webrings

Ok, so random thought today. Shortly after I woke up this morning, and planning out my day and writing and all of that, I thought about webrings. Maybe because I was thinking about websites after a discussion with my sister yesterday.

Do you remember those?

I assume they're still around, but maybe it's because I can't remember the last time I came across one. The idea was a good one, and also very time consuming. Back in the mid-90s, when dial-up was still the new thing and was all the rage and I looked through all these sites through my Netscape, I used to spend so much time online! Granted, I still do, but in other aspects. Now it's checking emails, checking the social networking sites (playing Scrabble on Facebook), but then it was just...browsing.

I even once wondered what I used to do with all that time online. In junior high, it's not like there are a whole lot of options you can do in the evenings, or staying up late night, especially once the homework was finished (of course the homework would always be finished first). And sometimes it was just clicking through the webrings or even looking at a directory and seeing which ones sounded interesting.

Hmmm...the internet was a different place then. Although, you know what? I kind of like it now. If anything, it helps me boost my scrabble score when it comes to playing in real life.

You know what they say: Practice makes perfect!

paris

I started taking French freshman year of high school, and I fell absolutely and completely head over heels in love with the language, with the culture...the history...practically everything. I couldn't wait to go to France, particularly Paris, and experience all of that first hand.

Well...about 12 years later...I finally went.

And it was worth it. Yes, it was worth the wait, in a way. Then also when I was down walking along the Seine, I just thought that within the last few years, I could have managed another trip or two to Paris and already been here a few times. But that's pretty much besides the point. The point is that I loved Paris and I'm already trying to figure out when would be a good time to go back.

I wrote down some thoughts and what I did each day of the four days that I was there, and I'll come back and write those out a little more fully. Because you can't devote only a few sentences or even a paragraph to Versailles or to the Seine or to the little side streets and cafes with some of the most incredible coffee I've ever had.

I just can't believe it took me so long to get there. And yes, it was everything I had hoped it would be, and then some. Four days was a great introduction to Paris, but now it will be time to go back and go beyond that brief introduction to learn more about its history, and the way that some of the stairs sagged at the sides from centuries of use, and to sit outside the cafes with my latte and watch Paris life unfold.

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

-Ernest Hemingway

sleep alone

The other day I came across a new song, that right now, I can't seem to get enough of. The song is "Sleep Alone," by Bat for Lashes. A clip of the song was on a recent Vampire Diaries episode. After just hearing the music alone, before any vocals, I had to have it. It was haunting.

Thankfully the internet is around. So I was able to look it up and buy it, able to listen to it in full right then, and put it on my ipod for my walk to and from work. It's also definitely on the playlist I have for writing. There are a couple of scenes that I definitely would love to have the same feel as the song. Hmmm...what I mean is that when I wrote them, I knew the ambiance I wanted these scenes to have, and then when I heard the song, I thought "that's it!"

I have always loved music that has this kind of dark beat, with light, feminie vocals over them. I've always thought it's such a unique and beautiful juxtaposition, you know? Think Sarah McLachlan's Silence, or even just a lot Sarah McLachlan's work.

Now it's back to writing, with Sleep Alone definitely on the playlist.

now boarding zones 1 and 2...so why are the rest of you up here?

Ok. I think someone's got to say it. And it may as well be me. There is something I have not understood about airplane boarding. If you're not called...then why are you crowding the area around the door? We're all going on the same plane...and last time I checked, if your seat's assigned to you, then it's not like you're going to be able to move up front.

I know. It's so people can find a place for their bags. Which is why I check mine. It's less of a hassle. You don't have to worry about taking out your bag of shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, and whatever else you've managed to fit in there. There's no worry of finding bin space, or it being so heavy that it slows you down if you're rushing through the next airport to make a connection.

The reason I ask is because of common courtesy. When they call my zone, I'd like to board with my zone. It's difficult to find the back of the line when those whose numbers have not been called are slowly inching around to be first once their zone is called.

Yes, this happened to me over the weekend. I was waiting for my second flight to board, sitting down comfortably and reading, when my zone was called. I was looking forward to finding my seat, sitting back and continuing my book. So when my zone was called, I got up and wandered over to the boarding area, only...there was this large crowd with some people inching forward. Not wanting to cut in line, I stood back and tried to find...well, the back. And then the next zone was called, and half that crowd rushed forward....including someone whose carry on must have been twice the size of the allowed limit. Yes, it did take him time to find a bin and yes...I did have to wait in the front of the plane while he tried to fit his bag in.

Common courtesy. If your zone isn't called...please try to make sure you're not confusing those who wait patiently to find their seats. Again...we're all going to the same place. It's not like the plane is going to fill up and leave you without a seat.

NaNoWriMo 2009

Awww...exactly two years today, I signed up on NaNoWriMo (for those of you not in the know, that's National Novel Writing Month). Not that I remember exactly what day, but when I logged in today, it lists the date you joined.

To be honest though, I wasn't planning on signing in at all this year. I finished my novels the last two years, using it as an exercise to just get the ideas out, and it was really good. This year, however, I already knew was going to be a little crazy. I'm currently taking a class, so I have homework, plus I've got some travel that will cut into my writing time too. Though, I'm not complaining about the travel.

But...well then we started talking about it. And then of course I thought of the great motivation that is the word count bar, and even the graph, where you can visualize your progress. Plus, there's the added competition of trying to just get five more words than your friend before going to sleep.

And I also have this idea I've been playing around with, not really sure if it could go anywhere, but I would like to start writing and see where it goes.

So. Am I going to do it again?

Let's just say I'm thinking about.

french press

So it felt like several years ago the French press became all the rage, despite it being a brewing method around for 160 years or so. They seemed to be everywhere and I heard quite regularly how great a cup of coffee made from a French press was.

But, like many fads, this one seemed to quietly fade. It was still there, of course. There was even some restaurant I heard of that served after dinner coffee in little French presses (how cute!). Somehow though, I had missed this. Despite my love of coffee, I never got around to trying it.

