Warning: Some Violence and Much Strong Language.HE WROTE: What’s In A Name?
I’ve always found I have to think long and hard about character names in a book. I just don’t grab them out of the air. They have to ‘fit’ the character. This is true in books and movies and tv. A good example is the series I’m now about at the end of Season Two in: DEADWOOD. Some of the names almost seem over the top: Swearingen. Who swears a lot. Then you have the sheriff: Bullock. Think what the combination is there. Then the whore: Trixie. Lots of thought went into that one. But you have Swearingen’s first name, Al and Mrs. Garrett’s first name, Alma, and how the two of them end up being the powers in the town. Do you think that’s coincidence? Nothing in a book or movie is done by coincidence.
I always say THE SOPRANOS is I, CLAUDIUS done in the Jersey mob. Remember what the name of the grandmother in Sopranos was? Livia. Do you think that was by chance?
We have to change a name in AGNES. Right now Shane’s handler’s name is Wilson. Jenny wanted that because of the name Tom Hanks gave the volleyball in CASTAWAY. Ask her. I don’t know. But the problem is Jenny has never seen or read SHANE (just as she never saw HIGH NOON for DLD). In SHANE, the name of the hired gunslinger Shane has to face down at the end is named Wilson. So we can’t have his handler have that name. Too confusing.
I’m also getting confused, sometimes mixing Shane and Chase, as I work on the two books. I’ve also tried using Angelina for three different characters in AGNES and I don’t know what’s going on there.
Meanwhile, we’re discussing having Agnes arrested for murder. Which would definitely put a crimp on her putting on the wedding. Part of escalating conflict. I think I’m reprieving Rocko from Moot, although that doesn’t necessarily mean a reprieve over-all. And lots of frying pans with blood on them.
The body count is currently at four. Or five.
238 Comments:
Go Bob! Go Jenny!
Y'know, you could always name the handler... Mary. Just a thought. Okay, maybe I'll try thinking up other names, sheesh, offer a constructive suggestion and this is the thanks I get...
xanwizro - yeah, that'd work
Bob - Names are a funny thing. To me, naming my characters are like naming my kids. Very serious business. I find that usually I'm right on with my hero names, but the females, not so much. Not sure what is up with that. I've other than the book coming out in June, every heroine's name I've changed at least once. I also end up with lots of names starting with the same letter and I don't pick up on it until the book is finished and then I have to go back and change one.
Bob - where do you find the time and engery to watch all this stuff? Then again, I have golf on right now. And my son thinks he should change his name to Phil? I keep telling him it's not Irish and wasn't the name I picked for him. Of course I picked Shamus for him, but DH nixed that one and we named him something else. Ever read the Book Trinity? Shamus Conor - now that's a name.
Wilson...weldon....weedon...werdon...whatever
What's the old saying...
"Sticks and stones will break my bones...but names will never harm me."
Keep on writing...we are all looking forward to your books.
svgwrt red
so, various garments win Robert's thoughts
*sigh* hope Bryan saw my message before he left. Yesterday they had me hopping and I couldn't get back to the blog. Came home and flopped. Even today - ran morning errands, came home and flopped again for a few hours. I breezed thru the last blog comments but I'm pretty sure I'll never catch up all the way. Oh, an armadillo - well except for the worms and insects part yah its probably me.
I actually like the idea of the handler being named Wilson. It works on a coupla different levels. You've got the Hanks character with no one to talk to except Wilson and then you've also got Wilson the neighbor over the fence from Home Improvement. It could work, Bob. Maybe Jenny didn't know she was rewriting a western classic?
Oh somewhere back there BCB mentioned contemporary western paranormal books were the new big thing? I gotta ask, Louis, just what is it you cowboy types are seeing out there on the range?
Got nothing done today. Don't care. I really enjoyed my nap.
Names can make or break a character. And we all have name biases(is that the right plural?)I had a character I just couldn't wrestle to the ground(not that way, sheesh)No matter what I did with him, he just wasn't the hero. I changedhis name and voila he was everything I needed him to be and then some. I've been kicked out of books(not bookstores) because a character just wasn't a SHANE or BOB. Can you imagine LeFavre as Ouillmet? They're both French...
Louis: Is the DEADWOOD Bob is talking about the same show your DS#2 and #4 were extras in? Any chance you might tell us which extras?
And I guess I owe LOU an apology: yesterday when I was pestering Louis for cowboy stories it was because of the very knowledgeable-sounding explanation of the difference between cow/steers/bulls, etc. Only it wasn't Louis who wrote that, as I mistakenly thought (long day, contacts must have been fuzzy), it was LOU. I'm so sorry, dear. So are YOU a cowboy? Or are women called cowgirls? And do you have stories to tell? I'll bet you do.
It's ok, Louis, as far as I can tell it was a pretty lucky guess on my part. You and your family are all cowboys. Sigh. Cows or not. Can I still come visit?
And BTW, Tal, how is it that Jen-T can leave out entire words, sometimes even half a thought process, and you never beat up on her? Yet I leave out one little consonant, just ONE, and you're all over me like DESERT sand on a frosted DESSERT on a windy day. Gez.
bw
BCB - Because I'm special!
On to Agnus - Personally, I like Wilson. Went to HS with a guy named Wilson, we called him Willie and he hated it. But that's because we went on to say, "Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown." Yeah, he didn't like that much. About as much as liked being called JupitorJen Halfbrook (maiden name Holbrook). I think you get it.
Bob - let moot have Rocko, I mean she has babies to feed. But I supose if keeping him around for a little while longer has purpose, then it's okay.
Does Agnus use the same Frying Pan, or a different one each time? Just wondering because I'm about to whack middle child with one of mine if he doesn't stop acking like a little idiot! His father has him pestering me and they both think it's funny, well, it's not.
JenT - just wondering, will you use B&J and the blog in your defense speech? "Agnes was a bad influence. She hit people with frying pans all the time and was rewarded for it. People cheered."
Man, I need to get outside, grab some fresh air. Visions of frying pans dance in my head. It should be demons and goddesses - my own damn book.
Off to take the dog for a well-deserved run. he is a patient little soul.
My characters had names when they popped into my head. And they don't want to change them. I've tried.
Though there is this one character who won't exist for several more books whose story started evolving when I was ill last year. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and couldn't remember his name. Drove me crazy. Especially as at the time I was too sick to do much writing. I finally had to write his name in a notebook so when I forgot it, I could look it up.
Jen-T I also have found myself having too many characters whose names started with the same letter. I now have a notebook (yes Bob, I know it should be a spreadsheet) with the pages divided into the letters of the alphabet and I reference first and last names.
BCB...
It's the same show...if you looked really fast you might have seen the back of Sons heads...
MCB...
You'd be suprised what we see looking about...
A little bit of everything.
Come on by...
dqnkwp green
daily quota never keeps with product
Okay who has the map for the roadtrip? We have to fit Louis in.
i love how Bob doesn't know the body count. or we not sure if the fork killed a guy or something yet?
names. sometimes, they just appear, and that's it. i can never change them. sometimes i have to put a lot of thought into them, look them up. though sometimes i get hooked on a letter and all the names i try out for a character is that letter. don't normally have the problem of naming my characters the same basic thing though. once it's used i move on to the next.
JJ: Shamus? that seems a little mean..*ducks flying fruit from Irish CBs*
CMS said "It should be demons and goddesses - my own damn book."
nice littlepeek and then, oh, got to walk the dog. don't you know about details?
Bob--at the only grand dinner party I ever attended, my dinner partner was Jack Schaefer, the author of SHANE. At the time, we were probably the only two people in the room who'd read Tolkien, so we talked about that.
qjcscxfl -- Quick, Jenny, Cherrybombs SDCB & CMS R xylophone-fighting--lamely.
Bob wrote: "The body count is currently at four. Or Five." I take it that means Four if Moot does not get feed, Five if she does, correct?
Interesting, in my WIP my body count is up to 8, but the book opened with 5 victims to begin with and so far, we've only "seen" one bite the dust. And there are more coming. No, this is not a romance, which is weird for me because I've never written a non-romance book yet. Very weird since I'm like up to page 150 and no one has gotten laid yet. In the other WIP the hero/heroine have done it twice and we are on page 90. go figure.
uijke - the place I sent middle child instead of hitting him over the head with a frying pan after giving me a hard time.
OH - No, Shamus is a great name. I love the name, it's my favorite male name, so don't you go and make fun of it, or else! I so wanted to name one of my boys Shamus. My husband and fought over it for hours after both boys were born. I lost both times. Figure that one out.
Tal - I've read Tolkein. I think it was required reading somewhere along the way and I think it totally confused me.
Tal - I take back the Tolkein reading. I have the author confused with something else entirely. Forgive my ignorance. Or stupidity, or general idiotness.
Bob I saw Shane and I like the name Wilson, who was played by Jack Palance when his first name was Henry, DH says. I am sure people will not get confused. Most people don't remember Shane or have never seen it. Just us old folks, although it should be, if it is not, a classic.
Tsk, Tsk, Bob. Did anyone else notice that really awkward sentence when he is talking about watching the second season of Deadwood? Just remember, we are your critique partners and we need more to critique. /,D
jen-t please do not murder middle child unless it is just in a book. I do not want you to go to jail and I do not want you to eliminate middle child, even if he does root for the wrong hockey teams. Doesn't he?
blue umxxyml
Unlikely (that) manuscripts (rated)xx yex make libraries.
SDCB - actually, it's the youngest child that roots for the wrong hockey teams. Not to mention the wrong football teams and the wrong golfer, geez, where did he come from. However, it is the middle child that has decided it is pick on mommy day, or drive mommy totally nuts day or whatever. Freaking horomone surges. Yes, going through puberty with a boy is just as bad as going through it with a girl. the only difference, I understand her, I don't get him. Besides, she and I are on the same page, so we get all narly at the same time. Poor daddy. But back to middle child. He has asked me like eight times if he can watch an R rated movie. I have said no, his father has said no and he's still bugging me about it. Then, he had the nerve to take the entire plate of brownies up to his bedroom and he and his friend eat most of them, and made a horrible mess. Then, they were putting in the kitchen, I yelled at them, but they never picked up the damn golf balls, yep, I stepped on one and I went flying. Okay, so I'm not hurt, but the little bugger laughed his ass off. I sent him away. Then, little shit, I caught him watching the R rated movie in my room anyway. Now he's slamming doors because I grounded him for two weeks. My DH is backing me, but he's snickering in the background because the R rated movie is only R because of one nude scene and my lovely son just wanted to fast forward to that scene. Geez, he's like 12! hello!
Okay, thank you. I feel much better now. Maybe. Okay, middle child is standing at my door, tears in his eyes and he's trying to appolgize. Geez, being a parent sometimes really sucks. Kid's killing me here.
Okay, back to Agnus - Bob - feed moot.
Poor jen-t Poor baby. You are really racking up the poor babies kid. What a time you are having. Are you sure you aren't hurt? Ground the kid until he is at least 25. Apparently male hormones hit their peak at 18 so there is hope. Only like 12 more years to go. /.D The one-eyed Cherry Bomb wishes you well.
blue gsixuheb
Girls seem intensely eXuberant. Unfortunately heroes eventually bomb.
For Jen-T/Regis, a quotation from Jean Kerr's PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES:
"When our kids grow up, they won't have to wonder why we rejected them. We'll TELL them why we rejected them. Because they're impossible, that's why!"
wkrwr -- Will Kevin really wear ruffles?
I'm sending sympathy and empathy your way JenT. My teen-age boys are driving me nuts too. DS15 screamed at me this morning after he demanded a button and I asked why he needed it. They come in different sizes, doncha know. I screamed back, got the button and sewed it on his pants. He did call later when he was on the way to work to apologize. I know DH put him up to it but he sounded sincere so I apologized too and we're okay. Good thing I can't see him rolling his eyes when he talks to me over the cell phone. When is school starting?
names are important things. I narrowly escaped Letitia. I could not have lived as a Letty.
I had a friend whose Irish-American parents named her Siobhan -- a very nice name. But the nurse who wrote it on the bracelet had bad penmanship so the nurse on the next shift read Slobham. Deciding that was no kind of name for a girl, she changed it to Joanne, which stuck.
Go figure.
G&T
All right, y'all. Stop whining about how your children are driving you crazy because you have mis-named them. My youngest left the nest today and I'd gladly take her back.
Besides, we have bigger things about which to worry. Did you know that there are other blogs out there? Well, it came as news to ME. And did you know that back a post or two, Talpianna is telling us that apparently some fools who are clearly NOT CB's have decided she is offensive and have mistakenly categorized her as "she who must be ignored?" And, AND that she is thinking of becomming that most vile of all creatures: a lurker.
Grab your shovels in a show of support here, CB's. This is dire indeed. I'm going to go fire up that rocket launcher and gas up the biplane.
Other blogs. Geez. Who knew?
bw
BCB - I did not mis name my children, just didn't get my first choice. Somehow I lost that arugement with my husband. Still trying to figure out how that happened since I'm the one who went through LABOR! Honestly, after all is said and done, they all live up to their names, espeically said middle child. Who, in DLD was killed off, but Bob and Jenny spelled his name wrong, how dare they. Okay, so now you know, middle boy's name is Conor and right now he's know as the Con man! Yes he is. Devil child. Remember the movie with Keanue Reeves and Al Pachino where Keanue is a lawyer and Al is his devil father? Yep, welcome to my world.
No, I did not cave, kid is still grounded. We had a long talk about R rated movies, language and YEX. Little shit knows more than he should at his age. At least he's willing to talk about it though. Guess I'm lucky that way, but geez, are all boys this obsessed with the female body? Should I rename this kid LaFarve or what? My husband is still snickering and saying stupid shit like "That's my boy." Do men ever grow up?
Of course there is daring daughter whose head is rotating as we speak and she's puking pea soup because I'm the meanest mommy in the world because I told her no internet until her honors project is done. It's not like she hasn't had all summer to do it! It's due the first day of school. It's not like I'm asking the world of her. Oh, and she's still hapring me on the stupid cell phone. Geez, her and her brother have one to share, and it's not like they go many places without me or my husband! Oh my god! I am not going to survive the rest of the summer.
Beam me up Scotti!
Calgon Take me away!
Someone toss some water on me so I can melt, please. I beg you, put me out of my misery.
Where is Agnus when I need her and her flipping frying pan. Bob, would you like to make the body count 6? i'm willing, just so long as you don't feed me to moot. I have issues with that.
Okay, off to go climb in bed with the youngest Irish child - he loves me and he still needs the cootie shot.
circle, circle, dot, dot, now you have the cootie shot.
BCB - I know it's hard when they go off to college, I get that, but you do remember what it's like to be me, don't you? Come on, have a little sympathy for me.
vxvfgfde - a new way of treating mothers who have gone bonkers. Hopefully it works.
NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!
Jen-T wrote: I know it's hard when they go off to college, I get that, but you do remember what it's like to be me, don't you? Come on, have a little sympathy for me.
Umm, Jen? I have never been you, bless my heart. And believe me, I have lots and lots and lots of sympathy. Oh. You meant for you? Well, sure, that too.
And then, inexplicably, she wrote: NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!
Well, ok. If you feel that strongly about it.
bw
I too am baffled by the NO MORE WIRE HANGERS remark. I thought that was a slogan opposing back-alley abortions.
aazikbup -- The demon currently possessing Jen's son
I was almost named Mary, after about 80 great-aunts in the family. I went through a phase where I desperately wanted to change my name from Brenda to something cooler -- like Sugar or Cookie. Apparently, at age 10 I was watching a lot of TV shows with hookers in them or something. THANK HEAVENS my mom waited that one out.
