Mary Louise Eklund

Category: Home life

Meet Mr. Red

In the introduction of my furry family members we are now to the last of the clowder – Mr. Red. His full name is Puss Red but like his brother he prefers his last name. He may be the last feline covered but not the least by any means. He’s physically the largest now. Like many of us as we age the spread sits in… he was once a lean lanky Tom for most of his prime but as chronic kidney insufficiency set in so did the spread. He’s now a hefty kitty. I just say he’s a lotta kitty lovin’! Also I’ve taken to shouting thunder, Thunder, THUNDER-BUTT HO! as he runs down the stairs. Our personal tribute to Lion-O and the Thundercats . Mike likes to use the Donkey line from Shrek 3 “Whoa that’s a whole lotta kitty! Can we keep ‘im?” Either way Red has a big butt we can’t deny!

He’s always been the outgoing but insecure one. Kinda reminds me of the characters that swagger once safety has been established by the real heroes. Except they are lovable and well meaning chickens that long to be macho. That’s my Red. He ‘s not the gentletom his brother is because he tries so darn hard and is so anxious to be the ONE! He wants to but dang it’s scary. As a result of this personality he often gets into trouble – he does naughty things to get attention. If there’s a crash in another room I guarn-damn-tee-ya it’ll be red walking out with tail high looking all surprised. What? Did you hear that? What happened? I was being good in that room and suddenly A CRASH!

“Are you beading? Can you pet me? Do you love beads more than me?”

Also he’s always had a disposition to eat anything. That’s why his nickname is Mr. I-Eat-IT! He has a penchant for chewing through earbud wires and crunching up the buds. We have to keep those safely tucked away in drawers, pockets, purses, or brief cases when not in use. He’s actually had dental surgery due to this quirk. He cracked a tooth and wedged a piece of black plastic in the crack when crunching up a bud. A few hundred dollars later we had a drunk kitty with a still partially numb mouth staggering into the kitchen trying to steal gushy doggie food. The problem that had him yowl in frustration was the dang food wouldn’t stay in his numbed mouth! Rappy just said “Ew all my gushy food has cat slobber on it!”

For all his faults and quirks Red is a lover just like his brother. He loved to cuddle, purr, and be petted. He’s not a lap cat as much as a next to you cat. Which is okay given the thunderbutt status. Except here you know quirky tom has to have his own twist to this – he wants to lick your hands and face like a dog. I kid you not he’s a not a kitty kisser with head butts like most cats – he’s licker kisser. Sure it feel strange with that rough tongue and I try to discourage it or let it be my fingers. However, fall asleep and your nose is his for the kissing. You’ve not startled awake until you’ve had a sandpaper tongue dragged across your nose!

Also he’s the only cat I’ve ever know with a diagnosed mental illness. He took to tearing all his hair out on his belly. Took him to the vet and had all kind of tests run – finally nothing physically wrong. We began to see that he did it when a family member was gone for a few nights. It was his new stress reaction! As the vet said “He’s either psychotic, neurotic, or demented. Without being able to question him I can’t tell you which it is.” The answer is mild sedation if it gets bad. We chose to just love love him through it as long as it was cosmetic fur damage and now harming his own skin. When someone is gone we take special time to reassure Red he’s loved and safe. Still even then when I was gone a week he de-pants-ed himself. So we have to watch him and do lots of reassuring.

Sure Red is a bit odd and needs some extra care but he’s a sweetheart. He tries to do his best and live a fun life but he’s such a fretter. I do adore him and his antics. He’s always sweet just trying to please you and be the alpha tom his gentlemanly brother is. I just wish he could understand I love him as he is (except maybe minus the earbud munching but I’ll take it if it has to come with him). He’s worth putting earbuds in drawers, doing daily pill sessions, take extra time to reassure him he’s okay & loved. His antics and cuddles make it all worth him being my kitty boy with more kitty for the lovin’!

Until next time!

