Julia London's Blog, page 78

SPRING BREAK!

Hey everyone!  Blogging today from our spring break headquarters in Breckinridge, Colorado!  Now normally I prefer vacation destinations with palm trees rather than snowflakes, but this place is GORGEOUS!  And since the kid loves to snowboard and that's difficult to do in palm tree locations, we decided to head to the slopes.  Since we only had half a day today, we didn't ski, but we did shop.

The DH and I shopped for new ski hats!

 

Tomorrow we ski.  Well, tomorrow the kid and his college buddy who is with us will ski.  The DH and I are heading to the spa and the hot tub.  Now that's my kind of ski vacation!

Having fun watching other people ski!

So tell me, do you have any spring break plans?  What did you do on spring break when you were a kid?  Do you prefer palm trees or snowflakes?  Hope you all have a great week! xox

Something in the Eyre

In case you hadn't heard, there's a new Jane Eyre movie out, drawing rave reviews. Starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) and Michael Fassbender, with the incomparable Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax.

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Mia, at the Jane Eyre premiere.

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Michael Fassbender, not looking very Rochesterly.

What's very flattering is that I've been getting letters from readers asking why they didn't make Jane Slayre instead. My readers are fantastic. They're righteously indignant on my behalf. But I'm more realistic. Jane Eyre! It's a classic! I always love a new adaptation. Can't wait to see it. In the meantime, I benefit from the extra attention.

Focus Features Film, makers of Jane Eyre, have done a slideshow of Eyre adaptations on their website, including Jane Slayre (too cool!). And over the weekend, I was invited to read from Jane Slayre at a Brooklyn event celebrating the film's release, A Celebration of Eyresses (from the Eyress e-zine). I had a chance to mix it up with a new crowd. Not romance readers, oh no. I walked in and realized… I was not hip enough for the room. By far. There were guys in skinny jeans. With pointy shoes. If I managed to be hip enough (I wore black, big plus), I was certainly not young enough. But they welcomed me with open arms, and we had a good time. Of course! We had common ground in our love of Jane Eyre. [image error]

I was already in NY, and it was my husband's birthday, so we checked into a Manhattan hotel for the rest of the weekend. The Muse on 46th, between 6th and 7th. Amazing. If you're looking for a romantic getaway, this is one to consider. Plus, there's a really cool wine bar in the lobby. You know it's cool when you finally give in to the cabernet and have to hit the lobby bathroom. Not the usual His and Hers set-up there. There are six to choose from, and you're suddenly torn and confused– which to choose?

Envy, Rebel, Macho, Passion, Glam, and Vain. All of them were single user, decorated to their own unique theme. Passion, for example, was all red with dim lighting. Glam, gold with a fleur-de-lis mirror. Rebel? The mirror was fragments on the wall. I happened to walk by two teen girls trying to decide and one explained to the other, who was clearly not as quick on the uptake, "They represent the seven deadly sins, duh." I did not correct her by observing that there were only six. And Macho, as a deadly sin? Who knew? But I could get on board with that.

Also, even though I was fortunate to be away from it all and having a wonderful time, I couldn't help thinking about the people of Japan. Unbelievable quake, and aftershocks still hitting. So worried for them. If you want to help, check into donating to the Red Cross.

What would you add to or remove from the list of deadly sins? Have you ever showed up at an event and realized you were all wrong for the crowd? What's your ideal weekend away? Are you a Jane Eyre fan, planning to see the new movie?

Jane Slayre

"Reader, I buried him."

A TIMELESS TALE OF LOVE, DEVOTION… AND THE UNDEAD.

Jane Slayre, our plucky demon-slaying heroine, a courageous orphan who spurns the detestable vampyre kin who raised her, sets out on the advice of her ghostly uncle to hone her skills as the fearless slayer she's meant to be. When she takes a job as a governess at a country estate, she falls head-over-heels for her new master, Mr. Rochester, only to discover he's hiding a violent werewolf in the attic– in the form of his first wife.

Can a menagerie of bloodthirsty, flesh-eating, creatures-of-the-night keep a swashbuckling nineteenth-century lady from the gentleman she intends to marry? Vampyres, zombies, and werewolves transform Charlotte Bronte's unforgettable masterpiece into an eerie paranormal adventure that will delight and terrify.

Sleepless in Seattle

Last night I was putting something on Netflix to stream while I wrote.

