Hello everyone!
Having survived yet another Christmas, I'm borrowing the line featured in this entry's title from the movie City of Angels to appropriately redirect it to all of you and ask "What did you like best" about the holiday season, now nearly completed for another year? As for me,I'm finding it quite hard to narrow it down to just one thing.
Right off the bat, I have to say that I LOVE (yes, love) the copious amount of fluffy white stuff that has been falling, pretty much non-stop, for the past several weeks. Yes, I know it's a pain in the neck to do all that shovelling (well, I don't actually do it - I have a fella who does) but for those who do, it would be a pain. And true, the driving can be a bit challenging over all the ice and snow but as far as I'm concerned, nothing says Christmas like a White Christmas. So I'm happy - never more so than yesterday when this winter's first frost turned all the trees and bushes in the city into lacy beautiful white works of art. It's just gorgeous.
Another thing that I liked best was the time and energy I was able to devote to my family during the season - in particular my parents. With both of my brothers not in attendance this Christmas, I went all out to plan extra events, little special touches like securing our long-lost family wine from France, chauffeur them around to their various social functions and in general, work hard to ensure they had a very nice Christmas.
Like many others, I REALLY liked having some time off. Taking eleven glorious days away from the office - a chunk of time that I haven't had off in over two and a half years - enabled me to get some things done, celebrate Christmas with family as mentioned and the biggie, get some desperately needed down time for myself. I even managed to get a couple of "junk" drawers cleaned out!
But perhaps most of all, I liked my reflections on the past year as well as my aspirations for the one that lies ahead. Reviewing 2007 and looking ahead to 2008 has given me strong senses of accomplishment, gratitude, joy and hope. After some thought and relaxation, I now feel I can begin a new year on a better, more resolved foot, and despite all the great food, gifts, good times and great scenery that came my way during the holidays, acquiring enthusiasm over the future is what I liked best.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Holiday Reflections for us 'Grownups'
Only seven more sleeps until you know when!
Actually I'm faking it.
As much as I like the lights,the snow, of course the food and the holiday music, I haven't really been enthused about Christmas for a few years - certainly not like when I was a kid - and that fact/realization got me thinking... what exactly is it that morphs one's childhood excited anticipation for the big day into one of resigned dread?
Is it simply the fact that we know there's no Santa Claus (oh-oh... should I have put a spoiler heading on this?); that we're overwhelmed with adult responsibilities and obligations including seasonal bills, or is it something more?
I have often wondered about this late-breaking change in perspection. Maybe it is simply that as children our take on the magic of Christmas is primarily a selfish albeit innocent one - what is Santa going to bring me? How many gifts will I get? Will that Lite Brite be in there? Conversely as adults, we think of (or should think of) the real meaning and magic of Christmas and New Years Eve, reach out to others, be thankful for what we have, and use the season as an excuse to mend fences and start again.
I mentioned earlier that I enjoy the holiday music - and I do - right from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells to such beloved classics as White Christmas and The Christmas Song. But I find as I've gotten older, I am especially touched by those Christmas songs that remind us of something beyond the frost and mistletoe and gift-giving. Tunes like So This Is Christmas by John Lennon has been a longtime favorite of mine for this very reason. More recently, I have fallen in love with a tune that has been done by several different artists including Amy Grant. It's called simply My Grownup Christmas List. Like John Lennon's song of the season, I adore what this song says and how it delicately works to remind us of what's really important. Below are the lyrics. If you get a chance, find it and give it a listen.
Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.
Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow.
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.
So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up Christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.
Well Heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end, oh.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody and all the best in 2008!
Actually I'm faking it.
As much as I like the lights,the snow, of course the food and the holiday music, I haven't really been enthused about Christmas for a few years - certainly not like when I was a kid - and that fact/realization got me thinking... what exactly is it that morphs one's childhood excited anticipation for the big day into one of resigned dread?
Is it simply the fact that we know there's no Santa Claus (oh-oh... should I have put a spoiler heading on this?); that we're overwhelmed with adult responsibilities and obligations including seasonal bills, or is it something more?
