“Friday On My Mind” by the Easybeats:
Tonight….I spend my bread,
Tonight…I lose my head,
Tonight…I got to get tonight
Monday I have Friday on my mind.
This week was my first full week after National and Family-Visiting. And an eventful one! My new agent sent pitches out on That Subtle Knot, my Regency-set historical. I’ve been writing “Fortune’s Lady,” my super-sexy novella, and a writing friend (known as The Delightful Phone Friend at my blog) just told me my writing’s getting better and better (good thing, too, or else this post would have been a lot more dour. Now I am happy.)
Question to more-published authors: What is a reasonable waiting period before I start deluging my agent with anxious emails?
The whole family has been getting Olympics fever, so much so that the could-not-sleep Spouse ended up watching women’s gymnastics last night. Bet I’ll never be able to say that last clause ever again in my entire life. My son, an enthusiastic swimmer, has taken to calling Michael Phelps “Phelpy” which is so cute I can not stand it. And track and field is still to come!
By the way, I have long been a fan of director Zhang Yimou, who has got to be the most amazing visionary in terms of color and scenery ever. He is the Chief Creative Director of the opening and closing Olympics ceremony, and my goodness, he did not disappoint. For more of his work, check out Hero, House of Flying Daggers, and Curse of the Golden Flower.
Next week is my 44th birthday, which I like ’cause 4 is one of my two favorite numbers (19 is the other one; guess what day my birthday is on?). I am looking forward to sushi and gelato that evening, having lunch with a girlfriend sans Son that day.
And then the whole family goes to the Jersey Shore for a week. Yay! The VERY Hard-Working Spouse needs a break.
And then? AND THEN? School starts September 2!
The bad news is that my shift key is being a PITA. But that is minor, right?
I am not accustomed to being optimistic and forward-looking. My brain is frantically trying to find stuff to worry about, and it is succeeding. But still. Things are good.
Are you happy about anything? What are you doing for the last few weeks of summer? Are you watching the Olympics? Which is your favorite event thus far? Which athlete are you crushing on (mine is Ryan Lochte)?
I ADORE Zhang Zimou. I didn’t realize that he was responsible for the opening ceremonies. The boxes and the drums seem a lot more familiar now.
There’s some imagery from “Raise the Red Lantern” that will not leave my dreams. “Red Sorghum” is a very early film that is disturbing and beautiful as well.
And if you want to revel in some amazing oversaturated color play, try to rent “Ju Dou”, which takes place in a cloth dying factory.
I’ve been enjoying the fact that NBC bought the BBC’s video feed of the equestrian events and are showing them on Oxygen and USA. Finally. Equestrian coverage.
Does anyone else remember as a child watching horses during the Olympic games, because I certainly do. Now they’re on the fourth NBC cable channel, and NBC is being very upfront that the commentary is from two folks in a booth in NYC. Ah well. Such is the obsolescence of horseflesh.
Suisan:
I’ve seen Raise the Red Lantern and Ju Dou, too, I like them both, but HoFD is my absolute favorite. My library doesn’t have all his films, or if they do they’re on video, not DVD, so I haven’t gotten to see them all. Some day I will get Netflix!
I don’t remember the horse stuff, but I never used to watch them–no TV for a long time, no parental interest in them for even longer.
I haven’t been watching the Olympics — I’ve actually been trying to catch up on movies, Stargate & Dr Who instead — but if I had time, I would watch the gymnastics portion. Always amazing!
I’ve seen House of the Flying Daggers — visually stunning, of course — but whenever I’ve thought of seeing another of his films, I decide to see something happier instead!
I’m common that way. Maybe that’s why I like genre fiction and children’s & YA books — they often have happy (or at least optimistic) endings…
Cara
“Raise the Red Lantern” is my favorite Zhang Zimou movie. Gong Li was great in it. She was great in all his movies.
I am not watching the Olympics, which is unusual for me, but I’m just so down on China at the moment.
How long to wait until bugging your agent? 4 weeks. Maybe 6 because it is the end of summer. She should be checking on the manuscripts mid-September. My opinion, anyway.
May your birthday give you good luck.
I do watch the Olympics sporadically–Michael Phelps is mildly interesting, but not when it’s all MP all the time (it seems like if he isn’t actually racing at the moment we have to see a montage of him). Or they show gymnastics or beach volleyball. Surely there must be something else going on??
But I’m just being an Olympics cranky-pants. 🙂 I do love ZZ movies, especially Raise the Red Lantern.
Diane, thanks for the info, much appreciated.
And Amanda, I think you might like Ryan Lochte too–he’s smoking.
I adore Zhang Yimou‘s movies. They’re amazing. I wanted to see the opening ceremony, but I have a conflict with China’s “relationship” with Tibet.
“And Amanda, I think you might like Ryan Lochte too–he’s smoking.”
Okay, I just went and googled him to look at a pic (it’s so hard to tell with all those goggles!) and he is pretty cute…
I love HOFD–such a stunner in so many ways. I think it’s my favorite.
We’re having a great time with the Olympics! My kids are gymnasts, so we are oohing and ahhing every day. The coach says he’s having no trouble motivating any of the kids this week!
Ah the Olympics! And the Olympiads. I do think Lochte is VERY yum and fabulously talented. What a lucky combo.
I adore House of Flying Daggers, Hero, etc. I am a theater person and love visual in film. Pictures really do say so much and I was enthralled by the opening games.
I have conflicts with Russia and Georgia, China and Tibet etc etc etc. The world is one great mess. . . But I do love people lobbing themselves into the air with grace. . . So I’ve been watching the ladies gymnastic when I should be schlepping drink trays to guests. Ah, I can’t wait till I have my masters. Oh dear I think I’m rambling now. 😀
Oh dear I think I’m rambling now. 😀
And so delightfully, Maire! Feel free to ramble here anytime! 😉
Cara
We have been faithfully watching the Olympics and were jazzed to see some field and track today. I have to say the tall, shave headed Men’s Volleyball dude is lookin’ pretty good. I just wish I could see his eyes.
And those opening ceremonies were amazing.
I haven’t done any back to school shopping because I swear I have left over supplies from last year and the frugal – okay cheap – side of me refuses to spend another dollar at the Dollar Store unless absolutely necessary. Needless to say, the cherubs are nervous and believe they’ll be sans pencils unless I move my tush.
We’re almost set for our annual fund raiser for diabetes and that is a very good thing. Every set back is met with two steps forward, so I believe the universe is lined up right behind us on this one.
Santa
Keeping my fingers crossed for you on the submission front!
I usually do watch some of the Olympics–I’m into certain of the events, but some of them (fencing) tend to get very little air–but this time I haven’t at all. Though I gather that US Women’s Saber crushed all before them in the individual competition.
And I’ve only seen a couple of Zhang Yimou films. But I did watch Kung Fu Panda, so that ought to count. 🙂
Todd-who-quite-fancies-a-woman-with-a-sword-in-her-hand
cant wait teh party next week. like baskeball, gymnastic