I chose the wrong movie. I chose Sleepless in Seattle–one of my favorites, and I would have been better off with a crap movie because I got sucked in right away. Teary-eyed, glued to the screen, and nary a written word flowing from my fingers.

I confess–I'm a total sap for any movie that makes me cry. And this one is way up there on that list. But what I find so fascinating about it is how it's this iconic movie romance…and yet it's not really a romance at all. We never see the characters falling in love with each other. We see the signs that let us know they'll be perfect for each other –the words spoken in unison during the radio show, Meg Ryan's character peeling an apple like Tom Hank's wife, other things they toss in to show that these people will have a happily ever after. But we don't even get to see them do more than just meet. There's no romance arc. No developing relationship.

No falling in love (at least not in the traditional sense).

And yet it's a romance through and through. And a great tear-jerking romance.

It's the complete opposite of another favorite romance, also a Meg Ryan movie, When Harry Met Sally. But there, we see the whole relationship develop in great detail.

But now I know better than to stream it while I'm trying to write!

So what's your favorite movie romance? Do you go for the tear-jerkers?

Let the Sunshine In!

Yes, I am so ready for the sun! We've had some sunny days, and some melting. But we still have a little way to go.

Exhibit A…

Snow in my backyard, January 20 (ugh, top) and March 10 (bottom):

No objects have been moved! All those things were there, under the snow. We still can't really get out there to move stuff around.  But my corgi can do her business out back again, and she is one happy girl.

Still, I hope I'm not being greedy to want more. More grass, less snow. Maybe in a few more weeks, when the sun beats down with a positively warm glow vs the current shining through a cold haze. I'll be sure to report back when that happens.

In the meantime…

I've brought the sun in. To my hair! I shouldn't tell. I should let you think it's all my own natural golden glow. Hey, it used to be.

Over the past five years, my hair has gotten really dark. Oddly dark. I look in the mirror and it's not me. I wasn't doing anything about it because I figured hey, it's not gray. But finally, I had enough. I want my blonde back! So I went to the salon, got a good cut, and voila, highlights! And yes, I feel so much better.

Exhibit B…

Before (top, though not accurate- it had gotten much longer and seemingly darker, months-old picture) and after (bottom):

And now, the startling news. We might have two suns in 2012. Some scientists are saying that Betelgeuse (the star, not the Michael Keaton 80s movie) is about to go supernova, and for a brief time in the next year, we might actually have two suns visible and no night sky. Just for a week, maybe two. But how freaky is that? Let the apocalypse fearmongers run with that!

Exhibit C…

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Well, for now, I won't worry about it. I am headed to Brooklyn to read from Jane Slayre at the Celebration of Eyresses event, at Word bookstore– a fun night of activities to kick off the release of the new Jane Eyre film. It's tonight! March 11, at 7 p.m. There will be food, fun, trivia games, a dazzling array of speakers (including A Defense of Mr. Rochester, which I am really looking forward to!). If you're in the area, come on out and see me. And my sunny new hair.

In the meantime, let's talk. What do you think of the snow? My hair? TWO suns? Is the world going to end? Or will we all develop a sudden love for all things Alaska (where they already have days without nights for some of the year) and gasp! Sarah Palin (now being played by Julianne Moore onscreen)? Ack!

Rocker Girl At Heart

[image error]So we Whine Sisters have been talking about the brouhaha with Charlie Sheen, the latest bout being his firing from Two and a Half Men.   Which I guess, is now, at least temporarily, One and a Half Men.  Anyway, I took the strongly worded viewpoint that despite my understanding CBS's stance on the matter, I thought that the show would fail if it tried to go on without Sheen.  John Cryer can't carry the show on his own (despite his being an excellent actor) and a replacement (some have mentioned John Stamos) just wouldn't be able to fill the same shoes.  Well, several of my sisters did not agree with my take on this and thought it would be fine with someone like John.  (Who I adore but just don't see in the role Sheen played).   I then went on to declare that I wouldn't be watching a Sheenless version of the show.

Of course, being a people pleaser, anytime I am in the minority I have the tendency to think and rethink my position.  And last night it occurred to me that we had all had this exact same conversation when it came to Simon Cowell leaving Idol.  With several of the Whine Sisters saying that the show would go on, and me saying no, no… the show is doomed and I certainly won't be watching without Simon.[image error]

Um, well… um… I haven't missed a minute of the new Idol.  And not only that, I've totally and completely fallen in love with the new judges, particularly Steven Tyler.  Okay, I admit I'm an Aerosmith fan from way back.  Even went to a concert in my high school days.   But that's actually not the reason.   What I love about him on the show is his true expertise (which Jennifer has as well) and more importantly, his energy and humor.

