Snow Day

Woke up this morning to a blanket of white on the lawn...and the street. We're supposed to get from 3-5 inches today, which makes it a perfect day to stay in and write, read, bake, and (oh dear) take stock of my closet. My general rule of thumb is...not worn for two years, off it goes. Goodwill, Salvation Army, the local shelter, whoever needs it. I obviously don't. Of course, there are those sentimental "have to keeps". The dresses I wore to my daughter's rehearsal dinner and wedding, my own wedding dress (even though I doubt I could get into it) and a few 'comfort clothes'...those tops or bottoms that let me totally relax and feel cozy. Old sweatshirts are my favorites. It's like wearing a hug, especially if someone special gifted me with it. An old Penn State Nitanny Lion, a burgundy "Snow Somewhere Else"...both from my good friend Diane. A "Books, Cats, Life is Good" oversized one I gifted myself :o)...old and soft. So I may tackle that closet this afternoon, just to rediscover what I have that can stay...or go.

Phil has his own closet. Walk-in, plenty of hangars and shelves for the various tricks of his trade. Evening dress, tuxedos, favorite pieces from his stage days in The Big Apple, and an oversized steamer trunk. It was the last thing he packed before leaving New York for Portland and contains memories as well as cordless headsets and old CDs and DVDs. Most importantly, it has his personal photo album. Something he hasn't shared with anyone, not even Sam. Phil only opens it when he can't find something he needs anywhere else. Along with the good memories, it also contains things he can't throw away but doesn't want to see.

Sam;'s closet? Organized, just like Sam's life used to be...when his wife took care of the details. Her death hit him hard, although he keeps the details close to his heart. Her clothes are in the bureau...he can't bring himself to donate them anywhere. They were married six months before she died...and strangely, his attempt to keep the closet orderly is a way to honor her memory. Corny, but true. Sam stows his memories inside her hope chest.

We all have closets of one kind or another...emotional, physical, even spiritual. Sometimes it helps to get in and clean them out...or at least appreciate what we have stored there.

Just a ramble

I loved fairy tales when I was a kid. Still do, even though I know that the underlying meanings are not always as nice as the story itself. Think about it. If you stop to consider The Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen, there are some really nasty morality tales hidden in their works. To me the main caution is "Be good or be eaten" or "Be careful what you wish for, because you might not want what you get". There are modern fairy tales out there as well, although in a lot of cases they masquerade as horror/thriller stories. And the good guy doesn't always win.
I like it when the good guys win, which is why I have Phil and Sam around. Sam may have to put up with Phil's meddling, but the meddling usually helps solve the case. And Phil never wants to let his twin down, so he always tries to help. Sam's partner Frank? Well, he's the foil for these two, sometimes with more common sense than either wants to give him credit for, and always with a way of seeing past the fog.
Two more chapters re-worked...and some major questions to deal with in the last few. Still, it's good to be writing again.

45 Minutes

Today's task was a review of Chapter 39...hopefully the final pass. Phil and Sam are definitely at odds...and the killer has struck again. Nothing like a little conflict at 9AM :o) My problem is how to create tension between Sam and his stubborn little brother way back in the beginning. I could just picture my own little sister...who by the way can push every button I have and enjoy doing it. I know because she told me that very thing. But Phil and Sam are twins...and twins are usually on the same track, right? Plus, it was Sam's idea that Phil become "Filli"...and not his fault that "Filli" became the hottest thing in Portland. And even though they work in two different worlds...well maybe that's the rub. Sam's a cop...Phil a performer...and Phil wants to help. After all, the killer is invading his turf, not Sam's. And then there's Phil's secret.
Stay tuned...

New Year, New Resolution

Thanks to the wonderful women at Jungle Red for giving me a kick in the proverbial pants...contest or no contest, Phil and his latest nemesis, Ruby Cabernet, have been languishing while I try and cut, paste, and generally re-work Crossdressed. And so has this little blog. Revisions make me cranky. I always feel like I've done my best the first time out, especially since I tend to edit as I go. So, to have anyone tell me I need to 'reword this, cut that, make this more clear' is a shock. My daughter is my first reader and pulls no punches. I was fortunate to have Ramona DeFelice Long do my first complete edit...she is amazing and gave me some good direction. Still, my ego always gets bruised. Poor poor me, right? I know it has to be done if I want Phil and his alter ego Filli to ever see the light of day...or nook...or print. Doesn't make it any easier. (Do I hear violins?)
So, since I have today set aside for the Bears-Seahawks games, I set to work tomorrow to get some major work done...one page at a time. Or rather, 45 minutes at a time. Stick with me, OK?