Stop making sense

November 18, 2006

Eight work days and counting until I become a full time writer.

And this is the opening weekend of hunting season, which means it is my traditional time to sit blissfully alone with my writing, my cheap wine, my expensive chocolate and my shrimp, while the menfolk stalk the wiley whitetail.

An apology to all the vegetarians. But we eat deer. In my experience, the men of the house are less likely to ever shoot or hit anything human, after seeing what violence against a smaller (and rather tasty if correctly prepared) animal looks like up close.

And they are not out, stalking with extreme prejudice, as I would likely be. An 8 point buck tried and failed to suicide on the hood of my car the other day. If it’s him or me, I vote for him. There are dangerously too many deer in Wisconsin. And they make excellent sausage.

But anyway…

To get me in the mood for rapid book production, come 21/2/06, I’ve been looking for the correct soundtrack to my book. It would be easier if all it took was a collection of classical music from 1815 (or whatever year I’m supposed to be writing in, but that must be close). But since my characters aren’t actually ‘period’ but only my perception of the period, this music is usually too reserved.

What it actually takes is something that makes me happy. And I can be very hard to please.

I need music that I can listen to, over and over. Something that will not annoy me. Something that I will not hear with my conscious brain in a way that is distracting. I do not want to sing along, so I tend to favor instrumentals and foreign languages that I don’t speak. Since I know enough German to manage a few drinking songs, I’ve got the whole world to choose from. For contemporary, I tend to favor punk and hard rock, but that can change in an instant.

But I need music that puts me in the correct mood, then sinks under the skin and drags me into the subconscious, where the story lies. Something that vaguely symbolizes, in my twisted mind, what the story is about.

So my first stop was Fox Music Company.

http://www.foxmusiccompany.com/

If you are ever in or near Watertown Wisconsin, you should go there. Collectible vinyl. Local folk. Jazz. Special orders. A friendly staff. And they had cats. I believe they are down to cat: singular. Perhaps no cats at all. But it was always fun to bend down under the table to look at punk or used CDs and see someone who needed their ears scratched.

I went in the other night, looking for inspiration. I got the sound track to “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Which led me to Nina Simone. Which had me obsessing on French jazz, about which I know nothing. Which dragged my brain to this movie I saw once, which was German, but had this French song in it, that we couldn’t find.

Which, when I got home, turned out to be Italian, which explained why I couldn’t find it. Tina, when I come back, I will be looking for Paolo Conte. And perhaps Jacques Brel. I have no idea what Jacques sounds like, but I remember hearing him once and I think it will help. And Paolo Conte, definitely. “Vie en” ‘something or other’.

And on the way home from my writer’s meeting, today, I stopped into a Borders to get he soundtrack to the new James Bond movie (which, strangely, does not seem to have the opening title song on it) and found the original Casino Royale soundtrack to go with the contemporary one.

BINGO

Which means I am writing an 1815 Regency romp to Burt Bacharach, Herb Alpert, and Dusty Springfield singing “The Look of Love.”

Sorry, Jenny Crusie. If you ever stick your head in here, I can live without Dusty, because of that horrible, doormat, “You don’t have to say you love me…” song. (Actually, yes you do have to say it. YOU STUPID BASTARD).

They used to play that on the Muzak at the wig teasing job.

But Casino Royale was my favorite movie when I was approximately (according to IMDB) nine. It came out when I was six, and it probably took a couple of years to get to the CBS Friday Night Movie. I watched it recently, and realized that my early views of what constitutes “sexy” were given to me by people who were obviously on LSD. It explains a lot. I can only look at some movie like this, turn to the kids and shrug, “Well, it was the 60’s.”

In another post, I can discuss why I’m likely to abandon my family to sit in the theater and watch the new “Casino Royale” with Daniel Craig, over and over…

But some other time.

28 responses to “Stop making sense”

  1. frankie_ecap says:

    Just wanted to say I read your book and loved it.

    YDHTSYLM is the second most codependent ever, only surpassed by the theme from Moonraker that contains the line ‘take my unfinished life and make it complete’.

    Saw CR this afternoon. Daniel Craig sexiest Bond evah.

    • admin says:

      Book and Bond

      Awww, thanks. Book-wise, there’s more where that came from. Right now, I’m trying to pick an unpickable 19th c lock. In my head.

      I think actually purchasing lock picks will be necessary to get the feel. The prospect has #1 Son calling this “The Best Christmas EVER!”

      And I’m thinking the presence of cards in CR makes this a possible research trip for the Destination Imagination team.

      The fact that the team manager is making a noise kind of like “nnnerrrrrr” and drooling slightly?

      Maybe I shouldn’t sit with them.

      Last night I was the only single, middle-aged woman at Towne Cinema. Lots of “Boys.” So much testosterone in the air I felt hair growing on my chest.

      This was probably how my husband felt when I dragged him to “La Cage aux Folles.”

  2. frankie_ecap says:

    Just wanted to say I read your book and loved it.

    YDHTSYLM is the second most codependent ever, only surpassed by the theme from Moonraker that contains the line ‘take my unfinished life and make it complete’.

    Saw CR this afternoon. Daniel Craig sexiest Bond evah.

    • admin says:

      Book and Bond

      Awww, thanks. Book-wise, there’s more where that came from. Right now, I’m trying to pick an unpickable 19th c lock. In my head.

      I think actually purchasing lock picks will be necessary to get the feel. The prospect has #1 Son calling this “The Best Christmas EVER!”

      And I’m thinking the presence of cards in CR makes this a possible research trip for the Destination Imagination team.

      The fact that the team manager is making a noise kind of like “nnnerrrrrr” and drooling slightly?

