QUOTE OF THE NOW

"Our life evokes our character. You find out more about yourself as you go on. That's why it's good to be able to put yourself in situations that will evoke your higher nature rather than your lower. 'Lead us not into temptation.'" Joseph Campbell

Thursday, February 28, 2013

As cris go, this is about as dernier as you can get!

A popular article on BuzzFeed right now is: "17 Reasons Why Downton Abbey is the Best Show Ever." Well I'm matching that list (paraphrased below) because after Downton is done depressing us, it's Jeeves and Wooster who bring us back from the brink of suicide.

1. The best love affairs do not go unrequited. 

Though Bertie hurts Jeeves' tender feelings with inappropriate hats, socks and mustaches, Jeeves always rallies 'round to get him out of trouble, and in return Bertie hands over the offending article. A brilliant match, as the Regencies would say.

2. Season three four has to open close with Mary and Matthew's wedding. the execrable Madeline covered in sewage.

3. Period fashion.



4. Period lady hair. Pin curls!

5. HAIR JEWELRY.  HATS.
6. Matthew Crawley's Bertie Wooster's hair.

7. Matthew Crawley Bertie Wooster, just generally.

8. Castles. It was Totleigh Towers long before it was Downton Abbey.

9. Stately Art deco exteriors and interiors.







10. "Downton Abbey" Jeeves and Wooster also has a great dog.  Mackintosh!

11. And fabulous horses cars.

12. That allow shots like this to be a regular part of the program.

13. The butler gentleman's personal gentleman is awesome on the show as well as in real life.  Jeeves is Carson's propriety with Thomas' scheming. Jeeves would never have allowed Bertie's life to go to hell.



14. It feels like the long-awaited extended version of the BBC's 1995 "Pride & Prejudice" miniseries. Granada's Brideshead Revisited.


15. But with the drama of early "Gossip Girl." more funnies, less sads.

16. Dinnertime is beautiful and tension-filled.  Like dining with the aunts under false pretenses, or hosting Communists.

17. And finally, "Downton Abbey" is The Best because: the Dowager Countess is TV's last true heroine that we can all believe in.   Yes the Countess is hilarious, but Aunt Dahlia is full of bon mots, like her description of how Bertie' looks: "A cross between an orgy scene in the movies and some low form of pond life. I suppose you were out on the tiles last night?"

On the tough side there's Aunt Agatha, who "chews broken bottles" and "devours her young" : "When Aunt Agatha wants you to do a thing you do it, or else you find yourself wondering why those fellows in the olden days made such a fuss when they had trouble with the Spanish Inquisition."

But also...

17. Bertie's friends. They always turn to him for help, and they have the best names, like Oofy Prosser, Barmy Fotheringay (pronounced Fungy) Phipps, Tuppy Glossop, Stinker Pinker, Bingo Little, and Gussie Fink-Nottle the newt-fancier.



18. We wish we were members of Bertie's club, The Drones.

19. Bertie's exes...

Florence Craye: "One of those intellectual girls, steeped to the gills in serious purpose, who are unable to see a male soul without wanting to get behind it and shove."

Honoria Glossop: Who has "a laugh that sounded like a squadron of cavalry charging across a tin bridge."

and Madeline Bassett: Pretty but with an air of always "being on the point of talking baby talk.  She was the sort of girl who puts her hands over a husband's eyes, as he is crawling in to breafast with a morning head, and says, "Guess who?"

20. Bertie singing the hit parade!


21: The best opening credits of all time.


22. And finally, the dialogue is lifted from and inspired by PG Wodehouse's brilliant prose...

Roderick Spode - 8th Earl of Sidcup: He knows why. Because he is a butterfly, who toys with women's hearts and throws them away like soiled gloves!
Bertie: Do butterflies do that? 

Bingo Little: We walk together in the gardens most evenings, and it sometimes seems to me there's a look in her eye.
Bertie: Yes, I know that look. Like a Sergeant-Major. 

