New Ledgie saying hi to all!

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

Both, dear.

There's a lot of bull****, but it's fun bull****.

Originally Posted by amber

More like through the most convoluted and meaningless (yet fun) arguments you've ever seen in your life. Which go on forever. So, with the meaninglessness, and the going on foreverness, it's a bit like both sh** and the river styx.

And did anyone mention repitition?

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I must say I am thrououghly enjoying you all's literary discussion. I am not a big fan of Joyce, but clearly recognize he was a HUGE talent I would like one day to write a book. It would be about my life as I have mother very much like Auntie Mame and trust me when I say I LIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, but you'd have to always read it out loud, as it would not be the same without your impressions....

[dissention]

Originally Posted by amber

And did anyone mention repitition?

Great minds think alike.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

Whew, we still love each other.

And again, I agree--have you ever, out of curiosity, read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood? It is one of the most frightening and brilliant political novels I know, and about that very thing. I don't know if you'd have war out in the streets, but I certainly think the bad feeling and tension that is going is just incredibly unsettling and scary, so who knows?

Ya mean a story about a religious soceity that takes over fairly sane minded population - hello - we are soooo headed that way. But, in my 38 years, I have seen that all things are cyclical and the tide seems to be turning against W and his ilk. I mean the House just balked at W and passed the stem cell bill and I think W's INSANE SS changes which in no way significantly address the underfunding of SS for the long run are dead in the water and W knows it. I do not think that would have happened three years ago. So, I have faith that people will come to their senses. Otherwise, Paris, here I come.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by amber

Well, but you'd have to always read it out loud, as it would not be the same without your impressions....

Lord Child - you are right on that - puff puff - swig!

I just may have to go and get some margaritas tonight

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Lord Child - you are right on that - puff puff - swig!

I just may have to go and get some margaritas tonight

With your mom vicariously there, I hope. You brought me back to the days when MY mom read "Around the World With Auntie Mame" out loud to ME....

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by amber

With your mom vicariously there, I hope. You brought me back to the days when MY mom read "Around the World With Auntie Mame" out loud to ME....

I know - we would act it out and I was, of course, VERA

My mom had eye surgery yesterday - nothing big - just cataracts and she goes in again next week for the other eye. At her age 49 (translation very late 70's) it is scary anytime something has to be done. But, she handled it like a trooper and was heard opining yesterday "Well that was easy, it was getting up at 6:00 and going in public with putting on my face that was tough"

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

I don't really stick to particular authors as none of them seem to be consistent in their quality. I go more by themes and premises. On the rare occasion that I am in a bookstore or library, I pick up books with interesting titles, read the back cover and then decide from there if I want to read it.

Sometimes if you read the first page instead it gives a better feel; at least that's what I do. The people who make up the blurbs regarding what a book is about are like the people who make up what lipstick is called: I firmly believe they sit in their offices, throwing a racquet ball against the wall a la Steve McQueen in The Great Escape until something that sounds like publishable b.s. strikes them.

Originally Posted by Miss Vicky

What little free time I do have I try to dedicate to writing. I make an effort to work on my novel at least once a day and do much of my writing during my lunch breaks.

I know; if they made up commercials to get people to be writers, it'd be something like: "Hey kids--wanna have no social life, walk around perpetually frustrated, and make no money? Well then, be a professional writer!" with an announcer speaking in one of those cheerful, demonic, commanding announcer voices.

[QUOTE--Miss Vicky] BTW - don't worry, I don't get offended very easily and you didn't come off as being preachy or anything.

I'm glad. I was afraid I sounded like I think I'm your mom or something. (Now, Victoria, read good books, and always wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident, and call your grandmother once a week, and don't write in poor light or you'll strain your eyes. )

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by amber

More like through the most convoluted and meaningless (yet fun) arguments you've ever seen in your life. Which go on forever. So, with the meaninglessness, and the going on foreverness, it's a bit like both sh** and the river styx.

Hey, sounds good to me.

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I know - we would act it out and I was, of course, VERA

My mom had eye surgery yesterday - nothing big - just cataracts and she goes in again next week for the other eye. At her age 49 (translation very late 70's) it is scary anytime something has to be done. But, she handled it like a trooper and was heard opining yesterday "Well that was easy, it was getting up at 6:00 and going in public with putting on my face that was tough"

That's more hilarious now that I can imagine the accent. Glad to hear she is ok! My own mum refuses to go to doctors...

[amber]

Originally Posted by bushesandbriars

Hey, sounds good to me.

Oh, it's vereh, vereh goo-oood. Just close your eyes softly, till you become that part of the argument, that you've always longed for.
Welcome, BTW.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I must say I am thrououghly enjoying you all's literary discussion. I am not a big fan of Joyce, but clearly recognize he was a HUGE talent I would like one day to write a book. It would be about my life as I have mother very much like Auntie Mame and trust me when I say I LIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not a massive Joyce fan either, but his innovations were so important, and to have someone--a brother, no less--totally miss what you were after is just--that's cold. And Joyce was very hurt by that letter; lost faith for awhile and everything. I don't know if he actually quit writing, but by all accounts he kinda went, Okay, what am I doing here? It hurts to be told you suck, no matter who you are, obviously.

And you can only write about your Auntie Mame mother if you swear to me you will turn it into a Broadway musical one day, and include a song about the flat tax and religious theocracy.

Kidding aside, follow your muse. You know if you've got the stuff. Mame for a mom sounds pretty damn funny to me.

[strandinthewind]

sung to a big band Glenn Miller "In the Mood" type of riff:

Oooooh - There';s gonna be a flat tax
FLAT TAX TAX TAX
Ooooohhh the poooorrr
its a gonna brak their BACKS
THEIR BACKS THEIR BACKS
pooorrrrrr steel works
who needs um
I do
Hogwash - there's always a sweat shop in the East
THE EAST THE EAST

____________________________

Lord Child - my juices is a flowin'

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by dissention

I just read that back-to-back with Orwell's 1984 a couple of months ago; it's positively chilling. Our country has been bordering on a theocracy for years now, it's all been gaining momentum since Reagan was elected. It'll get much, much worse before it gets better.

I know. Reagan? Worst. President. Ever. And we have had some doozies. And it scares me to think where we'll be if we don't turn around and try to find the meaning of this country again.

1984 is another one of those all-time-great-books-to-make-your-children-dog-and-self-insane-with. And, of course, Brave New World. There's this cheerful insanity thing that Huxley works that makes me get all, "Okay, now I have to read some Bridget Jones or something to stop the unpleasant world-ending-any-second sensation I have." Paula Vogel does that to me, too, and Beckett--make me literally feel fear. It's amazing writing, but depressing as f***.

[bushesandbriars]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

sung to a big band Glenn Miller "In the Mood" type of riff:

Oooooh - There';s gonna be a flat tax
FLAT TAX TAX TAX
Ooooohhh the poooorrr
its a gonna brak their BACKS
THEIR BACKS THEIR BACKS
pooorrrrrr steel works
who needs um
I do
Hogwash - there's always a sweat shop in the East
THE EAST THE EAST

____________________________

Lord Child - my juices is a flowin'

. It's a damn shame Ella Fitzgerald--ooh, or Sarah Vaughn-- isn't still alive--she could break off in the middle and do a big scat thing--SHOOP BOP A DO YOU BOP A DOO WOO BOP A DEE DOW, ZEEM BOP A DEE WOW--while a zillion dancers dressed in rags with their pockets turned out shuffle dejectedly behind her. You'd have a massive hit. Especially if you could get Hugh Jackman to play somebody.