Topic of the day: Dialogue

Whoo-hoo! Thank god it's Friday, that's all I have to say. This has been like the longest week of my life it seems. My boss has been out of the office which has been great, because I've been able to freely sit here at work and work on the novel that keeps on ticking. The synopsis is done, stick a fork in it. It's still too long, but I'm not going to worry about at this point. I like how it's written, and I'm feeling really good about it. Probably the best I've ever felt about a synopsis truthfully.

I was watching the OC last night for work, and it got me thinking about dialogue. As a former actress, I've prided myself on writing good dialogue. But now I'm writing about teenagers, and they have a whole lingo of their own it seems sometimes. So, I'm watching the OC to get some pointers, although the show is so totally unrealistic. I mean I don't know that many high school seniors who seem to have an endless supply of older babes willing to sleep with them like Ryan does. But it was great to watch my two favorite characters Summer and Seth discussing Ryan and his dates body language.

Dialogue can reveal so much about the character, how they think, what they want, what they're hiding. When I write my first draft, the majority of the novel is nothing but dialogue. I go back during the revisions and fill in all the detail, like who's actually speaking. I read somewhere that if your dialogue is really sharp, you should be able to take away the character's, and the reader will still be able to know who's speaking. Elmore Leonard is a master at that. If you pick up one of his novels, he has pages filled with just dialogue and no tags, but you automatically know who's speaking.

I was feeling pretty confident about my dialogue until I read a YA novel called TTYL by Lauren Myracle that is told totally in IM. Three characters, Maddie, Zoe and Angela. You learn everything you need to know about these characters solely through their interaction with each other. You don't know what they really look like, very little description, just all dialogue. The way Lauren is able to differeniate the three characters is just brilliant. It's made me go back through my manuscript and really examine the way I have my characters talk. What quirks they might have, favorite expressions etc.

It's an ongoing process.

So the question of the day is: Who are your favorite writers in terms of dialogue? Who gets it exactly write for you?

My choices are: Marley Gibson, Eileen Rendahl, Lani Diane Rich, and the goddess herself, Jennifer Crusie.

What's Your Inner Dragon?

Yeah, it's Thursday, which means it's one day closer to Friday. I don't know why I'm so happy since I'm working tonight, and then again on Saturday and Sunday. Maybe because I got paid today for my day job! Halullujah, I can pay my rent not to mention the fact that I can pay my RWA membership fee which is due tomorrow. Thank god for on-lining payment.

In other news, I entered a contest for Depeche Mode tickets, although I don't know 3 other people who are in to them. The question was what was the name of their first album? Well that was easy for me, it's Speak & Spell and I know that because i bought it on my first ever trip to England back in 1981 when it came out. No one in the States had heard of Depeche Mode yet and I was so psyched that I was ahead of the curve for once. Well they played "New Life" at one our school dances and no one got it!

Well, we have another quiz for today. I'm ready TTYL by Lauren Myracle right now, and one of the characters, Maddie is always sending her friends quizzes. So I found this one.

A BLUE Dragon Lies Beneath!

If there ever was a draconic example of a supple attitude, your Inner Dragon is it. Blues are the Water Elemental dragon - typified by their Steam breath weapon. Pretty creative, huh? It goes right along with your Inner Dragon's tendency to maim, but not destroy. Much like your native oceans and rivers will deform the rock over time, eventually wearing it away to nothing.Humans shouldn't make the idiot mistake of thinking you're weak, however.

After all you're a good 30 feet in length and you have a penchant for materializing out of any body of water, no matter how small. The element of surprise and limited magic capabilities are definitely yours. You also enjoy communicating with aquatic life-forms, hunting in totally inhospitable terrain (i.e. 3000 feet below the waves), and using your fluid nature to your advantage. Your enemies probably won't even see you approach in the first place. Your favorable attributes are the sunset, Autumn, water, compassion, peace, forgiveness, love, intuition, and calmness. Naturally, you pity the fool who'd try and prove that calmness part, he'd probably wind up being scalded. *small grin*

My inner dragon is the Water Elemental dragon. If there ever was a draconic example of a supple attitude, my inner dragon is it. Just sit back and go with the flow. *contented sigh* Click the image to try the Inner Dragon Online Quiz for yourself.

Diana's Diversions: GBVE: Marley Gibson

Diana's Diversions: GBVE: Marley Gibson

We interrrupt this regularly scheduled blog

I apologize for being the worst blogger in the world for the past few days, but I have an excuse! Honestly! I've been furiously working on my synopsis and partial to get it in tip-top shape to start submitting it to my top ten list of agents.

Thanks to the help of a few friends, the synopsis is rocking (Thanks MH, MF, and KMJ). I'm really proud of it. After going back and forth over the past few days, I'm going to stick with my first person POV synopsis. I just feel that it's the best fit for the book. Any agent who reads it is going to know right away whether or not they want to read further, or if they even like the story. I don't think that writing it in the third person is going to improve my chances of getting them to read the partial. That's my humble opinion.

The partial is taking longer because I've just reduced 3 chapters to 2. I had the briliant idea to up the conflict in my first chapter, which meant that I know had to totally rewrite them both almost from scratch. Yikes! But I really think that dramatically it works better and raises the stakes for one of my characters. And I wouldn't have known to do that if it weren't for my synopsis.

O0oh, I also wanted to alert readers, if they don't already read Diana Peterfreund's blog to head on over and check out her GREAT BLOG EXPERIMENT. There's been alot of talk on other blogs, message boards, and reviews on Amazon talking about books coming out with similar plots as writers sit down and think to themselves "Hmm, what can I write about that's already been done?". Readers are screaming 'copy-cat.' For some reason, readers tend don't seem to have figured out that it happens that books come out with similar themes or plots.

It could be that something was in the air, or it's a popular theme right now (all the teen vamp books). I once read 3 different category romances in a month that all had male bosses with babies dumped on their doorsteps who either had colleagues or assistants who helped them out, and then they fell in love. All published by Harlequin/Silhouette. But that's all they had in common because the execution was so completely different in each one.

It happens in Hollywood too. Witness the two volcano movies that came out in the same summer Dantes Peak and Volcano. Both movies about Volcanos totally different plot. Or Deep Impact and Armageddon, both movies dealt with a giant asteroid heading toward earth but Deep Impact was more a character study with special effects and Armageddon was totally big budget dreck. Oh, and who can forget Tombstone and Wyatt Earp? Or the two versions of Emma, Paltrow or Beckinsale? Now we have the two Capote movies, Capote with Philip Seymour Hoffman and the new one with Toby Jones and Sandra Bullock coming out this fall. Should any of those directors abandoned their movie because someone else was making a similar story?

Anyway, check out Diana's blog. The experiment is to give several authors the same premise and to see what they come up with. All of them are amazingly different. Particularly my personal favorite which was the newly contracted Marley Gibson's. It was so original and fresh, if she wasn't my friend, I'd hate her guts! Just kidding. But really I'm smelling another series here.

So next time that you see that two authors are coming out with books that have similar plots, stop and think for a second and give them both a chance. You might be surprised.

Tuesday Quizz

Which Classic Novel do You Belong In?

I believe you belong in Pride and Prejudice; a world of satire and true love. A world where everything is crystal clear to the reader, and yet where new things seem to be happening all the time. You belong in a world where your free-thought puts you above the silly masses, and where bright eyes and intelligence are enough to attract the arrogant millionaire/prejudiced young woman of your choice.
Take this quiz!








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POV in SYN

I've been diligently working on my synopsis trying to get down to a manageable length. So far, I've managed to get it down from 25 pages to 15, which is great. I still need to find someway to either get it down to 10 pages. I doubt that I'm going to get it down to 5, not since at the moment it's still in the POV of three different characters.

See this is my dilemma. Writing my synopsis in the first person POV.

When I first started writing, of course, all my synopses were in the third person because I was writing in the third person. But then I wrote my first chick-lit novel in the first person. And it just seemed a logical choice to write my synopsis in the first person as well. I was a little trepditatious at first. It seemed so out there, but then I read Melissa Senate's synopsis for See Jane Date on the chick-lit loop, and it was if a light bulb went on over my head. It could be done.

I immediately rewrote my synopsis for Nearly Famous in the first person and it was a big difference. Not only did the synopsis come alive, but you could hear Julia's voice. I've written first person synopses for the next two books that I've written. Now for the YA, I'm facing a choice of do I continue with the first POV for this synopsis since the book is narrated by three different people or do I do a simple third person POV.

Well, I tried to write one in third person. I even managed to get it down to only 3 1/2 pages, but it's dull, dull,, dull. It lacks pizazz. It just sits there on the page. You don't get the fun of the characters. But it's also short.

