So I'm reading a lot of _____(insert descriptor) books

So, I've been reading. The books I've been reading - well, I'm not sure that they have a specific genre, nor can I call them good and bad. There are some very good things about them, as well as bad.

The last six or seven I've read this month, have all been your stereo typical 'law and order-esque'? books. Sure, lets call it that. There are some very annoying things about them - undeveloped/underdeveloped characters. Multitudes of characters that I can't quite place as being one type or another, and GENIUS predictable plot lines/outcomes.

So, that might lead you to wonder why I keep reading them.

Well, lets call it research. My own book is about half done, and the end of part one sort of finished itself for me in a rather cyclical almost anti-climactic way. The ending is also rather cynical, and not an ending at all - which is good, because it's only part one. So, having tried to overcome what I've decided is not writers block, but more like denial I started reading to do 'something' other than writing. Then I had a thought -

'I could write this.' This being the stereotypical novel. It would sell. I could write it. I even went so far as to play that out a little more and thought (in the bathtub) of some dialogue.

In my CSI/law meets order/meets nerd book, the scene that ultimately leads to the knight in shining armour screwing the dazzling lawyer (or some derivation of that) the dialogue goes something like this.

Knight of the not so round table: "I know what you were doing."

dazzling lady fiend #1: "I was listening to Miles Davis."

Knight: "what is it about Miles Davis that does it for you?"

dazzling: "It's the....
(searches for some instrument to pick that is not blown)
(searches for something other than drums because they like to be beaten)
(uhhh - guitars? they like to be strummed - that's so cliche.)
 ...all right, I was masturbating to Miles Davis. There's no instrument that isn't sexual I can think of. Oboes are practically a siren stick."

At which point in the real novel they go off and screw and have a lovely time of it - all just in time to save the day - eventually. Oh, and if the author has a kid thing, she's always wanted kids and ends up pregnant with the knights child by the end of the story and they walk off happy together.

Then I thought - that's not how that should end.

In my version, they blunder through sex - maybe. Or decide that genetic reproduction or the chances of it are in general a bad idea for the human race because well - we're sort of monsters. They then have a discussion about masturbation or sex that is not at all a turn on, thus alienating the entire market for that type of book. So in the end, my book doesn't sell, not to that market anyway. And, I don't want to write the book that does sell.

So, seven books later, and really about 30 pages into the first one, my research was done, and I discovered at the very least the kind of book I could write, but cannot because it might just make me puke.

Though secretly, I do like the occupy part of my time/aid in my denial books. They also sometimes have some generally interesting bits. Kinda like watching CSI or Law and Order.
Kinda.

I need to get back to the business of creativity. I have all these wonderful plans, and only a few things left to stand in my way.

List of accomplishments:

a) alienate the arts community and stand on my own - check (I've done this before, and will probably do it again, and really feel that in order to create the bond and shackles of politics and non-profit funded groups have to be out of my life.)

• I stepped away from the conservatory teaching at my university because I really did feel (and still do) that it was just a club for people who think they are better than the average person. I am just as talented a teacher and performer as any one of them, and I have the degree to prove it. I pride myself on being an academic, and I will always attempt to stay away from the cliques and groups
• I stepped away from my university newspaper and gave it over to the next generation to run. The Quill has always been near to my heart, and I will always love the way it helped me get through some really tough times, but I've learned what I can from it, got some amazing experience dealing with a non-profit board, and managed to salvage a number of friendships that will last much longer than a copy of a university newspaper.
• I've alienated myself from the board of the local folk festival. I was an active member, I will never regret the time I spent there, but will ultimately always feel betrayed as those were the people who purported themselves to be 'different' than the classical arts community here in Brandon. It turns out, all groups, and all boards, whether they are they board of a university newspaper, student council in high-school or university, board of  the folk festival, or a group of private conservatory teachers are fundamentally a clique. I'm done with high-school When someone can show me a group of people who want to benefit the community more than themselves I'll join it. As long as it is non-partisan and people are willing to openly discuss opinions that may not be their own, but are entirely valid points.

b)maintain all the things I have already started - check

• this blog is back up and running
• my website www.naimeless.wordpress.com  is finished being designed, has some preliminary art work up there, and eventually will have videos and audio when I get all those pieces to their final stages of being music as well as visual/written art.

c) admit defeat

• I will never be good at Vegas - the editing software, but I have Derek, so it doesn't matter.

