Jun 27, 2012 |
Wow, can you believe it’s the last week of June already? I can’t! I thought once Dot graduated that it would go by slower. Truth is, we’ve been enjoying so much family and friends time that the last month has flown by.
In other respects, it’s also been very slow. I keep waiting for any job opportunity to come my way. So far, no joy. I thought having so much time on my hands would lead to some great writing, but the truth is, it had an adverse affect. I’ve felt a little useless lately. A little non-contributive (is that a word? It is now!). But that stopped a few days ago. I really started reading and writing again (Have you entered to win your own copy of Louis L’Amour’s Short Story Collection? Click on the first link under this post to do so!).
I’ve been working on a new short story set in New Orleans. Except I know it won’t be a short story. Because it took me three pages just to introduce the protagonist (main character). Yup. That’s a big word. I’m trying to use bigger words, to grow my vocabulary. I’ve been perusing the web and finding that, while I enjoy the chit-chat language and vernacular, I also enjoy reading that which makes me feel smarter, that which challenges my language skills. If I have to use a dictionary at least twice a week, I like it. More than that, and I’m in Heaven. Every day, though, and it’s too much. So. Yes. I’m creating a smart protagonist. And I’m loving it.
I’m also coming to terms with my emotions. Dot’s a high school graduate. She’s practically an adult. It’s weird to see her going out with her friends so much. And for me to stay at home. We used to do family dates. Now, she’s got her group, and I’ve got… my chair. Not that I don’t have friends. I just don’t go out as much. She goes to movies and dinners. My friends and I just hang out at each others’ houses (mostly theirs, since most of my friends have cat allergies). I don’t mind. It’s just different. I’m not as social as I used to be.
May brought about the death of Dot’s boyfriend, and the end of my beloved FLASHPOINT, and several job opportunities that didn’t come through. I was pretty angry at God for a while, and I had to come to terms with that. I’m not ready to write it out yet. But suffice to say, that as always, I know God is God and I’m not so any time I think I know better… I’m an idiot.
So you can see I’ve a plethora of emotions that I’m still working through. I’m so thankful for my wonderful family and friends. They put up with me, keep me in check, and just nod and say, “I know…” when I start to cry. I’m also learning that just because I cry a lot does not mean I’m weak. I’ve already started a blog post on that, but I want to make it better before publishing.
I’m looking forward to someday soon being able to give back to my family and friends as much as they give to me. To tell Jaye, “Heck yeah, let’s have coffee!” and to give Megan a workable manuscript. To try new recipes with my mom. Just to let everyone know, I love them. I’m a people-person. And as Jaye told me today, “I’m your peeps.” I like that. I think that should be our motto whenever we see someone we know.
You never know what someone’s going through. And we’re all going through something. Nobody’s life is perfect, is stress free, is truly fine. Everyone has something. Wouldn’t it be neat to know we’re not alone? When we’re going through life, wouldn’t it be great if someone stepped along side and said, “I’m your peeps.” Even if they don’t know, even if we can’t share the load, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to walk with? Wouldn’t it be great for others if we could say it to them?
“I’m your peeps.”
Yeah. I think the world might be a better place.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
What’s the Word? Wednesdays is a linky that allows other bloggers to share whatever is on their minds that they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends.
What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s linky is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow!
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Jun 26, 2012 |
Yep. Reality is sinking in… this is the last week of full cast shooting for the greatest drama on television. We’ve yet to even start viewing Season Five, but that is just a small offset of the somber mood we’re in over at FPTOne and Twitter.
And I’m not even officially associated with the show.
I’m just a fan. Who’s made friends with many other fans.
That’s part of the attraction of Flashpoint: the draw into a community where people really relate to each other. Really talk with each other. Really celebrate the wins. And really share the pain of a path we’d rather not be on.
I’ve kept my distance from the FPTO wall on facebook and twitter. Partly because life keeps me busy. Partly because it’s not my favorite moment. I’m having a hard time letting it sink in that the show is really over.
No more awesome pic tweets that Kate will share from Ted and Sergio and Rico and everyone else. Angelo’s artwork will be “in remembrance of…”
I’m thankful for the friendships forged with Kate, Mary, Angelo, Mary Catherine, Beth, and so many others. That we not only “meet” up on the public facebook page, but we’ve grown into honest, sharing, caring friends. Sure, I’ve yet to meet them in person. But they’re real. And they treat me like I matter. That’s the beauty of Flashpoint and all who get involved: from the cast to the crew to the fans. We all matter.