When sister #1 started kindergarten, she took on another identity: the name of some kid who never showed up. My mom got a call a month into the school year demanding to know why her daughter was not in school and had to go down to the classroom and point out her kid.
On contemporary cowboy paranormals, hey as long as we don't go back to the cowboy and a baby phase, that's fine with me.
And boy, is there a lot of room to go with this one: Hunchback Mountain. The Werewolf in Sheep's Clothing. Vampire on the Range. The Ghost and Miss Kitty.
jen-t: Hang in there. I need to know people survive raising teenagers. My DSS (he's 10 and my 1st kid - can you say jumping with no parachute?) is starting to show signs that the teenage years will be no picnic. He was astounded that he was held back this year for not doing anything (literally nothing) all last year. And then there is the 2 households, 2 sets of rules thing over here.
And then he will come up to me and say something really smart about writing and I think, I got so lucky with him.
And now the DSS needs to quit reading over my shoulder.
spanakopita: Am I the only one who keep reading this wrong? I swear, I keep reading "spankopia" which sounds just wrong.
Thank you thank you thank you for the astrological signs. Sister #2 who gives me the most grief is both a Balcony Heckler and a Butter Bean. ROTFL! And, yes, I shared.
oilnj: Oh, I like not jumping. (not much better than Oil in New Jersey)
Thanks Btuda - I'm sure we will all survive, maybe. Both boys are asleep, daughter is ignoring me.
And are you peaple really going to tell me you don't know where NO MORE WIRE HANGERS comes from.
I'll give you a hint - it came from a movie, and older one and it's about an actress.
I dressed as her one year for holloween, I thought I was being so cleaver walking around with a wire hanger - nope, the school didn't like it too much, even though the kids didn't get it, but the principal did and she made me toss the wire hanger. Geez, some people have no sense of humor.
As you can tell, I've calmed down some. Well, boys are sleeping and husband, well, he's snicker somewhere in his office, probably watching that R rated movie with the naked boobs flapping in the wind.
Me, giving all frying pans back to Agnus. Cleaned.
Mommy Dearest loved that movie. Whenever my mom gets upset we always make her laugh by crying, "Please, mommy, NOT the wire hangers!!!"
Great movie.
Sigh. Forget those HS guys, doing google searches of the incomprehensible bits of this blog are going to get me into sooo much trouble some day. Thanks Jen, I expect you to come visit me.
I don't watch much tv and don't love movies. I read. But here is what I found out and, geez, it is pretty self-explanatory:
Fans of cult/camp cinema are, of course, familiar with the Hollywood version of the tale starring Faye Dunaway and Diana Scarwid. The SHOWGIRLS of its day, MOMMIE DEAREST was a flop upon release, but has become a favorite for sickos, degenerates, drag queens, and female impersonators the world 'round.
From some website about Hungover Gourmet Cooks. No. Don't ask.
So Jen, into which category are you currently falling? I'm guessing the last one, alien that you are.
And Jen, it's AGNES. AGNES with an "E" not a "U" -- which BTW, I keep reading as Angus. Yep. Hung up on the whole cowboy thing over here.
bw
jen-t: Ooo! Ooo! I know where that line comes from! My minor was Film Studies so I can sit in the dark and eat popcorn with the best of them! No Snakes on a Plane for me though.
Although Kyra might convince me if we can make snarky MST3000 comments about it. It would have to be a well-lit theater for me. With my luck, DH would sit behind me with his Twizzlers and tickle my neck, shouting, "Snake! Snake!"
And as for various things flapping in the wind, at least they sound natural. Talk about a generation with unrealistic expectations ...
tceboi: Vanilla Tce as a child.
Please don't mention that phrase or that movie again. I watched that film some years back and was traumatized since the little girl's name is Christina.
Since Bob and others are talking names...I was almost named Jean. I'm glad my father won that argument and named me after his father. Though it makes me one of about six Chrises in the family (re: My Big Fat Greek Wedding).
sguaii--a transition or another way of spelling the name of that useless motorized walker
Jen-t It's Bette Davis. Pick me!
I have 2 sons. The one who will make me a Grandma was the nastiest teenager on earth. He is lucky to be alive. Luckily I don't cook or I would have beaned him with a frying pan. And I actually cried when he went to college because I would miss him.
He is now 25 and I keep asking "who took my son and left this pod person?" He is asking me about my pregnancy with him and is very solitious(sp?) of his new wife.. And he likes me...he really likes me!
BCB- I am not sure where all you are going on your trip, but if ya'll are coming to the MIDWEST, please come and play at my house. You can bring all your toys and friends because the neighbors think I am nuts anyways.
Gerald Swearingen is the optometrist in our small rural town--so is his daughter, Erika (both are on the boards of different banks). So that name is ok with me. Bullock is Sandra, none other.
Christina - sorry that movie scared you. Personally, I loved it.
Yeah, I'm odd. Mommy Dearest was a good movie - I called my mother that a lot growing up. She'd say something like, "Jennifer! For crying out loud. How many times do I have to ask for you to stop leaving hot chocolate mugs under your bed for days. Just look at this, it's disgusting!" She'd then hold up some gros mug, or bowl with crap growing in it. It got worse when she found the beer bottles in the closet. Anyway, I'd say something like "yeah, Yeah, yeah, mommy dearest, go get your wire hanger." I could tell she was trying not to laugh.
The actress who played the role in Mommy Dearest was Faye Dunaway and she was playing Joan Crawford.
I suppose I shouldn't joke about stuff like that. I couldn't even spank my kids when they were bad. Okay, so I did it once, but I missed her diaper and it's been like 14 years and i still feel guilty. But for some reason that movie and the whole Mommy dearest thing just has always stuck in my mind.
Yeah, along with Kermit, the Shark and other crazy stuff.
Geez, BCB - okay, it's AGNES! My neighbor's name is Agnes, really it is, but we call her Whitey because she has white hair. Her mother started it when she was about 3. She's always had white hair, not grey, not blonde, but white, I kid you not, talk about mommy dearest.
Okay, I think we are back to normal. Husband has promised to talk with with middle child about girls, after I tell him what to say. This should be good. Daughter, well, she's grunting at me, so this is progress.
Bob - I've decided I want to live, so you can't knock me off, not just yet anyway. Geez, I hope it's not to late? Hope a hitman doesn't show up.
Geez. Ok, so now I'm googling "wapak" -- which as far as I can tell is short for Wapakoneta, Ohio. If that's anywhere near that toxic river, sure, we'll be there.
But are you sure that's the midwest? Because from MN it seems more like "not all the way but almost far enough east." Or from the other direction "not quite midwest but moving in the right direction."
Did you want us to transport you to somewhere else, or just come play for a while and scare the neighbors? We are entirely capable of either. Just be careful what you ask for. Ooops, Tal is watching: Be careful for what you ask.
And isn't it nice when the DS gets old enough to be a real person? At 21, mine is almost there. He has his moments that make the middle school years well worth it. I hardly ever feel like pinching his head off anymore.
bw
btuda you made me laugh. You were all excited about knowing what movie the line came from but then didn't mention the name of the movie. I can't remember the last name of the title character of whom the story is written. The actresses first name was Joan but I suddenly can't remember her last name. I want to say Caulfield but that doesn't sound right. Joan Crawford. Yeah me! I am a Cherry Bomb!!!!!!
I remember the teen years with both my children but since they both read this blog I cannot say anything. My lips are sealed. Email me and I'll tell. Just joking, you two, relax. /.D
blue jhkkcwth
Just how killers korrupt Crusie's writing threatens HEA.
SDCB - You tease! That's not fair. I need advice here on how to survive these turbulent times. No my lips are sealed crap. Spill the beans. Is there hope for me and my broad?
kwsnqfm - kermit wants signature noting quick film meter
Scope Dope - what is it with you and your little kid stories? sheesh. I'm glad you've moved on to my nephew. But he's 16 now and not impressed.
Tal - I have my shovel packed and ready by the door, just waiting for BCB to find her wa across the border to pick us up. We might be a little late : )
Jen wrote: Is there hope for me and my broad?
Ok. Sitting on my hands over here. Biting my tongue too. Hurts like hell. You'd better appreciate it.
bw
tbuumem: this is the sound I'm making
But Bob, Deadwood is a historical (as far as that goes for a tv show) and Al Swearengen and Seth Bullock were their names, and there was supposedly a Gem girl named Tricksie (even worse than Trixie) though Alma Garret was totally made up and they changed some other names, like the Doc. Though Sol Star and Merrick and E.B. Farnum were all real too.
I love the show, I've spent a bit too much time looking up facts about it. Apparently the big hotel and casino in Deadwood was opened up by Seth Bullock, and is still functioning.
Not really relevant to any point being made here, but just wanted to throw that into the mix anyway.
CMS: Please note that MCB has insisted on driving this time. And she found a bus. No, don't ask where, but I'm inclined to think that somewhere there is a highway cleanup prison detail without a ride. Or maybe they're coming along, too. I should have more details on that by the time she gets here. But yes, we're running just a tad late. No wucking furries.
Speaking of which, those Aussies have been awfully quiet since their convention. Must have been one hell of a party. Maybe none of them could make bail. Sigh. Do we have to stop there, as well? Long strange trip, indeed.
bw
BCB - I see you took your pill! I make middle child sit on his hands when he can't keep them to himself.
Okay, I'm in the middle of writing this scene with my hero and his mother and now I want to make a reference to that movie. Geez, maybe I can swing it, but somehow I don't see my very flawed, hot hunky city cop making a reference to that movie. I doubt he's ever seen it. Sigh.... back to writing. I know, I take lots of breaks, but believe it or not, I've written 12 pages today. Not bad considering all I've had to deal with.
Hmmm, I feel kind of normal - I wonder if I got hit in the head with a stray frying pan coming from MN and I'm suffering from a concussion caused by some Minnesotian? Because I know my Canandian friends wouldn't do such a thing to me.
jiggle, wiggle, goat x-ray egg
bucking floger
zystquz - xulu, yesterday sick tykes quit iglu, zulu
For some unknown reason B'tuda spake thusly:
B'tuda said...
I was almost named Mary, after about 80 great-aunts in the family.
And you had a problem with this???
Bon Cheri, did you say people who weren't CBs were being mean to Talpianna? Wait a minute, only we're allowed to be mean to her! Hand me that shovel!
xgrvt - someone who is no longer a grvt
Mary - duck! Shovel coming at you, along with a few wire hangers! Send me to the mean people, this alien will take care of them!
If I was a boy my parents wanted to name Dwight Edward. So glad I was a girl.
JenT - Poor Baby! No kids of my own, but I have two nieces. The older one has been driving my sister demented for years. And she's still got a few more years to go before she's officially a teen.
We pray for my sister's sanity.
Jen-T said...
are all boys this obsessed with the female body?
Oh, Honey, it's only going to get worse as he gets older and discovers sex as a possible, real life activity.
My husband is still snickering and saying stupid shit like "That's my boy." Do men ever grow up?
In a word, "No." But you knew that. ;+) Take it easy, Jen. You've done a good job with your kids, but life has it's little (or not so little) ups an downs, anyway.
btuda said...
When sister #1 started kindergarten, she took on another identity: the name of some kid who never showed up.
I love that! Sounds like a very cool kid. What does she do now? Modern day Mata Hari?
hbaakqli (green)
Hairy beasts ate aged kudzu quite lovingly. Ick.
Hi Scooped Up Cherry Bum, I thought I'd share a little with you.
I can't understand these CBs and their angst about getting published, I myself when I was 11 trs. old was published, she said modestly; well twice that year as a matter of fact, buffing her nails.
SDCB "That's wonderful NG I'm so Proud of you.
Jen-t nearly falling off her violently vibrating bed "What; NG you never told us.
GG Goterdamerung, Gruss Gott etc.
OH rolling up her sleeves "Well back to work on my opus"
BCB "I don't believe it MCB what do you think?"
MCB "I bet her father was the publisher.
BCB and MCB "Bless her heart"
SDCB "tell us about it NG"
NG "well my first effort was published and ran thousands of copies, but alas my second effort did not do so well.
ATigress sitting in the corner rolled up her knitting, looked over her glasses and said "NG you remind me of the second verger's first wife, she to was fond of embroidery
NG Gasp "it is all true"
TP "Holey Moley NG what have you done? Do you want to be -TADA- banned from the blog?"
NG "No No Not that Please.
Well I was just jealous amd IT IS True. When I was eleven I sat down one day and coipied out ajokeandsentitto The Weekly News. The next week I got a money order for 2/6. and it was in the paper with my name!! I thought this was great so I satdownandcopiedoutanotherjoke and sent it to the Red Letter[a woman's mag.] It also was published; this time though I got a nail file and comb in a leather case, I was expecting money!!
Notice no lies just a French Knot or two.
SDCB and Talpianna I hope this gave you a chuckle, I hope you are having better days SD and Tal it's their loss and our gain you'll have more time for us.
zauside blue obviously suicide which is not an option for CBs
NG - Cute, I chuckled.
Okay, it's a new day. We are not at the lake, it's cold and rainy so no lake. Last night when we went to bed, DH said if it was nice, we'd go, well everyone is still in bed and it's not nice, so I'm not waking anyone up. DH and I stayed up very late last night watching A FEW GOOD MEN, love that movie. I think it's funny, DH thinks I'm weird. He thinks that movie is very serious. I chulked a few times and he just gave me a funny look. But there are a few parts where Jack Nickleson gets that funny smirk on his face and I think, here it comes "Honey, I'm home." You know, from THE SHINNING, yeah, I know, I'm blending movies again.
Anyway, I'm not a huge Tom Cruise fan, but in this movie he's okay. Demi Moore, not so much. Kevin Bacon, god I love that guy. Keifer, well, I watch 24 just because he's in it and because my DH makes me. His favorite show. Anyway, it was one and we didn't go to sleep until like 3am, so you ask, why the heck am I up at 8? Actually, I've been up since 6, two hours of uninterrupted writing and I have no idea. I was startled awake, most likely from a bad dream, but I can't remember what it was.
Hopefully, kids will have turned back into the sweet things I gave birth too.
Bob - so, is Rocko Reprived? For the moment? What's the body count? How are the YEX scenes coming?
ZaZa - "Sex as a real life activity." Please, we are there already. He doesn't understand why i won't let him take a girl to the movies. Remember, this is the kid who wanted to take his girlfriend to a "scary" movie so she'd get all freaked out and have to hug him during the movie. Oh, yeah, I'm in trouble.
JenT- Yeah. You're in trouble. But I know what you're going thru (sort of). I actually made 2 seperate references to "Daddys Gun". But it was fun watching my DDs boyfriends jump.
Next I'm pulling out the gun cleaning supplies.
My name was almost Ophelia. I don't even know how to spell that. I thank my grandmother weekly for stopping the madness.
Not that Ophelia isn't a great name but 7th graders would have had a field day.
lbooth
Ibooth - Ha! I went to school with a girl named Ophelia Dickie. I did, I swear and we were in 7th and 8th grade and we did have a field day with that.
When I was pregnant with child #3 we teased my mother that if the kid was a boy, we were going to hame him Tiger Jack (after tiger woods and Jack Nickolas) and if it was a girl we were going to name her Augusta Georgia (after the golf course). My husband is a huge golfer (golfing now with the boys) and he's actually very good at the sport. Anyway, mother really believed us. It was so funny. She really got all mad. But was happy in the end when we named him something entirely different.