Jeeves: I am familiar with the name Bassington-Bassington, sir. There are the Shropshire Bassington-Bassingtons the Hampshire Bassington-Bassingtons and, of course, the Kent Bassington-Bassingtons.
Bertie: Ah, so, the world's pretty well stacked up on Bassington-Bassingtons then.
Jeeves: Tolerably so, sir.
Bertie: No chance of a sudden shortage, I mean, ha?
Jeeves: Presumably not, sir. 

____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____

Ever so goosy goosy goosy goosy.

   

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

There's Nothing Sadder Than? Really?

A radio show was once counting down the great female broadway voices, and this is the song they played for Judy Garland. I'd always loved her, but on this one she unleashes the hounds! Knocks it out of the park! Throws in the kitchen sink!

With hope you burn up
Tomorrow he will turn up 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Only suckers fall in love with perfect strangers





I wanted to see how many more Tom Waits love songs are up in my faves. Here's a duet with Bette Midler, that starts with a cheap pick-up and ends on a sweet note. ...Speaking of which, have you ever fallen in love upon first sight? First meet? I never believed in it, but I did have a crush-upon-first-meet when I met Fernando at 15, and maybe that's the same thing.


we're all just perfect strangers
as long as we ignore
that we all begin as strangers
just before we find
we really aren't strangers anymore



Stop me if you've heard this one
I feel as though we've met before
perhaps I am mistaken
but it's just that I remind you
of someone you used to care about
oh but that was long ago
now tell me do you really think I'd fall for that old line
I was none born just yesterday
besides I never talk to strangers anyway
Well I ain't a bad guy when you get to know me
I just thought there ain't no harm
hey just try minding your own business
bud who asked you to annoy me
with your sad, sad repartee
besides I never talk to strangers anyway

Your life's a dime store novel
this town is full of guys like you
and you're looking for someone to take the place of her
You must be reading my mail
and you're bitter cause he left you
that's why you're drinkin in this bar
well only suckers fall in love
with perfect strangers

It always takes one to know one stranger
maybe we're just wiser now
yeah and been around the block so many times
that we don't notice
that we're all just perfect strangers
as long as we ignore
that we all begin as strangers
just before we find
we really aren't strangers anymore

Ah you don't look like such a chump

Monday, February 25, 2013

Outside, another yellow moon has punched a hole in the nighttime

Ms. Brownlow has got me all addicted to puppycam!

It's "Great Dane Service" that trains danes to help people with mobility challenges. They have a camera set up where you can watch the moms and their little pups! We've been watching Olive give birth to a litter.

Here's the puppinis and their attendants, making sure everyone gets some milk:



____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____

Let's get a song from Tom Waits' album Rain Dogs. I'd only heard "Downtown Train" by Rod, so the first time I saw this Tom Waits video I was like "WHAT?" That voice, and raw emotion, and it brings out the poetry of the lyrics.... Well, we can still give Rod credit for having good taste.

Waits writes great, great love songs. As one of the youtube commenters said: "When Waits wants to get romantic, boy howdy, but doesn't he?"

I know your window
And I know it's late
I know your stairs and your doorway



Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more


I was looking up this song (see down below) to send to my dad, cause I think he'd really like the band. And then I realized--ahh, perfect for our Love Song a Day project.

Why I'm enjoying Mumford & Sons:

1. I love bluegrass, and it's like bluegrass on steroids by way of London. They draw their sound from Appalachian folk music, which we all love, right?

2. I enjoy that bombastic Arcade Fire sound, and this is similar.

3. The lead singer, Mumford, sings with such passion and energy and emotion! And judging by the live video, looks like they're all pretty into it.

4. Poetic lyrics, with lots of Shakespeare and God and big feelings.

Love; it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be



Song of the Day for yesterday: The original inspiration, as performed by Emma Thompson!

   

Friday, February 22, 2013

To the left... to the left...


