Saturday, August 6, 2011

The Introduction

Emmy didn’t know Julia’s true feelings on her up coming visit and looked forward to seeing her cousin come again. Julia had wrote to Emmy about the gossip of Boston but she always wrote saying “I’ll tell you more when I see you.” At last her arrival would end the mystery of who Francis Jackson would marry. It gave Emmy such delight to discuss the people as they were characters in a novel and though she had never met them she them she tried to to imagine their future if she just changed one element of their lives.

Though Emmy craved adventure in her stories and maybe one day in her life. She knew she could not be without there mother, her sisters and her woods but wondered what it would be like to live like her cousin Julia, a young lady in society full of a town’s juicy stories. Always entertaining suitors and going to fancy parties to dance the night away.

“When you are old enough I’ll let you go to Boston.” Fiona would say when Emmy moaned about going to Boston.

“But Julia is only a year older than me and already been presented. Oh mother could I not go to Boston.”

“You will,” her mother kissed her on the fore head.

What her mother meant by “you will” was one day “when I see fit.” Emmy could tell with the tone she used. Emmy also knew it was a bad idea to push on the issue further for the time being. What Emmy really didn’t understand is why Laurel never talked about going to Boston it was if it was the worst idea ever. Surely in Boston Laurel would be the bell of the ball her look were far better than Julia’s and people would not judge her for being poor; she thought they would assume a cousin to the Danfords would be just a rich as they. But Laurel had no interest in leaving her mother or their house. She also seemed to care little for the fact that her cousins were coming and they were bringing a friend of Nicholas’, Ethan Foster, a class mate of Nicholas and a man growing in Uncle Charles’s firm from England and could not return home for the short season. And Emmy seemed to be the only one who found that interesting.

Grandma Danford’s health was almost renewed by the time Uncle Charles arrival came. She even made her way to the foyer to greet them but she thought the air would be too cold to wait for them outside. Emmy thought it was the most pleasant day they had had all season so far and ran to keep a look out. When she saw their convoy she ran back inside and announced their arrival.



“Heavens sake no yelling is necessary.”

“I am sorry Grandma,” Emmy lowered her tone.

“I would hardly call it dignified, maybe a summer with a lady of society like your cousin would be good. But I do hope you act better with your guest.”

“I am sure that is the last yell you will hear from Emmy,” Fiona said.

“I do hope so. Really Fiona if your girls should know how to behave, Laurel is good but if your relaxed ways continue Gloria will be a disgrace.”

“Emmy will behave just fine.”

“I do hope so we can not have our family disgraced.”

Emmy thought she was behaving just fine by not refuting any of her Grandma Danford’s words. And later her mother would thank her for it.

“Mr. and Mrs. Charles Danford,” Thomas said.

“Thank you Thomas,” Charles said patting him on the back.

“Your welcome sir.”

“Mother,” Charles walked in and kissed Grandma Danford’s out stretched hand. “You look more beautiful every time.”

“You are sweet but you are already the heir to my fortune.”

“Mother Danford,”Victoria said greeting Grandma Danford also with a kiss on the hand but she seemed more uncomfortable in the behavior.

“Where are the children?”

“Coming, Nick’s friend Ethan was following and I think they got separated,” Victoria said.

“What kind of driver loses another driver.”

“Ethan Foster, doesn’t have a driver mother,” Uncle Charles said.

“What?”

“Not everyone feels the need for a driver,” Victoria said sweetly.

“They should.”

“Mother, young people are more adventurous these days,” Uncle Danford said trying to laugh it off.

“Not another adventurous spirit in this house,” Grandma Danford said giving Emmy a harsh look that no one but Emmy noticed. However no one missed her next sentiment. “I have my hands full with no adventurous youth and I do hope Victoria your daughter Julia, so refined will be a good influence over her.”

Emmy looked over to Aunt Victoria she looked more embarrassed than Emmy felt. Emmy didn’t know why, what did she have to be embarrassed about her daughter was the talk of Boston for being a refined delight. Emmy couldn’t think of any one who would consider the Cromwell girls as refined delight. Laurel would definitely be considered refined and maybe in some circles Emmy would be considered delightful. Even as Emmy thought of the word as an adjective next to he name, she thought it would be use liberally as no one would dare speak ill of some one related to Mrs. Cornelia Danford. Emmy thought the word that would probably be used to describe her would be childish. One can not be childish and refined at the same time and no heroine in her own right would stand to be thought of as childish. Maybe Grandma Danford was right spending the summer with Julia would do Emmy good, Emmy thought.

These thought were broken by Thomas announcing Nicholas and Julia.

“Grandma Danford,” Nick said grandly sweeping into the parlor “may I present my good friend Ethan Foster from Harvard by way of Sussex.”

“Aw the man who has no driver.”

“Yes mam,” he said with a nod. “The drive is more enjoyable when one experienced every bump behind the wheel.”

