I had the fantastic experience last night of catching up with Cecilia Rossiter, who was actually my cello teacher for 3 years after college in Minneapolis, and we became good friends. She moved off to DC, I came to LA and she is now in Lincoln, Nebraska and we've re-connected on facebook (yay facebook) within the last 6 months or so. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with MS and she is currently producing a theatrical production of vignettes called "Disappearing Dis-Ease" about MS. She read me one of the vignettes on the phone last night and I liked it very much. She's done fundraising for this production and has some grant money and it promises to be a very worthy endeavor. She's incredibly organized and is proving to be a great leader of people - she's got a mass of folks contributing to the project in many different ways.
Here is a link to the project. http://sites.google.com/a/playscriptfilm.net/www/Home
She has asked me to direct the show. I would go to Lincoln 2 or 3 times in September and October for a week each, my expenses and lost income would be covered. The show will open the first week in October and then run in Omaha and in a third town, which I can't remember (maybe Kearney?) and at an MS conference in Omaha in November. We're both really excited about seeing each other again and having a project to work on together.
The writing has been a bit stagnant. I've been bouncing around the story, piece-mealing it together and I have several scenes that I've started and left hanging in mid-air, either because I don't like the way they're turning out or I haven't figured out what comes next. Oh well, something will strike me and it'll all be clear and write itself.
Off to buy toilet paper at my favorite store...Target. I could never live anywhere they don't have a Target. Damn, there goes my plan to move to London. No Target.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Twists and turns
The book is coming along. I wrote a good solid 20 pages or so this weekend and I'm surprising myself with the twists and turns it's taking. I think the conflicts I've added will make the book stronger in the long run though. The more twists I take in this part though, the more the second part will have to change.
I find it much harder to revise what I've already written than it is to just write new stuff. I've saved bits and bobs where I can, but mostly, it's new material.
Friday night I watched one of my little students positively shine at the closing concert for the music camp she went to. The best part is how enthusiastic she is about how much progress she made at camp and how much more she is now capable of doing. The intense nature of music camps do this for kids - it almost always turns out this way and I wish more of my students would take advantage of things like this!
Saturday night I went to a musical to see two of my students in the chorus and I was able to hook up with two of my best friends who I have not seen for a few months. We had a great time and the kids did well too.
Yesterday I went bridesmaid dress shopping with my best friends Aileen & Colby. Aileen is getting married in December. We first went to a store in the Burbank mall and it was not a good experience. The owner of the store insisted on coming into the dressing room with me when I told her several times I didn't want her in there, and I finally had to kick her out. She basically killed her own sale by being a pain in the ass. Also, the dresses were that "Asian" plus-size instead of "American" plus-size (which is much bigger) and nothing fit. We ended up finding a beautiful dress at David's Bridal and our salesperson was more than helpful and did not try to come into the dressing room with me (although Colby warned her not to). Colby, Aileen & I had some good laughs about the first store though.
Need to watch some MM tonight when I get home. Any suggestions?
I find it much harder to revise what I've already written than it is to just write new stuff. I've saved bits and bobs where I can, but mostly, it's new material.
Friday night I watched one of my little students positively shine at the closing concert for the music camp she went to. The best part is how enthusiastic she is about how much progress she made at camp and how much more she is now capable of doing. The intense nature of music camps do this for kids - it almost always turns out this way and I wish more of my students would take advantage of things like this!
Saturday night I went to a musical to see two of my students in the chorus and I was able to hook up with two of my best friends who I have not seen for a few months. We had a great time and the kids did well too.
Yesterday I went bridesmaid dress shopping with my best friends Aileen & Colby. Aileen is getting married in December. We first went to a store in the Burbank mall and it was not a good experience. The owner of the store insisted on coming into the dressing room with me when I told her several times I didn't want her in there, and I finally had to kick her out. She basically killed her own sale by being a pain in the ass. Also, the dresses were that "Asian" plus-size instead of "American" plus-size (which is much bigger) and nothing fit. We ended up finding a beautiful dress at David's Bridal and our salesperson was more than helpful and did not try to come into the dressing room with me (although Colby warned her not to). Colby, Aileen & I had some good laughs about the first store though.
Need to watch some MM tonight when I get home. Any suggestions?
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Orchestras, meddling parents and blurbs
I play in an orchestra in the summers for which I am rapidly losing enthusiasm. When I played in Mpls, I was in two different orchestras there and it was fantastic! Both great groups for very different reasons. I miss it. In the 11 years I've lived in LA, I haven't found one that suits yet.
