Monday, August 16, 2010

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



10 comments:

  1. im pretty sure i spend half my time at your blog oggling EYECANDY.

    heheee

    but no seriously, great post. i love your dedication :D

    <333

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  2. HA! I'm with Tahereh!
    And I watch Y&R, so............hmm...

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  3. I used to watch Days religiously..but since I've been at work the "religion" has faded...really have no desire to watch anymore...and I'm sure after missing 7 years of Days...I've got to be missing SOMETHING! LOL!

    But yes I am in agreement with everyone...the eye candy on your blog...MMMMmmmMMMM!!!

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  4. Glad you are back :-)
    And I ANYTHING I can do to help bring back your focus, I'm there.
    I vote for a trip to Hawai'i ..? *wink*

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  5. How cool is that - what a great first paid piece! And yes, the eye candy here is always great ;)

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  6. I used to watch Another World after school. Now I'm a big (addicted) fan of Coronation Street. I don't have a PVR yet, but record it on VHS (I know, right!?). Luckily, they are now on line!

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  7. Thanks Tahereh - I happen to be a fan of eye candy :-D (And dedication...)

    Candy - I know SO MANY people who love Y&R. I wanted to start but figured I had enough distractions...

    Karen - seriously, you're not missing much. Well, except Bo and Hope are not together (again). Bo is back with Carly and Hope is trying to kill Bo. Hmmm. Come to think of it, that sounds familiar to a story line about seven years ago... LOL

    Jamie - Hawaii. Sigh. I wish. Not this year, but definitely NEXT.

    Thanks Jaydee. It was a very cool first piece.

    Jan - I used to watch Another World as well. I was devastated when they took it off the air but now I'm not sure I could recall a single character. LOL

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  8. My daughter and I turned on some random soap opera on the soap opera channel one night. I warned her they were addictive, and as soon as you know what's going on, the dialogue ceases to be funny...that's when you know you're hooked.

    Oh, but we had such a great laugh over all the drama!

    Love your choice of muse this week. We need a former muse gallery for ogling purposes. Mmmhmmm. An official request. ;)

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  9. Wow that's pretty cool for a first sale!! And I don't care what people say.. I still rush home to watch my daily soapie

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  10. Jennifer Horton. Wow - talk about a throwback. What was her other husband's name? Billy? Weren't Billy and Jennifer a thing for a while? I think I kinda loved Billy.

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