Nov 24 2012

Let’s Get it On

Melissa Crytzer Fry

If there’s one word to describe 2012, it may just be hot. And I don’t mean only here in the scorching desert.

First it was the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy that got a lot of women talking openly about sex. Then there was Magic Mike (Yes – I did see that movie and might or might not have been hooting and hollering in the audience and wiping drool from my face). And, how can I forget … one of my favorite literary (but sexy) books of the year, The Taker, by Alma Katsu.

Even the desert critters got their groove on, it appears:

My cats, Macho and Niña, alerted me to the ‘show’ going on outside the French doors with these checkered whiptail lizards. Click to enlarge.

This looks pretty platonic, yes. But this isn't what they were doing BEFORE I snapped this photo of dragonfly love at Apache Lake. Click to enlarge.

In the spirit of this sexual revolution, I thought I’d share a nature video with you as well (please DO turn on your volume). I just happened to be on the roof of our house when I heard rocks falling. I saw a bunny at the top of the hill and assumed he was the source of the noise. But as he hopped down the the embankment – within NOSE LENGTH of these two rattlesnakes – I realized what I was witnessing. And, of course, I ran to grab the camera.

And for the record … I am not some creepy animal voyeur. I don’t go looking for rattlesnakes, lizards and dragonflies who are getting it on. I just happened to be there. (Feel free to continue humming Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” if you’d like).

For Readers/Writers: Did you read 50 Shades? (See Annie Neugebauer’s post for a great discussion of the book AND its writing quality. See my comment and you’ll know why I haven’t read it!). Did you see Magic Mike? What did you think? All in good fun? Too much? What amount of raciness do you prefer in your reading and movies?


22 Responses to “Let’s Get it On”

  • Tracy Mangold Says:

    This made me hoot and holler! Forget Magic Mike -which I have not seen. LOL! Too funny!

    [Reply]

    Melissa Reply:

    SO glad it was received in the manner with which I created it (fun – not creepy). I figure we can all use a laugh now and then!

    [Reply]

  • Laurie Buchanan Says:

    “I just happened to be on the roof of our house…”

    Oh my gosh, still CRACKING UP! In 55 years of living I have NEVER, “…just happened to be on the roof!”

    [Reply]

    Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:

    Ha ha… Now that you mention it, that does sound rather bizarre. Does it help knowing that it’s a flat roof with a star-gazing deck (all still under construction). And, if I recall, I think I wanted to catch some rays that particular spring day! 😉

    [Reply]

  • Julia Munroe Martin Says:

    Great post… and amazing movie (I love that you say you went to get your camera “of course”!) I haven’t read 50 Shades; I did read an excerpt and didn’t enjoy it enough to read on. However, yes, I did see Magic Mike and loved it. All in good fun and a good movie, too. I have to say that the amount of male nudity (well, except for one scene) was less than female nudity in many TV shows… just saying, there still seems to still be a double standard, at least in movies, TV, if not in books and in nature 😉

    [Reply]

    Melissa Crytzer Fry Reply:

    Yes – our reasons for not reading 50 Shades are similar: writing quality. Ha ha… laughing hysterically about your double standard comments… SO TRUE. I actually rather liked the storyline of Magic Mike, and agree – all in good fun.

    [Reply]

  • Shary Says:

    I wasn’t planning to read 50 Shades but then my book club chose it so I borrowed a copy. I found it pretty boring, but I can see why many enjoyed it (aside from the steaminess) because it has a Cinderella theme which does tend to resonate with readers.

    I don’t mind raciness in books or movies, but it has to fit the story. If it’s just there for shock value, it usually ruins the experience for me.

    [Reply]

    Melissa Reply:

    What a great point about the raciness needing to fit the plot. I think many times, writers chase the trends and will throw in “what’s hot, what’s new” in the hopes of gaining popularity – even if it doesn’t fit the plot or characters.

    I haven’t read 50 Shades because it didn’t pass my ‘writing test’ — though I know plenty, plenty, plenty of folks who didn’t mind the writing … obviously. She’s a millionaire now, right? Who am I to judge?

    [Reply]

  • Cynthia Robertson Says:

    I haven’t read Fifty Shades, partly because I couldn’t continue reading after only a few pages, but also because a quick flip through revealed the beatings, which I find disturbing. Nuff said there.