I have two students I am thinking of dropping - siblings. They are great kids, but their parents are driving me nuts. Suffice to say, they are too involved in their kids' lives and on one hand, they have 2 truly great kids and must be doing something right, but on the other hand, I just don't deal with them telling me exactly how their kid's lesson should go. I've been teaching for 17 years now and it's insulting that they think their plan to cater to mediochrity will serve their kid better than my expertise. Not sure what to do there.
Here's a little blurb from the book:
Maggie thought that now she had given Elizabeth her take on Chris, she should have a talk with Chris. She casually confronted him in between classes in the practice rooms the next day. “So how are things going with Lizzie?”
“Oh, it’s great,” Chris responded.
“Falling in love yet?”
“Well…” Chris said, making a sheepish little move, but Maggie noticed it wasn’t accompanied by any sort of blush.
“You’re not, are you?”
He waved his hand away dismissively, “Oh, it’s fine. Love will come.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Chris laughed a little, “No.”
“Chris, I know it makes you feel really good to be going out with her. You feel heroic, don’t you?”
Chris cocked his head to the side, surprised Maggie read so far into him. “Why wouldn’t I? Lizzie’s perfect and I’ve got her.”
“But, you’re using her. She’s your friend; think of that first.”
“I’m not using her!” he defended. “Besides, I’m sure she wouldn’t go out with me if she didn’t like me.”
“She does like you, very much. And I’m sure she doesn’t want to hurt you by breaking up with you, but don’t you think you’re with her for the wrong reasons? You just said you don’t love her.”
“I do love her. I’m just not in love with her. But I think I could be.”
“Really? Tell me what would make you fall in love with her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if you think you could be in love with her, then something about the status quo would have to change, right? What would that be?”
“What would have to change?” he clarified.
Maggie nodded.
Chris thought for a moment. “I don’t know.”
“So, you wouldn’t change anything about her. You think she’s fine the way she is?”
“Yeah.”
“Yet you’re not in love with her the way she is. Why do you think you could be at some point? Nothing’s going to change.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe I just don’t know what it is yet.”
“Chris, you know you could never love her. She’s not right for you. She’s not your type.”
“Then, why is she going out with me?”
“I think you should ask her that.”
I have two students I am thinking of dropping - siblings. They are great kids, but their parents are driving me nuts. Suffice to say, they are too involved in their kids' lives and on one hand, they have 2 truly great kids and must be doing something right, but on the other hand, I just don't deal with them telling me exactly how their kid's lesson should go. I've been teaching for 17 years now and it's insulting that they think their plan to cater to mediochrity will serve their kid better than my expertise. Not sure what to do there.
Here's a little blurb from the book:
Maggie thought that now she had given Elizabeth her take on Chris, she should have a talk with Chris. She casually confronted him in between classes in the practice rooms the next day. “So how are things going with Lizzie?”
“Oh, it’s great,” Chris responded.
“Falling in love yet?”
“Well…” Chris said, making a sheepish little move, but Maggie noticed it wasn’t accompanied by any sort of blush.
“You’re not, are you?”
He waved his hand away dismissively, “Oh, it’s fine. Love will come.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Chris laughed a little, “No.”
“Chris, I know it makes you feel really good to be going out with her. You feel heroic, don’t you?”
Chris cocked his head to the side, surprised Maggie read so far into him. “Why wouldn’t I? Lizzie’s perfect and I’ve got her.”
“But, you’re using her. She’s your friend; think of that first.”
“I’m not using her!” he defended. “Besides, I’m sure she wouldn’t go out with me if she didn’t like me.”
“She does like you, very much. And I’m sure she doesn’t want to hurt you by breaking up with you, but don’t you think you’re with her for the wrong reasons? You just said you don’t love her.”
“I do love her. I’m just not in love with her. But I think I could be.”
“Really? Tell me what would make you fall in love with her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if you think you could be in love with her, then something about the status quo would have to change, right? What would that be?”
“What would have to change?” he clarified.
Maggie nodded.
Chris thought for a moment. “I don’t know.”
“So, you wouldn’t change anything about her. You think she’s fine the way she is?”
“Yeah.”
“Yet you’re not in love with her the way she is. Why do you think you could be at some point? Nothing’s going to change.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe I just don’t know what it is yet.”
“Chris, you know you could never love her. She’s not right for you. She’s not your type.”
“Then, why is she going out with me?”
“I think you should ask her that.”
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Writing
I find it difficult to read sometimes when I write. I see how eloquently some writers are capable of expressing themselves and I find myself unable to approach that level of eloquence. I keep a journal when I read and I write down phrases and words I like and ones I'm not entirely sure the meaning of, and I look them up. Then I forget to use these words and borrow from these phrases when I'm writing until I go through the journal and see a word and go back and re-phrase my stuff. It's tedious but eventually it serves its purpose.
