J. Kelland Perry

It’s All About the Characters

Published on June 20, 2013January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry19 Comments

james-gandolfini-e13717040336062 — James Gandolfini

In this age of PVR’s, boxed sets and better technology, my husband and I do most of our television viewing on demand and series by series. For instance, right now we escape into fantasy land by watching alternating episodes of Mad Men and Dexter, and are awaiting the return of Breaking Bad in August. Throw in Weeds for comic relief, and we were all set.

As coincidence would have it, we have the first two seasons of the Sopranos waiting for us when we finish Mad Men for the year. I know, I know, you are probably asking what rock were we living under to have not seen Tony Soprano and his show yet! My best answer would be that when it first came on TV back in the day, Husband and I were a little tired of the gangster genre from movies and decided not to partake. Recently, though, I saw the list of the top three TV shows voted for best writing, and they were the Twilight Zone, Seinfeld, and the Sopranos.

Trusting this list because we loved the first two, I suggested we should give the Sopranos a look-see. In addition, many of our friends had highly praised the show ad nauseum.

Then we hear the tragic news of James Gandolfini‘s massive fatal heart attack yesterday, the demise of a great actor who just so happens to be my age (I always thought he was older). The outpouring of grief in the media, including social media, cannot be ignored.

This actor created a character that obviously resonated with many. The story line may be compelling as well, but isn’t it the characters that draw you back to watch a show again and again? Simply put, without the intricacies and nuances of a character to keep your attention, would a story be even half as interesting?

Don Draper of Mad Men works on Madison Avenue — Don Draper of Mad Men – IMBd

I wouldn’t care much about Mad Men if I wasn’t trying to figure out what made Don Draper tick. The same goes for Dexter Morgan and Walter White. Without these unique opportunities for character study, these shows wouldn’t hold our attention beyond the first few scene changes.

Fiction novels are exactly the same. If I can’t in some way identify or be fascinated by the main character at least, the book is not worth reading to me. What would I do in this particular individual’s situation? Even if I can’t see myself behaving that way or saying those words, does the protagonist at least show me a way of understanding his or her actions?

As I write my own novel, I keep this uppermost in my mind. It is all about the characters. They are who the readers, and the viewers, fall in love with.

Rest in Peace, James. As you prematurely leave this world, I am about to delve into another one, the world you created as Tony Soprano. For another opportunity to study an enduring and memorable character, I am forever grateful.

fc577415a47f4314350f6a7067009802 — James Gandolfini – IMBd

It Has Its Perks

Published on May 29, 2013February 3, 2018 by J. Kelland Perry26 Comments

Okay, the kids are in bed fast asleep!

This is going to be a quick post this evening, as I’ve been pretty busy and don’t expect to be up many more hours myself. I am now on Nanny duty for a week, staying at my daughter’s house while she and my son-in-law are away enjoying a vacation.

No big deal, you are probably thinking. But hang on a second, besides being responsible for a seven year-old girl and a five year-old boy, there is Ginger the cat and Nico the golden doodle dog. In addition, Poppy won’t be showing up to help out until Saturday.

ginger and nico — dog eating the cat food again

Ginger is a breeze, and adorable with her new “lion cut”, but Nico is another story. Daily walks, poop-scooping, and simply managing an unbelievably lively and big one year-old pup may be the most challenging part of the deal.

Ah, but it is only for a short time. And it certainly has its rewards. Our girl has always been our angel, being the first grandchild and all. And then there’s our little man. After I read him a bedtime story and tucked him in for the night, I said, “I love you.” Sleepily, he said, “I love you too, Nanny.”

cuteness — the tooth fairy has been busy

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

The Whole World Smiles With You :)

Published on May 16, 2013October 29, 2017 by J. Kelland Perry26 Comments

I’m sharing a few smiles I’ve collected from around the world in today’s post. While you listen to the great Louis Armstrong, it is my hope these photos will put a smile on your face too. 🙂

Cuba:

Jamaica:

100_6446 — How’s this for Service with a Smile?

