TV Commentary

Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home. ~David Frost

A few folks asked me what I thought of Warehouse 13 / Eureka from the other nights (they had crossover shows, for those of you who don't watch). It made me think of what I DO watch on TV and I thought I'd share my opinion. I don't have a lot of time to watch TV, so am fairly picky about what I do spend my time on.

LEVERAGE - Sunday on TNT

I'm a late comer to this show -- started watching it last season. Melissa and Tori had talked and talked and talked about it (and my best friend's sister actually worked for Timothy Hutton many years ago), so I was finally intrigued enough to watch.

This has to be one of the cleverest shows around. I'm sure there are some things they do that are technically impossible (ala McGuyver) but every week I laugh my way through this show. The characters are all unique and believable and the interaction between them is what really makes the show.

From Wikipedia: Leverage follows a five-person team of professional thieves, computer experts and con artists, headed up by former insurance investigator, Nathan Ford, who use their skills to right corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on common citizens.

I can't recommend this show enough and it's the one I look forward to most every week.

EUREKA - Friday on SyFy

Until "Leverage" came along, this was by far my favorite show on TV. Another fun, clever show with a great, unique cast of characters and more stuff that's most likely impossible, but this show makes it believable. Carter is the everyman (like us) who finds himself a fish out of water surrounded by a bunch of geniuses.

I'm not entirely sold on this season's twist, though, but I suppose there wasn't a whole lot more they could do to make things interesting. Clearly, Allison needed a new love interest, and things were going too smoothly for Jo and Zane. Fargo has always wanted to run GD, so this is his chance, lol. Henry was stuck in the past as far as personal relationships go, so what they did in this new time period was a great way to kick him in the butt. Still, I miss the old Eureka. I'm sure I'll get over it eventually.

From Wikipedia: The show is set in a fictional town called Eureka, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest inhabited almost entirely by geniuses and scientists. Nearly everyone in Eureka works for Global Dynamics, a huge advanced research facility responsible for the development of all major technological breakthroughs in the last 50 years. Each episode features a mysterious accidental or intentional misuse of technology which is then solved by the town Sheriff, Jack Carter with the help of town scientists.

Thoroughly enjoyable, smart and fun, "Eureka" is another show I very much recommend.

WAREHOUSE 13 - Tuesday on SyFy

I feel like I'm repeating myself when I say "a fun, clever show" -- but apparently that's what I gravitate to. I'm also a big fan of unique composite casts, which this show has as well.

From Wikipedia: The series follows United States Secret Service agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) and Peter Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) as they are reassigned to the government's secret Warehouse 13, which houses supernatural objects. They are tasked to retrieve missing objects and investigate reports of new ones. ... the dramatic comedy ... has also been described as "part The X-Files, part Raiders of the Lost Ark and part Moonlighting."

That last description is quite apt. I love watching Pete and Myka fumble their way through each show and seldom finish without a smile on my face.

NCIS - Tuesday on CBS

The only show both my DH and I watch, this is an intense crime drama made a little lighter by Tony (esp. his McGeek names for McGee every week). I watch this less for the crime solving and more for the enjoyment of seeing the characters interact with one another. It's the only "CSI"-ish show I watch, and probably wouldn't have started if it hadn't been introduced on "JAG" (which I watched until it went off the air).

From Wikipedia: NCIS, also known as NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, is an American police procedural drama television series revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which conducts criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps

If you like a show that can be fun and intense at the same time, this one hits the nail on the head. Plus, the characters that people it are just fantastic.

I also watch NCIS: Los Angeles and Rizzoli & Isles, but am not as passionate about them, so won't extol their virtues.

Animal show are another thing that suck me in. Most recently, I've become a fan of "LAST CHANCE HIGHWAY". Interestingly, one of the ladies who adopted a dog from there brings it to the place I do agility for obedience training. I see her every Thursday after helping at beginning agility.

But aside from all the various Animal Cops, that's pretty much all I watch!

What about you? Any shows you could recommend to me? I'd say they'd need to be fun, clever and have a unique cast. :-)

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You Are Assertive

You can't help it... you have a competitive streak. You like to be at the front of the pack. Your gut reactions are neither negative nor positive. You tend to see both sides of issues. You are thoughtful and a natural researcher. You always are investigating a new idea or plan. You are very self sufficient and independent. You prefer to rely on yourself.

The Bicycle Test

Yep.. that's right on.

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Feeling Nostalgic

Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days. ~ Doug Larson

Happy Monday!

DH's phone rang at 3:45 a.m. ... and again at 4:20 a.m., so I've been up awhile. I often wonder what life was like before 24 hour business. He works for an international company, so if something goes down in China, and it's a system he supports, then we get called no matter the day or time.

It's one of those good news bad news things, I suppose. There are many benefits to a world that's working at all times, but other stuff not so great.

Recently, DD and I were listening to a song called "I Watched It All On My Radio" by Lionel Cartwright:



There's a verse that says:

And 'round about midnight some preacher came on
To tell me what's right, to tell me what's wrong
And there was a test at the sound of the beep
'It was only a test' the voice would repeat
And the National Anthem would sing me to sleep

DD asked what he meant about the anthem.

I told her that TV and radio used to go off the air at midnight and they'd put a picture of the flag and play the National Anthem and then ... static.

Remember those days? Before cable? Before 24 hour news and weather and music videos? We had five channels: NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS and a UHF station (ours was channel 40). And WOW! The excitement when a SIXTH channel arrived: FOX

Those were the days when the TV season started in September and ended in June, not all the funkiness there is now with maybe 10 shows in a season that starts in October, goes on hiatus in December, returns in March and stops in April.