Until the other week. A few months ago, I won one in my writer's group, which made me a very happy girl since I've long wanted to try it out. Of course, a few months go by and I still haven't. Finally I got it out from the cabinet, washed it up and scanned over the directions and tried it with my favorite Sumatra blend coffee.

The result?

A resounding yum!

It's so much smoother than coffee brewed in my regular coffee pot, and maybe a little more bold. It's not as warm, but maybe that's just because I'm afraid of cracking the pot and my water could be a little warmer, but so far it hasn't been a problem. Plus, if I make more than a cup, which I normally do, it's not sitting on a burner continually heating up, but on my countertop. This I may have to tweak a little.

But it's definitely delicious, if you're a coffee drinker. Whereas before I looked forward to making a pot of coffee on the weekends and getting a little writing done, I'm now looking forward to my French press and my draft. There have even been a few mornings before work where I've made some. I didn't today, but it's definitely become a favorite.

finally fall

Actually, maybe not quite as much into fall as I thought. When I first started forming this post in my head, it was cold and raining, and that was pretty much the forecast for the next 10 days. A few moments ago I looked again, and after tomorrow it's supposed to be up in the 50s and...if you can believe it, then up in the 60s.

Still though, today...it's definitely fall.

Over Columbus Day weekend, I took a train out to the beach to just get out of the city for a little. It's always good to take a little bit of a breather away from everything, and disconnect. I brought my laptop and did a little bit of writing, though I think the most was on the train ride home. But this trip is what sparked my fall post.

Riding through Virginia, it was so beautiful! There were patches of golden fields, shades of red and orange on the leaves, though still mostly dark green...for now. But it reminded me of how beautiful fall is. Again, keep in mind I come from the South where...well, the only leaf color change is from bright green to a dead brown. Hmmm...not quite the stuff of poetry.

But though it's been almost painfully cold at times, because the rain and wetness doesn't play well with cold and wind, it's been ok. I love this time of year because it's cozy. It says: down comforters, movies, and lots of hot chocolate.

And it's also a good atmosphere to write. But there will definitely be a few evenings where I'll say I'm going to go write, but will be curled up under warm blankets watching a movie, while the wind howls outside and the cold chases everyone else indoors.

music education

I'm a writer that works best with background music. I've already written about my writing playlists, and how it sets the mood for a scene I'm working on, or a character. Music has always been a big part of my life. I grew up listening to music from the '50s, '60s, '70s and a little into the '80s. And of course in my formative years, I was very much in love with the Seattle grunge scene, and then on into the trance and electronic scene (yeah...no one said my taste in music was selective).

And I have distinct memories of dancing around my den with my father to everything from classic rock to soul. The music there would be so loud at times I'd have to shout up to him...ok, maybe some of that could have been due to my height as an eight year old or something. But still...

And I also have distinct memories of being sent to bed on the other side of the house, and could feel the music vibrate through my walls and hear it coming through my partially open door. And I loved it. Maybe that's why I now have to constantly have music on. I'm not such a big fan of the pure silence.

Tonight, for some reason, I had Otis Redding stuck in my head. Yeah, you can probably guess the one. I'll give you a hint: "Watching the ships roll in, / And I'll watch 'em roll away again, yeah, / I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay..."

Was that the one you were thinking of?

Anyway, I checked out iTunes, but kind of wanted a little more than just that song. So then I went over to Amazon and have found my one new item to stick to the top of my Christmas wishlist: The Incredible Soul Collection. Maybe when I was 16 I would have felt lame for wanting "oldies" music, but at 26, I just have to think "man, did I grow up with some great music!"

I know, I know...It wasn't my time, but I did grow up with it. I started listening to the Amazon sampler, and the first song just totally made my night. And each one, I was thought back to my den so many years ago. I like to pass along recommendations, though I don't do it too often on here. But this CD I will. And I'm sure there are others that are slightly different, but just as good. That's the beauty of Amazon. You can just keep going through and finding more.

hope diamond

My sister was in town visiting, and her first day here we walked around Chinatown and then on to the Mall. While heading down to the WWII monument, we passed the Museum of Natural History, and I recalled that there was something there said to be very big, and very shiny, that we might want to see: the Hope Diamond. I've lived here for several years now and still had not seen it.

We went up to see it, and I have to admit I was kind of expecting a little more. Granted, it was beautiful. It's such a deep, rich blue, but I guess because of all the hype I expected something a little more exotic (though that's probably more due to the curse than anything).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not turning my nose up at it. It was beautiful. But it's that whole phenomonen of having something so built up that it would have to have been boulder sized probably to live up to that. Ok, maybe a small boulder. And I also wasn't expecting it to be blue. I pictured it just like any other diamond. But in all fairness, it has been resized twice.

I have heard from others though who also expected it to be a little bigger. Anyone else? Or did it exceed your expectations?

mixed tapes

I watched this movie the other night, a pretty recent one, but set in 1985. And the main character was so excited when his friend gave him a mixed tape. And I just thought...."awww...I remember making my own!"

There's just something that seems to make the mix tapes a little more...personal. I don't know, maybe it's just me. But I wonder if it's also maybe because of the time it took to make one. With CDs now, we know exactly how much time is left and the program will usually tell you if the final song will go over the allotted time.

But with tapes, it took time to make them. There was the first five seconds of silence to go through, and then trying to calculate how many songs, at what length, would fit on one side of the tape without stopping one song in the middle. And if you did...well, who hasn't had a tape with songs that cut off right in the middle?

Now it's so simple to create playlists for iTunes and other mp3 players, and it's great when you can easily create multiple ones the moment you think about it. You don't have to stop and think about which songs and how long they are. But...it's not as much work. It doesn't seem to have to the care and effort that tapes had.

Just a random thought.

my so-called life

The other night I headed on over to Hulu, thinking that maybe I'd watch an episode of Chuck from season 2...because it's taking too long to come out on DVD with Netflix. But...when I got to Hulu, I discovered something even better.

My So-Called Life is currently up in its entirety.

