Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Trivia(l) Pursuits
Confession: I spend a lot more time researching my current paranormal than I did my historical. I didn't mind the research for the historical. There are a lot of cool and interesting things to know about the Regency period. About any period, in fact. But this research has been a lot more up my alley.
Obviously, I think that's just the nature of research. People find different things interesting. While I was writing my historical, I came into contact with a whole slew of people who could chat happily about the lace on petticoats. While I loved the political aspects of the period and the social aspects, that part left me cold.
Here's a bunch of the cool stuff I've learned during this book's research:
- The Great Flood isn't just in Judeo-Christian ideologies but also in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam and can be found back as far as the earliest writings in Sumerian.
- Sumerian is the first form of written language (3100BC), followed by Egyptian (2700BC)
- Research shows that a gene called FOXP2 appeared in human biology sometime between 100000 and 50000 BC and may be linked with human's ability to communicate. They still don't know if communication happened suddenly or gradually though, during this time.
- According to Rabbinical Literature, King Solomon was given the ability to control demons.
- King Solomon was also said to possess a flying carpet that was 60 miles square.
- There are lots of examples of gender equality in Egyptian culture, including Egyptian pharaohs and warriors. It wasn't uncommon for a wife to take over a man's troops if her husband was killed.
- Roman gladiators had a longer life expectancy than the average Roman. 30 years and 25 years respectively.
- The only archangel named to be an archangel in the Bible is Michael (Jude). Gabriel and Raphael are considered to be archangels (mentioned in Luke and Tobit, respectively) and Uriel is in the Book of Enoch.
- The Book of Enoch isn't recognized as part of the canon of most Christian churches, but it's referenced explicitly in Jude and many biblical scholars believe that the New Testament writers would have been familiar with it and were influenced by it.
Neat, huh?
What kind of cool stuff have you learned while researching your writing? Share your interesting tidbits! How do you feel about research? Do you love it or would you just rather write already?
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78 comments:
I spend my professional life researching how the world has been screwed together and can testify to the fascination and wonder of discovering just how clever that Creator guy really is!
Today's paranormal can easily become tomorrow's mainstream science, so if you want to be sure that your paranormal novel stands the test of time so that reader's in 100 years time will not dismiss it as 'fanciful nonsense' you better do your research thoroughly!
That FOXP2 gene could be the evidence that extra-terrestrials visited the earth and are in fact our ancestors. I know at least one dowser who seriously believes that we have had visitors from space at around the time you mention.
If you believe that dowsing is a safe way to tap into your subconscious and access the information stored in the etheric 'information field' then the world of dowsers could be a good place to research for your book.
They have interests in 'earth bounds', ghosts, spirits, extra-terrestrials from higher dimensions, healing,telepathy and so on and on. They also sincerely believe in what they do.
Ever the sceptic, I still sit on the fence over this. I must admit that their evidence is building though and there are certainly phenomena that are 'beyond the ken' of mainstream scientists. Most will dismiss these phenomena as 'illusion' or 'coincidence' or 'fraudulent'. But for some stuff that is wearing a bit thin!
Fascinating Blog Marnee
More power to your paranormal pen! :D
Wow, Marnee, Great Blog!!
I love research, and if I get my hands on a good one, it can inspire great scenes and ideas. I have a huge list of reference books, I would like to get my hands on.
Have you read Jessica Andersen's series? The first 2 books are Nightkeepers and Daykeepers, I think you might enjoy them, based on some of your trivia.
Q-you are my hero, your posts never fail to make
me smile. They always make me think of things in a new way.
Off to wake the kids for school. Wish me luck.
Di
I love love love research.
I did extensive research on harems all over the middle east and in the Ottoman empire for Jinan. From clothes to politics to the inner workings with the women (and I totally fibbed, the women backstabbed each other all the time, caused the demise of children so their own could move up the ladder of succession, or so they could become one of the four wives, who had more control over their lives). Did lots of research on the opium trade through India and China.
I did lots of research on the french revolution for my old paras. I am fascinated by the atrocities, what does that say about me?
For my latest I've had to dive back into the history and theory of music. I've been reading letters between composers, biographies so on and so forth.
