R.W. Richard's Blog, page 33
March 1, 2015
An interview with Renaissance Man
An interview with Renaissance Man:
RWR: Tell me about your experience in a bridal shop.
RM: I walk in. My married daughter is sitting next to a box of Kleenex. My other daughter is trying on bridal dresses. I announce myself saying, “You can call me Father of the Bride.”
RWR: Did you get bored or cry?
RM: No, the gowns were more or less beautiful and my daughter was beaming with love. I made a joke about the Kleenex saying guys don’t cry. That pretty much stopped any notion of crying for me.
RWR: How’d the showings go?
RM: I started generating opinions but knew if I couldn’t back them up, my daughter wouldn’t listen.
RWR: Elaborate.
RM: Okay, I don’t know if these are original thoughts:
1. No dress trick should take everybody’s eyes off the bride’s face (or the bride's persona/aura). (i.e. the dress and bride should be as one, which brings up point #2.
2. What style a bride chooses is mostly a reflection of how she feels about marriage and herself.
a. Many little girls dream of being swept off their feet by prince charming and they fulfill that fantasy by dressing in a ‘princess’ or foofy gown.
b. Some perceive the marriage as a practical arrangement (and yes they love their man most of the time). They’ll dress in something more simple and perhaps with color. This leads to:
c. The successful career girl wants to project her interdependence and assert her personality. After all, her fiancé fell in love with who she is. These dresses can range from simple or modern to Avant Guard.
d. Some girls are rebels and dress accordingly (outrageously?).
RWR: Did you manage to say all that to them?
RM: No, I hinted at it all by covering a couple main points because my daughter is so sharp, in the blink of her eye, she’ll fill it all in. In the end, it’s her choice and I told her no matter what she chose, it would be the right for her because she chose it.
RWR: Thank you for…
RM: One last thought. A day later, I told her to consider what she will choose as partially a reflection of how her man feels about her. I asked her how does he make you feel. Does he make you feel like a princess? A partner? A lover? A life partner? Or all of the above. Knowing how much she is head over heels for this man, I’d guess there’s a bit of the princess within her successful career woman. That’s why my money is figuratively and literally on a certain dress that is elegant with a touch of poofy and is exquisitely designed to complement the work of art who is my daughter.
RWR: Thank you. I know our romance writers write complicated alpha heroes, typically. Who’s to say we can’t have fun trying on atypical traits to portray a hero who our readers will not likely forget.
And then there's the girl who puts everybody else before her. 27 Dresses, trailer, 2008.
February 22, 2015
Guest blogger, Brix McDonald
On of my favorite bloggers, Brix McDonald, is a member of my critique group. She can write anything with great skill, but she mainly focuses on MG or YA themes. Below is the meat of her Valentine's post so that you'd get to know her. When you visit her blog you'll want to follow her not only because of her writing skills but because she has the sign up in the upper left exactly where you'd go to start reading. I must investigate blogger to see iof I can set my blog up that way. Her blog address is http://brixmcd13.com/
So without further ado, here's Brix:
I love you, Writing. You are the outlet for this well of creativity in me. I have friends – cooking, entertaining, sewing, training my dog, to name a few of my posse, but it’s not the same. There’s friendship and then there’s love. And you, Writing, are the love of my life.
I waited so long to find you. I had to try others out – pantomime, acting, puppetry and directing children’s theater. They were easy to break up with and I’ve never missed them.
I should have know, as a child, that you were The One. I used to make up titles and create characters. But I couldn’t string a story together. I wasn’t ready.
So I spent time with those would-be loves and hung out with your cousin, Reading. That was the best thing I could have done. Reading encouraged me in my pursuit of you.
You are not the easiest love, Writing. We often have a love-hate relationship. You make me doubt when that first, incredible hook of a sentence fails to appear. You make me write queries and synopses. You keep me waiting for replies from agents. You force me into critique groups and writing conferences. And after all that, you break my heart over and over with rejections.
I want to be good enough for you, Writing. Don’t give up on me. I promise I will never quit on you. I’m as serious as I can be about you. I’m committed. I want only the best for you. I hope you want the same for me.
Writing, I give you my heart. Try not to stomp it into mush.
I love you.