I don't know about you, but that was one of my favorite shows! If I didn't want to be Angela, I wanted to know her, to have a friend like her. And I know that I definitely wanted to know a Jordan Catalano.

There were definitely moments where I knew exactly what they were talking about. I'd had those thoughts, or would have those thoughts very soon and relate over the reruns. And what's interesting is to go back and watch it now. The show was on when I was in Junior High, and then I caught some reruns occasionally throughout high school...but once college started...I don't think it was ever on. Or if it was, I didn't see an episode. I don't think that I've watched it in the decade since I started driving. It's interesting to watch the show now as an "adult," after I've had all those experiences.

"What's amazing is when you can feel your life going somewhere. Like, your life has just figured out how to get good. Like, that second." - Angela Chase

Oh, and another great show on Hulu? 21 Jump Street. I used to love catching the reruns. And yeah, Johnny Depp has always been cool.

author interview: michael sullivan

Author Michael Sullivan will be at the Barnes and Noble at 7pm in Clarendon this Wednesday for a signing for his Riyria Revelations series, of which the third book, Nyphron Rising, will be available this October. Please click here for more information on the books and on additional tour dates. If you're looking for good storytelling, I definitely recommend looking up this series. Michael has graciously answered some questions I've had after reading the first two books in the series.

PH: What do you think makes the fantasy genre so appealing? What is it that you like about it?

MS: As a reader, I enjoy the themes usually found in the typical fantasy story. The heroic struggle of good against evil where good is made up of archetype, underdog characters that triumph in the end. It sounds simplistic, and trite, but I prefer it to more complex, “sophisticated,” themes often found other genres.

As a writer, it is just plain fun. The non-fantasy books I’ve written required large amounts of research. The most mundane things demand extravagant investigation. If a character spends even a brief amount of time in a police car, I would need to research what the interior of that vehicle is like. I could make it up, but there are a large number of potential readers who would know the difference. My stories invariably involve law enforcement, hospitals, and other institutions and settings that I don’t have firsthand knowledge of. Before I can write I need to spend lots of time either going to these places, talking to people, or doing research.

Fantasy requires no research at all. As it happens I actually do a great deal of historical study to add realism, but I don’t have to. As long as I am true to the internal rules that I set down, then as the author I can never be wrong. This allows me to jump right in and write, like getting to play without doing the chores first. In addition, as everything in the story world is of my creation there is a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. After all, who wouldn’t want to be able to play god for a little while?

PH: There were several scenes of swordplay in your novel. And there were some instructional scenes in Avempartha. Did you study fencing at all, or get to take a class to understand fencing?

MS: I get this question frequently and I would love to say that I used to be on the US Olympic fencing team, or better yet, that I have a door in my basement that leads to a parallel universe filled with knights and dragons. The truth is, I don’t know a thing about fencing. Everything in the books are a combination of some research and lots of imagination. Everything in The Crown Conspiracy is completely invented, but for Avempartha, as it required an actually sword fighting lesson, I did do research to assist me in creating a believable scene. That I have frequently been mistaken for a fencer gives me confidence that I created a pretty convincing illusion.

That’s the thing about writing fantasy. To do it effectively you need to be able to suspend disbelief. That’s not too hard to do if you are writing a novel about a middle-aged businessman reflecting on his life as he faces the inevitability of death. But there’s a bit more of a challenge in convincing readers that magic really exists, that dragons are real, or that time can stop. Such things take a bit more effort, and if you can do that then inventing a sword fighting scene that sounds plausible doesn’t seem so impressive.

PH: These were some fantastic covers. Can you tell me how they came about? I've read that authors often don't have a lot of input into their covers, but your covers are a little different.

MS: Yes. I created them myself. Writers often have input on their covers, but no control, anymore than they have over the title of their work. I was lucky. My publisher hired an artist and having seen an early sketch, I wasn’t happy. As it happens, I began my professional career as an aspiring illustrator who later drifted into layout design and art direction eventually owning my own advertising agency, which I closed four years ago to write full-time. I quickly did a painting of what I wanted the cover to look like, and the publisher decided to go with it and asked if I would do all the covers. When I was eighteen I dreamed of being a book cover illustrator, so this was my way of backing into that job.

PH: Who do you think you relate to more, Royce or Hadrian? Or could it be Alric or maybe one of the supporting characters? Is this character your favorite, if you have one (or want to admit you have one?)

MS: Royce and Hadrian are like the two sides of my own personality. Physically I am more like Royce and my wife tells me I’m more like him in personality too…I’m not sure what to think about that. Yet I drew both of them out of myself. Alric has nothing to do with me.

Arista, Gwen and Amilia, (who you haven’t met yet,) find their basis in my wife as I drew on her for inspiration building those characters.

I don’t know that I have a favorite character. The most enjoyable to write is either Royce or Myron, although Merrick is fun as well (another character you’ll meet soon.)

PH: Do you have any book recommendations for those waiting for your third book to come out?

MS: I am really not an avid reader of the medieval fantasy anymore. I grew up loving it, but quickly moved on to the likes of Stephen King and historical non-fiction. Most of the fantasy works of the eighties and nineties don’t appeal to me that much. What I call the “Fat-book” era where sword and sorcery fantasy developed into a homogenous world-building formula that seemed to forget about fun interesting characters and strong compelling plots. Still, my favorite books of all time are still pure fantasy, those being: The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series, Watership Down and The Stand. These are my tens, and I really don’t have any nines. I’ve enjoyed many books, but only these would I ever consider re-reading which, as with movies, I use as a measurement of appeal.

That said I did very much enjoy Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Pillars is historical fiction while Mistborn is a true sword and sorcery fantasy. Yet to be honest, I can’t name a book I can honestly say is like mine. Some have compared it to George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, but I can’t say I agree. So if you’re really desperate for something while you wait, the closest thing you’ll likely find is the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

PH: Do you have a set writing routine? Do you wake up early or stay up late, have a favorite CD to help the creativity?

