5 on Friday - Set 9

Today's set is a trip down memory lane, to that golden time when I first moved to Toronto in the late 80's.














When I was 21, I moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Toronto, Ontario. Unlike many Maritimers, who pine away in the Big City and only last six months, Toronto was a form of heaven for me. I lived there for 13 glorious years, and returned to Nova Scotia only because my gram needed someone to live in the house with her, not because I was tired of Toronto.

Whenever I hear these songs, I'm instantly transported to that time in my life, especially the first one, E = mc². When that song is playing, I can feel the pulse of the city run through me, hear the streetcars, feel the heat of a Toronto summer, hear people speaking in all different languages, feel the pull of the vast store of experience and culture, the friends I made there, my husband's family whom I miss every day.

For more tunes, visit Travis at Trav's Thoughts.

1 - E = mc² - Big Audio Dynamite

Somebody I never met
But in a way, I know
Didn't think that you could get
So much from a picture show

Ritual ideas
Relativity
Only buildings
No people
Prophecy

Time slide
Place to hide
Nudge reality
Foresight
Minds wide
Magic imagery

- Mick Jones



2 - In God's Country - U2

Set me alight
We'll punch a hole right through the night
Every day the dreamers die
See what's on the other side

- Clayton / Evans / Hewson / Mullen



3 - My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council

Daylight turns to moonlight
And I'm at my best
Praising the way it all works
Gazing upon the rest

The past is knowledge
The present our mistake
And the future we always leave too late

- Paul Weller



4 - Don't Look Back - Fine Young Cannibals

Never had the good things
Only money can buy
I'd drive my car but
I haven't got a car to drive

Oh, I know these times are bad
And it makes you want to cry
Don't be sad, we'll get by

Baby, baby, don't look back

- Gift / Steele



5 - Need You Tonight - INXS

So slide over here
And give me a moment
Your moves are so raw
I've got to let you know
You're one of my kind

- Fariss / Hutchence



Janet says Didn't know you were in TO for that long, Julia! In God's Country (apt for any part of our great nation I've had the opportunity to live).

Akelamalu says Some songs can evoke very vivid memories can't they? I love the photo of you. :)

Bond says Interesting set list. Memories are made for music.

Thursday Thirteen - 153 - 13 Things I Did Today

1 - Woke up at 5:00 this morning in a lot of pain (migraine.) Struggled to get up in order to take acetaminophen with codeine. Slept till 7. Second wake-up was much more tolerable.

2 - Spent the morning dealing with an avalanche of paper (I scan documents,) wondering if anyone had sent out the Saint Bernard to dig me out.

3 - Smiled repeatedly at the signatures of elderly people on the document avalanche. I love their characters which shine through the squiggliness.

4 - Enjoyed break time with my sister, who works in the same office as me. Cool!

5 - Worked like a perpetual motion machine, trying to stay one step ahead of the avalanche.

6 - Kept the pedal to the metal and worked two hours overtime, but got to sing along to my playlist with no one else there but me. Party!

7 - Thanked God when the bus that includes a 3-minute walk for me rolled up first, rather than the one which includes a 20-minute walk. Woo hoo!

8 - Enjoyed the moody fog in the woods as I walked those three minutes between the bus stop and home.

9 - Gave my wiggly-waggly overjoyed-to-see-me dog lots of lovin'.

10 - Made a cup of green tea after supper.

11 - Rolled my eyes at this headline in the Chronicle Herald:

Cardinals claim opposition to gay marriage, abortion fuelling ‘hate’ campaign

12 - Changed into my comfies and sat at the computer.

13 - Put my earphones on and relaxed with a little bit of Richard Armitage therapy. Here's a current favorite on my You Tube playlist. Love the editing job that Liisakee did *applause* Song is Where I Want to Be from the musical Chess, sung by Josh Groban. Clips are from seasons 1-3 of BBC's Robin Hood.



Ms Snarky Pants says I know at least 4 other people, including me, who had a migraine today. Obviously there was something in the air!

Frances says You definitely know how to make lemonade when life hands you a lemon - and first thing in the morning to boot. Waving at you from New York.

Kelly Boyce says Sounds like a pretty good day. Mine was dull, dull, dull. Boss was away and I forgot my flashdrive with my mss on it at home.

Wordless Wednesday - 144

Mom Start says Looks like it could be a relaxing evening.