February 4, 2013
Back To Work

Well that was a rough patch the last few weeks. Things have returned to their normal level of chaos so I’m back blogging. I’m sorry that it was interrupted but I’d used my back stock of posts to cover my week in Norfolk. So there you go the best laid plans…

Any way I’m back just as I recently returned to the world of the employed. I quick working when Aaron was in the 2nd grade to be a stay at home mom. It worked out well for us and I developed a small writing career on the side. Now it’s been 12 years out of the job market. Aaron is out of the house. The publishing industry is in a big turnover with the onset of e-books. I’ve not had the energy to be aggressive enough to get what few contracts are out there (partly health issues the past year). So I was ready to get a part-time job. Get out of the house and do something.

It so happened during my post-surgery recovery I was shopping at a store I enjoyed when I saw that they were looking for permanent part-time workers. So I applied and got the job. I now work at store I always made a point to stop & shop when I was over that way. So I enjoy my work. I work about 20 hours a week which is perfect for what I was wanting. Life is good!

However my life had become casual. My wardrobe was casual. I’d even given up wearing make-up for the most part. When you work alone at a keyboard most of the day, old jeans, sweatshirts, and no make-up are office attire. Now where I work allows ‘nice’ jeans so that’s good I had some good jeans but had to freshen up my slacks and tops.

The next step was the face in the mirror – it had aged, looking back was a woman closer to 50 than 30. Never mind the fashion styles had changed in the past decade my make-up canvas had changed too! So it was time to do a bit of recent research on what women over 40 were doing for work faces.

I learned lots. First off frosts are out – those fine lines we’re developing are highlighted by frost eye shadow or lipstick. Now I’d given up frosted lipstick years ago but my aged collection of eye shadows had LOTS of frosts. Chunked them. Next – I’ve started wearing glasses since I last wore make-up, so that added a twist to my research. Seems I can play up my eyes more with glasses. Which is good because they have always been my best feature. If I left off eyeliner back in the day people thought I was becoming ill – ‘your eyes aren’t as bright are you feel well?’ So after watching several you-tube make over 40 videos I learned how to line my eyes with a dark matte eye shadow. It is not as harsh as the liners I once used but still gives it that widening and brightness. Heck even the shape of the lining is subtly different, very thin at the edges and slightly thicker in the center. I had to fine this wonderfully thin, stiff, angled brush to do it but once I masted it I LOVED the effect. I looked better not so outdated and worn out. I was pleased with the various matte palettes I’d selected. They were Nice matte muted colors to give some flair but not scream HERE I AM! Eyes looking so much better and fresher I considered it a check off the list. New techniques mastered and appearance improved! However I did have a moment of silence for my former eyelashes – now it takes two layers of mascara because they’ve aged and faded too.

Base and cream blush

Next was foundation, see eyes were always my favorite so I started there. I’ve always had very extremely oily skin. To this day I still have oil fields on my face that could be declared national energy deposits. However I’ve also got arid dry spots that are awful and turn an angry red when aggravated by the cold winter wind. I’d found that Oil of Olay Pro-X Clear for adult skin helped with keeping things in balance. Also some Vitamin E cream on the really dry spots when they appeared was good. However I’d always used a water based foundation with powder overlay. Except now the powder made the fine lines look like crevasses in my face. So research was needed and I’ve found a great foundation for me that matches my tone and doesn’t need powder as well as doesn’t clog the pores of my oil reserves! I’m very fair, so getting a shade that doesn’t look fake or vampiric white is very hard. CoverGirl TruBlend is great for matching without trying to orange or pink me up or pale me down to talc. Now I could check off foundation.