Italy:

rome 080 — Our Favourite Bartender in Rome

Friends in Florida:

Relatives in Ottawa:

Dominican Republic:

Our Trip to the Dominican Republic 084 — “I’ll be your waiter this evening”

Our Trip to the Dominican Republic 081 — Charming

Our Trip to the Dominican Republic 107 — My Personal Favourite 🙂

Reasons To Smile 🙂 (beingreal365.wordpress.com)

A Few Words to my WordPress Family

Published on May 6, 2013January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry23 Comments

When I got the idea to start this little blog sixteen months ago, I didn’t fully appreciate what lay in store. For those who haven’t been following my blog since the beginning, my purpose for blogging was to give me incentive to create, and to develop the stick-to-itiveness I would need to tackle the project of writing a novel.

By sharing something regularly, I anticipated Jennifer’s Journal getting some initial feedback from my family and friends, and indeed, that was how it progressed for the first few posts.

But as time went on, I gained other followers. I was thrilled! As many of you did before me, I was claiming a tiny corner in the blogosphere with my words and pictures, and you gave me the inspiration to post every week. Bit by bit, you helped my confidence grow.

What I hadn’t counted on, though, was how a number of my new followers have turned into friends. My WordPress family feels very much like a family, in the way we support one another and appreciate what we as individuals are trying to contribute as we blog. Some connections have even gone beyond our blogs. But whatever the connection, I love this community and value your support. Big Hugs to all of you. 🙂

This brings me to the subject of blog awards. I am always honoured and pleased when someone nominates me for one of these tokens of recognition, and I happily accept it in the spirit in which it is given. However, to blog about them individually can be very time-consuming and repetitious, not only for me but for my readers as well. That is why I am taking the liberty of changing the rules and doing what some others have done: combining accumulated awards in one blog post, dispensing with questions and answers, and giving a shout-out to some of my most recent new followers.

So here goes!

New (to me) Awards:

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

nominated by:
– Solothefirst @ solothefirst
– exbullet @ my secret diary

WordPress Family Award

nominated by:
– Kelly @ free little words

Awards I’ve Received a Second Time:

Versatile Blogger Award

nominated by:
– Olivia Stocum @ theclaymoreandsurcoat.com

Liebster Award

– Shaun @ praying for one day

Thank you, everyone! Readers, I urge you to check out these wonderful blogs.

Here are some of my most recent blogger/followers. Thank you, and welcome aboard. In appreciation, I share the WordPress Family Award with each of you. Respond to it, or not, as you wish. Once again, Readers, I suggest you sample these interesting blogs for yourself.

Kristen Mazzola

Rantings of an Amateur Chef

Andrew Toynbee’s Very Own Blog

Kids Do Say the Darndest Things

Published on May 1, 2013January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry26 Comments

This morning I read a funny post by 40 is the new 13, a fellow blogger, on how children make crazy assumptions based on their own brand of logic, such as dogs are boys and cats are girls.

It sparked a memory for me. It wasn’t of an assumption one of my kids made, but a memory of what my son said one day when he was in grade two. I think it would be considered a malapropism.

Above is a pic I took of my boy back in the day, waiting for the school bus on his first day of kindergarten. When he got to second grade, his teacher, Mrs. Snow, was a kind and lovely young woman, and all the children adored her.

One day, when my little boy was nearing the end of that school year, he got off the bus and came home with an interesting piece of news. My friend and I were chatting over coffee when he entered the kitchen. He dropped his book bag and announced,

“Guess what? Mrs. Snow isn’t going to be a grade two teacher anymore.”

“No?” I asked, curious. “Is she giving up teaching already?” It seemed odd because she was nowhere near the age of retirement. “Oh, she’s going to teach a different grade, is she?”

“No,” he said. “She’s going to be a prostitute teacher.”

I nearly choked on my coffee, while my friend tried in vain to suppress her laughter.

Now the first thing I did was gently correct him. “You must mean substitute teacher, honey.”

The next thing I thought was, where did he hear that word? It wasn’t a word that was bandied about in our household. It wasn’t like he was living in a bordello, or that we let him watch a steady stream of TV shows like Hill Street Blues or Spencer for Hire. And I sure as heck couldn’t imagine it as a topic of conversation among him and the other kids around his age. How did this word get into his vocabulary?

