Like sands through the hour glass...

I've been watching Days of Our Lives for a long time, friends. Not consistently, of course. 

What started as as an after elementary school tradition with my Nona (grandma) became a slight obsession in high school, and then tapered off during the University period of my life. 

For the last ten years, I've mostly watched it while home sick from work or on holidays. In true soap opera form, the story line is easy to follow so missing a few months, or years, inbetween episodes isn't a big deal. (As long as I see Bo Brady every time I watch the show, I'm good...)

But now that I've got a PVR, it seems my Days obsession has resurfaced - with a vengeance. I'm on the last day of holidays with handsome hubby and by the time we get home tonight, I should have just over a week's worth of Days recorded. Oh, how easily I am sucked back in.

I'd be lying if I said it's been a productive holiday. I haven't written a word, truly, since we got in the car nine days ago. Hubby and I celebrated our anniversary, and spent much-needed time with family. (Nona and I even had a brief conversation about Days...she's still a fan...)

But tomorrow, it's back to reality and I'm geared up to make writing the focal point of my world. I'm in need of a super amazing muse avatar.

Jason Brooks should do the trick.

Don't have a clue who he is? Don't feel bad - only a true Days buff would remember him. He portrayed (briefly) Peter Black and was married to Jennifer Horton.

I actually had to look that last part up because the reasons he is so memorable to me have nothing to do with his role on the show. While working an internship at the Calgary Sun, I was asked to interview Jason Brooks for a very small article about his visit to the Calgary Car Show. What was supposed to be a ten-minute interview turned into two hours of chit chat, netting me a lot more material than the three inches my editor allotted for the story.

So I wrote a longer piece - and freelanced it to Soap Opera Weekly magazine. Jason Brooks' picture graced the front cover of that issue and my article was the centerfold (and feature) piece. More importantly, it marked my first official PAID freelance article. The editor gave me a cheque for $1,000 (U.S) and a promise of more work in the future.

That never panned out (few soap stars made it to Alberta), but I'll never forget the thrill of my first official sale. 

Writing has never been about the money for me, but just thinking about that article reminded me of the dedication I once committed to making a career out of what I love to do. Jason's role of muse avatar this week will be to inject some of that inspiration back. 

The Book In My Bag Today: Broken, Kelley Armstrong