Caught a cold

so no post today. Just want to bundle up under a blanket and snooze on and off.

gayle

having trouble with my internet today

so I will try to post later after I return from my trip downtown to do a bunch of chores.

I will wear a jacket it is friggin cold. lol Have my fireplace on.

gayle

Posting day

Today I post chapter 38. mmmm. What is in 38 that will bring by readers to joy, tears, fears, happiness, anxiety, or even sadness? let's see. Chapter 37 Rawlings boarded the ship and yelled at Darcy for not going to Bingley's party. Ah yes, the dinner party.

So Darcy gets to meet a whole new world of people. What will he think? Will he think they are all lunatics. lol

This is just another chapter into Darcy discovering who he is. He may not like what he learns but then this story is all about his change and more will come later.

Well, I do appreciate the comments I receive because I learn what works, doesn't work, and what I leave out. lol Have I made changes to the story after the comments? Well, a sentence here and there and once a whole paragraph. But now I have added a whole scene to a chapter just because the readers begged. I will give them what they want but they will need to wait until Chapter 41.

Ah. I know they want Rosings/Hunsford to come soon but not yet. First we have this party and then we have.... well, we have a few more things that must happen. So no Hunsford yet.

My story was always about what Darcy's life might have been in London. That and the exploration through the new characters of differences in regency era to what we know as life today. I used several tradesmen's sons (Bingley was just not what I wanted so I invented Kent), a second son and a titled man. I wanted to explore their lives and how the world impacted them- business, social and friendship. Now that we are in London, I wanted to attend a few balls and dinner parties but unlike other writers I wanted to explore life from Bingley and Kent's view too.
So today I post a dinner party like no other. I hope everyone enjoys it and understands much of what I wrote was based on actual descriptions about these people.

So enjoy and leave me comments if you wish. I always learn from them and it helps me decide what to do with the chapter when I have finished posting the whole thing. Will I keep it or make changes or even dump it into the trash bin icon? We shall see.

gayle

chapter 40 sent to my beta

and I just received back chapter 38. No blog today because I wanted to push through with some of the polishing on my chapters. I fell behind with my mom's visit and now I am trying to catch up. I will work on chapter 41 tomorrow morning and then pick it again Wednesday.

but today is sunny and so am I. The leaves are changing and while the colors are not as brilliant as had been (i suppose because of the drought) they are lovely just the same. The yellows are just coming out.

Soon all the leaves will be gone as will all my hidden stuff in my story. Will you be satisfied? I hope so. But first we need to start stirring that pot.

10 chapters left to edit. 10 out of 50! whew. This has taken longer than I thought it would. Wish that I was a better writer it would have been a smoother ride. Wish that I knew how to punctuate and that my grammar was better and I had a way with word phrasings. I have to struggle to do any of those things. lol

well, off the watch an old movie underneath a cuddly blanket and drink some hot chocolate.

till tomorrow.

gayle

just a quick hi

am cleaning house, washing clothes and getting ready for a card and pizza party - so not much to say except I enjoyed hearing from my mom this morning. After 5 weeks together you would think I would have nothing left to say but not true. We talked for well over an hour. Of course, like Sinfeld was a TV show about nothing so is my mom's and my conversation. But I love to hear her voice.

Will finish wordsmithing chapter 40 today as well and get that off to HeatherF. Hope she is having a good holiday in France. Tomorrow I will begin chapter 41 (well I have started) - I have to add a couple of short scenes to the piece so I expect it will not be ready until Tuesday or Wednesday. As long as I can work through to chapter 50 by my birthday I will be pleased. (November 13 - I was born on my mom's 25th birthday - perhaps that is why we are so close.)

Take care and enjoy your weekend.

gayle

the mists have returned

I am again surrounded by thick mist usually referred to as a cloud. Living at 3000 ft it is not unusual to be in the clouds. Today it is a wet gray cloud with not a touch of sun. The roads are slippery wet which takes me to my story.