Okay, I can barely contain myself! Bob wrote "What's in a name" Well what's in a book cover and I HAVE A BOOK COVER!. Almost fell off my rocker when I found out. Anyway, check out my blog and check out my cover. Sorry, I know I shouldn't do this, but I just had too. It's my first one.
Okay, lets get back on track. Does Wilson stay Wilson or does his name change? And we finally get to read, he will always be Wilson to us.
So what is the body count?
cherry magic sheryl better not yank my chain. I have some really really cute little kid stories about you. /.D
nanaimo granny that was really cute. Congratulations on being published. I have been published over several years but never in book form, just newspapers and magazines. Once made $300 from Readers Digest for a little story that happened to me. My sister got all excited and told everyone her sister was an international author. Sisterly love, aint it great?
My parents had to fight the church (Anglican=Episcopalian in the US) to get me baptised as Penny. The ministers insisted it had to be Penelope because Penny was a nickname. They went to five churches before they found a minister that would christen me Penny.
talpianna I figured it out. I don't know why it took me so long but I finally figured it out. The dame on the other blog didn't like the competition in the game. Obviously You were better than her! Uh Duh!
jen-thang in there. I can't divulge little kid stories here but if you come over, man do I have a lot to tell. /,D You will survive because you are a CB and they are not.
green ljgyg
Like Jenny's guys, yex gleefully.
SDCB - I'm hanging! Sun is coming out, wishing we had gone to the lake, but the boys are golfing, so life is good. Daughter is still grunting because her project isn't finished yet and we told her no nothing until it is. We warned her in July that she needed to pace herself. Well, she didn't. I know, when she's like 40 she might listen to me. Although, I'm still really good at tuning out my mother.
Nice cover Jen. I can't wait to read the book. And if you can't jump up and down and squeal with your friends...
I would be very interested to see Cologne Girl's cover when hers is ready. I'm fascinated by the publishing process and its diferences throughout the world.
I'm printing off my book to hand over to one of my beta readers tonight. The next scene in my wip revealed itself last night so I want to get that on paper before I head over to Scop Dope's. Golf kicked NASCAR off the sports network so I have no idea how else to spend a Sunday. : (
bon cheri bomb said...
Jen wrote: Is there hope for me and my broad?
Ok. Sitting on my hands over here. Biting my tongue too. Hurts like hell. You'd better appreciate it.
right there with ya! Sooo many thing we could do with that. But no, we'll be nice. We need the practice.
jcraak (how could I resist this one?) Jenny Crusie ROCKS - and also Krentz.
Good one, NG! Definitely got me smiling.
And which other blog is giving Talpiana grief? Maybe LaFarve needs a new assignment.
Sheryl - um, golf is good. Love golf. Good luck with that scene! Tell SDCB I said hello.
I finally have a feel for the humorous anthology I'm writing. I don't do funny well. Okay, stop laughing people. I might live funny, but I don't write funny. Although, I think I have a dark sense of humor, writing comedy isn't easy for me. So why did I join in on this anthology? Beats me.
Watching golf on a sunday afternoon. Two weeks, we start hockey games. The practice has begun, but now the games start. With three kids, it's like 6 games a weekend. Yikes.
Ouch! Mary rubs her head fretfully
Sheesh, Jen-T, you need to work on your aim there. Watch where you're throwing that shovel! Or are you trying to increase that body count, huh? huh?
nwwdfh - never watch women ducking flipping* hardware
*okay, yes, some self-editing did occur in that sentence
My father wanted to name me Hilda. A nice Germanic name, sez he. My mother, who apparently didn't want a child who spent 30 years in therapy, said no. He had lots of other suggestions, too. Many of which involved language characters that do not appear in English. Jeez.
Jen-T: nope, he's not too early, nor do men change. This is actually a good thing. They grow up to be men who adore their wives' bodies (one wife per man, please). And, being single (probably a terminal condition), I rather appreciate those male friends (even the married ones) who tell me I'm hot. Gives a little boost to the self-esteem when one is feeling, well, not so hot.
Yes, JEN-T,
Boys think about girls. From around twelvish on for the rest of their lives.
It's inborn, I guess, to further the species. The crushes come with regularity until they settle on a permanent partner.
NG...loved your publishing story...
Believe it or not...I also have been published...a short technical article in a technical magazine. Received $25 for it.
Maybe that is why I like this blog so much.
tbnqqp blue
that's better, non quota quotes perfectly
Hilda? I think not.
My friend's husband wanted to name their child after his mother. Luckily the child was a boy and got a different name. Otherwise there'd be a 3-year-old running around named Ethel. Yes, that was my reaction too.
Scope Dope, you've inspired me, with your talk about your German Shepherd. I've finally posted a photo on my blog of my 9-year-old Shepherd. http://blogsheesh.blogspot.com/
Glamour Geek, while I was at it, I put a link to a live Maui webcam. It's sunset in Maui right now. Bizarre. I'm still trying to find the Ideal Swimsuit for the trip. (sigh)
Mary - oh geez, so sorry. Baseball wasn't one of my better sports. Actually, throwing in general isn't my strong suit. Just ask my bowling partner. Talk about pain.
So glad to hear that my kids aren't the only ones driving their parents crazy!! School starts on Wednesday--my bd, by the way--and they got pissed when I said that it was the best bd present I had gotten in years!!
Chipping in late (as usual) about other stuff. LOVED the book AND the movie SHANE--wow, didn't know so many people had seen it.
Wire hangers--didn't see the movie, but if she used a wire hanger to whoop on someone, been there, done that. My mom and she must have been friends...
Names--for both children and characters are VERY important. My DH and I had many discussions about our children's names. My son's middle name is Shane, which I love! My daughter's middle name is Elizabeth, my first choice, but I lost that one and we named her Jordan instead. Third daughter--well, I love her whole name but now she wants me to add "Rose" into her middle name--I mentioned once that I wanted to name her Sierra Rose and she loved it! Her name is now Sierra Ilona (family name of DH's side) so I guess I can name her Sierra Ilona Rose...
As for characters--in two of my WIP I have changed names on a couple of my characters several times because the work has gone a different way than I had planned and the names no longer seem to work. Very frustrating. And sometimes that means they change personalities also. So don't scoff at names! They are very important.
After DD18 was born we got a really nice note from DH's grandma, thanking us for naming our new arrival after her. We were all a little confused as no one, not even her own DD, knew her real first name. Her father, a Scotsman with no sense of humour and little tolerance for anything, hated it and wouldn't let anyone use it, so she always went by her middle name: Vivian.
Sheri: Welcome back! I've missed you and where have you been? I can't remember where you said you were going, but did you have a nice trip? And how is your wrist?
Louis: It seems I am not done pestering you yet (I think that's why he REALLY likes this blog), but I have to ask now that I've thought about it: were your DS's on the set to keep an eye on your DAH's?
I am actually writing today, trying to offset the ringing silence in the house. Taking a quick break here for lunch and my CB fix. Just pathetic, I know.
Later-
bw
Mary: actually, it's sunRISE right now. They're 3 hours earlier than we are. The place is called Napili Sunset. Napili is a GREAT beach. Count on going there. It's about 5 minutes north of the condo.
Yes, folks, our very own Mary is coming with me to Maui. This is to help arrange the flares so the rest of you can find us. You didn't expect me to be able to cover all that territory on my own, did you?
'Sides, I needed someone to help me rate the hot surfer dudes. Do you think we should hold up numbers and score them? :)
Mary shrugsSunrise, sunset... (okay guys, you can just stop that singing right now.)
I think it's very civilized of the Hawaiians to have sunrise at a time when I'm awake enough to appreciate it ;)
I think we should sync up with the gang. At a certain time, everyone tune in to the webcam and we'll stand on that beach waving at you Live From Maui. :)
akcxiu - excuse me, must be allergies...
So if names are so important, I'd like to know why the name Karen in DLD. And the Karen in "Bet Me" had the nickname Worse. Is Karen really a villainous name?
LOL, LOL, LOL
Tal the other blog is the loser
JenT Wait til your son is "in love". You think 12 is bad. When we went off for our one night, DS16 wanted to know why his girlfriend couldn't come and spend the night. After all his two younger brothers would be there too.
NG loved the publishing story
Names No one has mentioned how if you dislike someone then you do not want to use that name for a child or beloved character. I know several teachers who have vetoed a name for one of their babies because they had a child of that name in a class and just the name gives them the heebie jeebies
Two of our sons are Matthew and Luke. You can not imagine how many people over the years have asked us where Mark and John are. GRRR.
Just found out I have to take DH to airport or I will spend the week transporting DS16 to work, 90 min away because his car has to go to body shop to be repaired. So much for sustained writing I was going to be doing this afternoon.
BCB (((hugs))) for empty nest and cheers for you writing
One of our cars was stolen last week. A wrecked van DH had not gotten around to donating to a charity. He piled firewood in front of his old truck that we can't afford to have repaired at the moment and hid the car my dear sister gave DS16 that we can't use because she can't find the title so we can't get insurance etc.
Guess I should call the tow company and cancel having them come and sneak those two off the property.
robin s sez: Two of our sons are Matthew and Luke. You can not imagine how many people over the years have asked us where Mark and John are. GRRR.
My parents are Peter and Mary. Where's Paul?, ditto. So original! *yawn*
Mary: I like the idea of waving to everyone, but I'm imagining we'd have to go way too early to be noticed among the other folks. We'll be those two, slightly moving, dots! :) Hm. Maybe we could work this out. That would be pretty entertaining. *ponders*
Jen-T said..."I wonder if I got hit in the head with a stray frying pan coming from MN and I'm suffering from a concussion caused by some Minnesotian? “
Now wait a minute. How did Jen get a hold of the BLAME LORI Banner? I thought that burned in the Hotel Fire of '06. At least I have some warning that the police are coming, and yes, McB you can come watch them take me away. We all know how much you like seeing the police in action. I do request that when you are shamelessly flirting with the officer NOT hand-cuffing me, could you please find out where they are taking me and send someone (NOT Bob) with bail?
Geez, I don’t even have a good alibi because the bus didn’t show up at my place last night. I guess someone must have realized MN isn’t exactly on the way to AZ. *sigh*
See y'all when I'm out of the slammer.
yioiy: That 'bout covers it.
Jen-T: your hero can use the wire hanger thing. One does not have to have seen the film (I haven't) to be aware of the reference. It's an instance of cultural literacy: as some columnist (I think) pointed out, all political types know that DeTocqueville wrote Democracy in America, but few or none of them have ever READ it. And good luck with all the boys in your life! And to DD for her honors project.
BCB: good luck with the daughter-withdrawal! I hope she calls home often, or returns your calls, or something. Try not to request her by an outgrown nickname: I was responsible for my roommate NOT being able to evade her hometown name in a new state (bad me!).
Speaking of nicknames: sometimes they're enough to disqualify a name for me. My sister gave her son quite a nice name, but he goes by the diminutive (ending in -y), which I dislike. Of course, being a "Yankee" in the Southern sense (i.e. "not from around here" as opposed to "from New England"), I am uncomfortable with such names for anyone besides small children, anyway...
RobinS: sorry 'bout the long drive and the many car calamities!
ScopeDope: I hope you feel better! Thanks for checking in. If you can't threaten your children with embarassing stories, what's the point of letting them grow up?
hjcst: Hostile jocosity causes serious tantrums
wkndi: wildebeests know, "Never Drink Ink".
Have we welcomed Lucy and Jill yet? If not let me be the first. If yes - sorry I'm late. Welcome. Have they put you through the initiation ceremony yet? Not to worry, we hardly ever lose anyone.
Lori - What BCB never bothers to tell anyone is that I'm usually trying to distract the police so she can make a getaway. We're fine until she spots a uniform - any kind, it doesn't matter - and then she starts waving her fists and screeching about plots and conspiracies and ... well things ensue.
Robin - sooo sorry for the auto problems. Geez when it rains it pours, doesn't it?
nmfihkv: Nimble Minnesotan flees ice house, keeping violets.
BCB...
No all of our horses are safe in corrals. Although the two youngest fillies managed to get out the other day and having a ball running around. They are kept together so as to become horse friendly to each other. One followed me back into the corral and the other led nicely back into corral.
JenT...that cover is "Smashing"
Keep happy and "Live the Dream"
gtyxpfk...a blue mish-mash
blogger strikes again
cvmjq green
Crusie's vim magic, Jenny quotes
Nanaimo G said...
I myself when I was 11 trs. old was published, she said modestly; well twice that year as a matter of fact, buffing her nails.
Hah! I can top that. I was published for the first time at about age six. It was a poem to my doggie. Prior to that, I had a drawing published, too. Both were in the Uncle Wiggly column of the local rag. ;+) And I got paid for both of them. For some reason, my grandmother was appalled when I got paid and wouldn't let me send anything else in. Clearly not into the whole publishing thing. Although, come to think of it, she wrote all the time, left volumes when she died. But she would never have considered submitting anything for publication. Hmmm. I think maybe I've discovered where my reluctance to sub my work comes from. It's genetic. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.
oignbnui (red)
Oh, I guess Needles brought nasty undesirables in.
When our DS was 3 he asked his daddy if he liked girls in beibing suits (that is how he said it). DH carefully responded "Yes, I like girls in bathing suits. Do you like girls in bathing suits?" DS happily responded "Yes, I like to give them hugs". I knew way back then that we were in trouble.
k.l. if your son is now 37, I think I know that guy... :)
BCB--If you don't mind me asking, what is your DH's grandma's name? I wonder why her father even let her be named that if it bothered him so much.
CBs- while I agree to the shovels in theory I think someone needs to point out there are real shovels and there are virtual shovels and there are ways to get things accomplished where no one ends up on jail,(especially since I just went and bought more stuff for the house and really don't have bail money now.) Here is my proposal for defending the honor of Talpianna and CBs and a step forward on teh TOTW plan. I request that Tal give us the complete address for said blog/discussion group. Following that CBs from across the world will join and take over. We will use our powers for good adn allow those whom we like to remain and get rid of she who shall be ignored. This will accomplish many thngs. And as soon as I've has some lunch and chocolate I'll think of them.
CC - well the otherway is more fun. But I figure that Tal can handle she-who-shall-be-ignored with one well places 'bless your heart'. The Mole can of course take care of herself. Tal, if and when you need said body disposed of, give a shout. Otherwise we will do as CC suggested and just play with said person's mind until she is a quivering mass of jelly no longer able to operate a keyboard.
Or we can stick her inside CC's wall.
MCB. [shakes head sadly] I though we agreed. You were going to stop welcoming new CB's. You know how that scares them.
And geez. Shaking my fists and screeching about conspiracies while making a getaway? I was avoiding your flailing high-heeled feet while you thrust the top half of yourself out the car window -- you could put an eye out with those things. And me yelling: "For the love of Bob, stop doing that, you're going to get us killed!" is not the same as a conspiracy theory. Though I'm starting to wonder.
Louis: Glad to hear your DAH's are safe and apparently so fun-loving and obedient at the same time. I was thinking of sending MCB to you for training, but she might damage your DS's and we can't have that. I've pretty much decided to just dump her in JenT's lake.
