So I published two more reports for The Examiner today, both on upcoming film adaptations: Where the Wild Things Are and The Time Traveler's Wife. (Click on the titles to read my reports.) In writing up all I knew about those upcoming releases, I was curious as to what had delayed The Time Traveler's Wife so long. So I went digging, both on IMDB and Wikipedia.
OK, so as you may or may not know, I am the new Miami Book Reviews Examiner. That's right, I officially have two jobs now -- I am an English teacher and a (wanna-be) journalist.The Summer House is about a moment in a young girl's life. A turning point, a time for decision: to go back, or go forward?Jane (17) is in rural France visiting her aunt Priscilla during the hot summer of 1969, the year of the Moon landings. Also staying at this beautiful 19th century chateau, a sleeping beauty of a house, are her aunt’s old flame Freddie Porteous, a charming Englishman, and his wife Marie Pierre, a French woman of great sophistication and beauty.
Jane has left behind an unfaithful first love. Several letters have pursued her, letters decorated with hearts to tempt her. The author of these letters, Richard (18), turns up uninvited. Jane is unaware that her situation is provoking tensions among the older generation, she catches whispers of unspoken somethings at the heart of Freddie and Priscilla's relationship and she finds Marie Pierre’s allure and passion unsettling.
Jane looks to her role models for advice but Priscilla, Freddie and Marie Pierre have become wrapped up in their own giddy feelings about what it was like to be 17 and in love. At a party to celebrate the moon landings Jane is transformed by Marie Pierre from English mouse to sophisticated woman. Wanting to impress and suspecting Richard might be at the party she holds her head high.
Dizzy from dancing and emboldened by champagne Jane ventures out to the Summer House. Curiosity has got the better of her. Is there a dalliance between her sensible aunt and charismatic Freddie? Instead she is confronted a repentant Richard. He wants her back. She is impossibly tempted, but repelled by his crude attempt to force her.
The romantic ideal of young love becomes crushed by his rough desire and by the giggling arrival of Priscilla and Freddie. Jane is forced to face the disappointment of reality. Troubled by Richard’s motivation and by the apparent immaturity of Priscilla & Freddie, she burns the unopened letters and drops them into a deep well. Her world has changed, expanded; a more complex fairy tale is emerging…
'Nuff said, really.
This is a white-knuckle fear for me, so much so that I do not own a car or possess a driver's license. True story!
My knees quake, I tremble like a leaf and I get queasy whenever I'm walking near a precipice or looking down a steep cliff. And yet, I heart roller coasters. I think I'm more scared of heights when I'm standing, though.
Yes, I sleep with a light on (a very dim light). I can only sleep in the dark when I'm not alone. I think this fear is related to my fear of ghosts (see below).
Like most people, I am afraid of dying and of losing my loved ones to death. This is mostly because I am afraid of not knowing what happens after we die. My faith helps comfort me a bit, but still ... (shudders) It sucks not knowing. I am also intensely afraid of dead people, aka ghosts. I belong to a family of seers, people who regularly see ghosts. I myself have never seen a ghost and I regularly pray to God to never let me see one. I promise one day to blog about the ghosts my family has seen, including the one in my very own house. (shudders)
Look at the amount of people. Jeez. Well, at least the castle's pretty! :-D
Ricky and I enjoying the Mass Transit cars. (Gah, I need a tan...)
A new addition to the park -- a Winnie the Pooh tree! (If you squint, you can see Piglet.)
Ricky and the Winnie the Pooh tree.
Random picture from the Tom Sawyer ferry.
Ricky on the deck of the ferry. I am ridiculously proud of this picture for some reason. I love how the sun peeks over Ricky's shoulder.
Saying good night and good-bye (again) to the Magic Kingdom. 
While I love buying from big companies like Target and Amazon.com, I also try to help out the little people whenever I can. And I've discovered, thanks to online stores like Etsy.com, that sometimes it's the handmade things that are the best and last the longest. What I like about Etsy is that they have such a wide selection of the most random things. Need fingerless gloves? No problem. Are you obsessed with butterflies, like I am, and want to buy nothing but butterfly-covered objects? Look no further. They truly have almost everything. And the prices are pretty good, too. Here are some of my favorite sellers on Etsy, mostly jewelry related:
So lately I am obsessed with Twizzlers, especially the strawberry-flavored variety. It's funny because I normally am not one for gummy, chewy candy. I didn't like Twizzlers much as a child. I tried it again recently, though, and now I am craving it nonstop. Twizzlers = love.
I personally do not own a quilt, but I have always wanted one. I love how they exude that down-home, country chic that I love in furnishing. If I could sew at all, I would probably make one, but since, alas, I cannot sew, I will probably end up buying one someday. Simply Shabby Chic makes some particularly fetching quilts for Target. I am currently in love with this one. (Boyf, take note. My birthday's a scant six months away, you know...)
Now, I know it's not accurate to call this singer a current favorite thing, not only because she is obviously not a thing but because I don't just love her currently. I've always hearted this singer, from the very first time I heard her in middle school. I was either in 7th grade or just starting 8th grade. The song was "Silent All These Years." The lyrics were my rawest feelings set to music. Made beautiful. I'd never connected so viscerally with music before. Who was this sprite-like woman with the blazing red hair and the voice that could cut straight to my heart? I ran out and bought her album, Little Earthquakes, immediately. On cassette. (Yes, I am that old.) More than 10 years later (told you I was old), I am still in love with her music, still wondering what draws me so to her.
There are few things better than last minute trips. Some of my most favorite trips with the boyf were the ones we decided upon the night before. We've planned many memorable trips this way... Disney World! Key West! And while Tokyo may not have been planned at the last minute last year per se, it was still pretty spur of the moment. And I loved that trip, every second of it. This week, we might be going to Disney World again since I'm currently on spring break and I'm in a Mickey mood. We might be visiting Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. But we won't know till the last minute, natch. ;-)
