and her made for TV search for romance. Can I just say I was flabbergasted? After weeks of hearing say that she was looking for love, the one, her soulmate, she kept the one guy that she's been concerned about being a player, who was just in it to win.
Now I will concede that Jerry is the best looking guy in the bunch, but he also comes off as the most insincere. At least with Febreze, we knew that he was an actor just on TV to make his American debut. But Jerry keeps saying that he has a crush on Jen, that she looks good on his arm. Meanwhile Ryan tells her that he's prepared to be her husband, to support her, emotionally, physically and financially. So what does she do? She sends him packing. Is it any wonder that people are cynical about romance? This was a guy that she snuggled with in a bathtub, sipping champagne. Meanwhile all she did with Jerry was argue about how he felt about her!
And JP, or John Paul of the Vince Gill looks and the weird lips. I'm sorry, he seems sweet but I can't get over the lip thing. It kind of creeps me out. He's 25, financially stable, but that's all Jen seems focused on, is whether or not he can take care of her and still have time to spend with her and their future kids.
The previews for the final episode are also strange. Apparently the men have to propose before she dumps one of them. How cruel is that?
I have to say that this is the last dating show that I can watch before I give up entirely and join a convent.
One year, my ex made a reservation at Benihana of Tokyo. For those who don't know what Benihana of Tokyo is, it's a restaurant where they cook your food right in front of you, with lots of fancy chopping and slicing and dicing. It's like Iron Chef, the original version. I'm sure my ex thought that would be a wonderful place to celebrate V-day, but not me. I made him cancel the reservation, and book a table at Barbetta, because that to me was romantic. Looking back, I should have just gone with the flow, and had dinner where he wanted. After all he made the effort to book the reservation himself, but for me it was just not romantic to sit on the floor and watch food as theatre. I wanted the whole nine yards, romantic restaurant atmosphere, candles, flowers, in an old brownstone built by the Astors in the theatre district on Restaurant Row.
Which of course brings me back to the Bachelorette. Since I'm not currently dating anyone, I thought I would live vicariously through Jen Schefft and her made for TV search for romance. Can I just say I was flabbergasted? After weeks of hearing say that she was looking for love, the one, her soulmate, she kept the one guy that she's been concerned about being a player, who was just in it to win.
Now I will concede that Jerry is the best looking guy in the bunch, but he also comes off as the most insincere. At least with Febreze, we knew that he was an actor just on TV to make his American debut. But Jerry keeps saying that he has a crush on Jen, that she looks good on his arm. Meanwhile Ryan tells her that he's prepared to be her husband, to support her, emotionally, physically and financially. So what does she do? She sends him packing. Is it any wonder that people are cynical about romance? This was a guy that she snuggled with in a bathtub, sipping champagne. Meanwhile all she did with Jerry was argue about how he felt about her!
And JP, or John Paul of the Vince Gill looks and the weird lips. I'm sorry, he seems sweet but I can't get over the lip thing. It kind of creeps me out. He's 25, financially stable, but that's all Jen seems focused on, is whether or not he can take care of her and still have time to spend with her and their future kids.
The previews for the final episode are also strange. Apparently the men have to propose before she dumps one of them. How cruel is that?
I have to say that this is the last dating show that I can watch before I give up entirely and join a convent.
Monday, February 14, 2005
The Writing Life
It's 2:17 p.m. and I'm 3/4 of the way towards making my target of 8 pages, so I thought take a time out and add another entry since I didn't write for the past 3 days.
I still have to turn in my President's Letter tomorrow to our newsletter editor, but apart from some last minute tweaking, it's done and has been since Thursday. I've already mentally blocked out April's and May's. I've been mentally refining my latest WIP (work in progress) over the weekend, and making notes for things that I want to fix in the next draft. I'm going for a Katie Macalister feel with this book. It's a whole fish out of water scenario which I find appealing.
I'm toying with making this book part of a trilogy of books that aren't really related but they do have ghosts as a theme. I've already mentally plotted out a book set in New York, and the WIP that I abandoned that was set in New Orleans can now be retooled. I've decided that I'm now writing chick-lit romantic comedy paranormals or mysteries, which I love. Crazy I know, but it works for me.
I'm working on trying to get some extra cash so that I can spend at least 3 or 4 weeks researching this book in Cornwall. Of course since if I take a permanent job that's going to be hard since they have this pesky 2 week vacation rule, I don't know how it's going to work out, but I need that time to research the book well.
New York is of course easy since I live here, and New Orleans can take care of itself with weekend trips to the Big Easy over those long weekend breaks (although not during the summer. Having experienced NO in June and July, I'll pass on a return visit).
I'm currently reading an article on Heloise and Abelard, one of the greatest love stories of all times. Peter Abelard was Heloise's tutor, he taught at the Sorbonne back in the day where they expected tutors to be celibate. They fell madly in love, and secretly married and had a child until her uncle found out and had Abelard castrated (Ouch!). He went into a monastery and asked her to join a convent. They wrote to each other for years, as Heloise chafed at the restrictions of her new life, Peter exhorting her to give it a try. They're buried together in Pere Lachaise cemetary. (I've always wanted to write a romance where the hero and heroine hold hands and place flowers on their grave).
Their letters still survive as does their story, proving the enduring power of romance. So in honor of their love, and Valentine's Day (a day I should abhor being single yet again), I plan on savoring a split of champagne and a nice meal, raising my glass to them, and Charles and Camilla who are finally able to legalize their love after thirty years.
I still have to turn in my President's Letter tomorrow to our newsletter editor, but apart from some last minute tweaking, it's done and has been since Thursday. I've already mentally blocked out April's and May's. I've been mentally refining my latest WIP (work in progress) over the weekend, and making notes for things that I want to fix in the next draft. I'm going for a Katie Macalister feel with this book. It's a whole fish out of water scenario which I find appealing.