To this day, the answer remains a mystery.

Another one I liked was when my niece asked for a “girl-cheese” sandwich. Even when her mother corrected her, she continued to say it.

“It’s my cheese sandwich. And I’m a girl, right?”

Did you have any “verbal typos” to share from your childhood, or from one of your own kids?

(Of course, you don’t need to be a kid to say the darndest thing. The other day I called a take-out restaurant and asked if they had any “pressure-treated” chicken. I’m still shaking my head over that one. 😉 )

More fun reading:
Dogs are boys, Cats are girls

Friday Pick 44 – a Reblog

Published on April 28, 2013May 22, 2013 by J. Kelland Perry7 Comments

Hello, Friends and Followers. A dear and close member of my husband’s
family has suddenly become very ill and is currently fighting for her life in ICU. Because of this, I have not been able to focus on my novel-writing, or my blog recently.
So I thought I would share with you something that made my day on March 29th: one of my favourite bloggers, Diana Schwenk, chose my blog as her Friday Pick for that week. I was beyond flattered when she posted this. I suggest you check out her inspiring blog; you won’t be disappointed.
Jennifer x

talktodiana

She’s real with a heart full of love and has inspired me many times to want to be a better person. Jennifer is also very interactive and this appeals to my “community building” nature. That’s why I follow Jennifer at Jennifer’s Journal. I hope you will have a look and I’m sure you will agree that Jennifer is worth a second look and a click on the follow button!

In her own words, Jennifer says:

Looking back on my blog after its first year, I can safely say that my Journal’s overall theme has turned out to be one of Love, more specifically, the sharing of what I love or have loved in my life, with you. Two years ago my husband and I got out of the city and returned to rural life in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Our hope is to continue living life simply…

View original post 95 more words

Photo Challenge: Up

Published on April 21, 2013April 21, 2013 by J. Kelland Perry37 Comments

This week’s photo challenge at the Daily Post inspired me to have a look back on our memorable trip to Italy and France. It didn’t take long to come “up” with some photos that fit nicely with the theme.

(Not sure if it’s against the rules to share more than one. ;)) I hope you enjoy them.

View of the Italian Alps – Stresa, Italy

Staircase at our B & B - Stresa, Italy — Staircase at our B & B – Stresa, Italy

View from our Hotel Room In Rome — View from our Hotel Room – Rome, Italy

marble staircase in hotel - Rome — marble staircase in hotel – Rome

Palazzo Vecchio - Siena, Italy — Palazzo Vecchio – Siena, Italy

Duomo of Florence - Italy — Duomo of Florence – Italy

Notre Dame Cathedral - Paris — Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris

Inside Cathedral - Paris — Inside Cathedral – Paris

Louis Vuitton - Paris — Louis Vuitton – Paris

Eiffel Tower - Paris — Eiffel Tower – Paris

France 003 — In front of the Arc de Triomphe – Paris

Arc de Triomphe - Paris — Arc de Triomphe x2

Ceilings in the Louvre Museum - Paris — Ceilings in the Louvre Museum – Paris

Weekly Photo Challenge: Up (mdcphotographs.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Up (beijingcityphoto.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Up (scottseyephotos.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Up (Dry) (chrisbreebaart.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Up (turtlestravel.com)

Guest Post: Vivian’s View From Here – Part II

Published on March 14, 2013August 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry30 Comments

I’m baaack!

Hello there, Peeps. Vivian K. Perry here, Jennifer’s (dare I say) favourite cat. Just don’t tell my sister Maisie, capiche?

Jennifer asked me back to host her blog today, because she is a little bogged down writing an especially exciting chapter of her new novel.

Whatever! I was happy to oblige, nonetheless. This is my second time guest blogging on Jennifer’s Journal. If you’re interested, and I’m sure you are because I’m so cute, you can see my first post from last summer here.

Maisie and I do agree on one thing: we are getting bored with the cold weather. We miss the summer days of hunting little creatures, and basking in the sun. It is warming up a bit, but it’s still darn chilly on the paws most days.

So we while away the hours with our indoor activities.