I have often wondered about this late-breaking change in perspection. Maybe it is simply that as children our take on the magic of Christmas is primarily a selfish albeit innocent one - what is Santa going to bring me? How many gifts will I get? Will that Lite Brite be in there? Conversely as adults, we think of (or should think of) the real meaning and magic of Christmas and New Years Eve, reach out to others, be thankful for what we have, and use the season as an excuse to mend fences and start again.
I mentioned earlier that I enjoy the holiday music - and I do - right from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bells to such beloved classics as White Christmas and The Christmas Song. But I find as I've gotten older, I am especially touched by those Christmas songs that remind us of something beyond the frost and mistletoe and gift-giving. Tunes like So This Is Christmas by John Lennon has been a longtime favorite of mine for this very reason. More recently, I have fallen in love with a tune that has been done by several different artists including Amy Grant. It's called simply My Grownup Christmas List. Like John Lennon's song of the season, I adore what this song says and how it delicately works to remind us of what's really important. Below are the lyrics. If you get a chance, find it and give it a listen.
Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee;
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies.
Well, I'm all grown-up now,
And still need help somehow.
I'm not a child,
But my heart still can dream.
So here's my lifelong wish,
My grown-up Christmas list.
Not for myself,
But for a world in need.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.
Well Heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.
No more lives torn apart,
That wars would never start,
And time would heal all hearts.
And everyone would have a friend,
And right would always win,
And love would never end, oh.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
This is my grown-up Christmas list.
MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody and all the best in 2008!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Viva Las Vegas
Today marks the one-week-away-from date of my upcoming trip to Las Vegas.
It's been close to 10 years since I was last there so I am certain there are plenty of new things to see.
One thing that is different is the Bellagio. I saw it showcased in Ocean's Eleven the other night (yeah, I had seen the movie before but had forgotten about which casinos were featured) and now am eager to see the dancing waters for myself.
Got any recommendations for what to see and do in the big LV?
Susan
It's been close to 10 years since I was last there so I am certain there are plenty of new things to see.
One thing that is different is the Bellagio. I saw it showcased in Ocean's Eleven the other night (yeah, I had seen the movie before but had forgotten about which casinos were featured) and now am eager to see the dancing waters for myself.
Got any recommendations for what to see and do in the big LV?
Susan
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Music as Muse
I'm often asked what kind of music I listen to while writing, or less frequently, does music ever inspire a work.
To address the first question, I generally like instrumental music as my ear tends to follow the lyrics and pull me away from the thought/storytelling process. Dependent on the scene, time period and mood of the tale, I will choose a certain soundtrack, a bit of jazz or often plug into one of the many ambient stations on the Net that offer a steady but sensual accompaniment to the written word.
The latter however is the more pertinent question for yours truly. From time to time a piece of music will touch me to such an extent that the wheels are put in motion and a storyline will emerge strictly from my emotional reaction to the song.
One such case occurred recently with a song I became familiar with a couple of years ago.
I was and am a big fan of the now defunct series Queer As Folk - not only for its superior razor-sharp writing, acting, and let's face it, plenty of voyeuristic peeps at some of the hottest guys on the tube (BTW - Where is Gale Harold these days??? :( - but also for the terrific way the closing credits each week were accompanied by just the right (albeit uncredited) song to sum up that particular episode. I own all of the season soundtracks, but collectively they only contain maybe half of the music used and the majority of the cuts are the uptempo tunes used in Babylon (the nightclub the guys in the show frequent).
However one show (for QAF fans - the one where post-bashing, Justin's Mom pleas with Brian to stay out of her son's life)a slow, haunting and sad song really caught my attention. My own plea to my disc-jockeying niece Katie produced the songtitle and name of the group that recorded it.
I listened to it over and over again on my computer at work, just relishing the sound and unbeknownst to me at the time, a story was starting to percolate. When my computer crashed, I lost the download of the song but the seed was already planted.
A few weeks back I started thinking about a new book. As I was formulating some very loose and potential plot points in my mind, the story took a turn and poof! the song came into my mind. Without rhyme or reason, it perfectly embodied the mood of my new work.
All I had to do was find it again.
Locating it on the Net was easy but I wanted to own it. Who knows? Maybe the music on the rest of the album would be great too. After some initial research however, I unfortunately discovered that the group broke up back in the 90s and the album in question is discontinued.
