Jan 15, 2012
Almost everyone’s familiar with the Tortoise and the Hare: that arrogant, got-it-all rabbit taunting the always-trudging turtle in a race to the finish. In the end of course is the predictable winner: the turtle. Why? Because he kept at it. Whereas the rabbit thought he was so far ahead he could chill out, relax, goof off. Well too much partying left him in the dust and that little turtle kept on trucking and made it through the challenges to cross that winning line first.
I think sometimes I’m that turtle. There are so many people that not only know what they want to be when they grow up, but have what they need to get there from the get-go. People my age have children (even grandchildren!). They’ve already had a 20-year career at something. They started young and zoomed ahead. Some will continue, but some will fall asleep at the wheel.
Then there’s me. I’ve always known I want to write. But I was pretty sure I also needed to pay the bills so those two tasks have been mutually exclusive.
Until now.
Because now I’m serious about writing. And being published. And supporting my family that way.
I’m taking baby steps. I’m learning my way. I’m stumbling a little but running a lot. And I don’t know where the finish line is. I just know I’m going to cross it.
Soon.
I have no regrets about waiting this long to even get into the race.
I’m just happy I get to finish this one… then move on to the next.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 14, 2012
The idea behind a stream of consciousness posting is to write (or type) for a set amount of time (typically five minutes), and not pay much attention to it. No corrections allowed. No changes. Just keep typing out your thoughts and see what happens.
I’m doing this now because it’s after 10 pm on Friday and I have no other idea of what to do for my blog post! I liked it better when I had several days scheduled ahead of time.
This weekend we’re starting a few spring cleaning projects. First up is reorganizing my daughter’s closet. Yes, she’s a teenager and fully capable of doing it herself. But with everything else she handles, why not make this one a family project? I’ll be taking her and my mom out to lunch as a break halfway through the day.
I haven’t kept up with my Bible reading which I was hoping to get caught up on this weekend. It’s looking more like that will happen on Monday.
I have two cats snuggled against me right now. They’re keeping me warm and cozy. =)
I recently started recording “Biography” again. I used to watch it all the time. Today I watched an episode about Erik Estrada and it made me mad because some of it was wrong, and he left out details about his extended family. I know this because I live in Southern California and actually went to high school with one of his relatives. And how I know this kid wasn’t just saying he was a relative, is because aside from the same last name, they were practically identical, other than a few years age difference. (Okay, more than a few, but still!). You can’t even believe a biography! Grrrr.
I want to make a hole in my wall. I do! I want to make a pass-through opening in the large wall of my living room. Except that’s where my daughter’s room is, so I guess I won’t be cutting any walls until she moves out. I’d rather keep her here, so I’m good with no hole in the wall.
I can’t wait to meet with Megan next week so I can see her newest book purchase. She says it will inspire our story series. I’m completely excited!
I may do this SOCS thing every Saturday. It makes for an easy post.
Okay, time’s up. Confession: I corrected all my typos. It’s complete habit to do so. There weren’t that many, anyway… or so I say….
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 13, 2012
1. Today is the first of three Friday the 13th’s this year.
2. 13 is considered an unlucky number because Biblically, the number 12 is considered holy or lucky. And any immediate subsequent number (13) is therefore considered extremely unlucky.
3. Hotels and airplanes omit the ominous number during their construction. Which isn’t to say they don’t have an Aisle 13 or 13th Floor. You just know it as 14. So, wouldn’t that make 14 just as unfortunate?
4. 13 is the age that everyone can’t wait to turn. It signifies the ascent from childhood into young adulthood. Turning 13 doesn’t make a person an adult. It just makes them think they are.
5. The Aztec week was 13 days long, and there were 20 of them in one Aztec calendar year.
6. There are 13 Principles of Faith in Judaism.
7. A 13th wedding anniversary is celebrated with lace.
8. There were 13 colonies that became the first United States of America.
9. Famous people born on Friday the 13th include Butch Cassidy (1866), Alfred Hitchcock (1899), Samuel Beckett (1906), Christopher Plummer (1929), and Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen (1986).
