What Road Are You On?
What’s Jack up to? He’s so funny, playing a crazy game of monkey in the middle that he’s made up where I’m the monkey! See he takes his toy and acts like he wants to bring it to me to play with but then turns at the last moment and runs to my hubby and takes it to him. Then back to me for a reaction. Too cute, Jack.Other than books, dare I say maybe even sometimes more than books, I am often inspired by movies. I’m such a cheap and easy date. Give me a simple dinner and a movie (please don’t ask me to dress up) and I’m happy. Now, I’m not one to over analyze and pick a movie apart, no, I go to lose myself in another world for a while.
That said, I’ve seen a move that I can’t get out of my mind: Revolutionary Road. The whole couple confirming to suburban life thing hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t know why, maybe it’s my age or the fact that I’ve been living in suburbia for a while now or the fact that I hate to think of myself as a conformist, although probably a good part of me is, if I’m honest enough. Whatever. I don’t know, but, I was hit hard.The fact that it was set in the 1950’s didn’t effect it’s relevance to today’s life to me one bit. It questioned confirming to what’s expected, the traditional roles of a marriage, labeling, fidelity, opposites attracting, living your dreams, so many things.Revolutionary Road had me stepping out on my own porch taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. It will have lots of people thinking hard about the road they are living on? Check it out if you haven’t yet and let me know your thoughts.Best,KwanaIt’s my Anniversary!
Today is my 1st Blogiversary!I can’t believe I made it a full year. Here is the silly pic that started it all. What a nut I was to do that bit of crazy. Thanks so much to all of you for sticking with me. I feel so honored to hang here in the blog world with so many wonderful and talented people. I truly appreciate all the old friends that have been on board since the beginning and the new friends that I’ve made. I look forward to making many more in the next year. You all are such an inspiration to me every day.Happy Holidays!
Best,
Kwana and the wild one JackBite Me
What’s Jack up to? Jack is Mr. Chill today, happy sitting on his cozy spot high on the top of the couch. Don’t mess with him and you won’t get hurt. He’s so scary.I normally don’t talk much about my kids here on the blog and just keep it to Jack because like I said in my first post, Jack can’t sue me, but this is just too good to pass up.So I’m in my DD’s dance class last night because it was the parents sit in day and the instructor asks the girls to do a turning combo across the floor. She tells them to be graceful and to make their necks long and vulnerable, exposing them. Without missing a beat my dear daughter (yeah the one without a filter) pipes up with, “So Edward Cullen can bite me.”
Oh my! Was that my kid that said that? Teens today. Sigh.Giggles and twitters flutter through the room. Let me tell you everyone knew who Edward Cullen was including the instructor who was on book three of the TWILIGHT series.If only all us writers out there could be so lucky as to write an Edward.
Hey, it’s a snow day today in Westchester for the dear twins in anticipation of a supposedly big storm to come. So far, nothing. So the kids are home and very happy to have dodged Friday tests.Have a great weekend!Best,
KwanaGone Clubbing
What’s Jack up to? First Jack’s all full of the Christmas spirit giving us all sorts of trouble as we try and decorate the tree and just when I try and pose him to snap a few pics he goes and turns into Ebenezer Scrooge. What’s with all the attitude Jack? Too funny.Although I’m a writer I’ve never been one to claim to be literary. I guess you could call me a snob in that way. I love romance and am proud of it. I was mad for Jackie Collins growing up, loved Sydney Sheldon, went through a period where I devoured all the Danielle Steele I could and then came Bridget Jones and my love affair with chick lit. Oh, sweet heaven I’ve found my voice!
So when I read the article in this weeks New York Times style section Fought Over Any Good Books Lately? I was struck but by the two flat out disses at chick lit.
Check this one in reference to a woman leaving her book club because she hated the selections, “Breaking up isn’t so hard to do when it means freedom from inane critical commentary, political maneuvering, hurt feelings, bad chick lit and even worse chardonnay.”Excuse me, what did Chick lit ever do to hurt anyone and how about chardonnay? Yeesh you’d leave a club because you look down on a person’s taste in wine. Oh please don’t come to my house. You will so hate me and my love of sweet white zin. That’s right I said it. I like white zin, historical romance, chick lit and the classics. The complete works of Jane Austen is on my nightstand shelf in case of emergency or duress. You never know when the need of Mr. Darcy will break out and you must combine chick lit with a classic. What is to be done with me?