Something I’d always struggled to get right in make-up – BLUSH. I’d gotten the notion that generally speaking powders were out. My dry areas are my cheeks so I’d noticed that powder made them look like cracked parched mud. I’d forgone blush for years since they were naturally red from wind irritation during dog walks. I was scared of cream blush aka rouge in my grandmother’s time. It brought back images of old blue haired women at church with red/pink streaks or circles on their cheeks. So it took lots of watching and reading and peering at images of this cream blush the experts were advocating for over 40 faces. First off it wasn’t red or pink but followed what were now becoming common guidelines – muted neutral tones. Sure some leaned toward pink or coral but still fell in the neutral palette. Most were muted by containing more skin tones in the mix. These creams were swiped on the cheeks when smiling like I was taught. One great video illustrated why – gravity has done a number on our cheeks ladies. Smile – draw a dot on the apple then unsmile and watch that dot drop below your cheekbone then curse gravity. I learned that now the goal wasn’t to rosy up the apple but to contour the face. The cream was to play down areas like in the neck to hide that V that’s developing, on the sides of the head to make it the grey highlighted temples recede a bit, and under the cheek to make the apple come out more. Thus the very muted tones were to contour. This took lots of practice and face washing. I had to master a contour sponge and shading. However in the end I was very pleased with the result.

Lip liners and neutral lip colors

I moved on to lips. I’ve not had issues with feathering yet. I can see that it will be coming in the future years. I’m not a fan of bright colors. Which I learned is very good because neutrals are the go to colors for over 40. Especially if you are going to play up your eyes. Don’t have bright eyes and bright lips on a mature woman it’s garish. Also I’ve always found that bright lips on an old woman are bad it highlights a feature that has sunk and aged or one that is unnaturally plump and frozen from injections. So I accepted the neutral palate willingly. The hard thing is lip liner. I’ve struggled with adopting that. However the experts were right outlining the lips and coloring in the corner to leave the center of them a slightly lighter color does. Lip liner is dryer and keeps the lipstick from fading or bleeding which is great. Glosses are out, I bowed my head in another moment of silence and bid them farewell. It was true I looked better for the liner and dropping the gloss. We gain new tools and say good-bye to old friends as we age.

What is the result? A better me instead of a painted woman. To me the best make-up is one that isn’t noticed but makes the wearer look like a better version of themselves. Their eyes are bright, their skin tone is even, their cheeks are perky, their lips are full. I want people to notice the face not the make-up. I think I’ve achieved that with my new work face. Yes I’ll have Mike take a picture as I go to work one day and make it my new photo but generally he’s gone or in bed when I leave (he does get to sleep in on the weekends and I go to work after him on weekdays).

Now I’m ready to go to work. I’m all up to date and comfortable in my over 40 (soon to be over 50 in a few years) skin. Honestly, I feel I’m starting out on the best part of my life. I’ve got achievements under my belt. I know who I am and am comfortable with that. I’m secure in a relationship and finances. I’ve got a great adult son – life is good!

Until next time!

February 1, 2013
Ugh The Week That Sucked

Mary Louise w/ broken arm age 5

Some times the best laid plans go astray. Such was my past week. Please excuse the lack of posts but my deal with right now basket was full. That happens from time to time and consider this a week’s hiatus so you appreciate my posts more.

First off, the week before I’d gone to Norfolk/Virginia Beach area with Mike. He was attending a class at Joint Forces Staff College so I went to take a writer’s retreat at the beach. I did get a lot of writing done in the mornings and in the afternoons checked out the bead shops in the area.

Upon return Miss Mo who was doing great suddenly collapsed. That was an emergency rush to the vet and much attention. She is on the mend but it’s complicated by old age. We have to do subcutaneous fluid treatment every other day. She can no longer do stairs. She’s a fighter and improving but it’s another challenge and more meds to manage.

On top of that I’ve gradually felt worse daily until I’m just exhausted and can’t shake a headache. I went to the doctor fearing flu that wasn’t in the vaccine but no it’s a sinus/throat infection and I was dehydrated (probably because I was sleeping so much). That’s improving but I had to work yesterday and have to work Saturday. Eh adult life what ya gonna do?

