The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[NotWise]

The opera is proving to be fun. It's work, but I'm buoyed by the awesome college kids on stage, the actors/vocalists. There is some incredible talent, especially the lead soprano whose voice is delightful and most definitely not the usual grating operatic style. Kudos to the producer and director - the production is proving to be impressively tight.

What's the opera?

 

[filthytrancendence]

What's the opera?

It's that big, fancy-looking building downtown. Why do you ask?

 

[TheRedLantern]

I've finally made the decision to shelve my WIP for now and start something new. It is the most optimistic thing I've been writing in a long time and my state of mind has swung the other way too far to do it justice.

This is a good thing to do, albeit a heart rending one. Otherwise you wind up twisting everything that you already poured into the work because your heart is in the wrong place for the characters and story you want to tell.

When I realize that I can't do my characters justice and have to say goodbye to them, I put on sunglasses and cry outside like a good city girl.

 

[MrPixel]

Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Libretto is the English translation, which throws me off because the vocal cues in my part are in German.

Oh, the building is anything but big and fancy. It's basically a pole barn with a stage and back room.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Good day, or as Mum says it, "G'day." I have been up since 5:00 am (per usual) and have gotten much writing done. Unfortunately, for clients, not for me. Fortunately, I am paid for my work. Just taking a break, having some coffee, and about to read a story to Donnie. However, I wanted to share a little bit of wisdom first. (Yes, I have a little bit of smarts.)

As writers, we write for ourselves first and our readers second. But really, since we write in specific genres, we aren't writing for a mass market. I use the term mass market to mean everyone. We don't write for every Tom, Dick, or Harry. Not to be confused with Tom's dick is hairy. We write for those who enjoy the genre we write in. For me, I write for those who enjoy whatever genre I'm working in and those who have developed a taste for my type of writing. This further narrows my pool of potential buyers at pay sites and reduces the number of good votes at this site.

So, my friends, write well, write a lot, and enjoy the writing. Don't sweat the haters and write long prosper.

 

[GrantBricksly]

As promised... *drumroll* Shoshana Ch. 2-3 is now live, for your reading pleasure!!!

Of course, Shoshana Ch. 1 is here if you haven't read that yet. And I'll be submitting Ch 4 either today or tomorrow.

Just ignore the fact that they are not currently in the same "series".... I created a series for them with the first chapter...with all the info. But then Lit created an auto generated one with ch 2-3...I've fixed it... but it takes a minute for it to update...lol

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

It's that big, fancy-looking building downtown. Why do you ask?

But that's not important right now.

 

[NotWise]

Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Libretto is the English translation, which throws me off because the vocal cues in my part are in German.

Oh, the building is anything but big and fancy. It's basically a pole barn with a stage and back room.

A good choice for family viewing.

There's an aria in the opera where the Queen of the Night threatens to disown her daughter for consorting with the humans. In most productions it's given a much lighter touch than the story calls for, probably so it isn't too difficult for a young crowd. HP posted a video of that aria from a production by the Royal Opera that didn't dilute the effect. It was terrifying. I found it strangely disturbing.

This is the aria. It might be the most recognizable aria on the whole opera repertoire. I don't think it's the same production, but the woman's voice is incredible.

 

[MrPixel]

...but the woman's voice is incredible.

Holy cow.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The bitch has a serious fade and widow's peak.

A good choice for family viewing.

There's an aria in the opera where the Queen of the Night threatens to disown her daughter for consorting with the humans. In most productions it's given a much lighter touch than the story calls for, probably so it isn't too difficult for a young crowd. HP posted a video of that aria from a production by the Royal Opera that didn't dilute the effect. It was terrifying. I found it strangely disturbing.

This is the aria. It might be the most recognizable aria on the whole opera repertoire. I don't think it's the same production, but the woman's voice is incredible.

 

[NotWise]

Just had an hour-long conference call with a long-time client. They've always thought that I was a partner in the company. Maybe that's why they assume the company would keep going after the actual owner passed away. I finally got it across to them that I was retired and they needed to replace me.