So without further ado, here's Brix:
I love you, Writing. You are the outlet for this well of creativity in me. I have friends – cooking, entertaining, sewing, training my dog, to name a few of my posse, but it’s not the same. There’s friendship and then there’s love. And you, Writing, are the love of my life.
I waited so long to find you. I had to try others out – pantomime, acting, puppetry and directing children’s theater. They were easy to break up with and I’ve never missed them.
I should have know, as a child, that you were The One. I used to make up titles and create characters. But I couldn’t string a story together. I wasn’t ready.
So I spent time with those would-be loves and hung out with your cousin, Reading. That was the best thing I could have done. Reading encouraged me in my pursuit of you.
You are not the easiest love, Writing. We often have a love-hate relationship. You make me doubt when that first, incredible hook of a sentence fails to appear. You make me write queries and synopses. You keep me waiting for replies from agents. You force me into critique groups and writing conferences. And after all that, you break my heart over and over with rejections.
I want to be good enough for you, Writing. Don’t give up on me. I promise I will never quit on you. I’m as serious as I can be about you. I’m committed. I want only the best for you. I hope you want the same for me.
Writing, I give you my heart. Try not to stomp it into mush.
I love you.
February 15, 2015
Are you being followed by a moonshadow?
If you not being followed by a moonshadow, I highly recommend getting one, they're free and it will follow you.
That's the beauty of song. Each person takes away his own meaning. Less so for the novel and even less so for the novelist. In the novelist's world in which clarity is god, the respite comes in writing a message to yourself in-between the lines.
I was in a group of friends when one declared that being madly in love takes away physical pain.
You've heard the expressions:
head over heels.
feelin' no pain.
They're in another world.
crazy in love.
it's obvious they love each other.
drunk on love.
she has a special glow (beaming).
Yes, they say love hurts, but isn't that when your love isn't with you?
It's true that you don't notice the pain so much when you are engrossed in something interesting. It's true: when that special someone comes into view you lose your sense of self, but is it true that being in love takes away physical pain for a long time? Emotional pain is another subject—the edge between ecstasy and pain when in a romance is a two edged blade. And would any of us have it any other way?
Cat Stevens, Moonshadow, 1971
For those of you who don't know, my valentine's gift for you is waiting at Amazon/Kindle for the remainder of this day, 1/15/15. Double Happiness is free.
That's the beauty of song. Each person takes away his own meaning. Less so for the novel and even less so for the novelist. In the novelist's world in which clarity is god, the respite comes in writing a message to yourself in-between the lines.
I was in a group of friends when one declared that being madly in love takes away physical pain.
You've heard the expressions:
head over heels.
feelin' no pain.
They're in another world.
crazy in love.
it's obvious they love each other.
drunk on love.
she has a special glow (beaming).
Yes, they say love hurts, but isn't that when your love isn't with you?
It's true that you don't notice the pain so much when you are engrossed in something interesting. It's true: when that special someone comes into view you lose your sense of self, but is it true that being in love takes away physical pain for a long time? Emotional pain is another subject—the edge between ecstasy and pain when in a romance is a two edged blade. And would any of us have it any other way?
Cat Stevens, Moonshadow, 1971
For those of you who don't know, my valentine's gift for you is waiting at Amazon/Kindle for the remainder of this day, 1/15/15. Double Happiness is free.
February 8, 2015
Writing the cowboy/rancher/farmer
When the male hero is a cowboy/rancher/farmer, women melt, probably because it's a fantasy. In real life, most women don't run toward the country. When writing a mom and apple pie character one should give him dimension and when writing about the country, it needs to be shown through the eyes of anyone who would be captured by its charm even if it's the small/medium sized town nearby or the swam in the lake.
The producers of The Bachelor haven't shown enough as yet of Chris Soules' character to break down this prejudice. Chris is a very successful businessman with a great heart and he handles himself well with the women. However at this point the show is open to spoofing because the audience is just not buying that all these women want to move to the country just because he's a hunk.
Saturday Night Live satirized this problem with Blake Shelton playing Chris. Don't let your romance turn into a comedy unless you want it to. I believe Chris will acquit himself well and get his happily-ever-after, but maybe I'm an incurable romantic.
FARM HUNK
I'm toying with the idea of collecting my blog posts here on the male POV and making it into a "how to write male characters" book. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
The producers of The Bachelor haven't shown enough as yet of Chris Soules' character to break down this prejudice. Chris is a very successful businessman with a great heart and he handles himself well with the women. However at this point the show is open to spoofing because the audience is just not buying that all these women want to move to the country just because he's a hunk.
