Under and Over with Denise Rossetti

I’ve only recently discovered The West Wing and I’m so completely absorbed in it, it’s a little alarming. Good grief, it’s good! And yes, I know I’m slow, okay? I’m only part of the way through Season 3 and I have to say, it gives me enormous pleasure to think there are seven seasons in total.

There are so many things I’m relishing about this show, but one of them is something that may not occur to you folks Over There. For an Aussie like me, who is not really familiar with the extraordinary complexities of the American political system, it’s a pretty painless way to learn. I’m fascinated by the wheeling and dealing, the checks and balances, the decision making, the lobbying, the polling, the strategising and spin-doctoring. Together with the whole Obama/Clinton race - which was actually, um, real - it’s proving to be quite an education.

Not long ago, I read a biography of Kevin Rudd, who is the recently elected (November last year) Prime Minister of Australia. At the time of publication, he was still only Opposition Leader, but - lo and behold! - the wheeling and dealing, the numbers game, was essentially the same. I can see it’s inevitable, the way politics works, the way politics has always worked, right from ancient times. I’m sure Pericles and Augustus had closed door meetings during which others in power, and those aspiring to it, asked the vital question - “If I give you my support, what’s in it for me/my people?”

The differences between the two offices, President and Prime Minister, are huge. (Not talking about incumbents here.) The office of PM here has the somewhat guarded respect of the nation, but the formality, the pomp, of the Oval Office is missing.

I’m not much of a political animal, I admit. I’m still left of centre, as I always have been, but sadly, I’m pretty cynical about the whole process these days. I do have a plot in my head for a contemporary romantic comedy though, set in the US somewhere and it requires the machinations of a corrupt Senator - also from somewhere. I wonder if I’ve learned enough from watching three seasons of The West Wing to write it? *snort* Scary thought, isn’t it?

Is politics an important part of your life, personally? Here in Australia, voting is compulsory, but I wouldn’t dream of not doing it anyway.

If you watched The West Wing, what did you like about it? Why do you think it rated so well with the American public? I love the tight writing (of course), the sharp, clever dialogue. In fact, all the characters are so very clever, aren’t they? The character development is great. I like CJ, though I imagine I would come up to her elegant knee. I also really enjoy Toby. Richard Schiff does a great job. And then there’s Leo, and Donna… Oh well, they’re all great.

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This post is about Stargate Atlantis. It’s also about losing my purse. Don’t see the connection? Read on, my friend…

Last week, I opened by bag and discovered my purse was missing, together with all the cards in it. You know that horrible feeling when your guts turn over? And your brain is filled with a long wail of disbelief and horror? “Oh, nooo-ooo!”

There’ s a happy ending, I hasten to add. I’d left it in the Post Office (because I’m an absent-minded idiot), but there was a whole night of terrible tension before I could find out for sure. I couldn’t eat, couldn’t settle to anything. It was awful.

What to do to take my mind off it?

I watched five episodes of Stargate Atlantis, back to back. And it worked a treat. By the time we’d beaten off yet another Wraith attack, I was so tired I could actually sleep. Thank heavens.

And yah boo sucks to the snobs who frown on escapism in reading and entertainment.

I LOVE SF/fantasy shows like Stargate. Don’t even get me started on Serenity/Firefly and its premature demise. Or the way Babylon 5 had to finish in a hurry. I was completely intrigued by the whole premise of Babylon 5. *sigh*

On the other hand, I’m very slow at catching up. I think I’ve said before, I watch very little TV. I did catch the original Stargate though and developed a close personal relationship with Daniel. What can I say? You all know I love intelligent geeky gorgeous men. So I’m only up to Season 2 of Atlantis. It’s kind of engaging, you know? First there’s Joe Flanigan playing John Sheppard. Excessively cute and he reminds me irresistibly of a young Harrison Ford, right down to his repertoire of handy-dandy expressions. See the photo above for a few of them.