BTW, dear (um, Louis, I'm talking to MCB now), I got that shipment you sent. Those guys you gave the list to? Well, they delivered the stuff personally. Insisted I open it and inspect it for damage before they left. Should have known by the smirks and the gleam in their eyes THAT was a bad idea. You, ahem, apparently gave them the wrong list. Because most of this stuff is, um, oh hell, restraints and instruments of-- um, yeah, instruments. And when I said something along the lines of "What in the world?" they offered to demonstrate. I tell you what, it took some persuading on my part to get them to leave. And I think now I'm going to have to move.
And Tal, you do NOT want to give us an actual target just now. We might have to actually DO something about it and in our current mood that would be a bad thing. Then J&B would have to come over here and tell us, yet again, to be nice. And I've had just about enough of that, thank you. All this niceness has given me a headache. However, if you want to drag any evidence back over here once you're done, well, we've all got shovels stashed under our keyboards. Or if you'd rather, I can dump it all in the lake with MCB.
Christina: Her name was Katherine. No idea why the man found it so offensive. And the really funny thing was that we gave DD a middle name after our mothers, who both had the same maiden name (no, they were not the same person, geez). And if I tell you any more about that, I will have identified half the family and, well, won't they be pleased?
bw
BCB--That's a lovely name. Don't know why he hated it so. That name has always been one of my potentials should I ever spawn a girl (though I would spell it with a 'C'--just a personal preference).
idikrou -- crew team composed of idiots, hence the spelling
This mom is toast. No longer have a leg to stand on where 12 year old Conor is concerned. He saw my book cover. He came running into my office afrer visiting my website after his grandmother told him I had a copy of my bookcover on it. DS son says:
"Mom! Mom! Like that cover isn't X-rated! Their mouths are open! And you wonder where I get it from. Heck, Mom, you write the crap, I just want to see it."
My husband burst out laughing and that was the end of that.
BCB - how was the writing today? You've been very quiet, and frankly, that scares me.
BCB ominously decreed ... I've pretty much decided to just dump her in JenT's lake.
thrum thrum. thrum thrum.
Now she'll really be afraid to go back in the water.
Listen, I was hanging out the window trying to see the signs that went whizzing past. It was pouring rain too and you wouldn't slow down. And I hollered at that one intersection ... "right right, go right!!" and you yelled back "I know I'm right, its everyone else that's crazy!!!" and kept going. And I had to hock those shoes missy to raise bail after the cops finally got you to pull over. I can deal with the paranoia, but you have to stop hitting them!
Ever Queenly, Jenny bops Zaza
Well, Jen, getting rid of those guys MCB sent without inflicting bodily harm -- to them or myself -- was just so exhausting.
And you know how Bob wrote -- what do you mean, Bob who? Bob, you remember him, right? -- anyway he wrote: Do you think that’s coincidence? Nothing in a book or movie is done by coincidence.
Well, I think he is giving some of us way too much credit for deliberation. But I got a bunch of words written. Probably too many. Fodder for that editorial process.
Doesn't help that my heroine is irritated that at times I find the CB's more entertaining. And my hero is very unhappy that I can't seem to stop daydreaming about Louis's horse training cowboy progeny. I'll bet they wear dusters.
But, hey, glad to hear I found a way to scare you. [grin]
bw
xtxbeau: blogger is teasing me
MCB: One does not slow down when one is being fired upon. Nor does one execute a right OR left turn at that speed. Not in that car, anyway.
As it is, I'm going to have to find a new mechanic. Had one heck of a time convincing him that requirement about reporting gunshot wounds was only for those inflicted on people, not cars.
And what is this talk of hitting? I am very non-violent. Quite the pacifist. You were the one hitting on them. And, geez, I warned you they had no sense of humour about that kind of thing.
bw
BCB - um that last post was very scary - you feel okay? I'm worried. When was the last time you took your pill?
Pill? What pill?
And who are you and why are you talking to me?
It must be a plot. Hold on, let me get a pen so I can write it down.
bw
Janet Evanovich has a contest where she'll name a character in her book after the winner. I just don't like this, mixing the real world with my fantasy world. It reminds me of product placement in movies.
But that's my only criticism of her books--I'm a major fan.
Also a fan of I, CLAUDIUS. John Hurt as Caligula was unforgettable.
BCB...
You are right! (Though I hate to say that)
Dusters are De riguer for 1880's wear.
They both have them plus gun belts etc...
akvlkvn...green
Term for praraie (sp wide open space) alkalie or whatever
Oh God.
And I suppose your DW trained them to be GAM's while she was whipping you into shape, hm?
Never mind. My brain just exploded.
My heroine is whining that she wants to come visit, too. Sulked off in a pout when I told her I have no idea where you are, except for a left turn off the road. My hero just stalked away, saying he'd meet up with us in the last scene where he just may have to kill everyone still left standing, or whenever we came to our senses, whichever comes first. I threatened to just let the bad guy win and put them out of their misery, but they laughed at me.
See? This is what happens when something captures my imagination and refuses to give it back.
bw
BCB Maybe throw some cowboys in the book? Ones who've travelled through time. You can start a new genre Time travel cowboy conspiracy romances.
iovjmaeu joyful vowels
I don't know RSS, if I create a bunch of cowboys who can travel through time, then distance shouldn't be much of a challenge for them and, well, before you know it NC will be over-populated with them. My neighborhood will be, anyway. And I won't ever write another word.
Let me think. Yes. [insert appropriate action]
bw
BCB: Sounds like the plot in Memento. Saw it on the plane coming home from Australia this morning. *grin*
Still thinking about it.
Yes!!!! I'm back!!!!
What a trip. I think DUG gets home from her vacation tonight so you might hear from her too. So you'll have the full Aussie and the half Aussie (me) back on the blog. I'll read the other comments later, this is a quickie (no not that kind ... geez you guys, I'm hardly home and you're thinking good, um, dirty thoughts.)
Talpi: Go get em girl!
Jen-T: leave the kids alone, they'll grow up fine
And Louis: on the back highway to Cooktown (through the middle of a few cattle stations that are unfenced)we had Brahman bulls and stupid cows walking along the highway, often times crossing it without a care in the world. Some of their brothers and sisters lay with bloated bodies stiff with rigamortis, legs up in the air. Yuck.
Saw so many dead cows and kangaroos. They get hit by the big semi-trailers. Its 100 kilometre speed limit through there. Splat!!!
Did some terrific writing while away. Walked my locations, everything from rainforest to beaches. Cruised some croc infested waters. Went to Cairns, Cooktown, Cape Tribulation, the Atherton Tableland. All lovely country.
Saw crocs and snakes, no big black spiders so all is good. Sarge had us up early, organized and out the door, thank goodness, left to my two sisters we'd never have gotten anywhere. Mom looks amazing. I think the woman gets younger looking every year. She's still crabby though. Guess that's the Irish in her, she can cut you off at the knees with a glance.
BOB. Yes you. Use Wilson for a name. Jenny's smart. Listen to her.
Oh, and by the way, there is an advertisement on Qantas for their individual audio/video set-up (each passenger has their own remote and a screen is set in the back of the seat in front of you) that tells you what is available in the way of movies. They have a scene for thrillers, mystery, romance and then ta-da:
In purples and reds, two figures flee the landing of a space ship and the words Sci-Fi flash on the screen, then Area 51. It could mean good things Bob, maybe the movie will be made after all. *grin*
rg
ecnrip "E can rip, e can" (usually said after an Aussie has a bad gas problem)
If it is going to stop you from writing,forget it.
Repeat after me: There are no sexy cowboys in my mind. There are no sexy cowboys in my mind. There are...Blast, now they're in my head.
caxsiqof Russian name of non-cowboy antagonist
Blogger didn't like that one
attod aerodynamic tiger toads order danishes
Welcome home RG. Glad you had such a fantastic trip.
I don't know, RSS, me not writing seems such a small price to pay. I mean, c'mon, we're talking cowboy GAM's here. Sigh.
Welcome back, RG! I have an image (your fault entirely) of your dog, so happy to see you. Rest up, clean up, and come back to tell us details.
bw
tal, they'll use shovels, but since i'm figuring this is a high body count i will rent a backhoe with an extendable dipper. not to worry, we'll have them buried before you can say two jiffs.
btuda said "When sister #1 started kindergarten, she took on another identity: the name of some kid who never showed up."
LMAO.
NG: good job.
welcome Lucy and Jill.
glad your back, rg.
CMS: details! give us details on this book!
JJ: nice cover. open mouthed indeed. look anything like what you thought your characters look like?
RG- Glad you're back
New folks- welcome
Lurkers- get the heck out here and play
I've been in this #*&% house @&%^ weeks and I still can't find my can opener. And a multitude of other things, but right now I'm wanting the can opener.
pbzegnpo- one of those odd ethnic things RG ate while Down Under
OH: Welcome back. And I just can't resist being the one to tell you, for a change, that Jenny posted today over at Well Behaved.
bw
RG Welcome back! Can't wait to hear tales of your trip downunder.
Btuda - ROFL - for how long did your sister get away with her new identity?
BCB - back to work on thickening up that plot. A little corn starch maybe?
Plot? What plot? It's over on the back burner, simmering, lacking vegetables. Or characters.
My hero has now decided he wants to meet Louis' DD, who he believes can ride like the wind and can also probably out-shoot her brothers and will help him get rid of the bad guys back in Atlanta. He and my heroine are now over in the corner arguing about whether they'll set out together or separately. Never mind they have no idea where they're going. They claim that never stops me, so why should they care?
I guess I'll just have to sit here and wait for them to return. Louis, if they do manage to show up, just send them home, ok? I mean, really, we have some serious business to take care of over here. Conspiracies to unravel, arcs that need work, bad guys to thwart. And some people that probably need killing before all is said and done.
MCB, I think we got them going with all our talk about road trips. Who knows what all else they picked up on. Bob help us.
bw
BCB: no fair, i just came back to tell you guys new posts on Well Behaved. geez, take a little time off and people think they can do your job for you...
:)
RG - Welcome back! We missed you! And all is back to normal in my house. And yes, middle child is still checking out the babes. He and youngest child were watching some womens sport today on TV, I give up.
OH - Actually, the guy looks almost identical to the male model I had been using as inspiration. She's pretty much what I invisioned, but the cover was a bit of a shock at first. I mean, I love it, I really do, but I hadn't expected it to be so, Hot! My mother almsot had a heart attack, but she's my biggest fan anyway.
Okay, need to write. I have a flipping deadline (yeah, I had fun saying it).
Well this is obviously the day for being back. I'm back too. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank god - serious blog withdrawals and have spent 2 hours skimming (yes just skimming took 2 hours)the blog.
Thanks to rg for saying such lovely things about me and my DH. I got him to read your entry and now he's strutting around the house saying "I'm da man". Seriously he thought you were fab too rg. For those of you who haven't met our rg yet she is so elegant and softly spoken - unlike me big and loud and she was one hot mamma in her flapper costume.
We decided together that whilst we looked gorgeous that alas this never translated well into photos so we'd spare you the pictures - suffice to say we had a great time catching up.
It was such a blast to meet you rg and I loved sitting next to you at the awards dinner and chatting all night about the blog.
The national was fab, apparently. I've had lots of compliments. Several minor disasters but we managed to fix them - rg even helped me with one -thanks for the impromtu table decorating rg. Pleased to hear your North QLD tour went well.
I did manage to fall off the stage in front of 200 women - perfectly sober too - which was extremely embarassing and I still have the rather large bruise on my knee 8 days later except now it's kind of a faded yellow/green.
Jenny told me once that Debbie Macomber was a real lady and I have to agree. She was lovely and such an inspiration. Not that I really got time to sit in on anything but she was very generous with everyone.
Have taken a trip with the kids who were nearly at the "mummy who?" stage this last week. We went to Victoria, on eof our southern states. Melbourne is the capital. It was so beautiful and we had great weather and it was so nice to just kick back with the kids and not have to worry about the conference. Apart from the first 48 hours when my DD had a tummy bug and I sent the entire time in and out of public loos..but that is another story.
Have been following the kids "cant live with em, cant kill em" posts. I laughed Jen-t when you were saying about how both your daughter an dson drive you mad but you understand your daughter more. Ditto here. My DS who's 10 is like an alien sometimes. I honestly dont have a clue what the hell he's on about.
They were both quite good on the holiday actually although there were times. I remember at one stage travelling along the Great Ocean Road, which is a drive of such unparalled beauty, wanting to stop the car an push them both over the edge. But then they'd say something nice or my DS was so lovely to DD when she was ill, I wonder how I can feel such violent urges.
Kids....
dblxyfg - welcome back from blogger!!!
dont blame language, xtend your formal grammar
DUG: SO glad to have you back! Of course your conference went well (except for that falling off the stage thing, about which we expect to hear details ASAP).
However, you also said: For those of you who haven't met our rg yet she is so elegant and softly spoken
*SNORT* JenT, RSS? Are you wondering the same thing? I mean, c'mon, we met the woman. How much did she pay you? I'll give you high marks for keeping a straight face, though. Is this another cultural difference? It's a big one, I'll tell you.
Glad you got to spend relaxing time with the family, too.
We want more details, I hope you know that. I'll have to read them tomorrow, though. It's been an exhausting couple of days, what with Louis dangling his perfect children in front of me all weekend, trying to give me a damn stroke. What a tease.
I'm off to bed, to dream vicariously.
bw
To reverse a familiar catch phrase, I never saw MOMMIE DEAREST, but I did read the book.
What's all this about expecting me to give you the hairy eyeball if you end a sentence with a preposition? That's a stupid rule that I do not observe. You can even split an infinitive in my presence, as long as you give me half.
Jen-T/Regis wrote; Okay, I'm in the middle of writing this scene with my hero and his mother and now I want to make a reference to that movie. Geez, maybe I can swing it, but somehow I don't see my very flawed, hot hunky city cop making a reference to that movie. I doubt he's ever seen it.
Maybe an old girlfriend made him take her to see it on a date?
Maybe we can get the Fox Network to fund a trip to Maui for the whole CB gang--as a reality show! Sort of BIG BROTHER meets GREMLINS...
Robin S.: At one point in our military peregrinations, we lived next door to a large Catholic family, all of whom had names beginning with M. Once when a teacher was asking little Matthew the names of his siblings, knowing the custom of Catholics of naming children after the Gospel writers, she inquired: "Don't you have a John in your family?"
"Oh, yes," replied Matthew politely. "We have one on the first floor and one on the second floor."
Incidentally, peace is now guiding the planets on the other blog and the discussion group. Hope it lasts.
Who is going to help me put Kevin's sharks into Jen-T/Regis's lake?
Anyone but me thinking Princess is going to turn out to be a hitperson for the Other Guys?
ydpri -- Yes, dear, Princess really is (evil).
DUG - Welcome back! You were so missed! So glad you had a great time and i for one would love to see the picks.
BCB - yep, snorting right along with ya.
Off to bed - good night all - the rat race begins again tomorrow. Hockey practice times 3 tomorrow and all at different times and two at different rinks. Sigh, I need school! no, not for me, for the babies.
Tal - Why can't I be JenT/Kelly? Why do I have to be Regis? And keep those sharks out of my lake, geez!
Oh, and I think I've finally decided on a new chair. Thanks for all your help Tal! you are the best.
Tal wrote: Incidentally, peace is now guiding the planets on the other blog and the discussion group. Hope it lasts.
Yeah, we put the fear of Bob into them.
Glad they came to their collective senses before it was too late, bless their puny dried up humourless little hearts, because that nonsense is one thing up with which we shall not put, she said nicely and with all due respect.
bw
xybesvys: I think my contacts have fogged over again
*SNORT* JenT, RSS? Are you wondering the same thing? I mean, c'mon, we met the woman. How much did she pay you?