Aaron is at basic training. He’s doing well last I heard. He’s got a cough but not bad enough to be sent to medical. I rest well knowing they will take good care of him, better than he would take care of himself in Madison. He’s been through the gas exercise and survived. He’s written one letter home and uses his 3 minute call on Sundays to call Sara. She’s good at telling us how he is doing and such.

January 27, 2013
Here’s A Wave & Off To Work

I work the late shift tonight. Spent the morning writing and doing inventory. **Waves** I have topics listed for posts so stay tuned for book comments (King’s 11-23-63 and Butcher’s Dresden Files: Cold Days), comic comments (Think tank, Wolverine, Ghostbusters, Revival and many more), life stuff (growing up in Andrew Johnson’s home town, trip to Norfolk, Mr. Red’s introduction and Kitty Mo’s latest health issue).

However first – there’s work to go to. Have a great day until next time!

January 17, 2013
Meet Mr. Blue

I promised a post on each of the furry boys. Today I’d like to introduce the gentletom leader of our clowder – Mr. Boots Blue. He’s a great leader with many of the aspects I’d look for in a human leader. Like his litter mate brother he’s getting some age on him. Unlike his brother he’s not getting middle age spread. Instead he’s gotten a distinguished sprinkle of grey about his shoulders where mane would be on a lion. He wears his mantle well, with style and grace of Mufasa.

He’s a cat that tends to think the best of everyone including dogs and people, yet he doesn’t lose his own caution that such can be dangerous. ‘You are poised to be my friend unless your actions make that impossible’ is his initial stance. Unlike Miss Mo who figures everyone is out to hurt her until they earn her trust. He welcomes people into our home and greets them with a friendly “meow-meow” said very quickly.

Ahh, there is his shortcoming, he’s the Mike Tyson of toms. He’s big, he’s burly, he’s fit, he has a high pitched voice of a kitten. Yes, his greeting sounds like that of a kitten but one look and you know you’re dealing with an able tom. Still, many masculine males in the world have had to deal with high voices. Poor Blue is just one of them.

He’s very magnanimous about sharing his affection. If it’s the two of us (humans) at night relaxing in front of the tv, Mr. Blue will be sure that he shows affection to everyone in the room. Even Rappy gets an acknowledging head butt (a sign of kitty affection equal to a human kiss on the cheek) and happy upright tail shake on departure (a kitty sign of marking territory – thank goodness he’s neutered!). He’s mostly in Mike’s lap and just like Mo is my cat, Blue is Mike’s. Still if it’s a lazy football Sunday, Blue is sure to periodically come over to my lap to give and receive affection.

He’s the only house cat we have that has an interest in going outside. Mo is too much of a sacredly cat to go out, bad things happened to her out there. Blue desires to be a great hunter, despite coming to us in a declawed state. He’s the only one that has ever caught a rodent. He and his brother were great mole cricket hunters at our house in Oak Ridge. Blue’s great rodent kill is fodder for yet another post on another day.

Mr. Blue has become more vocal in his old age. I think he’s become secure in his clowder leadership (which includes Rappy who considers Blue a pack senior and me the pack leader) and thus comfortable with his kitteny voice. I’m big on talking to my cats and responding to their talking to me. We develop tones and mixture of words and kittyese to communicate. He calls for me with two quick mews – short and choppy but cheerful, unlike Mo’s call for me that’s long and sounds like a scared MOM! If he wants a door opened it’s commanding yowl with an upward lilt at the end. If I ignore it, like say his wanting to go out on the screened in porch when it’s too cold out. The ending lilt goes away and it sounds more like a backyard fence cat. If I tell him no, he’ll leave the front door but not the door to the basement, there he’ll paw it – “Woman MY bathroom is DOWN THERE and I HAVE TO GO!”