List of things yet to come

a) move - on June first

• paint before moving - walls stripped and plastered, now on to the painting part.

b) move piano to Brandon - hard to work without an instrument.
c) make enough money from art to work 3 days a week. (five year plan?)

ugh.

Clearing in the Trees

I have learned in the past, that people do not respect other people's opinions - even when it is made clear that it is an opinion. I'm not sure about anyone else from Canada, but I'm pretty sure opinions weren't outlawed, and it's part of my rights as a person to have my own opinion - even if it's wrong.

Case in point - I can like this article on a broken promise posted by Deveryn Ross, even if I don't like his politics. Just because I didn't vote for him when he ran for mayor doesn't mean I don't believe his opinions can be right from time to time; or that his columns may make people openly discuss the issues around public funding, politics and government spending. That said, that doesn't mean I agree with what he thinks are the correct ways to deal with said problems. That's the beauty of a free country, there are lots of opinions, and lots of solutions. Not everyone agrees, and not every choice is right IN FACT sometimes none of the choices are right or good and it is just a matter of choosing the least wrong one.

Here's an example, the way the mayor and city council have dealt with the flood. They've taken the stance of extreme caution, done evacuations and of utmost importance decided to keep those living in the area safe. They could have not evacuated the area of town most in danger, and as it turned out they all probably would have been fine. They closed the corral centre and evacuated businesses in an effort to lessen traffic around the dikes. This is all fine and good, makes sense to me. However, they are letting the corral centre back in on Tuesday (link here), and not the businesses north of them go back. When at a chamber meeting the council promised to be fair to all businesses in the area - what they've done, is allowed big box stores many of which are not privately owned, back in the area which will increase the flow of traffic, and 'the little guy' has to stay out for longer. Do I think this is right? Probably not. Is that just my opinion. Yes. Can I understand why small business owners like Patches and Memories are upset. Of course. Did the city council make the right decision? Who knows. That's what voters are for.

I've recently voiced my opinons on Ross's column and the Brandon Folk, Music and Arts Festival line up for this year. I'm not sure which got me unfriended on facebook, and I don't really care. I have an opinion. Is it right? Who knows, does it deserved to be talked about publically? Why not. Am I friends with a myriad of people from all political backgrounds? Yes. Do I have many of them on facebook? Yes. So excuse me if I enjoy discourse of a variety of natures. Excuse me if I voice my own opinion and all of my friends have other opinions. They may not be NDP, Conservative, Liberal or religious like you but they are my friends. I value their opinions because of the people they are, not because they are part of a particular group. So screw all of you who think I have to be of the same political or whatever stripe as you.

I am non-partisan, I am non-religious, and fairly anti-organized anything (this includes religion, politics and everything in between). It makes me extremely annoyed that certain people can't see past what is a suggestion, constructive criticism, and opinion. I believe that open discussions are useful and needed in every day life. I believe that people should be able to talk across a political divide.

This will not reach anyone who matters, and if it doesn't reach the cowards who can't see past their own skin, well so be it. I'll keep going, and my opinions, or the decision to even have opinions will not change. Neither will I. I am okay in my own skin and my own place in the world.

Recipes for Life

Here's the cover that won the elimination process.

Soon to be available at The Cinnamon Tree, Westoba and Crocus Credit unions in Brandon, as well as the tea room? in Forrest. It will also be available at the Relay for Life walk this year. $20.00 - and you get a piece of me (and 1000 recipes that will warm your heart - which is clearly the best reason for buying it). All proceeds go to the Brandon Cancer Relay for Life.

In other news - I get paint tomorrow, and then get to paint all weekend :D