MS: I write in the morning. Surprisingly that is what many writers do—full-time writers that is. On an ideal day, I write from 7AM to noon, then take the rest of the day off to do other things. It is very civilized. The kids are off to school, my wife to work, and I am left alone in a quiet house with my dog, Toby. I make a pot of coffee from a special mix of decaf and caf, which I have over the years determined to suit my metabolism. I drink perhaps four cups of strong, black coffee over the course of the morning as I write and if it were full strength, I’d probably have a heart-attack.

I settle in at my desk, with my coffee and my dog at my feet and check email. Then it is time to dig in. I have a playlist on iTunes and a radio station on Pandora both of which are called “writing music.” Fact is, I can’t read or write if someone is singing. The lyrics interfere as I start listening to them. It is like trying to compose a sentence while someone is speaking to you. Still, dead silence is dreadful. Music, I found, greases the skids. Emotional, dramatic, or soft and soothing, music can evoke a mindset for creating. The best I found for this are movie scores. Not soundtracks mind you, not a compilation of songs, but the theatrical, background scores, the music you usually don’t consciously hear in a movie. I find it works the same way while writing.

So with the music playing, and my dog resting on my feet (Toby is an American Fox hound we rescued from a shelter last year), I begin by re-reading the last page or so of what I wrote the day before. I edit it as I read and this gets me in the mood to write, it also refreshes my memory of where I was, the flow and the pace and when I hit the blank edge of the last line, I know just where to go next.

Thanks for stopping by Michael! I'm looking forward to reading Nyphron Rising in a few months. And to those visiting, if you'd like to read about what goes on in a writer's mind, check out Michael's blog.

true beauty

Cloudy, grey skies make me want to listen to calm music that I normally think of as "late night" music. This includes lounge, acoustic, light rock and classical. Sometimes it's Delerium, or Massive Attack or Bach. This morning I've put in a CD though that I haven't listened to for several months. I'm listening to Joshua Bell's Romance of the Violin, am reminded of how incredibly wonderful this CD is and also what a great talent he is.

The first song on here is Puccini's O Mio Bambino Caro. And I think this is my favorite song on the entire CD. It's the reason why I started drafting this post in the first place. There's something...almost ethereal about it. The gentle cry of the violin strings are haunting and I just want to close my eyes and lay back and listen to the violin's singing.

I read over story behind the aria, which I wasn't aware of as I have not seen Gianni Schicchi. The English translation of the lyrics show very simple lyrics. But I don't think the lyrics are what make this piece so...beautiful, I think it's the music.

Basically I should just say that highly recommend this CD, and am enjoying an overcast day that made me listen to again. If anything, it's worth it just for the first song. The rest are great too, of course. Like Debussy's The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, which is another hauntingly beautiful song in the hands of Bell.

tour guide preparation

I had confirmation today that family will visit over the next holiday weekend, and I am so stoked. We'd already talked about a couple of things to do, but now that the schedule's firming up, I'm starting to mentally put together a basic agenda. Now, keep in mind she's been to DC before, many years ago, some of the obvious stuff we can skip. Except the memorials as the WWII memorial wasn't up when she was last here, so we'll go see that. And I thought today that her trip might be a good time to finally go up into the Washington Monument...something else I haven't done in the last four years.

Other options? While scoping out the Spy Museum, I saw this thing for Spy at Night, which might be kind of cheesy, but for visiting family, it might be the right amount of cheese. And then of course there's Georgetown, and some of the other neighborhoods that she may not have seen while last here doing mainly touristy type things. And of course...dinner at my favorite Ethiopian place. That's a type of cuisine that I don't think has hit her city yet.

I know, I know...I have time. But it's a lot of fun to plan. It's a good chance to also do some things I haven't done before, like that Spy at Night. I'm open to other suggestions as well!

what's in a name?

So the Sears Tower (which has not housed Sears for over a decade) will soon be...ok, will probably still be known as the Sears Tower, but will technically be the Willis Tower. Reading this article yesterday, I got to thinking about name changes for landmarks. The article even mentions that it could take about 20 years for the new name to catch on. And chances are, that will happen after a huge ad campaign, otherwise...people would probably just keep referring to it as the Sears Tower.

Two years ago when I was in Montana, I'd learned that the Big Mountain ski resort was to be renamed to the Whitefish Mountain Resort. Why? I don't think I got a confirmed answer to that. But the few people I talked to still referred to it as Big Mountain, and said those they knew would as well. I even saw some signs that had been posted that said it was still Big Mountain, or something to that effect (hey, it's been two years!). And then there was the oh-so-clever "The Mountain formerly known as Big."

I don't think the mountain got any smaller.

And then of course there are city changes, or country changes...what brings on these changes? Especially in instances where one name may be so ingrained in our minds that it's going to take an investment of time and money to make the change. Words of wisdom?

"Even Old New York was once New Amsterdam.
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way.

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople"

-Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
They Might Be Giants

writing playlists

Last night I put together a playlist (though incomplete as I still have some CDs to go through), that would help with the mood while rewriting some scenes and making some edits. And...so far I have to say that it really does help. I've sorted through some songs while working on one particular scene...and was able to really get that scene to convey what I wanted. Or so I think, anyway.

Here are some of the songs I've found particularly useful:

Mummer's Dance - Loreena McKennitt
Diamonds and Rust - Joan Baez
Fable - Robert Miles
Before I'm Dead - Kidney Thieves
Truly - Delerium
Is This Real? - Lisa Hall
Standing Still - Jewel

This is just a sampling, of course. And I think a few of these will probably show up in other playlists for other books. I've always listened to music when writing, except if I've gone out to Starbucks for a little writing sessions. And I've found that when I'm home, I definitely get more writing done listening to...the right kind of music.

While going through a bunch of these CDs, I also came across some really fantastic songs that I haven't listened to in awhile. I'm really looking forward to putting those on my iPod for the week.