So now I don't know what to do. It seems that some agents/editors like the first person POV in a synopsis, some don't. So really if someone rejects my book because the synopsis is in the first person, they might not be the right person to represent me.

So I'm curious to find out what people think? First Person POV in a synopsis if the book is written in first person? Or the regular old third person?

What Movie Kiss are you?

I'm sick as a dog, as much as I hate to admit it. Of course, I'm sitting here typing this at work, and I'll be going to my night job after work. See the way I was raised, you don't miss school or work unless you're lying in a coma. So, despite the fact that I feel like crap that's been microwaved on high, I'm here blogging. So I leave you with this little blog quiz. I don't know why you can't see the picture, but I'm going to take a guess that it's Princess Leia and Han Solo, which is cool because The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite of all six Star Wars films. Don't even get me started on the last three.

Your Famous Movie Kiss is from The Empire Strikes Back

"Captain, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited."

What Famous Movie Kiss Are You?

Reality Round-Up

As anyone who knows me, I watch way too much reality tv, partly out of choice and partly because I have to for work. So here are my thoughts about the latest crop of reality shows that I watch.

America's Next Top Model - I love this show and not just because I dream of doing inappropriate things to Nigel. This show never fails to entertain me and last night was no different. Where do I start? From the scene where they got Tyra mail and somehow translated the latin phrase to mean that they were going to Spain? Gina freaking out when they put the Madagascar hissing cockroach on her, or Jade walking down the runway with hers and kissing it? Girl wants to be a model bad if she's willing to smooch insects. Or Danielle calling herself Snow Black for the photo shoot instead of Snow White Then the piece de resistance, making the models walk in like 8 inch platform shoes, when earlier most of them had a hard time walking in regular shoes. I hope Tyra has paid up her insurance, because if I were Danielle I'd sue. Loved the photo shoot where they had to portray fairy-tale characters while falling.

American Idol - Chicken Little has left the building. Nuff said.

Amazing Race 9 - I have never watched this show before and I could kick myself. This show is awesome! How can you not like a show that not only has a pair of himbos but also a pair of bimbos appropriately named Danielle and Dani. Are any of you best friends with someone who has almost the same name as you? And why would you go on a show like Amazing Race if you were just dating? Anyone remember the gay couple that won that later broke up? Nothing tests your relationship like running around many different countries trying to win alot of money. Loved the detour challenge of either breaking bottles over each others heads or learning a German folk dance. I may have to keep watching this show.

Extreme Makeover- Home Edition - As anyone ever watched this show and not cried? Wait let me amend that. Yes, I have met those people and I say shame on you. Yes, I know the show is manipulative, and perhaps Dunstin Rainford could have benefited from being sent to Memorial Sloane-Kettering for cancer treatment, but making sure that his family has a decent home to live in, if he doesn't make it, just had me sobbing like a baby. Strange thing though, I used to like Ty on Trading Spaces, but now he's become like this camera hogging tool.

The Bachelor - So Travis Stork now makes Bob Guiney and Jesse Palmer look like stand-up decent guys. Apparently not only did the dude hit on another one of the rejected bachelorettes at the taping of 'The Women Tell All' special (Susan) but he's also trying to get in touch with Moana, the woman he dumped for Sarah. Yes, the emotional wreck in the limo. Susan and Moana, if he calls you, don't answer.

Top Chef - I don't know about this show. Somehow it's not as interesting to me as Project Runway, and Stephen so far seems like an arrogant SOB. I'm rooting for Liane, Harold or Miguel to win this thing.

I want my Jimmy Choos

Aren't they awesome? I stopped in DSW last night on my way to my night job. It was a crappy day, cold but sunny. I'd just read an email critiquing the questions that I'd written for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The critique was partly justified. I still quibble with rejecting my first question, because the new question happened even later than the one I'd written, but I digreess. My favorite black boots that I bought in London ten years ago had completely fall apart. So I was hurtin.

But then I saw them against the wall near the purses. The most beautiful pair of shoes I've ever seen. I couldn't believe that they were at DSW. I mean these are Jimmy Choos for god's sake. The shoe of choice of most of Hollywood who don't feel like tottering around on Christian Louboutin platforms.

I've always had a lust for Jimmy Choo's but I've never had the nerve to go into the store to try them on. I mean you just know the snooty sales clerk know they're not going to be making a sale when I walk in the door. I mean these shoes are like $710.00 (but on sale for $596 at DSW). That's more than my maintenance. I'd have to eat Ramen for three months to buy a pair, and I can't tell you what all that sodium would do to my body. My feet would be too swollen to get into them.

But there they were at DSW where you get to try on the shoes yourself, so of course I had to try them on. Man, when I slipped them on, my first thought was Mama has come home. These shoes were like butter on my feet.

I could just imagine wearing them to some society benefit, rocking a great dress. I'd need a awesome manicure for these babies. Maybe something in a soft pink, red would be too garish (unless I bought the black versions). They also made my legs look even more fabulous. Plus I felt tall strutting around on their 4 inch heels.

Trust me these are definitely catch a cab shoes, not take the subway to wherever shoes. I hated to take them off my feet, but unless I sign a book deal soon, there is no way in heck I can justify spending a paycheck on them.

Sigh! But the dream was mine for a little while.

How to tame a wild synopsis

Happy Spring everybody! Although you can't really tell in New York because it's still chilly outside. However, I am hopeful that we'll start getting some warm weather soon. I'm a little tired of the whole turtleneck thing. I want to wear my cute spring outfits. Ann Taylor Loft and the mothership, Ann Taylor have some really cute things, on sale no less that I want to get. That is if I ever get paid. The behometh investment bank that I work for pays every two weeks, but I started after the last pay cycle. Meaning that the 3/31 check is for the first two weeks of March, which is weird. I'm hopeful that I get paid for at least a week next week, otherwise I'll be living in a cardboard box since my co-op gets antsy if you take too long to pay your maintenance.

Since Spring is here there are all kinds of distractions, the biggest being TV. Hello, Prison Break is back and I missed it last night because it was on at 8 pm. instead 9. I'm sorry but who's idea was it to put on a show about criminals breaking out of prison during the family hour? Of course, tonight I have to watch my American Idol boyfriend Chris rock the house. Apparently it's 50's week, so we might see a little Elvis or some Jerry Lee Lewis.

Of course, Blow-Out and the Orange Country Housewives are on too. I really need to get Tivo. At least Bravo repeats their shows ad-nauseum, so I'm sure to catch Jonathan and his antics at some point over the weekend.

However, I have a synopsis to get to grips with. At last count, my first draft was 25 pages. Yep, 25. I now have to get that down to 5 pages. Part of the problem is that the synopsis is in 3 different first person POV's, just like the book. I just need to re-read it and eliminate anything that is not essential to telling the story. That's always been the biggest problem for me. I want to include everything but it's just not necessary. I once wrote a 30 page synopsis for a writing class, and by the time I was done, I no longer had any desire to write the book. I felt I had done it in the synopsis!

On the plus side, I did make some discoveries while writing the synopsis that I can incorporate in my next draft!

Anyone have any suggestions, advice?

Help!

Major News for a Good Friend

Hi all! I have major news about a very good friend of mine, Marley Gibson. She sold!!!!!!!!!!

Take a look at this:

CHILDREN'S: YOUNG ADULTDebut author Marley Gibson's four untitled books in a series about a group of collegiate sorority sisters, to Angelle Pilkington and Karen Chaplin at Puffin, in a nice deal, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (world.) Deidre.Knight@knightagency.net


Awesome news, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person.

Cyber-champagne for everyone!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm hip deep in revisions for my YA synopsis, so this will be a short post. I hope everyone has a very safe and happy St. Patrick's Day. I'm not wearing green, because it's not really my color, but I did have a spinach omelet this morning. Does that count?

Don't drink too much green beer!

Elizabeth

P.S. When St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland where did they go?
Also, I just saw the St. Patrick's Day parade, and I saw an awful lot of people wearing what looked suspiciously like kilts but they're Irish so what's the Irish equivalent?
What do they call the pipes? Just pipes? Since bagpipes are Scottish?
But the Irish and the Scots both speak Gaelic. Color me confused.

Those Fabulous Fiennes brothers

I was watching The Constant Gardener last Saturday afternoon, excellent film by the way, and I was struck by how unfair it was that Rachel Weisz received the lion's share of accolades for this film, and Ralph Fiennes was basically left in the dust. Don't get me wrong. I thought she was wonderfully passionate and feisty as Tessa. She's the heart of the film, the reason that Ralph Fienne's character Justin Quayle pursues her death, she also brings his character to life. But the movie is called The Constant Gardener, which is Justin Quayle's character. It's not called Tessa Quayle and husband. The majority of the film is about him, and how he learns to come out of his shell and not just be the mild-mannered career diplomat just biding his time until retirement while he tends his plants.

