IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD

I can't be the only person to dream of writing a best-selling novel.

 Although I would like to write only one copy, and keep it to simply read to myself.



So I actually have begun writing it.




And, as every author has discovered, it's a bit of work to get it from the images in your head onto the page.



I'm trying to set reasonable goals rather than my normal haphazard-when-the-mood-strikes-me.




So some days I write a page - some days just a couple of words.




But I am writing.

PREPARING TO DEFEND MY CHOICES

I haven't had great experiences with book clubs. I've belonged to book clubs that are judgmental, rude, limited, and/or completely illogical. I've organized book clubs myself that turned out to be a major mistakes.

Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't.

I belong to a wonderful book club now. They are kind, considerate people who have a wide interest in literature - we have read biographies, current affairs, literary 'classics', current novels. We have great discussions (after talking about our personal lives for the first hour, of course).

But my reading suggestions have been met with... well, less than an enthusiastic reception.

A few of the books I've chosen, I guess I can understand why people don't get thrilled about.

I only read William Faulkner's "The Reviers" because it was one of the last books on my parents' bookcase  that I hadn't read - and yes, it took me probably five tries to get past the first chapter.

But I was there to tell my book club members' that the rest of the book was worth getting through that first completely incomprehensible beginning.

Yeah, "Dune" by Frank Herbert is hard-core science fiction -- but I love science fiction, and this is just a great book!

So I'm playing it safe this month was "Travels with Charley" by John Steinbeck.

Oh, you say this is the same author as "Tortilla Flats"? "Grapes of Wrath"? How could Steinbeck possibly write an 'easy-read' book?

I'll be extremely surprised if anyone else has actually read it.

DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY DEPARTMENT

I often joke that one of the advantages of having Alzheimer's is that every time you see a movie or read a book, you're still surprised at the ending.

I'm guilty of seeing movies again and again and again.

And I read books until quite literally the cover is worn away.

I don't think it's completely my poor memory.

If the writing/directing/acting is good/outstanding/unique, I simply like seeing it again. I don't get easily bored - I can appreciate the performance each time.

I love romantic comedies - the girl always get the guy.

I will listen to a song I love over and over and over; I don't seem to ever get tired of it.

Or is it simply trying to have some control over my life?

I can't stabilize most things - I can't control my brother's infection - I can't decide if my husband's job is going to be there next week. I have had horses die, I have animals become ill, I have lost people in my life.

Friendships change - relationships change - change is the only constant.

But "While You Were Sleeping" will always make me smile - "Lord of the Rings" will always put me right into Middle Earth - George Michael's "Father Figure" will always have me singing along.


Maybe it's a good thing.

"THE "KINGS SPEECH"... I THINK

Typecasting is something actors try to avoid.

See, it's difficult once you have seen an actor play a convincing serial-killer-zombie-alien to believe they could actually be June Cleaver.

While it is an acknowledgment of their talent (or lack thereof), it cuts down a great deal on future job offers

Which is while watching "The King's Speech," I was seriously distracted by a number of characters being played by actors I associate with other movie roles.

Helena Bonham Carter, who plays the Queen, very convincing possesses the role of the evil incarnate Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies.

Geoffrey Rush, who was rightfully nominated for best supporting actor, I may always see as the swash-buckling Captain Barbossa from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Jennifer Ehle, who plays Rush's character's wife, starred in the BBC Pride and Prejudice which first brought Colin Firth to the attention of American audiences as Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Timothy Spall, who plays Churchill, is also the despicable Wormtail in the Harry Potter films, while Michale Gabbon, who is the second Professor Dumbledore, plays the King's father.

I'm glad all these fine actors were in this worthy movie... but I was flashing back to all their other roles throughout the entire "King's Speech."

Which, again, is either a tribute to their fine acting -- or yet another symptom of my brain injury.

SO IT'S NOT JUST THE CARAVAN MAN

I love doing things that I love doing again.

Does that make sense?

It may be a security thing - you know, like when you feel out of control with your life, you hang on desperately to the few things you feel like you can control.

But if I really love a movie, I usually love it the 18th time I see it.

When I love a book, I might as well purchase the hard-cover, because I will wear it out (you do NOT want to know how many copies of Pride and Prejudice I have worn out).

So right now I am watching "While You Were Sleeping" for the billionth time.

And there are a couple of classic lines.

"When I told my mother I was getting married to my wife, her intestines exploded. You tell them the truth now, well, you may as shoot grandma."

"He would get these far-off looks in his eyes and he would say 'Life doesn't always turn out the way you plan'. I just wish I'd realized at the time, he was talking about MY life."

"I'd say that she gets under your skin as soon as you meet her. She drives you so nuts you don't know whether to hug her or, or just really arm wrestle her. She would go all the way to Europe just to get a stamp in her passport. I don't know if that amounts to insanity, or just being really, really... likable."

"No, that's not it."

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to... "

"I object."

'I didn't get to that part yet."

"I would have to object too."

"What about you?"

"I'm thinking."

"$45 for a Christmas tree and they don't deliver? You order $10 worth of chow mien from Mr. Wong they bring it to your door."

"Is she all right?"

"She has a little heart problem - she's had three attacks already."

"They weren't attacks, they were episodes!"

"Nothing wrong with her hearing."

"It's just... I never met anyone I could laugh with."

MR DARCY LIVES

Do you have someone in your life who excels at walking in at just the wrong time? Knocks loudly on the bathroom door just as you've begun to put on mascara? Interrupts a great phone conversation to tell you what is showing on the Comedy Channel at 10 p.m . tonight? Somehow simply HAS to do their laundry JUST as you've reprogrammed the washer for your shrinkable, non-colorfast knits?

I am a HUGE "Pride and Prejudice" addict. Jane Austin is okay - but P&P is the only book of hers which has me still drooling after reading it some 897 times. I have worn out four paperbacks over the years, and I can quote PAGES of text. I have probably seen every P&P movie and BBC series made in the 20th century - but it's always the book I return to (although Colin Firth is, admittedly, wonderfully distracting).

It would be embarrassing to admit something like this if there weren't multiple groups of other groupies of the exact same caliber as me.

And a movie, "Lost in Austin" (Jemina Rooper and Elliot Cowan) portrays a similar P&P fanatic (Amanda) who gets displaced from modern London into the actual story, switching places with the Elizabeth Bennet character.

It's more faithful to the book than any cinematic adaption I have seen - Lydia and Mr. Collins are TALL, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are droll but not comedic, Charlotte Lucas and Mary really aren't very pretty at all - but Amanda the character from today) obviously has also been raised with the Colin Firth/BBC adaption.

Which is famous for two particular scenes (well, really just one, but I like the two) concerning, er, submersion of Colin Firth in water... and, notably, coming out of the water.

And Amanda, in "Lost in Austen," asks her Mr. Darcy to re-enact the second scene.

Whew - let me catch my breath here - and just mention that Elliot Cowan is MUCH better built that Colin Firth (my apologies, Colin, if you are reading this, I stilll love you). Females don't normally get as hot and bothered as males over visual stimulation (hence why porn is 99.98% directed at men), but I must admit my heartbeat was probably WAY over the rate advised for a 54 year old lady.

SO (back to the opening paragraph here), guess who walks in JUST as I get to this scene in the movie on my faithful DVD player?

Damn.

Great thing is that I could hit replay - repeatedly.