    I haven’t ‘seen’ Magic Mike, so I Googled it. Now I want to! What Julia said about the double standard with nudity is so true – what’s up with that?!
    Hilarious post, Melissa 😀

    [Reply]

    Melissa Reply:

    OH, yes … You must see Magic Mike; it good start in the right direction to equalizing “nudity of the sexes” in the movies. Ha ha. I crack myself up. So glad I could elicit a laugh. I hope I’m not offending anyone!

    [Reply]

  • Jolina Petersheim Says:

    You on the roof with your camera….It’s good you live out in the sticks like me! 😉 I haven’t read Fifty Shades (big surprise, huh?), and I have been pondering that question of how much “steam” I want to allow in my reading material. I guess if I wouldn’t watch it on TV, I don’t want to read it, either. I think there’s a tasteful way to convey electricty between characters without setting the whole house on fire.

    [Reply]

    Melissa Reply:

    Yes, I agree. There IS a tasteful way of convey that kind of animal magnetism between people in books without “setting the whole house on fire” — ha; loved that analogy. A book that does a great job of that: Erika Robuck’s Hemingway’s Girl. Have you read it?

    [Reply]

  • Annie Neugebauer Says:

    Wahaha. Thanks for starting my day off with a laugh, Melissa! Very cool, actually. And thanks too for linking to my 50 Shades post. 🙂

    [Reply]

    Melissa Reply:

    Even though I write very serious fiction, I have a lighter side. I mean: I wasn’t named my high school class clown on a whim! Glad I could get a chuckle out of you.

    [Reply]

  • Lara Schiffbauer Says:

    The birds cracked me up! There they are, right by the show, and the snakes don’t even notice! Ha!

    I read an excerpt of 50 Shades and didn’t enjoy the writing style, so have no interest in reading the books. I’ve gotten really particular lately, and I don’t know why.

    [Reply]

    Melissa Reply:

    Ha – I was waiting for someone to notice the bird voyeurs! Glad you did. You know … I’ve been contemplating writing a post about reading preferences and if they change as we mature as writers… I’m becoming more and more like you: discriminating and particular… Things I’d have liked before, I don’t enjoy as much. And more challenging books, I devour.

    [Reply]

  • Erika Marks Says:

    I love it! And so, of course, did biologist hubby;) Isn’t science a hoot?!

    I haven’t read 50 Shades but it’s funny, Melissa…the older I get, the less interest I have in writing/reading the nuts and bolts (oh, dear, sorry) scenes and it’s the build-up that I love. Maybe because the emotional meat of a love scene (IMO) tends be in the before and after?

    [Reply]

  • Natalia Sylvester Says:

    LOVED this post and the pictures and video! I’m sure many people on this planet owe their lives to Marvin Gaye and his mood-setting music 😉

    I haven’t read 50 Shades for many of the same reasons. I read a few pages after hearing that OMG SO MANY PEOPLE ARE READING IT and quickly realized that I would not be one of those people because I didn’t like the writing. I have no problem with raciness in a book, and tend to really enjoy it if the characters are written well enough that I really want them to get it on. One of the writer’s in my critique group wrote a trilogy set in the Victorian era, and she writes sex so well because her characters are so well-written and so alive that you can feel the chemistry. Truly enjoyable reading 😉 I can’t wait till the day that she gets published.

    [Reply]

  • Girl Parker Says:

    Not some creepy animal voyeur… HAHHAHAHHAHAHHA!!!! Hilarious and more hilarious. Did see it, but must admit I loved the previews for Magic Mike. Hello!

    [Reply]

  • Girl Parker Says:

    Oh good lord… Did NOT see it… key word there.

    [Reply]

  • Nina Says:

    Ha!!!! And wow. Meanwhile, I bet that headline “Let’s Get it On” will lead to some interesting Google finds to your blog.

    [Reply]

  • Hallie Sawyer (@Hallie_Sawyer) Says:

    THAT was funny. I guess that is what happens when many of us aren’t looking. Except for you! You are always looking it seems! Not meaning at animals getting it on, per se, but animals in general…oh, never mind! 😉

    I think you know my stance on 50 Shades (will never read it, even if it was the last book in the world) and have not seen Magic Mike. I’m not into just blatant in your face sexuality. I like the love story and the build-up, like Erika said. Less is more in my eyes.

    Fun stuff!

    [Reply]

Leave a Comment