Tuesday, August 20, 2013

The Other Woman

Madame de Pompadour  Portrait by Charles-AndrĂ© van Loo
Such an odd topic to be going on about, however, lately it seems to be popping up around me in books and TV. 

Just today, Darling Diva and I watched a Dr. Who episode which involved the woman above, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, also known as Madame de Pompadour.  This was the woman known to all as chief mistress to the King of France Louis XV.  Imagine that, chief mistress, the head honchetta of other women.  She was second only to the Queen, but really, I wonder, did she truly come in second place or did the Queen do her duty and produce the heirs then to be left alone while the King maintained an actual relationship with his mistress?  Where the King/mistress relationships the real love matches while the marriages were about business only?

From what I've read the opposite seems like it would be true and the mistress' view this life like a business contract.  Wealth, notoriety, the endless trappings of a 'good' life and mostly the freedom to do what they wished with out being shackled by society, it sure seems like the good life.  Only if that were true, then were the Queen's considered the love match? 

Doubtful considering how they were treated most of the time.  Heck, Madame de Pompadour lived in apts above the kings rooms which were probably close to the Queen's rooms as well.  Let's be honest here, you know the Queen probably had to listen to the grunts and groans, yelps and delightful squeals of the King and mistress in what was most likely an above average sex life.  Two times a week?  Right ~rolls eyes~

This, of course, leads me to believe there was little emotion between the King and Queen.  So what happened to love?

Now in all honesty, the Queen probably had a stable of lovers, or at least one steady herself, but the point is how did people live with this lack of love?  Emotion?

So, back to the original thought, the other woman, what an odd thing to be going on about, but it makes me wonder if I could write a story involving a husband, a wife and TOW?  Probably not as I just can't wrap myself around the emotions, or lack there of, involved.  No one would "win" in my story, mainly because I can see the situation from all angles and while I'm pro-love, back then, marriage was like a business deal and love took a back seat.  Maybe then I should take up the challenge and try to write said story...

Who knows, maybe it'll go to the bottom of my to write list. 


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Wednesday Word

The Letter

Thomas Wilmer Dewing  (1851–1938)


holograph \HOL-uh-graf, -grahf, HOH-luh-\, adjective:
1. wholly written by the person in whose name it appears: a holograph letter.
noun:
1. a holograph writing, as a deed, will, or letter.

Ex:
“An unexpectedly thoughtful young man," said Chase, straightening the frame of (Queen Victoria's holograph letter. Originally, he had planned to put the Emerson autograph between those of Longfellow and Tennyson but then he had had second thoughts about keeping a valuable letter addressed not so much to him as the Secretary of the Treasury and so, with a sad heart, he handed it over to the Treasure archives...
-- Gore Vidal, Lincoln: A Novel, 1984

Holograph entered English in the 18th century from the Greek holos + graph, meaning "whole written." ~ www.dictionary.com

So, in retrospect, this work of are could have been called The Holograph.  Also, when I write love letters to Hubby, I'm actually writing love holographs.  LOL  Interesting, but it doesn't have quite the same punch as the word letter. 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

I Can't Get Away With Anything Anymore...


Yep, back to school needs to happen soon so I can stop feeling like a bad parent.  My conversation with Darling Diva...


DD:  Mom, what are you doing?

Me:  Brainshhtorming.

DD:  Brainstroming?

Me:  Yep.

DD:  It looks more like napping.

Me:  Nope, Brainshhtorming.

DD:  I'm bored.

Me:  Go do some brainshhtorming.

DD:  I stopped brainstorming by two.

Me:  I know...so sad.

Many moments of quiet...

DD:  I'm going to go rot my brain now.

Me:  Okay.

DD:  Have a nice brainstorm.

Me:  Mmmmhumm

Monday, August 5, 2013

Monday Muse...

 
Starting off my week with a bit of groveling...  

Mz. Muse:  It was a good idea.

Me:  I'm sure it was.

Mz. Muse:  No, it was a great idea!

Me:  I'm sorry.

Mz. Muse:  No you're not, you're just saying that to get back into my good graces so I'll give you more ideas.

Me:  Not true.  I really am sorry...I don't know what happened.  One moment I was excited and agreeing with your excellent suggestions for a story, then the next I...

Mz. Muse:  Was sleeping!

Me: So, so sorry.  How can I make it up to you?

Mz. Muse:  You can't.  I'm going over here to pout in the corner and never talk to you again.  You go over there and think about what you've done.

Me:  Never?

Silence

Me:  Never ever?

Crickets

Me:  Never ever ever?

Mz. Muse: No!  Oh, you...shut up!  I must pout.

Me:  I am sorry and I love you.

Mz. Muse:  I know.  I love you too.  Go think about our problem.

Me:  I will.  I promise, but after this episode of Supernatural, okay?

Mz. Muse:  Gah!!!

Me:  I'm watching with Darling Diva...

Mz. Muse:  Fine, but only because I like her.