Saturday Night Live satirized this problem with Blake Shelton playing Chris. Don't let your romance turn into a comedy unless you want it to. I believe Chris will acquit himself well and get his happily-ever-after, but maybe I'm an incurable romantic.
FARM HUNK
I'm toying with the idea of collecting my blog posts here on the male POV and making it into a "how to write male characters" book. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
February 1, 2015
Please do serve two masters
I watched a Hallmark romance last night in which the alpha hero assumed the heroine would want to move out of state. So he accepted a position without consulting her. She in the mean time was accepted at Stanford for residency as a doctor. His lack of communication ruined their engagement.
The younger the couple the more their financial future is uncertain and so then are their choices. Some work long hours, seek advancement and assume they have the support of their spouse. In this process, many relationships are lost.
Is all this time away from the home for the health of the family or one's own dreams of success (or both)?
In the Hallmark movie, the fiancé is confronted by the maid of honor.
He says, "I'm trying to secure our financial well being."
She counters with, "What about her emotional well being?"
Man is driven to improve the world and love. Some alphas are egocentric and don't see the wrong they've committed. Before I got married, I told my wife to be that as a chess master I would play in no more than one two-day tournament a month as a condition of getting married. She accepted and over time I know she didn't like it too much, but we're fine. Dialogue is critical.
Some alphas don't want marriage or romance and some heroines set out to fell the self-contained man. This is not to say this type of egocentrism isn't found in other types, both male and female. It, IMO, is more pronounced in alpha males.
Perhaps the success of Fifty Shades of Grey can be attributed to how the hero was honest in what drove him, rather than lie to get what he wanted. He didn't believe in romance. He was driven by success. She had a goal.
Here's the trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey.
The younger the couple the more their financial future is uncertain and so then are their choices. Some work long hours, seek advancement and assume they have the support of their spouse. In this process, many relationships are lost.
Is all this time away from the home for the health of the family or one's own dreams of success (or both)?
In the Hallmark movie, the fiancé is confronted by the maid of honor.
He says, "I'm trying to secure our financial well being."
She counters with, "What about her emotional well being?"
Man is driven to improve the world and love. Some alphas are egocentric and don't see the wrong they've committed. Before I got married, I told my wife to be that as a chess master I would play in no more than one two-day tournament a month as a condition of getting married. She accepted and over time I know she didn't like it too much, but we're fine. Dialogue is critical.
Some alphas don't want marriage or romance and some heroines set out to fell the self-contained man. This is not to say this type of egocentrism isn't found in other types, both male and female. It, IMO, is more pronounced in alpha males.
Perhaps the success of Fifty Shades of Grey can be attributed to how the hero was honest in what drove him, rather than lie to get what he wanted. He didn't believe in romance. He was driven by success. She had a goal.
Here's the trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey.
January 25, 2015
AMERICAN SNIPER
Many of my chapter mates (RWASD) write about cowboys or Navy Seals as their alpha male heroes. In American Sniper you get both. Chris Kyle had two loves that ran so deep within him and were so authentically portrayed in the movie. He loved his wife and his country. Many of you have misgivings about war or seeing a "war" movie.
See this movie.
I saw Iraq as a mistake that spawn vast armies of terrorists, but I also felt Afghanistan was necessary. We in our hearts have differing but earnest beliefs. The film isn't so much about war as it is about love and what love makes us do. You are not a man if you don't stand for and do something you believe in and in this way give back the talents God gave you. We were not made to just propagate, we are also here to make a better world for our mates and children. Struggle to find this ever-shifting balance in your hero and heroine.
Instead of showing the film's promo, I present a video clip of one of Taya Kyle's interviews which will help a romance writer get a feel for the relationship she had (has) (she's a widow), but seeing the film will complete your study of what makes a hero.
I need a subtitle for my 9/11 retrospective (novel) Autumn Breeze. I need something that captures the times or the date 9/11/2001 or the city NY. Anybody have an idea or care to comment about today's post?
See this movie.