I have managed to crank out about 10 pages since I started writing again this weekend. There is a whole section of about 50 pages that needs to be scrapped and completely re-written. And the new stuff I'm coming up with is toward the end, so when I write the middle, this ending stuff is all going to change. It's not the best idea, but I'm stumped on the middle.
I was thinking about some people I know who claim to be writers or who want to be writers and never write a word. I just love to write, so I do it. Hopefully this time, I'll be able to contribute to my income with it. But I say why not write? I hear people say they can't get started, but I think you just sit down and write anything. Write random words and phrases and eventually they will take some shape. I suppose I shouldn't be giving advice to other writers. I'm not sure I even consider myself a writer - I'm just someone who likes to write. That feels different than being a writer. Does that make any sense?
I need a coke.
I have managed to crank out about 10 pages since I started writing again this weekend. There is a whole section of about 50 pages that needs to be scrapped and completely re-written. And the new stuff I'm coming up with is toward the end, so when I write the middle, this ending stuff is all going to change. It's not the best idea, but I'm stumped on the middle.
I was thinking about some people I know who claim to be writers or who want to be writers and never write a word. I just love to write, so I do it. Hopefully this time, I'll be able to contribute to my income with it. But I say why not write? I hear people say they can't get started, but I think you just sit down and write anything. Write random words and phrases and eventually they will take some shape. I suppose I shouldn't be giving advice to other writers. I'm not sure I even consider myself a writer - I'm just someone who likes to write. That feels different than being a writer. Does that make any sense?
I need a coke.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I'm back! Some thoughts about the Half Blood Prince and MM
Camp is OVER! I'm thrilled! I get my life back now!
So today I started writing again. Hard to pick up, but it's starting to flow out now at 9pm. I've been trying to get it moving since about 3pm.
Saw Harry Potter VI today. I love the world, the story in general was good, and I enjoyed the humor and romance, but PICK UP THE CUES ALREADY! You could drive a semi-truck in between their dialogue - is David Yates asleep!? This whole series would have really kicked some ass if Alfonso Cuaron had stayed at the helm. I've seen some of Yates' other work and it's fine, so why is he dragging the Potter movies? Crikey - they complain the movies are too long, but if they picked up their lines, they'd cut the time down by about a third, I swear! Phoenix had the same problem.
Here's my other thought about the HP series. Love Gary Oldman to DEATH, but he was wrong for Sirius. He should have been Lupin. Thewlis is great, but he should have been Quirrell. And Matthew Macfadyen should have been Sirius! He would have been PERFECT! Sirius is supposed to be handsome, even though whipped from being in Azkaban, and very tall and dark, which Gary Oldman isn't. Oh well, he's off doing more profound projects anyway and at the time was probably still tied up with Spooks.
By the way, I highly recommend checking out Matthew Macfadyen's work. His most visible yet was "Pride & Prejudice" 2005, where he played Mr. Darcy. I resisted this film for a few years, because I hate Keira Knightley, but it turned out to be very good in its own right, and Matthew blew me away. You can also see him in "Frost/Nixon", "Incendiary" (lousy movie, but good performance), "In My Father's Den", which is from New Zealand and very hard to get a hold of, but EXCELLENT, "Little Dorrit", which is the Dickens miniseries which aired on the BBC last fall and on PBS this spring in which he is the lead and very brilliant, the upcoming "Nottingham" with Russell Crowe and the brilliant British spy series "Spooks", or MI-5, as it's known in America. IMDB him - you won't regret it!
In between camp and students - I seem to have spent a lot of down time in the car, sweating my ass off (it's hot!) for the last 3 weeks - I read "Pillars of the Earth" and "World Without End" by Ken Follett. They both center around a cathedral in England built in the 12th century. I couldn't put either of them down! Pillars is being made into a mini-series, shot in Hungary and Austria right now and up until about Christmas. Matthew Macfadyen is playing Prior Philip and although it's an ensemble cast, his role is very big and very good. I'm really stoked about this mini-series and hope that someday they make one about World Without End as well. http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv
Okay, I'm rambling. Back to work!
So today I started writing again. Hard to pick up, but it's starting to flow out now at 9pm. I've been trying to get it moving since about 3pm.
Saw Harry Potter VI today. I love the world, the story in general was good, and I enjoyed the humor and romance, but PICK UP THE CUES ALREADY! You could drive a semi-truck in between their dialogue - is David Yates asleep!? This whole series would have really kicked some ass if Alfonso Cuaron had stayed at the helm. I've seen some of Yates' other work and it's fine, so why is he dragging the Potter movies? Crikey - they complain the movies are too long, but if they picked up their lines, they'd cut the time down by about a third, I swear! Phoenix had the same problem.