I'll just have to try to refrain from singing aloud with some of them.

baseball

I went to a baseball game this past week. Nationals vs. Reds. And though it was a pretty uneventful game by sporting standards (at least until the rain delay was over, but I didn't stay for that), it was still fun. And for the most part, the rain held out until the ninth inning. There was a spurt kind of early on where I did pull out my umbrella for a little bit, but it wasn't bad.

I went with my writer's group for a break away from our normal meetings. And no matter the sport, I've since learned that there is something to going to a sporting event with several friends or family, or friends of the family. It's being up in the stands, with all the fans, the classic fanfare foods and yes, even the oh-so-classy beer in plastic bottles.

I have not been converted to baseball though, I feel a little sorry to say. But it is not for want of trying! This was my fourth game. I've been to two Rangers games back in Dallas, although I guess in all fairness I should say I don't remember a whole about those. And then I went to a Nationals game at RFK shortly after moving here. Perhaps if I had someone explain everything to me, much like the last Cowboys game, I'd understand the game better and enjoy it. Although...baseball doesn't strike me as confusing as football. Sorry. It looks like a pretty straight forward game.

I know, I know. What do I know?

But the real question. Would I go to another one? Yeah, I think so. With the right people, of course. And hopefully without the rain. Do you know strange rain looks though when you look up at it falling down when you're pretty high up? It was kind of cool, the first time. But then later on when it came in torrents...not so much.

Who's up for a DC United game?

sunday morning

Mmmm....I love the smell of fresh basil. I was buying it for a different recipe, and knew I would only need a small portion of the bunch I was buying, and so I ended up buying a couple of different items for different recipes to use up more and more of the fresh basil. I would have to say that's one of my favorite herbs.

And not a bad way to start out a day. I feel almost like I'm giving away a secret, but grocery shopping on Sunday morning is really one of the best times to do it. The store isn't very crowded so there's no rushed feeling. I was able to get a lot of great fresh fruit to try a new recipe: Fresh Fruit Parfait with Lemon-Poppy Seed Yogurt. Not a particularly difficult recipe, but perfect for Sunday morning. That along with an iced vanilla coffee...can we do Sundays more often? I'd vote for that.

In other news, I have a couple of book recommendations coming up. I finished up The Count of Monte Cristo the other day, and I have to say it didn't take me as long to read as I first thought. Probably because it's so incredibly good you just get sucked up in the story and the time just flows by.

rain

If I'm not mistaken, all this rain we've been having really should have come in April, right? We had quite a bit of rain in May too, and I remember thinking that it went "April showers bring May flowers," not the other way around. Last night I thought it wasn't raining when I left the office, but it poured. Thankfully, the rain came in light, thin sheets.

At least until I was halfway home and the skies opened up. I even stopped a few minutes under an awning. I had my umbrella, but really at that point, it wasn't doing any good.

To say that I was drenched would be an understatement. And of course....the rain practically stopped just a few blocks from home.

Complaining aside, the thunderstorm did make for a very enjoyable evening once I was home with the windows open and changed into dry clothes made specifically for lounging. And the rain is great also for beauty. Did you go out around DC last weekend? Everything was so green and absolutely beautiful! I took some of the best photos, I think, that I've taken of DC in awhile. Several other times it's been a little overcast, or the colors weren't as vibrant, or what have you.

I have some photos up from last weekend. I had initially planned on just going to the Freer and Sackler Galleries for their new exhibition, but after that I ended up walking around the tidal basin and then down around the mall. I don't think it's supposed to rain this weekend, so I'm looking forward to being out again. But if the rain can just hold off or take a breather on my way to and from work today, that would be wonderful.

reading aloud

It's one tip I've heard numerous times to help one improve one's writing. Read it aloud. This will give an idea of how it sounds and if it flows more. We read things silently one way, but then when read aloud, it may sound as natural as it could.

I haven't read much of my own work aloud. I have read aloud sections in my French books or some French poetry when I'm trying to improve my French. Similar concept, I guess. It helps me speak some French without necessarily thinking about it. But my own work is something a little different.

I feel odd reading aloud in the privacy of my own room (why, I don't know...it's not like anyone can hear me). Maybe it's because since there's no one listening, I'm strangely aware of the sound of my own voice. But it's helping. I've read a few paragraphs of a short story that always seemed ok in my head, but reading them aloud...well, it's making me rethink the word order. And maybe this is a good exercise. Maybe by the time I've finished reading through the short story, the sound of my voice won't seem so foreign and I'll be able to conquer the book.

Maybe.

And it'll be interesting to see how the short story reads once I've made some edits based upon hearing it read aloud.

weekend

So, how was your weekend? Mine? Well, only one way to describe it, really.

Do I need to say much more? Do I wish I was still there? Yeah.

I spent a few, too short days at the beach on the Gulf side of Florida this weekend for my best friend's wedding. There was no question of going down there, really, and not just because it was the beach, but because this is a friend I have really known all my life...for about 20 years. When I thought about it...I can't remember not knowing her.

Having friends like that is really a great thing. The internet has made staying in touch much easier. You can drop a quick email, chat or trade facebook messages. And since facebook and MySpace and all of that has become so popular, I've reconnected with many people I knew in high school and even before that. Which is great. But this stuff didn't really get very popular until near the end of my college days (back when certain universities belonged to facebook only), but my friend and I stayed in contact then. We talked and of course saw each other in breaks from school, even though we were about 1,500 miles apart with our respective schools.

And you know...on that, I have another friend of mine, a college friend, who I have not seen in about five years. And we stay in contact by phone (*gasp!* imagine that!). Sure, we're friends on these online networking sites, but rarely do we trade a message that way. There's really nothing like catching up, and every time we talk, either with her or with my friend who was married over the weekend, it's like we'd just seen each other. Even though the last time may have been six months ago, or five years ago.

I started off writing about my weekend and then ended up talking about how great it is to be in close contact with my two really good friends. But I guess that's the great thing about stream of consciousness. And though the internet has made staying in contact so much easier, there's still something to be said for working towards that contact by phone or letters. I don't know...it's just...it's nice. And it's worth that extra step of a phone call or taking the time out to write an actual letter.