I think the reason his work was so ignored in this film is because before The Constant Gardener, Rachel Weisz was chiefly known for the Mummy films, and making two movies with Keanu Reeves. This movie was her chance to show that she was more than just beautiful, that she could act, similar to when Catherine Zeta-Jones won best supporting actress a few years ago for Chicago for proving she was more than just Michael Douglas' much younger wife.

Ralph Fienne's work is just so good that you almost take it for granted. When you don't always play flashy roles like Russell Crowe, or get into fights constantly (also like Russell Crowe) or have great personal charm, like Hugh Jackman or Hugh Grant, or are dark and brooding like Clive Owen, you can get lost in the Hollywood machine. Ralph Fiennes is a chameleon, he can go from dreck like Maid in Manhattan (where he actually had me believe he was in love with Jennifer Lopez) to playing a psychopath in Red Dragon. Not to mention He Who Shall Not be Named in Harry Potter.

His brother Joseph was also pretty much ignored when it came to award season for Shakespeare in Love. There was so much attention placed on Gwyneth Paltrow for being so luminous as Viola, that I think critics forgot that the movie is as much about Shakespeare as it was about her character. I adored him as Shakespeare. He was funny, and romantic, and the ink on his fingers made you believe that he stayed up all night writing the beautiful and witty dialogue that Shakespeare was known for. Not to mention the sonnets.

Like his brother, he's chosen to make smaller independent films, with the occasional big budget movie thrown in for good measure. He's also gone back to the stage, most recently appearing with his brother's now ex-girlfriend Francesca Annis. He was awesome in Killing Me Softly with Heather Graham, who I mainly can't stand. Rent Merchant of Venice (just ignore the greasy hair) and Luther to witness what a good actor he is. Not to mention the criminally long eyelashes, and the beautiful big hazel eyes.

Two very underrated actors. What actors or actresses do you like that are underrated?

Share!

Elizabeth

Four Score!

Okay, I had another post already thought about, but since Megan tagged me, I'll save the juicy goodness for tomorrow. So here goes:

Four movies you would watch over and over:
The Lion in Winter (old school version with Timothy Dalton)
Gone With The Wind
Center Stage
The Turning Point (ah, Misha,)

Four places you have lived:
Syracuse, NY
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA (okay, only when I went to visit the ex-sweetie pie, but still)
London, England

Four TV shows you love to watch (Gosh, only 4? Harsh)
House
Grey's Anatomy
Law & Order: SVU
American Idol
America's Next Top Model
Okay, that's five, so sue me.

Four places you have been on vacation:
London
Paris
Bahamas
Venice

Four websites you visit daily:
NYTimes
All About Romance
The Soap Scope
Iwon.com

Four of your favorite foods:
Lobster
Saag Paneer and Naan (spinach and Indian bread)
crab and artichoke dip
Champagne (It's made from grapes, okay)

Four places you would rather be right now:
In bed
In London
Wherever James Purefoy's at
Sitting in an agent's office signing a contract for representation

Four friends you are tagging that you think will respond:
Vanessa Virtue
Kelly Parra
Gabrielle
Mary F.

Discovering New/Old Authors - Historical Edition

I've written about everything but writing lately, so I thought I'd start something new, and blog at least once a week about new authors I've discovered in various genres. This week, it's historicals. Actually, I'm cheating a little, because Lisa Kleypas is not an author that's new too me. Actually, I'd read several of her books back when she'd first started writing, and I'm not really sure why I stopped reading her books. Partly it was because I was told a few things by someone who had worked in publicity at her old publisher that put me off her, but also because I just stopped reading historicals after awhile.

It happened One Autumn is about Lillian Bowman, an American heiress who has come to England with her family to find a husband. Apparently being nouveau riche, they are not accepted in New York society, which was dominated by the old New York families, the Knickerbockers. Lillian is a member of the Wallflowers, a group of girls, including her sister Daisy, who met when they were sitting at a dance, being ignored. Lillian finds herself attracted to Marcus , Lord Westcliff who she finds rigid, and snobbish. Marcus, on his part, can't believe that he's attracted to the willful hoyendish Miss Bowman.

This is the second book in a series which includes the previous book, Secrets of a Summer Night. You don't have to have read the first book, to enjoy It Happened One Autumn. Lillian is a delightful heroine, well aware of her flaws, but happy with herself. Marcus has done everything in his power not to become the man that his father tried to turn him into. He loves his sisters, and he's a kind and compassionate man, but a bit rigid and mindful of his position in society. Of course these two clash, but they also have wonderful scenes where you can see exactly why they are attracted to each other.

Two scenes stand out for me, the scene in the Butterfly Garden and the scene where Lillian gets drunk. The minor characters are also a delight from Mercedes, Daisy and Lillian's mother, to the other two wallflowers. Even the villain, Sebastien St. Vincent is more than just the cardboard cutter villain. I liked the fact that Lillian found him attractive, and didn't spurn his kisses, although of course, they didn't make her heart sing like Marcus'.

I have a few quibbles and that is I found several historical inaccuracies. The book is set in 1843, and Lillian mentions ice-skating in Central Park. Well, Central Park didn't exist in 1843, nor were there dollar princesses per se yet in England. The phenomenon of American women traveling to England to find rich husbands were the years after the Civil War until about 1905, when more than 100 women moved to England and married peers, including Jennie Jerome and Consuelo Vanderbilt. Also, the Mrs. Astor was only 13 in 1843, and the Astors were considered just as noveau riche at this time. Yes, it may seem I'm being incredibly picky, but these details did take me out of the story for a second. Of course, the general reader might not know these things, or care, but unfortunately I do.

Other than that I loved this book. So a big A for the story, and a B- for historical accuracy.

The other author is new to me, in a way. Eloisa James, I picked up a copy of one of her books I think at the New Orleans conference back in 2001, but I couldn't get through it, plus I was a little turned off by some comments she made early in her career. But RWA NYC recently honored her as our author of the year, and I picked up a copy of her latest historical Kiss Me Annabel and I'm really glad that I did.

I really enjoyed Kiss Me Annabel. What Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James have in common are yummy heroes. Both Ewan and Marcus are too die for. Ewan in particular is incredibly patient with Annabel. He even feels bad when he has them spend time in a simple country cottage, playing at being rustic. He's tender when he deflowers Annabel, and is just almost too perfect. Annabel wants to marry a rich man, but she can't help being attracted to Ewan, a man she thinks is dirt poor and looking for an heiress.

Like It Happened One Autumn, Kiss Me Annabel is the second book in a series. Again, you don't need to have read the first book to enjoy the second. But Kiss Me Annabel intrigued me enough that I'm looking forward to reading the third book, Taming of the Duke, and I've reserved Much Ado About You at the library.

I give Kiss Me Annabel an A.

Weekend Eye Candy

Well, Spring is here, at least in New York for a little while. So in honor of the weather, I give you some eye candy to feast your eyes upon. Above is Mr. Terrence Howard, Academy Award Nominee for "Hustle & Flow"

The new James Bond everyone. Not bad eh?

My love of Gastro-porn or Confessions of a Not-so-secret Foodie

I think it's probably clear from some of my early posts that I love food. I love eating, and I also love preparing it, but more so for other people than just for myself. So today, I thought I would share some of my favorite food sights.


Nigella Lawson - Okay, I worship Nigella Lawson. That's her on the left. I first discovered her by accident watching E! one Sunday morning after yoga, and I was hooked. I think what did it for me was the enjoyment that she got out of eating. She was the anti-Martha Stewart. She plunged her hands in food, she gasped, groaned, licked the spoon. The NYT called it gastro-porn. Basically the things that normal people do in their kitchen. Plus, she's not a trained chef, so when she cooks, it's in a way that normal people cook. I own 2 of her cookbooks, and I'm waiting for them to release the DVD of her show in the States. Otherwise, I'll have to buy a multi-region DVD player to watch it.

The Food Network - It started innocently with Emeril Live, and then moved on to the Barefoot Countess, Rachael Ray, and Giada de Laurentis. Now, I can happily spend an entire evening watching the Food Network. It doesn't matter what's on, the Secret Life of.. which is a whole show devoted one topic like potato chips, or grilled cheese sandwiches. The place I went to in DC, Teasim, I found because of Rachael Ray's $40 a day TV series. What they don't have is a hot show anymore about cooking for singles or couples. They had a cool game show called Date Plate, where a guy or a girl chose who they wanted to date based on the dish they prepared.

