The "Brit a Day" series

What does a months-long parade of attractive British men have to do with fiction, you might well ask? These gentlemen have inspired some lovely scenes, part of the life I live in my head. Over time, some of these scenes reach out to one another and begin to form a story. For the present, each one of these pictures provides a writing prompt for me, a way to keep me writing with a sense of passion and narrative, even when the stories are not yet fully formed.



Friday, December 31, 2010

A Brit a Day [#312]

Eddie Argos in the bakery, perhaps purchasing breakfast.

I saw 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' last night on TV. [hyperbole coming up...] I'm a hundred years old but I'd never seen it before. I cried a bit over the cat being put out in the rain rather than over a girl marrying an old guy just shy of her 14th birthday, a plot point that mirrors the story of my own grandmother. Two of my fifty-ish girl pals told me today that they've never seen it, which surprised me. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly is such an icon of our girlhoods. Truman Capote as a socialite, more so than as an author, is such an icon of my Merv Griffin/Mike Douglas childhood. People my age probably expect the George Peppard character to turn out being gay. Was Capote ever a kept man struggling with his sexuality? Did my grandmother ever think of running away from the family she wrought at 14 to reinvent herself in a new town?

I ate my breakfast in a rush at the kitchen counter this morning. Fortunes from cookies from last nights take-out Chinese were still on the counter. One of them says 'sometimes adversity is as needed as medicine.' Happy new year everyone. Reflect, cry a little, and then move on.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

A Brit a Day [#311]

Henry Ian Cusick in a quiet moment between the Q and the A at a 'Lost' Q & A in 2006.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A Brit a Day [#310]

My husband and I had our annual New Years-ish date at the Belly Up Tavern seeing Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker last night. I'm wondering what the Malfoys can recommend for a hangover from hell.

Monday, December 27, 2010

A Brit a Day [#309]

This is for Tuesday.

Here's Dan.

That looks just like the elevator at my kids' pediatrician.

A Brit a Day [#308]

A perfect shot of Christian Bale for the December cover of Esquire.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

A Brit a Day [#307]

I hear that some of you got a bit of snow on Christmas Day. Someone has thoughtfully cleared the stairs for Alan Rickman, shown at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Friday, December 24, 2010

A Brit a Day [#306]


Gift #6:
Read with a child on the internet to learn more about the Christmas Truce of 1914.

[In the top photo, Dan Radcliffe wears a WW1 uniform for the film 'My Boy Jack,' but that is not meant to imply that Jack Kipling was involved in the Christmas truce.]

Gift #7:
I'm taking Christmas Day off. Fervently dream of world peace, everyone!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Brit a Day [#305]

Gift #5 is dedicated to my Sistahs in Retail, whether you are serving someone or are being served...

Face the crowds of last-minute holiday shoppers with all the grace you can manage.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

A Brit a Day [#304]

Gift #4.
Go to a club just to support the opening band. Cheer loudly even though there are only 5 of you on the dance floor. The bands we love now were once in their trembling shoes. [I'm looking at you, Eddie Argos.]


Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Brit a Day [#303]


Gift #3.
Go to a big newsstand and buy someone a magazine that they've never heard of just because you like the cover.

Monday, December 20, 2010

A Brit a Day [#302]

Gift #2:
Tell a gentleman you know with long hair that he has lovely locks. Ask him for a lock of his hair.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

A Brit a Day [#301]


This week: Simple gifts for Christmas.

#1.
Take someone to see HP and the Deathly Hallows, part 1. Dress up like it's the premiere and hide extra-nice snacks in your pockets.

Friday, December 17, 2010

A Brit a Day [#300]

This post is for Saturday.

To celebrate the 300th issue of A Brit a Day, I'm posting the hottest thing I can find in my 'Yet To Be Used' folder.

God, I love horses.

