mainly sunny, mild, temps 12
the city's still reeling from last night's win. Emotionally - but also some physical clean-up too. Some of the crowds got a little out of hand (hooligans) and broke some store windows. A shame to mar such an amazing hockey win - but for some I guess any excuse to do damage. And high spirits too...hard to remember what it's like to be young, and perhaps drunk, and feeling overcome with excitement. At least they didn't turn on each other.
All through the city people were still singing Ole, ole, ole. Canadiens flags out. Business men, students, otherwise elegant Quebecoise women wearing Habs skirts. It's very fun - and funny.
Beyond the slight hockey hang-over it actually was a quiet day. Had a massage - always great. Picked up a new cordless phone for home. Our old one seems to be wearing down, and we like to be able to have it on us as we walk around the pond or sit outside. Last night before the game we watched The Damned United - a terrific British film about Leeds United soccer club in the 1970's - and their coach. True story. We really liked it.
Today I rented The September Issue - about Anna Wintour and putting together the September Vogue - the huge annual issue. Fascinating. I'm not generally interested in fashion - but I am interested in sub-cultures - and dynamics...and human inter-actions, especially creative people. So this was a feast. Especially rich 'meeting' the remarkable Grace - who styles many of the vogue shoots and photos. Amazing. A person I'd love to personally meet. Can't often say that of the creative people profiled in films like this. They're often riveting messes. But not Grace. She's vulnerable, and strong, self-aware, funny - she was a model until an accident ended her career...and now she's an absolutely brilliant visionary. Her photo shoots are stunning, even to my untrained eye. Wish I could remember her last name.
Love learning things. Of course, I always forget the exact facts and details and only really retain impressions. Feelings. Makes a documentary very hard to re-count. As you see, I've already forgotten Grace's last name, and by tomorrow morning I'll have forgotten her first. But I'll remember her long red hair and her vitality and humanity - and the sense of working at Vogue. I think.
Michael off for dinner with one of his sons tonight. I bought some sushi and will relax at home, after a great day.
Back to Sutton tomorrow. Speak then.
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Rachel and Sarah
partly sunny, unseasonably, freakishly warm, temps 12
It feels like spring. Easter, rather than Christmas. Of course, with the amount of sleep I can do maybe it is Easter. What did I miss?
There's a great review of A RULE AGAINST MURDER in this weekend's Charlotte Observor. The lead review, and four out of four stars. Wonderful.
Had a wonderful day yesterday. Breakfast with Joan was fun, as ever. And Michael joined us this time. Then worked more on book 5. One of the major issues with writing these sorts of puzzle mysteries is - not surprisingly - when to give readers the answers. Obviously who committed the murder is only one (albeit a large one) mystery. But that one is answered because of a series of small puzzles. they build on each other until finally the answer is clear.
But when and how to feed out the smaller solutions? It's about pace, and the pleasure of the reader. That exquisite tension when you long to know something... but once you do, that energy, that excitement can disappear...unless it leads to another mystery.
Right now with THE BRUTAL TELLING I'm struggling with one issue in particular. When to give the readers the answer. It's quite a big one, though not the ultimate answer. Do I tell you sooner or later. What leads to a richer reading experience? What's more fun? Knowing, or not knowing?
the danger in not telling until later is a) building up expectations, that the answer had better be worth all this wait. b) having people lose interest...milking it dry.
So I've actually written (or am in the process of writing) two versions.
I was inspired to do this partly after our visit earlier this month to the Rodin Museum...and seeing that clearly The Burghurs of Calais didn't just appear...he did any number of different versions, different studies...all of them there too. Fascinating to compare. Frankly, they all looked like masterpieces to me. But he was aiming for something specific. And the final one is better than all the rest...though all are brilliant.
So I thought I'd try that with the book...two different versions and see which one I like the best. So I'll have to rush off soon and get more work done on that. But it'll be worth it, I'm sure. Anything for a better book.
Yesterday afternoon we went across to our neighbors place - Guy and Nicole. Their two granddaughters were giving a Christmas concert for the neighborhood. Rachel is 13 and a gifted singer. Sarah is 11 and plays classical guitar. Incredible family. Paule - their mother, who was also there, was a ballet danger...as was her husband Martin (Guy and Nicole's son). You might remember my mentioing in a blog in April that Martin had died. He was in his mid-thirties and Guy and Nicole's only child. He had a virulent form of MS - so it was a long, slow departure. Torture for everyone.