Nikita Banerjee says I like the design on the plate. Is it an heirloom?

Debby says Beautiful!

Through the Opera Glasses - 54 - Sharpe's Challenge and Sharpe's Peril

For a 5 on Friday I did a few weeks ago, I mentioned that the opening theme music to the Sharpe series is way up there on my list of favorites. In fact, everything about the Sharpe series is way up there on my list of favorites.

Sharpe is based on the series of books which follow Napoleonic-era British soldier Richard Sharpe, written by the awesome Bernard Cornwell.


Tom Clegg directed all sixteen of the 2-hour film adaptations of Cornwell's books, starring the sigh-worthy Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley.

I've been so grateful, these past two weekends, for PBS Masterpiece's broadcasts of the latest two Sharpe's.





Sharpe's Challenge, 2006

This one I'd seen before, but I can never get enough of Sharpe.














It features Toby Stephens in a rather dastardly role, whom I've also enjoyed in many other productions, including his role as the rotten Prince John in season 3 of BBC's Robin Hood.














It also introduces the very handsome Karan Panthaky as a rajah not quite of age, and who is at the mercy of his regent, his late father's foremost concubine and her lover, played by Toby Stephens.

Here's the trailer:



Sharpe's Peril, 2008


















I was delighted to find Raza Jaffrey in this one, who played Zaf in seasons 4-6 of Spooks/MI-5.


















I was also happy to see David Robb appearing as Major Tredinnick. He looks like this when you can get a close-up:














I saw him in another PBS Masterpiece broadcast back in grade 11 (that's 1981, if you're wondering) in The Flame Trees of Thika and have always admired him since then - especially his gorgeous voice, which is why he obviously does a lot of voice work.














And you can't beat the joy of seeing a recurring character like Simmerson show up, played with elitist relish by Michael Cochrane. He has appeared in 5 of the 16 Sharpe films.














There's lots of challenge in these two stories for our intrepid hero. And amazing stuntwork by dreamy Sean.











And did I mention peril? Did I mention I can never resist a hero in chains?

NOTE: There is a 30-second leader at the beginning of this trailer.



Both of these films are available on DVD, and Sharpe's Peril will be rebroadcast on Saturday on PBS.

Beth says Wow, I've never heard of these before!

Naquility says You've intrigued me. I will have to check these out as they look like very good shows.

Poetry Train Monday - 146 - No Cure

Hard at work on the second draft of my vampire story, this long weekend. It's inspired this assessment of the affliction I suffer.


For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!


No Cure


Story attacks like a virus
No cure except to write
First attempt inside out
Like the transported fly

Years of workshops
Tears of surrender
When it just won't make sense
When it won't leave you in peace

Light bulb moment
Only leads to dissection
Your story's scenes sliced bare
Moments amputated on the floor

Rebuilt version sent out
Fragile as spun sugar
The heart bruises
With every rejection

An offer is made
A contract is signed
Champagne cork popped
Dreams now stock on a shelf

Someone you've never met
Stays up all night
Reading your story in one gulp
As another story attacks you

- Julia Smith, Apr. 4, 2010

Sorcerer says Beautifully done.

Janet says Glad to hear the rewrites are going well - can't wait to hear more about it, Julia!

Akelamalu says Good stuff Julia. :)

Weekend Writer's Retreat - 1

Welcome to my first post for the Weekend Writer's Retreat.

I noticed that my wonderful blog friend Susan mentioned this meme on her blog, and when I popped over to check it out, I discovered a few more blog friends hanging out over there, as well.

I can't resist the lure of a writer's retreat. And I've been enjoying some serialized flash fiction on several blogs, so I've decided to throw my own hat in the ring.

I'm not sure if my posts will qualify as flash fiction. Hopefully as I do more of them, they will. Flash fiction follows the requirements of a longer piece of fiction, containing conflict and resolution for the characters, however brief.

My pieces are going to be much more like vignettes, scenes that focus on an idea or an impression.

I've decided to begin this feature with my Scorpius character. He came to me during a real life writers' retreat a few years ago. I've got about a quarter of his story written so far.