I'm toying with making this book part of a trilogy of books that aren't really related but they do have ghosts as a theme. I've already mentally plotted out a book set in New York, and the WIP that I abandoned that was set in New Orleans can now be retooled. I've decided that I'm now writing chick-lit romantic comedy paranormals or mysteries, which I love. Crazy I know, but it works for me.
I'm working on trying to get some extra cash so that I can spend at least 3 or 4 weeks researching this book in Cornwall. Of course since if I take a permanent job that's going to be hard since they have this pesky 2 week vacation rule, I don't know how it's going to work out, but I need that time to research the book well.
New York is of course easy since I live here, and New Orleans can take care of itself with weekend trips to the Big Easy over those long weekend breaks (although not during the summer. Having experienced NO in June and July, I'll pass on a return visit).
I'm currently reading an article on Heloise and Abelard, one of the greatest love stories of all times. Peter Abelard was Heloise's tutor, he taught at the Sorbonne back in the day where they expected tutors to be celibate. They fell madly in love, and secretly married and had a child until her uncle found out and had Abelard castrated (Ouch!). He went into a monastery and asked her to join a convent. They wrote to each other for years, as Heloise chafed at the restrictions of her new life, Peter exhorting her to give it a try. They're buried together in Pere Lachaise cemetary. (I've always wanted to write a romance where the hero and heroine hold hands and place flowers on their grave).
Their letters still survive as does their story, proving the enduring power of romance. So in honor of their love, and Valentine's Day (a day I should abhor being single yet again), I plan on savoring a split of champagne and a nice meal, raising my glass to them, and Charles and Camilla who are finally able to legalize their love after thirty years.
Griping about the Grammy's
I settled down in front of the TV last night to watch the Grammy's and what did I find? Not much in the way of actual awards. Apparently the grammy's have grown so bloated with categories that 90% of the awards are given out the night before and only about 10 awards are given out during the live telecast. Which means that what you end of getting are many, many performances, and a scroll on the bottom of your screen that tells you who won the other categories but it goes by so fast that you have to speed read in order to know who won what.
Not that the performances weren't bad. Watching a now bald Melissa Etheridge bring down the house channeling Janis Joplin was worth missing parts of Desperate Housewives. I know that she's a little too old to be playing Janis Joplin, but no actress, not even Renee Zwellweger can play Janis but Melissa Etheridge, and let's face it with the amount of booze and alcohol that she consumed, Janis looked alot older than she really was. So producers out there who are planning a movie on Janis' life, hire Melissa Etheridge!
Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony's duet was pretty bad. The set and the way it was staged made it look like something out of a Spanish soap opera. Oy! And La Lopez was flat through most of it, and off-key through the rest, although her Spanish is pretty good for someone who didn't grow up speaking the language.
Kanye West tore up the house with Jesus Walks, the first rap/gospel song I've ever heard but the tribute to Southern rock was pretty bad. Did we need to hear Free Bird? What about an Allman Brother's son or getting Chris Robinson and his band up there. Aren't the imodiment of Southern rock? Even Kid Rock or Uncle Kracker would have been better than Tim McGraw and Gretchen Wilson. Where was Charlie Daniels when you need him?
I tuned out after the tuneless, toothless version of the Beatles song for Tsunami Relief. Is it just me, or was anyone else concerned that Brian Wilson looked so lost that they were afraid he'd wander off somewhere?
Not that the performances weren't bad. Watching a now bald Melissa Etheridge bring down the house channeling Janis Joplin was worth missing parts of Desperate Housewives. I know that she's a little too old to be playing Janis Joplin, but no actress, not even Renee Zwellweger can play Janis but Melissa Etheridge, and let's face it with the amount of booze and alcohol that she consumed, Janis looked alot older than she really was. So producers out there who are planning a movie on Janis' life, hire Melissa Etheridge!
Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony's duet was pretty bad. The set and the way it was staged made it look like something out of a Spanish soap opera. Oy! And La Lopez was flat through most of it, and off-key through the rest, although her Spanish is pretty good for someone who didn't grow up speaking the language.
Kanye West tore up the house with Jesus Walks, the first rap/gospel song I've ever heard but the tribute to Southern rock was pretty bad. Did we need to hear Free Bird? What about an Allman Brother's son or getting Chris Robinson and his band up there. Aren't the imodiment of Southern rock? Even Kid Rock or Uncle Kracker would have been better than Tim McGraw and Gretchen Wilson. Where was Charlie Daniels when you need him?
I tuned out after the tuneless, toothless version of the Beatles song for Tsunami Relief. Is it just me, or was anyone else concerned that Brian Wilson looked so lost that they were afraid he'd wander off somewhere?
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Awesomely Bad Taste
Okay, last night I watched the latest episode of Project Runway, which was really tough because Alias had a super interesting episode involving vampires and drugs. Since I was flipping back and forth between Bravo and ABC, I couldn't quite get the gist, but I'm gathering that some kind of drug called Nocturne was letting people stay up all night with energy but it made them paranoid, and have the urge to bite people on the neck which then transmitted the drug to the next person. Sounds kind of weird, but it does give a contemporary new twist to the age ole Vampire story.
Anyway, back to Project Runway, and Wendy Pepper must go away. The challenge was to create an outfit for Nancy O'Dell from Access Hollywood for the Grammy's on Sunday. Easy challenge right? Wrong! The other 3 designers must have been tired from working so hard, and winning challenges because some how Wendy Pepper, the future head designer for the Kathie Lee Gifford collection won the challenge!
I couldnt' believe it. Kara Saun's dress was gorgeous but she had to muck it up by adding a pair of pants that were so unnecessary and unbelievably unflattering. I don't know what it with people and wide-legged pants, but I personally think they're ugly and make you look like you're wearing culottes.