Now my face is red and sweat is beading on the upper lip and around the hairline. It's panic stations here, I might never recover. You guys blew my cover.
I was on my best behavior in the land downunder trying to impress DUG and hubby. We had this plan remember? DUG was to hook me up with a crocodile hunter.
I kept the hole in my arm covered, hadn't fallen off the treadmill for at least three weeks and I'd put on the dress with the deep decollatage, practiced from the good book of manners and damn it if you didn't ruin the whole bloody thing. She had a bloke all lined up for me, too. Tanned and well muscled, looked damn good in a speedo ... no, take that back, no comments on speedos allowed.
And you pinky swore you wouldn't give me away. Some kind of %$#@*&^
friends you are.
rg
xhfowpy
exh fowpy but viagra will help
Jen T sez: Tal - Why can't I be JenT/Kelly? Why do I have to be Regis? And keep those sharks out of my lake, geez!
Jen! No sharks? No fair! Mary and I were going to go net some sharks in Maui and bring them back for you to put in the lake. As a gift.
Here fishy, fishy, fishy. Here fishy...
hogfvz: what happens when your Harley conks out on the highway
G-G, I thought the plan was to tie the little rubber duckies onto the sharks' heads, as a decoy to relieve any anxiety Regis, um, I meant to type Jen, might have.
That way they /look/ harmless up until the moment of crunch, and at that point it's all over anyway so why stress? See? No worries, mate.
axlgoe - what happened in Ye Olde Days when the stagecoach got stuck in the mud
margarita cherrybomb said...
Ever Queenly, Jenny bops Zaza
Well, it may be high on her wishlist, but did you have to tell everyone??? /;+)))
Welcome back rg, dug and zeldaz (haven't seen you for a while, even if you weren't in Oz with the others).
iokibl (red)
like an iPod but dispenses kibble
Welcome back, travelers...
and lurkers....speak up...
I think our kids were just as mischeivious and troublesome and just as rewarding as any that have been mentioned on these comments.We got just as many grey hairs as any parents.
All in all a great bunch.
zwddk...green
ziz works, delightfuly different kids
Okay BCB - I was pretty distracted but rg was obviously displaying her innate good manners and charm for which all we aussies are well known...
Or maybe it's that I'm loud enough - especailly when pissy and trust me when I had to find 5 extra seats for people that we didn't have five extra seats for, I did get very pissy- for both of us.
Hubby didn't care, he was just glad there was so much decollatage around. In fact on Sunday morning at the Pink B'fast (breast cancer fundraiser) he gallantly offered to do the right thing and give every woman in the room a free breast exam. My DH - what a GAM.
Falling off the stage - excrutiatingly embarassing. Thankfully no photos. Didn't hurt a whole hell of a lot, (a twisted ankle hurts much more) just looked kind of spectacular. Not sure how I did it. I think I wasn't looking where I was walking and somehow manged to flip the portable step butted up to the stage and lost my balance. I wanted to crawl in a hole somewhere as 200 collective gasps reverberated through my head. I had all sorts of medical offers, calls for doctors and nurses - I am a nurse for crying out loud!! One lovely woman even went and found a packet of frozen peas and insisted that I sit and ice it for an hour. Bless her cotton socks but I took one look at her, gave her my best "are you insane" look and said - I've got to shower, change, slap some makeup on and decorate 17 tables in the next hour, I dont have time for ice!!!
So pleased it's over but cant wait for Sydney and the Cherry. Maybe the GAM?
qsjtqu - quiet, said jenny. Talk quickly u
DUG: i'll let you slide for now but if one of the CA CB's puts up my picture when i meet them then i expect yours right afterwards... (and keep snarky comments about expectations to yourself)
Tal said "Incidentally, peace is now guiding the planets on the other blog and the discussion group. Hope it lasts."
does this mean no daggers? not even the small, tiny one? just once? *grumbles* "I bring them all out, let you chose and nothing. *sigh* maybe next time"
i wonder if i can send the back hoe to CC...
DUG: sorry to hear about the falling but sounds like you had a lovely time anyway. glad other than that it went well.
Trust me OH - I look much better as DUG, anonymous, faceless blogger. A picture will only spoil your illusions.
Just think your worse and double it ;-)
smqqrc - so many quirky quotes - robert and crusie
"I always say THE SOPRANOS is I, CLAUDIUS done in the Jersey mob".
I, CLAUDIUS has been having a repeat run on BBC4 in the UK over the last fortnight. As Brian Blessed (who played Augustus) explained in the documentary that preceded the first episode, the initial rehearsals were dreadful. Everyone was bad because, according to Mr Blessed, no one could get the dialogue to sound real. It was only after the director told the cast to watch The Godfather that everyone got it and the piece actually made sense. Mr Blessed said that he deliberately played Augustus as a godfather of a mafia family. So art imitates art and around it all goes once more.
I wrote the greatest comment. You would have ROTFL. Then my server went down. And it was lost. Yeah, yeah, I'm back to playing let's pretend.
DUG Welcome back. Glad you weren't badly hurt. We must be cosmically related because falling off a stage in front of 200 people sounds like something I would do. Organizing a wonderful conference, no not in my wildest dreams. It sounds like you did a wonderful job.
Hi mqcb Very interesting info on I Claudius
Tal Love the John story. I'm going to tell it to DH who grew up Catholic. He'll crack up
OH Hope you had fun while you were away from us.
JenT Good luck on the sports runs. If we could have our computers in our steering wheels it would make life much simpler wouldn't it.
RG It seems to me that an elegant and softly spoken woman would send a croc hunter running in the opposite direction whereas your fantastic self would tempt him to follow you over here. And I have met her people.
I can't for the life of me remember what else I wrote. Aren't you lucky.
JenT Great cover and blurb. I guess your son wouldn't believe you if you said they were just talking huh.
RS - I blew your cover? Um, that wasn't me, that was Regis!
GG and Mary - Sharks, with ducks as gifts? For me? What nice friends you are. You just wait until Christmas.
DUG - So sorry you fell of the stage, but be thankful it didn't make headline news. Yes, that happened to me once.
I was dancing on a makeshift stage back in college at a festifal, it was a little wet from rain and while I was turning, well, I turned right off the stage. Someone had been takening pictures and it made the local paper. That wasn't fun. Very embaressing.
Also, dancing, a dangerous sport, on of my fellow dance teachers was dancing at the recital and did a back flip, but somehow she managed to flip right off the stage.
Ow.
JenT if anyone was going to have a photographer taking a picture just as she fell off a stage, it would be you.
Leaving to follow DS16 to take his car to the shop.
blue lazhfhyn lazy high flying hyenas. I don't know that's what it looked like to me
Keep in mind that most of the main characters in Deadwood were real people. Al, Seth, Sol, Charlie, Jane, and Wild Bill (obviously). It's sad, too, that we only have one episode left. It's been a great story.
steph in VA
DUG: Sorry about the fall, but good on you for shaking it off and getting back to work (and telling us about it). Must be a relief to have it finished. I believe I would have called in the helicopter rescue team...
RG: Seriously, we know how very "charming" you can be. Which is why you need to just skip over any recent comments from Louis, who is trying to drive me insane with all his talk about how he has FOUR DS's and one DD and they're all cowboys. And the DS's are also GAMs. And a couple of them are even unmarried. Geez. Of course, RG, they're all a bit too young for YOU, ahem, but they're probably just about perfect for me.
BTW Louis, it is not at all helpful for you to say: our kids were just as mischeivious and troublesome and just as rewarding as any
You're just making it worse. But you knew that, didn't you?
Off to another very long day at work. If I survive that, I'll chat with y'all later.
bw
MQ and DUG - welcome back! We missed your voices.
Steph -welcome to the madhouse.
Tal - okay we'll stand down with the shovels. And which half do you prefer?
GG - fishy fishy fishy ??? *snork* Making a fool of myself at work again. But they're used to it.
OO good, high body count. Bring 'em on. My current one has, um...two, I think, and two who barely survived. So far. That's a very low count for me.
I love naming my characters. This current book for example, their names are very particular because they end up referring to nursery rhymes in a not-too-obvious (i hope) way.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. I can't play catch up with posts right now since I'm supposed to be working...
That's dangerous, Me. At least, one thing I found distracting in Jenny's Welcome to Temptation was the fact that she named a character Zane Black. I don't even read Westerns, but I still recognized the reference to Zane Grey, which took my attention off of the character and focused it instead on the name and why the author chose it.
Mary: hmmm I guess I never thought of it that way. Mine aren't that obvious, at least I thought not. But now maybe I need to rethink that. Example, the heroine is Jillian Hobart.
anonymous said: "So if names are so important, I'd like to know why the name Karen in DLD. And the Karen in "Bet Me" had the nickname Worse. Is Karen really a villainous name?"
As a Karen, I can tell you: Yes. I'm evil. Well, snarky anyway. :-)
Is a shark a fish?
pgnoi - PG, Not I.
Jen-T--- NO
YES - a shark is a fish. Unless you talk about loan sharks. Not to be confused with lone sharks.
Geez, you people are confusing.
mary, ntomary, and all other marys: Mary is a GREAT name. I really didn't mean to imply otherwise. I even took it as my confirmation name. In my family at least, it was very much like My Big Fat Greek Wedding where everyone is named after the same three names. For us, you usually were named either Mary, Andrew or John. Thankfully, I look nothing like an Andrew or John. Which are both great names too, btw.
Kinda like Jennifer is a great name. I ended up with 3 best friends in high school: Jenn, Jeni and Jennifer. My family never knew who I meant.
Is my complex showing yet?
jhgxr: Jumping higher gets xeroxes ready.
Nope.
qllkzjqy: Quit laughing, like, killing Zara's joy quiets yodelers.
Tal--I grew up in a military family too, and at one point lived across the street from a family with five or six kids whose names all started with M. No John stories to tell, but still, the coincidence.....
JenT, sharks are fish. Here is the Webster dictionary term:
any of numerous mostly marine cartilaginous fishes of medium to large size that have a fusiform body, lateral branchial clefts, and a tough usually dull gray skin roughened by minute tubercles and are typically active predators sometimes dangerous to humans
Whales are mammals, not fish since they are warm blodded, breath air and bare live young.
New Jenny post on Well-Behaved!!
Tal, I grew up in a military family, and lived across the street from that kind of family, lots of kids whose names all started with M. Was "your" family Air Force, by any chance?
I see my first post went through EVEN THOUGH MY COMPUTER TOLD ME THE CONNECTION TIMED OUT!!!!! Stupid computer timing out on me.....
I don't sound at all miffed, do I? (No snickering, people!)
Sorry for the double post.
I couldn't sleep last night, drank a pot of tea at my writer's group, totally forgetting that regular tea is caffeinated. *head slap* I usually cart around bags of my raspeberry or decaff Earl Grey. Anyway, to get to my point, I thought it would be really funny if we all called Bryan while he was on his vacation. He could take the CB trip. But then why should he have all the fun. He already gets to meet Dee and MCB.
Which segues into my thought that the spelling of a name can make as much of a difference to perception as the name itself (Bryan, Brian,Shawn Sean Shaun)
Okay back to my demon. She's avenging her father's destruction and that's all you're gonna get for now OH. I need to write it instead of chitchatting. But if you ask SDCB she might tell you how amazing the opening scene is.
I'm so jealous that Mary is going to Maui with Emily. Please stand on the beach, wave a giant Cherrybomb so we can see you on the webcam. Can you imagine!!
My John story isn't as interesting as Tal's. On my Mom's side of the family, every first-born boy is named John. Real original. Makes reunions interesting. Everyone needs a nickname to be recognized. Jack, Johnny Francis, John A., John T., Giuan (spelling? it's pronunced joo-an, it's Italian). Only one strayed from the program, naming her son Sean...which is Gaelic for John. Any kid if mine will never have that name. I don't think I could even date a John at this point. If my brother, John (duh), ever has a kid and names it John, I'll smack him.
Welcome back RG & DUG.
NG: Loved the story
G-G & Mary: Waving at a camera for the CBs sounds like the kind of goofy fun I’d love to see.
Okay, you don’t have to read the rest of this. I just need to get it out.
I have a ton of nervous energy that I need to get rid of. Thank heavens boss at job #2 doesn’t care if I blog, “as long as I get my work done.”
I’m nervous because I’m waiting to hear back on my last two library job applications. Job #2 is ending, and one of the jobs I applied for would be the start of my LTD. If I got it I’d work one job only 40 hrs a wk. I’d have the time to continue doing a couple graduate courses a semester. I’m qualified, and my boss at the library (job #1) gave me a recommendation to send along. So now I wait and see.
Tal ~ If I don’t have another job set up by October, you might want to leave out that saucer of milk for a Brownie looking for work. Although by that time I might need the Special Sheep Liniment the Nac Mac Feegle prefer.
I’m better now. I’m still anxious, but my hands aren’t shaking anymore. It’s going to be a long week.
ivwtsrav: I visited Wendy's to see really attractive victuals.
Apparently blogger doesn't like me today. Ate my comment. Kind of like a shark. Just took a huge ol' bite out of it. :)
mq, cb: welcome home! So nice to have you back!
Anyway, I *said* to Jen and Mary that clearly Jen was not seeming appreciative of Mary and I bringing pets back for her from Maui and OBVIOUSLY those duckies should be the red ones with the devil horns on their heads because Jen was being ungrateful.
I guess Mary and I are also responsible for bringing Kona coffee (even though that's from the Big Island) to our next virtual party for the coffee-drinking CBs.
Sheryl: you're welcome to hop a plane and join me...Mary doesn't arrive til the 20th and my friends in VA finally found out they definitely CAN'T come the 14th-20th. So... :)
Mary, liking this idea of waving at the Napili Beach cam at a specified time more and more... maybe we can make and hold up a cherry bomb sign!
cbmwexjv: cherry bombs make waves excellently, jenny verified
Lori: this cherrybomb rooting for you and hoping you get that job!!!! xoxo
Lori - sending lots of cherry thoughts your way - hope you get the job!
G-G: You have apparently not been paying attention to the road trip comments. We've got it all planned out ... it might take us a while to criss-cross the continent and get all the CBs, and possibly we won't show up until you are ready to leave but the good news is ...
we're all basically on our way to Maui. Stock up on coffee, chocolate and those little umbrella drinks.
So who else, besides me, keeps going back through the his and hers blogs looking for snippets of info on Shane and the Food Critic. I feel like a junkie jonesing for a plotline hit.
mcb: umbrella drinks. Gotcha. I'll make sure I figure out which are the best beaches for surfing too. I know we'll all want to go watch so we can check out the surfers'...um....technique. Right. That's it. We'll check out their technique.
kl - um, too much info on the sharks, but thanks. I just posted a sign on my front yard at the lake that reads "No sharks poising as Duck Bobble heads!" Geez, next thing you know you guys will be putting frogs in my toilet!
Lori - good luck with that job!
Okay, on to the name game. Every male on my father's side of the family has the same middle name Edward. Have no idea where it orginated, but long before my grandfather and his father. Hence, my name if I were a boy would've been Dwight Edward.
Spelling of names - everyone gets my middle boy's name wrong. It's Conor, see the one N. That is the proper Irish spelling for a first name.
When I was growing up, I went to HS with a girl named Deanna and all her siblings had the same first initial. Deanna, Damen, Danna and Dawn. In our first house, our neighbors were Jim, Jeanne (the parents) then the kids names were Justin, Jeff and Jessica.