In the summer, when the regular stations were showing repeats, our Channel 40 station showed all the classic movies for 40 nights. The summers were when I found "Cat Ballou" and "Singing in the Rain", where I learned that "West Side Story" was both beautiful and tragic and realized that I was already a hopeless romantic when the ending of "Casablanca" depressed me.

There was no MTV or VH1 or CMT. I relied on "American Bandstand" and "Solid Gold" and eventually "Friday Night Videos" to show me what was hot in the music industry.

Our telephones had cords and no call waiting. I reheated my leftovers on the stove or in the oven.

You couldn't buy movies on video.

And we didn't get phone calls at 3:45 a.m. calling my step-dad into work.

In the spirit of looking back, I give you one more video, "19-Something":



Oh man. Did you see all that stuff? Wax lips! Atari! ... ah, memories...

What are some things you remember?

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You Are the Dog

Like a dog, you are a completely loyal and devoted friend. People can count on you. You are brave and a good leader. You like belonging to a pack, and you get restless if you're alone for too long. You tend to accept and love everyone no matter what. But when someone is a bad seed, you know it right away. You have a bad temper occasionally, and you're protective of the ones you love. You will stand up and fight to make sure no one gets hurt.

What's Your Chinese Zodiac Animal?

Mostly right, though I really do like my solitude.

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I Got Nuthin'

Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless. ~Bill Watterson

No news today -- all the same. And, I'm still feeling under the weather, so am thinking now that I've got my LASR/WC pages up, I might go back to bed. In fact, had I not had to get them up, I wouldn't have been up at all... I'm tired. Blech. These are the days I really wish I had someone else who could do my job there. *sigh*

I did watch the new "Bones" last night. Does anyone else think it's ... icky... about Angela and Wendell? From the first kiss, I kinda went... ewww.... And Hodgins is breaking my heart. I'm not pleased with that storyline at all. Just saying.

I did love the "I won't tell anyone about the scream, if you don't tell anyone about the gun." line ... very cute. I'm glad they're letting Bones loosen up a smidge.

Okay, I'm waking up. Guess I won't go back to bed :-)

DD is discouraged that DistinctivelyDD is not selling out of her earrings on a weekly basis, lol. I'm wracking my brains trying to think of things to do to get her store out there more. I might even see if the local Agway would carry her stuff in their "New Hampshire" store. Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to ask... and if they won't carry her stuff, maybe I could leave some business cards there. I need to find more time to see how to interact on Artfire. There are forums and stuff that help.

In the meantime, she's still trying to save up for a Nook. I told her I'd buy the cover, but she has to buy the Nook. She's about 1/3 of the way there (thanks to a friend who sent her a Barnes & Noble GC for Christmas). Yesterday, she cleaned house with me to earn a few dollars. And then, she made me a book of coupons that are actually invoices -- $1 to sweep the floor, $2 to clean out the pantry, etc. I have to admit, this is the most determined I've ever seen her. She's not one to hold on to her money ... so for her to not have spent any in the last few months is amazing.

She mentioned buying the Nook to my SIL who told her the idea was stupid. She didn't understand why you wouldn't just buy books instead. DD was very sad when she told me ... she frequently gets conflicting information from my in-laws about stuff. I told DD that the fact is, right now? She has NO more room on her bookcase. So, if she wants more books, she has to get rid of some. With a Nook, she'll never run out of room. AND, she'll have thousands of books at her fingertips.

Speaking of a Nook, I did find one drawback: when you don't pay attention to your battery level and forget to recharge when it's low, and then you read a book and get to a really exciting scene and... run out of juice. That happened to me last night. I should have known. I can't remember the last time I charged the thing. I'm such a dork. And, yes, other than that (which was really operator error), I still love the Nook.

Guess I do have something to say :-)

DH always says I never have trouble talking. However, that's it for now. Happy Saturday!

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You Are Fabulously Friendly

You're nice to everyone you come across, even if they aren't being particularly nice to you. You genuinely like others. You love your friends, and you're happiest when you're a social butterfly. You always have a smile, joke, or kind word for someone. You're kind to everyone, even if they aren't very friendly back. You are simply a people person. You naturally make friends with almost everyone you meet.

What Makes You Fabulous?

Uh.. no. Not even close! LOL...

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I Haz a Bug

I reckon being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill and is not obliged to work till one is better. ~Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, 1903


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Tired today... didn't sleep well last night. Sore throat, stuffy nose... blech. I hate being sick. DD and I have perfected air hugs and kisses though, lol.

Started TiVoing "Leverage". Everyone seems to like it, so I'm going to give it a go. I've caught up on all the old episodes of "Bones", so needed something new.

You know what makes me crazy? This new way TV works. Four episodes in a "season", and then a LONG break. Then four more episodes. Drives me wonky. And, if it wasn't for the fact that I have TiVo, I'd never know when anything was on. By the time it's back, I've all but forgotten it. For instance, "Warehouse 13" has been off for months... how can you gain a strong viewership that way?

:::shrugs:::

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You Are Passionate and Driven

You have a clear vision of what you want, and nothing is going to stop you from getting it. You are very confident and even a bit brash. You don't allow any self-doubt into your life. You like to push limits. You're very curious to see how far you can get in all aspects of your life. You are never satisfied. Once you achieve a goal, you set another one. You are constantly striving.

The Orchid Test

Yep... that's about right, lol...

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I Looked Out the Window And What Did I See?

When the bold branches
Bid farewell to rainbow leaves -
Welcome wool sweaters.
~B. Cybrill

It wasn't Popcorn Popping From the Apricot Tree (tell me I'm not the only one who remembers that song from camp?).

Anyway...