Here's my other thought about the HP series. Love Gary Oldman to DEATH, but he was wrong for Sirius. He should have been Lupin. Thewlis is great, but he should have been Quirrell. And Matthew Macfadyen should have been Sirius! He would have been PERFECT! Sirius is supposed to be handsome, even though whipped from being in Azkaban, and very tall and dark, which Gary Oldman isn't. Oh well, he's off doing more profound projects anyway and at the time was probably still tied up with Spooks.
By the way, I highly recommend checking out Matthew Macfadyen's work. His most visible yet was "Pride & Prejudice" 2005, where he played Mr. Darcy. I resisted this film for a few years, because I hate Keira Knightley, but it turned out to be very good in its own right, and Matthew blew me away. You can also see him in "Frost/Nixon", "Incendiary" (lousy movie, but good performance), "In My Father's Den", which is from New Zealand and very hard to get a hold of, but EXCELLENT, "Little Dorrit", which is the Dickens miniseries which aired on the BBC last fall and on PBS this spring in which he is the lead and very brilliant, the upcoming "Nottingham" with Russell Crowe and the brilliant British spy series "Spooks", or MI-5, as it's known in America. IMDB him - you won't regret it!
In between camp and students - I seem to have spent a lot of down time in the car, sweating my ass off (it's hot!) for the last 3 weeks - I read "Pillars of the Earth" and "World Without End" by Ken Follett. They both center around a cathedral in England built in the 12th century. I couldn't put either of them down! Pillars is being made into a mini-series, shot in Hungary and Austria right now and up until about Christmas. Matthew Macfadyen is playing Prior Philip and although it's an ensemble cast, his role is very big and very good. I'm really stoked about this mini-series and hope that someday they make one about World Without End as well. http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv
Okay, I'm rambling. Back to work!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
My quill hath blogged
Oh, I'm tired. Waaaayyyy tired.
It's been a bust of a week for writing, blogging about writing, and for sleep in general. One more week and my life will be normal again. That said, this week of camp was 50 times more enjoyable than last week, but I will still not do it again.
I'm thinking vacation would be nice. My 20-year h.s. reunion is coming August 22nd. My LITTLE brother is 36 today. I have not accomplished anything with my life. I have no family of my own, few friends, a career I like but NO money. I feel SO old.
Having not written anything basically for a week makes me feel like I'm wasting my life away, so I'm more than anxious to get back at it. It's my one chance left to say I actually did something with my life, and maybe it'll lead to better things; at the very least, a little financial security for once. I WILL make it happen.
This is Jack's sister:
Cecilia Franklin McCready, 37
Splits her time between the family estate in Berkshire, which they've owned for 200+ years and a townhouse in Mayfair, closer to her work.
Lawyer and investor, very savvy with money, went to Oxford, primary stockholder in 4 corporations.
Started out as a lawyer for immigration - has lots of contacts in UK & US that helped Jack get his citizenship.
Played oboe and piano as a child, was good, but never serious about it.
Loves money and power, comes across as a bitch.
Is very warm and loving to her family, but not very much to anybody else - has a big wall up, which is something she learned from her father and a behavior she adopted to support her ambition as a woman.
Philanthropic, because it helps her be seen to have a heart.
Promised her mother she would do anything and everything to help Jack, and adores him anyway.
Has twin daughters who are 12 and the light of her life. She is a completely different person around them and around Jack than anywhere else.
Her husband, Danny is a lit professor and a very good, down-t0-earth, middle-class, normal guy who she really does love. She did not marry for position or money as most women in her position do. Her mother was fine with this, but it did upset her father when fell for Danny.
Has not succumbed to the vanity and self-pampering that many women with money have. She's a little chubby and lives rather modestly that way.
It's been a bust of a week for writing, blogging about writing, and for sleep in general. One more week and my life will be normal again. That said, this week of camp was 50 times more enjoyable than last week, but I will still not do it again.
I'm thinking vacation would be nice. My 20-year h.s. reunion is coming August 22nd. My LITTLE brother is 36 today. I have not accomplished anything with my life. I have no family of my own, few friends, a career I like but NO money. I feel SO old.
Having not written anything basically for a week makes me feel like I'm wasting my life away, so I'm more than anxious to get back at it. It's my one chance left to say I actually did something with my life, and maybe it'll lead to better things; at the very least, a little financial security for once. I WILL make it happen.
This is Jack's sister:
Cecilia Franklin McCready, 37
Splits her time between the family estate in Berkshire, which they've owned for 200+ years and a townhouse in Mayfair, closer to her work.
Lawyer and investor, very savvy with money, went to Oxford, primary stockholder in 4 corporations.
Started out as a lawyer for immigration - has lots of contacts in UK & US that helped Jack get his citizenship.
