Model Hopping Again

I love to tour model homes in the places I visit. It's fascinating to see the different types of architecture, decor, landscaping and layout of each house as compared to the type of housing common in my home state. Every time I do this, I try to picture myself living in the particular place I'm visiting and adapting to the region's climate and lifestyle. Some places fit very well; others are truly unappealing. Over the years, I've probably toured models in 38 states and have some real favorites. Those favorites have become the homes of characters in several of my writing projects.

I'm currently visiting in Denver, and most all the model homes here have two stories and a basement, and are situated on very small lots. And all with a price that's at least 30 percent higher than a comparable place in my home state of Arizona! Arizona homes are invariably one story ranchers with no basement and set on good-sized lots. The Denver-style homes are not particularly unique; I've seen this same style--both in new homes and older homes--throughout the midwest. However, there are some really charming older homes with a lot of character and with even higher price tags, but again without much land and no view.

Stairclimbing, up or down, is not for me, and with no view to speak of unless one wants to spend upwards of a million dollars, newer Denver homes will not go on my list of favorites. No character of mine will spend time looking longingly out a Denver window, hoping for a glimpse of the Front Range, only to see the next-door neighbor's very close wall.

On second thought, maybe I will place a character in such a setting and see where it will lead. Perhaps all that stair-climbing will build up a character's glutes, which will then be noticed by the very close next-door neighbor, and a relationship will begin that leads to the best story yet!

Mafia Marathon

I've neglected my writing for weeks now. Writing ended up as the also-ran when making a decision whether to write or watch all four seasons of The Soprano's on DVD. I've never been a big TV fan and never felt a need to subscribe to HBO. By chance I saw an episode of The Soprano's while visiting someone, and I immediately became hooked. Once I rented the first season, I couldn't wait to finish each episode, sometimes staying up until 3 a.m. to finish a disc. What a fantastic series. Such excellent writing and acting! When the show's characters draw in a person so much that one empathizes with murderers and hoodlums and is relieved when Tony Soprano gets off the hook for a murder he committed, it adds up to great stuff. After four more episodes, I'll be through--hungry for the release of Season Five on DVD. I'm almost tempted to get HBO, but then I'd have to quit reading and writing completely.