The interesting thing is when Aaron is gone, Blue doesn’t ask to go upstairs. Aaron’s room is upstairs. When Aaron is there and for a few days after Aaron leaves, Blue will ask to go up. If Aaron’s here I’ll let Blue up to say hi. If Aaron’s gone we’ll have a human/kittyese conversation to that effect. Then he’ll walk away happy not the disgusted stomp away like he does when the porch is cold and he’s denied entry.

Over all Mr. Blue is our brave gentleman tom. He adores Sara and treats her as an honored member of the family. He loves to follow her about with happy purrs and chirps. I love to see him regally content on Mike’s lap in the evenings. They both just exude contended happiness and security.

Here’s to the honorable Mr. Boots Blue (who rarely uses his first name) long may he reign as king of our clowder. Until next time!

January 14, 2013
How to Disarm Namecallers

Sticks and Stones by Chad Fust on Flickr. Used under the Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution, No Commercial, Share Alike license granted.

We all know the old rhyme “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.” We all also know how untrue that is. We’ve all been hurt by an off hand remark or word shouted out by a bully to mock us. Yet, I’ve learned something from my study of fighting – disarm your attacker. I won’t go as far as to say then use that weapon against them – nope. Just get it away from them.

Nothing disarms bullies or someone trying to make you feel less than, than disarming their weapon. Sure I’ve been called many things that could hurt but I’ll claim them all – bitch, sure you get between me and what I think is right and I won’t be friendly about it. Nerd – yep I love and use knowledge as part of my every day life. I don’t dumb down to fit in. Nothing there to hurt me. Geek – Sure I love pop culture, comic books, movies, fantasy, board games, and such. I go to conventions about it at times. I enjoy it because I find it relaxing. I’m a geek and don’t mind the world knowing it. Fatty – oh yes I’m overweight, however because of it I’ll pit my health knowledge of why that is what is nutritional balanced food, and effects of exercise on chronically ill, the body in different times of life and side effect of medications on metabolism and weight against yours any day. Really when I claimed those words as part of my identity, they couldn’t be used against me.

Noting deflates bullies or people who make fun of others than when you say “Yeah, I’m an asshole. What else ya got?” They are in it for a reaction. They are in it to see you hurt. When you hand it back as a mark of pride, you’ve disarmed them. They can’t use it against you. So I look at what they are calling me, and I see why I have a trait they may not like. In the end, it’s more about them and their fears than me. They don’t want to be a nerd – that’s not cool and the others might not look up to them. They don’t want to a geek – because that’s not cool and makes them feel superior by belittling other’s tastes. They don’t want to be fat – look at the media and see the fear of that, even thin models are extremely photo shopped to look even thinner. They don’t want to be a bitch/asshole – because standing up for what they think is right might rock the boat and make them less popular, glamorous, or whatever. In the end, name calling is about the person shouting out their own fears at you because you were brave enough to embrace who you are and they weren’t.

Not claiming these labels to me is giving power to those who don’t deserve it (kinda like voting). It’s allowing others to have undue power over you and your life. Those I allow to influence me – earn that right and don’t use it to harm me. So yeah I’m a bitchy nerdy fat geek and I like myself that way. I’m also much more than just that! C’mon namecaller give it a try you can name more of my traits I’m sure.

Look at the words you avoid to describe yourself. It is because they don’t fit or it because you fear what others will do with them. If it’s others then may I respectfully suggest claiming that word as your own- make it a positive thing, not a weapon. Then it can never be used against you, you’ve disarmed your opponent. Once that happens I’d like to suggest another adage, “kill ’em with kindness.” Don’t sink to using weapon words against these fearful people instead, be kind to them. They fear you don’t abuse that power.

Remember the power to disarm words comes in how YOU define them. Until next time!

January 10, 2013
I Prefer A Slow Start

Now that I’m back to the working world, well working on a clock for others that is. I’m rediscovering my preferred morning routine – a slow wake. I don’t like the up, shower, eat, and dash. It’s not me. Back when I worked full time and Aaron was little I’d get up early to do aerobics and journal a few pages before showering and getting into the morning rush. It was a nice quiet time when everyone else in the house was safe at home sleeping.