Took the dog out this morning around 5 a.m. and ... wait... what's that, falling from the sky?

SNOW???????????????

Seriously?

::::whacks head on table::::

Snow.

In October.

Someone up there has a really warped sense of humor.

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Still working on scene cards for the story I was to write during NaNoWriMo. I still think I'm going to give myself permission to write only 500 words a day without guilt, while still striving for more. I'd rather have 15,000 words done by the end of November, than to feel so rotten about not reaching the 1500 words a day goal that I completely give up.... yanno?

OTOH, if I can get a good enough feel for where the story is (or could be) going, I might be able to make the 1500. We'll see. I have one great idea for a twist at the end that really makes me want to GET there, so I have incentive to write as much as I can.

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I watched this week's Criminal Minds last night. Kept feeling really weird that Allison from "Eureka" was there (okay, I realize she's just an actress, but it seems really odd for her to be what appears might become a recurring character on another series when she's in a successful series already). I know that "Henry" and "Jo & Zane" showed up on Warehouse 13, but I also knew that was a marketing ploy and they died at the end (mostly).

What about you? Would it seem odd for you to see the same actor/actress in two completely different series at the same time? Especially when they are a MAJOR character in one of them?

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You Are Peppermint Flavored Gum

You have a sharp mind that is always churning. You are mentally hyper. You're always thinking of something. And while your mind is always on, you're not the most physically active person around. Some people make mistake you for being lazy, but the truth is: you never relax. You tend to get so deeply into your projects that you ignore everything around you. You are creative and cutting edge. You love telling people about your newest ideas and discoveries.

What Flavor Gum Are You?

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

Yeah... that's about right, lol. Judy's least favorite words from me? "I was thinking...."

*G*

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I <3 Eureka

The kind of humor I like is the thing that makes me laugh for five seconds and think for ten minutes. ~William Davis

Woo Hoo! Eureka was back last night and I watched it this a.m. (under orders from Judy who said she'd bust if she couldn't talk about it). I LOVE Eureka.





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Started working on my new veggie garden plans yesterday... dug out about 12 inches from the front in order to plant various deer resistant plants. I was sweaty and exhausted and only got about half done.

I did find the usual pests in the dirt: wire worms, grubs, cutworms. And... I saw and killed a squash borer moth. Unfortunately, I'm sure it wasn't the only one which means... my squash plants are probably toast. I'm going to start looking for eggs -- something that will become a daily ritual -- because you can't catch the larvae on these. Immediately upon hatching, they bore into the stalk of the plant and begin to feed, eventually killing the entire plant.

I have never lived somewhere with as many pests (both four- and six-legged) as here. Most of the bugs that exist here do NOT exist west of the Mississippi. Is it any wonder I want to move? *sigh*

Today, I hope to finish digging up around the garden and then tomorrow I plant on moving the plants I have. Monday will be spent buying a few new plants: day lilies, coreopsis, and perhaps some herbs. I have chives, rosemary and marjoram but may spring for some sage and thyme to go with.

BTW -- in case you think I've forgotten to say anything... we still have no butterflies in Pillar Place: Swallowtail. My luck, they will all be overwinterers.

=======================

I did do some writing yesterday. I had to run an errand for my DH to get the seat stitched in his new-to-us car. While I sat in the waiting area, I wrote nearly 1000 words on one of my stories. It was good. Fun. I'd been thinking about the conflict and the characters over the past several days and had to go back and weave in a little different characterization for the heroine and then moved forward from there.

I love to write. I really need to make time to do it every single day.

=======================

Ice, Ice, Baby

Winter either bites with its teeth or lashes with its tail. ~Proverb

How's THAT blog title for an earworm? Wait... am I showing my age again? It's kind of funny -- we have a few folks on JaNoWriMo who've made up playlists for their novels and it's all new, funky, fun, contemporary music that I've never heard. I'm so far out of the mainstream, it's not even funny. Maybe I'll preorder the "coming soon" NCIS Soundtrack. Ha.

Speaking of NCIS, I have serious amounts of envy about the writing on that show. Not so much the actual crime plot, but the interactions between the characters. Seriously amazing. As I watched this week's show, I wished I could be a fly on the wall during some brainstorming sessions with the writers. And, do you suppose they sit around thinking up "McNames" they can have Tony call McGee? Donald Bellisario is a master. Think of some of the shows he's done: JAG, Quantum Leap, Magnum P.I., Airwolf, Battlestar Galactica ... I really think his strength is in his cast of characters. Though the storylines are interesting enough, they wouldn't be strong enough to keep folks watching through 152 episodes (Magnum P.I.).

Ah, I am a fangirl.

Now, I need to work on that kind of cast for my own books. I strive for that. Perhaps, with practice, I will become a master?

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Thanks for the congratulations on my new appliances. Dru asked for pictures. I'll get you some soon. They need a bit of makeup first. Ha.

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Oh, and re: the title of this blog before I got completely off track with my love note to Donald B., it iced all day yesterday. Little, hard pellets that were HEAVY suckers. I shoveled the driveway once in the late morning, and then again when it finally stopped around 3 p.m. -- the second time, I thought I was going to die. Oy.

And, does anyone else think that the snowplow drivers wait at the end of your road until you're done shoveling your driveway and THEN they come by? Huh? Because five minutes after I finished and came inside, one drove past and piled a ginormous mountain of ice in the front of my drive. And I just didn't have the energy to tackle it -- something I am sure to regret today when I go out and find a solid pile of frozen slush.