A Brit a Day [#299]

I can't resist posting another picture of Eddie Argos surfing in Hawaii, especially since San Diego's contribution to the recent weather news is that we've had 20-foot waves in anticipation of a winter storm.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

A Brit a Day [#298]

This is one of my favorite screen caps from LOST--it has all the components of the Golden Triangle of Happiness: Good whisky, a big comfy car with leather upholstery, and a sexy man who looks like he could use a hug. [Henry Ian Cusick]

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Brit a Day [#297]

Jason Isaacs in a fan-made pitch to cast him as the Awesome One.

I can't see a James Bond pastiche without remembering a spoof I saw in MAD magazine when I was in high school. I can't give you details here on my family-friendly site, but I can say that it gave a whole knew meaning to the saying "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

A Brit a Day [#296]

I have adored this picture of Dan Radcliffe for some time now, and I was recently reminded of it when a friend sent me a link to Top Sexiest Men in Britain [waves at Donna]. Dan was, I think, fifth behind Colin Firth at first. Um, we can talk about that later...'The King's Speech' is due out soon, and it's rated R--so maybe Colin will do something then to really impress me.

Monday, December 13, 2010

A Brit a Day [#295]

Here's one more photo of Christian Bale [with Mark Wallberg] at the press conference for 'The Fighter' in November. Yes, you saw it here......Marky Mark occasionally flips people the bird.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

A Brit a Day [#294]

Someone uploaded a screen shot of their desktop, and it has this delightful picture of Alan Rickman as wallpaper. It reminds me that a friend of mine who is an artist once put on her blog a screen shot of the window with all her picture file icons--the screen shot itself was a work of art--and I kept trying to click on the file icons to see what was inside them.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A Brit a Day [#293]

I've decided that the character Adrian from 'After the Rain' [left, as played by Ian Cusick] is my new imaginary high school boyfriend that I never had. Actually, I shouldn't say that. I had one great boyfriend in High School. His name was Richard, and he didn't even go to my school--he went to the tony private school down the street--but some weeks we still saw each other almost every day. We lost touch when we all went away to college. I think by then we were mad at each other over something--I can't remember what, though. Richard K., you know who you are--so where are you now??

Friday, December 10, 2010

A Brit a Day [#292]

Here is a brilliant collage I found on the internet featuring Eddie Argos and Dyan Valdes of EWITFR...N. EWITFR...N is on hiatus while Art Brut are in the studio recording album #4.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

A Brit a Day [#291]

Some friends of mine have posted an online petition to get Henry Ian Cusick on 'Hawaii Five-0.' Not only would he be a great addition to the cast, but casting him would be a very GREEN option for the producers since Ian lives on Oahu. So if you love the earth, or just want to help give me something priceless for Christmas, sign this petition!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Brit a Day [#290]

Here is a nice promo photo of Jason Isaacs in 'Friends with Money.' Looks like it could be a lobby card. When was the last time you saw a lobby card in a movie theatre? Are they still in lobbies? I must remember to look.

Monday, December 6, 2010

A Brit a Day [#289]

This is for Tuesday.

My mother says that she thinks Daniel Radcliffe has turned into the character he has been portraying for all these years--an unassuming [implied: less than attractive] schoolboy.

Mom, I just don't see it that way.

A Brit a Day [#288]

I haven't been this excited about new pictures of Christian Bale in a long time. His look here reminds me of '2:10 to Yuma' [love that movie] but with more of his boyish charm.

From a November 20th press conference for 'The Fighter.'


Sunday, December 5, 2010

A Brit a Day [#287]

Alan Rickman.

This is a beautiful photograph with it's mysterious motion in the foreground and the stillness of his face.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

A Brit a Day [#286]

This was one of the strange results I got a few weeks ago when I keyed in 'Eddie Argos'. These kids are from a Cadbury's ad. The only common thread I can find is the attention to eyebrows. [See previous post.]

Friday, December 3, 2010

A Brit a Day [#285]

Who would Eddie Argos be if he were in the Harry Potter movies? Clearly, Neville Longbottom.

Art Brut are now back in Portland recording their fourth album.