Merry Christmas!

The message I've been seeing and hearing (and feeling) all day is that "love wins."  And it's true.  Love does win.  Every time.  Happy birthday, dear Jesus!  And merry Christmas, everyone!  Hope your heart was filled with love today ... and may it continue to overflow with love everyday.
    

Two days ...

... until Christmas.

This year I'm celebrating love and togetherness because there's nothing like it, right?  It has been a whirlwind of a year.  But, Christmas always reminds me to sit back, breathe and be thankful for all that I have.  As my dad says, I don't have a lot of money but I have my children, my family, and that's my wealth and happiness.  

I didn't get everything I wanted this year.  Some plans and dreams failed, as well.  My heart was broken more times than I want to remember.  But, I have a lot of love in my life.  And in the end, the failed dreams, the broken hearts, the unfulfilled wishes, don't really matter as much.  Because I have love.  And that's what matters.

thursday's tune.

The perfect end to my day.  

thursday's tune.

To continue on the Christmas theme, here's one of my favorite Christmas songs.  Have a beautiful Thursday! It's finally cold and rainy!  Love it!

thursday's tune.

I know it's not Christmas yet.  But, I love Christmas songs, so I have them playing all month long.  This one takes me back ... way back.

thursday's tune.

It's an old song, but it appeared on my YouTube home page, and well, thought I'd post it as today's tune.  This song used to make my insides hurt so much, but listening to it now really confirms that time can heal our wounds.  And although there are some people we will always miss no matter what, missing them won't hurt as bad.

Happy 1st of November!    

thursday's tune.

"sealed with a kiss"

Scene: Coffee Shop

(U2's "All I Want Is You" playing in the background)

he watched her stir her coffee from across the table.

something he had watched her do a hundred times.

but there was something different about the way

she looked at the swirls in her cup that morning.

the way she smiled, as if she and the coffee shared an inside joke.

do you think we can do this thing? he asked.

she looked at him, what thing?

the me and you thing?

you mean, the 'we' thing, she said.  because you and i had been 

doing the you and me thing for quite awhile now.

well, yeah, he said as his gaze turned to his coffee mug.  i'm ...

what do you think? she asked.

he looked at her again, and suddenly there were no more questions.

yes, he said.

she smiled.  then, she leaned across the table and kissed him.

then, i'm in, she answered.

rememberin' '80's music

There's something romantic about the '80's ~ a cheesy, but incredibly hopeful and heartfelt romanticism that's missing in today's times.   

There's definitely something about '80's love songs that tug at my heart.  Remember this?

thursday's tune

So, I'm on this soundtrack quest.  Creating a new soundtrack for my book ... writing.  I've somewhat changed the story since I first started it (many years ago), and well, I've changed since I started it, so, I thought that I should create a new soundtrack.

(And well, since I've been watching a lot of Felicity lately, thought I'd post this video with the song.)

So, where does this song fall in the book ...?  Hmmm, I think beginning of Act II. 

Happy thursday, everyone!

Madness

I ... I can't get these memories out of my mind.
And some kind of madness
Has started to evolve.

And I ... I tried so hard to let you go.
But some kind of madness
Is swallowing me whole, yeah.

I have finally seen the light.
And I ... have finally realized
What you mean.

And now, I need to know is this real love
Or is it just madness
Keeping us afloat?

And when I look back, at all the crazy fights we had,
Like some kind of madness
Was taking control.

And now I have finally seen the light,
And I ... have finally realized,
What you need.

And now I have finally seen the end,
(Finally seen the end)
And I'm ... I'm expecting you to care,
(Expecting you to care)
And I ... have finally seen the light,
(Finally seen the light)
And I ... have finally realized,
(Realized)

I need to love
I need to love

Come to me,
Trust in your dream,
Come on and rescue me.
Yes, I know, I can't be wrong
Baby, you're too head-strong
Our love is ....

Ma-ma-ma-mad-mad-madness.


I think I've mentioned more than enough times how I listen to music when I write, and how I even create "soundtracks" for my stories.  So, anyhow, the other day, I was in my car and this song came on.  I've heard it before but never really listened to it until that day.  I guess it came on at just the right time as I was going over a scene from my book in my head, and well, I have to be honest here and say that lately, I've had a hard time writing.  I've been stuck on fragmented scenes.  They're not flowing.  I know it's because I've been really busy with work so the book has been in the back burner for awhile, but I'm trying really hard to not let it stay there too long because I know how difficult it is to go back to it.  Thus, when I'm in my car, and can't do any legal work, I brainstorm.  I write in my head.  But for awhile, I had been going over the same fragmented, shallow scenes in circles.  I hit a wall.  I just had scenes with not much emotion.  And I need emotions!  I need to feel it to write it.  And I hadn't been feeling it.  Then, this song came on.  And bam!  I heard.  I finally listened.  To the music.  To the words.  And the scene just came together.  It's as if this song was written for my character.  And I saw it, I heard it ... playing during that turning point in her story when she finally realized what she had been doing wrong, and she finally saw what she needed to do: love him.

