I Thought I'd Won A Daytime Emmy...

But then I woke up. Just a dream. Wanna hear about it? Here it goes.

I was in the Kodak Theater, nominees section for the Daytime Emmy Awards, sitting with the production staff of Young and The Restless. I was nominated for Outstanding Writing, and I was the co-head writer.

I watched with a slight mist in my eyes, as the scenes I'd submitted were shown before the audience while the nominations were being read.

When the announcer read my writing team had won, I did the speech, thanked all the family and staff from Y&R, and then did my best to implore Victoria Rowell to come back to Y&R as Drucilla because the show really needed her.

Yeah, I know. My dreams can be over the top.

But then the funny thing, is the next scene of the dream, Victoria Rowell was a special presenter for a Lifetime Achievement Award, and before reading the script, she announced she had recently signed a new contract to return to Y&R.

She was happy. I was happy. Then I woke up. No Daytime Emmy next to my bed. Just the sunlight. And a desire to go catch up on the week of Young and Restless episodes sitting on the DVR. Or to listen to the Daytime Confidential podcast.
fs

Your Whitness Is Showing

A good friend of mine in Vermont called me this morning. Implored me to read this fascinating essay by Tim Wise... Your Whiteness is Showing.

It's an open letter to Clinton supporters who are having a difficult time moving over to Obama.

My friend and I were on opposite sides of the primary season. Managed to stay friends. Mainly because he's not a "sore winner."

But it's a cool essay and I'd like to know what you think.
fs

I Kissed A Friend... And I Liked It

So I've had this platonic friend for about two years.

We actually met with the possibility of more-than-friends, but we went nowhere fast down that road. Which is cool. We talk a couple times a month, MySpace message each other once in a while, all that. Occassionally, I'll see him out on one of his rare appearances at a club or bar. Real casual. Cool friend.

But last night something was different. We were passing each other, each walking in our own direction to another end of the club, and we stopped, smiled, did the friendly gay hug, cheek-to-cheek thing, and then kissed. I mean KISSED. I was surprised. I think he was surprised. We stopped and kept walking our separate ways.

We have texted about it this morning. About how fun and surprising (and good) it was.

Is that weird?

Um, so this fits in to one of my favorite songs right now, I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry. Well, because I kissed a friend and I liked it.

And it also fits in with one of my favorite podcasts, Savage Love Podcast, and this episode talking about when do you finally break down and make the jump from friend to dating or dating to commitment. Episode 71. Lots of good and blunt advice on Savage Love.

Anyway, hope your weekend if off to a good start. Kiss a friend... start a good summer storyline for yourself.
fs

You Talk Like You Grew Up With A Father

We had an interesting lunch conversation at work today. Talked about what it feels/felt like to be raised by only a mother, and no father in the house.

I didn't have that experience, and shared that I didn't. But that I could somehow sense from those who didn't grow up with a father that it left a great void or longing in their life. I gathered that from past conversation with students who'd been raised without a father, for whatever reason, that there were some intense emotions around that situation.

One person at the table said to me they could tell I grew up with a father in the house. Said that I talked and said things like someone who grew up with a father.

Couldn't come up with any specifics... but someone else commented the same. That people who grew up with a mom and dad have a certain way of speaking, being, approaching situations.

It was news to me. But have you heard of, or thought of, such a thing?
fs

People Who Don't Read

This is one of my faves... Family, by J. California Cooper. Moved me to tears... and cheers.

I'm always amazed when I run into people who don't read. Not that they can't. But they just don't.

The other day, I had some people over. In my living room is a huge book case with hundreds of books. Most of them I'd read at some point in my life.

One of the guests observed the books on the case, asked if I'd read any of them, and when I said most of them, he just about lost it. Thought it was soooooo amazing. To me, it's not a big deal, but then again it is... because each of those books represents a story that resonated with me, or a different time period of my life.

What I liked about him is that he was a non-reader who wasn't judgmental about reading. He was just in awe that I knew so much about different books. And then he lost it when I said I write, too. That's another story.

But then I've met some non-readers who are extremely judgmental about reading. The call it boring, nerdy, not exciting, etc... And of course I take that personally, because then I assume they're saying it about readers... and me. Maybe it isn't about me.

I am a life-long reader. Started out with the whole Dr. Seuss collection as a toddler. Bought those books in elementary school -- the whole order catalogue, getting parents' permission to buy, taking the money to the teacher. And I always read for pleasure, even when in undergrad and grad school.

When I meet someone who's a reader, I think this person is: patient, reflective, curious, open to new ideas and adventures, and able to be still and entertain him or herself. I never think boring or nerdy.

Still... it surprises me when I meet someone who's not into reading. But then it's exciting when I get an email from someone who says they'd never read a book before until a friend turned them on to me.

When they ask for a recommendation on what to read next, then I'm even more excited.
fs

There Is Only One Mrs. Chancellor

And tonight, her portrayer, Jeanne Cooper won an Emmy (finally) for Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

That's Katherine Chancellor from The Young and The Restless.

Whether she's playing drunk and signing divorce papers... determined to beat Jill (her life-long enemy who turned out to be her daughter), or fighting with Jill over Phillip, Mrs. Chancellor is and has always been the bombay of Y&R.

I remember when growing up, how my sister and her friends would talk about how Mrs. Chancellor always kept her hair flawlessly cut, kept those manicured long nails, and stayed dripping in diamonds while lounging in that living room (and using that one long nail to open the curtains and peek out at her grounds and the grave of her husband, Phillip).

You all know I'm a huge daytime drama fan. And I'm super happy Young and Restless is back on track to how it used to be (with the slow building stories that lead to a huge payoff months or years down the road).

And I'm super happy that Mrs. Chancellor has her Emmy. After nine nominations! And she has a MySpace too.
fs

Fiona Is Fast

Seems like it was just a year ago I was writing about Fiona Zedde about to put out a new novel. Yeah, it was a year ago. It was her third, Every Dark Desire.

Next week, Fiona's fourth novel comes out. That's four novels in four years. Hungry For It. Fiona's explained it to me in detail. And it sounds very exciting. Love the cover, huh?

So if you're in the Atlanta area soon, Fiona will be doing a number of promotional events. Hopefully you can check her out.

Meantime, let me get back to the keyboard so that I make my end-of-summer deadline. I'm trying to be as fast as Fiona!
fs

Marry

Gay marriage is here, and here to stay.

People of the same gender started getting married in California just a couple hours ago. One of my good friends and his partner will be getting married on Wednesday.

To celebrate the occasion. Will You Marry Me by Paula Abdul.
fs