Slippery wet. We are approaching the slippery wet slidy part of the story. As in all slips, you cannot control anything. It just happens. Sometimes the slide veers to the right and other times it ends quickly. But regardless, you are not in control. All you can do is try and keep yourself from getting hurt. You can cover your head with your arms and hands, you can reach for the pavement and soften the blow or you can fall on your butt (or bum as Brit's say).

What will Darcy do when that wet slippery slide begins. What will my readers do - will they yell at me to stop this! Will my readers hold their breath and wait for the next chapter to arrive just to find the poor man is still sliding? And is he being pushed and by whom? And where is he sliding too? lol Only the devil authoress and KarenA know.

My comments this week proved interesting - they were all glad that Rawlings was able to knock a little sense in his head but sorry to see him leave. Well Rawlings will have his own worries to deal with and I suppose the readers will be a bit anxious for him. Yep, he is sliding too but that is yet to be revealed. Soon though.

I will work on chapter 40 today and hopefully Chapter 41 will follow quickly. I would like to remain 4 chapters ahead and with posting chapter 37 I need to be working on 42 by Tuesday. Ah, 42- mmmm. From that point my polishing should be quicker. I have nothing left to research and make sure I get things right. Of course, HeatherF is a fantastic resource for me. She explains all my failings with all things British and regency so well. I cannot thank her enough. But one question pops in my head? Did the regency men shake hands?

Well, back to the slippery sidewalk called Expectations. Our man is just starting to go outside and brave the mists that surround him. lol

till tomorrow

woke up late today

Whoa! 9:15 - I never sleep this late and as a result my mind is foggy. lol Well, I will add to this post after I have had coffee and worked on some stuff for my very good friend PatM and then Chapter 40.

changing seasons

It is sunny and I feel pretty good. The leaves are changing colors up here and today some friends and I are heading up to Pisgah Inn for lunch. It sits at 5000 ft and overlooks the wonderful mountain view. It is peak season for the changing leaves.

Soon all the leaves will be off the trees and everywhere will be naked tree trunks. The colors were not as brilliant this year. Some years are like that. As are some chapters.

Writing chapters is a lot like changing seasons - some chapters are brilliant with color and description much like autumn and others are sunny and bright. Soon we will be in gray sadness of winter. The clouds will hang in grey hues over our heads. We will feel dispirited at times as will one of my characters (or maybe a couple of them).

Of course we have the bright colors at Christmas time - the reds and greens and gold and for a few brief days we are all happy and feeling good about life. Some though are saddened by the upcoming holiday season. Much like my story. One man can be extremely agitated, the other brimming with joy, and another confused and conflicted. They can all met and work together but they do not all have to share the same emotions about their lives at the same time. That is just how life is. But we muddle through and do the best we can.

I will continue to consider how the seasons have impacted my story. Or better yet, does my story impact my emotional response to the day?

The story is changing much like the leaves and soon all will be bare for everyone to know. LOL and I am not sure they will like all of my endings. Of course they won't hate me because I know what they want but then there is the one or two loose ends that they may not like how I tied them up. lol Oh well. I do try to bring life into the story and as there is no perfect solution to evrything I do not make everything perfect in the end. But there is still time. There is always time until the last post is made! And then the epilogue can change everything again. Oh to be in such control over so many characters.

I will miss my men, Blake, Rawlings and Kent. We will always have Darcy and Bingley through other writiers, but my three men are mine. And when the story ends, they will cease to exist. they will also cease to whisper to me late at night for more time in my story. They will stop demanding and begging and pleading for the lady of their choice because they will have been given the ladies of my choice. It may agree with them or not. But They will go off to the hidden world of invented characters and live the remainder of their lives away from voyeurs such as us.

13 chapters left to post. Enjoy my Blake, Rawlings and Kent while you can.

gayle

dang Internet this is Posting day

Been losing it all morning. no sooner than I start to type something, the internet connection fails.

Thoughts about today's post:

When you read this morning's post you will realize Rawlings' father is not so bad after all. His brother is a cad but no so for his father.

Did you catch his father's line about taking one final look at him? mmmm. On top of the last toast of the alliance. What does the evil devil authoress have up her sleeve. Is the final look the "final" one ever or just for this day before he leaves? Does it play into the toast? YOu must keep reading.

