Musical Inspiration & Junie B. Jones

I've been reading different writer's blogs lately, and I've found that (like me) a lot of writers use music to get ideas for plot and character development.

It makes total sense because songwriters have to get in and out so fast, they can only hint at characters or situations and convey the emotion of them. It's a great jumping off point for a writer.

I remember being a kid and hearing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from the Evita soundtrack. I loved the melody, and I imagined this entire storyline around it based on the few words I remembered. I was a little disappointed when I finally saw the show. Kind of like seeing the movie version of a book you really liked.

Speaking of that, I can only think of one movie version of a book that I thought was really well done. (OK, two if you count that BBC miniseries of Pride & Prejudice.) Curious? It was Bridget Jones's Diary.

That was the first (and only) time I walked out of a movie feeling like it did a great job capturing the spirit of the book. I'm trying to think if I can remember another... Anybody got one?

Catherine recently went through all those Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and she's So Excited about the movie opening this weekend. I've only read half of the first book, so I wasn't sure about the movie. But Richard stopped me to watch the trailer on TV the other morning and it looks funny.

I wonder if it's just the diary books that translate.

The girls are also into Junie B. Jones. We've read about six of her books so far, and I happen to love Junie B. Jones. Richard says she doesn't use proper English, and the other day Laura came in and said JBJ "says bad words."

To Richard, I said it didn't matter; to Laura, I said, "Wha--?"

This is coming from the child who took ballet for a year, and while showing me the different positions she learned, she threw in "Position 14."

Position 14 involves turning your backside to the audience, sticking it out and then shaking it from side to side slowly. Sort of like a burlesque.

It was her Grandpaw's favorite ballet move of the year and he demanded repeat performances every time he saw her. He also likes to write on her with ink pens. Grandpaw's a character.

A while back I told Richard I was afraid Laura would grow up to be our Sarah Silverman child because of all her stunts, but I got my casting wrong. She's very concerned because JBJ says "stupid," "dumb," and "darn."

So maybe she'll be our Gypsy Rose Lee rather than our Sarah Silverman. I wonder if she realizes Mommy uses these words. I suppose I shouldn't be such a potty mouth.

I hear they're making another Eloise movie--this time in Paris with Uma Thurman as Nanny. I never imagined Nah-nee looking like Uma Thurman. Nah-nee's more Mrs. Garrett from The Facts of Life.

I love love love movies, so I'm sure the girls and I will be there for E in P. I'd like to see JBJ made into a movie. Maybe we'll have that to look forward to before long as well.

I hope it's not rated R for language.