Archive for 2005
I think it’s my turn.
December 13, 2005 | Characters
That Sloane chick talks a good game doesn’t she? If she worked half as hard as she gabs I’d be on the bookshelves at Borders.
I am not a pushy woman. In fact I’ve sat back, quietly, for a very long time. But not any longer. It’s time for me to climb out of this stinky manilla folder, shoved to the bottom of the groaning heap Sloane has piled on her writing table, and tell the world just what the heck is going on.
By the way I’m Teddi, the lost heorine you can read about on the Excepts page. Lost, you ask? Yes. The author, and I do use the term loosely, has dragged me from my shell and finally given me a life. Then the author (ha) slammed the folder shut and there I stayed, frustrated because my problems weren’t resolved and quivering for that hot shaft of steel…
STOP! Sloane doesn’t write that way.
Hey, whoever you are, go away. Today is my turn.
All right then I’ll type it her way. Trembling at the thought of having HIM inside me. Pumping. Slowly. In and out until I scream from the sheer pleasure of it all.
The only screaming going on here is me nagging her to get on with it. I’m a nice person with thoughts and feelings. I deserve to be out there in the world. I want the man of my dreams and the future all bright and promising. Yes, I used to have dignity but it’s gone, stripped away as I lay unwanted, incomplete, and sneezing from the dust collected around my story.
Oh no, here she comes! I can hear her slippers slapping against the oak flooring. Have to go, folks. But I’ll be back. Trust me.
Beliefs
December 12, 2005 | The Soapbox
Beliefs are foisted on us as children. We’re taught our religion is the best or only one, family is all important, the judicial system is fair and just, and there will always be someone who loves you.
What we learn as adults is there are many good religions be they Christian or not, family can and will let you down when you most need them, sometimes good people go to prison by mistake, and it’s not bad going solo.
So why do we have beiefs? What’s their purpose in this world gone mad? This is what I surmised after many days of introspection;
Without my beliefs in God, or at least a higher being, I’d be a lost soul forever seeking the light. Although I’m not a fan of organized religion, it does serve a purpose to educate us and make us feel safe. As we learn more of the world it’s okay to alter our opinions on what we want to support as long as we are being true to our personal beliefs.
Without my daughter I would never have had the joy of seeing, first-hand, an innocent babe evolve into a woman whose own beliefs and character are strong and passionate. A woman who makes me proud.
Without my son-in-law I would have been denied meeting a fine young man who has taught me much about trust and faith.
Without my granddaughters I would never have known the promise of the future and the amazing joy of hearing the first, “I love you” spoken.
Without a judicial system, be it suspect at times, our world would be a sewer.
And love? Without it I would never have known the strength and generosity of a passionate man or the support of true friends.
Over the years my beliefs have changed, altered, and refined. Some have grown stronger while others passed away like violets after the first snow. But what I’ve really learned was without my beiefs, my life would have been a waste.
Sloane
YEA!!
December 10, 2005 | Life is Good
It’s not my custom to blog on week-ends but today is a highlight day. Every year I give my family a gift on my birthday. It’s an Asian custom my dad taught me years ago. If anyone knows which country in Asia, would you please comment here?
So we’re off to see A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theater in downtown Chicago. Afterward we’ll spend the early evening enjoying the Christkindlmarkt where all these wonderful items from Germany and Austria are sold. There’s also tons of food, gallons of beer, and live music. The kids and Studly have never seen anything like it and should have a good time.
They always treat me to dinner and I get to choose the restaurant. We agreed on one closer to home because we’re in for another snowstorm tonight. Bring on the lasagna and Chianti, Sanfrantello’s here we come.
Hope you all have a wonderful week-end!
Sloane
Thanks, Jeanne, for screwing in my light bulb.
December 9, 2005 | It's All About Writing
Everyday a blogger must come up with something relevant to say to the world. It’s a daunting experience but not as scary as the writer who needs 50,000 words to produce a manuscript. And they better be damn good words or the work is committed to the slush pile. Forever.
I’m in this eternal editing mode that makes me crazy. The outline is there, chapter by chapter, scene by scene. The novel is completed and backed up more times than babies are conceived in a year. So why the hell can’t I pull the damn thing together and get it finished?
The Brazen Vixens and my critique partners are behind me 100 percent. My daughter, son-in-law, and Studly encourage me daily. All these people think I can do more than sit on my flabby rear and grow gray hair. What is the problem, I ask myself as I waste more time on Spider Solitaire?
