Today's Mood: Amused. Today's Music: Coldplay. Today's Writing: a poem. Today's Quote:
"Good writing is not a spectator sport; both the writer and the reader participate." Patricia O'Conner
*******
I used to love Halloween. Chocolate, change in identity--what's not to love? But now I have to come up with costumes for kids (and they always want to be horrible things like Hannah Montana or Gabriella from High School Musical or some other cookie-cutter pop star who shows very little creativity), and then I have to get the little darlings in bed after they have consumed mass quantities of sugar. This year Marisa settled on being an Angel (although I must note that on the very first night of trying on her costume, when my friend had the audacity to look up the stairs before Marisa was ready to "show" her costume, and the little "angel" had a complete melt-down. She suddenly looked a lot more like a two-year-old having a lay-down kick and scream tantrum), while Shanna is a black cat. Her tail is attached via white elastic and consequently is often not anywhere near where a normal cat has its tail attached. But she loves it and is very cute in her ears and collar with bells on it. I did have to sew the bells on it again after her sister--the angel, remember--tied it on so tight it was choking the poor cat, and efforts to get it back off succeeded in popping the bells off the collar as well.
Anyway, due to all this excitement, I was going to pass on dressing up this year. But while I was drying Marisa's hair before bed, I got this great idea to dress up as a stereotypical librarian. Now, I have to be honest and tell you I have NEVER met a stereotypical librarian. All the 
librarians I know are loud, funny, rather liberal, and are more inclined to yell than to shush. Not very many of them wear sensible shoes either. But there you have it.
librarians I know are loud, funny, rather liberal, and are more inclined to yell than to shush. Not very many of them wear sensible shoes either. But there you have it. I had a fairly difficult time finding a skirt that was long enough. In fact, several of my librarian friends told me my skirt was too short, but it was the best I could do on short notice. The shoes are perfect, although it makes me cry to think I actually paid money for them. A lot of money. Which is why I still have them even though I never wear them. I might be able to use them for snow shoes--they certainly look big enough.
And though, in truth, I am often the one being shushed in the library (middle school students have no respect), I think I've got that shushing action down pat. (I studied my librarian action figure with an automatic shushing motion).
Unfortunately, the saddest part of my day was when I went over to the high school library, and no one recognized that I was "in costume". One staff member asked if I got new glasses. Hmm, I guess I'd better weed out my wardrobe again.
Next year, I'm going as a punk librarian. Smash those stereotypes completely.
8 comments:
Sarah;
Thanks for the laugh! What is with kids now days. My daughter, age 16, is going trick-or-treating with her friends. They wore costumes to school, sans masks of course. If we went past the age of 12, someone always said, "Aren't you a little old for trick-or-treat?" Oh well, at least they're not having an egg fight like we did--at least I sure hope not.
Interesting thought. Someone told me if you make up fictional character names from towns or road names that you are using real people and that may not be cricket. I remember one writer who used real people and put them in fictional situations, like having affairs, etc. That seems much different. What is everyone's take?
Happy Halloween!!
I should think you can use names of towns and roads for characters. I mean, people name their kids after towns or roads and no one says that is illegal.
I always hesitate to use names of actual people. That seems a little dicey. But sometimes I mix-n-match names from the phone book. Lots of names are not originals.
That's my take too. The person I was thinking of used a real doctor in a real town. I, and several others in attendance, thought that was a bit over the line.
Sarah,
Love the librarian look. I should have been the stereo-typic therapist.
Re: names. Murphy, my latest character, is after my mom's maiden name. Several last names from the last novel were based on street and town names - Harrison, Mason, etc. I didn't even know that was something others did.
And, of course, your porn name is the name of your first pet combined with the street you grew up on. Mine = Cleo West.
Mike
Mike-
Cool! I've never heard of that--although that formula doesn't yield a name that bodes well for a career in porn. Titus (I know, you could go a lot of ways with that first name!)Burgis. Now maybe if I was a cross-dressing porn star...
BTW, what does a stereotypical therapist look like?
Nor does Penny Bridge. Now Penny Fremount might ring true if I were a female.
Other options include keeping an eye out while traveling. Blue Earth Minnesota has rattled around in my head for years. Ladora, Marengo, Ida Grove--a name all in itself--Jasper, Guthrie, etc. are also worth some thought.
Sarah, great costume! I dressed up as a grandma with a sinus infection. I was very convincing in that role!
Larry, using real peoples' names in anything fictional is just plain wrong. Especially if you know the person. I suppose there's a chance that any made up name could be one of a real person, but I think the writer should try to be creative.
As for the porn name, mine would be Princess Orleans, which ain't bad, but it's lacking that Gail Storm catchiness. I suppose I could go with the dog that died just before I was born, and I could liven things up as Trixie Orleans.
Hmmm. I'll have to see what my agent thinks...
Deborah
Deborah,
That is way too funny! I love both names!
Post a Comment