Beverly Farr's Blog, page 4

Deja Vu Again

Every year, I think I’m going to rewatch Groundhog Day (1993) on February 2, but I find myself busy with other things and suddenly it’s the middle of February (or March) and I forgot to do it. Most years I have no idea whether the groundhog saw his shadow or not.

Marumari at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia CommonsGroundhog Day is a great Date Night Movie because it is funny and sweet. Bill Murray is hilarious and Andie MacDowell is beautiful and quirky. And best of all, the movie raises some philosophical questions.

What is the purpose of life and what are we doing to make our lives meaningful?

I don’t know how many hours I have wasted/spent thinking about what I would do if I were stuck in a Groundhog Day loop. Back when I spent years doing neurodevelopmental therapy for my autistic daughter, I sometimes felt like I was in a repetitive loop. One day looked a lot like the next.

But just like Bill Murray’s character Phil, doing the daily work changed me (and my daughter) for the better.

But like Phil, we have to make the right choices. We can’t just be living for the moment — living only for pleasure. The movie shows this. Phil starts out shallow and selfish, but over time he realizes that is boring and unsatisfying. Gradually he starts to do something better: helping others, developing his talents, really listening to the love of his life.

There’s a lot of truth there. Enjoy.

Also, here’s an article about how Groundhog Day changed someone’s life.

Related blog post:

Groundhog Day (1993)

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An Heir for Pemberley

If you’re like me, you are incredibly busy – sometimes too busy to sit back and relax. Well, if you’re looking for a quick little escape to Pemberley that won’t take over your day and make you behind on your deadlines, here it is:

An Heir for Pemberley, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Fitzwilliam Darcy has it all – a beautiful, intelligent wife who loves him and she is expecting their first child. But Darcy’s mother died in childbirth and he worries that he could lose it all.

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And yes, I’m working on a longer Darcy story and a Beverly Farr title as well.

Thanks so much for being my readers!

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In the Beginning, We are Alone

In the beginning, we are alone.

We may grow up in a happy family, feeling close to our parents, but as we mature, we eventually realize that we are separate from our parents and their relationship. We start looking at those around us, hoping that one day we will have someone to share our lives. A soul mate, a kindred spirit, a true love, our better half. As humans, we desire intimacy – not just physical – we want to connect intellectually, emotionally and philosophically as well.

And it’s hard.

In many ways I think it is life’s biggest challenge — learning to trust, to love and to take a risk, committing to someone else – someone with flaws, just as we are flawed.

And we have to be patient.

First love is rarely a lasting love. So that means we go through the process again and again, searching until – hopefully – we get it right. But love is not static. We have to keep committing, keep trusting, keep taking those emotional risks to keep the love we have.

This is why so many people read romances and watch romantic movies.

No matter where we are in the romantic rollercoaster, most of us want a happy ending. And for me, nothing is better than story where two people become one. When I read or watch a romance, I’m reminded of my story and the stories of my friends and family. If the romance rings true, it re-affirms what I already believe – that love however improbable, is possible. I love watching two imperfect people overcome obstacles and become better because of their love for each other. Romance is important because it’s a fundamental part of life.

In the end, we all die, and on my deathbed, I don’t want to be alone. I want to be next to the man I love. And if he has already died, I hope he’s eagerly waiting for me in the hereafter. I hope my children still love me and that they have found their own loves as well. I think that’s what most of us want – to love and be loved and to leave a legacy of love when we go.

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Lessons from Casablanca

Bill Gold [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsCasablanca is one of those films that improve with multiple viewings and it would be a fun Date Night movie.

As a romance, it is great, even though (SPOILERS) Rick and Ilsa aren’t together at the end. The film has both of them giving up on love because they are choosing something better. When Ilsa left Rick (backstory, prior to the start of the movie) it was because she learned that her husband that she thought was dead wasn’t dead. And then at the end, Rick arranges for Ilsa to leave with her husband because he knows that is the right thing to do.

Politically, Casablanca was a film that helped American audiences understand the importance of WW2 and our involvement. Some people think Rick as an isolationist represented FDR and that Casablanca was actually the White House. I don’t know about all that symbolism, but the film makes me feel patriotic.

The film has many memorable lines, with one of my favorite being: “Ilsa, I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.”

Casablanca makes me think of war and difficult times and how grateful I am to be safe at home. It makes me laugh (particularly one liners from Claude Raines) and it makes me cry.

Get out the popcorn and enjoy.

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Corporate Husband

If you want to know what people care about – look at what they are willing to sacrifice. A mom enduring bedrest to deliver a healthy baby. A man working two jobs to support his family. Someone spending years studying and incurring a mountain of debt to become a doctor.

Granted, it’s easy to get sucked into demanding, tough situations that require sacrifice and don’t align with our priorities and beliefs.

That’s when we say, “Wait a second, what am I doing and why am I doing it?”

In my romance Corporate Husband, Louisa Brannigan is in a tough spot. In order to inherit her grandfather’s chocolate company, she needs a loyal employee to marry her and keep his mouth shut. It’s a calculated risk, and she hopes it’s worth the sacrifice. The only problem is Justin Reilly – he seems like the ideal candidate, until he starts changing the rules.

I had fun writing this story because it deals with money, loyalty, and love. I have always enjoyed Marriage of Convenience stories because they put two people in a tense situation and the ‘will they or won’t they find happiness’ is so exciting. That’s why the Mail Order Bride books are so popular right now. Back in high school, I don’t know how many hundreds of Harlequin Presents I read where some poor girl had to marry a Greek shipping magnate. Now, it seems the heroes are all billionaires. In Corporate Husband, the twist is that Louisa is the one with money.

Right now, Corporate Husband is free. It is the first book in my Love and Chocolate Series.