But back to my friend's wedding. In a nutshell, the wedding was beautiful and it was so very much my friend. She is a very laid back kind of girl, and the beach ceremony really fit with that. We lucked out and the weather was incredible! I'm so glad I was able to make it down to the beach, not just for a very nice change of scenery, but to share that special day with her.

And it was a pleasure and an honor to have been asked to have been a part of it.

korbel and bittersweet music

The past two years when I've been back home for the holidays, I've seen the Korbel commercial many, many times. And every time I watched it, I just thought "wow...I love that song."But of course, I had no idea what it was. Yes, the greatness of the internet meant that I could probably find out what it was had I really had my heart set on it.


Only, I didn't think about it whenever I was around a computer with an internet connection. I thought about looking up whenever the commercial came on, or at random moments if I heard a song that sounded somewhat similar.

So this takes us to last night. I was watching an episode of Moonlight (since Anne Rice back in junior high, I've always had a thing for vampires) and there was this song that I thought, "wow, this is a great song. I wonder what it is." And since I was on my computer, I did a quick search for music from Moonlight, and eventually stumbled upon the details: Mating Game by Bittersweet. I downloaded the song from iTunes and, when it finished, sat down to listen to it.

And after the opening, I realized it was the song from the Korbel commercial.

And that made my night.

48 hour film project

I know...it's been awhile. But it's also been a little busy, but in a really good way. In mid-April, I went to visit some family further out in Virginia, and, like last time, incorporated some sight-seeing into the trip. One stop was something that, also like last time, I had apparently seen when I was little but I have no recollection of it. Surprisingly that was Luray Caverns. The other place was new to me, and that was Madison's home, Montpelier.

I hope to have pictures up soon. I've been working on editing through them the last couple of weeks when i had some free time, and also resizing some of them so they're not quite so huge. There are a lot. Mainly of Luray, and I'm weeding through them. I mean...how many pictures of stalactites do you need?


So last fall I wrote about working on a film for one weekend, and how much fun it was to do. And I was really looking forward to doing it. Last weekend the 48 Hour Film Project took place in DC, on a slightly tighter deadline than the National Film Challenge, but just as much fun.

It started on Friday night and I got the basic outline of a story after about an hour's worth of brainstorming with the cast and crew, and then I was sent off on my own to write a story. No pressure, right? It was really good, because during some of the writing period I'd chat with our Director and DP and others in the crew and we'd flesh out the story some more, and ultimately I was really happy with the story.

I will say that I wish I'd brought my camera with me! I meant to, only forgot early Saturday morning as I was getting ready to head out to filming. We had some really cool locations that have sparked some other ideas. And again, it's just so interesting and a lot of fun to watch the process of a film getting made, and also to be a part of the process.

I just have to ask if there's going to be another one before the fall? Anyone?

baking on a holiday

Maybe it's all those Christmas and Easter dinners, but even when I don't have somewhere to go or other people to cook for, I still feel the need to spend time in the kitchen. Granted, I do like spending time in the kitchen anyways, experimenting with new ingredients and trying out new recipes, along with working with tried and true ones. And today was no different.

Firstly, I started out with a long-promised recipe for my office: Fried Nutella Ravioli. The result? Yum. Oh, so yum. Speaking with some friends, I said that I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, and that I should haven't said anything about bringing it in until I knew how it turned out. But as someone pointed out...it's fried and it's Nutella...how could it not turn out? Too true.

And not to worry. It turned out delicious, if I may say so. I did forget the garnish of fresh mint leaves, and while I think it tastes ok without, I can imagine that the fried ravioli would taste even better with sugared mint leaves. I think the mint would add a nice crisp, freshness.

Other than preparing the ravioli, they didn't take too long to cook and definitely didn't make a mess. I was a little concerned about the hot oil splashing, but I guess I used a deep enough pot. A little later in the afternoon I had another project: a coffee cake with dried apricots, pine nuts and sliced almonds. I've made this once before, and loved it. I thought this time around I would make it for family, since I'm going to see them in a few days.

I haven't tried it yet, but it came out of the oven looking nice and toasted on the top. And I'm hoping it will taste like the last time. If it does, then I'm sure the family will enjoy it with some coffee. Hope you all had a nice Easter Sunday as well!

western review

So last weekend I watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid after having the film recommended to me by someone I know and trust. And his opinion didn't disappoint. After watching it, I have to say that for the most part, I really enjoyed it. I have only one real beef with the film, and I'll get that out of the way first.

There's this scene with Etta and Butch riding around on a bicycle (the new invention of the future!), and I had a problem with the pop music playing over this montage: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." Ok, so granted I just looked up the song, and it was written just for the movie and won an Oscar. It just...it didn't really sound very Western. And so that really kind of took me out of the movie for a little bit.*

But that was really about it. Otherwise, the banter between Paul Newman (Butch) and Robert Redford (Sundance) was excellent. And Redford had such a presences, even though he maybe only said about ten words throughout the movie. Ok, maybe a few more. I'd like to say more, but I'm curious first. I was told that after I watched it, I would be informed of a bit of trivia about the movie and Butch and Sundance. So I think I'm going to wait for that.

One more movie I can now say I've seen. You know how there are just some movies that you feel you really should have seen because it seems like everyone else has? I've been going through a lot of the "classics" that way on my Netflix list. Some have been absolutely terrific, and others...well, not so much. But we'll see what kind of trivia I learn now that I've seen it.

heat

I turned on my heat last night, for the first time in awhile. I've been enjoying that crisp, coolness that spring winds bring, but last night...I don't know, it was a little too cool with a little less crispness.

And what was this about possible snow flurries last night? I heard that just as I was about to fall asleep and tried to juxtapose snow flurries with that beautiful warmth and sunshine that we had over the weekend. Hmmm....

I have this slightly lighter but still warm trench that I've been wearing (well, except over the weekend when I didn't need a coat at all!), and I'd really kind of like to put it away for good. At least I haven't needed my wool coat again (knock on wood).

