Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts

I've gotten another entry in my Junk in a Box Competition! This one's from the wonderful Michael Di Gesu .      The Fashion Statement These are all ties and other accessories Michael wore in the 80s for photo shoots during his modeling days in New York. Can you say Movado?  Isn't it cool?  I'm touched that he took the time to put this all together for my little contest.  As I've already informed him, he's the big winner!  He'll receive a signed copy of Three Daves (so excited to have him read it) and a One Hit Wonders of the 80s CD.  And you'll be treated to an upcoming post on everything Michael.  :)  All three entries were fabulous, and the entrants incredibly sweet to indulge me, so I'll also send the two runners up a One Hit Wonders of the 80s CD. Also, I'd like to explain why I've been so delayed in visiting your blogs and responding to your lovely comments.  I've been hanging out with these guys (and my sister who t...

I can't believe it, but I've received the first submission to my Junk in a Box competition!  The rules are to design an 80s-themed diorama and e-mail a photo of it to elson.nicki@gmail.com by January 31, 2011 . (Now that I've seen people might actually do this, I've extended the deadline to the end of January.) It's that simple. The prizes for the winning diorama are: One Hit Wonders of the 80s CD Signed Copy of Three Daves Your blog & your book (or whatever you want) featured in a post  Plus, all entries will be invited to be a guest blogger here at Not-So-Deep Thoughts and will get a link to wherever they want on my side bar!   Want to see the new entry? It's a recreation of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back ,  released in 1980.   I'm told this is the entrant's first diorama attempt ever.  Nice job! :)  He doesn't have a blog, so I'm linking his diorama image on the sidebar to his excellent Star Wars fanfiction: Such a Q...

Well, it happened. Thanks to all of you... I hit a triple-digit follower Trifecta! 1 0 0 ! ! ! And so, I introduce my 100 follower Junk in a Box Competition Not this kind of junk in a box. Minds out of the gutter now,  I'm talking about dioramas! There is only one qualification to enter, and that is that you follow me on either Blogger , Twitter , or Facebook . Didn't see that one coming, did you?  The idea hatched as I watched my daughter build this stellar *award winning* Peter and the Starcatchers diorama for the local library. I had the same thought that got me into this writing thing to begin with: Why not? Do you remember these from grade school?  If not, here's a definition: diorama (ˌdaɪəˈrɑːmə)   a miniature three-dimensional scene in which models of figures are seen against a background  THE THEME The Awesome 80s THE RULES Create an 80s-themed diorama and e-mail a photo of it to elson.nicki@gmail.com by January 31, 2011.  Ent...

Hmm, let's see...1980s...college life...Midwest...why does the premise for this new TBS show to begin airing November 16 sound so familiar?   Could it be because it's the exact same premise for my novel?  Well okay, maybe not exactly exact:  Glory Daze is set in Wisconsin while Three Daves is in Illinois (HUGE difference), and the TV show is about a group of fraternity guys whereas the novel centers on one girl's dating plight. But even still, quite the exciting coincidence, no? Yet more evidence that the world craves its 80s!   But as thrilled as I am about the impending blast from the past, I'm not getting my hopes up too high.  Mostly because of these promo photos of the Glory Daze cast: Um, what's wrong with these pictures?   Don't worry, I'll tell you: #1 Where are the mullets? #2 Why is that Polo collar not up? #3 Why does the blonde's hair not extend  to beyond the top of the photo frame??? These are small things I know, b...

The other night I saw the funny and sweet Going the Distance , starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long and was surprised and ridiculously delighted by all the 80s references. The film is most definitely set in current times with texting and skyping galore, but someone involved in this movie was clearly jonesing for the 80s and found any which way to stick the decade in there, starting but certainly not ending with a game of Atari's Centipede. Then there was a quick move over to a guy in a Ralph Lauren polo shirt, collar up, and before I knew it we were staring at a poster of Tom Cruise in Top Gun !  This was followed up by a  morning wake-up call with " Time of My Life " from Dirty Dancing .  While the Going the Distance soundtrack is by no means an "80s Mix Tape," 80s bands get plenty of play in the film, including songs by The Cure, The Replacements, The Pretenders, and Berlin. I didn't hear any Beastie Boys, but our main boy does name Licensed ...

Just some pics of the set-up for the 80s Night party & book signing at The Meeting Place in Geneva, IL last Thursday. What I've discovered is that it's impossible not to have fun when you're getting your 80s on---the quirky music, the over-the-top fashions, the Ferris Bueller... Bueller... Bueller... Much thanks to the Merra-Lee girls for setting the shops back a few decades, my friend Tami for letting us use her awesome posters, and to everyone who came out to join us! As evidence that 80s pop culture will never die, our winner of the One Hit Wonders of the 80s game was born in 1985!  Need more proof that the 80s rock on?  Come on in to The Meeting Place to check out the Fingerless Gloves I spied on the shelves among fall 2010 fashions, or get a load of the back-to-school shoes my son just picked out yesterday -- black Chuck Taylor high-tops, as seen front and center at the top of this blog's artwork.  How totally cool.

What are they looking at?  I'll tell you what they're looking at---they're looking at us in our brightly-colored oversized shirts, in our giant earrings and skinny jeans.  They're watching us slip back into dressing like... them .  The three Heathers seem enthused, and why not?  Their favorite pastime is making fun of other people, so they are positively giddy to see 80s styles making a comeback.  Veronica, however, appears to be rightfully disturbed.  But fear not, 'Ronnie, because I submit that we have learned a thing or two in the past twenty-odd years.    Read my article at Like Totally 80s to see if you agree: 80s Fashions Return With 21st Century Corrections