Hmmm, I think it’s time for some chocolate.

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A Happy App

My son just bought an easy button from Staples. It says “That was easy” when you press on it. I told him I’d like one that said something different. When he asked, I said, “You look MAHVALOUS.” I don’t think he gets the Billy Crystal joke.

Anyway, we talked about other positive affirmations that would be good:

Have a great day

You can do it

Good Work

Thanks for all you do

It’s okay

Great Job

Good morning

Everything will work out

Don’t give up

I would love an app that would tell me these things randomly when I pressed a button. There are other positive affirmation apps on the market, so I think it could be designed easily.

However, it will be expensive.

Because I want to speak it.

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Why We all Need a Date Night

We live in a wonderful age where we can consume entertainment with the flick of a button. We don’t have to spend our week’s wages and stand in the pit of the Globe Theatre to watch a Shakespearean play. We don’t have to wait until there are half a dozen trained musicians to play a Handel concerti. Thanks to the internet it is all at our fingertips.

But we also live in an age of around the clock working – checking emails during dinner and before we go to bed. I believe we all need a Date Night to seek out something of value to rejuvenate ourselves.

I’m reminded of the KitKat “give me a break” jingle. I think we all need a break, and hey, chocolate is good, too.

Now, if you have a spouse or someone else that meets the traditional “date” requirement, great — watching or doing something together can strengthen that bond. But if you don’t have a romantic interest, you can still have a date night with one of the children in your life or with a good friend. And if you don’t feel you have anyone to ask, take a Date Night for yourself.

What’s a Date Night? Whatever you want. Step out of the ordinary. Treat yourself to a new food, a new experience. On this blog, I will focus primarily on sweet romantic movies because they are my favorites. But no matter what you choose, do something that gives you the break you need.

And this week’s recommendation, in honor of Alan Rickman, I rewatched Galaxy Quest 1999. There’s a little bit of romance in it.

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Madam Will You Talk

Madam Will You Talk by Mary Stewart  made a huge impression on me in high school. It was one of those books I couldn’t put down, one of those books that made me say, “I want to write books.” Mary Stewart writes great novels where normal, capable women find themselves in a suspenseful situation. Through the course of the book, their mettle is tested and they fall in love. I like the fact that her heroines are more than just a pretty face needing to be rescued. Her heroines are capable, intelligent women with interesting lives and backgrounds. Madam Will You Talk has a resourceful war widow as a heroine. The book also contains the most suspenseful, hold your breath car chase I’ve ever read.

And like the other books I recommend, there aren’t any graphic love scenes. This book has it all – adventure, exotic locations and romance. I wish it would be made into a movie. I could see someone like playing the heroine.

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Parable of the Green Beans

The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and I think all nature testifies of him, if we pay attention. Even green beans.

My husband and I often go to the grocery wholesalers to pick up boxes of apples, oranges and potatoes. We also check out the great deals list to see if there are any bargains. This past weekend, we got a great deal on a huge box of fresh green beans. The seller warned us that there would be a few gray fuzzies in the box, but that the majority of the beans were good. I was amused by the phrase “gray fuzzies” which sounds a lot better than MOLD.

But the price was good, so I took my chances. Today as I was cleaning and preparing the beans, I did come across the gray fuzzies. Gross, but not that bad. I would say that 95% or more of the beans were great, but I did have to check each one.

As I worked, I couldn’t help but think that everybody gets their share of gray fuzzies in life. Nothing is perfect, and if I had been grossed out by a little mold, I could have missed out on some great green beans.

And here’s a recipe: Boil or roast a ton of green beans (for me, that’s at least ½ of my huge stock pot). Make a white sauce in the Vitamix (3 cups milk, ½ – ¾ c. flour, ¼ c. butter, salt, pepper) and blend up the white sauce with the green beans. I call it vegetable soup, and everybody in my family likes it. When fresh green beans aren’t available, I use frozen Italian green beans.

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Move Over, Darcy

The miniseries North and South 2004 is the only period drama that has ever made me question my undying love for Fitzwilliam Darcy. John Thornton played by Richard Armitage is a romantic force to be reckoned with. Not only is he dark and brooding, but he talks. He actually tells the heroine what he’s thinking. We also get glimpses of his family life, which further illustrate his character. That alone makes him a viable candidate to topple Mr. Darcy as my favorite film hero.

Now, if we could eavesdrop on Darcy at Rosings or at Pemberley when he’s talking to his cousin or Georgiana, perhaps we would see more of his romantic arc as well. That’s one of the reasons Jane Austen Variations are so popular today. I don’t think any Pride and Prejudice fan wants the story to end. We want more Darcy. That’s why I write Jane Austen Variations under the pen name Jane Grix. I love the characters of Darcy and Elizabeth and like to create “what ifs” that give them new ways to fall in love.

But back to North and South. As a potential Date Night, it might turn into a marathon – it is 4 episodes and I dare anyone to wait a week between episodes. I saw the end of part one and it didn’t matter that I was busy the next morning and needed to get up early. I was hooked.

Sometimes men think women are silly for watching romances. I think romances are for women like sports are for men. It’s wish fulfillment or vicarious living. We identify with the heroine. A good romance teaches us or reminds us that love is possible. It gives us hope, and who doesn’t need a little more hope?

After I watched the miniseries, I read the book. I think I enjoyed it more because I could imagine the various actors playing the roles. One of the highlights of the miniseries is the absolute best onscreen kiss I’ve ever seen. Men should take note.

If you don’t have time to watch the entire miniseries, find the kiss somewhere on YouTube. You’ll thank me.

What is your favorite screen kiss?

Related blog posts :

Ten Things I love about BBC North and South 

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