The answer jumped into my brain after Jeanne Laws, the editor of Passionate Ink, asked me to write an article for the January newsletter. I AM AFRAID OF SUCCESS. Horrifying thought, isn’t it? Out there with the Big Girls, treading in unknown water, sinking and gulping for air. Panic Time.
Who wouldn’t want money pouring in on a regular basis? Or the joy of meeting new people at book signings who praise your humble words? It’s every author’s dream.
I wrote an excellent story with meaning and depth. It should be read by more people than the friends I’ve badgered. So damn it, I will set a goal; every day, without fail, one chapter will be edited to the best of my ability. Excuses just go away. Find some other sucker to plague.
And to all you fine editors who read this blog daily; ignore my cold feet. Don’t be concerned I’m a one-book-wonder. Never let it bother you that all those pitches you accepted will be for nothing. Sloane Taylor has identified her problem and will conquer. Yep, right after this next game of Spider.
Sloane
December 8, 2005 | Remembering
This morning Bob Stroud, DJ on the Drive radio station in Chicago, reminded me today is the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. In commemoration of an innovative musician, I dug out his old LPs and turntable, and then cranked up the volume to sit back and remember.
As a teenager I liked the Beatles, particularly George, but never went into screaming fits when they performed and really could never understand the girls who did. It wasn’t until I was older that John Lennon’s talent for writing unique and stirring lyrics really moved me. My mother hated him. She often said he was an incarnation of the devil with a cult following. I never agreed. Although his lifestyle would never have suited me and his politics were a bit startling, the man sure knew how to bring notes and lyrics together. No one will ever be able to take that away from him.
I followed his career with interest and found I’d learned something from each of his songs. He was a sensitive man who gave our world a new perspective of itself.
My favorite album was and still is Shaved Fish. It was a musical announcement of the transition his life was making under the influence of Yoko Ono.
His last album, Double Fantasy, was released only three weeks before his death and still sells well after all this time. There’s a beautiful photo of John and Yoko on the cover looking respectable and very much in love. Each of the fourteen songs carries a theme of love and hope which make me smile sadly that we will never hear another new recording form a man who celebrated life in all its facets.
Long may his music play.
Sloane
This morning Bob Stroud, DJ on the Drive radio station in Chicago, reminded me today is the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. In commemoration of an innovative musician, I dug out his old LPs and turntable, and then cranked up the volume to sit back and remember.
As a teenager I liked the Beatles, particularly George, but never went into screaming fits when they performed and really could never understand the girls who did. It wasn’t until I was older that John Lennon’s talent for writing unique and stirring lyrics really moved me. My mother hated him. She often said he was an incarnation of the devil with a cult following. I never agreed. Although his lifestyle would never have suited me and his politics were a bit startling, the man sure knew how to bring notes and lyrics together. No one will ever be able to take that away from him.
I followed his career with interest and found I’d learned something from each of his songs. He was a sensitive man who gave our world a new perspective of itself.
My favorite album was and still is Shaved Fish. It was a musical announcement of the transition his life was making under the influence of Yoko Ono.
His last album, Double Fantasy, was released only three weeks before his death and still sells well after all this time. There’s a beautiful photo of John and Yoko on the cover looking respectable and very much in love. Each of the fourteen songs carries a theme of love and hope which make me smile sadly that we will never hear another new recording form a man who celebrated life in all its facets.
Long may his music play.
Sloane
This morning Bob Stroud, DJ on the Drive radio station in Chicago, reminded me today is the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. In commemoration of an innovative musician, I dug out his old LPs and turntable, and then cranked up the volume to sit back and remember.
As a teenager I liked the Beatles, particularly George, but never went into screaming fits when they performed and really could never understand the girls who did. It wasn’t until I was older that John Lennon’s talent for writing unique and stirring lyrics really moved me. My mother hated him. She often said he was an incarnation of the devil with a cult following. I never agreed. Although his lifestyle would never have suited me and his politics were a bit startling, the man sure knew how to bring notes and lyrics together. No one will ever be able to take that away from him.
I followed his career with interest and found I’d learned something from each of his songs. He was a sensitive man who gave our world a new perspective of itself.
My favorite album was and still is Shaved Fish. It was a musical announcement of the transition his life was making under the influence of Yoko Ono.