Growing up I was all about the cold weather. I wanted more of it. But that was before I moved somewhere where it's cold for slightly longer stretches than I was used to. Now I'm all about the sunshine and the warm weather. Is there anything better? Well, with that caveat that the humidity stays away. If I'm going to spend a lot of time outside, I'd rather not have my hair frizz.


*As an edit, when I looked over the blog, the bottom page is all about snow. What a difference a month makes. And how different that looks!

2009 Cherry Blossoms

I spent yesterday first down at the Japanese Street Festival and then around the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms, despite the crowds. The festival was larger, and more crowded, than I'd expected. I've been down there for the Turkish festival in the fall, which occupies less street space. But it made sense, the size. So many people are in town for the cherry blossoms and the cherry blossom festival. But after checking out the festival some, which had some great jewelry and paintings, and then also had a fun karaoke tent and game tent (no...I didn't sing), my friends and I head to the tidal basin to look at the cherry blossoms. With all the people at the festival, one would think the tidal basin wouldn't be so crowded, but...you'd be wrong. It was packed! And it was beautiful weather, for the most part. There was some business with the wind, but that was bearable. Although it did make it really, really cold when I headed home after some sushi and sake. I survived though.

I can't recall if I went down to see the cherry blossoms last year. It's one of those things when you're not around, you can think that you can miss them. And I mean this, of course, as a very general you. You've seen them once, you've seen them all kind of thing. At least, that's kind of what I've been thinking leading up to this weekend. I've gone down and seen them at least twice. And did I really want to brave the mad crowds to see them again?

Would I do it again next year?

Yeah, I would. Because they're beautiful! And next year I'm going to take a little picnic. I would have been happy to just sit nearby with the sun pouring through the pale pink petals, the wind rippling across the water and maybe, if the wind blows just right, some of the music from the stage set up in front of the Jefferson Memorial. It's one of those things that I really should take advantage of while I live here. I don't have to plan a trip far in advance to ensure a decent ticket price or to find a hotel room and rent a car, all of that.

And it was also one of those weekends when I just kind of thought "huh...I'm really lucky to live here."

Now granted, that may change during another unbelievably hot and humid summer weekend, but for now as I'm sitting here looking through pictures of cherry blossoms with my window open and my apartment only slightly chilled, I enjoy it and can wonder why I would ever want to leave.

westerns

I have homework this weekend. And no, it's not homework from any classes I'm taking. I graduated a couple of years ago, and while I have taken some language classes since then, I'm not taking any currently. I have homework from my father. Hahaha...and yes, I'm grinning while I type this.

Hmmm...I guess I should explain.

I spoke with him last weekend and got to ask a few basic questions about basic military organization. Long story short: I had a very brief question about injuries and a wounded man receiving water that I was curious about and while receiving my answer, I figured I'd ask a couple of other questions I was curious about. I was in the last 100 pages of The Naked and the Dead and it really helped with my understanding. Anyway...somehow we moved from that to Westerns.

And apparently the one Western that I have to see, and haven't yet, is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. And there will be some trivia information I hear after I watch it. So...like a dutiful daughter I have netflixed the movie and will watch it probably tomorrow night or Saturday evening.

You know what? I'm really looking forward to it too. I actually had it on my netflix list awhile back, but took it off after my list was far too incredibly long (I like shorter lists because I like the feeling of making progress while seeing the numbers drop...don't ask). So this was a really good reason to put it back on there.

I'll let you know what I think about it. I mean...it's a Western with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. And it comes very highly recommended from someone who's opinion I trust, especially with movies. I'm already thinking I'll like it.

So...I guess it's not really homework, is it?

spring?

Wow. What a beautiful weekend. Were you out enjoying it? I definitely was. Sure, I had some errands to run, but I was also out just walking around aimlessly for awhile before those errands. Spring is still kind of a new phenomenon to me, kind of like fall. Though I'm now on my third spring, technically. In Texas we had...maybe a day or two. And since there wasn't this period of about three months (give or take a couple of weeks) at least of really cold weather...those days weren't as appreciated.

But regardless...isn't it so nice to be out and feeling the sun on your skin? And the sun with that nice, cool, spring breeze. Ok...I'd rather spend most of today outside as well. Or the next several, but there will be plenty of time I'm sure.

I definitely wasn't the only one. The restaurants with sidewalk areas were nearly all spilling over into the streets with people waiting for tables. And there were many more people out than I've been used to seeing.

Hope you were able to enjoy it! I'm already looking forward to next weekend to spend my afternoons outside again. Assuming it's nice again.

St. Patrick

Ah...so Tuesday is the glorious, great green day in March when so many people are Irish (either to get a kiss or to not get pinched). But much like Valentine's Day...there's not a lot about tomorrow that's actually related to the saint. Ok, maybe Ireland. And shamrocks...and by a stretch with the two of those...green. Any snakes going to be out and about tomorrow? And what do snakes have to do with anything?

Ok, that last one I still haven't quite figured out.

From what I've gathered, not much is known. There are, of course, a few basic facts that can be attributed to, let's say a year...give a take a couple. But one thing that has been established is that St. Patrick's first introduction to Ireland was as a slave. From a Roman family, he was kidnapped from Britain and taken to "Erin" to herd sheep. During the six years of his slavery, he turned to religion to help him through, and the legend says he had a dream that told him to leave for the coast, which he did, and there he was able to convince sailors to take him back to his family. Shortly after, he began his ordination studies.

After becoming a bishop, he was sent back to Ireland to spread his religion. And this he did successfully, in part, some argue, because he was so familiar with the people, their customs and their language due to his earlier enslavement.

Forty years later...he died on March 17, 461.

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

More on St. Patrick:
The man behind the green beer and myth
St. Patrick Catholic Encyclopedia
Saint Patrick Wikipedia

silence...

So after posting my snow pictures I kind of disappeared, but not by any means on purpose. You see...several hours after posting my snow pictures...my laptop died. And was dead for about a week. Somehow over the weekend my friend brought it back (yay!). He says it in part fixed itself, but considering how it didn't fix itself Tuesday, I'm still giving him credit.