The Shake Shack - I love this place. If you're ever in New York in the Spring through the late Fall, you have to check it out. It's in Madison Square park, and they do the best Portobello Mushroom Burger ever. I eat there at least once a week when I'm working, which is so bad, because the mushroom cap is deep fried with cheese and onions in the center and then put on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and Shack sauce which is sort of like the secret sauce in a Big Mac. Yummo!

Epicurious.com - I subscribe to Bon Appetit, but I can't keep the magazines around otherwise my apartment would look like the Collier brothers. So Epicurious is great because I can find recipes not only from Bon Appetit but also Gourmet.

Hancock Gourmet Lobster company - This is where I got the Lobster Pot Pies that I had at Christmas, that were amazing. A little pricy but worth it.

Billy's Bakery, Buttercup Bake Shop and Magnolia Bakery - 3 of the best cupcake and dessert places in the city. I'm a sucker for anything made with bananas and Billy has the best banana cake. I go to Buttercup or Magnolia for Banana pudding with nilla wafers.

Curbed, the Real Estate sight, has a food blog called Eater. It's a great sight for restaurant reviews, news, and other information about food in New York.

And if you check out my links, you'll find Pam Claughton's site, Efoodie.

Have a great weekend, and eat well,
Elizabeth

Cute Meme

I'm crankier than a bull before a red flag today. Not only have I not had any bread or sugar for over a week (8 days and counting) but no caffeine since Sunday. So instead of inflicting my bad mood on the reading public, I thought I'd throw up this cute meme, I got from Vanessa Virtue by way of Diana Peterfreund.

9 lasts:
last cigarette: 16 years ago when my mother died from lung cancer
last beverage: Bad Coffee
last kiss: Wow, it's been so long, it's a distant memory. That's when two people press their lips together right? And sometimes there's tongue involved?
last movie seen: Crash on DVD
last phone call: printing vendor for the futures tickets I ordered
last cd played: James Blunt
last bubble bath: two weeks ago
last time you cried: Tuesday, when I heard Dana Reeve died

8 have you evers:
have you ever dated one of your best friends: no
have you ever skinny dipped: no
have you ever kissed somebody and regretted it: Of course, I'm 41
have you ever fallen in love: yes.
have you ever lost someone you loved: yes.
have you ever been depressed: Duh, I'm a woman. Try every month for 5 days
have you ever been drunk and thrown up: of course! Two weeks ago. It was nasty.

7 states you've been to:
1. Florida
2. Virginia
3. Maryland
4. Massachusetts
5. California
6. Texas
7. Pennsylvania

6 things you've done today:
1. worked on expense reports
2. ate yummy oatmeal with pears and bananas from Dishs
3. had bad coffee
4. showered, washed hair, brushed teeth
5. read up on ANTM and Project Runway news
6. cleaned extraneous crap off my desk

5 favorite things in no order:
1. a great book
2. lobster sushi
3. champagne
4. flirting with one of the editors at my night job
5. nice hands on a guy


4 people you can tell [almost] anything to:
1. Natasha
2. Ro
3. Lucia
4. Susi

3 wishes:
1. meet a great guy who is totally into me.
2. go to London
3. pay off my credit card

2 things you want to do before you die:
1. visit India to see the Taj Mahal
2. sleep with George Clooney

1 thing you regret:

1. That my parents are no longer living.

Let me know how you like the quiz, video and meme! Consider yourself tagged. Let me know, I need entertainment desperately in my no sugar funk. Or at least tell me about the last croissant or chocolate chip cookie that you ate! I need to live vicariously people!

Elizabeth

Sometimes Life Sucks

I was all prepared to write a cute little post about how I went to see Cate Blanchett in Hedda Gabler at BAM in Brooklyn this weekend (she was awesome by the way), and our great RWA NYC meeting, and the fun restaurant I went to afterwards with our speaker and some friends from the chapter, but I'm a little down so I'll make this short.

First, I'm down about Dana Reeve's passing. I didn't know her, but I admired her for the way the way that she stood by Christopher Reeve after he was paralyzed, with love, and courage, and support. Let's face it, whether we admit or not, there are alot of people out there who wouldn't have been able to handle it, who would have bailed. See the episode of Grey's Anatomy two weeks ago. No matter that the marriage vows say 'in sickness and in health.' I just think it's so sad, that her husband passes away and then she discovers she has lung cancer. How much can one person handle. And now she's gone, and her son has lost both parents in less than two years. That has got to bite big time. I lost my mom when I was 24, and it was the most painful experience of my life, I can't imagine what it must be like at 13.

Then I woke up this morning at 4:00 a.m. to discover Niagara Falls in my bathroom. My toilet had spontaneously overflowed in a major way. I had to go get the super in between bailing out water. I'm really pissed about this because I'd mentioned more than once to the management company, board members, that my toilet was having problems, and they did nothing. So now I'm going to have to pay for the water damage to my downstairs neighbor's ceiling because they were so slow to act.

The super came upstairs and managed to stop the water, but then he told me that the toilet was stopped up, and he'd fix it later. I literally burst into tears when he said that since that meant I had no toilet for like who knows who long, and it's that time of the moon. He told me not to cry and fixed it. I hated crying because I always feel weak and stupid but hey, it got my toilet fixed.

So, I hope other people out there are having a better day!

Brokeback Backlash

There's been much talk since the Academy Awards of a backlash against Brokeback Mountain. Now, I don't know if this is totally true, and I wasn't too upset that Crash won over Brokeback. I just saw Crash this past Thursday, thanks to Netflix and I really enjoyed 80% of it, although I thought some of it was a little too pat, like Matt Dillon rescuing Tandy Newton, and then Ryan Phillipe helping out Terence Howard. Just a little too coincidental for my taste, but the Don Cheadle storyline with his mother and brother moved me, and the Persian family struggling to make ends meet, and being lumped in with Arabs just because of the way they look.

But getting back to Brokeback Mountain, apparently many Academy voters just refused to watch the movie. Tony Curtis publicly stated that he wouldn't watch the movie, and that he thought it was disgusting. If this is true, I guess the Academy Awards are like elections, they don't really reflect the will of the people or even the will of the Academy. I just don't get not watching the movie, and just judging it from the subject matter, particularly when you are an Academy Awards voter. Don't you owe it to yourself, and to the Academy to do your job and vote after watching all 5 nominated films?

I think all those older members who publicly and anonymously said they didn't watch it, did themselves, the movie, and the Academy a terrible injustice.

But that's just my humble opinion.

Oh, good news, I actually won the Oscar Pool at my night job! Apparently by a considerable margin. Even though I only got 4 out the 6 top awards, apparently I cleaned up when it came to the technical and other awards. I wish I could take credit but I actually relied the critic from the LA times while filling out my ballot. I don't know how much I won, but at least I won something!

Oscars!

Man, I could kill someone for a loaf of bread right now. I'm serious, a baguette fresh from the oven, with farm fresh butter and maybe some runny brie cheese. My mouth is watering. I haven't had any bread since last Wednesday and it's killing me man. No bread, no sugar, I have dreams of George Clooney dunked in deep dark chocolate.

Speaking of Mr. Clooney wasn't he adorable last night on the Academy Awards. From the opening skit with Jon Stewart to his reaction shot when Stewart that 'Good Night and Good Luck' is what he tells his dates, on to his acceptance speech, he was wonderful. Yes, I know he can sometimes come off as a pompous ass, but he's one of our more intelligent actors, and he makes alot of sense. Plus, his aunt was Rosemary Clooney, and his cousin is Miguel Ferrer. Also, any actor who can go from working on Facts of Life to winning an Oscar is tops in my book. It doesn't hurt that he's still absolutely dreamy.

No real surprises last night, apart from Crash winning Best Picture, which totally screwed me in the Oscar pool. 4 our of 6, instead of 5 out of 6. Okay, it was a long shot for me to also pick Felicity Huffman as Best Actress over the juggernaut that is Reese Witherspoon, but sue me. I mean I love Reese but she reminds me of a chatty Cathy doll who's off button is broken.

Not loving Nicole Kidman as a blonde, but how cool that Keith Urban was her date. I have my fingers crossed for those two. The March of the Penguin guys, you know carrying those giant stuffed penguins with you all the time is getting old. We get it.

I thought Jon Stewart started off rough but got better as the evening went on. I didn't get to see the entire ceremony because I actually had to work last night. I thought I was going to be a floater, but someone didn't show up so I ended up having to watch a Lifetime TV movie called Sex and the Girl. Don't ask! I did tape it however, and I watched it when I got home.