Back to writing.
We talked about names a lot and Bob does too on this blog. I'm reading this book now by Julia London and its pretty cute. Its not a Crusie but I'm not throwing it at walls. Anyway, the hero's name is Michael and one of the lesser characters is named Michelle and its driving me crazy.
Names: In my family its James. If you add them up from both sides and discount nicknames (Jimmy and JJ) it comes to a total of 7.
Names? Overheard something in the Brisbane airport while waiting to take off. An American schoolteacher and three male students had taken a trip and were seated next to me. They discussed all kinds of things and I eavesdropped. One kid (about fifteen or sixteen) announced he'd read an article that claimed Ryan was the male name that came up the most in a survey of adolescents needing pyschological therapy. How about that?
Then he said he hated the name Ethan and had never met an Ethan he liked. I wanted so badly to hear what his name was but much as I strained to listen, never did find out.
Yay! Lori. Hang in there. Sending out all good vibes to the universe that Lori gets her job.
rg
Lori - Good Luck! I'm crossing one set of fingers for you. According to my advisor, crossing two sets of fingers is bad luck.
And I know exactly how hard it is, from very recent experience, to wait to hear. I recommend reading to stop your head from obsessing. :)
My sister stole the best girls name in our family. Sarah Kathryn after our two grandmas. We're very glad that they had girls. My sister and her DH had a deal that she got to pick the girls names and he got to pick the boys names. One of his better ones was Parks Frederick.
Forgot ... J-T just looked at your cover. Very nice. Congrats on that!!
And Bob, even though you can't read this, I didn't mean you were not smart. I know I said listen to Jenny cause she's smart. But ... but, you are too. Honest. Okay digging the hole deeper here ...
rg
conscripted cherry: When my dad was transferred for his job, he lost his shoes. For four whole months, family and former co-workers kept getting these emails that read, "Has anyone seen my shoes?"
Most parents have their kids leave the nest. My folks are the ones who left first, forcing my sisters to scramble for apartments. Thankfully, I was married and out by then. I think they were tired of sharing the bathrooms and wanted a hot tub.
OH: Sister #1 held her secret identity for about a month. Mom was not a happy camper. Sister #1 was also the one who never saw an inanimate object she couldn't hit with the car. If it moved, she was fine. If it was stationary, look out.
My family must have problems with names. We were on a family vacation when we stopped at a rest area and there was a tour bus filled with senior citizens. The ladies' room was closed and under construction, the men's room was now the ladies' room (yes, my sister kept trying to wash her hands in the wall units), and the men had a camper in the parking lot. I was placed in charge of my 2 younger sisters in the midst of the confusion. A group of little old ladies (remember, I was about 12), said we were a lovely group of young ladies and asked what are names were. I told her, Brenda, Laura and Sara. Then I had to repeat it five more times so they could hear me. She then said, "Oh, Brenda, Lola and Clara. What nice names." We looked at each other with expressions that basically said, "You know, it could have been worse."
I have a friend who is daughter #3 out of 7 girls whose names all begin with C. They were raised in a house with one bathroom.
My family had problems with the whole "you're gonna be a big sister soon." When sister #1 was born (I was 4), I wanted a chicken. I guess I thought a little brother or sister was like getting a pet. When sister #2 was born (me: 7), I wanted a little brother. Sister #1 wanted a telephone. And apparently my parents were out to thwart me at every turn.
uontlsb: Using oranges naughtily teases loan sharks beautifully.
ejydekt: What I said when blogger timed out
Clearly a case of pregnancy hormones clouding the mind, but friends of an acquaintance were discussing their upcoming child and the mother-to-be wanted to name it "Cosmo Jack" if it was a boy (can't recall their last name, but I can't really think of anything that goes with Cosmo Jack). The rest of us determined that Cosmo Jack is actually a bad alcoholic drink (ie: a cosmo made with Jack Daniels) that is served at cheesy pirate-themed lounges in low-end city hotels.
We were all very relieved when the baby was a girl.
RG said: "Ryan is the male name that came up most in a survey of adolescents needing pyschological therapy."
Oh, that's just fabulous! My youngest is named Ryan! And he's like the most normal right now.
MCB - my dad's name was James Edward. My grandparents called him Jimbo! Even as a grown man. Of course I shouldn't laugh, if my dad were still alive he'd still call me Jen Jen, which is just as bad as jennisue in my book. (Okay, BCB have a feild day with that one.)
My sister-in-law stole a name right out from under me and my husband. One of the names we considered for my youngest one, the one that will need the most therapy I'm told, had been Sean Patrick. We were both pregnant at the time and she delievered first and that's what she named him. We were a little stunned because we had mentioned it, although it was if I didn't get Shamus or Owen and my husband didn't get Bryan or Ryan. Hence, the name Ryan. I guess I can send all the kids therapy bills to my sister in law, eh?
My sister went four days before she finally named her youngest son. She wanted to make sure it was a good strong name. She named him Jordan Fredrick. Which, is a good name, but her last name starts with a K, so Jordan now goes throuhg life being called little JFK.
BCB - Yes I am a cowgirl. I've ridden horses since I was 4 years old. Started with the English discipine, then at 7 decided I wanted to be a cowboy (I was a tomboy - actually still am), so switched to western (Louis - I ride quarter horses, my DH is a retired Professional Western Show Horse Trainer). I worked on a cattle ranch for a year as a cowhand after college, then became interested in cutting horses (a horseshow event having to do with cattle). I don't show anymore (takes a lot of money and I'm close to retirement) but still have my horse and still ride.
KL - I'm glad your DD is better. I did somewhat the same thing to myself when I was young, ended up with a badly bruised tail bone - wasn't much fun for a couple of weeks.
SDCB - Glad to be hearing more from you - hope you are feeling better!
CMS - The CBs thank you for taking such good care of your mom!
BCB and Jen-T - you guys crack me up!!!!
Zaza eXtracts a better quirk
ldpprxh
nope - can't think of anything
Tal - I am SOOO jealous - Jack Schaefer? I love Shane, and his other books!! I also have read Tolkien - I cuda been there...man!!!
oedgej
over the edge - (yup, that's) Jen-T
Went to the Writers meeting last night with cherry magic sheryl. There were only three of us there because of holidays, illness etc. Read my children's stories and they were well-received. It was suggested that I now test them out on kids.
CMS read the first two chapters of her new book. Phew did it get hot in that room. It opens with, and the first chapter is, VERY hot sex and very well written. I liked the story as far as she told it. I am still waiting to read one of her other books that she told me a little about and left me hanging. It sounds very, very interesting too. I am pleased to say that she is a very good writer. She is much more dedicated and prolific than I. I am still trying to get over the differences between writing non-fiction and fiction.
Yesterday, my son did something really nice. He got his dad into a golf tournament at a pro course here. DH really needed the break. It was a foursome of DH, our son and grandson, and a friend of DS. I gather they had a really good time and lots of fun. The course was rain-soaked which I think is the excuse for the score but fun was had by all. DH won a set of golf balls. Probably makes up for the ones he left in the water traps. /,D
green lmqmsdp
Large manuscripts quickly make sense (as) Doherty ponders.
green fslze
Frankly Stan loves Zaza eternally.
Can't believe that I forgot to mention that today is a very good Bad day. /,D
I am from a family where we all had names starting with P. Our Family name started with S. It was because my dad wrote my mom a love letter and in between each line he wrote..."P.S. I love you." That was their love song.
jen-t wait for it. One more thing we have going for us...DH's name--James Edward. /,)
red fhctlbu
]
For helping, Cherry Bombs, Talpianna likes bombs used.
Scope! I'm commenting on your second post first ... AAAWWWWW! Love these little family stories!
Second, glad to hear its only a bad day today. We miss you around here on those other days.
Sounds like the boys had fun at the golf course. I don't think the weather, or the course, much matters when there is male bonding involved. But then we girls aren't much different as long as there is chocolate involved.
JenT wrote: if my dad were still alive he'd still call me Jen Jen, which is just as bad as jennisue in my book. (Okay, BCB have a feild day with that one.)
Well, if my dad were still alive, he'd still be calling me Bon Bon, or sometimes Bon Ami. How's that for scary?
Lou: I thought so. But you left out the important part [big grin]: you didn't tell us how many cowboy children you've raised. Ok, I'll stop, just couldn't resist.
I'm sitting here at work with steam coming out of my ears (lovely look, BTW) and seriously considering quitting this job. Guess I'd better find another one first.
Grrrr...
bw
ones who disappeared, welcome back (mq cb and steph).
CMS: congrats upon having good sex scenes. and thanks for the hint.
scope dope: details. gotta give me her details, because she is annoyingly quiet. and glad it went well. hope you got my e-mail in time. and am very glad this a good bad day.
there was a novella i once read and the singer/absent father wrote this song about...geez, reaching into far back of my memories...something about the mother and i remember the last line was "P.S. i love you" and the kid, who was telling the story, said his initials were PS and it was referring to him. wonder if it's the same song. not sure if it's a true story, just a story i read somewhere.
lori: good luck with the job BUT DO NOT WORK FOR TAL!!!! she doesn't believe in paychecks and does believe in making her workers do very annoying/boring/scary things, like hanging over the roof and cleaning gutters (i am not a height person).
JJ: my dad's friend's wife and my mom were pregnant at the same time. the friend gave birth first and stole the name my mom was thinking of. what is wrong with people?
Jen-T-- I disagree with Colonegirl and KL- I know sharks are not fish, they're probably amphibians- I know this with every fiber of my being. Why do I know this? Because when I was younger I would watch Saturday Night Live and the Land Sharks would knock on the door pretending to be pizza delivery guys so they could eat the folks inside. If they were fish then they couldn't have walked around on land pretending to be pizza delivery guys and eating people. Therefore, Sharks are not fish. (She says with her hands on her hips, nose in the air, tossing the hair, and turning on the ball of one foot to flounce off into the ether.)
names. very important.
Ryan was always one of my favorite guy names. and i really like Shawn, but only if it's spelled that way. Sean spelling annoys me. and Kyle. Kyle is a great male name. my first major crush was on a Kyle. geez, he was cute. Zachery/Zack. Sebastian.
good girl names: Zoe, Emma, Lily, Anne, Samantha, Kimberly....
you listening, Kyra? and be careful with the last name and if you're going to give one, a middle name.
i love naming characters. i love names. i even got one of those baby name books so i could look up names. sometimes i do "average" names, sometimes not, sometimes...and also, with names, sometimes i like a certain kind of name, and sometimes not. and...
shutting up now.
I like this site for getting character names. Gets the history/meanings/spellings of every conceivable name. Has a cool random name generator, too.
http://www.behindthename.com/
Conscripted cherry - remembering the land sharks on SNL, weren't they really Jehova's Witnesses selling Girl Scout cookies?
Besides, I was talking about lone sharks. Those who roam the wide ocean range.
And please watch your spelling - once I lose the 'g' of Cologne, I might lose the 'e' to. Which would make me colon girl. Which I am not.
CMS suggested ... I thought it would be really funny if we all called Bryan while he was on his vacation.
Oooh. We'll let you know once we firm up the meeting time. That'll teach him to post his phone number where anyone can see it!
Dearest BCB ... Bon Ami? Oh we are so going to have fun with that. Jen? Did you hear this? You can now pass the nickname baton on - we'll pick on BCB now. Hence forth her nickname will be Scratch (as in hasn't yet). Some of you will know what I'm talking about.
That was a nice flounce there CC ;)
MCB/BCB: I glazed a ham on Saturday (baked a ham with a glaze/ whatever), and made a horrible burnt sugar mess on a silverstone baking sheet. I am considering enlisting Bon Ami in the chore (as soaking and scrubbing with the brush are SO not getting the job done). I'm pretty sure this is not the new job desired...
OH: Sorry, we're on different sides of this one - when I see Sean spelled "Shawn", I think, "OK, there goes someone else not willing to learn to spell". Ditto with Shavonne instead of Siobhan.
Off to VBS!
sjfdnmed: San Jose Fire Department never misses emergency dispatches
that one was too easy, but I'm sure I've paid my dues in the past!
Lori so sorry that I did not wish you all the best with the job. Hope the best of luck is yours. /,)
Second names? Mine is Gae pronounced Gay. My sister's is Joy.
My cousin and I were pregnant at the same time and discussed baby names. I told her DH had said if we had a girl it had to be Sheryl. She had her baby first and named her Cheryl. I was furious but still named my girl Sheryl.
I am so forgetful today. Not only did I forget to wish Lori luck with her job but forgot to welcome back rg and downundergal so Welcome back ladies. I did miss you.
green gyybz
Get your yex back Zaza.
Quick UPDATE before job #1 starts:
HR called me. My time in front of the classroom doesn't count for supervisory experience because it’s adult to child not adult to adult. Could I think of anything else that would count towards that? Scrambling, I said, what about my teacher’s aides? Oh, and parent volunteers. Do these count? Fortunately they do, but now I just barely qualify instead of being really qualified.
I’m grateful they called instead of just tossing my application. I have my library boss to thank for that because in addition to writing the letter of recommendation, I found out she called HR to put a good word in.
So back to waiting…with a little less hope, but feeling completely blessed by the amazing people supporting me. Thank you.
Theresa: I’m frenetically cleaning while listening to “A Hat Full of Sky” as I wait. That is, when I’m not obsessing over it while I’m supposed to be working at both job #1 & job #2.
mdfwstk: Must dash, further work stuff to knock-out.
LOU...
I hear you on showing...much too expensive now. We did show in late 80's and early 90's... DD as amateur and with trainer riding....did quite well until best horse was killed in a freak accident on a hot walker...got his hoof caught in stirrup.
Now we just breed and sell.
Lori...thinking positive for you.
vuujxs...blue
very unusual units Jenny (e)Xpects soon
SDCB glad it's a good bad day and that your stories were well recieved.
Way to go CMS Opening with a sex scene I love it. My WIP does that tho it's not a very hot one. Looking forward to reading the book when it's published
My doctor's family (brothers and sisters) 6 kids, Catholic and all with the first name starting with M Have no idea if his dad was air force. How many families is that now with 6 M named kids
OH I used a baby name book too. Hero of WIP goes by nickname. The original name I had for him started with D and I had way too many D names in the books so I had to change it. It didn't really matter what the name was because he hates it and doesn't use it.
GG and Mary I hope you have fun in Maui. We were supposed to be in Hawaii right now. Sigh. Hopefully next year.
Steph in VA (if it's the Steph I think it is) looking forward to seeing you in Sept. and hope everything is going well
Yes, I know that's a song "See you in September" and now I won't be able to get it out of my head
Lori Good luck. I hope you get the job
BCB Sorry it's such a lousy day. Want wishes for a new job or just things going better at current one
Had to watch Back to the Future III last night. Time travel and cowboys. Needed the silliness.
Back to writing. Question should I reveal all about secondary char now or draw out the mystery some more. Am a little over 1/3 of the way through the book. Not a mystery (who done it) type of mystery. Just something the heroine doesn't know that indirectly affected her life in a major way.
Probably not enough info about book, huh. Was going to delete this whole section but it refused to be deleted. Hope it's not one of those "your darlings" passages
I have to do this one
Blue cxhjc Chicks exalt, hilarious Jennifer Crusie's (books)
mcb - oh yeah! We need to call Bryan while he's at diner with other CB's. Now that would be just funny - but silly me didn't write down his phone number. You need to send it to me so I can call him. And you all know I have the balls to do it. Well, not literally, geez, guys. Bon Bon, shut up before I do something really nasty!