My next book will be research extensive too. No frills and petticoats. That took a couple days to figure out, and I know all I need to know about those. :)
Love the new knowledge, Marnee! I love research, too. In my last book I sent my hero to go briefly blind in Egypt as he was exploring and read fascinating accounts of those intrepid guys who ventured on the Nile in the early nineteenth century. Now I'm into Prinny and his wife Caroline's dysfunctional marriage. I'll never learn enough!
Q - wow, the think FOXP2 could be aliens? I didn't read that anywhere. I think maybe I'm reading the wrong stuff!
I just looked up dowsing (which I hadn't heard of until you mentioned it) and how interesting! I think there is enough paranormal speculation in the real world to fire my paranormal fiction pen for years to come. :)
Di - I'm actually reading Daykeepers right now, though I didn't read Nightkeepers. It was slow going in the beginning, she does a lot of infodumping in the first chapter. (A LOT!) But I just got past that and it's getting easier. I think the premise is so interesting. Hope you got your kids up ok.
Tiff - I think the atrocious stuff is fascinating too. I'm not sure why reading about how past civilization imploded strikes me as intersting but I suspect it's something like why I have to look on the shoulder when there's an accident. What caused that? How's everyone fairing? Is there anything I can learn here?
I feel the same way about holocaust literature. It's horrifying sometimes to read about how humans treated other humans so poorly. African accounts as well, from just the last 50 years. Sad, horrifying, and yet fascinating.
Mags - That Nile research sounds interesting! I've been doing some Egyptian research, but not too indepth yet as I don't need it for another book or so. But I have read a little about Prinny and Caroline and that is definitely fascinating material. Talk about a train wreck.
I'm not big on research per se, but there are times I'll get into something and find it totally fascinating. Years ago when I found myself reading so many books set around Waterloo, I did some research on Napolean and Josephine. Very interesting stuff. Then a year or so ago I wrote a paper for school on the history of the New Testament. That paper changed so much for me.
I've always loved history, but never want to write an Historical. Maybe it's for the reason you mention here, the dresses and the cravats and the carriages don't fascinate me at all. Huh.
I'm loving these little factoids. Are you finding that this kind of legend and mythology is more predominant further east? Have you found any specific info that changed or helped form your characters?
And I think I'd like to read more about this dowsing stuff. Q has mentioned it here before and it sounds interesting.
Ter - yeah, the cravats and stuff don't do it for me either. Though I like reading it in fiction, I had a hard time with it. This might be because in RL I'm hardly a fashionista. (What, jeans and a t-shirt isn't high fashion?)
I haven't done as much research into the New Testament. I haven't had to yet. Most of the stuff I'm finding is from Judaic literature, Kabbalistic literature/myth, etc. And my entire backstory is based on it, on fallen angels.
I think that there is legend mythology all over, not more or less anywhere. Technically, every religion could be considered myth, it just depends on who you ask.
I guess I meant this stuff is more part of the current culture further east. I was thinking more geographically than religiously. (Is that a word?) The US is just so young and we seem to have this more practical or cynical way of thinking. Seems to me eastern cultures are more open to this sort of thing as in it still being widely known. As a product of 12 years of religious education, I can promise you this kind of thing was totally excluded from my education.
I spent a lot of time researching the early workings of Celtic rituals and languages. Since I'm going back to the first first settlers who became the ancient Celts, I wanted to research the era. Not a whole lot to be found but it's fun to make up stuff based off what's been found and stories told.
Is this research in your new book? I am LOVING your new book, Marn? Have I said that about six or seven thousand times yet? I LOVE THE STABBED PUPPIES BOOK!
My two books I finished were contemporaries. I mean, the Lucifer one had Lucifer, so I did some preliminary research about Fallen Angels, but for the most part, I just took what I liked and made the rest of it up. No research facts about Fallen Angels that most everyone doesn't already know.
Although there was something once. Something about Watcher angels...they came to earth and mated with human women--and they were expelled from Heaven for doing this. And I believe that's where the first giants came into being. I'd have to look it up again.
The only other research I've ever done is when I was trying to find the appropriate setting for my cowboy book--and I wanted him to drive cattle. The cattle boom was from 1866-1888 (thereabouts). There was a terrible blizzard in the 1880s (around 1888 or so)--which you might remember from The Long Hard Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder--and it killed off a LOT of cattle. The industry boom was taken down by this blizzard...and also by the fact supply and demand had been overrun. Also, there were starting to be laws about opengrazing...and people putting up fences...and it just wasn't the monopolies it used to be.
