Wedding our common humanity

What is the meaning of life if not our love for each other? And where do you see it demonstrated more than at a wedding reception? Of course, an open bar helps to open arms (for some).

I usually attach a Youtube video here but I recorded the following on my Windows phone at a wedding reception over the weekend and had the hardest time getting it on this page. To open this you click on the video link or you might need to paint the blue lines below. I'll try to figure out a way to make it easier or learn how to send this to Youtube! Later...I've got jet lag.

Love ya,

This is 3 minutes long. If anybody has trouble opening it please let me know, since I may have gotten it wrong.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=c5173b321eb0d7d3!370&authkey=!ACrUdIfTpnARijw&ithint=video%2cmp4

Weddings are a celebration not only of the union of two people but an affirmation of the best of our humanity.

Don't stand under a glass ceiling

The front page headline in the LA Times today read, "TV is signaling that a woman can lead the US."

TV programming has shifted dramatically and heavily since Geena Davis's show, in which she played the president, wasn't renewed.
Now we have Veep, Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, House of Cards, Game of Thrones (quote: "Good luck finding him (a leader)." "Who said anything about a him," Varys replied.). More and more women are assuming lead roles of all kinds.

Our alpha male had best get with the program, if he even gives the new reality a thought. It is what it is (in Hollywood) and the article suggests that real life is either leading or following suit.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is now president Selina Meyer in HBO's Veep. Here's one of HBO's promos:

One of the points to Veep is that its comic strength is notemanating from a woman being president, that has lost it's dramatic/comedic value!

Extra credit: Remember Susan Elizabeth Phillips's First Lady? A story about a woman who wants to escape being an ornament in a man's world. I highly recommend it and bravo to SEP for portraying this strong woman.

Shameless self-promo corner: In my new release, A More Perfect Union, I invest in Senator Ayita Starblanket (Cherokee) running for president. Yes' it's a romance with political insight, intrigue and hardly anyone seems to notice she's a woman, except for her opponent...

 

 

Michelle Pfeiffer is white gold

Name dropping in novels:

I was chastised for comparing my current naughty, kick-ass heroine to a young Doris Day (physically although my character has an inner good girl wanting to come out) in my latest WIP.

Many readers weren't born when Doris sang and acted her way into our hearts. Does this mean we should dumb down to our larger audience? No. Keep it spar, of course. It's one thing to reference, but turning your contemporary novel into an historical treasure hunt puts the reader off focus and seeking Google or Bing if they continue to read at all.

Why are young men singing about a still lovely 57 year old actress?

MICHELLE PFEIFFER.


Michelle is one of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the silver screen and the idea of challenging your audience and/or paying homage to a striking woman seems obvious.

There are other theories.

Blog 97ZOK presents two:

"No person’s name has been mentioned this many times in music since Jason Derulo couldn’t stop saying his own in 2011.

Michelle Pfeiffer isn’t promoting any movies at the moment, so why does she seem to be the ‘Pop Music Muse of the Moment.’ Here’s why.
 

Let’s start with “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (‘Pfeiffer drop’ at :17)
 

"“This hit, that ice cold… Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold.”

"There are two reasons for this particular name-dropping. The first one comes from NationalAve.com:

… a reference to a religious movement growing rapidly in the music industry: Pfeifferism. [This movement along with the Flat Earth society will get you a cup of coffee.] For those who aren’t in the know, Pfeiffer is a religious practice that entails worshipping the Almighty White Fox, Michelle Pfeiffer – star of such Hollywood hits as Batman Returns, Scarface, and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen. While it is unclear how this movement started, many point to Pfeiffer’s “Most Desirable Female” MTV Movie Award nomination as the true beginning of the Pfeifferism movement.

… and the second reason comes from USA Today:

… seems to be describing Pfeiffer’s feisty Elvira Hancock from “Scarface.” By “white gold” could they mean cocaine? Would make sense, considering Hancock’s a drug addict.
 

"The second ‘Pfeiffer’ name-dropping comes from “Riptide” by Vance Joy who’s opening for Taylor Swift’s World Tour. (‘Pfeiffer drop’ at 2:12)

… “Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you’ve ever seen.”

Vance Joy told Buzzed that his ‘Pfeiffer dropping’ was inspired by her Catwoman character in “Batman Returns” and specifically THIS scene.

Catwoman comes back to her apartment after being thrown out the window by Christopher Walken and she goes mental. Her apartment’s all pink and beautiful, and kind of creepy and infantile, then she just smashes it all up and spray paints stuff and transforms into Catwoman. It’s this really kind of sexual scene; it’s amazing."

RWR: Okay, interesting ideas, but after reviewing the two songs' videos and lyrics it's predominately obvious to me that the men idolize women and in particular, Michelle Pfeiffer.

Riptide by Vance Joy  2013 Pfeiffer's name drop at 2:12 evokes obsession:

 

Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars (‘Pfeiffer's name drop’ at :17). Compare to: Standing on a Corner, Watching all the Girls Go by for intent:

 

 



The resurrection of happily-ever-after.

WRITING POINT: embed in your hero and heroine traits that everybody knows will help when they're married:

Some statisticians say that 99% of marrieds contemplate divorce at one time or another.

One of the reasons for failure (and the huge failure rate) is the disregard of something often quoted in a marriage vow: Respect your partner.

It’s usually out of love that we offer a better way to do something, to save our partner time, to protect from harm, but…

Respect them. They’re adults. They’re competent. Give them space, don’t nag. Stop nagging. Nix the nag (oh, oops, I stop nagging you).

It took me forever to get into my thick head that it was more important to either show by example or find a way to get your point across without it sounding like a nag (both men and women do this in different ways). A woman generally repeats the point. A guy usually says his way is the only correct way. Remember most behaviors are habits. All habits are pleasurable. Changing a habit is painful until the change is practiced numerous times.

“I can’t find my keys.”

“I know. I’m having the same problem.” (He or she isn’t, really).
(after a discussion of ideas). “What do you think if we buy a key hook board and we hang it here or there?”

“Great idea.”

There are many more difficult examples, regarding driving, cooking, cleanliness, spending, etc.

Working on creative ways to solve a problem that might help your partner is worth the time. Unless you come up with a thoughtful plan, try to bite your tongue, don’t say anything until you have your thoughtful response ready.

Anyone have examples they care to share?

Remember The War of the Roses in which they’re both hanging from the chandelier in the final scene? Or Oscar and Felix as The Odd Couple?

The War of the Roses, 1989, trailer.