Loved the Ben Stiller bit, and the Cowboy movie montage. But my favorite was the fake TV ad campaigns for Best Actress. Acting while Beautiful, and the Dame Judi Dench one. What was up with Jamie Foxx calling Charlize Theron, South African-American? Trying to be funny? Not! And I loved Rachel Weisz taking Morgan Freeman's hand as they walked off stage together after he gave out the award for Best Supporting Actress. I thought that was so sweet. Maybe they'll work together. I'm sure she'll be happy never to be introduced as the actress from Mummy and Mummy Returns again!

What did other people think?

Childhood Memories

I just heard yesterday that Jack Wild passed away. For anyone who is under the age of 35, you won't know who Jack Wild was, unless you've seen his performance as the Artful Dodger in the movie version of Oliver! But when I was a kid, he was a huge star on par with Bobby Sherman, Donny Osmond, and Davy Jones of the Monkees (another small Brit).

Jack was also the star of the kids show HR Pufnstuf one of the weirdest shows on television. It was a weird combination of The Wizard of Oz, and Puff the Magic Dragon. Looking back on it now, it definitely felt like the writers were smoking something in the Writer's Room.

Jack Wild played Jimmy who had a magic flute named Freddie that could talk and play tunes on its own. One day he gets on a magic talking boat that promised to take him on an adventure. The boat belonged to a Witchiepoo the witch, who used the boat to kidnap Jimmy and take him to her home base on Living Island, where she hoped to steal Freddie for her own nefarious purposes. Fortunately Jimmy was rescued by the island's mayor, a six foot dragon named H.R. Pufnstuf. After Jimmy is rescued by Pufnstuf and his two deputies, Kling and Klang, his adventures begin as well as his attempts to get back home.

Sound familiar. Truthfully, while I used to watch the show religiously every Saturday, it kind of creeped me out. And the puppets reminded me of the old McDonald's commericals with Mayor McCheese and the Hamburgler.

I remember this one song that Witchiepoo sang called, Orange Porange.

Anyway, Jack Wild like a lot of childstars had a rocky time once he got older and stopped being quite as cute. He was also apparently a heavy drinker which took a toll on him, as well as a smoker. He actually died of cancer of the mouth. The pictures of what he looked like at the end are so sad, it breaks your heart.

His death follows that of Don Knotts who I adored as a child watching the Andy Griffith show, and Dennis Weaver who played McCloud.

Everytime I read about an author or a star that I admired growing up, it's like a piece of my life is going with them. The hours of enjoyment that they provided, and the knowledge that they're now just a memory or an image resonates with me. It's one of the things that sucks about growing up, because as I'm getting older so are they.

Sometimes it's shocking when I see Mickey Dolenz, Barry Gibb or Davy Jones today. I remember what they looked like when I was a kid. And I still think in my mind that they should look like that.

Arrgh, it must be Friday, if I'm waxing nostalgic.

My American Idol Boyfriend

It happens every year at this time, I choose my American Idol boyfriend. Season one was Justin Guarini. I know, I know, he was a total cheeseball but I fell for it and his curly locks.

Season two was my boy Clay Aiken or as Kathy Griffin likes to call him, Gayken (which is really cruel. Who cares what his sexual orientation is if he's happy?). Season 3 brought my boy George Huff with his adorable smile, and deep sexy voice. Who can forget his performance of an obscure Elton John song that brought the house down? And then last year, Bo Bice. I admit it, in the beginning I was a Constantine Maroulis fan, but Bo slowly won me over, although at times I thought he was a bit lazy with his song choices.

And now Season Five, in walks Chris Daughtry. From the first episode last week of the top 24 when he sang Bon Jovi's, Wanted: Dead or Alive, he owned the stage and my heart. Maybe it's because he reminds me of an old boyfriend, the cowboy from the Outback, or maybe it's just because he's so good.

Either way, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that not only does he make into the top 12, but that he actually wins this thing! It certainly helps that he's from the same state as Clay and Fantasia. Also, that he's the real deal.

However, there are a few factors that could keep him from winning this thing.

1. The theme nights. Every season, the judges make the singers sing songs from different genres, everything from Big Band (Season 1), Broadway, Disco, the year they were born, etc. Bo stumbled last year during the Broadway week. Why no one suggested anything to him from Jesus Christ Superstar, I have no idea. Even Evita would have been preferable to Pippin or Tommy for crying out loud.

2. Complacency. It happens every year. Someone seems like a sure thing, the fans take it for granted they're staying and the next thing you know they're in the bottom two or three and going home. It happened to Tamyra Gray, LaTonya London and what's her name from last year. You have to vote people!

3. Inevitably, someone sneaks into the final 12 who shouldn't be there, because they have a hard luck story or Simon was mean to them, taking the place of someone more deserving. It happened last season when Mikalah Gordon and what's her name, Janene.

So, I'm trying not to get too attached to my boy. But you just may be looking at the next American Idol. My Chris.

Astrology for Writers

I found this over at Astrology for Writers:

Scorpio:

Ask for new jobs, ask for more money, ask for higher royalties, ask for two or three book deals. If you are a film person, seek the biggest distributors, the biggest film agent, even creative control. ( Anyone who knows Hollywood knows that is the HolyGrail of Writers). Zach Helm must have some Scorpio planets.

Wow! I'd better get cracking my revisions of my YA!

I also have Libra rising, and a Libra Moon, so I always read Libra as well. Check this out:

Libra:

You have enormous physical and mental energy now. This will last a few more weeks, so now is the time to really re-structure the plot line of anything fictional. Rewrites go extremely well during Mercury retrogrades( now) but do not expect to actually iron out all details until the end of the month at least. Mercury has new ideas in store, but they don' t come all at once.

What does your horoscope predict?

March comes in like a Lion

Good lord, is it March already? I can't believe that we're three months into 2006. It's still freezing here in New York. It snowed at some point Monday night, but it didn't stick. The only reason I know that it snowed, is because for once, I could see it on the streets downtown when I went to work. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known. We had no snow in my neck of the woods. Although I did see on the news, that it dropped a couple of inches in the burbs.

March means that April is almost here which means tax refund! Unfortunately, mine is already earmarked for the National conference in Atlanta. Also, April means my first NEC conference and hopefully the chance to pitch my YA to an agent. I have my fingers crossed that I get an agent appointment. In the meantime, March is for polishing my manuscript until it gleams. March also brings with it Mercury in retrograde, which means computer problems, mail delays, anything to do with communication, Mercury has a tendency to screw up. Astrologers recommend that you don't sign a major contract during Mercury retrograde.

March means the return of America's Next Top Model. Aren't the ads beautiful? All pretty and butterflyery (I know that's not a real word, but if Shakespeare can make up words, so can I). I can't wait to see the next crop of catty wanna be models. Plus, Bravo is going to be airing a new reality show called Top Chef. Add that to American Idol and I'm in reality TV heaven.

I have a huge list of books coming out in March that I want, and lots of new books.

March means possibilities, spring is just around the corner, and the days start to get longer. Time to clean up my apartment, and get rid of all the clutter that's accumulated over the months.

It also means, St. Patrick's Day, a day where I try to avoid being near any Irish bars, or any bars for that matter. What is about St. Paddy's day that makes generally sane people go bonkers? And who came up with the idea for green beer? Not to mention the green shakes they sell at McDonald's. Frankly the only food that should be green are the foods that are green naturally!

Hey it's Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras everyone! Fat Tuesday to be exact for those you prefer the literal translation. For the past week, there have been Carnivale in Venice, Brazil and Mobile, Alabama to celebrate the coming of Lent. One last fling before we all buckle down and repent for the 40 days before Easter.

Did you know they've been celebrating Mardi Gras in Mobile, about as long as they have in New Orleans. Since 1703 apparently. I have no idea about this, until my BFF from Mobile told me. Check out the Museum of Mobile site here. And how fabulous that New Orleans went through with Mardi Gras this year, despite the devastation the city went through with Hurricane Katrina. It just goes to show that you can't keep New Orleans down. Like Scarlett O'Hara in GWTW, New Orleans will rise again. It won't be the same city, but I'm sure the New Orleans before the Civil War was different, and the same with the New Orleans before WWI (Storyville anyone?).

I've never been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. It just looks a little too wild, and I worked with a director who got shot at Mardi Gras. I have however experienced Carnivale in Venice, which was the most amazing experience. What was even wilder was that I ran into Heather Graham at the ball at Palazzo Pisano Moretti which is the grand ball of Carnevale. How weird is that?

When I was a kid, I knew Mardi Gras as Shrove Tuesday. I was raised Episcopalian which is Catholic lite and the school that I went to in NYC was named after two English saints, St. Hilda and St. Hugh. Well, Shrove Tuesday is a big deal in Europe. Most catholic countries celebrate it, as well as England. The origin of the name Shrove lies in the archaic English verb "to shrive" which means to absolve people of their sins. It was common in the Middle Ages for "shriveners" (priests) to hear people's confessions at this time, to prepare them for Lent.