Played oboe and piano as a child, was good, but never serious about it.
Loves money and power, comes across as a bitch.
Is very warm and loving to her family, but not very much to anybody else - has a big wall up, which is something she learned from her father and a behavior she adopted to support her ambition as a woman.
Philanthropic, because it helps her be seen to have a heart.
Promised her mother she would do anything and everything to help Jack, and adores him anyway.
Has twin daughters who are 12 and the light of her life. She is a completely different person around them and around Jack than anywhere else.
Her husband, Danny is a lit professor and a very good, down-t0-earth, middle-class, normal guy who she really does love. She did not marry for position or money as most women in her position do. Her mother was fine with this, but it did upset her father when fell for Danny.
Has not succumbed to the vanity and self-pampering that many women with money have. She's a little chubby and lives rather modestly that way.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
::sigh::
Not writing much. Too busy with camp, but camp has 1-1/2 wks left, and then I hope to have book 1 finished by the end of the summer.
This week at camp is much better - a nicer, smaller group of kids. However, I can guarantee I will not teach at this camp again. It's not for me. I belong at string camps or arts camps with older kids. The little ones in groups aren't my style. Also, I've never taught at a camp with so little discipline. It bothers me.
I wonder if anybody is reading this? I'll post a book clip next time. Can't sort out what to post at the moment.
Question to ponder: please add in comments
If you had $1,000,000, what would you do with it?
This week at camp is much better - a nicer, smaller group of kids. However, I can guarantee I will not teach at this camp again. It's not for me. I belong at string camps or arts camps with older kids. The little ones in groups aren't my style. Also, I've never taught at a camp with so little discipline. It bothers me.
I wonder if anybody is reading this? I'll post a book clip next time. Can't sort out what to post at the moment.
Question to ponder: please add in comments
If you had $1,000,000, what would you do with it?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Wishful thinking
I had hoped I'd be able to get together with some friends this holiday, but when I do, I really feel like an intruder. Everybody's got at least a significant other, if not a family. It's weird being the 7th wheel so often. So I'm home reading a book. Bored. Well-rested, but bored.
Wrote almost nothing today. Not even 1/2 a page. I think it might be like that til after camp is over, but that's all right. I'll pick up steam after that.
Elizabeth borrowed Louisa’s car for her date with Chris, as neither of them owned transportation. He met her in the lobby of her apartment building wearing jeans and a green polo shirt. Casual, but probably the nicest thing he owned beside his concert tuxedo. She donned a pale green blouse and gray Capri pants. She applied the tiniest bit of mascara and lip gloss, as she hated make-up and only ever wore it on special occasions.
Chris kissed her as they met up; this snog was as uneventful as the first had been. He told her she looked great, and he truly thought she did. The little make-up she had donned suited her and enhanced her natural beauty, and for the first time, he did feel a flutter of something for her. He placed his hand in the small of her lean back and wished there was more to grab onto. Her skin was lean and taut, instead of soft and fleshy, as he preferred. But he was grateful to have her on his arm and held his head high as he led her out to Louisa’s car.
Dimples was packed, as usual on a Friday night, so they headed to nearby Sardo’s, which was crowded, but less so than Dimples. They ordered some food, and put in their requests for songs to sing. It was loud and difficult to hear each other, but they managed to joke quite a bit about various events, people and goings-on in the music department. Chris told her about who the movers and shakers were, although she figured most of this out already. He entered his best guesses on who would win the concerto competition the next spring (Jack), and who would go on to survive the musical life. He had a lot to say about Jack, Maggie, Riley, Sophie, his roommate Quinn, and other prominent members of the orchestra, and most of it made her laugh until her side threatened to split. Chris was capable of spot-on imitations of Jack, Quinn, Dr. Bridge and oddly, Princess Riley.
Elizabeth had her turn to sing first, and she chose a Pat Benetar song. Chris was duly impressed, thinking she sounded just like a rock star. Next Chris sang Livin On A Prayer by Bon Jovi and Elizabeth laughed uproariously at his “rock star” voice. Later, they sang a duet together, Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong, and hammed up the original singers’ unique voices, which was a big hit, and then due to the crowd, Elizabeth only got one more song in. In between their own numbers, they got up and danced and they were having so much fun many people joined in, which wasn’t the norm at this particular karaoke bar. The two of them seemed to command the crowd’s attention and they became the leaders for the evening.
When they returned to campus, Elizabeth dropped Chris off at his house before she returned Louisa’s car to the parking lot and her own apartment. She walked with Chris up to the door. Chris felt a bit odd being dropped off, until she kissed him deeply and he forgot all about it. She hadn’t responded much to his two previous kisses, which had been only pecks anyway, but now she was taking the initiative. His hands made their way to her ass as her tongue explored his lips. It was the best kiss he ever had. When she pulled away gently, he whispered, “Wow.”