But refusing to take no for an answer, I have since located the CD in question at both my local library and through Amazon and Ebay. Long story short? It will be mine one day soon!
Until then, I play it over and over and over again on YouTube as I work on my current novel.
See? Where there's a will, there's a way. ;)
If you have ever been really moved by a piece of music, do tell...
To address the first question, I generally like instrumental music as my ear tends to follow the lyrics and pull me away from the thought/storytelling process. Dependent on the scene, time period and mood of the tale, I will choose a certain soundtrack, a bit of jazz or often plug into one of the many ambient stations on the Net that offer a steady but sensual accompaniment to the written word.
The latter however is the more pertinent question for yours truly. From time to time a piece of music will touch me to such an extent that the wheels are put in motion and a storyline will emerge strictly from my emotional reaction to the song.
One such case occurred recently with a song I became familiar with a couple of years ago.
I was and am a big fan of the now defunct series Queer As Folk - not only for its superior razor-sharp writing, acting, and let's face it, plenty of voyeuristic peeps at some of the hottest guys on the tube (BTW - Where is Gale Harold these days??? :( - but also for the terrific way the closing credits each week were accompanied by just the right (albeit uncredited) song to sum up that particular episode. I own all of the season soundtracks, but collectively they only contain maybe half of the music used and the majority of the cuts are the uptempo tunes used in Babylon (the nightclub the guys in the show frequent).
However one show (for QAF fans - the one where post-bashing, Justin's Mom pleas with Brian to stay out of her son's life)a slow, haunting and sad song really caught my attention. My own plea to my disc-jockeying niece Katie produced the songtitle and name of the group that recorded it.
I listened to it over and over again on my computer at work, just relishing the sound and unbeknownst to me at the time, a story was starting to percolate. When my computer crashed, I lost the download of the song but the seed was already planted.
A few weeks back I started thinking about a new book. As I was formulating some very loose and potential plot points in my mind, the story took a turn and poof! the song came into my mind. Without rhyme or reason, it perfectly embodied the mood of my new work.
All I had to do was find it again.
Locating it on the Net was easy but I wanted to own it. Who knows? Maybe the music on the rest of the album would be great too. After some initial research however, I unfortunately discovered that the group broke up back in the 90s and the album in question is discontinued.
But refusing to take no for an answer, I have since located the CD in question at both my local library and through Amazon and Ebay. Long story short? It will be mine one day soon!
Until then, I play it over and over and over again on YouTube as I work on my current novel.
See? Where there's a will, there's a way. ;)
If you have ever been really moved by a piece of music, do tell...
Monday, November 12, 2007
Birthday Memories
Today is my Mom's 74th birthday; we did a celebratory thingey over the weekend that, she told me this morning, turned out to be her favorite birthday get-together of them all. That got me thinking...which birthday, if any, do I recall as being particularly memorable?
Right off the bat, I have to say going to the Dominican Republic for my 40th with my best friend and brother was, in a word, FABULOUS. I am a beach person, loving the ocean, the warmth and the pure unadulterated sense of having ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do and ALL DAY to do it in! I can still vividly remember arriving at the Sosua Bay hotel - a lovely multi-tiered Spanish-hacienda-type complex that cascades down the hill to the alcoved beach below; the latter spy-able through the open-air columned lobby. I literally gave a scream at the incredible beauty of the view. Even though I've never been, it made me think of Greece. The days were filled with lounging, laughing and partaking of the many local delights including a Jamaican Rum-laden treat called a Bahama Mama or the goods from a plethora of fantastic food 'stations' in the main restaurant that would cook you anything from an omelet to steak and lobster any time of the day or night.
And the nights. OMG. Romantics would be in seventh heaven with the starlit skies, the glow of lamps and the soft strains of a sax playing The Girl From Ipanema drifting up from the main level. Everywhere you went, people looked wonderful with their bronzed skins, sparse summer attire and relaxed happy expressions.
We did wander away from the resort a couple of times and enjoyed our adventures "beyond paradise" as well! Trust me on this...I could really go on forever about the pluses of the place so let's just say, yeah, that birthday was a biggie.
