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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Pride and Prejudice marathon

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.25.2008

When Danica was here, we watched the BBC miniseries Pride and Prejudice! It was great!

I love watching this miniseries, but it’s always better watching it with friends. :) Especially friends who understand the Regency era and the storyline, and who love dishy British blokes.

I can’t believe this was made 13 years ago. Colin Firth looks so young. Danica also recognized the actress who played Caroline Bingley from other movies, What a Girl Wants and Three Weddings and a Funeral.

Now, a few weeks ago, Pride and Prejudice was showing on Masterpiece Classic, and I have a Tivo Season Pass to record it. Captain Caffeine wanted to watch something else and asked if he could stop recording.

I told him, “Sure, I have the DVDs.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“And you watch them over and over?”

Huffy. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s good!”

Then, I challenged/pleaded/nagged Captain Caffeine to watch Pride and Prejudice with me.

“Okay.”

Jaw hits floor. “Really???” (In hindsight, I should not have given him the opportunity to change his mind.)

“Yes. Just not right now,” he added hastily as he flipped to Sports Center.

So when Danica and I started watching Pride and Prejudice, I wondered if he would stay and watch, especially since we were monopolizing the TV.

And he did! Well, most of it. When Darcy was declaring his love for Elizabeth, he said he was tired and was going to bed and walked out on the most romantic point of the movie. (I am not surprised, after all, he is a man.)

Aren’t you impressed? I know I am.

Here’s a link to the YouTube video of Mr. Darcy’s first appearance in the miniseries (BBC disabled embedding it in my blog post, sorry). I love this scene!
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Katie Hart - Pinterest Manager said…
I find it hilarious that Anna Chancellor doesn't get Colin Firth in BOTH Pride and Prejudice and What a Girl Wants.
Mon Aug 25, 04:30:00 AM 2008
Georgiana Daniels said…
I love, love, love this verson of P&P, and my hubby watched it too! Well, he tried, but fell asleep somewhere in hour two. It was a valliant effort. You're so right about watching it with someone else who gets the romance of it all!
Mon Aug 25, 06:59:00 AM 2008
Anonymous said…
I love this movie, too!! My favorite part is when Darcy meets Elizabeth unexpectedly at Pemberley... not just because of the wet shirt, but the way they are both so different towards each other and in each other's eyes. Firth & Ehle nail it. :-)
Mon Aug 25, 11:45:00 AM 2008
Anonymous said…
Well, *some* of us have to get up for work the next morning :)
Mon Aug 25, 03:59:00 PM 2008
Camy Tang said…
I guess that's a valid excuse. *sniff.*
Camy
Mon Aug 25, 04:01:00 PM 2008
Geekwif said…
I don't think there is a single scene in that movie that my husband doesn't recognize, even though he has supposedly never watched it with me and would never admit it if he had.
Mon Aug 25, 05:47:00 PM 2008
Danica Favorite said…
Well, it was still fun having Captain Caffeine watch it with us. And very good that we watched it together. We need to watch more movies together. :)
Wed Aug 27, 10:11:00 PM 2008
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