I saw Iraq as a mistake that spawn vast armies of terrorists, but I also felt Afghanistan was necessary. We in our hearts have differing but earnest beliefs. The film isn't so much about war as it is about love and what love makes us do. You are not a man if you don't stand for and do something you believe in and in this way give back the talents God gave you. We were not made to just propagate, we are also here to make a better world for our mates and children. Struggle to find this ever-shifting balance in your hero and heroine.
Instead of showing the film's promo, I present a video clip of one of Taya Kyle's interviews which will help a romance writer get a feel for the relationship she had (has) (she's a widow), but seeing the film will complete your study of what makes a hero.
I need a subtitle for my 9/11 retrospective (novel) Autumn Breeze. I need something that captures the times or the date 9/11/2001 or the city NY. Anybody have an idea or care to comment about today's post?
January 20, 2015
Speaking about Key Words LOL
Hi,
Unfortunately I sent in the wrong copy of the just released Autumn Breeze. If any of my blog readers bought a copy let me know and I'll send you an updated one. I'm going through the entire text word by word now and expect to be done by Friday (1/23/15).
Thanks for your patience,
Bob
Unfortunately I sent in the wrong copy of the just released Autumn Breeze. If any of my blog readers bought a copy let me know and I'll send you an updated one. I'm going through the entire text word by word now and expect to be done by Friday (1/23/15).
Thanks for your patience,
Bob
January 18, 2015
KEY WORDS
WORDS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Last week I wrote about how a young woman used certain key words to make an alpha male fall instantly in love with her (on their first date). Of course, her words were accompanied with body and facial language, heart and emotion. I also said I'd fall for her well-thought-out approach too, provided there was chemistry.
Yesterday, at the RWASD meeting, Penny Sansevieri presented, among other things, the importance of key words in helping potential readers find your novel. This lesson is critically important in today's publishing world.
Okay, here comes the boring or shameless self promotion part which you can skip by going right to the video. I don't write this blog to sell my books. I write to entertain and inform. If you want to buy my book, I promise I won't stop you. LOL. I decided to not only use a "normal" description of my new novel, Autumn Breeze, which is posted on Amazon, but will add key words to the bottom of the description. This is, as far as I know, not done! I'll let you know if this increases sales. I'm putting my proposed add-on to the description below the video.
Here's the promo for A Novel Romance, A Hallmark Channel movie first released last week. I feature it because it's a romance and it's about a writer. Also, it highlights the struggle to say what you mean. Imagine a (boring) novel/movie, in which the hero or heroine is so quick on their feet, they immediately solve problems created by the incomplete use of the English language. I'd bet, especially in comedies, that a majority of problems are created by poorly thought out and therefore incomplete verbal communications. The irony in this movie centers around a writer. I.e. a hero whose proper use of words is his critical path to success in his art and his love.
A Novel Romance, Hallmark, Trailer 2015:
P.s. I enjoyed the movie.
The key words I intend to post on Amazon:
Rather than go on with further information that would give away the plot and spoil the story for the reader, the author offers the following words or phrases that describe themes major and minor that occur in this novel. Regarding the girl’s, detective’s and spy’s personal growth we have literary romance, love stories, teenage love stories and angst, coming of age, young adult, family, friendship, college, scholarship, multicultural, multiracial, interracial, immigration, Caribbean, engagement, marriage, wedding, adoption. Regarding the plot we have 9/11, mystery, thriller, intrigue, suspense, spy, spies, assassins, police procedural, terrorists, terrorism, military, war, cloak and dagger, mass murder, political, anti-terrorism taskforce, CIA, NSA, NCS, Homeland Security, and martial arts. And as catch alls for various plot twists, we have contemporary romance, wealthy, literature, American, ghosts, paranormal. And then, New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Trinidad. Let’s not forget Rudy Guiliani and the ever popular historical 21st century.
My new book and its description can be seen at:
http://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Breeze-Carlos-RW-Richard/dp/0980080487/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421613702&sr=1-3&keywords=autumn+breeze
Last week I wrote about how a young woman used certain key words to make an alpha male fall instantly in love with her (on their first date). Of course, her words were accompanied with body and facial language, heart and emotion. I also said I'd fall for her well-thought-out approach too, provided there was chemistry.
Yesterday, at the RWASD meeting, Penny Sansevieri presented, among other things, the importance of key words in helping potential readers find your novel. This lesson is critically important in today's publishing world.