Jay's dress was a mish-mash of styles that didn't complement each other. If the top and the bottom had matched it would have been one thing, but they were two different conflicting styles. Austin's dress was gorgeous, but deemed too glam for the Grammy's. Both Michael Kors, the woman from Elle Magazine and Heidi Klum all hated Wendy's dress which looked to me like it was unfinished and made out of cheap fabric but Nancy O'Dell picked it which meant that Austin lost and Wendy Pepper is in the final three!
WTF? I know that Austin's unwillingness to bend from his vision of Glamour led to his demise. The boy is going to have to learn to compromise, or realize that he's only going to be doing couture by appointment for the few people that can afford his clothes. When you're designing for the masses you have to make concessions to what people want, not just what you want to give them. I don't think Austin gets that. He needs to learn French, move to France for a few years to study, get an apprenticeship with a designer that still does couture and learn. Doing it on his own is not going to benefit him.
Another note, Prince Charles is getting married to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Mazel Tov!
Anyway, back to Project Runway, and Wendy Pepper must go away. The challenge was to create an outfit for Nancy O'Dell from Access Hollywood for the Grammy's on Sunday. Easy challenge right? Wrong! The other 3 designers must have been tired from working so hard, and winning challenges because some how Wendy Pepper, the future head designer for the Kathie Lee Gifford collection won the challenge!
I couldnt' believe it. Kara Saun's dress was gorgeous but she had to muck it up by adding a pair of pants that were so unnecessary and unbelievably unflattering. I don't know what it with people and wide-legged pants, but I personally think they're ugly and make you look like you're wearing culottes.
Jay's dress was a mish-mash of styles that didn't complement each other. If the top and the bottom had matched it would have been one thing, but they were two different conflicting styles. Austin's dress was gorgeous, but deemed too glam for the Grammy's. Both Michael Kors, the woman from Elle Magazine and Heidi Klum all hated Wendy's dress which looked to me like it was unfinished and made out of cheap fabric but Nancy O'Dell picked it which meant that Austin lost and Wendy Pepper is in the final three!
WTF? I know that Austin's unwillingness to bend from his vision of Glamour led to his demise. The boy is going to have to learn to compromise, or realize that he's only going to be doing couture by appointment for the few people that can afford his clothes. When you're designing for the masses you have to make concessions to what people want, not just what you want to give them. I don't think Austin gets that. He needs to learn French, move to France for a few years to study, get an apprenticeship with a designer that still does couture and learn. Doing it on his own is not going to benefit him.
Another note, Prince Charles is getting married to Camilla Parker-Bowles. Mazel Tov!
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Employment Blues
I've been looking for a permanent job ever since my extended period of unemployment during 2003. I've updated my resume several times, and submitted my resume to about 200 different companies. Finally in 2005, my efforts have come to fruition.
So, why am I ambivalent? Well for the past nineteen years, I have been happily working as a temp. Part of the reason I chose the life of a temp, an itinerant worker as it were, was because I was chasing an acting career. It's a little hard to tell your employer that you're leaving town for four months when you have a permanent job. I also had periods of time when I would go off to London for three or four months at a time. One of the few things I regret was not having CSFB arrange a job for me when I had my work permit. I might still be living in England if I had done that. Of course, hindsight and $4.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
Anyway, here I am, 40 years of age and finally thinking about settling down. Possibly fixing up my apartment so that it doesn't look like the worst of the apartments on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Yes, I'm a bit of slob. Also, I haven't been able to afford to do the things that I want to do with the apartment (paint, new linoleum, new bathtub, sink, tiles, new cabinets in the kitchen, new couch, new dining room table, etc.) that I've just done nothing. Part of the reason was I spent more time at my ex-boyfriends then I did at my place, so it really didn't matter what it looked like, I was never there, but I digress.
So, I sent out resumes, and so far I've had 5 job interviews. Yes, 5 out god only knows how many resumes I've sent out there. Finally realized that I didn't update my resume for 2 years on Hot Jobs and Monster, which might explain part of it.
The first job interview was through a friend, working as a meeting planner at a financial publishing company. The interview went well, I was intrigued, but not sure it was a good idea to work for the same company as this person. That turned out to be a good call because when I expressed my doubts about the job, she spilled the beans to her ex-boss, thereby screwing out of the job. So much telling people things in confidence. I hadn't made a decision yet about whether or not I wanted the job, I needed more information, but oh well.
The next job was at a big conglomerate for one of their consumer products divisions. This is a big media company that involves television, movies, and publishing. Just the type of thing that I'm interested in. Great interview, still haven't heard.
Next interview went well, still waiting to meet with the person I'd be actually working for. Have another interview next week on Thursday. Yesterday, had an interview at the investment bank that I worked for last summer. Great interview, they love me, when can I start? Still have no clue about what the salary is, and I can't stand one of the people that I would be working for. Plus, I'd be working for ten to fifteen people, for almost 50 hours a week. I'm ambivalent to say the least.
So what does a girl do when she's in this situation? Why have a Tarot card reading of course. Why make an informed decision based on the facts when you can leave it up to a deck of cards!
So, why am I ambivalent? Well for the past nineteen years, I have been happily working as a temp. Part of the reason I chose the life of a temp, an itinerant worker as it were, was because I was chasing an acting career. It's a little hard to tell your employer that you're leaving town for four months when you have a permanent job. I also had periods of time when I would go off to London for three or four months at a time. One of the few things I regret was not having CSFB arrange a job for me when I had my work permit. I might still be living in England if I had done that. Of course, hindsight and $4.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
Anyway, here I am, 40 years of age and finally thinking about settling down. Possibly fixing up my apartment so that it doesn't look like the worst of the apartments on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Yes, I'm a bit of slob. Also, I haven't been able to afford to do the things that I want to do with the apartment (paint, new linoleum, new bathtub, sink, tiles, new cabinets in the kitchen, new couch, new dining room table, etc.) that I've just done nothing. Part of the reason was I spent more time at my ex-boyfriends then I did at my place, so it really didn't matter what it looked like, I was never there, but I digress.
