Porcelain Unicorn

A three minute movie worth watching...

Favorite Romance Moments

I started to chat about the history of Valentine's Day today, because, well...hello! Then I actually read up on the history of Valentine's Day. And well...it's kind of depressing (saints being slain, martyrs, etc...). At least it sounds a tad depressing when I'm writing this post late Monday night/early Tuesday morning after a FULL day of writing. And quite frankly, I'd rather talk chocolate and movies.

So here we go!

Here are some of my favorite romance moments from some of my favorite romance movies! The subtly in these scenes, the emotions... Oh, wonderful! (And get ready, because I'm going to ask you to share your favorites.)

Set up: Luc Teyssier, a self-proclaimed lover of all women who could never settle for just one woman, is trying to get something out of Kate's bag while she's sleeping. But he gets a little more than he bargained for.

Set up: Robert Redford (Tom Booker) is the horse whisperer who is working with a badly wounded horse that belongs to Kristin Scott Thomas (Anne MacLean), who is married, but not to Redford, obviously. You'll see Annie's husband (Robert), played by the wonderful Sam Neill, at a nearby table. Talk about a sexy moment and note: they're fully clothed. Just goes to show you don't have to get graphic to show powerful attraction and longing.

Set up: Pretty simple... Robert Redford (Denys) is shampooing Meryl Streep's (Karen's) hair. They've been out on safari together. 

Set up: And NO! This isn't the "famous last scene" from Sense and Sensibility where Edward proposes to Elinor, though that one is wonderful! I love this scene because it's at the outset of their relationship and the humor is spot on! Humor is magical to me. Especially in romance. I love to laugh, and the ability to laugh at things (and each other) has helped Joe and me make it these 27 years and counting. 

So now, you tell me, on this Valentine's Day, what is one of your favorite romancey moments from a book or movie? 

Wishing you chocolate and romance but not necessarily in that order,

Tammy

So far, 50 is fabulous!

Thank you to everyone for your sweet bday wishes over on Facebook yesterday. I had a wonderful day. Went to see the movie Crazy, Stupid Love, which I enjoyed. [No spoilers coming, I promise.] So many parts of the movie had me laughing out loud, then others tearing up, then others, admittedly, shaking my head at what Hollywood considers humorous or promotes as acceptable behavior. But all in all, I found Crazy, Stupid Love enjoyable. And it had a great ending. That's all I'll say. No spoilers, as promised...

Seeing that movie got me to thinking about all the different kinds of love we experience in this life. And the different stages of love too. As many of you know, my precious mom went home to be with the Lord in August 2009 from gallbladder cancer. Her passing left a gaping hole in our lives and an especially huge hole (understatement) in my Dad's heart. He adored Mom, and she did him, for 55+ years. They were each other's best friends, and far more.

This past spring we encouraged Dad to attend his 60th high school reunion. He did, and long story short…several weeks later, through the encouragement of a sibling of a former childhood friend, he reconnected with that "childhood friend," and a seed of love was planted, and began to grow. Dad and Esta––a dear woman he grew up with in  Fayetteville, TN, and hadn't seen since high school––are to be married later this month. And my older brother, Doug, and I, and our families, couldn't be happier for them.

Dad and Esta visited us in Nashville recently. 

Don't they look happy!

Esta lost her husband, Merle, thirty-six years ago and then raised their children by herself. She was a nurse for forty-one years and also endured breast cancer in her late forties. She lost a daughter and sister to breast cancer in recent years as well, and yet is the most joy-filled woman. Her love for the Lord (and my dad) just radiate. We've really enjoyed getting to know her and welcoming her to our family. Thank you for your prayers for my family and for my Dad. They've made such a difference!

And now, switching gears back to movies... 

Through the power of Fandango (I don't care for their paper bag ads but love the service they provide, LOL), I've got a ticket for the first showing of the The Help on Wednesday. What a fabulous book (and audio book!), and I can hardly wait to see it on the screen. Wish we could all have a Girl's Day Out and go see it together.

Have you heard the soundtrack for the movie yet? And the original song written for the movie? Listen to The Living Proof and the story behind it. Beautiful arrangement and lyrics.

Now off for some iced coffee and to finish the discussion questions for A Lasting Impression. Oh…it's so wonderful to be at this stage with another book. My publisher will be asking for advance readers for ALI soon. I'll be sure and get you the info if you're interested.

Sprinting and some favorites

I'm still sprinting my way toward "The End" on rewrites of my next book, and I'm keeping some pretty late hours. I don't know why but I write best (and by that I mean I'm my most productive) between the hours of 10PM and 2AM. Maybe that's because those are the hours during which I first started writing.

I was working outside the home at the time, so I'd put the kids to bed and then write from ten to two, crash for a few hours, get up, and start all over again. Anyway… Night before last, I wrote until almost four o'clock then fell into bed. Then was promptly awakened a little after seven by this:

Sort of cute, but also a little disturbing. He was just sitting there, staring, waiting, wanting his kong.

During these long bouts of writing I take occasional breaks to fill myself back up. Those breaks include caffeine and sometimes a quick scene from a favorite movie or TV show, or a favorite song. I put my headphones on and crank up that volume, and oh…it's like a mini concert. Mandisa stopped by the other night to give me one such concert.

Listen as Mandisa describes the story behind The Truth About Me, a fabulous song on her recently released album (every song is a winner!):

I went for three mile walk the other night and actually kept going for another half mile just so I could listen to Stronger and These Days (two other songs on that same album) again. It's been a long time since I've downloaded an album that's blessed me so much.

I mentioned I watch quick snippets from favorite movies or TV shows. I love watching "reveal" scenes where a truth is finally being unearthed. I study the expressions, the non-verbal cues, the emotions that are conveyed without a single word. And the dialogue in the following scenes––fabulous! Pointed, curt, painfully honest, "custom" to the language of that relationship. Here are a couple of my favorite scenes:

From Sense and Sensibility 

From Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version, of course)

What are some of your favorite scenes from movies or a recent favorite song? Tomorrow night around 2:37AM, I'll need a break. So 'fess up!

Tammy

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Robin Lee Hatcher today!

Robin, blessings on your day, dear friend! 

(Click to send Robin a birthday message)