SDCB - James Edward? Really? Wow, that is freaky. Glad today isn't a worse day. Take care.
Robin This book is the most erotic book I've ever written and it's integral to the story. Sex is often about so much more than the physical interaction. She's using it to encourage his baser instincts;he's using it to negate hers. Love destroys demons so it will be the end of the book before they shift to both of them making love.
SDCB just announced Picasso vision has returned. We'll have to get her the Text Aloud program JenT told us about. I get so dry reading this blog. But I'm not complaining about how prolific you all are. I can be just as talkative.
MCB let us know once that date is finalized. The idea of Bryan getting 100 CB calls makes me giggle, but then I am sleep deprived. He's the one who posted his cell number over the Internet. And it's not like we're using it to order a pizza
As for names. I wanted to call my son Michael Edward and my daughter Keziah Sarah(h very important)My girlfriend named her daughter Keziah Sarah Constance and my brother has a Michael and a Sarah. I did not have any children because the good names were taken.
BCB - Unfortunately, no cowboy or cowgirl children. I was single during my child-bearing years after a disasterous first marriage. Found DH later in life. I have dogs, VERY spoiled dogs. If that is any indication of my child-rearing skills, the world is probably better off.
hzkzm - aren't these the guys who are trying to blow everyone up?
Lou: It's probably just as well, hearing about Louis' DS's is all I can handle. Sorry about the D(isasterous)H, sounds like the current one is much better.
RSS: Write it ALL and go back later and fix it. I think I know what you're talking about and I think you should at least drop some hints. Increase suspense or tension or whatever.
Lori: I'd suggest you get all the CB's to write job recommendations (you did such a nice job of organizing the chocolate when we were sent back in time), but since you seem to really want this job, maybe not. Best of luck! And if you need a place to stay, I currently have THREE empty bedrooms. I can't pay you, but I will feed you and show you where all the libraries are located. There are several colleges and universities scattered about this area and I hear they all have books, too.
I am currently fantasizing that Jack Reacher is my very, very good friend. Maybe even my overprotective brother. And one of his favorite things is to defend me from people who make steam come out of my ears, or make me want to cry in frustration. And he just knows how good it would make me feel, even though I really AM a non-violent person, if he were to break a few noses or kick out a few kneecaps.
If I weren't so tired, I'd go write a really violent death scene into my WIP. And then delete it later. Instead I think I need food, since I can't remember eating lunch. Though I might have.
BTW Jen: Geez. I meant to say this yesterday and was going to send you an email: Great Cover! Too bad about DS though, you'll never hear the end of that.
bw
Hey J-T remember the kid speaking about the name Ryan was about fifteen. I didn't take him seriously and love my nephew Ryan who is now 28 and one of the best young men I've ever known ... and he never needed a therapist. *grin*
Hi Scope Dope, glad you're still keeping up with your writing, and CMS I love the sound of that story.
Hi Robin S, this is a tricky writing question. If Bob was reading this (but he can't because we are way over 100) I'm sure he'd say you need to reveal more to the reader but not to the heroine. I know he commented on one of my mystery writing attempts that the reader needs that information and to tease them for the whole book is not fun. The reader becomes psychologically invested in wondering when the heroine will figure it out, learn about it, etc. Don't know if that helps any but it's kind of like romance. We, as the reader know the H/H are falling for each other but they don't. Our payoff comes when they finally admit it. So we know all along, they don't.
rg
vmkjwl
violent monkeys kiss jeweled wasted lions
CMS: So sorry about your mom's up and down health, I know that's frustrating for all of you. She is so fortunate to have you, and we're fortunate to have you both. Hang in there.
Sending extra hugs and love--
bw
Sheryl and SDCB - Hugs! Get Text Aloud or something like it.
(((SDCB))) I'm sorry Picasso vision is messing up your good bad day.
CMS I used to read law books to my dad who is blind. Keep water or hard candy on hand to lubricate your mouth but don't inhale the hard candy. The book sounds great. No kids because all the good names were taken. LOL. Makes sense to me.
BCB different book but hints are good. When you are too tired to write that gory murder, thinking it can help. Hope tomorrow is better.
RG Hadn't thought of it as teasing the reader. This supports a suggestion BCB made for my other book and it did work much better to let the reader in on the secret.
In this one, I just realized that this mystery (which is distracting the heroine from her troubles) gives her a reason(excuse) to call the hero who might know the story (he does). His POV can clue the reader in on what happened tho he can't tell the heroine the whole story because it isn't his to tell.
But do I end the conversation with them on good terms or bad. Hmmm.
CMS- have you and the head Shoopa Doopa Girl tried http://www.cnib.ca/eng/index.htm
it is a Canadian organization with books on tape, vision rehabilitation services, and so much more-
ColoGGGGGGGGGGGGnegrrrrrrrrrrrrrl- So Sorry- I promise I'll try to do better next time
Lori- you're going to kick butt and take names, quit stressing
Robin- They will tell you how to end the conversation- go with it- they wouldn't lie to you, now would they
I need a Latin lesson please- verbum sap- it supposedly means something about better left unsaid or enough said or word to the wise or something like that- anyone- wink wink, grin grin- know for sure?
Chinook and I went on a two mile walk tonight- it was fun except when he found the cats, then it was just annoying
yonlpxn- Santa with a cold telling the first reindeer to get off the roof
Mary- thanks for noticing the technique on the flounce- it comes from many years of practice
wnponxec- Wapakwoman's cousin
CC what did he do to the cats? Lunge at them. Mine do that. At squirrels and rabbits too.
Good advice to let them tell me how the end the conversation. The only problem is I've been writing for most of the past twelve hours and their conversation is going to have to wait til tomorrow. The lead in to the conversation though, that flowed. Whoo hoo. Good day. Finally.
Thanks everyone for your advice. It really helped.
Night
glad it's going well, robin s.
CMS: ok, i decided it is not nice to tease me this way. post a chapter or something, will you? (please? please?) and thank you for taking such good care of your mom. we like you both a lot.
BCB: Poor Baby, what happened? do you need one of my daggers? (well, geez, i polished them off and tal didn't even use one)
lori: sorry to hear job isn't as definite, but really hope you get it. sending wishes your way. and that postive thinking stuff.
RSS: TWELVE HOURS? Good God. I'd stop talking to you, too. Rest now, live to write another day. (good job!)
OH: I'm fine. Nothing a little bout of self-pity won't cure. I feel sorry for myself for a while, have a good cry, then get disgusted with my poor self and knock it off. I guess I'm at one of those points in my life where I am forced to debate the whole profit-loss issue. Or to put it bluntly, WTGDFH, isn't life too short for this? Then I look at the pile of bills and decide calmer heads shall rule and a measured approach is in order. All is well. Really. But if Jack Reacher should suddenly show up, well, I wouldn't mind so much.
So tell me, you have been mysteriously absent several times over the past weeks and I figured you were out back-to-school shopping, but now I'm wondering. And asking. What have you been up to? You've been unusually subdued lately. Since you are my almost but not quite yet DIL, I am entitled to fierce interrogation tactics. Spill it.
bw
Hi CC:
I looked up my Latin book (no, I do not know this stuff without looking)
intelligenti pauca
a word to the wise
This useful phrase, literally "to the intelligent, few words," is also expressed as verbum sapienti
(Wehrbuum sahpeeentee)
"a word is enough for a wise man." Implying that the unwise will not heed even a lengthy, explicit warning.
rg
lori, good luck on the job. One full time would certainly be better than two part time, having also done that when i was in school.
bon cheri bomb said...
JenT wrote: if my dad were still alive he'd still call me Jen Jen
Well, if my dad were still alive, he'd still be calling me Bon Bon, or sometimes Bon Ami. How's that for scary?
My dad nicknamed my cousin, "Cotton Top," because she had white blonde hair as a toddler. When she was thirty and her hair almost brown, he was still calling her that. ;+) Knowing my dad, he probably couldn't remember her name (Karen), since I'd never heard him call her anything but Cotton Top.
Diane said...
when I see Sean spelled "Shawn", I think, "OK, there goes someone else not willing to learn to spell".
Yes! It used to be that "Shawn" was for girls only. There was this really snotty little dweed d-jay on the radio here for a while who was named "Shawn." He was bitching one night because people kept spelling his name, "Sean." Ignorant little twit. I felt like calling and asking him if his mother had wanted a girl. /;+) But I didn't, being nice.
SCDB veridied...
Get your yex back Zaza.
Oh, Babe, if only. ;+))) Glad you're feeling less bad today. Hope this is a sign of good things to come. (((hugs)))
conscripted cherry said...
I need a Latin lesson please- verbum sap
Just of the top of my head, it sounds like a word to the wise, but...yes, according to numerous sources online, that's what it is. "Sap" is the root of the word for wise/wisdom etc. and, of course, "verbum" is word.
ccmoub (red)
Conscripted Cherry's homeys?
sctdaepi (blue)
Several cute trolls danced at Evelyn's private invitation.
Thanks to you all for the continued good vibes and support.
BCB: Sorry you had a whopper of a day at work, but thanks for the laughs you inspired with the CB recommendation idea.
…………
A few I enjoyed while scrubbing the shower:
BCB’s: When faced with unexpected time travel, Lori is able to procure enough virtual chocolate to satisfy the CherryBombs in need. Yet, acquiring all the chocolate in the world is less satisfying than if she could obtain Reacher for me. Bob knows the things that man could do. Mmmm... Where was I? Right. Lori also has a very nice Minnesota accent.
Jen-T’s: Lore is nice enuff not to threten to put sharkes in my lake, and she doesn’t reely bother me about my spellin.
Tal’s: She is willing to work for milk.
…………
BCB: I also want to thank you for the invite to come stay with you. You have no idea how wonderful that sounds to me right now. Food and libraries. Pretty sure that’s all I need for survival.
asoekvf: A solid opinion, even kind, valuable find.
Lori: LMAO! You've got Jen down pat, bless her heart. And you can come stay with me anytime, for however long it takes. What did you expect, girl? You're a librarian, I'm a writer. WTH, I'll even let you use my high speed excel spreadsheet computer to post comments on the blog. Ooooh, we could collaborate!
Just drive SSW until you find a restaurant that serves only sweet tea and chicken biscuits and has Lucky Strike posters stuck up on the walls. At that point you're ten minutes away. Give me a call and I'll come rescue you. Or send an email to Jen, she has agreed to be a clearing house for all kinds of nonsense.
You know, you can wear those impractical fancy shoes you like almost year-round down here. Bless your feet.
bw
God. It's late. Now I'm calling myself HCFSO. Blogger retribution for ignoring these damn things.
bw
RG- Thanks for the clarification- I was finding stuff online but it didn't seem complete to me
Lori- I would have written you a letter- not as good as the others but I would have mentioned your ability to procure chocolate when locked in an unknown time warp and that you're sooooo nice I would never think of putting you in my wall.
Zaza- I believe that is my first time used in a verification- I'm going to have to print it out and bronze it
BCB, aka future MIL: awwwww, how sweet. she worries, she really does. (just tried to explain this MIL/DIL thing to my mom, which of course involved backstory, which of course got me going all sentimental about you guys)
just spending as much time with friends as possible. a lot of them have been leaving over the last week, and some of them i'll be leaving in a month. reading, because i have a stack of books i want to finish before i leave. doing chores (what is wrong with you mother type people?). appointments for various things. wrapping up details before i go. keeping out of trouble, of course. (hey, i'm not the one with MCB in a car). you know, the usual stuff.
but thanks for caring. sending warm fuzzies your way.
and heck, if Jack Reacher showed up, you may lose me as a DIL.
but we'll always have the blog. (cue Casablanca music)
speaking of Jack Reacher and hot men, Prisonbreak. (yes, i'm going somewhere with this). now, i realize they have both been in many things, but this is their new big thing. so the guy who plays Scofirld, Wentworth Miller, is hot as hell. and his brother on the show, Dominic Purcell, always reminds me of Reacher. not so much the face, but the body type, sometimes even the voice. out of all the actors i've seen, he would make the best.
anyway, this post is because i am tired and rambling, and also so i could say Miller was hot. because he is. even better than Reacher.
and also so i could tell Kyra that the name Holly is nice for a girl.
and also to say that i don't care if Shawn is "spelled wrong", still like how it looks better. but will probably now refrain from ever naming a character that again because in my head i can hear the Irish rising up and going "my god, the woman cannot spell". and with the Irish, some annoying CBs.
you know how it is.
OH LMAO You are a hoot.
The things I learn on this blog. RG you just happen to have a latin book handy. Jeez I feel dumb
Lori glad you had something to enjoy while scrubbing the shower. Fingers crossed (only one set)that you hear positive news about job today
HCFSO BCB Hope today is a better day without steam from your ears. Think cowboys. Go to a better place. Okay, so that might also cause steam to rise. But it would be more fun.
How do you guys stay up so late?
Tal Are you okay?
Kyra Feeling better?
BCB: Geez, you make it hard for a girl to honor her responsibilities. Just the thought collaborating gave me the biggest grin. I was half way to the door before I realized I should at least wait to see if I’ll get the LTD job. I’m thinking The Dream might have just changed a little. (BTW: I found your directions a bit suspicious, but I then I remembered McB’s always been the navigator.)
CC: I was worried you might mention the time I didn’t show up in you’re back yard with my shovel. Not exactly going to make me look dependable and hard working :)
OH: I’m having slight déjà vu about Wentworth Miller, but his utter gorgeousness is worth repeating.
RSS: Hope your writing is still going well today!
Lori - I forgot to wish you good luck yesterday (even though I wrote it in my little list o'things to say) - I really hope you get the job, it sounds as if you are well-qualified and HIGHLY deserving, of course! Loved the CB letters. Also, how much fun is "Hat Full of Sky"? It's non-series, right? For some reason, I haven't gotten it to read or listen to.
BCB- I've several times done the "verification instead of name" thing, but so far I've managed to notice before publishing. I enjoy it when I see other people doing it, as I know I'm just a keystroke away from being kacwn. Best of luck with your work people/ situation! Unless you want to start of CB rooming house instead...
kacwn: a vaguely ursine mammal, not dissimilar from a red panda, native to Indonesia
iqxqnj: even worse than kacwn as a screen name.
Lori informed ... I found your directions a bit suspicious, but I then I remembered McB’s always been the navigator.
See! Can you imagine what these trips would be like if I left it up to her??? "after you pass the Waffle House look for the cigarette wholesaler's billboard and then stop and ask directions from the guy in the tractor cap at the stop-n-go about a mile after that."
MCB ROTFLMAO Oh, dear. I can't breathe.
But if I try to share that with anyone they wouldn't understand without a recap of months of comments. And then they still wouldn't understand.
Chuckle, snort, giggle. Thank goodness I didn't have a mouthful
of anything.
zlogbb No it's blogs
Oh, please. Cut it out.
rss: well, i'm in CA so when the site says "3 am" it's only...hold on, let me experiment with this one.
lori: probably. but Miller is definitely worth repeating. and the season premiere of Prisonbreak was on last night, so i was still a little giddy about him.
rss: yeah, so in the bottom it says 2 pm but it's actually 11 am. plus the minutes, which are the same.
time zones were always weird to me. i remember this one story (maybe from here?) of a person who crossed over on his way to work, so he always had this hour difference thing happening.