So, I sent out resumes, and so far I've had 5 job interviews. Yes, 5 out god only knows how many resumes I've sent out there. Finally realized that I didn't update my resume for 2 years on Hot Jobs and Monster, which might explain part of it.
The first job interview was through a friend, working as a meeting planner at a financial publishing company. The interview went well, I was intrigued, but not sure it was a good idea to work for the same company as this person. That turned out to be a good call because when I expressed my doubts about the job, she spilled the beans to her ex-boss, thereby screwing out of the job. So much telling people things in confidence. I hadn't made a decision yet about whether or not I wanted the job, I needed more information, but oh well.
The next job was at a big conglomerate for one of their consumer products divisions. This is a big media company that involves television, movies, and publishing. Just the type of thing that I'm interested in. Great interview, still haven't heard.
Next interview went well, still waiting to meet with the person I'd be actually working for. Have another interview next week on Thursday. Yesterday, had an interview at the investment bank that I worked for last summer. Great interview, they love me, when can I start? Still have no clue about what the salary is, and I can't stand one of the people that I would be working for. Plus, I'd be working for ten to fifteen people, for almost 50 hours a week. I'm ambivalent to say the least.
So what does a girl do when she's in this situation? Why have a Tarot card reading of course. Why make an informed decision based on the facts when you can leave it up to a deck of cards!
The life of an Unpubbed
My hottie of the day can be found at this link:
http://www.compleatseanbean.com/
I love Sean Bean. Unfortunately he plays villains in most of his films, apart from a wonderful turn as Odysseus in Troy which should have been called Brad Pitt's thighs or Brad Pitt's butt, considering how much time was spent on Achilles, the camera lingering on his taut and toned body. Not that I'm complaining but the movie was called Troy and it would have been nice if the director and the screenwriter had spent more time developing the characters of the inhabitants of the city. But I digress. What does this have to do with the life of an unpubbed author?
Well Sean Bean is the inspiration for my latest hero, Philip St. Merion, Baron Treveryan. I first discovered the wonders of Mr. Bean through the movie Golden Eye, the first Pierce Brosnan Bond film. He was lovely and then on Masterpiece Theatre in the Sharpe series. There's something wonderfully sexy and broody about him. Also that wonderful Sheffield accent lurking just beneath the surface, despite the training at RADA.
He has a messy personal life, married and divorced three times, 3 little girls which somehow adds to his appeal. Of course, the hero in my book, has none of these things. Just a broken marriage to someone who fell in love with the idea of him, not the man he really was.
I'm a visual person. I need to have pictures of my hero and heroines, pictures of what I think their house would look like, what clothes they would wear. I keep a folder for each book with all that information handy so that I can refer to it as needed.
Right now, I'm in that stage of the book, where I wonder if I've gone off the rails a bit. My initial idea for the book was sort of a reverse 'To the Manor Born' where a romance novelist moves to a small English town, having bought herself a stately home and a title. Add in a dash of the Vicar of Dibley, the town would peopled with eccentric characters, and my heroine would try to turn the town on it's ear, pissing off the local lord who had plans for the manor that she bought since it abuts his property. He would spent the book butting heads with her, and she revives the local custom of the May Day fete.
Somehow along the way, when I changed the locale to Cornwall that all changed. I may go back to that idea at some point, but this book has taken on a mind of its own. I fell in love with the romance of Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier, Poldark, King Arthur, Tristan and Isolde, and I felt that my heroine would also fall in love with the idea of setting a book in such a place. A woman who was in love with romance, in love with love, and then finds the romance that she was always writing about in her books.
Still I've had a few moments wondering if I should go back to the original plan. See this is normally why writers use outlines! I on the other hand decided to just go with the flow, which has led my characters to taking me on a merry race, totally disgarding the plan that I had come up with for them, necessitating more research on my part, including a trip to Cornwall sometime this year.
I think I just need to finish this draft of the book, read it and then decide instead of jumping ship in the middle of the book.
http://www.compleatseanbean.com/
I love Sean Bean. Unfortunately he plays villains in most of his films, apart from a wonderful turn as Odysseus in Troy which should have been called Brad Pitt's thighs or Brad Pitt's butt, considering how much time was spent on Achilles, the camera lingering on his taut and toned body. Not that I'm complaining but the movie was called Troy and it would have been nice if the director and the screenwriter had spent more time developing the characters of the inhabitants of the city. But I digress. What does this have to do with the life of an unpubbed author?
Well Sean Bean is the inspiration for my latest hero, Philip St. Merion, Baron Treveryan. I first discovered the wonders of Mr. Bean through the movie Golden Eye, the first Pierce Brosnan Bond film. He was lovely and then on Masterpiece Theatre in the Sharpe series. There's something wonderfully sexy and broody about him. Also that wonderful Sheffield accent lurking just beneath the surface, despite the training at RADA.
He has a messy personal life, married and divorced three times, 3 little girls which somehow adds to his appeal. Of course, the hero in my book, has none of these things. Just a broken marriage to someone who fell in love with the idea of him, not the man he really was.
I'm a visual person. I need to have pictures of my hero and heroines, pictures of what I think their house would look like, what clothes they would wear. I keep a folder for each book with all that information handy so that I can refer to it as needed.
Right now, I'm in that stage of the book, where I wonder if I've gone off the rails a bit. My initial idea for the book was sort of a reverse 'To the Manor Born' where a romance novelist moves to a small English town, having bought herself a stately home and a title. Add in a dash of the Vicar of Dibley, the town would peopled with eccentric characters, and my heroine would try to turn the town on it's ear, pissing off the local lord who had plans for the manor that she bought since it abuts his property. He would spent the book butting heads with her, and she revives the local custom of the May Day fete.
Somehow along the way, when I changed the locale to Cornwall that all changed. I may go back to that idea at some point, but this book has taken on a mind of its own. I fell in love with the romance of Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier, Poldark, King Arthur, Tristan and Isolde, and I felt that my heroine would also fall in love with the idea of setting a book in such a place. A woman who was in love with romance, in love with love, and then finds the romance that she was always writing about in her books.