At least we didn't lose power. :-)

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Your Word is "Think"

You see life as an amazing mix of possibilities, ideas, and fascinations. And sometimes you feel like you don't have enough time to take it all in. You love learning. Whether you're in school or not, you're probably immersed in several subjects right now. When you're not learning, you're busy reflecting. You think a lot about the people you know and the things you've experienced.

What's Your Word?

Okay.

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Only a WEEK 'til NaNo!

Nerves and butterflies are fine - they're a physical sign that you're mentally ready and eager. You have to get the butterflies to fly in formation, that's the trick. ~Steve Bull




Not that I'm panicked or anything... but it seems like I used to have a month before NaNoWriMo, and now it's down to a WEEK! ACK!!!

I already know I have more work to do before November begins... Guess I need to start taking the time I plan to use for writing during NaNo and use it for more pre-plotting. I'm nervous... and I keep telling myself that the fate of the world doesn't hang in the balance, but I don't want to lose again. Last year was pretty demoralizing. Yes. I'm a bit competitive, even when it's just against myself and the calendar.

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Speaking of NaNoWriMo, I found this great new blog, "Routines for Writers", and they are featuring posts from Karen Wiesner now and on through NaNo. Karen is a prolific and very talented author of both fiction and non-fiction, and she happens to have a book called "First Draft in 30 Days", the information from which can be a big help when planning your NaNo attack. Check it out!

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Things you don't expect to hear from your child's mouth:

"Thanks for the mold, Mom."

DD was thrilled (!!) when I let her take a bit of moldy bell pepper and put it in a petri dish. She loves her microscope...

And that may tell you more about the state of my refrigerator than I should let be known in public.

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Was "Criminal Minds" a repeat this week? Or does my DVR hate me? Because it didn't tape.

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You Are Saturday

Like this day of the week, you are ruled by Saturn. More than anything, you are down to earth. You are practical and wise. You take care of yourself before all others. Sometimes you tend to be a bit suspicious. You are protective of what you have. While some people see Saturday as a day of leisure, you see it as a day to get things done. You always look forward to your productive Saturdays. You wouldn't have them any other way!

What Day of the Week Are You?

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Um... sort of?

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Oh, and... DH? Still sick, but getting better. Yes, he stayed home again yesterday, and today is his day off anyway, so I have him until Monday. Then... in November? He's off all but SEVEN DAYS. Dear heavens... kiss the routine goodbye. Ah well, it'll be good for him, if not for me.

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Sunday Meme

In summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams

Trish made up her own meme, so I thought I'd help spread it around (BTW, this is HARD... I had a tough time narrowing it down to one, so I didn't! *G*):

Famous People Meme — Which famous person in each of the following categories would you like to meet?

Author — Stephen King or Nora Roberts

Movie Actor — David Duchovny or Dougray Scott

TV Actor — Colin Ferguson or Matthew Gray Grubler or Tony Shalhoub

Musician/Singer — Brad Paisley

Historical Figure — Jesus

Fictional Book Character — Roarke and Eve Dallas

Fictional Movie or TV Character — Han Solo

If you decide to play along, leave me a comment (and maybe Trish, too) so I can come look!

======================

In Pillar Place 2008, we released another butterfly yesterday. I also opted to put our last, still fairly small, pillar outside -- because I'm afraid he's going to be an overwinterer, and I'm not up to dealing with that again. It's beginning to look like a butterfly a day, though I'm sure it's going to double and triple up soon since we had several pillars making their pupae on the same day.

Unfortunately, we also had our first Pillar Place tragedy -- one of the pupae hatched and the butterfly fell from his chyrsalis before his wings were dry. He landed on his back, and couldn't get up right away, so his wings dried bent. We were checking them about every hour, but stuff like this happens so quickly!

DD named him "Rip" (in memory of a butterfly we had with a ripped wing who eventually still flew) and spent hours trying to teach him to fly. This morning, he is gone from the yucca, so perhaps he did. We won't consider that something else may have happened...

OH -- false alarm on the monarch from Friday. I got a closer look at it today and it was actually a Great Spangled Fritillary.




I thought it was a bit early for Monarchs. Apparently I was right.

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Did some more writing on the sequel to Liv -- it's Geoff's story, in case you wondered. Poor, heart-broken Geoff... I couldn't just leave him hanging.

Now, if only *ahem* someone who will not be named would help me out with Stiller Creek, I might have something to submit somewhere soon.

Not like she's busy or anything.

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I Love the 80s

Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it. ~William Feather

I'm so ashamed. I forgot to post a happy thought yesterday.

((hangs head))

I'll make up for it now.

Time for day twelve of:



I'm happy with the weather! It's been just gorgeous -- highs in the low eighties and no humidity. Makes me want to do the Dance of Joy.



I'm also happy so many of my favorite shows from the eighties are coming out on DVD!

DH just bought the first season of "Hardcastle and McCormick".

I'm more of an A-Team fan myself.



But we both like watching "Magnum P.I.".

That makes me very happy.

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Thanks for all your comments on "A Christmas Curse" yesterday! It was a hoot to write, and I hope it will be even more fun for you to read. I don't have a release date yet (I only finished the first round of edits yesterday), but I imagine it'll come out sometime in November.

Don't worry, you can get a sample of my goofier writing when "Pregnancy Cravings" is released this coming Wednesday. If you read both "Pregnancy Cravings" and "Magic" (also out on Wednesday) you're going to think I'm seriously bi-polar. They are completely different types of stories.

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Groovy asked in comments yesterday whether LASR pays its reviewers. No. I wish we could! They do an amazing job... but their only pay currently is the free eBooks and, eventually, the free print books that they review. We have plans, OH do we have plans... But for now, we are DESPERATE for reviewers.

So, come on folks... come for the books, stay for the fun -- we have a great group of ladies!