Okay, here comes the boring or shameless self promotion part which you can skip by going right to the video. I don't write this blog to sell my books. I write to entertain and inform. If you want to buy my book, I promise I won't stop you. LOL. I decided to not only use a "normal" description of my new novel, Autumn Breeze, which is posted on Amazon, but will add key words to the bottom of the description. This is, as far as I know, not done! I'll let you know if this increases sales. I'm putting my proposed add-on to the description below the video.
Here's the promo for A Novel Romance, A Hallmark Channel movie first released last week. I feature it because it's a romance and it's about a writer. Also, it highlights the struggle to say what you mean. Imagine a (boring) novel/movie, in which the hero or heroine is so quick on their feet, they immediately solve problems created by the incomplete use of the English language. I'd bet, especially in comedies, that a majority of problems are created by poorly thought out and therefore incomplete verbal communications. The irony in this movie centers around a writer. I.e. a hero whose proper use of words is his critical path to success in his art and his love.
A Novel Romance, Hallmark, Trailer 2015:
P.s. I enjoyed the movie.
The key words I intend to post on Amazon:
Rather than go on with further information that would give away the plot and spoil the story for the reader, the author offers the following words or phrases that describe themes major and minor that occur in this novel. Regarding the girl’s, detective’s and spy’s personal growth we have literary romance, love stories, teenage love stories and angst, coming of age, young adult, family, friendship, college, scholarship, multicultural, multiracial, interracial, immigration, Caribbean, engagement, marriage, wedding, adoption. Regarding the plot we have 9/11, mystery, thriller, intrigue, suspense, spy, spies, assassins, police procedural, terrorists, terrorism, military, war, cloak and dagger, mass murder, political, anti-terrorism taskforce, CIA, NSA, NCS, Homeland Security, and martial arts. And as catch alls for various plot twists, we have contemporary romance, wealthy, literature, American, ghosts, paranormal. And then, New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Trinidad. Let’s not forget Rudy Guiliani and the ever popular historical 21st century.
My new book and its description can be seen at:
http://www.amazon.com/Autumn-Breeze-Carlos-RW-Richard/dp/0980080487/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421613702&sr=1-3&keywords=autumn+breeze
January 11, 2015
FREE HUGS
Britt: To me, what a wife is -, a girlfriend is - a safe haven. I want to tell you that you can feel safe with me. I want to be the shoulder you can cry on. ...If you're worried, if you're sad, if you're happy. I want to be the one* you come give a hug to. I know it's cheesy. *[she's competing for the hero] Chris: No. [since when does a guy say as much as a woman, LOL?] Britt: But it's what's important to me... because you're amazing, awesome. Chris talks about visiting cities trying to make a case for his flexibility in regards to where he lives. He's a farmer who is dedicated to his profession and I'm nearly certain he'd much prefer to stay put. Britt: It (the city) is not where I want to raise a family. A small town is where it's at. I don't want to get ahead of myself but, yeah, Iowa seems beautiful...
***Some of you might say the dialogue is flat and needs some help by way of action tags and interior motivation. The video I supply will do that for you, in spades. [It's the best mix or words and animation of body-mind-soul that I have ever seen. She obviously chose her basic message to convey to the man of her dreams that she'd stand with him, not second guess or nag! Not that things can't be discussed. It's a matter of focusing on the positive.]
Some might say the dialogue needs tightening...and I have already tightened it a little!
Others might say that the heroine should not offer her shoulder to cry on to a very alpha hero (and he is if I ever saw one). I'll counter that by saying his reaction, perhaps subconscious in part, showed he was overwhelmingly impressed with her as you'll see in the second 2 minute video. If I were a bachelor and younger and those lines were tried on me in the way the heroine delivered them, I would have fallen instantly for her. [She's also gorgeous. This helps.] MARKETING TOOLS:Every Monday night thousands of NEW and YOUNG ADULTS (mostly women), newly marrieds and singles in the workforce throw wine and cheese parties to view this show on campuses and family rooms across America. The Bachelor Chris Soules - Britt's Limo Exit & Talk, 1/5/2015, ABC, The Bachelor. The dialogue I highlighted shows up about half way through the 5 minute video.
In the second (2 minute) scene Chris gives Britt the first impression rose.
Chris: When I first saw you I felt something I haven't felt in a long time!