Still I've had a few moments wondering if I should go back to the original plan. See this is normally why writers use outlines! I on the other hand decided to just go with the flow, which has led my characters to taking me on a merry race, totally disgarding the plan that I had come up with for them, necessitating more research on my part, including a trip to Cornwall sometime this year.
I think I just need to finish this draft of the book, read it and then decide instead of jumping ship in the middle of the book.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Books I'm Reading
Just a short interlude before I get back to my work in progress. I was late to work today because I had a job interview that took way longer than I thought it would. I actually had to do some work for a change, instead of pretending like I was working while really working on my novel.
So it's almost 3:00 p.m. and i haven't even started my 5 pages of the day. Yes, I write 5 pages, 5 days a week for a total of 25 pages. I don't edit, this is a first draft and the point is just to get the whole thing out on paper in all it's glory and then start the hard tedious process of rewriting. I know that some writers edit in the morning and then write in the afternoon. I prefer to do a throw it all out on the computer and then edit because otherwise I would be writing and rewriting the same pages over and over again.
This is what made me put my previous work in progress on the backburner. I spent way too much time working on the first two chapters and getting absolutely nowhere. I had it all mapped out, character profiles, scenes, what archetype they were, what personality type, and all for naught.
Now, I'm flying blind and I've written a 150 pages. Yes, it needs major editing, but this is the first novel I've written in a while where it hasn't been like pulling teeth. I don't have 8 people's opinions to deal with, all telling me what I should or shouldn't do with my novel. It's just me, alone with the computer, or at work with the computer just letting it fly.
Right now, I'm reading Hit Reply by Rocki St. Claire who also writes for Pocket Books as Roxanne St. Claire. I'm really enjoying it as it's in emails and IM's and that's what I'm trying to do with this book. It's about three women who have connected with old flames while dealing with the current angst in their lives. It's much deeper than I thought it was going to be, which makes feel good that my romantic comedy has gotten a little funkier.
Also enjoyed the Matzo Ball Heiress by Laurie Gwen Shapiro, a book that actually celebrates New York. Some writers feel the need to create an alternate universe where Zabar's and Gotham Bar & Grill don't exist.
Also reading books on Cornwall, and watching movies set in Cornwall. I have to immerse myself in the world of my novel for it to work for me. I don't know how Nora Roberts can write so well about places she's never been, but that's because she creates new places in her novels. Her books are almost never set in big cities, so she's free to create whatever town in PA, Alaska or wherever.
Unfortunately for me, I like to read about real places, real restaurants, particularly since I live in New York. Some places I create, but some I don't like Tribeca Grill or Eleven Madison Park, or shopping at Saks or Lord & Taylor's. Mentioning sample sales or shopping at Target and Loehmann's. That's the New York that I live in.
Anyway, happy Mardi Gras!
So it's almost 3:00 p.m. and i haven't even started my 5 pages of the day. Yes, I write 5 pages, 5 days a week for a total of 25 pages. I don't edit, this is a first draft and the point is just to get the whole thing out on paper in all it's glory and then start the hard tedious process of rewriting. I know that some writers edit in the morning and then write in the afternoon. I prefer to do a throw it all out on the computer and then edit because otherwise I would be writing and rewriting the same pages over and over again.
This is what made me put my previous work in progress on the backburner. I spent way too much time working on the first two chapters and getting absolutely nowhere. I had it all mapped out, character profiles, scenes, what archetype they were, what personality type, and all for naught.
Now, I'm flying blind and I've written a 150 pages. Yes, it needs major editing, but this is the first novel I've written in a while where it hasn't been like pulling teeth. I don't have 8 people's opinions to deal with, all telling me what I should or shouldn't do with my novel. It's just me, alone with the computer, or at work with the computer just letting it fly.
Right now, I'm reading Hit Reply by Rocki St. Claire who also writes for Pocket Books as Roxanne St. Claire. I'm really enjoying it as it's in emails and IM's and that's what I'm trying to do with this book. It's about three women who have connected with old flames while dealing with the current angst in their lives. It's much deeper than I thought it was going to be, which makes feel good that my romantic comedy has gotten a little funkier.
Also enjoyed the Matzo Ball Heiress by Laurie Gwen Shapiro, a book that actually celebrates New York. Some writers feel the need to create an alternate universe where Zabar's and Gotham Bar & Grill don't exist.
Also reading books on Cornwall, and watching movies set in Cornwall. I have to immerse myself in the world of my novel for it to work for me. I don't know how Nora Roberts can write so well about places she's never been, but that's because she creates new places in her novels. Her books are almost never set in big cities, so she's free to create whatever town in PA, Alaska or wherever.
Unfortunately for me, I like to read about real places, real restaurants, particularly since I live in New York. Some places I create, but some I don't like Tribeca Grill or Eleven Madison Park, or shopping at Saks or Lord & Taylor's. Mentioning sample sales or shopping at Target and Loehmann's. That's the New York that I live in.
Anyway, happy Mardi Gras!
The Bachelorette Part Deux
I have a confession, I do love reality TV. I don't love it all, I could never get into Survivor, and one season of The Apprentice was enough for me. I never watched the Surreal Life until this season, and it took me awhile to get into Project Runway. I adore shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Trading Spaces, because at least something is being accomplished, and frankly who wouldn't want 5 great gay guys to make you over, or someone to come over and totally redo a room in your house. Heck, I would love it if someone would come over and redo my entire apartment. I've got the wardrobe pretty well-covered.