Now to the second beauty. But I have to backtrack a bit. First off, there are book group facilitators that are paid to lead suburban book club discussions and keep unruly clubbers in line and lead the discussions. Who knew? The members pay the facilitators 250-300 dollars annually. Cool job I guess, but I’m having trouble getting my head around this concept. Groups of adults needing another adult who is not the author or the publisher to lead them in the discussion. In their own homes. Sort of be the expert and make sure no one person takes over the discussion.
Hmm… am I being too critical to think that this sounds like book club baby sitting? If I am tell me. Is this working for any of you out there. Have you tried it?
Oh, but to the second diss. This one is from a facilitator: Another woman decamped because she wanted to read more chick lit. “I hate to sound ponderous,” Ms. Bushell said, “but I have a certain moral obligation. I don’t feel I can be paid for leading a discussion about ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’”Moral obligation against THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA? What Tha-?! And how many weeks was THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on The Times bestseller list? Pla-ease.When is this going to end? Life is way too short and times are too hard for us to not just get over ourselves and lighten up a bit. There is a place for a little bit of everything and no need to put other people’s tastes down. I feel that I have a moral obligation to say this and not to drink wine that cost a lot but taste like crap.
I’m leaving you with two questions today:1.What did chick lit ever do to you?2. What do you think of book clubs today?I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I did!Best,Kwanafirst image from kwana and jack
second from The New York TimesUn-Fashionably Late
What’s Jack up to? Don’t let the sweet face fool ya. (he may never forgive the DD for this pic) Jack has been into all sorts of mess. Snipping at everyone lately and full of big time attitude. What’s with that? Could it be the new administration. Is he expecting an appointment? And now, I think he has allergies. Do both of us need them? Ugh. I have to give him eye ointment daily. Now that’s at good time. Uh, not really.
Just call me Ms. Late To The Party, but I’m finally reading Twilight. I’m serious this tim
e. After many, many false starts. I don’t know what’s with me and this book. I pick it up and put it back down. I don’t know why. I think I’m afraid I’ll be as into it as everyone else is and get sucked into another obsession. You know how I get. But check out what Katiebabs said over at her blog. I’m in in the company of the future Pres. So cool!But really I need to see what the fuss is all about and get with the program. Wish me luck. I hope to come out sane on the other side.
Speaking of obsessions… I just finished another Elizabeth Hoyt. Yeah, I’ve got a problem. Admitting it is half the battle. This one was To Taste Temptation. The tension was high and it took a while for it to get really sexy, but when it did. Oh it did and well. I already know I’m fighting a losing battle with myself not to dash off to the bookstore for a least five minutes and get the next book in the series: To Seduce a Sinner. That darn Elizabeth’s gone a set it up so well too with two character that I’m dying to see get together. Sigh. I’m in big trouble here.
Best,KwanaP.S. Don’t forget TOP CHEF tonight.
Happy Birthday Jack!
What’s Jack up to? Jack is happy and chilling after his birthday party weekend. Well, not really a party, he is a dog after all and I’m not crazy. At least not THAT crazy.
Happy Birthday Jack!
Yep! Wild Jack turned 2 (or is it 14? I just don’t get the whole dog years thing) on Saturday. Thanks for adding just a bit more more nuttiness to my already heavily topped sundae of a life, Jack.
I’m back from a fun filled and super inspirational weekend at the New Jersey Romance Writers conference. I’m exhausted, but feel the need to go to the gym and see if my membership is actually still any good thanks to Mel and this cool new blog she’s starting called FatChicksRunning. Now I refuse to out myself as a Fat Chick, but really who am I fooling? Like Mel, I’m a woman of a certain age who doesn’t want to be a certain size anymore and it’s time to do something about that. So I’m off. Hmm… Now which way was that gym?
More on the conference soon. So much to talk about. So many smart women. So much work I need to do. Eek!
Best,
KwanaBeep Beep! Wordless Wednesday
What’s Jack up to? Cracking up to himself at being able to snatch an extra large chocolate chip cookie from right under the DS’s nose when he turned for just a sec. Just call him Road Runner. Beep Beep!
Best,Kwana
I’m In!
What’s Jack up to? Here is Jack’s spot de jour now that school is back in session. He just goes right to his spot on the couch and can’t be moved until he wants to move. So what’s Jack up to? Just chillin.
