4.04.2007
TRAMBLINGS. . .
I'm back. Arrived home Monday morning at 5:45a.m. Maui, of course, was amazing and the company was even better. I judge my friendships by how much we belly laugh together. Not laugh but belly laugh. There's a difference. I spent eight days laughing in the kitchen, out by the pool, in the media room, at the grocery store, in the tacky little tourist shops, and even during a hellish wait at the airport. Because we only meet once a month, there's a sense each time of catching up and reconnecting. We're all close but still a little reserved with one another. But, seriously, eight days in the same house...hair looking crazy, letting everything hang out in bathing suits, pajamas, and sweats washed all that away.
Last year, my girl A. bought a cute little pink dress to wear around the house. She dubbed it the "magic dress" because it was one-size fits all and could be worn as a cover-up, a house dress, a night gown and with a cute pair of jeans. Now, if that's not magic enough for you, how about this...it cost $16. Did I mention it was damn cute. Anyway, I vowed to get my own magic dress this year. I made a trip to the local drugstore where magic dresses are sold and bought one in a vivid blue with pink hibiscus flowers. (Not the print in the above picture but the exact same dress). The next day I bought a green polynesian print. So cute. I got the requisite compliments on the dress. Then I blurted out, "You know the best thing about this dress? It's good for belly rubbing." A got some laughs but the point was I felt comfortable enough to utter such a random thought out loud. I usually reserve those sort of things for the Crown Prince. Matter of fact, when I came home and modeled the dresses for him I showed him why it qualified as a great belly-rubbing dress. His response, "I can see that." It's also a great dress for writing or curling up with a book. And for updating blogs. I'm wearing the green one now.
Before I left, I finished the spec episode so I planned to write an outline for a new pilot and work on the book. Guess what? My body told me I needed to do something else. At the end of the week, I shared my worry that I hadn't written a word. L, another member of the group, asked if I'd been productive even though I hadn't written anything. My answer was yes and all the pressure immediately melted away. I read over 30 television pilots (all one-hour dramas) while on my trip. I started with ABC shows and worked my way through the networks and then the cable channels. A real eclectic mix this year and some really great stuff. You can click HERE to see what might be coming down the pipe.
While reading through the pilots, I kept thinking that there is some really great writing being done in television these days. Sure there were a couple scripts that made me wonder if the writer was the "daughter of", "son of", or "brother-in-law" of someone with power but not too many. In addition to the pilots, there's already so much good stuff on the air. People are snobs about TV but not me. ROME, THE WIRE, THE SOPRANOS, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, RESCUE ME, etc., etc, etc. are all too good. I'm still bummed about the fall of Rome, and after watching THE TUDORS I don't think it's going to be my perfect replacement. I'll give it another chance next week but ROME grabbed from the beginning.
I loved CIARAN HANDS, the actor who played Julius Caesar, and RAY STEVENSON was great as Titus Pullo. Pullo was my favorite character along with Atia of the Julii. Loved her last lines to Octavian's wife. She was so wicked the entire series. Stevenson, Polly Walker (who played Atia), Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus), James Purefoy (Mark Anthony), and Zuleikha Robinson, have all been casts in pilots. I've read all except the one starring Kidd but three of the five are on my list of favorites. It would be nice to see these ACTORS again on a regular basis but I will miss Sunday nights in ancient ROME. Looks like Chelle will be buying the DVD or asking for it for Christmas.
Until next time...
I'm back. Arrived home Monday morning at 5:45a.m. Maui, of course, was amazing and the company was even better. I judge my friendships by how much we belly laugh together. Not laugh but belly laugh. There's a difference. I spent eight days laughing in the kitchen, out by the pool, in the media room, at the grocery store, in the tacky little tourist shops, and even during a hellish wait at the airport. Because we only meet once a month, there's a sense each time of catching up and reconnecting. We're all close but still a little reserved with one another. But, seriously, eight days in the same house...hair looking crazy, letting everything hang out in bathing suits, pajamas, and sweats washed all that away.
Last year, my girl A. bought a cute little pink dress to wear around the house. She dubbed it the "magic dress" because it was one-size fits all and could be worn as a cover-up, a house dress, a night gown and with a cute pair of jeans. Now, if that's not magic enough for you, how about this...it cost $16. Did I mention it was damn cute. Anyway, I vowed to get my own magic dress this year. I made a trip to the local drugstore where magic dresses are sold and bought one in a vivid blue with pink hibiscus flowers. (Not the print in the above picture but the exact same dress). The next day I bought a green polynesian print. So cute. I got the requisite compliments on the dress. Then I blurted out, "You know the best thing about this dress? It's good for belly rubbing." A got some laughs but the point was I felt comfortable enough to utter such a random thought out loud. I usually reserve those sort of things for the Crown Prince. Matter of fact, when I came home and modeled the dresses for him I showed him why it qualified as a great belly-rubbing dress. His response, "I can see that." It's also a great dress for writing or curling up with a book. And for updating blogs. I'm wearing the green one now.
Before I left, I finished the spec episode so I planned to write an outline for a new pilot and work on the book. Guess what? My body told me I needed to do something else. At the end of the week, I shared my worry that I hadn't written a word. L, another member of the group, asked if I'd been productive even though I hadn't written anything. My answer was yes and all the pressure immediately melted away. I read over 30 television pilots (all one-hour dramas) while on my trip. I started with ABC shows and worked my way through the networks and then the cable channels. A real eclectic mix this year and some really great stuff. You can click HERE to see what might be coming down the pipe.