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In Pillar Place: Monarch, Clarisse has made her "J" and will most certainly become a chrysalis today. These lovely butterflies will make the journey to Mexico in a month or so -- they actually live about 9 months and migrate a gazillion miles. When they reach their overwintering destination, they will mate, lay eggs and eventually die. Their children will be the ones who return next year and start another year of Pillar Place. Monarchs are one of the longest living butterflies, and I believe they are the only ones who migrate.

Amazing.

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Your Summer Ride is a Jeep

For you, summer is all about having no responsibilities. You prefer to hang with old friends - and make some new ones.

What's Your Summer Ride?

No responsibilities? So why am I getting ready to launch a new website? Speaking of which, stay tuned tomorrow for more news!

Sunday, Sunday

“No one can have peace longer than his neighbor pleases” - Dutch Proverb

First off, and at the risk of jinxing things, I'd like to report that Eenie (our sole surviving caterpillar -- Moe is a pupa) is doing very, very well. He's behaving just as a caterpillar should (it's kind of like a new baby): eat, poop, sleep. He's big enough now, I predict he should be a pupa in the next couple of days. Yay! Then it's butterfly time. DD loves that she can hold them while they pump their wings. What a great experience for her. And for me. I've decided one of the biggest bennies to homeschooling is being able to relearn and reexperience all the cool stuff from childhood. Of course, pesky old math is still there, too. But that's okay. I get to hold butterflies.

Our ATVing neighbors are building an ATV track in their backyard. They took down a boatload of trees, imported three dump trucks full of dirt and rented a backhoe. I can't tell you how excited this makes me.

Friday night, they worked the backhoe until ten p.m. Of course, since my other neighbors were blowing off professional sized fireworks until 9:40, I was already awake. Yesterday, ATV neighbors alternately rode their dirt bikes/ATV's and used the excavator ALL DAY LONG.

And some different neighbors blew off fireworks last night.

And, just as I was feeling grateful for my harley-riding, drug dealers next door, thinking how quiet they are, some acid rock just started blasting from that house. It's 5:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning here. Ah... it just turned off. An alarm, perhaps? Well, it worked. I'd be willing to be it woke the entire neighborhood.

Anyone have a guest house I can borrow for awhile? Do you allow pets?

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I did have the day alone yesterday, as DD and DH spent the day out on the lake (the scourge of motion sickness keeps me off the boat). I drafted several reviews on LASR (check out today's review -- this book sounded so good, I ordered it), and wrote about 1,000 words on my latest short story, working title of "Kitchen Matches".

I also watched one episode of "The Closer". I love, Love, LOVE that show. Anyone want a crash course in how to develop interesting and diverse characters and a great mystery? Watch it. I think this season may be even better than last. This is, by far, the best show I watch.

And yes, Tori and Brandy, I'll watch "Eureka", I promise... but Tori said it was "heartbreaking", so I'm trying to gear up for that. Plus, I usually let a few episodes collect so, if I get really hooked, I can keep watching for a while.

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You Should Spend Your Summer on a Road Trip

For you, the summer is all about possibilities. And you're not going to be tied down. This is the time for you to embark on an epic road trip, with no ultimate destination in mind. You know you'll have a ton of crazy adventures... at least until you run out of cash!

Where Should You Spend Your Summer?

I'm totally into that idea. Aside from the fact that I prefer to drive than anything else, it would get me away from my neighbors!

Have a great day.

TV or Books?

"The most technologically efficient machine that man has ever invented is the book." - Northrop Frye

It's going to be a beautiful day here in the northeast for a change. Warm, but not humid and no wind. DH and DD will be out on the boat, and I will be blessedly alone.

I plan on writing, but I don't know what yet. I also plan on catching up a bit on my TV viewing, since DH and I don't like the same stuff, and he gets the TV when he gets home at night (and since I'm in bed around 8:30 anyway!). I have four episodes of The Closer to watch, I STILL haven't watched the last three episodes of Heroes (I know), Eureka's season premier, and something else which escapes me right now.

As you can see, TV isn't really a priority to me. TiVoing things is, but not watching them, LOL...

Last night was hockey night for DH, so I get control of the television. You know what I did? I watched one episode of How It's Made (I love that show) and then I curled up and read "High Noon". The allure of the TV held nothing for me when I had a good book waiting.

What about you? TV or reading? Or neither? What shows do you love? What good books have you read lately?

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From Anno, who got it from Fourier Analyst:

You Are 32% Texas

You're as welcome in Texas as a skunk at a lawn party.

How Texas Are You?

Like I didn't know that already... Sorry, Texans, I visited once. In August. Ain't going back.

You Should Rule Mars

Mars is a planet that shines brightly and loops wildly around the solar system. You are perfect to rule Mars, because you are both energetic and independent. Like Mars, you seems attractive and bright to others - but you're difficult to pin down. You are a great thinker, but you only think in the present and ignore the future. Full of enthusiasm and inspiration, you are into your own thing... and rather insensitive to others.

What Planet Should You Rule?

Well, okay to most of that I suppose... what about you? Hey, Tori, are you going to rule with me?

Have a great day!

Ranting and Rambling...

Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons. ~Author Unknown

Or, at least it should be.

So... my DD and I have been watching "Shaq's Big Challenge" the past few weeks. It breaks my heart. Last week, when they talked to this (huge) teen about his weight and how people treat him, and he said that at ten y.o. (TEN!!) he'd considered suicide, my heart shattered. No ten y.o. should be in that position, ever.

Anyway...

I'm a little confused about something, and hopefully someone out there can answer my question. When Shaq and Doc and Shaq's former coach met with that principle about bringing back P.E. and she said there wasn't enough time in the day (money issues aside...), I was puzzled.