So now I have to review seven years of documents on a problem that could take them a long time to resolve and give them a summary-level opinion ASAP. I need to give them some guidance on other consultants to talk to, and I'm scheduled for a higher-level call next week.

So far, retirement's not all I thought it might be.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I was retired and they needed to replace me.

So now I have to review seven years of

Why take any documents?

'I'm retired, go see someone else now.'

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Freaking pool water is 96 degrees.

Drops to the mid 80s just after dawn, then climbs back to the mid 90s by late afternoon.

 

[NotWise]

Why take any documents?

'I'm retired, go see someone else now.'

After 40 years? They're friends, and a long-time pet project for my late employer.

 

[Bamagan]

The little bend at 0.4 days surprised me, and I searched back through some other stories. It seems to be common, but not usually so pronounced. I don't know what causes it.

I'd guess it is related to time of day traffic patterns. The site has a global user base but the volume probably peaks and dips based on what time it is in time zones with lots of English speakers (or readers, anyway).

 

[MrPixel]

National Weather Service just dropped an extended heat advisory on us... through next Tuesday.

I blew off mowing the lawn. The nurse at the doctor's office said "bad idea" when I mentioned the next project on my task list. At this point I'm going to shut things down here and amble my way over to the studio to pick-up a couple of things. After there I'll go to the "opera house" (ROFL!) a little early to meet and chat with the substitute filling in on 2nd oboe since the original player can't do Saturday's performance.

 

[NotWise]

We're at about the usual hottest part of the day, and the weather service says its 85F. The tomatoes should be loving it.

Next week, maybe not so much.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

94 with a dewpoint of 80. I've only been outside for maybe a total of an hour or so all week.

I just can't take it any more.

 

[NotWise]

Drops to the mid 80s just after dawn, then climbs back to the mid 90s by late afternoon.

They make fountains, sprayers, and water falls that might help with that.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Well. After one year of friendship, my ex decided to block me out of the blue. I knew this was going to happen, and all in all I'm taking it better than I thought I would.

I managed to push out 1335 words just now, but I still feel blind, and the only question I have in my head is 'What would X do?'

X being Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin, Charles Bukowski, and Dante. Why these authors in particular? Because I'm reading them right now. First thing I did after realizing I got blocked was just stare at the cover of Tropic of Cancer for ten minutes.

 

[NotWise]

Well. After one year of friendship, my ex decided to block me out of the blue. I knew this was going to happen, and all in all I'm taking it better than I thought I would.

I managed to push out 1335 words just now, but I still feel blind, and the only question I have in my head is 'What would X do?'

X being Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin, Charles Bukowski, and Dante. Why these authors in particular? Because I'm reading them right now. First thing I did after realizing I got blocked was just stare at the cover of Tropic of Cancer for ten minutes.

Good list, but I try to stick with what my characters would do.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Good list, but I try to stick with what my characters would do.

Well, I asked two of my characters, and this is what they'd do:

• Drown herself with a lot of work.
• Ride her bike all over the city at midnight, at top speed. Flipping off the military is optional, but recommended.
• Have sex with a hooker in a dark alley. Must have neon on her pussy.
• Go for a drag race and steal someone's girl.

Yeah, none of those are options to me now. I'm looking for something more grounded in reality and less grounded in pulp fiction.

 

[NotWise]

Well, I asked two of my characters, and this is what they'd do:

• Drown herself with a lot of work.
• Ride her bike all over the city at midnight, at top speed. Flipping off the military is optional, but recommended.
• Have sex with a hooker in a dark alley. Must have neon on her pussy.
• Go for a drag race and steal someone's girl.

Yeah, none of those are options to me now. I'm looking for something more grounded in reality and less grounded in pulp fiction.

I bet those lit skirts pay for themselves, but I hope they're really LEDs.

My characters are trying to redefine their relationship so they can keep doing what they did last night.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

605 miles driven today. I'm tired so I will check in tomorrow ...

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

RIP Chuck Mangione. I wonder if "Feels So Good" is the most-heard flugelhorn piece of all time.