However, my heroine is a feminist. Huge, huge suffragette. And I wanted her to go to the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, because there was the first Women's Exhibit. It was a big deal. So I was trying to find a cattle rancher who was still making money with that business; with a daughter who was a suffragette, cir 1893.
At the 1893 World's Fair: Cracker Jack was introduced. So was the Ferris Wheel. Chicago built this HUGE white city (where there are a couple of great books about killings that went on there!)--and it was absolutely like having the world in one little place. I think it would have been awesome to visit.
I hate research. Too much like homework to me. On the other hand, I LOVE reading about other's research - my lazy gene rearing it's ugly head. I think that's probably why I've been concentrating more on my contemporary rather than the historical. I'm fairly certain I can get most facts right in the age I'm living in (and even that's doubtful), but to go back in time I would just be an editor's nightmare! I can so see how some author's get research assistants!
I pressed submit too soon! Argh!
Anyway, I was going to say that I also love when authors insert little known facts of the day into their historicals. I don't like reading history lessons but when it becomes a part of or is relevant to the story it makes it so much more interesting!
fascinating stuff Marn! I love doing research (which makes sense, as my day job is.....doing research *g*). For my last MS, I did copious amounts of research on oil and oil drilling and pipelines in South America. Spent a lot of time studying Eastern Colombia - how the various guerrilla and paramilitary groups affect the way oil is piped out of Colombia to the US. For this current MS, I've done tons of research on the IRA and where/how they got their weapons. What happened to their weapons....Homeland Security is SO going to show up on my doorstep.
Irish - Further proof we are long lost sisters.
LOL, Ter! You should see me teach my Religious Ed classes - definitely not the way I learned it! I can be kind of vague and I always make sure they know ours isn't the only opinion out there.
"Homeland Security is SO going to show up on my doorstep."
LOL, Hal! Does it ever surprise any of you as to how much information is actually available to the public if anyone was interested enough to dig?!
Irish - you can find anything on the internet! It's fascinating with people post online. And the stuff people put on their personal blogs, forgetting that everyone in the world can read it...yikes!
Yeah, we had a long talk with our kids about that a couple of months ago. We haven't let them have a Myspace or Facebook page and told them that anything that goes on the internet is there FOR LIFE! To keep that in mind if they'd like to get into a good college or get a decent job. It's kind of scary, but you can't really be a total screw-up anymore without it ending up on YouTube!
Isn't it scary? I've even heard agents say that they look up a potential author, to check if they're one of those "problem people" on writing blogs, and if so, they won't rep them. Just goes to show - if you wouldn't act that way in real life, don't act that way online. It always comes back to haunt you.
Hal—I'm with you there. I've been researching the IRA and building bombs for my current WIP. (A far cry from my research for my last book, to which this is a sequel--mostly the Catholic church, but also mobsters.)
I used to worry about the feds until I borrowed a book about the IRA via Interlibrary Loan—and it came from the FBI library. I dare say the librarian didn't quite know why I found that funny.
Jordan - yay! more IRA! lol. I spent a week in Belfast back before the latest cease-fire, and though nothing overt happened, the undercurrent was palpable.
I didn't even know the FBI had a library! That's hilarious that a book on the IRA came from there. I would have laughed too!
Sin - I love Celtic stuff. Talk about fascinating folks. I can't wait to see what you do with it. :)
Hellion - *blushing* Shucks, thanks! I love my new book too. Yes, this is all research for the new book. You should check out the Book of Enoch, all about fallen angels. Totally cool.
Your research about the World Fair and cattle driving both sound so interesting. I think American history is really cool, though I would have never said that 15 years ago. :)
Did I tell you that my Great, great uncle invented the Ferris Wheel? My grandmother's maiden name was Ferris and my father's middle name was Ferris. The gg Uncle never made any money from the idea, though. The family stayed poor clear through the 1900s. :( Nuts.
Irish - I agree about little known facts in historicals. I am with you; as long as it is part of the story and not a history lesson, I think it's interesting. :) And I think I'm with you. I *hope* I can get my own time right. Though one never knows....