Mike is up and out in 30 minutes flat – includes shower. Sure he’s a man, he doesn’t do the swish/swipe cleaning of the bathroom as he goes, he doesn’t have hair to style and no make-up to put on. He doesn’t moisturize or do jewelry coordination. So he’s faster. If I followed his model with my getting ready routine additions – I’d need an hour.

Still I’d like at least two hours before departure if not three. I’ll definitely get up and sacrifice sleep to get an hour of coffee and internet reading (e-mail, doing a blog post, answering G+ & Twitter, possibly checking in with Facebook) before I start the day. I like to take my time easing into the day before I dash out to work.

Heck nowadays I consider my writing more my work and my job more my hobby. LOL! Then again I enjoy both equally so that’s the secret to life isn’t it get paid for what you enjoy doing. Still I don’t want to jump out of bed rush through getting ready and dash out the door. I want to savor life which includes the mornings. Sure I can do the rush thing if I have to do it. But honestly I feel stressed and pushed and judged all day long when I do it that way. I’m not a happy camper when I don’t get my me time before dealing with the day.

Just know if you travel with me I’ll probably get up first and go out of the room to have coffee. Don’t feel you have to follow me, don’t feel you are running late. I’m getting up to get my ‘me time’ so I can face the world. I’ll be much better after that and a shower. Thanks.

Until next time!

January 8, 2013
From To-Do to Ta-Da-Done

I love lists. Well no not lists but well marked up To-Do lists. You see I’m plagued by the constant running in my head of all the things I need/want to do. It’s like a constant barrage of “you can’t rest you have to…..” going on in my head just about 24 hours a day. I’m sure it’s some mental disorder or another. At times it can be like being lashed, each a whip strike of a short coming. You haven’t finished chapter 29 **ka-pow**. You need to clean the bathroom **ka-pow**. You have to do the bill **Ka-POW!**

However I learned to tip of writing them down. Yep when I put them on paper and the task master in my head cracks his whip I defend myself with the list. See, I got it. I’ll get to it and mark it off. I have gotten up at night to put something on paper so I can let it go and sleep. My taskmaster never relents, it must be done!

I’ve got a list of things to-do today. That one never tops seven unmarked things on it at one time. If I mark something off and another task is nagging it goes on the list. On real bad taskmaster days – any task I complete goes on there and gets marked through so I can see that despite the whip cracking in my head I am productive.

My grocery list I’ve been told is a sight to behold. I just find it functional. I do it in Excel. I list item, department, and quantity. then I sort by department, then by item in department. I print it out on one page & put it on my shopping clipboard. That’s a clipboard I put a chained pen on so I can mark off easily as I shop. Remember my love for marked off lists! (that’s one on the cart pictured above)

The third list I use frequently is my blog topics list. This one is more fun and less whip-cracking. It does crack it’s whip when I don’t have five drafts in storage. Yes, I know but I like to have at least a week of written posts in draft just in case. It’s nice when it is a rushed day to have a post all written and ready for posting! It’s what I call self care and another way I block that mental whip from the internal taskmaster.

Things occur to me but then I forget them That’s why I have to jot them down. In college I lived by my planner. I put all my syllabi requirements in my planner along with frat things, family things, etc. I loved marking off the completed tasks and days. That moved to a two page a day planner when I was working – the seven things today list started then. Now I’ve a planner and lists. I live by them ya know.

I know I know I could put them in my phone. I learned from my attempt at keeping a very early palm pilot that I’m more of a pen and paper person. My satisfaction comes from the physical act of marking out and once the page is totally marked up ripping it off and tossing it out out out of my life! That’s why I’ve developed a devotion to well marked, dog eared lists. I relish marking off something as finished! Sometimes a simple strike out, but other times a full blow scratch-out. When there’s sections of a list completed I love to mark up and down on a section as if to dance on the grave of completed tasks! I was raised in a pen and paper world. As much as I’m open to giving that up, my psyche just can’t.