Why is Darcy always hiding behind his sister? This time he is using her as the reason not to go to Bingley's party. Well if your memory serves you this is the dinner Uncle Watt mentioned to his nephew Bingley about making sure to bring Darcy to the meeting. Next week we will attend the Lunar Society meeting/dinner.

A little business in this chapter although I am now moving from business to relationships again. But cannot skip the trade aspect.

Blake's other uncle - this time Attwood from the financial world is an interesting sort. Blake seems to have three very impressive men in his life: his father the duke, uncle Harrowby the politician and uncle Attwood the financial wizard. Yes both uncles are lords as you would expect a duke's brothers to be. One may even be a brother-in-law to the duke but it is of no consequence so I did not bother to explain who is who. Now you will have wonder how these men play into Blake's future.

You will learn a little more about Kent next week. He attends the Lunar Society Meeting - his uncle Boulton was Bingley's uncle Watt's partner. Hence the two friends knew each other all their lives and that is why they raced carriages.

And finally, a hint of a concern has reared itself in Darcy's mind about Kent and his sister. Now where on earth is this evil devil authoress going with this story line? mmmmmm.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter although it is what some people call transitional. But every scene always has a point that I wish to make and so if you are like realelegance (and thank you for reading my blog) or like FrancesL you will ponder each sentence looking for clues and hidden meanings.

till tomorrow.

gayle

Bathrooms

Ok, today I want to think about bathrooms. Lately on all the design shows there seems to be this big trend to convert your bathroom into a spa. Good gosh. A spa. You need a jet tub and candles and in addition to the elaborate double sinks and commodes. I guess a sink, shower, and toilet is not good enough. lol Americans don't say toilet, like I need to use the toilet. When I travelled to England and had to use the restroom I asked some Brits and they did not understand me. They stared at me with these looks I knew meant they thought I was crazy. Finally when I said the toilet they pointed me in the right direction. Never say restroom in England.

Our bathroom in Venice was interesting to say the least. It had the sink, toilet, and a shower head. there were drains in the floor. I had never showered with a sink and toilet in the shower with me. lol that was an experience. In Rome we used used a bidet.

Once I used a female urinal. It was this long tube coming from the wall with a cup of some kind on the end of it. you place a tissue like cover and hold it where you need it and pee. lol My friend Bert would not try it but heck I like new experiences so I did. It was at a gas station in some far out place so I assume my entire experience was captured on hidden camera and posted on the internet somewhere. I don't care as long as they hide my face. Have you ever peed holding some long vacuum like tube up to your "wee-wee". lol It is harder that you think - first where are your panties? Around your ankles but you do try not to let them hit the dirty floor and don't forget you must stand in a peculiar way. It was quite comical. I could not stop laughing. That was my funniest experience with a bathroom.

Now we get to the Regency era. What did they do? I am sure chamberpots were used. But where was the chamber pots at dinner parties and balls? how many chamberpots did they provide (if any at all) If for no reason other than toilets am I glad to live in this time. Perhaps Mr. Bennet had a peeing problem and therefore he did not go to many assemblies.

I notice it is extremely rare for any writer to include bathroom activity of any kind in their story. Mostly a tub bath once in a while but the other? no. it is as taboo as my asking directions for a toilet in America. We say restroom (where there is rarely a sofa or comfortable chairs) or bathroom (where there is no shower or tub) or occasionally we say John - like we need to give John something.

When I worked you could tell when men were headed off to the "john" they carried the newpaper with them. As a former secretary from when I first started working, I knew this meant he would be in conference for a while if anyone called. He did not have to say anything. I have always wondered why men do this? Does reading help? Women don't seem to need to read the society page while we, ummmm, poop. We tend to get in and get out quickly. It is not a library. Oh well, the mysteries of life.

Maybe I will put a chamberpot in my story. First I have to research it and find out what they do at parties and balls. Surely no one is expected to hold their urine for an entire evening. I saw picture once where the men, once the ladies removed themselves from the dining room, peed in pots while they drank their brandy. I could bring out the peeing pots with my guys. They could have a distance olympics or maybe pee to a tune or something.