Two things were certain, one he had a British accent and second he spoke his mind. Both were so refreshing, Emmy thought. No was to speak their mind in front of Grandma Danford, and no did minus this stranger.

Friday, August 5, 2011

I'm a Blogger

I will say loud and proud I have become a blogger. I love this blog even though I am not sure how many people read it or how many people care about my opinions on maybe silly stuff but I don't care I just like writing this and getting my thought out there and I LOVE when people comment or when some one writes on my facebook wall about my blog or even yesterday a co-worker asked me about the movies I saw because she saw on my blog I wrote about them. I LOVE IT! I think about this blog- like what to say, or what to add to it or what do I want to write about next. I also look forward to my weekends so I can work on my story and post it on my blog. I spend time looking for pictures on Google Image to portray what I am talking about and I love when I find a quote and it inspires a free write. Maybe I am a bit crazy.

So first I want to say thank you to my loyal readers. I want to thank my sister who called me out in March and said I don't write enough and she loyaly follows my blog. I want to thank my Grandpa who reads it and then writes encouraging notes to me on Facebook... my Grandpa is so high tech. I want to thank my co-worker who gave me a shout out at a meeting for being creative. And I want to thank all my supporters who have read or listened to my writing and for supporitng me. I love the support.

You guys really are the reason I keep writing, even if no one reads it.


Second, I want to say I have always wanted to be a writer. I love writing. My mom can attest to how many notebooks I writing probably little stories that never went any where. I had a few poems published in my high school literary magazine, they probably weren't that good but it helped to have friends who worked for the magazine. But I loved seeing my name getting a by line. Writing has just been my oasis when school, work or life just got to hectic I love to pull out a journal and write a story. I have always started writing my stories in notebooks or paper I found I can't sit at a computer and stare at a blank word page and write (I wish sometime I could my hand really cramps up after writing for hours by hand). In my summer class I learned the expression "Desktop Publisher" it came out in the 80's or early 90's when people were getting their own PCs and wrting their own words and distributing just by hitting the print button. I know I am an 80's baby because I can't remember a time not having a computer. My Grandpa brought macs to TCU (if I have the story right) and when they got new computers he would give us an old one. I remember having one computer in my play closet, that was lots of fun and I guess I owe it to my Grandpa for letting me be a desk top publisher. But I guess through my Blog I am a desk top writer because even though I don't know how many people read my blog my writing rather it be a random blog post like this or part of my story (Sisters of Pinehaven, working title) people are reading it and it it is out there for the world to see. One day I would like to be an actual published author with a book on shelf that you can buy at Barnes and Nobles or maybe an independent book store. But until then I will keep writing this blog and hoping you readers will keep reading. THANK YOU!


Lastly, listen to your own thoughts and feelings very carefully, be aware of your observations, and learn to value them. When you're a teenager – and even when you're older – lots of people will try to tell you what to think and feel. Try to stand still inside all of that and hear your own voice. It's yours and only yours, it's unique and worthy of your attention, and if you cultivate it properly, it might just make you a writer. -Jennifer Donnelly

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Lost in Cinema (Part 2)

Lost in Cinema (Part 1)


Tonight I saw a good romantic comedy in Crazy Stupid Love if you only see one movie this summer see this one. I know there are lots of blockbuster films out there but seriously see this one. I won't give away the plot but the first thing you learn about the Steve Carrell and Julianne Moore is that she wants a divorce and you have seen this through

commercials that his son gives him advice to fight for his soul mate Emily played by Julianne Moore and that is wonderful advice.

My friend and I discussed that in this day and age people get to divorce to quickly. I have heard enough to know love isn't a feeling its a choice to love every day. As Steve Carrell said "I love you when I hate you" that's choice to love some one even when you don't want to. As we discussed this I remember an article from Elle Magazine called "Till Whatever Do Us Part" from September 2010.
I don't remember many articles I read but I remember Brad Pitt being
quoted on his divorce to Jennifer Anniston saying that couples evolve and grow apart and that the idea of marriage is to last for all time but Rachel Combe wrote (the author) "In fact, that is the essence of marriage-a lifetime commitment. Without that, its just legally sanctioned dating." I loved reading an article that supported marriage and I loved this movie that they fight for love.


But back to the movie besides the married couple that fight for love. There is the young couple of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. As a girl I liked seeing Ryan Gosling take off shirt. Emma Stone and him have good chemistry in the beginning and then as they develop they just seem good together. And Ryan Gosling though he is a womanizer at the beginning admits he is a screw up but he tries to better himself to be with her.

Over all great movie lots of comedic moments out side what you see in commercials and sweet moments. I can't wait to own this one.

Lost in Cinema

I am not just about books I also love movies and not just costume dramas though those are my favorite. This weekend I saw 4 new movies (1 in theaters and 3 rented at Blockbuster Express) and I wanted to share my thoughts on them.