So here’s to a completed, well marked, heavily dog-eared, to-do list for 2012 that’s now a TA-DA-DONE list! Happy New Year!

January 4, 2013
Peaches, Daddy, PEACHES! and other sayings

Peaches by La Grande Farmers’ Market on Flickr. Used under the granted Creative Commons License 2.0 Attribution.

There are phrases that stick in our family vocabulary for decades. Some are from beloved media (books, movies, songs, etc.). Others we created ourselves. Most of the self created were unintentional but long lasting. Still today you’ll hear odd sayings slung about our house with love and caring. It’s our own family language, when we shout “Eat More Pizza!” as you leave you know you are near and dear to us.

Some we still use today without really being there for the origin of them. The title falls in that category. The “Peaches, Daddy, PEACHES!” came from my maternal grandmother who loved peaches. This story goes way back before I was born. Apparently my grandparents were traveling in Georgia and Pappaw foolishly drove past a peach stand. Seems that good fresh peaches were hard to get in Tennessee and Nannie wanted some while they were in Georgia. As the silly man drove past she went into a conniption! The most memorable part was the exclamation of “Peaches, Daddy, PEACHES!” Which is still said in our house when peaches are eaten. (a quick side note – do you peel your peaches or just wash and eat the skin? I’m doing a very unscientific survey on peach skin consumption.)

Over our almost 30 years of marriage Mike and I have developed a few of our own. One came from the movie Man on Fire . In this movie the typical action set up happens. A person the reluctant hero cares about is put in danger. This pisses off the reluctant hero who goes into full badass hero mode to save the person who holds their affection. Now when this plot device show up we announce in a deep Suthern Drawl “Not dat’s a man on fuh-eye-ur.” Needless to say this often leads to much badassery action on screen which we both love. So ‘ah man on fuh-eye-ur’ is someone you don’t wanna mess wit. Trust me.

Hulk Need Red Bull – this came from a blog that is now retired. However, you can read it here at The Incredible Hulk Diary That Is On The Internet I’m sure Hulk Blogger where ever he is, is now relieved to know Katie got away from Tom eventually! That was a popular blog in this house back in the day. We all loved to read Hulk’s life adventures. The phrase “Hulk Needs Red Bull” came about when we made a silly/stupid mistake. ‘Hulk not know why do that. Hulk need Red Bull to figure it out.” So it’s still occasionally heard about the house more muttered than proclaimed when silly errors are made.

Finally the “eat more pizza” farewell. This one gets used fairly often between Mike and me. It goes back to the second Terminator movie. This came from a moment when I should have proclaimed “Hulk Needs Red Bull” but I didn’t know about that one yet. Mike was leaving early in the morning. I was just getting up and still in a pre-coffee fog. He kissed me then said in his bad Ah-nold accent “Hasta la vista baby.” I thought he said “Eat more pizza” since I’d packed left over pizza in his lunch. Well, that misunderstanding made us both laugh and became our farewell. Just yesterday when I left for work as I was going out the door as after the kiss and good-byes there was a shouted “EAT MORE PIZZA!” just as shut the door and locked it. It’s a way of saying I love you be safe.

Actually these and other catch phrases are all about familial love. It’s acknowledging the personal journey we share together. It’s remembering our ties that even in our most “Hulk Need Red Bull” moment we’re there for each other. It celebrating the moments we enjoy sharing and celebrating that there is life we share together. When you get all our sayings – you’re part of the family, like it or not.

So until next time – eat more pizza!

January 2, 2013
Book Comments – I Love Action!