His last album, Double Fantasy, was released only three weeks before his death and still sells well after all this time. There’s a beautiful photo of John and Yoko on the cover looking respectable and very much in love. Each of the fourteen songs carries a theme of love and hope which make me smile sadly that we will never hear another new recording form a man who celebrated life in all its facets.
Long may his music play.
Sloane
Too Good for Words
December 7, 2005 | Studly
Okay all you lascivious Vixens, I was out this morning finishing my Christmas shopping because last night put me in the mood. Um, um, oh yeah, for Christmas shopping.
The concert was beyond phenomenal. Bocelli sang 15 songs, mostly Christmas, and the majority in Italian. He has an unbelieveable voice range and doesn’t use a microphone. The arena holds 50,000 and there were about 10,000 attending. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when he sang Ave Maria. The real joy came when he sang White Christmas in Italian. BEAUTIFUL.
Denyce Graves, an alto with the Metropolitan Opera, sang several pieces solo and with Bocelli. She’s a beautiful woman with a magnificent voice.
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra provided the music. Conductor Edwin Outwater is energetic and inovative. He also led the Westminster Concert Choir who outdid anyone I’ve ever heard singing the Messiah.
The two and a half hour concert was interspersed with segments from the Nutcracker performed by the Kyin Ballet from the Ukraine. The grace and ease these ballerinas have is just like butterflies kissing a babies cheek. I was lost in the romance of their dance.
The Ukranian Shumka Dancers performed five numbers from their country with gorgeous costumes and more pizazz than any other folkloric group I’ve ever seen.
A magical evening is all I can say and I love you Studly!
Sloane
P.S. By the way, my daughter called this morning to let me know she certainly does know who Andrea Bocelli is and wasn’t happy I made that smart-ass comment in yesterday’s blog. I apologize, Sweet “B”, but you did say it even if I knew you were joking. Last year for Christmas, she and her husband gave me three Bocelli cd’s. So yes my gorgeous hopefully forgiving “B”, I apologize and will TRY to behave in the future.
I Am One Lucky Woman
December 6, 2005 | Studly
I figure any guy who could put up with me as long as Studly deserves his own category. Sure, I’m his love slave and lapping up every second of his attention, but sometimes the man just blows me away. My history is a long line of colossal fuck-ups, which we won’t go into because my dial-up would shut down, so perhaps you can understand my feelings.
One day on the golf course the Studemeister, as my bud Perky calls him, drove his way right into my heart. No – the ball didn’t bounce off my body. Across the fairway was a man with the most expressive brown eyes I’d ever had the pleasure to drool over. It was the start of a relationship I pray lasts forever.
We enjoy all types of music, some more than others. Sarah Brightman is Stud’s fantasy, man do I fall short of that mark, and I adore Andrea Bocelli who makes very few U.S. appearances.
There’s been ads in our papers for a one night performance by Senor Bocelli at the United Center in Chicago. I latched onto that info faster than the IRS with my last tax return. Unfortunately the tickets were way over the top and I let go of my dream to see this fantastic Northern Italian singer in person.
A while back Studs informed me not to make plans for December 6. No problem. Then Saturday he said he wanted to give me my birthday present early. Nope, not happy. Birthdays were and are something I choose to ignore and it’s not because they add a year to my life. But the guy was adament. He was also grinning like he’d won the lottery and a whole lot of nervous. So who am I to deprive the love of my life the pleasure of gift giving? Hot Damn and every other phrase expressing major excitement, Studly DoRight, the greatest guy on earth, handed me two tickets. As if you all hadn’t guessed. Now you know why I don’t write mysteries.
I apologize for rambling here but I had to tell someone. The few other people I’d told hadn’t a clue about Andrea Bocelli. Even my daughter thought he was a new rap star. Where did I go wrong?
So it’s off line to primp and pamper because this old broad takes a long time to look good.
Ciao!
Sloane
The Brazen Vixens are on a Roll!
December 5, 2005 | Hot Damn
What FANTASTIC news to open the emails today and discover Sherrill Quinn has won the Pisces contract with Liquid Silver Books. Way to go you Sinful Vixen!
Kate Lange didn’t win the contest. No, our Mama got a rejection of the best kind. She’s to enhance a scene because the editor WANTS, as in needs – has to have, her mermaid story.
These gals are amazing authors. Check them out on the links page and buy their books. You will love them.
Congratulations to both of you and keep those marvelous stories coming!
Sloane