She smiled, noticing that her efforts had affected him. However, they hadn’t affected her. Chris just let her kiss him, without reciprocating. “Good night,” she said.
“Wait,” he put his hand on her arm. “Kiss me again. Please? That was awesome.”
She was glad he was intrigued and hoped this time he would contribute. She pressed her lips to his, and he did move his mouth a bit against hers, but she was still doing most of the work. There was certainly no spark. She wondered if Jack would do better and then felt guilty for thinking of Chris’s best friend while she was kissing him.
“You’re a good kisser,” he told her.
“Thanks,” she replied.
“I had a blast tonight,” he smiled.
“Me too,” she returned his smile. She did have a very good time. It was certainly the best date she had in a while, albeit completely platonic.
“Shall we do it again soon?”
She smiled. She loved spending time with him, but she hoped the magic would kick in soon. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Chris turned on his heel, shoved his hands in his pocket, and extracted a cigarette from one of them.
Elizabeth shook her head disapprovingly and left.
Wrote almost nothing today. Not even 1/2 a page. I think it might be like that til after camp is over, but that's all right. I'll pick up steam after that.
Elizabeth borrowed Louisa’s car for her date with Chris, as neither of them owned transportation. He met her in the lobby of her apartment building wearing jeans and a green polo shirt. Casual, but probably the nicest thing he owned beside his concert tuxedo. She donned a pale green blouse and gray Capri pants. She applied the tiniest bit of mascara and lip gloss, as she hated make-up and only ever wore it on special occasions.
Chris kissed her as they met up; this snog was as uneventful as the first had been. He told her she looked great, and he truly thought she did. The little make-up she had donned suited her and enhanced her natural beauty, and for the first time, he did feel a flutter of something for her. He placed his hand in the small of her lean back and wished there was more to grab onto. Her skin was lean and taut, instead of soft and fleshy, as he preferred. But he was grateful to have her on his arm and held his head high as he led her out to Louisa’s car.
Dimples was packed, as usual on a Friday night, so they headed to nearby Sardo’s, which was crowded, but less so than Dimples. They ordered some food, and put in their requests for songs to sing. It was loud and difficult to hear each other, but they managed to joke quite a bit about various events, people and goings-on in the music department. Chris told her about who the movers and shakers were, although she figured most of this out already. He entered his best guesses on who would win the concerto competition the next spring (Jack), and who would go on to survive the musical life. He had a lot to say about Jack, Maggie, Riley, Sophie, his roommate Quinn, and other prominent members of the orchestra, and most of it made her laugh until her side threatened to split. Chris was capable of spot-on imitations of Jack, Quinn, Dr. Bridge and oddly, Princess Riley.
Elizabeth had her turn to sing first, and she chose a Pat Benetar song. Chris was duly impressed, thinking she sounded just like a rock star. Next Chris sang Livin On A Prayer by Bon Jovi and Elizabeth laughed uproariously at his “rock star” voice. Later, they sang a duet together, Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong, and hammed up the original singers’ unique voices, which was a big hit, and then due to the crowd, Elizabeth only got one more song in. In between their own numbers, they got up and danced and they were having so much fun many people joined in, which wasn’t the norm at this particular karaoke bar. The two of them seemed to command the crowd’s attention and they became the leaders for the evening.
When they returned to campus, Elizabeth dropped Chris off at his house before she returned Louisa’s car to the parking lot and her own apartment. She walked with Chris up to the door. Chris felt a bit odd being dropped off, until she kissed him deeply and he forgot all about it. She hadn’t responded much to his two previous kisses, which had been only pecks anyway, but now she was taking the initiative. His hands made their way to her ass as her tongue explored his lips. It was the best kiss he ever had. When she pulled away gently, he whispered, “Wow.”
She smiled, noticing that her efforts had affected him. However, they hadn’t affected her. Chris just let her kiss him, without reciprocating. “Good night,” she said.
“Wait,” he put his hand on her arm. “Kiss me again. Please? That was awesome.”
She was glad he was intrigued and hoped this time he would contribute. She pressed her lips to his, and he did move his mouth a bit against hers, but she was still doing most of the work. There was certainly no spark. She wondered if Jack would do better and then felt guilty for thinking of Chris’s best friend while she was kissing him.
“You’re a good kisser,” he told her.
“Thanks,” she replied.
“I had a blast tonight,” he smiled.
“Me too,” she returned his smile. She did have a very good time. It was certainly the best date she had in a while, albeit completely platonic.
“Shall we do it again soon?”