Well, that was my fascination today. Good gosh - what will I think of tomorrow. YOu must come back to see if I have returned to classy or remained here in the proverbial gutter.

till tomorrow,

gayle

dissimilarities

Today, what is different about the eras:

Clothes. Today we get to see men's necks. What was so important back then we could not see their necks. Of course, only their faces appeared in the sunlight since they also wore gloves. Men were covered. No wonder there was such desire on the part of women back then and fear when they finally were shown what was underneath. I mean, really, what must have a chaste woman thought the first time? No TV or MOvies to soften the blow. I can imagine their eyes bugging out of their head. YOU ARE GOING TO STICK THAT WHERE? Lol. Ok I am whacky this morning.

And the more covered men are the less covered women are around the neckline. Let's face it - men could admire a woman's neck and.... but women were stuck with only faces.

Work. boy has that changed. Women work, women cook, women party, women do anything they want. Men still own the world and now we are the ones holding it up. We are that atlas fellow with the world on his back. Take away women from the workplace and everything would stop - well maybe not baseball or football. But women are everywhere (even running for President - Hilliary and Vice President - Sarah).

University. Now filled with women and men and a bunch of goings on too. lol

Manners. I believe manners have gone the way of last century. Fewer people are polite. Fewer people speak in gracious tones. It seems a harshness has overtaken conversations and heaven help me so have naughty words.

Business. Not a dirty word anymore. In fact, someone that makes it big in business is admired. Money, money, money must be funny in a rich man's world. money, money, money always sunny in a rich man's world. ABBA song's stay in my head. speaking of which when I saw Mama Mia on the stage they sang that song but I don't remember it in the movie (or perhaps they shortened how much was sung). Well, not only can men work in business now so can women.

Actors. They were looked down upon but now we idolize them. Well, not me because I think most of them are not the kind of people I would want in my life but they are looked up to.

Language. They spoke in complete sentences back then and we can barely put together a simple sentence when we talk.

An accomplished woman. Egad. today that kind of woman would not be considered that accomplished, but still there are some similarities. Today's accomplished woman may be an engineer, a doctor, a lawyer, a politician, and such and yesterday's accomplish woman would have been thought well of but accomplished simply by playing and drawing?

Rich man. That has not changed. MOney rules the world. Men own the money. Women still want to hang out with rich men.

Dowry. Ok. There does not seem to be much of this anymore. But I do remember when dowries existed and there was some talk of my having one and my gosh I am only 57 years old. So it is a recent change albeit it was a 20th century one.

Leisure time. Not only do we fill our days with work, we fill our leisure time with activities. Back them must have been the most boring of times. What exactly did women do all day long? Well, the gentlemen's daughters?

Communication. Ah a change I love. We have the telephone, the telegraph, and now the internet. Life is good. I can use the internet to communicate my story without the cost of a publisher. I cannot imagine having to wait days to hear if someone arrived shortly. I cannot imagine life without the internet and that tool has only been available for us peons for approximately fifteen years. But mostly, I can share my story with hundreds of people around the world all with the click of a button.

I thank everyone that reads my story. I am pleased to live in this era.

till tomorrow

gayle

Returning to Normal

With my mom back home I am now returning to my normal routine, which includes updating my blog. I have also now returned to waking up before 6:00 am! at least today anyway.

Now I need to return to blogging thoughts and to get my inspiration I will go back to random words. Let us see - neat, orderly, light, dark, green, recipe, posting, coffee (be right back - I need to make some) i'm BACK!

Random words are not working today. Getting up to make the coffee helped me - similarities -- is the work I thought of while trying to fix the cup the coffee grounds go in. Similarities, yes that will be my blog today.

When I started my story I wanted my readers to see the great similarities between the turn of the century back then and 200 years later for us now.

• They had the industrial revolution and we have the information one. Their lives would change dramatically before they died. We have undergone significant change with all the digital stuff: TV's, Ipod's, blackberry handhelds, email, online shopping, forums, publishing, news, and everything in between. The internet has made the world tiny. It used to be a small world and now it is just teeny tiny. Information is as powerful as knowledge. Well, I ramble and I am sure you get the picture.