Every year, we'd have a pancake supper at school to celebrate. For years, I used to wonder, why pancakes?

Well, thanks to Yahoo! I finally know why. Apparently in England, in order to use up all the eggs, flour and milk, which was forbidden during Lent, people would make pancakes the day before Lent, serving them with a sugary syrup, which we now replace with maple syrup.

Now of course, we have the International House of Pancakes, which knowing a good marketing opportunity when it sees one, now has a Shrove Tuesday night at all their locations. Patrons were entitled to a free "short stack" of IHOP pancakes. IHOPs across the country will celebrate National Pancake Day from 7 AM to 2 PM.

I've missed it, but anyone who lives on the West Coast can still make it.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which is the first day that I will be giving up bread, sweets, Starbucks, and tabloid magazines. Basically everything that makes life worth living. In 40 days, I'm hoping that I will be expunged of my sins, not to mention thinner, and well-informed about something other than whether or not Nick Lachey is going to get spousal support.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

The Final Rose

So, I watched the final episode of The Bachelor, and can I just say that it was the most boring episode ever? Did anyone really think that he wasn't going to pick Sarah? Heck, Chris Harrison spilled the beans before the show even aired. By the way, I know that the contestants can be fined like a million dollars for letting the cat out of the bag, so what happens to Host boy? Does he have to cough up the big bucks for telling Kristin Veitch that he couldn't believe they went all the way to Paris for Travis to pick a woman who lived like 3 blocks away?

Seriously, did anyone believe that Travis would pick Moana the mysterious, the woman who's emotional baggage could fill a Louis Vuitton trunk, despite their chemistry, over cute and perky non-threatening Sarah? Who would be a less demanding doctor's wife? Moana was just way too emotional for Travis. I felt for the girl though when he put her back in the limo.

I learned two things from watching The Bachelor last night:

1) Moana cooked for meals for the women in the house and they turned around and treated her like Typhoid Mary because Travis liked her. After she fed them! Personally, I would have let the heifers starve.

2) If I had drunk a shot every time Sarah said that she and Travis were perfect for each other or mentioned 'Nashville' I would have passed out before the end of the show.

And what was up with the ring on a chain? Why bother at all? It's just taunting her, this ring could be yours if this relationship works out. I hope they at least let them keep the Escada dresses they wore.

I can't help remembering Byron's proposal to Mary Delgado in Spanish, so that her parents could understand how he felt about her. It was so romantic. Dr. Dork looked like he was asking Sarah to the prom or to go steady with him.

I just don't quite get why Travis is so perfect for her besides being geographically desirable. Any conversation that they showed was all about how they lived in Nashville. Is that what makes them compatible?

That's like my saying that because Ralph Fiennes has his moon in Scorpio and I'm a Scorpio, we should be together because Carl Jung says that's the most desirable combination in a couple. Like Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman each have their moons in their partners sign, and they've been married since the dawn of time. So, I should what? stake out the stage door of the theater where Ralph Fiennes is playing to convince him of our compatability?

Moana, honey, you deserve better than Travis. You are the apple on top of the tree, and Travis is not man enough to climb up and claim you. Don't let this get you down. Be proud that you now know that you can fall in love, and that you took a risk. So many people live their lives playing it safe.

You are a winner!

Relaxed and Refreshed

Hi all,

I hope everyone had a great weekend, I know that I did.

To get over the trauma of Thursday night, not to mention the fact that I stupidly scheduled myself to work six nights in a row, I took myself off for a mini-break down to our Nation's capital.

There's nothing like going to museums, eating good food and just relaxing to help get over a disappointment.

One of the good things about living in New York is that cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, and Boston are just a few hours away by good ole Amtrak, for those who don't particularly care to fly. I don't mind flying but Amtrak is such a convenience. Just hop on the 1 train to Penn station, and there you are! Sure it's pricey, but while I'm on the train, I can envision what it was like during the golden age of train travel. When people had private pullman cars (which contrary to GH, you can't just hook up to any ole train) when they traveled.

3 hours and 25 minutes later, I was in DC at Union Station, which has to be one of the nicest statons in the country. Really, Penn station could take notes. But then again, Penn station is like the bastard step-child compared to Grand Central. Why? Because they tore down the old Penn Station that was really nice, to put up the unfriendly, yucky station that we have today.

I took the Metro to my hotel (Day passes cost $6.50 compared to NY). I love the DC Metro, the stations look like space pods, but it gets you where you need to go in minutes. I literally got off the train at 12:45 and got to my hotel by 1:00 p.m.

I stayed at the Hotel Lombardy which is downtown near GWU. Right next door is the Arts Club of Washington, house in a house that James Monroe, our 5th President, once lived. The hotel was okay, a little shabby despite the fact that it was supposed to be newly renovated. Only one elevator worked, and it was manually operated which meant it took forever.

The room itself was clean, with a little kitchen area with a microwave and two chairs and a table which was pretty cute. I dropped off my bags and headed out. The sun was shining although it was windy. I picked up a ticket to see Don Juan at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in downtown, and then headed over to the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

The museum is a very good idea, showcasing the history of women artists over the centuries, but the collection is very small, and they're missing several important artists including Artemisia Gentileschi. I think part of the problem is that most of the well-known artists are already in museum collections. What the museum should be focusing on are unknown artists. The Dahesh museum had a really good exhibit on Women Impressionist painters a few years ago, and I think this museum could benefit from a good curator.

I worked out, relaxed, had dinner at the bar at Old Ebbits Grill, and then saw the show which was fabulous. It made me nostalgic for acting, particularly since they were doing Don Juan. I've always loved Moliere and I was lucky enough to do two of his plays during my career. I'd auditioned for the Shakespeare Theatre numerous times, so it was nice to actually see their work.

Sunday, I went to my favorite place in DC for breakfast. Teasim is a lovely little restaurant that serves organic food and tea. They make the best ginger scones. I actually have to thank Rachael Ray for letting me know about this place. I had the cilantro scrambled eggs with tea smoked salmon. Yummo as Rachael likes to say. They give you a gigantic mug of Chai tea for less than what you'd pay at Starbucks.

I didn't meet any cute guys, but I wasn't looking for them either, although if anyone knows where the guys who work for the British embassy hang out, let me know!

I was having such a good time that I almost missed my train. I had just enough time to get from my hotel to Union Station with ten minutes to spare.

Oh, and yes, I did pick up two books in DC, both YA since I'd finished the Eloisa James that I was reading, and the A.N. Homes book on Los Angles.

I can't go anywhere without checking out the bookstores!

L is for Loser

Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I have social anxiety disorder.

No really. I have no problem if I go to a party or an event and I know people, but stick me in a room with a bunch of people I don't know and I freeze up like a deer in headlights. It's not pretty. And to make it worse, I often put myself in situations, like last night, where I act like a complete and total loser.

In my defense, I thought that I would be meeting someone that I know last night. Otherwise, I wouldn't have spent $75 for the privilege of drinking apple martinis, and wandering around the 69th Armory looking at stuff I can't buy. Okay, truth time, I was also hoping to run into Auction guy. You might remember from a previous post that I met auction guy at a friend's house, and I really liked him.

So there I am at the event, and there he is, and guess what?

He doesn't freaking remember me! Yep, has no clue who I am. Looked right through me. So, I guess I'm not as cute as I think I am. I definitely wasn't memorable to him, despite the fact that we held hands in a circle at one point during the dinner.

Okay, so here comes the part where I should be wearing a Scarlet letter L on my purple turtleneck, which by the way is a perfect look if you're small-chested. Really, turtlenecks make you look like you're actually busty. It's why I wear them alot during the winter. It's my shot at having La Belle Poitrine, also known as cleavage without a miracle bra.

Where was I? Oh right. I'm a loser. Instead of just going up and introducing myself and mentioning where we had met (something I've done before with other people), I did nothing. It didn't help that he showed up with an entourage of women. I felt like I was in an episode of the Bachelor, trying to get the guy's attention.

But then two words: Burberry Chick

You know, tall, blonde, young, stacked wearing a Burberry tartan miniskirt that probably cost half of what I make in a week.

Dude has a girlfriend, which my friend didn't tell me about probably because she didn't have the 411 on the situation. Sometimes without meaning to, your friends give you misinformation like the tabloids, only they're not trying to boost their circulation.

So there I am stalking this guy around the Modern Show, like Pepe le Pew after the poor black cat with the white stripe that he thinks is a female skunk.