But the children (perhaps as a result of this suffering, his and theirs) are amazing. Compassionate, dedicated, fun and funny. They speak French only, but learned a few songs in English just for us. Imagine that? Aren't people amazing? If anyone doubted the existence of Grace they just need to visit this family.
They did the concert, and Rachel even danced for us all...then had tea and Christmas cookies. Then left. Wrote a bit at home, went to Sutton to meet friends...then dropped by the guest cottage where Doug (my brother), Brian, his son and his great friend Theo had just arrived.
Such fun sitting there, fire on, tree lit, kids eating chicken wings Pat had made for them...and being with people we love so much.
Life is good. And, as though we had any right to it getting better, with it being so mild all the snow left and Maggie made it around the pond again! Hopping all the way, of course. But tail going the whole time.
This is bliss. This is contentment. This is good fortune.
I hope this finds you content, and surrounded by light. God knows, I have my off-days. When I'm filled with anger, jealousy, pettiness. When the world is bleak and unfair. When I not only want to cry, but do. I've written about those days as well.
Balance. I'm coming to appreciate how important that is. Things even out. My job is to be grateful for the good and accept the bad. And move forward.
It feels like spring. Easter, rather than Christmas. Of course, with the amount of sleep I can do maybe it is Easter. What did I miss?
There's a great review of A RULE AGAINST MURDER in this weekend's Charlotte Observor. The lead review, and four out of four stars. Wonderful.
Had a wonderful day yesterday. Breakfast with Joan was fun, as ever. And Michael joined us this time. Then worked more on book 5. One of the major issues with writing these sorts of puzzle mysteries is - not surprisingly - when to give readers the answers. Obviously who committed the murder is only one (albeit a large one) mystery. But that one is answered because of a series of small puzzles. they build on each other until finally the answer is clear.
But when and how to feed out the smaller solutions? It's about pace, and the pleasure of the reader. That exquisite tension when you long to know something... but once you do, that energy, that excitement can disappear...unless it leads to another mystery.
Right now with THE BRUTAL TELLING I'm struggling with one issue in particular. When to give the readers the answer. It's quite a big one, though not the ultimate answer. Do I tell you sooner or later. What leads to a richer reading experience? What's more fun? Knowing, or not knowing?
the danger in not telling until later is a) building up expectations, that the answer had better be worth all this wait. b) having people lose interest...milking it dry.
So I've actually written (or am in the process of writing) two versions.
I was inspired to do this partly after our visit earlier this month to the Rodin Museum...and seeing that clearly The Burghurs of Calais didn't just appear...he did any number of different versions, different studies...all of them there too. Fascinating to compare. Frankly, they all looked like masterpieces to me. But he was aiming for something specific. And the final one is better than all the rest...though all are brilliant.
So I thought I'd try that with the book...two different versions and see which one I like the best. So I'll have to rush off soon and get more work done on that. But it'll be worth it, I'm sure. Anything for a better book.
Yesterday afternoon we went across to our neighbors place - Guy and Nicole. Their two granddaughters were giving a Christmas concert for the neighborhood. Rachel is 13 and a gifted singer. Sarah is 11 and plays classical guitar. Incredible family. Paule - their mother, who was also there, was a ballet danger...as was her husband Martin (Guy and Nicole's son). You might remember my mentioing in a blog in April that Martin had died. He was in his mid-thirties and Guy and Nicole's only child. He had a virulent form of MS - so it was a long, slow departure. Torture for everyone.
But the children (perhaps as a result of this suffering, his and theirs) are amazing. Compassionate, dedicated, fun and funny. They speak French only, but learned a few songs in English just for us. Imagine that? Aren't people amazing? If anyone doubted the existence of Grace they just need to visit this family.
They did the concert, and Rachel even danced for us all...then had tea and Christmas cookies. Then left. Wrote a bit at home, went to Sutton to meet friends...then dropped by the guest cottage where Doug (my brother), Brian, his son and his great friend Theo had just arrived.
Such fun sitting there, fire on, tree lit, kids eating chicken wings Pat had made for them...and being with people we love so much.
Life is good. And, as though we had any right to it getting better, with it being so mild all the snow left and Maggie made it around the pond again! Hopping all the way, of course. But tail going the whole time.
This is bliss. This is contentment. This is good fortune.
I hope this finds you content, and surrounded by light. God knows, I have my off-days. When I'm filled with anger, jealousy, pettiness. When the world is bleak and unfair. When I not only want to cry, but do. I've written about those days as well.
Balance. I'm coming to appreciate how important that is. Things even out. My job is to be grateful for the good and accept the bad. And move forward.
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