• Politics. Yes, there were similarities- Whigs, Tories and now (I can only really write as an American because I understand how our government works) we have the Conservatives and Liberals (or Republicans and Democrats - or in Britain it is the Labor Party vs. I guess it is still the Tories) But the push is the same - elevation to a higher standing and being the group in control of the reins.
  

• Families. They had their good members and bad members and well, I don't really think much has changed. Greed, jealousy, happiness all still exist today. Some familes are close and others are not. Some siblings are rivals and others co-exist fine. Families have not changed except we no longer give everything to the eldest.
  

• Progress. Yes, the young people seem to want more and more swift progress and us old folks like to go slower. I really cannot keep up with the changes these days (although I think the speed in which changes come has slowed down recently). Progress is fine as long as you don't throw out the best of the past.
  

• War - Hostilities away from home and fighting two fronts at a time - they had Napoleon and the war of 1812 and we have Afghanistan and Iraq (although they are part and parcel of the same war) - Back then it was the "little people" trying to grab their place in ruling themselves and today we have the "little people" trying to overcome dictators. I know it seems like a stretch but it is there underneath it all. Dictators come in all kinds of packages. The argument for war never really changes.

• Transportation. Ok, our rich young people fly around in private jets. John Travolta files his own plane (think of Rawlings driving his own carriage) but still the rich young men have the best of transportation of the time. No rickety wagons for them.

Well, these were just a few similarities. I also have a bunch of ironies. (a witty Mr. Bennet sought a lively girl just as Rawlings does with Lydia).

Those were some of my thoughts when I began. Now if I was able to present them is a different story.

Now that I am back on schedule I am off to finish polishing the rest of 38 and maybe 39 if I can sit for any length of time. My sciatia is bothering me (and happens when I sit for too long.)

till tomorrow

gayle

Bittersweet

I love bittersweet chocolate. I think that is what the dark chocolate is called. bittersweet reminds me of life. When the sweetness comes it is usually along with the bitter.

Yesterday, my mom and I (along with my friend, Bert) spent the day in Greenville, SC, shopping and making a wine run (at Total Wines) and hitting the Home Goods store. We had a lovely early dinner and then along with this wonderful sweetness came the rest of the story: I put my mom on the plane taking her back to Florida. Hence, yesterday was bittersweet.

Life should not be all sweet or all bitter. When I write I try to keep this in mind. My characters are neither all good nor all bad, and and some events are bittersweet. When Georgiana come up with that sonata it will be sweet but based on a bitter event--her almost elopement and her brother's reaction.

When Elizabeth found the crushed chess piece it was bittersweet - he had loved her but left bitter.

When another incident happens you will know I used the bittersweet approach. You will recognize my penchant for mixing the two.

till tomorrow, for today I have my time all to myself. I can polish some chapters and hopefully this weekend I can return to reading others.

gayle

good morning

Today is posting day and today my readers find out the backstory on Rawlings. I know I have some Rawlings fans so I hope I don't disappoint them.

Tomorrow is my meeting day (3rd Wednesday) of the month and I have still much to do before then. I have some final minutes to type and I have some research left for the Theater Group. I am in charge of the Christmas CATS dinner this year, so I have to pick a meal, decide on the decorations and decorate the tables. One thing we must do is find ornaments and I will have one door prize for a special ornament. I would like to have them wrapped up too in festive bags and ribbons. Well see.

My brother is doing well. I don't know exactly what his problem is (he is so secretive about things) but he has had 3 other stents put in before and the doctor's say next year he will need another one. his arteries collapse on him and of course he is without oxygen (which I certainly know what that feels like).

My mom leaves for home Thursday and I will be sad. My house is clean (well not my bedroom suite. I will need to do that for myself.) I am almost ready for my own Soup and Ornament Christmas party. I have picked out two soups (and have a choice of 3 other ones used before) but I need to come up with two more. I found a Turkey and Sweet Potato one that sounds great - I will check out next week. Otherwise? I just have not found something to go with my Rosemary Chicken Florentine with Wild Rice and my Asian inspired Beef with Green Peppers. I will use my Roasted Red Pepper or my Vodka Tomato Basil ones if need be.

