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10 Random Thoughts for the First Friday of the New Year
Hello, there, readers. I haven’t seen you since last year, and you’re looking well! I hope the New Year is good to you. It seems that 2020 has a lot in store for us all… I thought I’d start off today with some random thoughts that I’ve had over the last couple of weeks to both get them off my mind and also keep this blog post moving along, so here we go… 1-My husband and I watched the film, Yesterday, the other night. I think it’s one of the more clever films of 2019. Fun, different, and creative, whether you like the Beatles or not, you’ll enjoy this tale…
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Why I Bought the Bumblebee Tights
If you’ve seen Me Before You or read the novel by Jojo Moyes, you know what the bumblebee tights are all about, right? In the book and film, the bumblebee tights symbolize Louisa’s independence—and her vivacious spirit—that which Will encourages her to fully embrace and to, in his words, “live boldly.” After I read the third installment of the Me Before You trilogy, and after having faith in the third book titled Still Me to not disappoint me as the second book, After You, did, I was moved entirely by the character’s development. I was relieved to laugh along with her and learn more about her integrity, passions, and capacity…
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An Updated Trailer for Beneath the Mimosa Tree
As I’ve worked hard over the last month to unify the look of the covers of my previously published novels, I decided to tackle another form of unification, and that’s creating trailers that are a little better than the old ones I produced years ago and have a similar feel. With a little more insight into video production from some of my students, I decided to give my trailers another go. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve researched other writers’ trailers, and there were things I liked and wanted to incorporate into my own. After reading Start with Why by Simon Sinek, I’ve had to reevaluate everything I do…
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A Post-Christmas Letter
Dear Readers, It’s January 2, and I haven’t blogged since Christmas. I hope you had a great holiday season and that your New Year is off to a tremendous start. It’s not that I didn’t want to blog, it’s just that I didn’t make time for it, if I’m being completely honest. I committed myself to the 2017 holiday season fully; I did almost everything I wanted to do, and most of it revolved around spending time with my family. Minus the mad rush of finishing up teaching my college classes, scoring students, and reading endless amounts of papers and reflections (which is all great in itself, but it gets…
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Five Inexpensive Ways to Make This Valentine’s Day Special
Egad! I’m really about to do this. (And did I really just used an expression that is as archaic as I feel lately?) The answer is, yes. I’m about to end my push to write mushy Valentine’s cards and create something truly magical this year and by wooing those you love in a different manner. (But if you do want to write a mushy Valentine to go along with an inexpensive night, that’s not a bad idea either. Click here for some suggestions). If you’re struggling for that perfect Valentine, rest assured. Your Valentine is really just hoping that the special day gets to be spent doing something together. That’s…
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Tears from the Heart
This past Friday night, I took my daughter to see Broadway Across America’s Phantom of the Opera in Baltimore at the Hippodrome. We were both excited for the show—she even more so than I because it was her first time seeing it. Truthfully, I’ve lost count as to how many times I’ve seen it. My daughter may not be thrilled that I’m going to divulge this type of information here on the blog, but I think it’s important to share it, especially when it’s all quite natural. And, furthermore, because she and I are so very similar. At the very end of the Phantom, something very meaningful and somewhat tragic…
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The Grand Budapest Hotel: Worth The Visit
I haven’t seen many films this year, and that’s a crying shame for someone who claims to be a movie buff. Life’s kept me busy, so I’m looking forward to snuggling on the couch when some of these films hit OnDemand. However, I was able to sneak in Begin Again and The Grand Budapest Hotel. I loved both of the films, and we were treated to hearing Adam Levine and Maroon 5 sing Lost Stars from Begin Again on Oscar Night. I blogged about this after I saw the film, so you can read my impressions here. However, as for The Grand Budapest Hotel, do yourself a favor and book…
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Farewell, Eli Wallach
This hopeless romantic was very sad to learn of the death of actor Eli Wallach this morning. At 98, Mr. Wallach left this world, leaving behind a host of films for us all to enjoy. One of my favorite romantic comedies of all-time is “The Holiday,” and this scene is one of my favorites. He played the part of Arthur Abbott, a retired screen writer, in the film. Kate Winslet, visiting Los Angeles on her holiday, befriends him, and the friendship that ensues is the best relationship of the film. Eli was married to the same woman, actress Anne Jackson, for 66 years. In this clip, she toasts him for…
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“Austenland”—Creative, Funny, and Just What the Doctor Ordered
As I’ve mentioned in past posts, I’ve hunkered down in an attempt to finish my second novel, so I’ve been a bit out of touch. I’m getting really close to completion, but in order to get there, I’ve had to put other things on hold. Unfortunately, blogging has been one such thing… But we all need a break sometimes, and so last night was movie night with my friend Jenny. We picked a winner. Creative, silly, ridiculous, but with great writing and acting, “Austenland” came to life. Produced by “Twilight” novelist Stephenie Meyer and directed by Jerusha Hess based on the book by Shannon Hale, the film stars Keri Russell,…
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Bull Durham, Kevin Costner, and Me…Still Loving the Bull in “Bull Durham.”
Last night, I took a moment to channel surf in between Olympic commercial breaks. After Gabby Douglas lost out on a medal for the uneven bars, I let my fingers do the walking. It isn’t often I get complete control of the remote, but my husband had fallen asleep. You would have thought I would have latched on to some PBS British series, but no. I went the other way. Enter “Bull Durham.” It’s one of those rare films that I enjoy so much, I just can’t glide by it when it’s on. I have to stop. I have to partake of adorable Kevin Costner and the rest of the…
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A Quick Book Review: The Night Circus’s Magic
Last week I finished reading Erin Morgenstern’s first novel entitled THE NIGHT CIRUCS. I’m still thinking about it. So, if you’ve already read BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE (wink wink, with a hint hint), you can move on to this one. It’s worth reading if you like dark magic and mystical settings. I’ve never been a reader of the fantasy genre. But it all may turn around for me now thanks to THE NIGHT CIRCUS. The story revolves around a circus that appears in the middle of the night, but it’s not your average circus. It is filled with magic, illusionists, and contortionists. It’s dark and lovely at the same time.…
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A Delightful Surprise: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Every once in a while, a little film comes along, containing all the necessary ingredients of the tastiest of pies, and leaves you, quite unexpectedly, refreshingly satisfied. This is exactly the way I felt last night after watching “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” a film by director Lasse Hallstrom starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, and Kristin Scott Thomas. The nuts and bolts of the story are as follows: A fisheries expert (McGregor) has been hired by a consultant (Blunt), who works for a wealthy Sheik (Waked), in order to bring salmon fishing to the Yemen. The most noteworthy ingredients of this delectable “salmon pie” were the characters and…
