The day after a visit from the E-Bunny and the groaning board that is Easter dinner found me doing this:
Okay. I wasn’t actually doing that. That is not in my pictorial dictionary under treadmill or dinosaur or under Easter dinner aftermath. That is never gonna happen.
But I did spend a goodly amount of time tromping around the flower beds in my rubber boots — before The Rains came — tidying plants from the winter season, digging out some early pesky dandelions, and spying all manner of post winter growth. The blue tips of the Blue False Indigo are showing, as are the tips of several hostas, and the deep red tips of the peonies. Common violets are poking up everywhere — even where they shouldn’t be. Day lilies and chives are about six inches high, and the periwinkle has opened a bloom or three. Progress, baby.
For my money, that was better than a whirl-on-the-treadmill-that-is-never-gonna-happen any day.
Because here in my neck of Canadaland it is Easter Monday, Mr. G honey and I had a playdate.
Because The Rains were coming, we decided to go see Water for Elephants and eat theater popcorn.
Thinking more about that treadmill experience.
You should see it, too. It was seriously good. I’m going to read the book now.
Yes, this is me. This is me workin’. This is me writin’. This is me tossin’.
I’m working on a short story right now. Can you hear the the screaming across the intertoobs? I love the short story form, but there isn’t any margin for…..anything. Tight, tight, tight. That is what your writing must be.
I’ve been writing, stepping out. This morning, I stepped out with just a hoodie on. It’s going to be 46 here today with the sun shining. I have chives inching up out of the ground and crocuses that are straining to bloom. Not bad for Hump Day.
Back in February, February 3rd to be exact, Author Colleen Thompson over at Boxing the Octopus had a little win-a-free-book-and-movie-poster thing going on. Leave a comment and be one of five lucky winners. I left a comment not expecting to win, because I live in Canadaland. But I must have had my mojo working, because I turned out to be one of the five lucky winners.
A few weeks later, this was delivered to my door:
Yes. This yummy poster. Well, Hello Matthew McConaughey, honey. And that nice fat, trade paperback of THE LINCOLN LAWYER by Michael Connelly. All courtesy of the movie studio — Lionsgate — and sent by Little, Brown and Company.
I’ve never read a Michael Connelly suspense novel before. I’m looking forward to it.
Mr. G, honey and I did some stepping out last week. We stepped out to see…
It was a Thursday night in our little burg. Late afternoon, actually. We were playing hooky. Absent without leave. There were three of us in the theater. The Brit must have been playing hooky, too.
The movie was good. Real good. The tension, the pacing was exactly right. McConaughey was the best I’ve ever seen him in a role. Full props.
On the way out, I asked the Brit — that’s how I found out he was a Brit — if he enjoyed the film. Why, yes. Yes, he did. He’s read every single Michael Connelly book and assured me that I would have a thoroughly satisfying read.
Can’t wait.
So, thank you Colleen Thompson. Thank you Boxing the Octopus. Thank you Lionsgate. Thank you Little, Brown and Company. And thank you Michael Connelly and Matthew McConaughey for an evening of fine entertainment. Very fine.
Last week I went to see NINE, the movie musical. It was a visual feast, and the ensemble cast — Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Stacy Ferguson, Sophia Loren — were extraordinary. It’s the world of the famous 1960s Italian movie director, Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), and it’s spinning out of control — creatively, personally. And does it ever spin!
I’ll say it again. Visual feast. Go. See.
Watching NINE, listening to Daniel Day-Lewis as Guido, got me to thinking about what character — not what actor, but what character — I would most like to hear delivering my messages on the cell phone. You know, when that voice comes on and says, You have 3 new messages. To listen to your messages, press… That voice. What character would I most like to hear as that voice. Hello, Guido, baby! And if not Guido, then Roux in the movie, Chocolat. Oh, yeah.
What about you? What character would you most like to hear delivering your voice mail messages, or giving you directions on your GPS?
C’mere, Guido. C’mere, Roux. Come to Elen. And bring the voice.
Yes, this is me. This is me workin’. This is me writin’. This is me tossin’.