She smiled. She loved spending time with him, but she hoped the magic would kick in soon. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Chris turned on his heel, shoved his hands in his pocket, and extracted a cigarette from one of them.
Elizabeth shook her head disapprovingly and left.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Very tired now
The first week of camp culminated tonight with a performance/bbq. It well, but I'm going to push for it to go even better next week with just a bit more discipline! In the meantime, I'm going to sleep all weekend because I'm pooped.
Due to camp busy-ness, I haven't written as much as I would have liked, although I'm still picking away at it and still bummed about certain scenes I know I will have to lose. I have given copies to 2 friends (one of whom actually made the copies), who are going to comb through it for me. I'm excited to hear their comments and have the book seen from other perspectives.
A snippet from chapter 2:
Jack had a lot to tell his sister, Cecilia about his first week of school so far. First, he needed to speak to his nieces, who were nearing bedtime. They were charming, giggly twelve-year old twins he always loved as if they were his sisters and to whom he was godfather. He then told Cecilia all about school; how he’d won the position of Principal Second Violin, how his teacher had assigned him the Sibelius Violin Concerto, which he’d wanted to play for a long time, how he’d already been requested for two recording sessions for student films being made on campus, and all about the cellists they’d auditioned to replace Timothy Craig in their quartet.
“The one we chose, she’s called Elizabeth, and she’s fantastic,” he reported.
“Is she a new student?” Cecilia asked.
“No…well, new to the music department, but she’s a senior. She’s really quite good, even though she has not studied music since she was in secondary school. She’s actually earned third chair in the cello section, which is quite impressive for her first time out.”
“That is impressive,” she agreed. Cecilia understood how these things worked, because she played the oboe and piano while growing up, and got very proficient at both before deciding to become an attorney, after their father.
Jack took a deep breath. “Cela…” If he could confide in anyone, it was his sister.
“What’s wrong?” She sensed his trepidation.
“I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“You fancy her.”
“Yes, very much,” he replied. “She caught my eye at rehearsal on Wednesday. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Then, when she called yesterday to set up her audition time, I knew it was her the minute she spoke. And today…she is such a brilliant musician. I was afraid I was biased, but Chris and Maggie agreed. They like her very much too. But, she left with Chris at the end of her audition to have lunch with him.”
“Do you think he fancies her as well?”
“They certainly seemed to get on quite well. She’s not typically Chris’s type. I think she’s…” He almost uttered that she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. “Well, who’s to say he doesn’t like her as well?”
“Is she nice?”
“Yes. And very funny and bright and…” he stopped himself and grunted. “What am I doing?”
“Did you talk to her?”
“Not alone. Just with the group.”
“You should talk to her, Jack. I know you’re committed to your studies, but there’s no harm in getting to know this young lady. I’m sure you can manage.”
Jack hesitated again. “The thing is…I feel really nervous around her. I’m so afraid I’d just make a huge ass of myself. I’ve never felt this strongly before, but I can’t stop it. I don’t know if I want it to stop.”
“All the more reason to talk to her. Is she pretty?”
Her image flashed across his vision; long locks of dark wavy hair, pink lips, long neck, and beautiful bottle green eyes. He thought could look into her eyes and see himself deep within them. “She’s beautiful,” he replied, softly.
“I think you might be in love, Jack,” she advised.
Jack groaned a bit. “I think I might be in trouble here. I really can’t afford to get involved with anyone before I finish school; you know what I’m like. I have to stay committed and a girl like her…she’d be a huge distraction.”
“Well, I think a distraction would be brilliant. I’ve always wanted to see you fall in love. You’re quite a catch you know. And you’re organized enough to stay on top of everything.”
He smiled. “Thanks, Cela. Happy birthday.”
Due to camp busy-ness, I haven't written as much as I would have liked, although I'm still picking away at it and still bummed about certain scenes I know I will have to lose. I have given copies to 2 friends (one of whom actually made the copies), who are going to comb through it for me. I'm excited to hear their comments and have the book seen from other perspectives.
A snippet from chapter 2:
Jack had a lot to tell his sister, Cecilia about his first week of school so far. First, he needed to speak to his nieces, who were nearing bedtime. They were charming, giggly twelve-year old twins he always loved as if they were his sisters and to whom he was godfather. He then told Cecilia all about school; how he’d won the position of Principal Second Violin, how his teacher had assigned him the Sibelius Violin Concerto, which he’d wanted to play for a long time, how he’d already been requested for two recording sessions for student films being made on campus, and all about the cellists they’d auditioned to replace Timothy Craig in their quartet.
“The one we chose, she’s called Elizabeth, and she’s fantastic,” he reported.
“Is she a new student?” Cecilia asked.
“No…well, new to the music department, but she’s a senior. She’s really quite good, even though she has not studied music since she was in secondary school. She’s actually earned third chair in the cello section, which is quite impressive for her first time out.”