Hal - I love the way you incorporate research in your work. I always feel like I know all this stuff afterwards but you never ever info dump. It's awesome.
Jordan - You got a book about the IRA from the FBI? Wow, that is awesome. I would have laughed at that too.
Ooohhhhh… I wanna have a library card that gets me into the FBI’s library. That sounds Fun.
Research? I LOVE research ( yes I’m odd , but you knew that already didn’t you/). I love to dig & rout out forgotten truths. It is my nature to dig beneath the surface… like a pig that digs for truffles. I could spend ever waking hour researching … Searching for ‘buried treasure”... Uncovering the Uncommon denominator. I adore disassembling & dissecting data. Finding an interesting fact is intriguing. It is enchanting. My mind hums with the knowledge. Its like …. Oooooohhhhhh its like having an Brain Orgasm.
a brain orgasm! lol. the crazy part is, I know exactly what you mean.
Here are some odd things that you probably don’t want to know about. But I’m telling you anyway.
Enheduanna, Daughter of King Sargon, is the first poet and writer in world literature Her poetry was written in Sumerian (the 'scholarly' language) whereas her father's royal inscriptions were in Akkadian. (The language of Diplomacy).
Enheduana is a title the princess was given when she was ordained as En (designates High Priestess) Priestess. Anna means “ of Heaven”. I was told by a friend that in Persian, Anne or Anna means “shit”. So much for diplomacy.
My surname means “of the oak”. In the Middle East , the pronunciation of the name sounds very similar to the word for “boobs”. Lovely.
Ever wonder why you have this burning desire to Conquer the dust bunnies under the bed? Rule your PTA or Brownie troop with an Iron fist? When there is a 50% off sale at the mall do you grab everything that you can get your hands on while you yell “ Back off boogaloo, these are my Spoils of War” at the other shoppers? Don’t worry … you’re not Crazy. It is probably just your genetic nature.
From the National Geographic News : “An international group of geneticists studying Y-chromosome data have found that nearly 8 percent of the men living in the region of the former Mongol empire carry y-chromosomes that are nearly identical. That translates to 0.5 percent of the male population in the world, or roughly 16 million descendants living today.”
Did you know that people of Mongolian descent have a different colored earwax from the rest of the population?
I'm not as surprised that the FBI has a library as I am that they share their shit with public libraries. LOL! It's sad that we have to worry about what we google coming back to haunt us. I've done research for school that has made me kind of nervous.
Jordon - Did you say you've been building bombs? LOL! Seriously?!
*reading Irish's bit about MySpace, Facebook, and personal blogs* That's it! I'm dismantling the pirate blog! And my Tavern blog--that one REALLY has to go. Maybe I'll do that now.
Not that I plan to go to any more colleges.
The earwax factoid really capped that comment. *LOL*
Recalling your picture on Facebook, Jules, I'm not surprised your surname sounds like "boobs" in the Middle East.
And I'm cracking up that the High Priestess of Heaven is also the High Priestess of Shit. I'm sure there is a philosophical statement to be made there, but I'm not touching it.
I'm pretty sure I have that chromosome.
Marn, have you read The Epic of Gilgamesh? If not, I recommend Stephen Mitchell's highly readable version of this oldest epic. The gods send the flood because humans are too noisy. I love that!
I love research too. Right now I am totally fascinated with women's history in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Hellion, it's funny that you mentioned the Women's Building at the 1893 Columbian Exposition. I spent far more time reading about that than I needed to because I found it so fascinating. I thought the list of things in the women's library was especially interesting; it contained everything from the bestsellers of the day to children's books like Little Lord Fauntleroy and Five Little Peppers to sermons, scientific writings, recipes, poems, and unidentified pieces with such provocative titles as "Hetty's strange history" and " The love affairs of an old maid." :) And the building was designed by a woman architect, and Mary Cassatt did murals. It's sad that all that did not survive.
Q - aliens messed with our DNA? Ah, it all makes sense now!
I like researching tidbitty things. Like when was chocolate introduced to Europe. When did coffee become a viable economic crop. Why? So I can screw around with all of it in my books. I figure if I know the actual historical data then I'm ready for the history nazis when they trash talk me...
"Port Royal was destroyed by then..." Yeah, I know, but pay attention, it isn't our history!