A very funny one was five years earlier when my group of single girlfriends and I made my love of tropical getaways the theme for the night. We went to a Malaysian restaurant and then spent the night in the "Polynesian Room" at the Fantasyland Hotel - a local hotel that decorates its rooms in different themes. Equipped with a volcano, waterfall, boats and plenty of palm trees, we made took to our bathing suits and leis, drank homemade Mai Tais (someone brought a blender), and had an absolute blast. Our plan to go down to the hotel's World Waterpark and do some body surfing was 'turfed' in light of sipping our tropical, umbrella-ed drinks in the waterfall/hot tub.
So now it's your turn... what was your most memorable birthday and why?
TTYS,
Susan
Right off the bat, I have to say going to the Dominican Republic for my 40th with my best friend and brother was, in a word, FABULOUS. I am a beach person, loving the ocean, the warmth and the pure unadulterated sense of having ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do and ALL DAY to do it in! I can still vividly remember arriving at the Sosua Bay hotel - a lovely multi-tiered Spanish-hacienda-type complex that cascades down the hill to the alcoved beach below; the latter spy-able through the open-air columned lobby. I literally gave a scream at the incredible beauty of the view. Even though I've never been, it made me think of Greece. The days were filled with lounging, laughing and partaking of the many local delights including a Jamaican Rum-laden treat called a Bahama Mama or the goods from a plethora of fantastic food 'stations' in the main restaurant that would cook you anything from an omelet to steak and lobster any time of the day or night.
And the nights. OMG. Romantics would be in seventh heaven with the starlit skies, the glow of lamps and the soft strains of a sax playing The Girl From Ipanema drifting up from the main level. Everywhere you went, people looked wonderful with their bronzed skins, sparse summer attire and relaxed happy expressions.
We did wander away from the resort a couple of times and enjoyed our adventures "beyond paradise" as well! Trust me on this...I could really go on forever about the pluses of the place so let's just say, yeah, that birthday was a biggie.
A very funny one was five years earlier when my group of single girlfriends and I made my love of tropical getaways the theme for the night. We went to a Malaysian restaurant and then spent the night in the "Polynesian Room" at the Fantasyland Hotel - a local hotel that decorates its rooms in different themes. Equipped with a volcano, waterfall, boats and plenty of palm trees, we made took to our bathing suits and leis, drank homemade Mai Tais (someone brought a blender), and had an absolute blast. Our plan to go down to the hotel's World Waterpark and do some body surfing was 'turfed' in light of sipping our tropical, umbrella-ed drinks in the waterfall/hot tub.
So now it's your turn... what was your most memorable birthday and why?
TTYS,
Susan
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Remembrance Day and my Dad
Good Sunday evening everyone!
Whatcha'll (new word!) get up to on the weekend?
Here in Canada, today - November 11th - is Remembrance Day; a day set aside each year to recall the many sacrifices - sometimes of the ultimate variety - made by our military men and women both in the past and the present.
I'm very happy to say that I still have my father with me - an 83-year-old veteran of the Second World War. One of ten children, he has outlived all of his family, a great many of his friends and to the best of his knowledge, most if not all of the infantry platoon he served with overseas nearly 70 years ago (he was 17 when he enlisted).
He's had a very rich life in so much as he has loved and been loved, given everything to his wife of 55 years and family of four children, and up until a few years ago, enjoyed exceptionally good health.
It was then that things started to change when he first underwent a triple bypass and then a couple years later endured not one but two brain surgeries and then just a few weeks ago, suffered a mini-stroke. Physically he always bounces back but I think he is growing weary and depressed, which is often difficult to see given how incredibly active,vibrant and fun-loving he was as recent as three years ago.
And yet, just like the Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going and going...maybe his tenacity is due in part to his time spent in the army. I'd like to think it played some role, no matter how small, in making him the incredible man he is.
So on this special day in Canada reserved for remembering those who risk their lives and those who have lost their lives in the name of keeping our country safe, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And thank you too Dad. For everything. I love you.
Susan
Whatcha'll (new word!) get up to on the weekend?
Here in Canada, today - November 11th - is Remembrance Day; a day set aside each year to recall the many sacrifices - sometimes of the ultimate variety - made by our military men and women both in the past and the present.