      Maybe I shouldn’t sit with them.

      Last night I was the only single, middle-aged woman at Towne Cinema. Lots of “Boys.” So much testosterone in the air I felt hair growing on my chest.

      This was probably how my husband felt when I dragged him to “La Cage aux Folles.”

  3. zhaneel says:

    The Paolo Conte song you’re thinking of might be “Via Con Me”, a wonderful song that’s good for repeat listening. It was used in several movies; you might remember it if you’ve seen “French Kiss” with Meg Ryan.

    • admin says:

      Wunnerful

      Yes, that’s it. It’s also in a movie called “Mostly Martha” about a German chef. Sweet romance, but not a good movie to watch while hungry.

      My hero is a wistful optimist, with a manic streak.

      I am not musically prepared for optimism. The last two guys were Byronic. The guy in the contemp I can’t sell is emotionally detached and borderline psychotic. The guy in the contemp I might sell is a cynic.

      But the current guy, Tony, is so damn cheerful I hardly know what to do with him. And Via Con Me is a really happy song.

      I think, anyway. If I remember right, only the refrain is in English. For all I know, the rest of it is about killing puppies, but the refrain is very happy.

  4. zhaneel says:

    The Paolo Conte song you’re thinking of might be “Via Con Me”, a wonderful song that’s good for repeat listening. It was used in several movies; you might remember it if you’ve seen “French Kiss” with Meg Ryan.

    • admin says:

      Wunnerful

      Yes, that’s it. It’s also in a movie called “Mostly Martha” about a German chef. Sweet romance, but not a good movie to watch while hungry.

      My hero is a wistful optimist, with a manic streak.

      I am not musically prepared for optimism. The last two guys were Byronic. The guy in the contemp I can’t sell is emotionally detached and borderline psychotic. The guy in the contemp I might sell is a cynic.

      But the current guy, Tony, is so damn cheerful I hardly know what to do with him. And Via Con Me is a really happy song.

      I think, anyway. If I remember right, only the refrain is in English. For all I know, the rest of it is about killing puppies, but the refrain is very happy.

  5. Anonymous says:

    I hear you about the suicidal deer! Wisconsin doesn’t have a wrap on them–my girlfriend nearly totaled her van last month in Idaho when one leaped in front of her, and my cousin in Arkansas had a huge buck slam into the side of his car so hard that it blew out both front door windows and buckled the driver’s door! Scary critters…

    As for music–have you ever heard of an artist named Benise? He is an amazing guitarist. I saw him on PBS one night–they were doing a fund raiser–and his show was called “Nights of Fire”. Just awesome. He has a website and you can listen to snippets of his music there. I think it is http://www.benise.com.

    Sheri
    Rescue Cherry

  6. Anonymous says:

    I hear you about the suicidal deer! Wisconsin doesn’t have a wrap on them–my girlfriend nearly totaled her van last month in Idaho when one leaped in front of her, and my cousin in Arkansas had a huge buck slam into the side of his car so hard that it blew out both front door windows and buckled the driver’s door! Scary critters…

    As for music–have you ever heard of an artist named Benise? He is an amazing guitarist. I saw him on PBS one night–they were doing a fund raiser–and his show was called “Nights of Fire”. Just awesome. He has a website and you can listen to snippets of his music there. I think it is http://www.benise.com.

    Sheri
    Rescue Cherry

  7. odiouswoman says:

    La Vie En Rose?

    Hey, so that Italian song isn’t “La Vie En Rose,” is it? Just a thought.

    Also: You are living the dream. Eight days until you’re a full-time writer – get down with your bad self! Rock ON.

    – Brooke, make-out Cherry, FWIW.

    • admin says:

      Re: La Vie En Rose?

      Nope. But this is the title I always get it confused with, in my head. This one has a refrain in English that goes “Is wunnaful is wunnaful, good luck ma baby…”

      I checked this morning, and it’s possible to I-tune Paolo Conte, although it removes my excuse to go to the record store. But it was also possible to get the theme to the new Bond film, since the sound track has everything but the main title.

      What kind of sadist came up with that idea?

  8. odiouswoman says:

    La Vie En Rose?

    Hey, so that Italian song isn’t “La Vie En Rose,” is it? Just a thought.

    Also: You are living the dream. Eight days until you’re a full-time writer – get down with your bad self! Rock ON.

    – Brooke, make-out Cherry, FWIW.

    • admin says:

      Re: La Vie En Rose?

      Nope. But this is the title I always get it confused with, in my head. This one has a refrain in English that goes “Is wunnaful is wunnaful, good luck ma baby…”

      I checked this morning, and it’s possible to I-tune Paolo Conte, although it removes my excuse to go to the record store. But it was also possible to get the theme to the new Bond film, since the sound track has everything but the main title.

      What kind of sadist came up with that idea?

  9. Anonymous says:

    Oh, thank God, you’re back.

    I was planning to come over here tonight to scold you if it was still your old post.

    You’ve been one of the things keeping me going during Nano.

    SueD

  10. Anonymous says:

    Oh, thank God, you’re back.

    I was planning to come over here tonight to scold you if it was still your old post.

    You’ve been one of the things keeping me going during Nano.

    SueD

  11. Anonymous says:

    new blog

    Huh, Chris, Huh, over here, over here. I’m waiting for a new blog.

    Every day, I wait. I need my daily laugh. I demand my daily laugh.

    Sue D, glorious cherry

  12. Anonymous says:

    new blog

    Huh, Chris, Huh, over here, over here. I’m waiting for a new blog.

    Every day, I wait. I need my daily laugh. I demand my daily laugh.

    Sue D, glorious cherry

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