Nya nya.
But the rest of you are actually digging out interesting stuff. I have a real block with doing the hard core research, which is why I love reputable authors...who do it for me then dress it up in pretty cloths and tell a story around it. Just goes down easier that way!
Julie - Your factoids crack me up! :) Mongolians have different earwax? How incredibly random. And I'm with Fran; the High Priestess of Heaven/Shit? Someone when they were writing up their dictionary wasn't really paying attention, i say.
Janga - Wow, I did read the Epic of Gilgamesh but it's been 10 ish years. I should check it out. But that did unsettle a few cobwebs.... And I wish I could have checked out the library you describe. "The Love Affairs of an Old Maid" sounds titillating. :)
Chance - I like my history all dressed up too. :)
One person's heaven is another person's pile of shit? Maybe it's all in the perspective.
I've done some reserach into the meanings of names. And according to the anglo saxons, Maureen means little mary. The pre-Christian celts had different ideas...
My name in Hebrew means "Rejoice" and from the Latin it means "from the sea." :)
Oh, and Port Royal was destroyed in 1692 by an earthquake. Dropped off like half the town into the ocean or something. Horrible. They never really did build it back the same; and it quit being a pirate's paradise, for the most part, after that.
*raising hand like Hermione* Ooh, I know, I know about chocolate! It was introduced back to Europe in the mid-1500s, but didn't get "popular" until the 1600s when they could get more labor to produce the cocoa they needed to export back to Europe. Chocolate bars weren't made until mid-1800s--and then by Europeans--and it was after they figured out how to separate the chocolate from the cocoa butter and stuff. Or something like that. I just know I don't want to time travel too far back because I won't have access to a Hershey's Bar.
JANGA! Awesome you too have an interest in the women's stuff at the Chicago's World Fair. That is tragic that that stuff didn't surprise, but it so doesn't surprise me. Geez. You have a much better knowledge of their stuff than I did; I was just intrigued that women had their OWN spot and a real exhibit. I totally thought this would be an ideal spot for a suffragette in 1893....
It's still irksome that it took until 1893 to get our own exhibit.
I too love to get my history through other stuff I enjoy reading. I've learned a ton about history by reading Historical Romance for more than two decades. In fact, most of the knowledge I have has been gained through reading.
No idea what Theresa means. Too lazy to look it up. LOL!
Gosh.... I really wonder if a lot of that Woman's Exhibit stuff from the Worlds Fair ended up in the hands of private collectors. Honestly, the people of Illinois never throw anything away. We still have Wrigley field. We still have parts of the old Solder's Field laying around. Heck, We have a hard time getting rid of anything. Just look ho long it took us to get rid of the ol' governer!
Sorry.I Couldn't help myself ... I'll go sit in the corner ... with the other criminals ... Ooops! Sorry!
Terri, according to one source, it means "late summer." :)
Hellion, it would have been a great place for a suffragette. Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone both spoke. Colorado and Wyoming had already given women the vote, so hopes were high. There's a great quote from socialite Berthe Potter Palmer, the chair of the Board of Lady Managers, "Even more important than the discovery of Columbus, which we are gathered together to celebrate, is the fact the General Government has just discovered women"
Julie - LOL! That did take longer than necessary, didn't it?
My Apology or the impeachment?
*LOL* Janga, that's a great line. *LOL* "...the fact the General Government has just discovered women." What a tongue in cheek gal! I like her!
Janga - That totally explains my love of warm weather.
Julie - The impeachment, darling. You should know you NEVER need to apologize here on the ship. Unless it's for staying away too long. :)
Exactly, Jules, what the Bo'sun said. You never need to apologize; we love you!
"Snif. I'm getting all teary-eyed-emotional-snif-honestly... I feel like Sally Field... you likeme .... you like me! that or peri-menipause is setting in!"
See? Having the actual historical info about Port Royal or chocolate screws around with what I want to write...hence, the alternate history! But I still like to 'know' about the real stuff, to fend off the nitpickers.
Julie? It may have taken longer than anyone liked, but the important thing is...he's outta there!
Like how CA can't put a budget together. It's a mess!
But...it's raining! Yeah!
Ewww Marnee Jo Researched her name? Okay ... that sounds kind of interesting.
Lets see...