I'm very happy to say that I still have my father with me - an 83-year-old veteran of the Second World War. One of ten children, he has outlived all of his family, a great many of his friends and to the best of his knowledge, most if not all of the infantry platoon he served with overseas nearly 70 years ago (he was 17 when he enlisted).
He's had a very rich life in so much as he has loved and been loved, given everything to his wife of 55 years and family of four children, and up until a few years ago, enjoyed exceptionally good health.
It was then that things started to change when he first underwent a triple bypass and then a couple years later endured not one but two brain surgeries and then just a few weeks ago, suffered a mini-stroke. Physically he always bounces back but I think he is growing weary and depressed, which is often difficult to see given how incredibly active,vibrant and fun-loving he was as recent as three years ago.
And yet, just like the Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going and going...maybe his tenacity is due in part to his time spent in the army. I'd like to think it played some role, no matter how small, in making him the incredible man he is.
So on this special day in Canada reserved for remembering those who risk their lives and those who have lost their lives in the name of keeping our country safe, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And thank you too Dad. For everything. I love you.
Susan
Thursday, November 8, 2007
This is the first day of the rest of my [blogging] life!
Hi everyone and welcome to my very first blog message!
Fellow authors and friends have been absolutely freaking out that I haven't taken this oh-so-hip and necessary step sooner, but those same colleagues and buddies know how UN-savvy I am technically speaking, so it's a miracle that I have managed to do it at all, be it overdue.
SOooooooo. What to say? Well, again, those that know me, know I have PLENTY to say about TONS of things but for this inaugural entry (doesn't that sound official!) I will keep it "relatively" short and hopefully sweet.:)
Shooting straight from the hip and telling "y'all" what's on my mind at any given time will be both fun and easy! So what's in there RIGHT NOW? Well, I can't tell a lie... being a paranormal i.e. vampire author, I am always on the lookout for a good movie or TV series. After a very lengthy search, I have found one.
I'm talking about the very addictive and sexy Moonlight that airs on CBC on Friday nights. Oovay! Mick St. John played by newcomer to my eyes Alex O'Loughlin is truly a vampire to die for. The premise behind this hour-long weekly show is 85-year-old (but he doesn't look a day over 30) Mick works as a private eye
who has a soft spot for a reporter named Beth. Why? Because their history goes back to when Beth was a child and ever since then, Mick has watched out for her, albeit it from a distance. But now that she's all grown up, is in his life AND knows what he is, the stakes (pardon the pun) are raised - as will your pulse be after checking this sexy new series out. Together they fight crime along with their mutual impulses to tear the clothes off one another. Tres nummy.
If anyone is game to share their favorite vampire TV shows - current or past - drop me a line.
Well that's it for now! It's been a fabulous first time.
TTYS,
Susan
Fellow authors and friends have been absolutely freaking out that I haven't taken this oh-so-hip and necessary step sooner, but those same colleagues and buddies know how UN-savvy I am technically speaking, so it's a miracle that I have managed to do it at all, be it overdue.
SOooooooo. What to say? Well, again, those that know me, know I have PLENTY to say about TONS of things but for this inaugural entry (doesn't that sound official!) I will keep it "relatively" short and hopefully sweet.:)
Shooting straight from the hip and telling "y'all" what's on my mind at any given time will be both fun and easy! So what's in there RIGHT NOW? Well, I can't tell a lie... being a paranormal i.e. vampire author, I am always on the lookout for a good movie or TV series. After a very lengthy search, I have found one.
I'm talking about the very addictive and sexy Moonlight that airs on CBC on Friday nights. Oovay! Mick St. John played by newcomer to my eyes Alex O'Loughlin is truly a vampire to die for. The premise behind this hour-long weekly show is 85-year-old (but he doesn't look a day over 30) Mick works as a private eye
who has a soft spot for a reporter named Beth. Why? Because their history goes back to when Beth was a child and ever since then, Mick has watched out for her, albeit it from a distance. But now that she's all grown up, is in his life AND knows what he is, the stakes (pardon the pun) are raised - as will your pulse be after checking this sexy new series out. Together they fight crime along with their mutual impulses to tear the clothes off one another. Tres nummy.
If anyone is game to share their favorite vampire TV shows - current or past - drop me a line.
Well that's it for now! It's been a fabulous first time.
TTYS,
Susan
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