This is my first blog ever.

Ahh, let the petal fall.

Okay, so enough with bad metaphors of losing my flower. Here's the thing: I fixate. I like all different things and have a myriad of interests, but at least once or twice a month and sometimes every other day, I fixate on something. Could be something old, something new, but it tortures me. Could be a person, place, thing, idea, tune, etc.

If it's a type of cake, I must eat it - which becomes not enough. I must also find the recipe for future feasts on said cake. And not just one recipe - recently I spent most of a day researching bran muffin recipes (bran muffins, for Christmas sake!) and comparing/contrasting my findings - any recipe with raisins was automatically disqualified.

If it's a new author, I must read him/her until I can no longer decipher words. Then I go hunting for biographies, interviews, strange facts, photos, etc. If it's a book that became a film - I must compare.

My point must be gotten by now. I'll move on before you do.

Anyhoo, this week it's Jane Austen's Persuasion. I used to favor Sense and Sensibility, then Pride and Prejudice, but the more I read/watch it, the more I realize how far superior Persuasion is to every other. (Truthfully I used to hate Austen, but something happened, and now I luff her).

Today I was reading the description of the late Richard Musgrove, and I was delighted to realize that Jane made a funny about the name "Dick." And yes, she meant it just as it sounds.

I checked out the DVD version starring Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, both actors unknown to me before the first time I viewed the film. My favorite thing about this version: the fact that the actors look as old as the characters are supposed to be, and all the touching by Captain Wentworth and sister Anne. Also classic: the scene with Captain Wentworth's and Walter Elliott's dueling umbrellas.

Are they really competing for Anne to touch their, ahem, umbrellas?

Captain's guileless offer of it to her reminded me of the ever-funtastic feature film, Dirty Dancing: "I carried a watermelon?!!?

I'm sure there will be more on this. It's been at least four days already.

Help me. Please. Help.