Well now that the RNC Convention/Introducing Sara Palin Show is over maybe we can finally get real and I can get some rest. Did anyone watch and see some of the wild protesters that made it onto the floor? Eek. Now let’s actually get down to what’s really important and past the silly sound bytes and onto some real questions and issues. That is if some don’t run scared and will actually sit and get interviewed by the press.But no fear thanks to Mel-O-Drama and the fact that she’s more of a Maverick than anyone I know my hat has been officially throw into the ring for President. Sorry I had to go there. Click here to check it out. Have fun!
And thanks to Decorno for this link to an article by Gloria Steinem from the Los Angeles Times on Vice Presidential pick Palin. It’s an amazing article.
Here’s a quote: “Here’s the good news: Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right wing — the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party — are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this to women — and to many men too — who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley Chisholm, who first took the “white-male-only” sign off the White House, and to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny to win 18 million votes.
But here is even better news: It won’t work. This isn’t the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It’s about making life more fair for women everywhere. It’s not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It’s about baking a new pie.”
Read the full article here.
Best,
KwanaHappy Independence Day!
What’s Jack up to? Just chillin’ by the grill today for the 4th of July BBQ! We hope you have a great July 4th. Stay cool!! Jack will.
Since it’s the holiday today we’re talking a break from Ask The Agent. Fab Agent and I will be back next week. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. Enjoy yourself and have loads of fun.
Enjoy your Independence!How much do I love this movie?! Wayyy too much.
Best,
Kwana
P.S.
If you missed any past Ask the Agent posts please click on the Ask the Agent label to the right or below to read the old posts. They are great. Elaine gives loads of insight into the agent’s mind.
Back to the Grind
What’s Jack up to? He’s getting his beauty rest after the long holiday weekend of too much socializing. I know how you feel Jack, but no rest for me there’s work to be done.
How was your weekend? Mine was a Hot Tranny Mess! Well, not really. It was really a gorgeous Tranny Show on Sunday night when I went out to celebrate a friend’s birthday at Lucky Cheng’s in The Village! Here is one photo that can be shared. Maybe more to come later once the official photographer sends them to me since I came out with no memory chip in my camera. Smart huh? I also got to go to another friends wonderful housewarming and make some new friends so yay! Then had some neighbors stop over for am impromptu Memorial Day get together which was lots of fun since it was totally unplanned. So this was a banner weekend.
Anyone get
to watch The Bachelorette last night? 2 hours of oversensitivity and then raging bouts of testosterone. The Show opened with the three guys who got 1st impression roses on the last episode, Jeremy, Jesse and Richard, moving in with DeAnna and the rest of the dudes moving into the guest house in camp like barracks.Then DeAnna went on a group date to a magic show where she disappeared with one guy making the others very upset. Later there was some sort of camping trip that I was too busy to pay much attention to, but I was lucky enough to catch Ryan, the virgin football player, tell all the guys that he was a virgin and stop the conversation cold. Screech!There was a later group date at Dodger Stadium and Jeremy, the real estate attorney, rocked the other guys in the Home Run derby and one on one time with DeAnna and opened up to her telling her that he lost both his parents. Aww. Very Sad, but pulled him a rose. Cagey eh?
They showed the chef, Robert, in his Dodger shirt with a pink polo underneath (collar up) worrying if he’d get a first impression rose. I’m thinking no.Then we get to see the whole group of guys sit around shirtless while the single dad opens up about his 3 year old son. Aww.
Is it me or the wacky folksy guitar music in the background or is the most ridiculously sensitive group of guys ever?
Later all the guys turn on Jeremy, even Ryan the virgin football dude. What up with that? Boy fight!How do the guys do it? Why with glares and push ups of course!
Going home this week are: Eric the Greek guy who has to date a Greek girl and that was what DeAnna had going for her, Chris who pretty much pushed DeAnna away on his way out the door and Ryan the Pro Football Virgin doesn’t get why he was kicked out and didn’t make a connection. He was voted friendliest in 8th grade ya know so thins makes no sense!No tears from the guys this week only DeAnna. Be Strong Girl! There’s no crying in Baseball!Now time to get to work:Lets see there’s:Laundry, housework, doctor, P/T, proposal to write, bills, more laundry, more housework, kids eye doctor etc.What’s on your to-do list?Best,Kwana