I've been a little afraid to get started on some writing since it was brought back to life, waiting for it to pass away, for real this time, at any moment before my new one reaches me and gets all set up. But it's a cold, overcast day...one of those great days for writing. Plus, my writer's group had some great suggestions last week that I'd like to play around with.

I do need to run to the store too. With St. Patrick's Day coming up I'd like to continue my fairly new tradition of making some Irish soda bread. I make mine without raisins, though I'm a little curious to try it with raisins. And in honor of the day...

Health to you and yours; to mine and ours
If mine and ours ever come across you and yours,
I hope that you and yours will do as much for mine and ours
As mine and ours have done for you and yours.

snow

Ok, so yesterday I'm talking about gelato and how I can't wait for it to open so I can get gelato any time I want (is my joy at this new venture coming through yet?) and then it snows, taking my mind far off ice cream of any kind.

But it was so nice to have an unexpected snow day, and then of course to hang out at home, where it was warm and enjoy the snow falling. Though of course, I didn't do that for too long. I did somehow manage to convince myself to go out around and take some pictures. Though it was a little too cold to go all the way down to the mall again and take pictures in the snow.

And the best part was coming back home, changing into warm sweats with my heat cranked up and making some hot chocolate from Williams Sonoma. I was tempted to go back to ACKC, but at that point I was already closer to my apartment and was cold! Besides, I hadn't made the Williams Sonoma hot chocolate in awhile, and I could make that from the comfort of my own kitchen.

Anyway, it's back now to editing and writing. I'm working on editing a chapter that I think I'll submit to my writers' group, and then I've also had a story in the back of my mind that I'm kind of playing around with. It's still YA, but it's different from the series I'm working on, and so far I really like the two main characters. Who knows, maybe I'll have a chapter for my group for thoughts.

ask and you shall receive

A few people who know me know of my love for gelato. Ok, even if you don't know me, I think I've mentioned it here a few times. However, there really aren't any gelateria places in my neighborhood, at least not that I've found. There are several relatively nearby, but a metro ride away and something that would take planning. Not waking up or hanging out in my apartment and thinking...hmmm...I'd really like some gelato right now.

And yes, I can and have bought some delicious gelato from Whole Foods, but it's not the same thing.

So imagine my delight when walking home the other night I happened to look into a tiny little store and seeing the sign that some gelateria was opening soon.

It will be a very exciting day when it opens. Yes, to reiterate, it is the little things in life.

buying local

About a week or so ago, while doing my weekly shopping at Whole Foods, I stopped in the ice cream section to pick up some more gelato. It wasn't a particularly cold weekend then, which is why gelato didn't seem like such a crazy idea. But while looking over the selection, deciding if I wanted to try a new flavor, I saw a little note underneath one shelf of ice cream: Local brand!

And what struck me were the flavors. There was orange chocolate chip (which is what I ended up buying) and rice pudding, and unfortunately I can't recall the other flavors but they were just as unique. It was the first instance where the local product really caught my attention. I think in the past I've bought some local produce before, and of course the farmer's market in my area each week, but it never really jumped out at me. I think what did it was the uniqueness of the flavors.

And of course...the ice cream was delicious! I don't recall the name of the brand, only that it was from Manassas, and it's definitely one I'll pick up again. About a year ago I'd started following a blog, Local Feast, which at the time was a seasonal experiment. And then I don't think I've really become aware of any such organization, but in NW Montana, there is a Buy Local organization with a logo to really get its point across and increase the recognition of local products and local businesses in the area. It kind of reminds me of the USDA organic labels. At one glance you know it's organic and will pick it up, if that's what you're shopping for of course. And of course the website will list the members so if you're shopping for something specific, and know you want to buy local, then take a look at the businesses.

I think part of the appeal is of course boosting local economies and even getting to know the local businesses on a personal basis. But also...as I discovered with the ice cream, there's more room for experimentation, which is fun. Rice pudding flavored ice cream?

Ah, after a quick search, I did see something in this area: Local First DC, for one. And others that a quick search will yield.

review: just listen by sarah dessen

Some of you may know that I have been reading more and more Young Adult fiction while working on my own writing, and while looking for more reads, particularly those that are talked about a lot to see what works and how certain issues are addressed, there are several writers who come up repeatedly. I read this book a couple of weeks ago after hearing much about Sarah Dessen. And I think that this was a great introductory book to her writing.

Just Listen is the story about Annabel Greene, a girl who, from the outside, came from a close-knit, happy family, was part of the in-group at school and also modeled part-time. But things are not what they seem, and after what appears to be a misunderstanding, Annabel is no longer friends with her "best" friend, and finds herself alone, in part self-imposed. And then there's her family, her beautiful, middle sister who has an eating disorder no one will talk about at first, or face. And rather than bring these topics up, or tell her friends what really happened last spring, Annabel seems to tell herself that, in a way, its better this way.

And then there's Owen. The school loner who she begins to become friends with and who ultimately helps her open up and tell people what's happening, when before she claimed she was only "being nice." And that's a moment I know I've had, when you really should say something, but you don't.

What I liked about Just Listen, other than the writing of course, which was brilliant and fresh, but was the aspect of music. Owen is a music fiend, he loves it and constantly has it playing, saying that it saved him back during his rough time. While I can't pinpoint any moment where I started listening to music more, I did relate. I love music and find the static silence near unbearable. Who knows how many times I've had to put in either my angsty rock music or some Fiona Apple or Tori Amos, and then of course my dance music. And in the evenings to unwind, its either some lounge or classical. But I could definitely relate to the music and the need for its presence.

The writing, as I mentioned earlier, is fantastic. And there's great character development, especially with Annabel but also her sisters and new friends (and some old friends too). Whitney's change was subtle, which it would be if it happened to my sister and me too. Little changes that eventually add up, even if you don't quite notice them as they're taking place. And no matter what age group you're writing for or reading, it's those little things that really make a story real.