**Still looking pretty spiffy there, Alex**

Nice! A little something for my wish list. — **Nice! But do they come with kitties on them?**

Lying on legs, one of our best loved pastimes — **Lying on humans, one of our best-loved pastimes**

Sometimes, we get on each other’s nerves, as sisters often do. I was thinking Maisie looked entirely too comfortable having our little house all to herself, so I had to act.

There. That's better. — **There. That’s better.**

Of course, at other times Maisie and I are closer-than-this:

Maisie lets me cuddle her when she's cold — **Maisie lets me cuddle her when she’s cold**

But what is my Number One Favourite Activity?

That’s right,
Dreaming of Summer

Thank you for visiting Vivian’s View from Here! We hope you enjoyed it. 🙂

Would you like to see more of Maisie and Vivian? Check out these links:

Cats on Ice: Exploring Spring Thaw in Iceberg Alley

Vivian’s View from Here – Part I

Foliage (and Other Living Things)

The Liebster Award and Sharing the Love

Published on March 6, 2013August 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry18 Comments

Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised to learn my blog has been nominated for the Liebster Award, by Alessia and Fabrizio, the authors of a lovely blog I’ve been recently following, Maple&Saffron.

Thank you, Alessia and Fabrizio! I recommend for my readers to check out this wonderful cooking and travel blog, by a couple who have immigrated to Canada from a country I adore, Italy.

Here are the rules for this award:

When you receive the award, you post 11 random facts about yourself and answer 11 questions from the person who nominated you.
Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (make sure you tell them you nominated them!) and ask them 11 questions.
You are not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated you!
Make sure the blogs you choose have 200 or less followers ( I did the best I could with this, but sorry, I might’ve cheated on some).

Okay, time to get down to business. Here are my random facts:

I have the worst handwriting of anybody I know. Good thing I can type well.
I am eight months younger than my husband.
I have one older brother and one younger sister. And you know what they say about the middle child.
Being in nature calms my spirit.
I have a cat figurine collection.
There is a sandy beach 25 yards from our front door.
I like a good joke and a thoughtful quote, some of the reasons I still use Facebook.
I feel more comfortable in small groups, or just one on one conversation.
I can’t imagine a life without pets.
I worked in a bank for about 15 years.
I consider my daughter and my son my most significant contributions to this world.

Maple&Saffron ask:

If you were to leave for a trip in 5 minutes, what are the 3 things you’d take with you? An easy one, if we are talking living things and a long trip: my husband and our two cats. If not, my iPad, straightening iron, and camera.
What instrument have you ever wanted to learn to play? The piano. The guitar is a close second (tried three times but never stuck with it ).
Which recipe do you really love cooking? Not exactly a single recipe, but a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings.
What’s your favourite song when you’re travelling? Hmm..only one? That’s hard. Life Is A Highway? 🙂
You’ve just landed in Italy: what’s the first dish you wish to taste? Any kind of pasta! Or maybe margherita pizza..
Mountains, hilltops or beaches: where would you go on vacation? Anywhere is fine with me if the weather is nice, and it’s not too crowded
What’s the best thing about your country? Lots of open spaces and open minds
How do you like spending your day off? Getting outdoors for a walk or a hike, or sitting on our deck in the summer
What’s your favourite world cuisine? Italian
If you could only save one of your books, which one would you choose? One of my poetry anthologies
What role/part would you like to play in a movie? Another tough one, but I went with Ripley in Alien.

Here are my nominations, lovely blogs on some of my favourite topics. For those of you nominated who don’t do awards or don’t have time to participate, please know that I understand. For those who do, thank you for participating. Your questions to answer are after the nominations list.

Nature is my Therapy

One More Day

trifles

Welcome to my Mind, Pull up a Chair

Kurt Rees poetry

bliss in images

lindatownsdin

Cauldrons and Cupcakes

Almost Spring

talktodiana

onewildword

What is your favourite book genre to read?
How long have you been blogging and what made you start?
Name your favourite meal.
If you could go anywhere in the world on your next vacation, where would you go?
What is your most prized possession?
What is your favourite way to relax?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Which do you prefer: music, TV, or theatre?
What movie did you see in the past year that you liked?
Who is the most important person in your life?
What are you most passionate about in life?