10. Because people are more attentive to danger on Friday the 13th, accidents and thefts actually occur with less frequency than on regular, “casual” Fridays in which people just go about their business.
11. Sarah Winchester, heir to the Winchester Rifle fortune, believed she was haunted by the spirits of all those killed with a Winchester Rifle. She built a monstrous mansion in San Jose, CA and infiltrated it with “13”. The stairs have 13 steps. There are 13 bathrooms. Chandeliers hold 13 candles. And on every Friday the 13th, a bell at the house is rung 13 times at “13 o’clock” (1 p.m.).
12. Neptune has 13 known moons.
13. I checked 13 sources and websites to compile the information in this post.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 12, 2012
It’s getting so close, I can taste it. Which is a good thing, since it’s all about making great food at frugal costs.
What is it?
The Unemployment Cookbook, of course.
And even though it’s been my main writing focus lately, it’s not my only focus. I’m still working on my Devotions and Screenplay and Book Series with Megan. And I’m still blogging every day and on facebook every day.
And so are you. You know how I know? You comment. You like. You link. And I want to thank you for that. In a big way.
So here’s the deal: I’m offering up two free copies of The Unemployment Cookbook as soon as it’s published, which should be within the next month (hopefully a lot sooner!).
The first will go to the 100th person to “like” my Facebook Page. Just click this link and it will take you there.
The second will go to the 50th subscriber to Frankly, My Dear…. Again, just click this link and it will take you there.
Just a few rules:
1. No manipulating the system. You can’t be a current subscriber/follower, deactivate, and then resubscribe in order to win. I already know you’re here.
2. Only one entry per person per site. Some people follow me only on facebook. Some people follow me only the Blog. These are two separate giveaways, so following me on both will not increase your chances.
3. This is not a random choice. You have to be the 50th Blog subscriber and/or the 100th Facebook follower to win.
That’s about it. Thanks so much, and good luck!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Jan 12, 2012
I like to make CD’s of my favorite songs. Some are themed for inspiration, or upbeat for those roadtrips I keep getting lost on. There’s always at least one each year that seems to become my Soundtrack for the year: that CD that holds songs that inspire and move me.
Some of the songs are repeats each year. Sometimes, it’s the singer that remains the same. There are songs that remind me of friends. Songs that help me dream big. Songs that bring back memories. And songs that are just great to boogie-oogie-oogie to.
So far this year, I’ve made one CD. (I know, we’re less than two weeks into the New Year, but still…)
The music that so far inspires me is (as always) an eclectic collection. And because I like order, the songs are recorded in alphabetical order by title.
On this year’s first soundtrack, I have the following tunes:
1. “You’re Never Fully Dressed (Without a Smile)” from the Broadway Cast of Annie. This reminds me of my friend Lisa who is always playing the movie, and music, for her kids. Also because it takes place in NYC which is where I’ve got a girl date set up in 4 years with her and Lara. Finally, it makes me smile, just like it implores.
2. “All I Need is the Girl” by Frank Sinatra. I renewed my love for this song when it featured last year on So You Think You Can Dance. Frank is always on my soundtrack in one form or another, especially now that I’m being an Orange.
3. “Beautiful Music” by Barry Manilow. Usually I pick “Copacabana” but this year, I picked something more inspirational. Because that’s just how I feel. Like I was just going through the motions of living until I really began to focus on my writing. And now the World is my inspiration and I can’t get enough of it.
4. “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin. I like the movie with Kevin Spacey. I like Bobby Darin’s music and drive. Mostly, I just really like this song.
5. “Brand New Day” by Ryan Star. This was the theme song for the now-cancelled TV show, Lie to Me. What a great show! What a great song. It’s about someone who won’t settle for being what others think. He goes for what he wants, and he makes it. Love it!