When I was in school (and, yeah, it was a while ago), we had P.E. every day. And, yet, somehow I managed to learn all that other stuff as well. You know, like reading and math and history and science and health and...

We also had band and drama DURING SCHOOL HOURS. I was also in basketball, volleyball and track after school and still made it home by 5:00 p.m. AFTER practice.

What class(es) have taken the place of P.E. and electives? I'm talking about elementary grades, not high school (that's a completely different ball of wax). If there is not enough "time" for mandatory P.E., and there used to be, then what was popped into that time slot?

How is it that they were able to teach everything twenty-five (*ahem*) years ago, including the fun stuff, and now they can't? What's more important than keeping our kids healthy and happy and not considering suicide at TEN YEARS-OLD?

Anyone know?

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I'd like to say my dog is back to normal. But I can't. She is better, personality-wise, though she still startles easily. BUT, last night she got up to go to the bathroom TWICE. Once at midnight and once at three a.m. UGH. I love her to pieces, but she's making me crazy. I truly hope she never, ever has to go through surgery again.

Poor puppy.

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I wrote a ton on my 1953 story-that-needs-a-title yesterday. Then, while I was showering before bed I had this movie play out in my brain of the next scene. I considered waiting until morning, but didn't dare risk my faulty memory. My computer was all shut down, so I grabbed a spiral notepad and wrote. And wrote. And wrote. And wrote.

All told, I got about seven more pages to transcribe this morning. I could have done more, but I was so tired I had to close one eye to see the paper. I wrote some notes to myself to remember where I was headed and went to bed.

But, finally, this story is taking shape in my mind. When I started, I had the setting and one little scene but no characters or conflict (who needs those?). Just a little something my mom said about what she did when she was young at that time that intrigued me.

I'm feeling good and excited now! Yay! Love it when things start to fall into place. Even better, the DH and DD are going out on the boat today and I'll have the day to myself to work.

If only I take the time to write instead of working on LASR like I have been. We're having a wonderful time with reviews, and my roster of guest reviewers is growing like mad -- though we can probably use a couple more if things work out the way I suspect they will. The ladies I have now are fantastic! *waves* If you haven't checked out the site lately, you should.

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You Are Somewhat Machiavellian

You're not going to mow over everyone to get ahead... But you're also powerful enough to make things happen for yourself. You understand how the world works, even when it's an ugly place. You just don't get ugly yourself - unless you have to!

How Machiavellian Are You?

Booking It Again

“What makes a book great, a so-called classic, it its quality of always being modern, of its author, though he be long dead, continuing to speak to each new generation.” - Lawrence Clark

It's that time again!

Booking Through Thursday

Almost everyone can name at least one author that you would love just ONE more book from. Either because they’re dead, not being published any more, not writing more, not producing new work for whatever reason . . . or they’ve aged and aren’t writing to their old standards any more . . . For whatever reason, there just hasn’t been anything new (or worth reading) of theirs and isn’t likely to be.

If you could have just ONE more book from an author you love . . . a book that would be as good any of their best (while we’re dreaming) . . . something that would round out a series, or finish their last work, or just be something NEW . . . Who would the author be, and why? Jane Austen? Shakespeare? Laurie Colwin? Kurt Vonnegut?

This question made me think... who would I like to see write again? I'm not a big one for the classics, so new Jane Austen isn't something I dream about and I still wish John Steinbeck had never written a word (don't get me started about Hemmingway -- UGH). My first thought was Shakespeare -- I'd love to see his wit, wisdom and bite in this century. Others have tried to mimic his style of writing, but failed. He was one sharp dude.

The other thought I had was Lloyd Alexander. He died recently, and his books helped shape my youth. I loved (and still love) The Prydain Chronicles. Via my daughter, I've discovered his other books like "Time Cat" that are equally fascinating and well written. To think that there will no new books from him makes me very sad.

Ooh... as I was looking for a quote for this morning's blog, I found another author I admired - Mark Twain! Another insightful and funny guy. Yeah. More Twain please.

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BTW, congrats to Dru for remembering that Laverne drank milk and pepsi. There's a Pizza Hut in town that we go to now and then for their lunch buffet with two waitresses: Linda and Tina. Before we knew their names, we called them Laverne and Shirley, because I'm telling you -- they look and act JUST LIKE THEM. It's eerie.

I loved that show and Happy Days. Oh yeah. But Joanie Loves Chachi was where my heart belonged. Later, as a highschooler, I liked The Cosby Show and Family Ties. Growing Pains was up there, too. There were some great TV shows in the 70s and 80s. Not so much anymore... too bad.

What was your favorite sitcom when you were growing up (radio shows count for you old fogies...LOL)?

Booking it Foreign

“That is the circus of American Idol . We go for the very, very best and the very, very worst. It's the boring people that we don't want to see on television.” - Nigel Lythgoe

It's that time again!

Booking Through Thursday

I had an idea for a BTT question when I was taking a peek at one of my bookcases yesterday and spotted my old copy of the Aeneid in Latin sitting there. Maybe this question has already been done—but if not… Do you have any foreign language books and if so can you (still) read them?

This one is easy: NO. I used to speak and read French pretty well, but never had the desire to expand into foreign language fiction. I read for pleasure -- and that would've been more like work. The shame is that Americans typically aren't taught to be fluent in another language as a matter of rote. That's too bad.