On the upside, several women and a couple of gay guys complimented me on my skirt, black, pleated with a net overlay with sequins that I bought back when Express actually made clothes that people wanted to wear, as opposed to the expensive H&M knock-offs they're making now. FYI, Express stop making crap! Anyway, my legs were wasted on this crowd. Not to toot my own horn, but I have a great set of gams. Not Stacey Keibler 42 inches, but they're nicely toned and shapely. Ex-sweetie pie once told me it was the first thing he noticed about me.

Back to my story, so I finally decide to get the courage to say something, and he's leaving! With his entourage! I thought of going up to him then, but I was afraid I was going to get all Allie G. on him and talk about my rotting eggs and demand to know if my boobs were too small. So I didn't do anything.

Truthfully I couldn't be more pathetic unless I tried to cut off my head with a butter knife.

A friend sent me an email the other day called Women are Like Apples. I'm sure most of you have seen it but it bears repeating:


The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

So I guess I'm still waiting for the right man to climb my tree.

Black History Moment - Ira Frederick Aldridge

The dude on top is the great Ira Aldridge, 19th century black tragedian. You could say he was the first black superstar actor, only he had to leave the United States to fulfill his dreams. Most people don't know about Ira Aldridge. I studied theater history in college and I'd never heard of him, but then we really didn't touch upon American theater until the 20th century. And you can be sure we didn't learn anything about what black people might have contributed to the theater. No Williams and Walker, certainly I had no idea there were any black playwrights writing in the 19th Century until I actually directed a play written by a Creole playwright who moved to Paris to write.

I first became acquainted when the theater company I was working with scheduled a production of a play that he wrote called The Black Doctor. I had no idea who he was, but I quickly looked him up and was fascinated that this man existed at a time when black actors were forced to do minstrel shows. Wow, I thought a black actor who specialized in doing classical theater. Somehow I didn't feel so weird anymore for my love of Shakespeare, and Chekhov.

Truthfully the play was pretty creaky. It was one of the those 19th century melodramas designed for the star actor. Sort of an updated version of Othello. You know, well-educated black man becomes doctor, marries white woman, people are shocked etc. But the fact that he wrote it, and that it was performed, and that it hadn't been lost to history like so many other things was pretty cool.

Anyway, back to Ira Aldridge. He was born in New York City on July 24, 1807 to a free couple, the Reverand Daniel and Luranah Aldridge. He was educated at the African Free School in New York City. He probably went to see plays at the Park Theatre, in the special balcony's reserved for blacks at that time. His first theatrical appearences were with a company of black actors at the African Grove.

Confronted with the disapargement and harassment that black actors received at that time, he moved to England where he became a dresser to the actor Henry Wallack. Gradually progressing to larger roles, by the time he turned 18 he had top billing at London's Coburg theater. He eventually played Othello, becoming probably the first black actor to ever play the most famous role for a black actor ever.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for audiences at that time to see a black actor playing that role instead of a white actor wearing shoe polish? The scene where Othello smothers Desdemona must have sent shock waves through the audience. I've read that some critics thought he was entirely too realistic in that scene. Now of course, we take it for granted that black actors play Othello, but even in the twentieth century it was more common for white actors to black up to the play the role, until Paul Robeson took the stage. Even now for a white actor to play Othello, it would be considered a sacrilege. When Patrick Stewart played the role in DC, he was the only white actor in the cast. But things were totally different almost two hundred years ago.

Not only did he play roles like Aaron the Moor in Titus Andronicus, but he also essayed roles that were specifically white characters like Shylock in Merchant of Venice and Richard III. He was considered the black Edmund Kean, the way Billy Dee Williams has been called the black Clark Gable.

He toured all across the British Isles and then onto continental Europe. He spent most of his final years in Russia, where he became acquainted with Leo Tolstoy and where he learned the language well-enough to perform in that language. See Condoleeza Rice isn't the only African-American to learn Russian!

Yes, he married two white women. Get over it, who else was he going to meet back then mixing with white society? He had six children, one of his children Amanda coached Paul Robeson when he came to London to play Othello in the 1930's. Another son was a composer, while another emigrated to Australia.

He's buried in Poland, where he died, in the city's Evangelical Cemetary. His grave is tended to by the Society of Polish Artists of Film and Theatre. Apparently he's like a saint to the Polish theatrical community.

Tomorrow: Ida Wells-Barnett, pioneering journalist and anti-lynching advocate

Black History Moment - 100 Great Black Britons

I was surfing the Internet looking for information on Ira Aldridge, the famous black tragedian when I came across this website listing the 100 Famous Britons. By the way, that's not Ira Aldridge, you'll have to wait for tomorrow's post to see a picture of him.

The dapper dude to the left is Daley Thompson, two time Olympic Gold Medalist in the decathalon. I had a huge crush on Daley during the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. I just thought he was so sexy and he had an English accent. Got to love a brother with an accent particularly one as fine as Daley.

I had no idea what a decathalon was until he appeared on the scene. Then I got up to speed quickly. Isn't he beautiful? I just have to say it again.

Anyway, this web-site is really interesting. Ira Aldridge is included because he became a naturalised British citizen like T.S. Eliot and Henry James. I once had an argument with an Englishman about whether or not T.S. Eliot and Henry James should be taught in American or English literature. Mind you this is the same guy who told me that T.S. Eliot spelled backwards is toilets. (Not really but close enough). But I digress.

As I was saying the web-site was fascinating for the people that I didn't know about. I mean, Naomi Campbell, Seal, Sade, Cleo Laine, Shirley Bassey, blah, blah, blah. We all know about them. We should know about Lenny Henry who did one of my favorite sit-coms called Chef. Do you know when they were shopping around an American version, all the networks complained that it was unrealistic because there were no black chefs? Hello Marcus Samuelsson anyone?

What was I talking about? Oh yeah. There were some interesting factoids, like the guy who taught Charles Darwin taxidermy and went with him on the maiden voyage of the Beagle, Samuel Johnson's assistant, the first black mayor in England, and the first black members of Parliament.

What was bizarre were the inclusions of hello? Elizabeth Barret Browning and Queen Charlotte, George III's wife. WTF? It's like saying Pushkin was black (although have you seen the portraits of him? He was only like 1/8 but it did stand out). Apparently even Saint George of Dragon fame and the patron saint of England was black. Do the Queen and Prince Philip know this?

Check out the website and see: http://www.100greatblackbritons.com/home.html

Making an Old Story Fresh

I was at work the other night when I noticed that they were showing a remake of The Bad Seed on Lifetime. If you haven't seen this movie, then you should. The original with Patty McCormick, which I saw when I was about twelve or thirteen. It scared the crap out of me. The Bad Seed is about an adorable little girl named Rhoda who just happens to be a murdering psychopath. Yes, when Rhoda doesn't get her own way, she gets rid of you.

This was fairly shocking back in the fifties. A murdering child? Get out of town. Remember this was before Columbine, FBI Profilers, John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy. The idea of a child killing, let alone a little girl must have been scandalous. Now of course, it's nothing new, we see it on the news, and on Jerry Springer all the time.

Then there's Single White Female phenomenon. You know the movie where creepy Jennifer Jason Leigh moves in with pretty and clueless Bridget Fonda and then tries to steal her life, or how about that Shannen Doherty movie they keep running on VH-1, Friends till the end where pretty and clueless Shannen befriends the creepy girl with no friends who tries to steal her boyfriend and her band.

Remember how shocking Single White Female was? I remember a friend telling me that she lived it. But now there have been so many movies and TV shows with that plot line, how do you make it fresh.

Well, how about making the pretty, well-adjusted girl the psycho and the creepy girl the one who is innocent? Who would suspect the pretty girl of stealing anyone's life, let alone creepy girl's? Wouldn't you believe creepy girl was the one murdering all the co-eds instead of the pretty cheerleader?

I think about this all the time when I feel like I'm writing a cliche. How do I turn this on it's head and not make it a cliche. How can I possibly make it fresh so that people don't groan when they read the scene.

Anyone else face this problem?

Brokeback Mountain

So, it's Monday night and I'm sitting here at work, for the fourth day in a row, because I scheduled myself to work six days in a row. I know, crazy! What was I thinking? Well, at least tonight, I'm making time and a half since I'm working on a holiday.

I've done absolutely nothing this weekend apart from work, watch the entire first season of Grey's Anatomy (I'm totally obsessed), and see Brokeback Mountain finally. Wow, what a great movie and so terribly sad. I still can't believe that the screenwriters took a 14 page shortstory from the New Yorker and turned it into a two hour movie. I have to say it blows my mind.

And Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are so perfect as Jack Twist and Ennis Delmar. You totally believe that these two men love each other, but they can't admit it, nor can they break free of their lives and live openly. It just hurt my heart watch the mess the two of them make of their lives during the course of the movie.