One of the shows I love right now is Nashville. It's from the woman who wrote Thelma and Louise and has been nominated for a bunch of awards. As usual I don't know anyone who's watching it. This happened to me with Friday Night Lights. Fucking amazing show. No one believed me. One day I will buy it and make them all PAY. (That is to say, watch it.)

Here's why I love the show:

1. They visit all these different stages in a music career, and the various personalities/types/relationships. And since I love music, I lobes thees.

2. Character! There are no stereotypes, no clichés here. Complex and interesting people, every one of them. Hard core. And well acted.

Pop-country star, and the ageing country legend

3. This is what equality looks like, in terms of representing men and women on TV. Once you've got male characters talking about the women characters, not romantically, you've officially reversed the Bechdel test!

Or if there's inequality, it's to the disservice of the male characters (I admit it--they're mopey), and come to think of it, the guys in Thelma and Louise were all "meh" too--except when Harvey Keitel slapped Brad Pitt around for taking their money. In any case, one TV show with weak dudes after hundreds of years of male-dominated entertainment... we'll live.

Our ingenue

4. The music's pretty good, and it's relevant. It's good enough that you can maintain belief that these are all talented singer-songwriters; and it's like a musical, in that the songs they write come from or reflect the storylines. The producers wisely upload the songs to itunes.

[Metacritic score 84.]


____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____

Since we're on country, and since I'm in love with Jennifer Nettles (why won't she return my calls??), here's the Sugarland cover of "Irreplaceable."



Irreplaceable by Sugarland on Grooveshark

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Sometimes learning sucks

As you know I went through the whole towering thing this past year or two. Another froggy pal is going through it now. It SUCKS to be in, even while you know it will be useful in the end, and lead to a better life. Cold comfort. The chorus to his Hawksley Workman song about sums it up:
I guess this is what I'm supposed to learn
But learning is so devastating

And since the song about the end of a relationship, we can count this as Love Song of the Day:

We cried till we were dried out
We tried till we were tried out
And that was all we had








Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Updateroos

Okay, I've started my new budget. Emphasis on the word started.

I've got to tackle this room... I'm gonna find out what's hiding under these beds, see if I can fit more! And maybe get rid of some of my clothes. Working at the Sally Anne I have lots of cute new things.

I have the materials I need for my First Sewing Project.

And in the "feed your magic" category I've been watching Psych (20 free episodes on their site!), Girls, and The Carrie Diaries.

In movie reviews: Saw Silver Linings Playbook a couple weeks ago, it was excellent.

In books: I brought Bleak House to read on my work breaks. I estimate it will take me 5 years, 2 months and 20 days to read 800 pages in 15 minute increments.

In writing: I figured out an important part of my world building, on my break (instead of reading Bleak House) finally figured out how to adapt my last short story to this world. Now know what to write when I start back up.

In weather: I kept saying I wouldn't appreciate the mild winter here until spring arrived; cause until then I'd just keep thinking it was October with winter still on the way. Well, it's February--shittiest month of the year in Quebec--and there's buds on the trees. That was it. That was winter.

In driving news: Now when I leave work it isn't dark so I can see the scenery. It's a driving hazard. There's a spot where you're doing a semi-hairpin turn, and the scenery keeps flashing you through the trees, and one day I'm gonna drive right off the road and die.

There are two other Evils to driving in this town. The pedestrians, who are so used to cars stopping for them that they're not as careful as Quebec pedestrians--who know death is only one misplaced footstep away.

And deer. Luckily the hoofians are much more cautious than the pedestrians. They've been around all winter, but with spring coming I'll be on high alert. One walk last summer I counted 14.

____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____

These feelings won't go away
They've been knockin' me sideways
They've been knockin' me out lately
Whenever you come around me

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

What's on the radio? Urthalun and Abba, baby

Imma do a shout-out tonight for frog Julie/Urthalun She writes a daily blog that includes a draw from her oracle cards, and adds her own insights to it. She's a radio! Radio to the stars! Telegraphing messages from the beyond, and always in a positive, healthy, helpful way. She does card readings too, so if that's your bag, check her out. Here's a review:

Wow, that was intense.  I’ve had cards read for me before, but not usually with such accuracy as to what’s currently going on in my life.  Now, instead of being scared of what’s going to happen, I am excited about the possibilities. (Other testimonials here.)