On a side note, this made me think of spelling. While teaching DD spelling I keep coming across all the exceptions to spelling rules. We now have this: "I before E, except after C and when it sounds like "AY" as in neighbor and weigh, and science and foreign." I can't help but wonder what other words I'll tack on to the end

So... I'm not giving up my coffee. Melissa, the problem with my chocolate soy milk isn't the "milk" part, but the evaporated cane juice used to sweeten it. Though it isn't technically "refined" sugar, it's still sugarish, and given the book author's feelings on fruit juice I can only imagine how he'd feel about this.

I decided coffee with chocolate soy milk was the deal breaker for me. I did go shopping yesterday and spent $67 on fresh produce (oh... minus $9.98 for two packs of organic, nitrite free hot dogs for the DD). SIXTY-SEVEN DOLLARS. I didn't buy that much: two heads of romaine, one of iceberg, 5 lb carrots, a pack of baby bellas, five bananas, 3 lb apples, 4 green peppers, 2 english cucumbers, some grapes, 2 lb strawberries, 3 tomatoes, 2 pints grape tomatoes. That's it. Yeah, a lot, but ... not really.

"They" want us to each better and bemoan the obesity epidemic in America (I'm more likely to bemoan the cancer epidemic, but that's a topic I won't get into here), but then price healthy food so high that many people can't afford to eat properly and fall back on ramen noodles.

Anyway...

I did get some more revising done on my short story, "Pregnancy Cravings". I have them nearly finished (the first round, anyhow) and will send it back to the editor this week. I wonder what will happen first: my story will be sent to production OR it will actually show up on my author page as "coming soon".

If you don't know what happened on "American Idol", don't read any further.

So, for my QOTD:

If you're an American Idol fan, what did you think of this years show?

I'm happy Jordin won. I wanted her to win from about the middle of the top twelve. I LOVED Melinda... she was my absolute favorite because she could sing absolutely anything, never hit a wrong note and always surprised me. She wasn't *so* great during Bee Gees week, but no one was.

When she was voted out last week, I have to admit to being furious. A finale with Jordin and Melinda would have been amazing. I would have taped that to watch over and over and over. I always believed that Jordin would make a better "American Idol" -- she's young and cute and bubbly. But I always believed Melinda was the better singer.

Blake? He was my third fave. When they hit the top three, it was exactly as I had hoped. But he wasn't consistent. When he was good, he was GREAT. But when he was bad, he was utterly horrid.

I still haven't watched Tuesday's show. Nor have I seen last nights. I got my info on the winner from the online news page. I'm not sure I WILL watch the finale. I'll watch Wednesday's show because of all the guests, but ... I'm still mad about Melinda.

You? Or are you not an AI fan?

Have a lovely day!

What's Going On...

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. ~ Earl Nightingale

The last few days have been crazy. I've been promoting like crazy, trying to write on my MayNoWriMo novel (I'm about 2100 words in the hole, and need to get busy!), editing my novella (which is actually at a couple of my writing friends, awaiting a verdict -- I'm a bit worried the storyline isn't as plausible as I'd like it to be, and that the ending comes too fast), and working through edits on my short story, "Magic".

Phew.

I'm pooped.

BTW, thanks to each and every one of you who purchased my story -- it hit number six on the overall best-sellers list at The Wild Rose Press and it's because of you! I appreciate the support. I'd love a review from you, if you have the time. It's quick and easy to leave one at the Wild Rose website. Thanks!

Today, I'll probably write and edit. I may submit "Miles From You" to a few more review places -- I got responses back from all but one that I sent to on Wednesday and the story is in their hands. Hope they like it... the waiting is a little nerve wracking.

My husband plays hockey on Friday nights, so it's the night I typically play catch up on all the show I have in TiVo. Yesterday, though, I discovered something -- I didn't want to watch anything depressing... and most everything is. I deleted the "Criminal Minds" episode I had without watching it (I looked at the first five minutes, and couldn't stand the thought of watching any more -- and I usually LOVE this shoe). I considered "Robin Hood", but the next episode I have to watch is about Marion getting engaged to Guy, and I wasn't up to that. Next was "Heroes" -- I'm two weeks behind on this one, and it's all depressing, too.

Where's my light and funny fare? When I was younger, all I watched were sitcoms of some sort: "Cheers" or "Family Ties" or "The Cosby Show". Even though M*A*S*H* was occasionally dark, it was still funny. Even the one hour "dramas" I enjoyed were lighthearted: "Simon and Simon" or "Magnum, P.I.".

TV isn't like that anymore. The sitcoms are stupid and rely on bathroom or other crude humor. And the dramas are dark. One exception, IMHO, is "NCIS" which makes me laugh every week despite the fact that people are murdered.

Anyone out there have any suggestions for something that would entertain me without depressing the snot of out me?

On the reading front, I finished a book called "Enchanted, Inc." yesterday -- and it was such a fun book to read! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to get to the next couple of books in the series. Fantastic! It's the first time I've been really, really excited about a book in a long time. Nothing deep or dark, just light and fun and sweet. Shanna Swendson... if you're out there. Thanks. You did an awesome job.

Now... I'm off to try and get caught up on my writing. Have a great day!

Life Lessons

Those who have succeeded at anything and don't mention luck are kidding themselves. ~ Larry King

So... American Idol last night proved one thing to me (aside from the fact that America is apparently tone deaf):

You never know what's going to appeal to masses.

Seriously. I had it all figured out... I knew who was going home on AI. I was absolutely wrong. Clearly, this isn't just a singing contest, which I should have known all along.

And, honestly, publishing isn't just a writing "contest" either. Not that you shouldn't write the best story you can, using the best grammar and spelling. Still, that's just not enough.

It's about hitting the agent/editor on the right day. It's about writing the right story for the moment (kinda like choosing the right song on AI). And even if you're published, who knows how many books you'll sell?