I know I'm sounding like a marketing hack, but...Gena Showalter is having a series of contests on her blog to win copies of her books/ARCs. For those of you with blogs, to enter today's contest all you have to do is post the text from her post on your blog then put the link in her comments. Does that make sense? It's for her entire backlist, and her books are great fun and really hot. Also, what a great marketing idea. There are the coop authors blogs where they book tour other authors, but this contest gets the book "toured" on any blog. This is going on my list of marketing tools for when I have a book contract. ;+)
tonmqrpm (blue)
I have no clue. I think I need more sleep.
diane said...
iqxqnj: even worse than kacwn as a screen name.
How about, Trenton, if New Jersey were in Peru???
Now let's see if I can do my own.
tozzb (red)
toz za boll (I think that's a Russian accent)
thanks zaza. free books are always worth a little effort.
well, maybe later. this is going to take some time and i have to leave. but thanks for being a shameless promoter hussy, zaza.
MCB whined: See! Can you imagine what these trips would be like if I left it up to her??? "after you pass the Waffle House look for the cigarette wholesaler's billboard and then stop and ask directions from the guy in the tractor cap at the stop-n-go about a mile after that."
Misdirection dear. Very useful. And it was a Bojangles. And there is no such thing as a tractor cap. You're fantasizing about traffic cops again, aren't you?
Really, this would be so much easier if you'd stop using complicated terms like "left" and "right" and just say "this way" and "that way." Usually I just get in the car and drive until I get where I'm going. It's just not that hard.
BTW, Lori, when I said "drive SSW" earlier, um, I might have meant SSE. Or ESE. Geez. Details. Just head toward NC and call me when you get here. It's on most of the maps. If I found it anyone can. And Northwest Airlines (yes, they do fly in other directions) has a non-stop flight from MPLS to RDU -- well, when they're not on strike they do.
bw
BCB admitted ... when I said "drive SSW" earlier I might have meant SSE.
You know I wondered about that. Its pretty hard to find the Carolinas by driving west unless you started in the Atlantic. Stick with 'thataway'.
If you'd hold the damn map right side up so I could see it maybe we wouldn't end up in Mexico when we were SUPPOSED to go to Canada.
Geez. Give her one little thing to do.
bw
Bon Bon,
Have her hold the damn map sideways. That way, you'd be sure to end up in Maui. Well, eventually, anyway.
Still waiting for the two of you to find us up here.
red sotsv
Some other tourists saw victims.
ckazi red
Crusie's killers add zest (to)individuals.
you know, if you get yourself a driver, you could just blame him/her. and if it's a him, that gives MCB something to play with. (ok, gutter brains, that way). of course, then you wouldn't get to make fun of each other. and you'd be telling even more frog/shark jokes.
and SDCB will you have mercy and tell me about CMS's book? she's being really mean and withholding details.
and where is Kyra?
oh, lori, any job updates?
ok, falling asleep as i type. which means i'll be awake till 3 am reading my book.
"night"
BCB wrote: And BTW, Tal, how is it that Jen-T can leave out entire words, sometimes even half a thought process, and you never beat up on her? Yet I leave out one little consonant, just ONE, and you're all over me like DESERT sand on a frosted DESSERT on a windy day. Gez
Because you are pure, like Hebrew National hot dogs, and I hold you to a higher standard.
and: xtxbeau: blogger is teasing me
Not at all; it obviously means "extraterrestrial former suitor"--probably a reference to Jen-T/Regis; are you her broad?
Poor Robena, missed out on your hot Aussie hunk! Well, the Mole is here to give you a consolation prize: your very own hot naked Aussie hunk centerfold:
http://pantransit.reptiles.org/images/2000-03-26/austrailiancenterfold.jpg
As for the situations, all seems peaceful. I still feel a bit resentful about some of the unfair comments, but I've decided that not to make peace and go on from there would be cutting off my snout to spite my face.
And I'm beginning to wonder if all this fanatical "let's go get 'em" stuff is less devotion to the Mole than a desire to smack somebody--ANYBODY!!!--with those shovels as long as you've gone to the trouble of dragging them out. It's like Ibsen's dictum that if there's a gun hanging on the wall in Act One, it has to go off before the end of Act Three. Bob seems to follow this practice devotedly, which is why I think that Princess is going to turn out to be a hitperson for the Other Guys.
As for weirdness in names, one of our local TV stations used to have a weatherman named Sean. He pronounced it "Seen." He had a brother named Shawn!
As an upside, I won a drawing on the Word Wenches blog--Candice Hern's new historical romance.
In fact, it's a literary trifecta for me. A friend from the other board, who lives in England but is visiting family in California, sent me a Regency version of THE RULES (remember that?)--JANE AUSTEN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND COURTSHIP. And I received a book I've been waiting for: Moira J. Moore's THE HERO STRIKES BACK, sequel to RESENTING THE HERO--read it in one sitting. Both excellent fantasy--dunno if the h/h's relationship will ever turn into a romance, but it's one heck of a partnership!
(Broke off the draft of this post last night literally in mid-sentence, because a thunderstorm arrived and I logged off for safety's sake.)
Speaking of SNAKES ON A PLANE, big news here was that somebody let loose a couple of rattlesnakes at a local theatre showing it. But it turned out to be mostly a hoax:
Police say reports that rattlesnakes were let loose during a showing of Snakes on a Plane at a north Phoenix theater have taken moviegoers for a ride.
There is some shred of truth to the story, Phoenix police Sgt. Joel Tranter said. A 10-inch-long rattlesnake was found Friday in a hallway at AMC Desert Ridge 18, near Tatum Boulevard and Loop 101. But it likely slithered inside on its own, Tranter said.
A security guard swept the snake outside and held it in a Tupperware container until a member of the Arizona Herpetological Association could take it away. Snake handlers had been called earlier in the day to retrieve a rattler from outside the theater.
An AMC spokeswoman told the news organization Reuters that the rumors were true, but Tranter has been refuting the story to news outlets from across the U.S.
(And Jen-T/Regis thinks we'll put FROGS in her toilet!)
The family with the names beginning with M, incidentally, were Army. We lived next door to them on base.
VERB. SAP. is a Latin abbreviation for verbum satis sapienti, meaning “a hint is enough to the wise.”
Lori, I'm working my way through Blogger backwards, so I don't know if you've heard about the job yet. Crossing all my vibrissae for you.
OH: You cannot have Dominic Purcell to play Jack Reacher. I have already reserved him to play Roarke.
This is my idea of what Reacher looks like:
http://www.123safe.com/scstore/graphics/ARC230.jpg
iazso -- I asked Zaza, "Seen Orangehands?"
vjqgha -- some sort of pill you take for reptile dysfunction
Tal wrote: Because you are pure, like Hebrew National hot dogs, and I hold you to a higher standard.
LOL!! Thanks, Tal, for starting off my day with a laugh. Pure hot dog, am I?
BTW, you furry little twit, I wield my shovel with great care and discretion and save it's awesomely destructive power for those times when a friend is in need. Dragging it out in your defense was no trouble at all. Do try to find some higher ground now that your burrow has been flooded by recent downpours (of rain and affection).
bw
Tal Reptile dysfunction LOL Probably all day
MCB The hats worn by men driving tractors are known as gimme caps. Baseball style caps with the name of a product or company on them. I believe most of the time now you have to buy them.
ROFLMAO Honest I have tears in my eyes Tal.
I just printed up the picture of my Aussie hunk. Many many years ago, Burt Reynolds did a centerfold in I believe it was Cosmopolitan and his pose was identical, except he had some small piece of cloth, or one arm and hand strategically draped over you know what.
So I've named my hunk Burt and he is now on the opposite side of the computer to Dick that little Canadian guy you sent me months ago (I forget what he is chipmunk, squirrel, one of your mole guys.)
I love this guy. Thank you, thank you ...
rg
No job news yet, but it’s okay. The house and yard need a good cleaning.
I’m expecting it to take a bit. When HR rep called me Monday, she said they still had to figure out points for quite a few applicants. They do a points system based on application information and clarifications in a brief phone interview. (This is where it would have helped for my teaching to count as “supervisory experience.”) Then they set up the face-to-face interviews with those applicants with the top points.
Diane: “A Hat Full of Sky” is actually after “Wee Free Men.” It follows the character Tiffany Aching (love her). I think it’s considered juvenile, but I like to read stuff from every age group. Plus, it’s Pratchett. It defies age limits.
OH: Totally blanked on the premier Monday. Nice reminder. Good thing I work evenings, so I’ve had my DVR set for a while. It’s at my parents (they have cable), so I have to pay a visit to the folks soon.
BCB: I was all excited, picturing us e-mailing each other from different rooms in the house, but the directions had me doubting you really wanted me to make it there. Glad we got that cleared up. I’ll make sure to book a flight on the airline that might not survive the next hour and call that non-existent phone number when I arrive.
umpawm: I love that song.
orangehands sorry darlin' but there is no way you get to read cherry magic sheryl's book. You are a way too young. It opens with a VERY steamy sex scene that you will not be ready for until...oh say, maybe 45. She should have issued fans to her listeners when she read it. Wow! It was very well written and as her mother I was surprised she knew those things. /,D That was a big wink from a one-eyed cherry bomb.
lori still have my fingers crossed sweetheart. if this is what you really want I hope you get it.
green bxaovxc blogger's mad at me.
Both Xavier and Olivier verified Xavier's cruise.
Lori - thanks! I didn't read "Wee Free Men", either, on account of the juvenile thing. I read "Diggers" or "Truckers" or something like that, plus something about a carpet?, and neither of them approached "Good Omens" or the Discworld stuff, so I didn't search out WFM or HFoS (I would've picked either up if it had landed in front of me, no question - but I didn't purchase in hardcover, etc.). I will now (brief pause to do so) request both. I can get WFM in audio format, which I like, for cooking and housework, but not, apparently, HFoS.
Continued best wishes towards the job!
I could have sworn that I posted this, but I'll try again.
Blogger didn't even GIVE me letters at first - possibly knowing I'd been lazy recently.
bmqacf: brides' magazines question all consumption firmly
tal: great centerfold picture. and Purcell can't play Roarke, he's the wrong body type. for body types, think Miller. but the face is wrong. i've been looking but still haven't found a good Roarke. and not that picture, whatever it is. how could you say that about Reacher?
mom, scope dope won't let me read CMS's book! so unfair. (and i don't think so. maybe not today, maybe not in a year, but when that thing gets published i'll be one of the first in line to buy it...i don't really do mornings, but by mid-afternoon i'll be there).
here, how about i promise to skip the sex scenes? (what? my fingers aren't crossed behind my back. huh?)
Serious thanks. If well wishes counted as points, I'd be the top applicant for sure.
Diane: I haven't gotten around to The Bromeliad Trilogy (Truckers, Diggers, and Wings) yet. WFM & AHFoS are both set in Discworld. Pratchett's my favorite audio, so I don't tend to read him at all anymore. What I can't get at my library, I can get through ILL. We have a great system here.
pnlke: Pun-Like
Oh you are so sweet and cute too, orangehands but it won't work. I can not see your crossed fingers but it wouldn't work anyhow. I will be right behind you telling the store clerk you are too young to read Sheryl's book. /,D
I have a small scrape on my nose from fainting on Sunday and hitting my face on the fridge. DH was outside with the dog at the time so didn't hear me yell for him. Down I went and smashed my face. It was partly the cat's fault because obviously she is a lot closer to the ground than I thought. All I was doing was trying to give her her treat and to pet her. DH says that makes me a twit but I think it is the cat and the fridge that are twits. The cat because she is too low and the fridge because it didn't move out of the way.
Today I still have a sore hip and leg and my poor nose. Next to my eyes my nose is my nicest feature. It is a turned up button nose, or it was. /,D
green eqoznvhp
Egotistical quotes only zing nervous victims of horse play. Never said it made sense.
blue goovbtyy looks like groovy booty to me.
Scope! Do we have to wrap you in cotton wool?? Unplug the fridge - that'll teach it! Take better care of yourself. That's an order.
Do be careful, Scope Dope! I believe your incident may fit the "No good deed goes unpunished" aphorism. We need you to take care of yourself, because we depend on you!
flgmoh: fridges leave grumpy marks on heads
SDCB Put the treat higher. The cat will find it. Trust me on this. I have 4 at the moment (cats, not treats)He/she will also gravitate to wherever you hold your hand so you can pet it. Even if you put your hand under a pillow. Even if you toss the cat off the bed. It will find you. Especially if you have treats.
ice you hip and leg please. I know they say do it in the first 24 but it helps later too.
Your nose is still cute.
Just heard a crash and screams from the kitchen. Then DS yelled "I'm okay." I should have put the Baked Lays a little lower down.
red dizyvuu SDCB vision after the fridge jumped out and hit her.
Robena--the other little guy is a Richardson's ground squirrel, aka gopher (according to him, because it takes to long to say: "Hey, there's a Richardson's ground squirrel--run over him, eh!")
I remember the Burt Reynolds centerfold. Did you ever read the book RING OF BRIGHT WATER, by Gavin Maxwell, about his pet otter? There's a pic of the otter stretched out on a sofa; and over the sofa is a print of a Modigliani nude in exactly the same pose!
lmktcre -- Let more kats take care re: eating (to SDCB)
fjzzs --some sort of fizzy juice, possibly from Io
Ouch, Scope Dope! My nose hurts for you. Not much help I know.
Stupid twit fridge.
SD says "I will be right behind you telling the store clerk you are too young to read Sheryl's book."
*meekly raises hand and quietly says "you know i'm 18, right?"*
yeah, didn't think i fooled you with that attitude.
and i don't care how twitty the cat and fridge are, we worry about YOU. please be more careful. all we need is CMS coming on and saying you've broken something. we worry. your DH and DD and DS and grandkids worry. (that card normally works on grandparents). BE CAREFUL! that's an order, missy!
((((HUGS)))
hope it's less sore soon and you continue to have bad days. (you know, good bad days...we have got to find another way to word this)
bon cheri bomb said...
it was a Bojangles.
You have Bojangles??? OMG! I love them. I've learned to love Popeye's, but Bojangles was my first love, until they went out of business in the Baltimore area. And, of course, there are none in California and never have been.
SDCB, I'm right there with everyone else. If the cat wants a treat or a petting, he knows where to find you. Make him/her do the work. And get the DH to thwack that bad fridge with your CB shovel. You take better care of yourself.
gesbsewe (red)
gesb's sheep?
Aww, Scope Dope. Poor nose.
I haven't posted much this week, still playing catch-up after my trip.
Tal, thanks. This time I wrote down Dick's breed on the top of his photograph so I won't forget. *grin* Am getting many comments on Burt the Kanga, I'd forwarded the link to writer friends, friends in general, and family. Usually in the subject as "The Aussie hunk I met on my trip."
Everyone who is old enough to remember that centerfold has commented and some comments where very funny. Women remembering where they lived, what stage of life they were in when that picture of Burt Reynolds came out.
So thanks, you made my otherwise funky week better. Think the jet-lag has gone now.
rg
Robena: I just remembered that the Burt Reynolds centerfold was in PLAYGIRL. Is that even still around?
kbnwdy --The weather report from Topeka
I'm not sure Tal. Playgirl is not something I read but I do know I bought that issue with Burt in it to see what all the fuss was about. I think I was in my late teens when it came out because I'm sure I was living in Sydney. Come to think of it I haven't heard mention of the mag in a long time. I can understand why. *grin*
rg
rnmqoc Umm, I don't think so.
This page is the reason why blogs should be shut down and bloggers should be drowned in pig effluent. You are polluting the internet with your fucking inane crap.
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