I enjoy all the characters, especially Rodney McKay, who’s the Stargate version of Dr Smith in the old TV series of Lost in Space, and Teyla, the exotic warrior woman type. I like that she’s small and curvy and still hard-muscled and tough. It’s all very Boys’ Own Adventure crossed with space opera. And Beckett, the Scottish doctor - which makes a change from Chief Engineers. I keep expecting him to say, “I canna get more speed oota the medical hyperdrive, Cap’n.”

And of course, how can you go past the hubba-hubba addition of Jason Momoa as Ronon Dex? One of my writing buddies is so fixated on him, dreadlocks and all, that he’s the model for her current hero. There were loads of pics of him in costume, but I thought you’d prefer this one. He’s definitely gorgeous, but he’s also unusual, with those light eyes and dark skin tones and the dreads into the bargain. I think he’s Hawaiian. And he’s big - boy, is he a biiiig guy! He carries off the casual violence of the Ronon character very well and he looks like he’s enjoying himself.

What do you watch when you need an escape from daily reality? Have you ever been in a situation where book/movies saved your sanity and helped you get through?

Do you like SF/fantasy shows? Go ahead - a fangirl squee is completely acceptable on this blog. Do you like Stargate? BTW - no spoilers, please! I still have a way to go. Not to mention, I’ve only just discovered the West Wing. Blown away, but that’s a subject for another post.

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Okeydoke, who pushes your buttons, hmm? Many authors put up photos of actors or models as inspiration for their characters when they’re writing. I never do that - I can’t. I have to admit, when readers ask which actors I think could play my characters, I have to say I simply…cannot. There’s something about trying to put a real face to my imaginings that brings me right down. It destroys the magic of the perfect fantasy.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t don’t use bits of people, just bits. Trey’s (GIFT OF THE GODDESS) beautiful red-gold colouring was inspired by a gorgeous girl modelling sexy lingerie in a magazine. Surprised? She had the most glorious hair and skin. Then I added a dash of David Wenham, just for me. (An Aussie actor, he was Faramir in Lord of the Rings and he’s worth a whole post all by himself. The Thinking Woman’s Crumpet. *sigh*)
But there isn’t a man in the world beautiful enough to measure up to my mental image of Jan, let alone Mirry.

Have a look at this selection (not mine) and tell me what you think. Mind you, I adore Johnny Depp, but that’s as much for the person he is as for the looks. He’s just so interesting, you know? In a totally cerebral kinda way. (And I have a bridge to sell you.)

Johnny Depp and Pierce Brosnan make Romantic Novelists’ hearts throb

Members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association have voted Johnny Depp as the
Number One Perfect Romantic Hero in a poll to mark Valentine’s Day.
According to these authors, a romantic hero should be gorgeous, deliciously sexy, intensely masculine and have a commanding presence.

‘We should be qualified to judge,’ one writer commented. ‘After all, we
create these heroes on paper every day.’

The top ten male celebrities voted the Perfect Romantic Hero were:

1. Johnny Depp

2. Daniel Craig

3. Sean Bean

4. Richard Armitage

5. Hugh Jackman

6. Colin Firth

7. Alan Rickman

8. Pierce Brosnan

9. George Clooney

10. David Tennant

A second poll, taken by members of the RNA bravely admitting to being ‘over a certain age’, voted for male celebrities over fifty who’ve ’still got it’. Remarkable for his appearance on both polls, Pierce Brosnan took the crownfor the over fifties by a huge margin.

The top ten Over-Fifty Perfect Romantic Heroes were:

1. Pierce Brosnan

2. Harrison Ford

3. Ranulph Fiennes

4. Bill Nighy

5. Liam Neeson

6. Sam Neill

7. Sean Connery

8. Peter O’Toole

9. Clint Eastwood

10. Omar Sharif

What do you think? Did they leave anyone out?

PS You only need to look at the pictures to see who does it for me!

Don’t forget - every month there’s a chance to win everything droolworthy - Tim Tams and hunkalicious postcards. Check the Current Contest page and keep the comments coming!