It's about public perception and word of mouth.

I spend a lot of time blog-hopping, and I find many of the books I read via recommendations from other sites. I've discovered some really great new authors this way. I've also occasionally slapped my forehead and thought, "What was that person thinking when she called this the best book of the year?"

There's simply no pleasing everyone all the time. You just need to find a way to please enough people and the right people and you're all set.

Ahhh... life lessons from American Idol. Who knew?

In other news, Syl has a book trailer for her soon to be published novel:



Book launch date is May 19, 2007

Believe It Or Not?

"The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." -- Tom Clancy

The news this week has been particularly odd and frightening. If I wrote this stuff in a book, no one would believe me.

Missing Thai Woman Reappears 25 Years After Boarding Wrong Bus - This one boggles my mind. I'm horrified at what this poor woman had to go through, not to mention her family!

Atlanta Father Admits Intentionally Poisoning Children in Attempt to Sue Campbell Soup Co. - What? Just... what???

Michigan Man Pleads No Contest to Sex Pact With Girlfriend, 15-Year-Old Daughter - Yeah, the man's a creep and should be jailed. But the mom? Should be shot.

I look at some of these stories (I won't even go into the married w/three kids astronaut/kidnapper/attempted murderer) and flash back to the times that my study group reads my writing (or anyone else's for that matter) and says, "That's hard to believe."

I frequently use things that have actually happened to me in my stories. And I'll get feedback: That could never happen, I can't believe someone would do that, etc.

Uh... believe it.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

What is something that has happened to you that people would scoff at if you put it in a story?

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So... Sunday, TiVo recorded the Criminal Minds show, "The Big Game" only the actual Big Game ran over, so I only got the first half. Grrr... I deleted it, not wanting to start watching it when I couldn't see the end.

Then I found out it was part one of two! ACK! I checked... it wasn't being repeated according to my program search. THEN last night at 8:40 I discovered that IT WAS BEING REPEATED - but TiVo won't automatically tape repeats on the season pass, so I wasn't recording it. And I'd missed the first half. I manually taped the end, figuring some was better than none. And then realized, that if I'd've kept the one from Sunday, I'd've had the whole show.

Man, I'm still mad.

Disappointments

dis·ap·point·ment (dĭs'ə-point'mənt)
n.

1. The act of disappointing.
2. The condition or feeling of being disappointed.
3. One that disappoints.

I couldn't find an appropriate quote for my blog post, but did find one that made me giggle, so I'll share it:

“Educational television should be absolutely forbidden. It can only lead to unreasonable disappointment when your child discovers that the letters of the alphabet do not leap up out of books and dance around with royal-blue chickens.” -Fran Lebowitz

Anyway...

Was anyone else thoroughly disappointed with the commercials at the Superbowl yesterday? I admit, I only watched the first half (I don't like Prince, so we tuned out during halftime and then I went to bed shortly thereafter -- yes, it was early, but how else do you think I manage getting up at 4 a.m.?). I did tape the second half (for the commercials), but ... is it even worth watching them?

I also have "Angels Fall" on TiVo. I watched half of it, but was sorely disappointed. I know, I know, the movie is never as good as the book -- still, I think it was horribly miscast. Heather Locklear did okay, but Reece was a brunette in the book (was referred as such a number of times, especially at the beginning), so that bugged me.

And Brody? The guy was absolutely wrong. The sheriff? Wrong. His wife? Wrong. Maybe the chick who died... she was okay I suppose, but then we don't see her much. They did Joanie okay. Lo? Totally wrong. Linda-gail? She was supposed to be a blond.

And the script? Sheesh... did they ever smoosh it to make it short enough for TV.

I suppose part of my issue with it was that "Angels Fall" was one of my absolute favorite Nora Roberts books. I didn't like the movie. I am, in fact, currently rereading the book to get the movie out of my mind.

So what things disappoint you?

Brrrr....

Winter is nature's way of saying, "Up yours." ~ Robert Byrne

It's freezing here. Actually, I think today is supposed to warm up to about 20 degrees, but the past two days? Brrrr...

It was so cold (how cold was it? - Anyone remember what that's from??) that when we fed the birds in front of WalMart (a favorite pastime - we get seagulls, pigeons and little birds that might be sparrows or starlings), they would fly over to the food and then hunker down on top of their feet to eat. One or two of the seagulls would eat standing, but they'd tuck one foot up into their belly feathers to keep it warm.

With the wind chill it was -15.

What does that have to do with anything but me complaining? My office is in our basement. Our unheated basement. Charity thoughtfully sent me her old MobilePro, but I can't seem to get my husband to make sure he knows how to get the stuff all hooked up for me to transfer the data, so I'm not ready to commit to using it when I don't know for certain I can retrieve what I write.

My basement is cold. I have a little space heater, but it doesn't work that well -- enough to keep the frostbite away, but that's about it. Sometimes I type with one hand and sit on the other one to keep it warm.

My dream is to one day have an office outside of the mushroom pit, though I do admit that it's awfully nice in the summer.

DD and DH are going ice-fishing today. Are they nuts? Brrrr.... I'm staying home and I might even go see a movie (This is a very rare happening). Anyone want to suggest a good movie that's out right now? No horror, and nothing that doesn't end happily.

I watched the "Dresden Files" last night on the Sci-Fi channel and really enjoyed it. Is it just me or does the ghost, Bob, remind you of Tim Curry? So, Tori, thanks for the viewing suggestion. As long as it doesn't get too freaky, I'll keep watching (I stopped watching "Ghost Whisperer" because of how freaky it became).

Have a great day! Since it's so toasty outside today, maybe I'll sunbathe.

Not.