Patient Zero by Jonathan Mayberry available here

We all have our indulgences when it comes to reading and movies. There are those we enjoy but aren’t exactly proud to say we love ’em. Back in high school I was a typical girl in that I was a fan of romances. I thought the movie A Place In Time was just dreamy! The flavor I enjoyed the most was Gothic Romance or Period Romances – it they had a bit of mystery to them all the better! I read Jane Eyre multiple times. I think I went through all the Victoria Holt novels in the local library and started in on the novels under Eleanor Hibbert‘s other pen names. Her writing consistency still inspires me as a writer but I out grew my fondness for romances.

Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria hold available here

It was the 80’s and the corny action films were the hottest thing. I developed a like for them. Why I laughed my way through Expendables 2 was the fun of a time past but still celebrated. In reading I got into thrillers because I enjoyed the challenge of working out the plot before the protagonist and the action. John Grisham’s The Firm was a favorite or later add a paranormal twist to it in Dean Koontz’s The Face or Jim Butcher’s Dresden Series.

My popcorn reading and moving watching now moved from romance to action. I enjoy listening to audiobooks as I go about daily activities. I’m not as much a music person any more as a spoken word person. When searching for a new action series for my ears I stumbled upon Patient Zero by Jonathon Maberry. It is full on action that’s for sure, centering around Joe Ledger a cop that comes to lead a tactical anti-terrorist team for the fictional Department of Military Science (DMS). This book centered on a threat of germ warfare – using a specially tailored disease as a zombifying weapon. The DMS rushes to stop it. There is a love interest in it that’s secondary to the main story, which I’m not averse to seeing. It’s fast paced action which is great when biking or walking the dog and fantastic to speed up house cleaning.

The Dragon Factory by Jonathan Mayberry available here.

When it was over I was please to see that it was a series centered around the missions and adventures of Joe Ledger. I moved on to the second novel The Dragon Factory which centered on genetic engineering. Yes they wanted to make super soldiers and more! Again the DMS raced to stop the threat. It was a rollicking action packed novel that I enjoyed very much.

I have to admit I’m not a one book person. Sure I’ve got an audiobook going but I also read the printed word. Usually one or two of those type novels going. This time I lagged a bit getting into the next Joe Ledger installment while I caught up on the printed side. Then I delved into the third novel King of Plagues. Again Joe & his team faced bio-terrorism but with a twist of blackmail and betrayal coupled with outright terrorism – the story opens with the bombing of the London Hospital leaving thousands dead. The book gave me what I came for – a fast pace, action, and thrills. I am looking forward to the next in the series Assassin’s Code followed by The Extinction Machine.

King of Plagues by Jonathan Mayberry is available here.

These aren’t the most beautifully written works. Though genre doesn’t block the ability to have a beautifully written piece check out George R R Martin’s Fevre Dream for horror that is beyond well written that it falls into beautiful prose (for my buck it’s his best exceeding Game of Thrones). Still Joe Ledger has plot holes – just like my favorite action flicks do from Die Hard to Skyfall but if the action is good enough I’ll forgive them to go along for the ride. BUT these aren’t hideously written like some wildly popular series I tried to read to see what the fuss was about – but my red pen itch was too much after the third page I quit. Life is too short to read bad writing that wasn’t corrected by a competent editor. If you and your editor haven’t mastered the elementary basics of English grammar, I won’t waste my time. With Jonathan Maberry you don’t have to worry about this. It’s solid, clean writing that fits the main character and makes a great foundation for page turning action.

My concern about the series it that the threats seem to all be bio-hazard related. This can become trite and overly formula that it kicks me out of the story or another aspect of the plot is brought more to the forefront to cover this fact. This is what knocked me out of the House series years before it ended. It became too formula and the romance part moved to the forefront. I’m not a romance fan any more as the main plot line. I enjoyed two to three years of House and no matter where Joe Ledger goes I’ll have enjoyed three fun action novels. All in all I can’t complain too much, but you know me I can always finding something to fret over or kvetch about.

For end we’ll all read the Legal Disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique.

Until next time!

January 1, 2013