I used to love The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but now with Ian and Meredith calling it quits and watching last nights show of The Bachelorett, I've come to the conclusion that it's time to retire these shows or make major changes to them. Last night it was painful to watch Wendell's family get drunk, and Ryan's family spend the entire evening talking about Thailand. Not once, did Ryan's family ask any questions about Jen, or Ryan or the whole process. They acted as if nothing was going on, and I'm sorry, asking someone to sign your bathroom wall is weird. It's one thing if it's in a bar, another thing to have it in your own home. The bathroom looked like it belonged in a dive, not a family home.
John Paul and his whole family with the two names bothered me. JP seemed to spend more time trying to impress Jen with all his toys. Didn't she just break up with a guy who was stinking rich who had servants fix and serve the meal when Jen came to meet his family. But there was JP, showing off his house, his car, his restaurant. Dude, dial it down a notch. We know that you are financially successful, you mention it everytime you're on the show. I'm surprised you didn't mention the name of the restaurant, like Aaron did when he was The Bachelor. Don't you want all those tourists who come to Oklahoma City to patronize your restaurant?
Wendell, ah Wendell. Dude, I really liked you until this episode when you came off as an overgrown frat boy. Four weeks, 1 alone date, and a visit to your parents and you don't kiss the girl? Despite how attracted you are? Meanwhile Ryan, Jerry and JP have all gotten a kiss (although the only ones she seemed to enjoy are Jerry's) and you never even tried. No wonder she didn't think there were any sparks.
Of course, in the real world, Wendell would have had more of a chance to impress Jen. No competing for her time and attention with 24 other men. An attraction could have grown over time, although his alcoholic family might have caused some problems. Unfortunately, I think that Wendell looked good on paper but in reality you can't force yourself to be attracted to someone that you're not.
Hopefully after this, she and Wendell can continue their friendship. Who knows if it doesn't work out with Jerry, perhaps she can hook up with Wendell or get back together with Andrew Firestone. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I could see Andrew being the one after all.
Now for a quick recap of Project Runway. Wendy Pepper has to go! I'm sorry Heidi Klum is a little teutonic for me. I keep expecting her to start goose-stepping which I know is a horrific stereotype, but there's something about a German accent that makes you want to get in line. My money is on Kara Saun. I think that her clothes are the most wearable out of anyone on the show, besides Austin who needs to think a little bit more out of the box and now from old Hollywood films.
I used to love The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but now with Ian and Meredith calling it quits and watching last nights show of The Bachelorett, I've come to the conclusion that it's time to retire these shows or make major changes to them. Last night it was painful to watch Wendell's family get drunk, and Ryan's family spend the entire evening talking about Thailand. Not once, did Ryan's family ask any questions about Jen, or Ryan or the whole process. They acted as if nothing was going on, and I'm sorry, asking someone to sign your bathroom wall is weird. It's one thing if it's in a bar, another thing to have it in your own home. The bathroom looked like it belonged in a dive, not a family home.
John Paul and his whole family with the two names bothered me. JP seemed to spend more time trying to impress Jen with all his toys. Didn't she just break up with a guy who was stinking rich who had servants fix and serve the meal when Jen came to meet his family. But there was JP, showing off his house, his car, his restaurant. Dude, dial it down a notch. We know that you are financially successful, you mention it everytime you're on the show. I'm surprised you didn't mention the name of the restaurant, like Aaron did when he was The Bachelor. Don't you want all those tourists who come to Oklahoma City to patronize your restaurant?
Wendell, ah Wendell. Dude, I really liked you until this episode when you came off as an overgrown frat boy. Four weeks, 1 alone date, and a visit to your parents and you don't kiss the girl? Despite how attracted you are? Meanwhile Ryan, Jerry and JP have all gotten a kiss (although the only ones she seemed to enjoy are Jerry's) and you never even tried. No wonder she didn't think there were any sparks.
Of course, in the real world, Wendell would have had more of a chance to impress Jen. No competing for her time and attention with 24 other men. An attraction could have grown over time, although his alcoholic family might have caused some problems. Unfortunately, I think that Wendell looked good on paper but in reality you can't force yourself to be attracted to someone that you're not.
Hopefully after this, she and Wendell can continue their friendship. Who knows if it doesn't work out with Jerry, perhaps she can hook up with Wendell or get back together with Andrew Firestone. Call me a hopeless romantic, but I could see Andrew being the one after all.
Now for a quick recap of Project Runway. Wendy Pepper has to go! I'm sorry Heidi Klum is a little teutonic for me. I keep expecting her to start goose-stepping which I know is a horrific stereotype, but there's something about a German accent that makes you want to get in line. My money is on Kara Saun. I think that her clothes are the most wearable out of anyone on the show, besides Austin who needs to think a little bit more out of the box and now from old Hollywood films.
Monday, February 07, 2005
Afternoon Tea in London
From the Newsletter, Letter from London:
By Caroline De Winter
By Caroline De Winter
Hello all, Elizabeth is taking a little break today. She's exhausted from her RWA NYC meeting on Saturday and her busy social life, so I will be blogging today.
I’m sitting here at the Ritz Hotel at the top of Piccadilly . As I sip my cup of Early Grey, the lines of William Blake’s poem, ‘Oh to be in England now that spring is here’ run through my mind. I love London at any time of the year. As you all know I’ve set many of my books in London, including The American Earl. I try to come at least once a year to do research, and I thought I would share my travels with my readers.
According to author Henry James, "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." I for one agree with him. There’s nothing better after a hard day of sightseeing than to sit down for a nice cup of tea. Decadent, Civilized, Relaxing...on my first trip to London with parents when I was fourteen, I was introduced to the wonderful delights of Afternoon Tea and I have been hooked ever since. I try to have afternoon tea in every city that I go to, and I’ve compiled quite a list. If any of my readers would like a copy please email me at LadyNovelist@nytelecom.net.
I thought I would share with you a little history about Afternoon tea. The custom of taking tea in the afternoon became fashionable in England in the early 19th century, an era when the day's main meals were a hearty, early breakfast and a late-evening meal served at around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. at night. Lunch, as we know it today did not yet exist, though a light midday snack was served at noon.