The first movie I saw was “Friends with Benefits” when I told people I was going to go see it this weekend they said they heard it was better than “No Strings Attached” I never saw that because it looked kind of lame. But that’s okay Natalie Portman everyone needs a bad movie after such an Oscar worthy movie look at Gwenth Paltrow and that Flight Attendant movie after “Shakespeare in Love”. Any way back to my original thought. First funny side note, I turned 25 this May and I feel like since then I have been carded less and less when I go out to eat and have a drink (which is cool for me) but at the movie theater I get carded to see a rated R movie. Secondly I will say that it was a little awkward for me to sit through a movie that was about sex and it wasn’t just about sex they went into some detail of what the characters do or do not like in bed. So if you don’t like the awkwardness of hearing about sex I wouldn’t watch it. But over all it was a cute/ funny movie that shows how people can’t just hook up with out feelings involved. I would like to insert a big DUH! here. But actually I was pleased with how well Justin Timberlake could act and I liked the parts he was a little bit musical. I also like Mila Kunis character who though she has had heartache and doesn't even know who her father is wants to still have a fairy tale it just needs to be updated (as her mother says). I just wish that they could make romantic comedies with out using the “F” word every few minutes.



This brings me to my next movie another romantic comedy “Letters to Juliet” rated PG. This movie is cute and sweet and a bit corny at times. Its about a girl Amanda Seyfried (from Mama Mia) who goes to Verona with her fiance they go on a pre-honeymoon trip because when they get married he fiance has a restaurant opening that will leave no time for a honeymoon. But you can quickly tell he cares more about the restaurant than his girl (not cool). Amanda plays a fact checker for the New Yorker but really wants to be a writer. She goes to the House of Juliet (found out from the making of the movie there is a Juliet museum made in the 1930s) and women (or so the movie portrays only women) write letters to Juliet seeking help with love, life and other things. Then the Juliet secretaries come get the letters and write back if you have a returned address (this happens in real life... almost makes me want to fly to Verona leave a note just to see what they would say...from a deleted scene I watched the secretaries don’t tell the writers what to do, they advise and then leave the writer with a question). So back to the movie, Sophie (Amanda) get involved with the sectaries and they found a letter that has been hidden for 50 years. The letter is from a woman Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) who didn’t run away with her Italian boyfriend and married the sensible English man and now 50 years later after getting Sophie’s letter Claire, Sophie and Claire’s grand son (Charlie played by Christopher Egan who looks a little bit like Logan Hutzenburger from Gilmore Girls) go looking for Lorenzo Bartolini (Claire’s love). Mean while we know Sophie’s fiance is off in another part of the country at a wine auction, I was thinking why aren’t they together? I won’t give the whole plot away, it was cute romantic comedy that I when I watched the end my heart was a little bit a pater. But I love the corny cute movies. Also the fact that it was shot in Italy was so cool to see the Tuscan country side and the city of Verona, I loved that!

The next movie I watched with my friend, who is anti-romantic movies and with her I watch movies that get me out of my comfort zone of the romantic movies. We watched “Limitless” with Bradley Cooper. Bradley Cooper plays Eddie Morra who is this out of work grungy author who has a book contract but nothing written. Then due to a run in with his ex brother in law who was a drug dealer gets a drug who allows people to use more than the 20% of their brain they use regularly so he writes his book and gets involved in the stock market and makes lots of money. But this drug is so addicting you have to keep taking it or you basically a slug. Also if you don’t take it you can end up in a comma and die. Yeah not good. It is a good almost conspiracy film. The thing I loved most about it was the lighting or cinematography because when ever he was on the drug the colors were so vibrant and when he wasn’t the colors were so grey. Definitely a movie good to watch on an HD tv. The thing I didn't like about it was that at the end it makes it seem its okay to take drugs.


At my friend’s suggestion I also watched the movie “The Brother’s Bloom” (seriously got to love Blockbuster Express) it stars Adrian Broody and Mark Ruffalo (who I love from 13 going on 30) they are brothers who grow up in foster care with multitude of parents and through that really only have each other. Mark Ruffalo the older brother is really the brains but he uses his brother Bloom (Adrian Broody) to set up the con. It seems after every job they pull Adrian Broody wants to get out but can’t because Steve (Ruffalo) is all he has. So there next mark is Rachel Weiz who is the sole inheritor of large multi million dollar estate. She lives by herself and is bored so find these brothers’ exciting and together they pool a big con. I loved that even though it takes place in modern day it has a vintage feel. I mean from America to Europe they take a boat and when they are in Europe they take a train, no planes, I thought hey this movie could be set in 1930s almost and Mark Ruffalo and Adrian Broody play the bad guys you love like the mob movies of the 1930s. And the costuming is so unique. Definitely a movie I would like to own and put in my collection.

My recommendations are for Letters to Juliet for a sweet kind of corny romantic comedy and The Brothers Bloom for an original story and vintage feel movie.

Tonight I am going to see”Crazy Stupid Love” with another friend of mine. I will let you know how it is.