Thankfully the Facebook Page Producers have promised to stick around through the airing of Season Five. That’s good. So many of us look forward to continuing that camaraderie.
If it weren’t for the friends I’ve made through Flashpoint, I’d still be… well, I’d still be me, but a lesser version.
But I don’t want this post to be about me. I’ve written enough about Flashpoint in the past, and I will continue to do so.
This post is dedicated to Flashpoint Final Days, and I invite you to leave your comments about the show, the community, and the ending of this ground-breaking drama here.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jun 25, 2012 |
In researching New Orleans and surrounding area for my current writing project, I’ve discovered and rediscovered some great trivia about the state:
*The Louisiana Purchase was in 1803, and amounted to less than 3 cents per acre at the time.
*The Louisiana territory covered all or part of 15 current United States as well as two Canadian Provinces.
*Louisiana’s roots include French, Spanish, and British.
*Louisiana was named after French King Louis XIV.
*Jazz music was born at the turn of the 20th century, primarily in New Orleans’ black communities.
*Some of the most famous musicians to come out of New Orleans include Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick, Jr., Branford Marsalis, Louis Prima, and many others.
*Many intriguing authors have claimed New Orleans as their home: Truman Capote (Breakfast at Tiffany’s), William Faulkner (The Sound and the Fury), and Anne Rice (Songs of the Seraphim).
*Destrehan Plantation, along the banks of the Mississippi River, is the oldest plantation house in Louisiana. It was established 1787.
*Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville is considered one of the most haunted areas in Louisiana.
*Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “Evangeline”, about the 1755 Acadian mass exile from today’s Nova Scotia area due to their refusal to conform to British demands to renounce their Roman Catholic faith.
*The Acadian migration to Louisiana’s French territory began the formation of Cajun Country.
*Cajun is a derivative of the original French pronunciation of Acadian: “Uh-cay-jahn”.
*Louisiana is sectioned into “parishes” instead of “counties”. This is due to being governed under Napoleonic Code.
*Because New Orleans was built on a swamp, their cemeteries are above ground, resembling small buildings which have earned them the nickname “Cities of the Dead”.
*Louisiana has an intense spiritual mixture of Christianity and Voodoo.
*Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”, also known as Shrove Tuesday) originated as a French Catholic celebratory feast of eating richer, fatty foods before the 40-Day Lenten period begins.
*Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday.
*Typical Mardi Gras colors are green, gold, and purple.
That’s a whole lotta trivia and fun facts to work with. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into more and get this story written!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jun 24, 2012 |
Or, as I call it with my Minnesotan accent, “N’Orleeeens.”
This past week I’ve been infatuated with the Big Easy. I’m working on a short story idea that came to me a few months ago. And Megan introduced me to Oak Alley Plantation online. The photos are so… mesmerizing. Transforming. Enticing. Haunting.
So guess what. This Girl is now fantasizing about a trip down south. Not that it could happen any time soon (unless I win the lotto, which hasn’t happened yet). But still, it’s fun to plan.
I can taste the Mint Juleps. Smell the tobacco fields. Hear the jazz beats and slow drawls. Feel the humidity. And see the characters.
I even created a new Pinterest board last night: “N’Orleans“. Have I mentioned that I love Pinterest? It makes virtual travel so much more fun. Within five minutes, I had nearly fifty pins: buildings, streets, music, people, Mardi Gras, food… so much inspiration.
Indeed, I think I may make a new career for myself: the Pinterest Travel Guide. Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll pin so many ideas and create some wonderful itineraries for you and your travel guests. Yup. That’s my new calling. I’m almost sure of it.
And now if you’ll excuse me, I have some pinning writing to do.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jun 24, 2012 |
I’m starting a new weekly feature here at Frankly, My Dear… a run-down of the previous week’s posts, all in one neat little packaged post!
So if you’ve missed any readings, just click on the link and you’ll be caught up in no time.
Happy reading!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
My Favorite Christmas Movie: Why I don’t always wait for the holidays to watch it.
Lessons Learned: The Creepy Movie Edition: ‘Nuff said.
I Got Nothin’: When I didn’t feel like writing, I wrote anyway.
“What’s the Word?” Wednesday Blog Hop [June 20, 2012]. Check this out; great contributions from several bloggers this week!
Worthy Words: I’m falling in love with Photobucket.
Mojo Book Review (and a Giveaway!): The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour. Click here to enter to win!
My (Sometimes Not-So-) Great Outdoors: My greenthumb isn’t always.