Scorpius is the Chamberlain of the Keep for Lady Elysande in a world that combines a medieval-type slave-owning society with sophisticated technology and political intrigue. For my Weekend Writer's Retreat scene, I'm going back to Scorpius' boyhood. The stories I share here will be backstory, taking place well before the events of the novel I'm working on. Or will be working on - I'm currently working on my vampire story, and after that I'll be finishing my gardener story. And then I can get back to my Scorpius story.


Scene 1

The falconer strode silently ahead of him. Hurrying to keep pace, Scorpius kept sneaking looks back at the home he’d shared with the other fostered boys and girls until the road turned and there was nothing more to see.

His new master didn’t bother to check to see if he was being followed. For one long moment, Scorpus stood in the road, unwilling to leave his hopes behind.

The distance stretched between himself and the falconer. All the moments when he’d shrugged away from Nurse’s embrace, wished for quiet when the babies shrieked, or when he’d sighed with boredom during chores came rushing back. He’d take it all again gladly if only he didn’t have to go with this man.

He gazed with longing at the turn that concealed the high stone wall and the manor where he’d grown to boyhood. Glancing ahead of him, the empty road cautioned speed, speed.

He could run.

He could run off into the wilds. The scraggly brush could conceal him. The rough boulders could cradle him.

Scorpius listened, but he couldn’t even hear the footsteps of the falconer against the gravelly road. Gaze roaming over the landscape, Scorpius felt the patient breath of unseen predators upon his neck. Just daring to glance up, he saw clouds and sky but no shadow marring the blue.

He knew what it felt like to see that dwarfing wingspan, to scramble for cover only to see his dear friend disappear in a screech of flame. His chest seized horribly with dread.

Scorpius ran, sickly sweat congealing along his spine. He ran till the sight of the scarred man ahead of him made his heart swell with relief. He caught up, his breath loud and ragged in the late morning air. Still the falconer walked, not turning to see who panted and puffed behind him.

Falling into step with his new master, Scorpius fought the urge to look back. What was there to see? Nurse no longer needed him, and the falconer had need of a boy. He’d best get it through his head that no one had come to claim him, and now no one ever would.

© Julia Smith, 2010

Travis says You've packed quite a bit of insight into the character here.

Alice Audrey says That last line is very strong. Well done. Welcome to the Retreat!

Nessa says I like the third paragraph from the end. It is riddled with the tug and anxiety of a frightening yet appealing relationship.

5 on Friday - Set 8

Here is my third character sketch for the love triangle I'm currently writing about. So far you've been introduced to Peredur, a Dark Ages Welsh warrior who becomes a vampire, through Set 6.

Next you met Tanwen, the beloved of Peredur who is left behind in the human realm after his battlefield death, in Set 7.

Today I'm profiling Cavan, the son of the village wise woman, who has always lived in a state of unrequited love for Tanwen. The sequence of five songs runs along Cavan's character arc for the story.

For more great tunes, and if you want to play along, visit Travis at Trav's Thought's.

1 - Without Her - Harry Nilsson

I spend the night in a chair thinking she'll be there
But she never comes
And I wake up and wipe the sleep from my eyes
And I rise to face another day
Without her

And it sounds like a lie
I said I'd rather die than live without her
Without her, I can't go on
There's no song without her

- Ham / Evans



2 - Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix

Well, I stand up next to a mountain
And I chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island
Might even raise a little sand

Cause I'm a voodoo child

If I don't meet you no more in this world, then, uh
I'll meet ya on the next one
I'm a voodoo child baby
I don't take no for an answer

- the Jimi Hendrix Experience



3 - I'm Going Home - Tim Curry

Free to try and find a game
Dealing cards for sorrow
Cards for pain

Cause I've seen blue skies
Through the tears in my eyes
And I realize
I'm going home

O'Brien / Sharman



4 - I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine - Elvis Presley

Well I don't care if the sun don't shine
I get my lovin' in the evening time
When I'm with my baby

Well, it ain't no fun with the sun around
I get going when the sun goes down
And I'm with my baby

- Mack David



5 - See Me Feel Me - The Who

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

Listening to you
I get the music
Gazing at you
I get the heat
Following you
I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet

- Pete Townshend



Jamie says Tim Curry, Harry Nilsson and Elvis in one set - Now that's creative thinking.

Marina says Jimi Hendrix is my favorite ever!!!! I have all his albums/CDs. I also enjoyed The Who. Great set!

Travis says That is fascinating. I love how you make this work for you in your writing.