The guy literally makes me laugh every week, and it's hard to elicit a guffaw from me—basically, I'm not easily amused (except for Modern Family which absolutely slays me every week).   Steven is older than me and certainly most of the people watching the show.  And looks like—as my father would have said—he's been ridden hard and put to bed wet.  But he has a sparkle in his eye that shows just how much he enjoys life and an inability to censor his words that makes him come up with some of the most hysterical (and some would say outrageous) phrases I've ever heard.  He also exhibits more real heart and a connection to the contestants than I've ever seen on the show.  (The moment with the woman in the wheelchair being the most telling example).

[image error]Anyway, all that to say that not only do I love the new Idol even more than older incarnations.  I was wrong.  The show not only went on, but it also got better.   (I'm still not sure I'll watch a revamped Two and a Half Men, but hey, famous last words.)  And after all, I watched every season of Law and Order with so many cast changes it was sometimes hard to keep up.  And even though Chris Noth and Jerry Orbach will always be my favorite detective team, I still loved the show even after both of them had departed.  There's a lesson in there somewhere… but hey, just admitting I was wrong is enough for now, right?

So how about you?  Enjoying the new Idol?  Think you'd love Two and a Half Men with John Stamos (who based on last night's Glee may be ready for something new)?  What other shows have survived character changes that didn't seem to affect the show? (Okay, for us boomers, Bewitched is too obvious an example.)

And remember commenting gives you the chance to win the Nook we're giving away!

Odd Tweeting

Due to a lack of an interesting blog topic, I scoured my usual blog suspects, scoured the news (MORE DEAD ANIMALS FALLING DEAD! ) and nothing tickled my fancy — an expression dating back to 1774, which is a more vulgar version of the expression 'striking my fancy.'

So, I decided to throw a new twool into the mix. Fun-tweets!

Without further twoodoo!

"I don't call it lying down. I call it landscape mode" @randomisms

KO: Ah, yes, landscape mode. I know it well.

"Today is already shaping up to be a 'keyboard not found. Press any key to continue.' Kind of day." @thedayhascome

KO: Many geek-heads will be snickering about this one.

"41- Arsenal have made just 41 touches in the opposition half in the first half, compared to 310 by Barcelona. Deep" @OptaJoe

KO: This just came up on twitter's home page, and I like the imagery of 41 touches in the opposition half. I'm thinking I can use that in a Blaze.

"Can anybody find me somebody to lube? #changelovetolubesongs" @BettyFckinWhite

KO: If you have any extra four hours to kill, follow the #changelovetolubesongs and amuse yourself. Kathleen's contributions: "A Groovy Kind Of Lube" "Bad Lube" "Burning Lube" "Cant buy me Lube" I will stop now.

"Sec. Chu unveils a breakthrough in biofuel that is poised to reduce our dependence on foreign oil: http://go.usa.gov/4DI" @ENERGY

KO: This article sort of scares me, especially this quote. "This is a perfect example of the promising opportunity we have to create a major new industry based on bio-material such as wheat and rice straw, corn stover, lumber wastes, and plants specifically developed for bio-fuel production that require far less fertilizer and other energy inputs." KO again: I have two words. SOYLENT GREEN. That is all.

"10102323454577 is the smallest 14-digit prime number that follows the rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet http://ow.ly/47033" @AlgebraFact

KO: I have no idea what this means, but I thought it sounded like something you could toss out and impress your friends.

"If you watch 127 Hours backwards it's an uplifting story about a disabled man finding an arm in the desert." @bradleypeck

KO: I need to do that.

"Despite all the rumors there r no plans 2 bring #mclobster or mcsushi 2 the US menu. We r working on a new menu item called McWinning." @McDonalds

KO: Is this really @McDonalds? Is @McDonalds this funny? Or is this fake @McDonalds…

I have no officially wasted my afternoon, and now my blog post is complete. Please feel free to add whatever tweets you would like and I shall waste my morning read them as well. And as a bonus, whatever odd tweetings you contribute will further your chances in the Nook-giveaway!!!