Julie in Latin, means Youthful One. Spiritual connotations: One Guided by Truth
Ann: means "High Priestess" or "of Heaven". In Hebrew it stands for "Graceful one". And in other parts of the world it means "shit".
My maiden literally means "Father" or "Priest".
My married name means "of the Oak' .... unless you happen to live in the Middle East where the name sounds like the word for "boobs"... which means ... after careful calculations I have concluded that my names put together could mean "Youthful One, Guided by Truth. High Priestess of Heaven, Priest of the Oak". Makes me sound like a Druid. which is kinda cool.
Unfortunately my name could also mean:
"Youthful One, IE Immature On, The Truth is thou art full of Shit , Father of Boobs". which makes me sound like I am the Inventor of ...
Breast Implants! GAWD!
I know what you guys are thinking!
"Cut off that woman's access to search engins!"
And finally
A Note to Hellion:
In response to your comment about my Facebook. I am Living Proof that God has a very wicked sense of humor!
AH-MEN to that Julie!
Hi Di!
I always think that a smile is a good start to the day. :D
Marnee, Have you never wondered at the range of structures on earth that indicate knowledge far beyond that reasonably expected of our ancestors? The way that dimensions in the Great Pyramid match astronomical dimensions is one example. See for example Jan Wicherink 'Souls of distortion awakening...a convergence of science and spirituality'. The book is available for free download and can be distributed freely without copyright infringement. It discusses many issues that might be of interest and is very readable.
http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/download/soda.pdf
Oh Q Dahlink, Dare I ask? AH-MEN to which-what?
2nd: I'm a nitpicker. I threw away a historical which took place in 1305, but had some bastard child eating chocolate. I didn't tell the author, but I trashed her novel to all my reading friends. And clearly I'm still bitching about it.
Don't mess with the chocolate. Alternative history is fun. I love Lynn Kurland's novels for this reason.
I think Captain was a woman deprived of chocolate in a former life.
BTW - Grabbed a Three Musketeer and I feel MUCH better.
This is probably true.
Don't let my past life deprivations deprive you of the story you need or want to tell, 2nd. Sometimes you have to turn a deaf ear to critics. Even if we're loud. I mean, anyone can be a critic--all you need a mouth. Or nowadays, a keyboard.
Cap'n - Aye! This is why I make it clear from the very beginning...this is not 'real' history. I'm thinking about a map of the alternate Caribbean... How to make sure it's understood without clubbing the reader over the head?
So that my book won't be trashed by someone who would really care!
I want real historicals to stick to the truth. So I can learn something. Passive learning is the way for me!
Q - Does this mean it's all the giant spaghetti monster's fault?
I have a love/hate relationship with research. I really don't enjoy researching---it's a pain in the ass and tiresome and hey, since I write present day stories, I shouldn't have to research. Let's all take a moment and laugh at that fallacy. It seems all of my stories involve some type of research. Some of it can be fun, like finding out how to elope in Las Vegas and plotting a road trip from Las Vegas to NYC. But then a lot of it's not fun, like researching said states (I'll do it later when I actually start the next book), or how---and what---details to include for my Ireland-set book (which is the book after the road trip book). That hero is an Irish rocker, and he definitely has to sound Irish, so I'm going to listen to a lot of Daniel Day Lewis and Colin Farrell Youtube videos. (Okay, so that research won't be that bad). But the part of research that sucks is deciding how to include it in the novel and make it "alive" as opposed to recitation of boring, useless information. I think I even did some research with this book, and I lived in the city where the book is taking place, so go figure. LOL.
Unfortunately, it seems like no one can avoid research in his/her novel. We don't know everything. But, lord, it would be nice if I did. *g*
Julie said Oh Q Dahlink, Dare I ask? AH-MEN to which-what?
I referred to the Proof that God has a very wicked sense of humour. Hence my liturgical response. *grin*
Second, I think the idea is that we are descendants of the giant spaghetti monster!
Its only one speculative explanation of course :LOL:
Elyssa, I'm not sure that I would call that research. I assume that if I can google the answer or look it up in a library book then I effectively know it. Now if you are developing new understanding of the dead sea scrolls or something like that which is exciting, then that's research. 8)
So...we all have tomato sauce in our genes? :)
Eh, research is anything you don't know that you need to know and have to go out there to find. Of course, with my failing memory, the need to research what I once knew and now can't find is expanding...like the universe.