I felt sorriest though for Ennis because at least Jack wants to take the chance, to live openly together but Ennis can't open himself up, not even to his wife or his kids. Not to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the movie yet, but when he goes to visit Jack's parents, and he sees that Jack had kept the shirt that he first wore when they were together for the first time on Brokeback Mountain, you can't help but feel his pain.

I almost felt numb when the movie was over, it was that powerful.

I've been reading Dwight Swain's book on characterization (if you don't have it, you should), and watching the short piece on the Grey's Anatomy DVD, what he talks about hit home to me. Shonda Rimes said that she wanted the characters on Grey's Anatomy to be people that everyone wanted to hang out with every week, and I really feel that when I watch the show.

It's what I hope to convey in my fiction, people who you want to take a journey with, that make you laugh, and cry, and get angry with when they do stuff that pisses you off.

Decisions, Decisions

It's Friday, and it's a holiday weekend, which meant an early closing at work. Not as early as I would have liked, since I left at 3:00 p.m. just minutes after my boss, but I'll take it. I managed to go home, and take a quick nap before heading out to my night job. I made the huge mistake of scheduling myself for work six nights in a row. Ouch! What was I thinking?

Well, I was supposed to go to Venice for Carnevale, but ended up not going because of work, so I had already asked for some time off. When I put in my schedule, I didn't know that I could override it so that I didn't have to sign up for three days of work. Go figure. Now I know!

I'm so excited. I managed to scrounge up a copy of the first season DVD of Grey's Anatomy. Psych! So you know what I'll be doing this weekend, in between working. I had planned on getting it from Netflix, but I was just too impatient, so I bought it. I'm saving the receipt, so that I can write it off on my taxes. You know, claim that it's research for a medical romance that I'm writing.

I made another decision. I've decided to use my middle name for my YA books when/if they are published. I decided this for two reasons, 1) to honor my mother who named me after a character in a detective novel she was reading (is it any wonder I'm a writer?) and 2) Kerri seemed like a young adult novel name. So hopefully you'll be seeing the name Kerri Mahon on the Teen Book shelves in the future.

I've also decided to take a permanent job at the company that I've been working for since September. This is a big step for me. For one thing, I only get two weeks vacation which is criminal. The Europeans have the right idea, most of them get at least 7 weeks a year. But after careful thought, I'm not getting any younger, it's health insurance, and after being unemployed last year for two months, it's nice to have the steady income, two steady incomes at the moment.

I can't help feeling I'm saying good-bye to my freedom, but until I get that six figure book contract or that movie deal, or get married, I have to think about my future.

Yikes, I feel like such a grown-up!

Prom Night Memories

So I'm writing the first scene of my YA which takes place at the junior prom, here called at cotillion, because the school is snooty enough that they use old-fashioned words like that. I have various complications for my two heroines at the Prom, catty girls, bad fashion choices, a science experiment gone wrong, lothario guy who flirts with other girls in front of his date, under-age drinking (always a good one).

Both my junior and senior proms were incredibly different than the my two heroines. First of all, my school was incredibly small, so the juniors actually had to go to the prom with the senior class otherwise they wouldn't have been able to afford a prom. Also, my fashion choices were great. You can't go wrong with black, and gold. I didn't have a date, but then neither did most of the people at the prom.

Junior year, the prom was held in an incredibly tiny room at the Regency Hotel, which I don't think exists anymore. Senior year it was held at the St. Moritz hotel which is now the Ritz-Carlton. Back then, the St. Moritz was owned by Trump before he bought the Plaza Hotel. It was chiefly famous because Rumpelmayer's was downstairs.

Most of the proms back in my day were held at Tavern on the Green, so we dared to be different. So many proms were held there, that it wasn't uncommon for more than one prom to be booked in a night in the various rooms. My friend's prom didn't start until 10:00 p.m. because there was another prom before it.

Other traditions included riding the Staten Island ferry back and forth until 4 in the morning. Don't ask me why! And having an early morning breakfast at the Empire Diner.

The biggest scandals at my prom were LeAnn and her ex-boyfriend having an intense discussion on the terrace while her date paced back and forth, threatening to punch Jeremy out at any second, despite the fact that Jeremy was about 6 inches taller, and outweighed Alcides by a good 20 pounds. The other was of course, our gym teacher/chaperone who was drinking heavily and really didn't pay that much attention to what we were doing because he was drunk.

So, any one have any good prom memories? Bad? Ugly.

Share, you'll feel better in the morning.
Elizabeth

Valentine's Day

Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"

A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out. Your heart is open to where ever love takes you! Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking What turns you off: fighting and conflict Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Well, that's the truth. I could use a hug right now. I wish I could say I was fearless about falling in love. It would be wonderful to have someone right now, the only problem is I have absolutely no time to find someone! I have to trust that my tarot card reading was right, and that when the time is right, I will meet someone.

About Valentine's Day, I've had some wonderful ones in the past with ex-sweetie pie, and another ex. But there is so much pressure to have a spectacular day, to get an expensive gift, or to get engaged, it sort of dilutes what the day is supposed to be about. I used to agonize every year about what to do on Valentine's Day when I was dating ex-sweetie pie.

I couldn't do the same things that I did last year, or buy the same gift. I used to put such pressure on myself to buy the most fabulous card. If I didn't get a big bouquet of roses on Valentine's Day, I thought he didn't love me as much, that the passion was dying.

One year, he wanted to take me to Benihana of Tokyo, and I hectored the poor guy into taking me to Barbetta, a super romantic restaurant in the theater district. I made him feel bad because he wanted to take me to a restaurant with flying knives! Was that nice of me? No, but it had to be my romantic day. Ouch! I'm amazed that he put up with me for almost nine years.

No one even really knows the true origin of Valentine's Day. There are lots of theories. Some say that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legends also say that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".

Some legends say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. Basically, there are like three St. Valentine's like there are several St. Catherine's and St. Theresa's. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.

So basically no one knows who the real St. Valentine is.

In the US, Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Thanks Esther! Because of you, card stores are filled with pink and red cards in like the beginning of January. Did you know that the town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14? I've even heard of people sending their cards to towns that have the word Love in them so they can have that postmark on their cards.

St. Valentine's Day was also the day that Al Capone's goons took out Dion O'Bannion's in 1929, solidifying his hold over the Chicago rackets.

Sigh! I'm the poster girl for the Anti-Valentine's Day since I've been single. I even scheduled myself to work tonight, so that I don't have to deal with the holiday.

But that's probably counter-productive. Just because I'm uncoupled, doesn't mean I should be so Bah Humbug about the whole thing. So today I'm wishing everyone a happy Valentine's Day both single and coupled. I hope everyone has a day filled with love and happy surprises.

Elizabeth

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

So we had record snowfall this weekend in the Northeast and the city pretty ground to a standstill yesterday. Me, I got up in the morning, put on my snow boots and headed off to my exercise class. The snow was so pretty out when I went outside. Just pristine, like someone had upended a giant jar of marshmallow fluff across the city. Just huge piles of fluffy snow.

I went to school in upstate New York for 2 1/2 years (spent one semester in London) and yesterday was pretty much an everday occurrence from October through April. No matter how much snow fell, you went to class. There were no snow days in Syracuse for us college students. You just strapped on your snow shoes, Timberlands, and headed off to class.

Aren't the puppies cute with their sweaters and snow booties on? The best yesterday was watching this guy try to move his car without scraping any of the snow off the top. He just kept gunning the ignition while he tried to maneuver his car out of the tight space it was in.

People get so funny in New York when it snows. I ran into my neighbor across the hall Friday night, and he was stocking up on provisions like he was expecting Armageddon instead of a few inches of snow. Okay, alot of snow but still.

I stayed home yesterday for most of the day, only venturing out for dinner and water. Watched a fantastic night of television, Desperate Housewives followed by the best show on TV, Grey's Anatomy. What I love about Grey's Anatomy is how they manage to combine the drama with the comedy. There's Meredith with her hand on live ammunition, asking Christina to talk to her, because a) she's freaking out, and b) she really has to pee. And then the last scene where Derek aka Dr. McDreamy tells Meredith about the last time they kissed. My heart melted.

Oh, I also discovered a new tv show on the History Channel called Digging for Truth, starring a hottie named Josh Bernstein, who's sort of a Jewish Indiana Jones. The program was on Stonehenge, the origins and what it might have been used for. Very intersting. Great to see a show that had nothing to do with Hitler, although they made up for that with a show on Hitler's family.

But the best news of all was I picked up Evelyn Vaughn's newest Bombshell, Something Wicked which I'm currently reading.

Sweet!

Keep warm and stay dry,

Elizabeth