“That is impressive,” she agreed. Cecilia understood how these things worked, because she played the oboe and piano while growing up, and got very proficient at both before deciding to become an attorney, after their father.
Jack took a deep breath. “Cela…” If he could confide in anyone, it was his sister.
“What’s wrong?” She sensed his trepidation.
“I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“You fancy her.”
“Yes, very much,” he replied. “She caught my eye at rehearsal on Wednesday. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Then, when she called yesterday to set up her audition time, I knew it was her the minute she spoke. And today…she is such a brilliant musician. I was afraid I was biased, but Chris and Maggie agreed. They like her very much too. But, she left with Chris at the end of her audition to have lunch with him.”
“Do you think he fancies her as well?”
“They certainly seemed to get on quite well. She’s not typically Chris’s type. I think she’s…” He almost uttered that she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. “Well, who’s to say he doesn’t like her as well?”
“Is she nice?”
“Yes. And very funny and bright and…” he stopped himself and grunted. “What am I doing?”
“Did you talk to her?”
“Not alone. Just with the group.”
“You should talk to her, Jack. I know you’re committed to your studies, but there’s no harm in getting to know this young lady. I’m sure you can manage.”
Jack hesitated again. “The thing is…I feel really nervous around her. I’m so afraid I’d just make a huge ass of myself. I’ve never felt this strongly before, but I can’t stop it. I don’t know if I want it to stop.”
“All the more reason to talk to her. Is she pretty?”
Her image flashed across his vision; long locks of dark wavy hair, pink lips, long neck, and beautiful bottle green eyes. He thought could look into her eyes and see himself deep within them. “She’s beautiful,” he replied, softly.
“I think you might be in love, Jack,” she advised.
Jack groaned a bit. “I think I might be in trouble here. I really can’t afford to get involved with anyone before I finish school; you know what I’m like. I have to stay committed and a girl like her…she’d be a huge distraction.”
“Well, I think a distraction would be brilliant. I’ve always wanted to see you fall in love. You’re quite a catch you know. And you’re organized enough to stay on top of everything.”
He smiled. “Thanks, Cela. Happy birthday.”
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
I'm the bad guy
I've sort of fallen into the role of disciplinarian at camp. There are a couple of kids who don't like to cooperate and who act out for attention - one kid swore today in front of all the other kids, so I pulled him aside and reprimanded him, telling him he can never do that again and I had to do it yesterday for something else he did. Then he started crying, of course. And the other teachers (who didn't see what happened) were all concerned for his well-being and I thought, "are you kidding me?" I bet any of them wouldn't have said a word to the kid about his behavior. It seems like they are all afraid to enforce the rules. Why not? I don't get that.
Another character:
Riley Jameson, 23
from Houston, Texas
Started Suzuki violin at 3. Concertmaster of the Ralston Symphony for the 3rd year straight. Is a second-year master's candidate. Part of the graduate assistant program and teaches freshmen, but the students don't like her much and don't get much out of lessons with her because she just shows off for them and tells them how they'll never be as good as she is.
Paid for school through beauty pageants – violin was her talent.
Didn’t get in to Juilliard or any other major music schools except Ralston and Oberlin.
Raised by a very poor single secretary, never knew her father, but they told everyone he died. Her mother isn’t sure who her father is.
Is actually an excellent violinist without practicing very much.
Sugar daddies support her.
Likes to name drop and make friends with "hollywood" people.
Can't get any guys her own age to pay her any attention because she's so high-maintenance and snobby. Jack's the only one who ever does and as a result, she tries to "claim him". In love with the idea of Jack and the thought of being with a guy her own age instead of old men.
Drives an old BMW.
Another character:
Riley Jameson, 23
from Houston, Texas
Started Suzuki violin at 3. Concertmaster of the Ralston Symphony for the 3rd year straight. Is a second-year master's candidate. Part of the graduate assistant program and teaches freshmen, but the students don't like her much and don't get much out of lessons with her because she just shows off for them and tells them how they'll never be as good as she is.
Paid for school through beauty pageants – violin was her talent.
Didn’t get in to Juilliard or any other major music schools except Ralston and Oberlin.
Raised by a very poor single secretary, never knew her father, but they told everyone he died. Her mother isn’t sure who her father is.
Is actually an excellent violinist without practicing very much.
Sugar daddies support her.
Likes to name drop and make friends with "hollywood" people.
Can't get any guys her own age to pay her any attention because she's so high-maintenance and snobby. Jack's the only one who ever does and as a result, she tries to "claim him". In love with the idea of Jack and the thought of being with a guy her own age instead of old men.
Drives an old BMW.
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