Most importantly she's a beautiful person--kind, humble, wise, always striving to grow and learn and help others with their journeys. Definitely someone you can trust.


____LOVE SONGS OF THE DAY____

Monday
The first thing Swiss Girl and bonded over when we met was Abba. "They're my favorite band!" "They're one of my faves too!" Grade 7 baby. Here's Swiss G's love song contribution.
There's a shimmer in your eyes
Like the feeling of a thousand butterflies 


Tuesday
And here's one of my favorite Abba love songs. I like love songs about people being all scared and running from love!
I hardly dare to think of what would happen
Where I'd be
If I fell

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Even racoon's do it, and more entertainingly than your book

I think I've mentioned before the 3 megaton bomb test for stories. Or at least, that's what my dad has called it since, decades ago, I told him that the test of whether I like a book is: "If a bomb fell and killed all these characters, would I care?"

I was just checking in with Mernit's romantic comedy blog, and he's devised a new test for reading scripts and deciding whether they warrant a second look. He was getting ready for work and noticed two racoons having sex on the roof next door; and it so held his attention, he left for work late.

"I'd often been at a loss when asked what compels me to give a "Consider" to a screenplay. Now I can answer this, by posing a crucial question in response: Is the script more interesting than the sight of two raccoons humping?" (see blog for pictures!)

Something for all us writers to keep in mind. If a reader was only a few pages into our book, and someone asked them to come see two racoons humping, would they say "just a minute" or fling your book away?

lol

____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Cleaning house

So. I've been *filling the magic tank* in Storywonk speak. Watching good shows, listening to good music, reading good books, while building my upcoming world. I haven't even decided which of my stories to adapt to it. But at some point I do need to start writing.

However, I think the block right now is that my brain's sort of going into housecleaning mode. It wants me to make a budget. It wants me to re-read my car manual, organize my car papers, figure out when to get my oil changed. It wants me to... well my room's already cleanish, since I'm living with my parents. LOL. Yes, there's a permanent pile of clothes on the bed, but I have almost no cupboard space! And where else do you put something you've worn once but can wear again? On the spare bed of course.

I'm also completely behind in my blog reading. Except for Barb's blog... I was starting alphabetically, so I did read hers'. Didn't get far. It's not cause I don't want to read them--they tend to cheer me up, calm me, inspire me, make me laugh. It's just cause I'm DISORGANIZED. And I'm late finishing a beta read for Diva.

And now my mail program's got a glitch, so it looks like I'm not replying to mail.

But it's kind of a good feeling, you know? Like... dare I say it... my old self. Old Moi never liked to move on to creative endeavors while there were things needing a clear up. So I'll try to get those done, and just keep finding fashions for my planet people to wear... and see where I end up.

____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____

Let's have one about clearing up! In this case, locking someone out of your life.

I'm the concierge chez moi, honey
Won't let you in for love nor money
My home, my joy
I'm barred and bolted and I
Won't let you in

  

Friday, February 15, 2013

Lookin' good

One thing American Idol (and other talent shows) has been good for is generally favoring talent over appearance. Yes, at the end of the day, the winner on Am Idol is often a boy that half the viewers have a crush on; but even then, they often aren't that hottie. They just become hottier as we get to know them and their talent. Cause I have a theory that you can find anyone attractive if you see them doing something they're good at.























____LOVE SONG OF THE DAY____

A song I only knew because it was covered on Am Idol. I love the line "steal all my records." It sounds like... the biggest crime you could commit against a music lover.

Come pick me up
Take me out
Fuck me up
Steal all my records
    

Reading

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Les années douces : Volume 1
Back on the Rez
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
Stupeur et tremblements
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