Chance - I'm with ya, girlfriend. I have to research my own mother's address half the time. LOL! Why can I never remember her street number?!
Q - Don't go all Science Guy on us. If I have to look something up, it's research. May not be YOUR kind of research (with variables and constants and such), but it's still research. LOL!
Ely - I had that same thought about writing contemps. Surely I won't have to do much research. Then my hero shows up as a chef and poof! I'm in trouble.
Hellion said:
"And I’m cracking up that the High Priestess of Heaven is also the High Priestess of Shit. I’m sure there is a philosophical statement to be made there, but I’m not touching it."
Ahahahahahahahahaha!
And Julie, you said Julie means: One Guided by Truth
You also said
Ann: means “shit”.
Hey! I take very personal defense to the deduction of your own name, missy!
Very cool factoids, Marn.
I especially loved the first, second, fourth ...
oh forget it. They're all uber cool!
Now, Quantum, don't go ruining my definition of research. ;-) Just because I'm not researching the dead sea scrolls, I've never been to Ireland or driven cross-country; I'm counting that as research. So there. :-P
Yes, I'm not ashamed to resort to little kids' antics. LOL.
Jules - don't poke fun, it's good to know what one's name is standing for, I think. I'd hate to be wandering around with a name that I thought meant heaven and actually meant shit, ya know?
Q - I have read a few things about Egyptian pyramids, but I want to check out more. There's so much cool stuff out there now.
Ely - I agree, I think some things are fun, but there are definitely parts I put off. Your upcoming research sounds like it's going to be fun! I love the Irish accent, like Gerard Butler in PS I Love You. Gerard Butler.... Yummmm....
Marnee, ask Terri what the J in J Perry stand for.
Also, you should know the "friend" the lovely Julie refers to is also the J in J Perry.
Remind me never to share these little tidbits with Julie for fear they'll come out and bite me in the stern one day.
BTW, did you pirates know the term "fore and aft" is also euphemism for ...
well ...
shagging?
You did, didn't you?
And now you all know what occupied all of my research time today.
JP - Sorry I got distracted with dinner in the middle of my responding and didn't get a chance to hit submit before being drug away by my kid.
Thanks for the uber cool comment! I think the stuff is neat too! And I didn't know about the fore and aft bit, but now that I know I'll be sure to use that in convo.
It's ok; people already think I'm nuts.
Me, too! But you know, once they think you're nuts you get away with so much more than the norms...
AH-MEN to that? Ahhh Q, it seems that God is not The Only being with a Wicked sense of humor!
ONLY J Perry Stone would to tell me that in some cultures Ann means “shit” then have the Audacity to b--- me out for sharing that lil’ tidbit. Whattah little “Anne”
J Perry said “Hey! I take very personal defense to the deduction of your own name, missy!”
Golly, you’re right Stone-eeerrr. I should embrace the positive meaning of my name! Sooo … Julie Ann means “One Guided by Truth High Priestess of Heaven”. How lovely. How inspiring. HOW True!
This leaves a few “leftover” meanings for you my Dearest, Darling Julianne. Here. You can be… HHmmmmm…
“Youthful High Priestess of Poop” or “The Truth is You Are Guided By Shit”! LOL
I won’t say How lovely. Or How inspiring. But I will say HOW Tr-eeeeeewwwww … Hey No Biting In The Stern! Jeez. I was JOKING! And No Tidbit Sharing, Julianne. Not that I have any… that you know of … I hopeeeee…
I don't know about any of this but Fore & Aft needs to be a drink. LOL! Say, J, where does the Aft go?
*whistles innocently*
Terr - don't you know never to ask J about the 'aft' of anything. She's very in your face about that and I mean that literally, folks.
I adore research and I know it would become an obession with me. I'd do more research and never get any of it to the book. I have a sneaking suspicion that I write contemporaries because of this. There are areas that I've needed to research like how the financial world works but I've never felt compelled to study it from its inception in early trading to present day. However, I've been fascinated by the inception of the Exchange and where it first started. Again, I'm afraid if I started reading up on it, I'd never stop.
Well said, finally a good report on this stuff
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