For my professional writers: Anybody who writes in the action tags, description and interior thoughts and sends them to me will get a copy of my about to be released Autumn Breeze.
***Some of you might say the dialogue is flat and needs some help by way of action tags and interior motivation. The video I supply will do that for you, in spades. [It's the best mix or words and animation of body-mind-soul that I have ever seen. She obviously chose her basic message to convey to the man of her dreams that she'd stand with him, not second guess or nag! Not that things can't be discussed. It's a matter of focusing on the positive.]
Some might say the dialogue needs tightening...and I have already tightened it a little!
Others might say that the heroine should not offer her shoulder to cry on to a very alpha hero (and he is if I ever saw one). I'll counter that by saying his reaction, perhaps subconscious in part, showed he was overwhelmingly impressed with her as you'll see in the second 2 minute video. If I were a bachelor and younger and those lines were tried on me in the way the heroine delivered them, I would have fallen instantly for her. [She's also gorgeous. This helps.] MARKETING TOOLS:Every Monday night thousands of NEW and YOUNG ADULTS (mostly women), newly marrieds and singles in the workforce throw wine and cheese parties to view this show on campuses and family rooms across America. The Bachelor Chris Soules - Britt's Limo Exit & Talk, 1/5/2015, ABC, The Bachelor. The dialogue I highlighted shows up about half way through the 5 minute video.
In the second (2 minute) scene Chris gives Britt the first impression rose.
Chris: When I first saw you I felt something I haven't felt in a long time!
For my professional writers: Anybody who writes in the action tags, description and interior thoughts and sends them to me will get a copy of my about to be released Autumn Breeze.
January 4, 2015
"I can't help myself."
“I can’t help myself.”
Sometimes your secondary characters can perfect your story (or run away with the story only to be your hero or heroine in the next novel). Screen writer, Nora Ephron, in You’ve Got Mail had an exchange between Meg Ryan playing Kathleen and her about-to-be-ex-boyfriend, Frank (played by Greg Kinnear), that plays with my mind like a fine wine.* The entire script was pure perfection, written by one of the greatest of all time.
You’ll see in the clip below how easy the flow of the scene is, how they don’t exactly answer some questions directly (a very important technique, to give life to your dialogue, IMO). You’ll notice the ease they have with each other, borne of intimate struggle.
*From the male POV, Frank has an easy grace and honesty around Kathleen that I admire. He’s a renaissance man whereas Tom Hanks (Joe) tries to be. Joe is crazy for, empathetic to and in love with Kathleen and that carries the day for our hero. For me, this line, "I can't help myself," should apply to my New Year's resolutions. See my Jan. 1, 2015 post for insight and an Emily Litella scene. There should be at least one true passion for 2015 that had not yet been accomplished and you should not be able to control yourself when confronted by it. If you run away from the truth when faced with something difficult, something you don't understand how to accomplish, you will have continued to do what you did last year and can expect the same result. Name it and find a way to do it. Extra Credit: Anybody remember why it didn’t work out between Kathleen and Frank?
Sometimes your secondary characters can perfect your story (or run away with the story only to be your hero or heroine in the next novel). Screen writer, Nora Ephron, in You’ve Got Mail had an exchange between Meg Ryan playing Kathleen and her about-to-be-ex-boyfriend, Frank (played by Greg Kinnear), that plays with my mind like a fine wine.* The entire script was pure perfection, written by one of the greatest of all time.
You’ll see in the clip below how easy the flow of the scene is, how they don’t exactly answer some questions directly (a very important technique, to give life to your dialogue, IMO). You’ll notice the ease they have with each other, borne of intimate struggle.
*From the male POV, Frank has an easy grace and honesty around Kathleen that I admire. He’s a renaissance man whereas Tom Hanks (Joe) tries to be. Joe is crazy for, empathetic to and in love with Kathleen and that carries the day for our hero. For me, this line, "I can't help myself," should apply to my New Year's resolutions. See my Jan. 1, 2015 post for insight and an Emily Litella scene. There should be at least one true passion for 2015 that had not yet been accomplished and you should not be able to control yourself when confronted by it. If you run away from the truth when faced with something difficult, something you don't understand how to accomplish, you will have continued to do what you did last year and can expect the same result. Name it and find a way to do it. Extra Credit: Anybody remember why it didn’t work out between Kathleen and Frank?