Late one afternoon in 1840, Anna, Seventh Duchess of Bedford, who often experienced a sinking feeling as the day wore on, instructed her maid to bring a pot of tea and a tempting selection of small sandwiches and cakes to her boudoir. [By the way, a boudoir does not refer to her bedroom, but her sitting room] Hunger pangs vanished; the gap between breakfast and dinner had been filled with finesse. Soon the duchess began inviting friends over to indulge in a reviving hour or so of sipping, nibbling, and gossip.
A half-century later, Queen Victoria's love of tea firmly established this refreshing ritual as an enduring social tradition, and the Victorian era became the golden age of afternoon tea. Hostesses vied with each other to make 4 o'clock tea a calm, refined respite of sumptuousness and elegance. There was even a special outfit designed called the tea gown.
Having afternoon tea has been a fashionable social event in London for over 150 years. Tea is undoubtedly the British national drink and having afternoon tea is an important part of English life. Having tea in the glamorous and luxurious surroundings of a grand hotel is an indulgence for the extravagant traveler and the Londoner alike. The London Grand Hotel Tea is something for connoisseurs. Since the late 1880s, grand hotels have been offering afternoon tea to their guests in style. Having afternoon tea at the Ritz or the Savoy became the hallmark of elegance.
By 1910, the London grand hotels began to host tea dances. By the early 1920s, the tea dance became so popular that it continued to be an important social event until World War II. Some of London's grand hotels such as the Savoy and the Waldorf Astoria on Aldwych have kept the tradition and still offer tea dances.
My absolute favorite place in London to take afternoon tea is here at the Ritz. Every day of the year this most British of traditions may be enjoyed in The Palm Court. Tea is served from noon and there are five sittings every day. Reservations are strongly recommended either by phone or through the Ritz website (how modern!). The Ritz, London has a formal dress code in its public areas, gentlemen are requested to wear a jacket and tie when using The Palm Court or The Ritz Restaurant (Jeans and/or training shoes are not permitted). Here’s a sample of a traditional afternoon tea menu. (Many thanks to the great people at the Ritz Hotel for generously allowing me to reproduce their menu.)
AFTERNOON TEA AT THE RITZ
MENU
£34.00 per personAfternoon Tea Sandwiches
Smoked Salmon
Egg Mayonnaise with Cress
Ham
Chicken and Mayonnaise
Cucumber with Cream Cheese
Freshly Baked Raisin and Apple Scones
with Devonshire Clotted Cream and organic Strawberry Preserve
Assortment of Afternoon Tea Pastries and Cakes
Fruits of The Forest Compote with English Cream
Ritz Selected Teas or Ritz Blend Filter Coffee
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Matchmaker, Matchmaker
So, I'm on Match.com. You know the one that Alex Michel, the first Bachelor, is the spokesman for. Although why anyone thought he'd be a good spokesman, is beyond me. 'Hey, I'm too lazy to go back to my real job as a management consultant, so I'll work for Match.com, and this way I'll get to hit on all the hot chicks!'
According to Match.com, my profile has been looked at something like 9,000 times. Do you think 9,000 men have emailed me? No, of course not! Do you think 200 men have emailed? Well, I haven't kept count, but so far I would say a grand total of maybe 50 men have actually taken the time to send me an email. Of the emails, I've received 95% of the men have not paid any attention to what I've written in my profile. Go figure!
What I'd like to know, is how does anyone actually meet anyone from these online services? I mean there must be thousands of profiles. You could spend all day everyday trying to find someone. Granted, Match.com tries to make it easier by offering personality and looks profiles to narrow the search down. Still, it seems like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I can understand now why alot of couples hook up in college. In college, it's easy. Where I went to school, the university had 9 bars on campus, plus something like 25 fraternities. You couldn't help but hook up. Unfortunately, I didn't find most of the guys I went to college with that attractive. I've always gone for the mature guy, who has a childlike side to him, but who is not a completely stunted emotionally. Hard to find guys like that in college.
Plus, I'm an anglophile, and I really dig British guys. In fact, if they're Scottish they have more than a 99% chance, of at least getting a date with me. If they're actually attractive, witty, have a job, 100% of getting laid.
I can understand now why people go on reality dating shows. Think about it, if you are the Bachelor or Bachelorette, most of the work is done for you. 25 men or women have been carefully prescreened for your dating pleasure. You don't have to make reservations, they're all done for you. Not romantic, not a problem, the producers have fixed that. It's no more a crap shoot trying to find love on television, then it is in a bar on Saturday night.
That said, I won't be sending my photo to ABC. The women of color never last past the first two rounds, and I have no desire to be the token.
According to Match.com, my profile has been looked at something like 9,000 times. Do you think 9,000 men have emailed me? No, of course not! Do you think 200 men have emailed? Well, I haven't kept count, but so far I would say a grand total of maybe 50 men have actually taken the time to send me an email. Of the emails, I've received 95% of the men have not paid any attention to what I've written in my profile. Go figure!
What I'd like to know, is how does anyone actually meet anyone from these online services? I mean there must be thousands of profiles. You could spend all day everyday trying to find someone. Granted, Match.com tries to make it easier by offering personality and looks profiles to narrow the search down. Still, it seems like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
I can understand now why alot of couples hook up in college. In college, it's easy. Where I went to school, the university had 9 bars on campus, plus something like 25 fraternities. You couldn't help but hook up. Unfortunately, I didn't find most of the guys I went to college with that attractive. I've always gone for the mature guy, who has a childlike side to him, but who is not a completely stunted emotionally. Hard to find guys like that in college.
Plus, I'm an anglophile, and I really dig British guys. In fact, if they're Scottish they have more than a 99% chance, of at least getting a date with me. If they're actually attractive, witty, have a job, 100% of getting laid.