6. “Don’t Mean Nothing” by Richard Marx. When I was in high school, I was the first of my friends to even know about this song and singer. I loved it. It’s so true: people will chat about useless stuff, they’ll use you to get what they want/need, and forget any promise they made to you. But that didn’t keep him down. He fought through the ranks to become a great singer/songwriter. Keep your head up!
7. “Extreme Ways” by Moby. This song features at the end of The Bourne Identity. I just really love the music.
8. “Forever in Blue Jeans” by Neil Diamond. My dad loved this song! And I’ve always loved Neil Diamond. He is a fantastic performer. He never compromised himself, never settled for celebrity status. He’s just a wonderful performer. I also love this song because it puts things in perspective: money isn’t everything. Love is.
9. “Get It While The Gettin’s Good” by Eddy Arnold. Eddy Arnold is my mom’s favorite singer. I can remember sitting out on the porch on warm summer Saturday mornings listening to the record playing on the Hi-Fi. This song reminds me of those days. And my daughter loves it, too. That alone makes this song worthy of being on the soundtrack.
10. “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” by The Monkees. I grew up on the Monkees. In the past, my soundtrack song was “Daydream Believer”. This year I opted for something a bit different. A friend and I went to their reunion concert in 1988 and by sheer luck literally ran into two of them backstage (we snuck in before the concert). Sitting behind us at the concert was Maureen McCormick (Marcia of The Brady Bunch), Robert Pierce (Bingo of Joanie Loves Chachi), and several other actors. We were invited backstage after the concert but then they reneged as it was a “private party”. We were almost in the right place at the right time.
11. “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Buble’. Great song of faith and hope in love and life. Great singer. ‘Nuff said.
12. “I Think I Love You” by the Partridge Family. Another group that I grew up with. And who doesn’t love this song? I can’t separate my love of coffee from this song. It doesn’t hurt that David sang it directly to me in Vegas (See above coffee link for that story!).
13. “I’ll Be There for You” by the Rembrandts. Who doesn’t know this as the theme song for the long-running show, Friends? My daughter is addicted to the reruns on TV, and we watch them every day. Every. Day. It’s a great catchy upbeat tune, and the lyrics say it all. It really is all about Friends.
14. “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. Just a quirkly little song that nobody expected to go anywhere. But really. If you know the 80’s, you know this song. And you’re already singing it in your head, aren’t you? Yeah… my job here is done.
15. “New York Minute” by the Eagles. First, it’s got NY in the title. So there’s that. And it features at the beginning of The West Wing Season 2, Episode 16, aptly titled “Somebody’s Going to Emergency, Somebody’s Going to Jail”. I don’t have very many Eagles songs on my iTunes, and it’s not like I want “Hotel California” to be prominent on my soundtrack. But this song I love. The connection to Rob Lowe’s character, Sam Seaborn, I love. So it’s on the List.
16. “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra. Someday this will be my theme song; even if just for a day. From the man who loves orange like I do. From the ultimate singer. How could this not be on my soundtrack?! Seriously?!
17. “One/Finale” from the Broadway cast of “A Chorus Line”. Now who doesn’t want to be that girl. Am I right?!
18. “The Rockford Files Theme” by Mike Post. From the TV show. My dad loved loved loved this show. And it was created by Stephen J. Cannell. He was an awesome writer who encouraged and inspired me to write every day. I had to include him on my soundtrack.
19. “That Thing You Do!” by the Wonders. From the movie of the same name. I’m pretty sure I drove my family crazy when I first got the movie on VHS. I played it over and over and over, day after day after day. There’s some great lines in that movie. My favorite is, “Hey. Hey guys… Chad fell down.” Hilarious scenes, great music. What’s not to love?!
20. “Together Forever” by Rick Astley. To be honest, I couldn’t remember which Rick Astley song was more popular, and since they sound similar, I decided to add them both to the soundtrack.
And there you have it. My soundtrack for 2012. Or, at least, the first part of it.
What does your music sound like?
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