Back to the story.

I plan on Friday polishing Chapter 38 and work on Chapter 39. I will do my best to work through all my remaining chapters quickly. The sooner I can get the chapters finished and through the beta's I will post but I make no promises beyond the Tuesday postings. I would not want to push my beta's time.

Today Rawlings teaches Darcy a few lessons, next Tuesday he is off to America. Chapter 40 is Bingley's dinner party and Chapter 41, well let us just wait for it. lol

Coffee is ready and I need to get my chapter tagged for posting.

No blog tomorrow or Thursday. Friday I will return when my house is quiet and my time is my own again.

gayle

A day of computer time!

My brother is doing well. He did have a stent put in (his 4th) and he is home taking it easy. My cousins are looking after him. He knows when the problem is beginning and does not hesitate to get help, unfortunately he will not ask for assistance when he has something laborious to do (such as cutting down the small trees.) And I know I am the same.

For the last two days I have had dinner parties (dates were scheduled before my trip up north). My group of friends and I, along with my mom, had attended a lunch and play together before we had gone to the DC area. A couple of them ordered crab cakes. Huh! They lied. They said it was lump crab - it most assuredly was not. Even had some claw meat - are real no no in the world of crab cakes. There were two tiny pieces of lump meat in the cake. Well, mom decided we would purchase some real lump crab meat and serve it to my friends.

My mom's crab cakes are the best. There is hardly any filling. and it is 100% lump meat. no backfin either. I took my allergy medicine and had cake myself. Of course I felt sluggish the next day but it was the first time in ten years I enjoyed one of her cakes. mmmmmm.

The next night I had a couple over who has been especially nice to me. I owed them a dinner. We had a chicken dish. He watches his carbs so I made sure he had plenty of choices and I use Dreamfield pasta.

Two very nice evenings. I wished we could have waited another week to have them but it did give my mom some entertainment too.

Only one more event is planned before she leaves - a play Saturday. Everybody loves Opal. The little theater group I belong too is putting this one on. I hope all went well. But for $8 they ain't going to get Broadway or West End. lol

I have been sorting through my comments and will post some answers today. I really fell behind and I need to apologize. Once my mom returns home, my time will be my own again; although I will be sad to see her leave. We do get along so well. I am sorry none of my men in the story have a mother. I would write my mom into it. She is a caregiver and they are a dying breed.

Well, off to make the coffee for mom (I hear her stirring.)

gayle

Rainy Day mirror my feelings

Although my brother is home and doing well, I still feel concern. He is a stubborn ass. He was trying to single-handedly remove some small trees and underbrush for an area that needs to be cleared out for a fence. Fortunately, he knew an attack when it started and swallowed 4 aspirins. Everyone should keep some aspirin nearby. It may one day save your life.

Rain, rain. Usually I like rain but today it seems to highlight how I feel. When visiting my sons, I promised faithfully to update my will. I need to do that before the year is out. How do you chose which child should be the executor? My Blake or My Rawlings? Which would you chose? Well I chose my Rawlings. The younger brother. He will carry out my requests regardless of how asinine my requirements are. He has heard some of them and merely shrugs.

Now I am off to make some coffee, and then spend some time with my faithful posters. I have neglected them recently and that too makes me feel dull and gray as the out of doors.

I have to take my trip downtown to gather the food needed tonight- my mom bought lump crab meat and is making crab cakes for some of my friends that have not had real crab cakes the LaPlata MD way.

till later

gayle

Long drive back home

Yesterday we spent the day driving back to NC. Unfortunately, bad news awaited us, my brother had a heart attack and we have spent the morning on the phone and making plans. It was not the normal "attack" - he has had to have stents put in his arteries before (3 of them) and now he had a fourth one. He bounces back fairly quickly so he is insisting my mom stay here until the 16th. Reluctantly, she agreed because she does not wish to aggravate him at this time. I offered to drive her back to Florida and that may still happen.

I apologize for not blogging while in VA but free internet time was short and most of it was spent in trying to get my chapters ready. I will post Chapter 35 today now that everything is settled with my brother, Gary.


gayle