Things I Can't Handle These Days

I have always been proud that I was  a woman who was driven and ambitious and could handle anything that came my way.  I wanted to go to college, so I went–but I had to pay for it, as we didn't have a lot of money.  I wanted a cool job, so I took one in Washington, which, at the time, might as well have been China.  I wanted to travel and I did–I actually went to the Middle East with only $100 in my pocket.  I wanted to get married and I did.  I wanted a better quality of life, a more fulfilling job.  I wanted to be a writer, but I didn't worry about being published.  I focused on the actual writing, and voila, I became a writer.

All of these things were it was a lot harder than I am tossing out here today, but I really always felt capable of handling all the obstacles I faced.  However, now–because I am older or softer, I don't know what–I am finding there are a lot of things I can't handle.  Here is a list of things that I can't handle this week, in no particular order:

1.  Cow Knuckles.  These are not the most disgusting things made for dogs to chew on now (that would be the cow's esophagus), but it's the one thing I can touch and bring home to Moosey-boy.  But in the last couple of days, I cannot look at the knuckle.   It's disgusting.  Of course, Moose loves it, but I can't handle it.

2.  Pool filters.  Ours needs to be emptied every day.  It's not that big of a deal, but I approach it with sheer dread.  I am scared that when I pop that top, something awful is going to leap out at me.  I can't handle it.

3.  Grocery Stores:  First, there are too many choices.  Second, I have no self control.  Third, I spend too much money.  Fourth, I have to take the groceries home and put them away and I HATE that.  Fifth, I always have to spend money on things like bleach and toilet paper and that makes me sad.  I can't handle it.

4.  Email.  It's so out of control, I don't know how to get it under control.  I can't handle it.

5.  Book releases.  To think that the thing that used to fill me with unbridled joy now fills me with dread.  Don't get me wrong — I love writing, I love having written, and I love to see the finished product on a shelf or display.  That is really cool.  But I cannot stand the wondering how it is doing, or how readers will react to it.  I would like to leave the country every time a book comes out and come back in a month.  I can't handle it.

6.  Dieting.  I have been on some kind of diet for most of my life, and I am reaching the point where I just can't–or won't–handle it any more.   Been there done that.

There's a whole lot more I can't handle anymore (The Bachelor, non-HD TV, gas prices, etc.) but there is not enough room.  Come on whiners, and whine with me!  Tell me what you can't handle.  And remember, with every whine you post here, you are entered to win our Nook!!

My Pop Culture Education

So, I watched the Oscars over at Julia's house, and somewhere in the conversation (and don't ask me the details, because I'd had wine) she mentioned Somebody Famous, and I stared at her with a blank expression (in my defense, it was a music person, not a movie person; I'm reasonably up on movie people). However, in order to avoid such horrible, horrible faux pas in the future, I bought a gobload of grocery store check out magazines over the weekend…and I may just start to follow TMZ on Twitter (but that's a big step; we'll have to see. I don't want to tax my formerly clueless brain, after all!)

So, for those of you like me who need a dose of pop culture, here's my overview, based on my review of People. (It's just like a book report!)

I can see from the cover that Charlie Sheen has gone insane (okay, even I knew that one. Tiger blood. Really? That's the best he can come up with? And now, of course, it's really bad b/c my husband has been walking around saying things like, "No, no. I can eat the dessert. I blinked, and I cured my cholesterol." Thanks, Charlie.)

Kate Middleton seems to be quite classy (nothing skanky in these mags). Hopefully that's the case. I may even watch the wedding! (Oh, except I don't have cable. Maybe iTunes will stream it…) You know, if the Palace would just extend an invitation, I'd be happy to fly over and watch it in person…..

Tina Turner, who must really be getting up there, looks FABULOUS. See page 24 of the March 14 People if you don't believe me. I should look so good now…. yeesh. I'd hate her if I didn't think she was so cool.

Pages and pages of Oscar stuff in People, but I'm not going to recap that (but can I just say I think famous designers should lend the Rita nominees gowns. I mean, that seems fair, right?)

And then we have 5 more pages of Charlie. Nope. Can't go there. Don't need no more Sheen in my brain. (I'm like the kid in the movie: "Girl, you got the "Sheening…").

(Oh, heck. I couldn't help it. I kept reading. Apparently he woke with a new brain. Handy. But what if all your ATM passwords and friend's phone numbers are in your old brain? Please, please tell me…what then?)

Your favorite recent gossip? Come on folks, I need the education!

When Blood Calls