REPORTING

It’s a different kind of writing and I’ve been grumpy about it all week, so grumpy I’m even tired of hearing myself.  It’s not that it takes away from other projects — I spend too much here in my office on the computer tracking how many people have looked at my animations as it is.  I just hate phone tag, waiting to get hold of someone, trying to schedule getting hold of someone and then waiting for the call back.  And I’m not that fond of the phone.  But interviewing Tamora Pierce reminded me of why I thought it might be fun to do a little freelance reporting.  I had fun — it’s nice to talk to people about the things they are enthusiastic about and successful at, the activities and ideas that move them.  It’s invigorating and yes, I will say it, darn it, even inspiring.

 

Usually, you have to get me on Shakespeare to hear a topic that I care so much about I’ll drag people along by magnetic enthusiasm, although I can do a good job on why “In the Bleak December” should be read by more people– Jane, Sally, Mary and John are great characters, there aren’t enough gay characters in straight books or straight characters in gay books and I always enjoy rereading it (yes, yes,  I should post it online somewhere but it’s caught between computers and word processing programs and I have to add the new opening chapter– The DaVinci Code taught me cliffhangers really work for readers) and why working with orange cat puppets(aka Gullible and Twitchy) is a very satisfying thing to do — I have discovered I love problem solving and how to get them cling to things without losing major clumps of their fur is a problem. I also get that good solid charge when I’ve finished an episode.  

 

Now, where was I…oh, reporting, Tamora Pierce…the only bad thing is that after talking to someone for thirty minutes, you are left with quotes you can’t use.  This allows you to distill the interview, use the best responses and write a better more focused article as a result, but I still look a little sadly at the conversations left in my notebook sometimes.  I’m glad to have had them, but writing well means choosing well so people only get a glimpse.  The Tamora Pierce glimpse seems to be “go with your gut” and you can achieve what you want if you are willing to work very hard at it.  Not a bad message.

 

Oh and I can recommend “Defender of the Small:  The First Test.”  Got it out of the library, read it this morning before the interview, enjoyed it and will look up the next book in the series.  It’s hard to find new fantasy authors.

THE SCORE: EUREKA VS. THE MIDDLEMAN

Eureka — pluses for Frances Farmer, Stark in suit, Martha; still no Spencer — no fair trading him for Zane and Larry; boo Allison accepting Stark but yeah return of chemistry with Carter.

The Middleman;  pluses for excellent early flirting, but minuses for dance; minus for Cecil, worse villian yet, pluses for Roxy appearance, middling for Ida, not a good Dubby episode, tuba not as amusing as I thought.  

 

SCORE (This week only, on a scale of -5 to +5):  Eureka +2, The Middleman -1/8

EUREKA VS. THE MIDDLEMAN

I need my goofy, square jawed hero, tons of puns, possibly a brunette stops by science fiction content so this week is a test — which show will I look forward to?  The Middleman jarred the sentiment to humor ratio last night by focusing on Lacey and The Middleman while at the same time lacking the hyperkilter zap  of the evil dictator boyband or trout craving zombie episodes; …we’ll see what Eureka does for its third season.  The Middleman is becoming my “hmmm, that might be good music to try” source. OK, just checked out The Middleman webpage and apparently people want Wendy and The Middleman to get together — NOOOOOOOOO.  One of the best things about it was that there was none of that Moonlighting once we go we go wrong tension between the two leads; leave it for the roommate.

BUTTERFLY

 

resting at Valley Forge

 downloaded 400 plus photos; this is one of my favorites.

BRITISH FOR A NIGHT

In between Big Bang Theory and the Middleman, Gayle watches Top Gear and I read the FT Weekend.  Should be having Twinings tea as well.  Always wake up next day with craving for a much faster car — Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes — something with curves…very American burgers and potatoes (oven fries) for dinner though. Tomorrow’s internet research: 4-H clubs, Tamora Pierce and St. John the Baptist.  New business cards today with brand new cell number first; it’s a new world — and Verizon won’t unfuzz the phone line.  Big Bang & burgers calling; then later cursed tubas.  And in between, 100 plus miles an hour.  There’s a night for you.

36 HOURS

Well, I wasn’t up at 2:44 a.m. staring at my computer last night; I got to applaud my self discipline today.  Looking at too hectic a week and apparently I’m in the discovery phase of documentaries so meeting on Wednesday, freelance article to work on — anyone have a Tamora Pierce book suggestion? — and still working my way through  Droidmaker.  Finally broke down and bought Season 2 of Eureka since Season 3 starts Tuesday; still evincing dangerous loss of quirk, even on DVD when I haven’t missed half the episode ’cause of rehearsal.  I have more hope of The Middleman; it’s about a cursed tuba — how can you go wrong there.  Tuba’s a memorable instrument; my indelible New Orleans memory is walking through the French Quarter in an early November twilight and hearing a tuba playing “Summertime.”  Want to go back sometime; it had incredible energy and enough music spilled out that suddenly everyone had rhythm, swing or at least a melody half hidden in their heels.

MEANDERING

Well, this has turned into my productive time (iMac reports it is 1:13 a.m.) — that’s what I get for getting a night shift job right after college, where I never slept anyway — Lake Michigan is inspirational at surprising hours, as is walking.  Twitter led me to Simon’s Cat on YouTube which is a hoot:  http://www.youtube.com/simonscat

 Enjoying non fiction — well I didn’t enjoy Tim Allen and Bob Newhart’s books — comedians either need their voices or editors, probably both.  But I am enjoying DROIDMAKER:  George Lucas and the Digital Revolution by Michael Rubin.  I keep thinking I’ll skip read but the details pull me in — more technical than emotional, like how Paramount’s failed VistaVision system is apparently why White Christmas looks so good as well as why the Star Wars dog fights didn’t degrade too terribly even though they had so many layers.  Calvin is big on this issue when we talk about using our bluescreening program.  Just Googled VistaVision and Wikipedia (it’s another lonelypond culture name drop day) informs me it was used in “To Catch A Thief” and that Hitchcock liked it — I can see why — I have apparently always been a VistaVision fan and didn’t know it.  Well, me and George Lucas.  The things you find out when you read:  http://www.droidmaker.com/contents.html

 
Oh wow, here’s the list of VistaVision Films and it includes “The Trouble With Harry,”  ”Funny Face,” “North by Northwest” and a whole list of films that used it for special effects (“The Abyss,” “Star Wars,” “The Dark Knight,”…wow.  I’m sticking with digital (too cheap and broke for film, plus I like the look of HD), but WOW: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_VistaVision_films

 

Gullible and Twitchy after a hot afternoon shooting

INSOMNIA

URG…sounds like a caveman name or a Tim Taylor micro mini grunt — up too late.  Have been Twittering like a fiend — fun, fun — 140 characters or less is an interesting challenge.  Have not been sleeping; Pongo had to go to the vet and stay so bit stressful.  Is it mid- July already?  I miss Shakespeare a little, but not rehearsals.  Not sure what to do this weekend, but I’m behind on summer movies — Dark Knight, Mamma Mia or Kung Fu Panda at the $2 theatre…also should see Music Man — seems loud right now; the 76 trombones just went off in my ear.  Since WP does pictures, I’ll load one from this afternoon’s Gullible and Twitchy potential Tropfest sunflower animation session.  Cheers.

HAPPY FOURTH

Probably no fireworks here, but definitely picnic food.  And I might pull out a copy of the Declaration if I can find one.  Enjoy the day, ring something for liberty and don’t blow anything off.