But, loving him can mean many things.  So, you'd have to read the book to find out what that means for her.  :)

By the way, I love this song. 

thursday's tune.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I have deadlines after deadlines (work, class, work) ... my brain feels like it's going to explode.

But, on a good note ... my book is progressing (2 pages a day!).

Happy Thursday! 

another thursday tune.

Sorry for all the music posts.  But when I write, I always look for music to inspire me.  To evoke certain images and emotions that I want to convey.  (I even make soundtracks for my stories.  And my characters.) 

Anyhow, Ben Harper has this voice that makes me want to close my eyes, and just sway.  Surrender to the music.  And when I do, the story just comes to me.

I found this cover that Ben Harper did.  And wow!  That's all I can say.  But, I can write for another couple of hours. :) 

thursday's tune.

This should be this blog's theme song.  Whatcha think? 

On a side note, I'm not liking this gloomy July (summer) weather.  I mean, it's not like I can go and spend time out in the sun and just lay out at the beach.  But, it's summer ... and it's nice to feel the sun on my face while I'm typing away in front of the computer.

thursday's tune.

Working on writs have this weird effect on me - gets me excited and just a little nutty, sometimes.  I love legal research.  If that's not nutty enough.  I had an assistant tell me that watching me work on writs or motions is like watching a scientist at work, but instead of having tubes and burners, I have the computer screen and keyboard.  And if my hands are not on the keyboard, they are speaking in some kind of sign language that only I probably understand.

I get into this zone when I write.  Whether they be stories or legal pleadings.  And I speak when I write.  And yes, I do speak with my hands, too.  But something about the legal analysis that goes into a writ, the procedural arguments that always includes research into legislative histories, gives me some kind of high (and I mean that in a very legal [non-criminal] sense).  I love discovering distinctions between cases, especially when the law (case law) is against us.

But, staying in the zone for a long time can be a little harmful to my brain (and maybe to my well-being).  It's like being sucked into the Black Hole.  So, I make sure to pull myself out of there, just to allow my brain to breathe a little.  Life is not in the black print of codes, statutes, and regulations.  It's definitely not in the oftentimes horrific facts that make up these cases.  So, I need my outs.

Music gives me my outs.

And U2.  Absolutely.

I went to this concert.  By far, the best concert I've ever been to.

My friend and I bought the tickets last minute, and paid a lot of money.  But, it was worth it.  We were smiling the whole night.  And the next day, I was still smiling.  Makes me smile right now thinking about it.

thursday's tune.

I know I've posted this song several times on this blog but I just really love this song.  If you haven't already figured out, I'm a big U2 fan.  And I love most of their songs, but this one, this one has got to be up there on my list of all-time favorite songs.  And well, since I'm writing again (outside of this blog, I mean), I thought I'd post this song for celebration and inspiration.  This song makes me want to write.  Everytime I hear it, I feel my heart unfurl.  Slow at first, but by the chorus, no fail, it reaches full bloom, revealing everything I've ever felt and everything I've always wanted to say.

thursday's tune.

I've had this on repeat since Meg posted it on her site.  I can write motions all day to this song.  I can even read another DUI trial transcript (or two) while this song keeps me company.  (Okay, two may be an exaggeration, but I do love this song.)

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Any plans for the long weekend?  I'm so looking forward to it.  How times have changed.  Memorial Day six years ago was when my heart stopped beating for awhile.  When that stabbing pain pierced so deep I couldn't breathe.  When I believed that a part of me died, and I couldn't see past the pain.

Wow!  That was six years ago.  I'm repeating that out loud right now with a smile.  I can't stop smiling.  It must be love, you're thinking.  Right?

Well, of course.  But it's not what you're thinking.  That's the best part of it, in fact.

I found the ending to my book.  :)

Okay, before I go on complete vacation mode, I do have to finish this brief, so if you don't hear from me again until next week, have a fabulous long weekend!     

because i still miss you.

Today is the nine-year anniversary of my grandfather's passing.  This song always reminds me of him.   

thursday's tune.

It's been awhile since I posted a U2 song.  Although there are times, that's all I need. 

(I love how Bono introduced this song here.)

a tune for friday.

This song reminds me of the summer of 2003.  I would have this song on repeat every morning, while I was stuck on the 405 en route to Bar review class.  I'd have it on repeat while sitting inside my car, working on multiple choice questions an hour before class started.  I'd play it again and again while I drove back to school after Bar review.

It's a sad song.  But somehow, it gave me comfort that summer.

thursday's tune.

This song came on the radio the other night while I was on my way to dinner.  And I was swept with nostalgia.  All of a sudden, I was nine years old again, singing and dancing in our living room.  Motown was the music of my childhood.

And since I had a long morning, I thought, it won't hurt to reminisce for awhile.  Close my eyes, and listen to the music that filled my innocent mind and heart with hopes and dreams.  Close my eyes, and dream young again.