While reading through the pilots, I kept thinking that there is some really great writing being done in television these days. Sure there were a couple scripts that made me wonder if the writer was the "daughter of", "son of", or "brother-in-law" of someone with power but not too many. In addition to the pilots, there's already so much good stuff on the air. People are snobs about TV but not me. ROME, THE WIRE, THE SOPRANOS, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, RESCUE ME, etc., etc, etc. are all too good. I'm still bummed about the fall of Rome, and after watching THE TUDORS I don't think it's going to be my perfect replacement. I'll give it another chance next week but ROME grabbed from the beginning.
I loved CIARAN HANDS, the actor who played Julius Caesar, and RAY STEVENSON was great as Titus Pullo. Pullo was my favorite character along with Atia of the Julii. Loved her last lines to Octavian's wife. She was so wicked the entire series. Stevenson, Polly Walker (who played Atia), Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus), James Purefoy (Mark Anthony), and Zuleikha Robinson, have all been casts in pilots. I've read all except the one starring Kidd but three of the five are on my list of favorites. It would be nice to see these ACTORS again on a regular basis but I will miss Sunday nights in ancient ROME. Looks like Chelle will be buying the DVD or asking for it for Christmas.
Until next time...
Labels: Hawaii, Magic Dresses, TV Pilots, Writing
3.28.2007
TRAMBLINGS...
You're gonna hate me when I tell you this and I can dig it. I'd hate me too. Okay, ready? Yeah, I'm on a writing retreat - in MAUI. Gotta love that, right? This is the third annual writing retreat with my writer's group and it gets better every year. The first year we went to Joshua Tree for ten days. Remember that trip? It included a flash flood that trapped us on the property and a power out that included no flushing, spoiled meat, aggressive mosquitos, stink bugs and 100 degree heat. I loved every minute of it. Had a great time despite the trials and tribulations and I got a lot of writing done. The five of us who attended really bonded which made the group really click for me. Besides that, there are some great cooks in this group of ladies and you know how happy a nice meal makes this old broad.
The second year, one of the members (who has a vacation home in Kapalua) was gracious enough to offer it to all of us. There was a polite pause then a lot of "Hell, Yeah's!" We had a successful week long retreat with some whale watching, cooking and drinking thrown into the mix, so we're back again this year. It's more beautiful then I remember and despite the gorgeous weather and insane sunsets, I have actually been writing. We've all been writing and EATING. A diffferent person cooks each night and the meals have all been tasty. I made dessert once, vanilla biscuits twice, breakfast once and today, drum roll, I made some of those "house burgers" Eddie Murphy used to joke about. No white bread but it made for a nice lunch.
Tonight we're having dinner out on the town because one of us leaves tomorrow and we wanted a nice group picture. I brought a nice skirt and top for the occassion but, mostly, I've been in sweats and pajamas. On Sunday, I took a break long enough to watch the season finale of ROME. It made me sad (first because it's over and second because I hated seeing Mark Anthony reduced to wearing eyeliner and dresses) because it's such a good show. THE SHIELD starts up soon and RESCUE ME is on the horizon. Then, of course, THE SOPRANOS and ENTOURAGE and the return of all the shows that have been interrupted during this weird programming season.
Lastly, yesterday I read Vendela Vida's LET THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ERASE YOUR NAME. Well done. Today, out by the pool (yeah, I know, just had to rub that in) I started Marcus Sakey's THE BLADE ITSELF. Liking it so far. Liking just about everything right now.
Until next time...
No, wait, Aloha...
You're gonna hate me when I tell you this and I can dig it. I'd hate me too. Okay, ready? Yeah, I'm on a writing retreat - in MAUI. Gotta love that, right? This is the third annual writing retreat with my writer's group and it gets better every year. The first year we went to Joshua Tree for ten days. Remember that trip? It included a flash flood that trapped us on the property and a power out that included no flushing, spoiled meat, aggressive mosquitos, stink bugs and 100 degree heat. I loved every minute of it. Had a great time despite the trials and tribulations and I got a lot of writing done. The five of us who attended really bonded which made the group really click for me. Besides that, there are some great cooks in this group of ladies and you know how happy a nice meal makes this old broad.
The second year, one of the members (who has a vacation home in Kapalua) was gracious enough to offer it to all of us. There was a polite pause then a lot of "Hell, Yeah's!" We had a successful week long retreat with some whale watching, cooking and drinking thrown into the mix, so we're back again this year. It's more beautiful then I remember and despite the gorgeous weather and insane sunsets, I have actually been writing. We've all been writing and EATING. A diffferent person cooks each night and the meals have all been tasty. I made dessert once, vanilla biscuits twice, breakfast once and today, drum roll, I made some of those "house burgers" Eddie Murphy used to joke about. No white bread but it made for a nice lunch.
Tonight we're having dinner out on the town because one of us leaves tomorrow and we wanted a nice group picture. I brought a nice skirt and top for the occassion but, mostly, I've been in sweats and pajamas. On Sunday, I took a break long enough to watch the season finale of ROME. It made me sad (first because it's over and second because I hated seeing Mark Anthony reduced to wearing eyeliner and dresses) because it's such a good show. THE SHIELD starts up soon and RESCUE ME is on the horizon. Then, of course, THE SOPRANOS and ENTOURAGE and the return of all the shows that have been interrupted during this weird programming season.
Lastly, yesterday I read Vendela Vida's LET THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ERASE YOUR NAME. Well done. Today, out by the pool (yeah, I know, just had to rub that in) I started Marcus Sakey's THE BLADE ITSELF. Liking it so far. Liking just about everything right now.
Until next time...
No, wait, Aloha...
Labels: Hawaii, Writing, Writing Retreat