I can understand now why people go on reality dating shows. Think about it, if you are the Bachelor or Bachelorette, most of the work is done for you. 25 men or women have been carefully prescreened for your dating pleasure. You don't have to make reservations, they're all done for you. Not romantic, not a problem, the producers have fixed that. It's no more a crap shoot trying to find love on television, then it is in a bar on Saturday night.
That said, I won't be sending my photo to ABC. The women of color never last past the first two rounds, and I have no desire to be the token.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
The Bachelorette
So I just heard this week that Meredith and Ian from the second Bachelorette have ended their relationship. I have to admit that I was sad when I heard the news. I really liked Meredith and Ian together, and I thought that they actually had a chance to make their relationship work, despite the artificial way that they met.
Which brings me to the newest Bachelorette, Jen Scheft, who is trying again for Primetime love. I'm not quite sure why Jen agreed to do this show. She's not a natural television personality like Trista or even Meredith. Frankly, I think that they should have gone with Trish, from the Jesse Palmer Bachelor edition. If nothing else, we would have been assured that she would sleep with all four of the overnite dates!
While I'm sure the producers thought that letting Jen help choose the Bachelors was a good idea, in reality, it makes terrible television. Already, all the interesting Bachelors have been eliminated. Stu the stalker, Mike the dog hugger, Febreze the possibly gay Frenchmen. Jen may find the man of her dreams, I'm just bored.
Maybe it's because out of 6 Bachelors, and 2 Bachelorettes, the only couple still together are Trista and Ryan, and they seem to spend a great deal of time trying to get themselves in the media. Fear Factor anyone? At least Andrew and Jen, Meredith and Ian tried to make their relationships work. Aaron dumped Helene before two months had passed, Bob Guiney was with Estella until Rebecca Budig returned his interest, Jesse and Jessica were a complete joke. I think Alex Michel and Amanda tried, but who knows. The last time I saw Alex he was eating cheese and reading US Magazine in the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle (yes, I followed him through the store. Can you blame me?).
I think that the whole reality dating thing should just be put to rest. At least on For Love or Money, you had a choice, cold hard cash or a guy you just met.
Which brings me to the newest Bachelorette, Jen Scheft, who is trying again for Primetime love. I'm not quite sure why Jen agreed to do this show. She's not a natural television personality like Trista or even Meredith. Frankly, I think that they should have gone with Trish, from the Jesse Palmer Bachelor edition. If nothing else, we would have been assured that she would sleep with all four of the overnite dates!
While I'm sure the producers thought that letting Jen help choose the Bachelors was a good idea, in reality, it makes terrible television. Already, all the interesting Bachelors have been eliminated. Stu the stalker, Mike the dog hugger, Febreze the possibly gay Frenchmen. Jen may find the man of her dreams, I'm just bored.
Maybe it's because out of 6 Bachelors, and 2 Bachelorettes, the only couple still together are Trista and Ryan, and they seem to spend a great deal of time trying to get themselves in the media. Fear Factor anyone? At least Andrew and Jen, Meredith and Ian tried to make their relationships work. Aaron dumped Helene before two months had passed, Bob Guiney was with Estella until Rebecca Budig returned his interest, Jesse and Jessica were a complete joke. I think Alex Michel and Amanda tried, but who knows. The last time I saw Alex he was eating cheese and reading US Magazine in the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle (yes, I followed him through the store. Can you blame me?).
I think that the whole reality dating thing should just be put to rest. At least on For Love or Money, you had a choice, cold hard cash or a guy you just met.
Welcome to the Lady Novelist
Welcome to my new blog as I sit here eating my expensive New York lunch from Dishes. Here you'll find my adventures as an aspiring writer, and hopefully tales of dating when you're newly forty, as well as being the President of the New York City Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Whew that's a lot of information!
Occasionally there may be rants about the state of General Hospital and my favorite primetime TV shows. Desperate Housewives rule!
Warning, rampant Anglophilia can be found on this blog!
Occasionally I may post insights from my alter ego, Caroline de Winter, author of several romance novels including her latest The Rebel Duke. Right now, Caroline is in Cornwall, England researching her latest romance novel, and out of her depth.
My goals for this year are:
1) Not to drive my board crazy with too many changes to RWA/NYC
2) Try to have some semblance of a social life, possibly even a boyfriend
3) Find time to work out another day during the weekend besides twice a week
4) Write three new manuscripts, while revising two others
5) Find an agent who gets me (Top 5 List of agents, Paige Wheeler, Jessica Faust, Nancy Coffey, Nancy Yost, Rachel Vater)
6) Getting the call, i.e. publishing contract!
7) Finally get over the schadenfreude/animosity I feel towards published ex-best friend.
I'm nothing if not ambitious for 2005. Notice there is nothing this list about paying off my debts or getting a permanent job. Why? Well for one thing, I'm fairly ambivalent about the job thing, and two, my travel plans take priority over the whole debt thing.
Occasionally there may be rants about the state of General Hospital and my favorite primetime TV shows. Desperate Housewives rule!
Warning, rampant Anglophilia can be found on this blog!
Occasionally I may post insights from my alter ego, Caroline de Winter, author of several romance novels including her latest The Rebel Duke. Right now, Caroline is in Cornwall, England researching her latest romance novel, and out of her depth.
My goals for this year are:
1) Not to drive my board crazy with too many changes to RWA/NYC
2) Try to have some semblance of a social life, possibly even a boyfriend
3) Find time to work out another day during the weekend besides twice a week
4) Write three new manuscripts, while revising two others
5) Find an agent who gets me (Top 5 List of agents, Paige Wheeler, Jessica Faust, Nancy Coffey, Nancy Yost, Rachel Vater)
6) Getting the call, i.e. publishing contract!
7) Finally get over the schadenfreude/animosity I feel towards published ex-best friend.
I'm nothing if not ambitious for 2005. Notice there is nothing this list about paying off my debts or getting a permanent job. Why? Well for one thing, I'm fairly ambivalent about the job thing, and two, my travel plans take priority over the whole debt thing.
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