One man had a dream. One man had hope.
Through opportunity and hard work, we are better for it.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
“Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?”
Did you watch the inauguration?
I watched The Word last night. The movie was strange, but as a writer, it was interesting and it touched me. It made me rethink what I was doing and why I was doing it. Some of the lines that made me think:
Have you seen it? Have you ever thought what if it doesn’t happen for you? Why do you write?
Editing
I have on my list to edit my first novel. My issue, I can’t get started. Now I think I know why. I am too focused on what I hope it’s supposed to look like. Really, I mean what if I waste all this time editing and the book still isn’t good enough.
Reading
As writers, we are supposed to read, and I love to read. Lately, reading has been an emotional freeway for me. There are times when I read something so amazing, it inspires me. Then other times, I read something and am totally defeated. No way will I ever be that good. I finished The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien and Gabriel’s Redemption by Steve Umstead. Highly recommend them both.
You might be surprised about which one made me feel what? Have a guess?
Site Changes
I added a few new pages. Check them out and let me know what you think.
This change was inspired by Angi Black’s post – The Break-up – Angi writers a letter to herself. The letter starts – “Dear Old Me, I’m sorry darling. You have to go.” Good stuff, give it a read.
Post to Revisit
Next Week’s Schedule
I’ve got two Blog Tour Post coming up created by The Masquerade Crew.
A Court Room Drama Blog Tour – The Homicide Chronicles by Ralph Shamas A Post Apocalyptic Blog Tour – Since Tomorrow by Morgan Nyberg
Here’s another blog challenge I’ve joined for 2013. I hope it’s ok to join more then one. Whatever motivates me, right?
How was your week? Anything you’re looking forward to in the coming weeks?
It was a beautifully written movie. That’s what I keep saying throughout. Beautifully written and well acted. Now, it is unclear whether the words came from the author of the book Doris Kearns Godwin, Tony Kushner the guy who wrote the screen play, or Lincoln himself. I am sure over the course of his life, the book and the movie, things have been added and subtracted from the words. Like a life/literary/film version of the telephone game. But, regardless, the combination created a very well written movie and Steven Spielburg should be proud.
I am going to share with you my favorite parts of the movie, but even repeating them here won’t do them justice.
When a situation got especially serious or uncomfortable, Lincoln was known to sit down, take a deep breath and then go right into a long and most times amusing story that may or may not be related to the topic at hand. And, much to the chigrin of his staff.
Here are a couple of those great stories from the movie:
again I say: I DO NOT HOLD WITH EQUALITY IN ALL THINGS. ONLY WITH EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW.”
Have you seen he movie? What did you think?
Related Post: Daniel Day-Lewis Breathes Life into Lincoln
Source: Lincoln Movie Script
Another holiday classic. I watch this one at least once, if not twice a year. And, I recite the lines right along with the movie.
George Bailey is what you would call a good man. He started out idealistic and ready for a life of adventure:
“I wish I had a million dollars. Hot dog.”
“I know what I’m gonna do tomorrow, and the next day and the next year, and the year after that.”
“I want a big one.” In regards to the suitcase he needs in order to travel the world.
“George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die.” This always makes me smile. He had the love of a cute girl who grew into a beautiful women.
“What is it you want Mary? . . . You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey that’s a pretty good idea. I’ll give you the moon, Mary.” He was romantic.
“Mary, you on the nest?” He was a good father.
But, you wouldn’t think all was good from all the desperate lines delivered by our friend, George Bailey.
“Your right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know.”
“But to you, a warped, frustrated, old man, they’re cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you’ll ever be!”
“Where’s that money, you silly stupid old fool?”
“Why do we have to have all these kids?”
But, his friends and family adored him:
“After all, Potter, some people like George HAD to stay at home. Not every heel was in Germany and Japan.”
“Is daddy in trouble.” “Yes, Pete.” “Shall I pray for him.” “Yes, Janie, pray very hard.” “Me, too?” “You, too, Tommy.” – these line makes me cry every time.
“I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.”
“Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend, Mr. Bailey.”
“Help my son, George, tonight.”
“He never thinks about himself, God, that’s why he’s in trouble.”
“George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.”
“I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.”
“Please, God, something’s the matter with Daddy.”
“Please bring Daddy back.”
“A toast to my big brother George Bailey, the richest man in town.”
Well, George Bailey lost his faith, but guess what? He found it again. “It’s a Wonderful Life.” How else did you expect it to end?
The moral of the story is, “No man is a failure who has friends.”
Have you seen this classic? What is your favorite holiday movie?
Thanks so much to all my blog friends and Happy New Year!
A Christmas Story is my favorite holiday movie. Young Ralphie hopes, wishes, prays, uses reverse psychology and anything else he can think of to get his ultimate gift.
“I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle.”
And, his mother, his teacher and even Santa dash his dreams with the phrase that ricochet around the the walls of his brain. Taunting him.
“You’ll shoot your eye out.”
Spoiler Alert – he gets the gun for christmas. Then, there he is. It’s just him and the imaginary band of marauders in his backyard. He shoots and exclaims, “Oh my god, I shot my eye out!”
Some of my favorite lines that I repeat ad nauseum all holiday season long.
Their the stick your tongue on a flag pole incident:
“I double dog dare ya.”
“I triple dog dare ya.”
“stuck, stuck, Stuck, STUck, STUCK, STUCK, STUCK!”
Ralphie’s brother Randy:
“My little brother had not eaten voluntarily in over three years.”
“Meatloaf, Meatloaf, double beatloaf.”
“I can’t put my arms down!”
“Dad’s gonna kill Ralphie.”
And, Ralphie’s father was something else:
“That son of a bitch would freeze up in the middle of summer on the equator.”
“In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.”
“Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.” Ralphie’s father wasn’t too smart.
“Sons of bitches! Bumpuses!” What would you say if dogs ate your Christmas turkey?
But, Ralphie oh, Ralphie. I am always pulling for Ralphie, even though allowing a 9 year old to have a a BB gun is irresponsible parenting:
“Only one thing in the world could’ve dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.” Remember, Ralphie is 9.
“I have since heard of people under extreme duress speaking in strange tongues. I became conscious that a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out of me as I screamed.”
“Ohhhhhhhhh, Fuuuuudgggggeeeee.” “Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F dash dash dash” word!
“Flick says he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski’s candy store!” A BB gun hint.
“There has never been a kid who didn’t believe vaguely but insistently that he would be stricken blind before he reached 21, and then they’d be sorry.”
“It… It ’twas… soap poisoning!”
“BB gun mani gets no loyalty.”
“My father worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay. It was his true medium, a master.”
“The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE!”
“Round One was over. heh heh. Parents one, kids, zip. I can feel the Christmas noose beginning to tighten. Maybe, what happened next, was inevitable”
Once again, TBS will broadcast A Christmas Story for 24 hours from Christmas Eve at 8:00 pm through Christmas Day. How many times are you going to watch A Christmas Story this year?
What’s your favorite line? What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 