Mary Louise Eklund

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Comic Comments – Think Tank

If you are into comics you’ve heard all the buzz about Think Tank. If you’ve not picked it up I hope my comments on it encourage you to do so. If you aren’t into comics but are into science/military research/secret project development – then I hope I’m introducing you to a wonderful new read. If you like well written stories I encourage you to try the comic medium for adults in this title.

I can say that generally with Aaron gone my comics stay in their place. I don’t have to go around looking for them (I have a system to read box, read to comment box, finished box and deity of your choice have mercy on your soul if you mix ’em) but Think Tank is different. Even my comic book snob of a husband must have ventured a read.

Okay let’s get the technicalities out of the way so we can chat about a comic that brings it all to the table. First the ever present US 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. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Next a great nod to the team that brought us this title: Co-created & Written by Matt Hawkins, Co-created & Art by Rahsan Ekedal, Letters by Troy Peteri, Cover A Art issue 1 first printing by Bagus Hutomo, Cover art issue 2 Rahsan Ekedal & Brian Reber, (apologies to cover artists Issues 3 & 4 as those have disappeared from my office will give you credit when they reappear & I can get the info) Edited by Matt Hawkins, Filip Sablik, & Bryan Roundtree.

Let me first say this story is right up my alley. For those of you who don’t know in another phase of my life I lived in Oak Ridge Tennessee home of a National Laboratory, Y-12, and K-25. Oh it was a town with the highest concentration of science (various types of physics mostly) PhDs in the nation at that time. I worked in the volume reduction of low level radioactive waste by a private firm. There I was the Regulatory Compliance Specialist and did the internal audits to assure the state & Feds we adhered to the law, regulations, and our written procedures that were approved by those agencies. I dealt with lots of the government and military research types both in my work and in my social life. We all lived in the now open but planned city of Oak Ridge. On top of that I’ve lived my adult life with a Submarine Nuke Officer who had/has travel restrictions based on his knowledge of that field and worked in a leadership role in the war room at CENTCOM for over a year. So I know these people depicted. They are my people. They were the parents of Aaron’s best friend on his first soccer team. They were PTA members beside me. They came to wetting down parties for Mike as he advanced in the ranks. They were ushers at our wedding. They are colleagues, subordinates, and bosses. This was the work world I left behind to be a stay at home mom. Still many who work for such things are my friends and I keep in touch.

First off true young boy wonders in these fields are rare and far between. It takes a certain maturity beyond intelligence to deal with the issues raised by the research. I knew a few who graduated before they could legally be employed for their field of study (being under 18 Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, various military protocols, and other regulatory bodies have age limits for working with that sort of thing). All of them worked at fast food places until they were old enough to apply. (no they didn’t want to turn out like the Radioactive Boy Scout) All of them said it was a big mistake to push forward like that, their parents warned them but they didn’t listen. I had one of them chat with Aaron when he was given the option to move ahead to help him understand why we didn’t pursue that. I knew many more that had turned down that option because they were brilliant enough to see the pit falls of social retardation, economic management issues of pay to an minor & minor work hour laws, along with knowing life was more than the lab. Generally people who are smart enough to be in the lab research be it pure or applied are smart enough to know life is very complex and pushing one area out of shape isn’t a good thing. That said they can get tunnel vision in their own area of study due to conditions of research.

So the story is about the exception – the boy genius that goes to work at military/government research at a very young age. He’s not the stereotypical by the book type. Then again I’ve never met any in that field who are, in academia oh yeah met that type all the damn time in R&D nope most were nerds and/or geeks with my sense of humor. He’s at a station like Groom Lake/Area 51 where you board in during your work session. Knew a girl who worked in a place like that – boarded a plane flew to work for a week, lived in a dorm, ate at a cafeteria there. She managed mixed waste at the facility (radioactive and RCRA [Resource Conservation and Recovery Act] classified hazardous – radioactive & hazardous are two different things to waste people) then when her week was up she flew home for 7 days off at her place. Except David Loren the main character seems to live in his lab all the time. His buddy Manish has a family & home in town, kinda like what Oak Ridge was before the gates opened.

David’s character has a moral epiphany while watching Schindler’s List. He doesn’t want his work to be used in killing, in weapons of war. I get that. I have to say many of us at the lunch table in Oak Ridge had talks about that. I came to the realization I couldn’t work at say Y-12 because I couldn’t take making radioactivity for any reason other than medical. I’d seen how it’s “disposed” which is put it some place for eons and watch. I wasn’t the only one at the table that said they could work in the waste, the cleaning up of the messes already made but making those messes to make mass destruction research – nope not for us. So I get David’s maturing realization that he doesn’t want to be a part of that.

Also since he lives in his lab he wants to go out and live a real life. I get that. Talking to the friend that flew to the 7 day job she said flights there were quite, business mummer type flights but the return ones were more like high school cafeteria talks – new movies, kid’s games, and all that. Yep after 7 days of work they were ready to go be ‘people’ again! So it’s cool that David wants to go out and pick up chicks – not so cool that he takes controlled tech out to help him do it. Yeah, that’s the rub (kinda like the guys that stole the magenta tinted tools for use in the radioactive areas and tried to sell them at a swap meet). That kind of thing is heavily frowned upon.

David and his date that saw the tech both get taken back on the reservation and detained. However with Manish’s help David activates a plan to get them out. I do have an issue with how he escaped. You see I’ve worn canaries (what we called the yellow haz-mat suits) and been trained as a first responder. I’ve audited procedures of first response and emergency response for these type of places. You don’t have anyone dressed out in PPE (personal protection equipment) without giving them proper monitoring of many types and knowing how many you have, who they are, where they are going, and where/when they come out. You account for the decontamination of each and their monitoring equipment is sent for rush processing. They don’t wander out en masse. They come out in a controlled doffing area. It’s all part of preventing any potential contamination from disasters in the lab being spread by the responders. They are closely monitored to help them should they have trouble and know when they have reached max stay times in potentially dangerous areas. So donning a canary and walking out with a group is major breach of protocol. The group would notice we each had our identifier there on our forehead (Mine was EKL-1). See someone you don’t know in your zone you’d address it first to minimize exposure, then limit spread of possible contamination and many other reasons. You go in knowing who your work buddies are and keep an eye on them. You want to be there for them should they get into trouble Just joining the group to wander out wouldn’t happen. A canary exiting without going through decon/doffing procedures would draw max attention. However, I’ll say this place had bad Emergency Response Procedures and/or were willing to crap up the world with doffing canary zoomies and dander. (cool industry slang eh?)

Still for the sake of the story it was fun to see the laid back cool dude stick it to the man. Except the portrayal of ‘the man’ bothered me. You see the military side is my family and friends. Sure the Col. was the by the book guy but ya know what for all the Hollywood stereotypes of that I’ve never met one in 27 years. Sure people will be by the book on most things but when it comes to something they really fundamentally believe they’ll look to the spirit of the regs than the word of them. Also in all my years I’ve never seen a screamer in a research/science training facility. Not ever heard of one either – I’ve heard tales from nuke sub types that go way back in the Cold War and their training but no you don’t do Drill Instructor in the face screaming to civilians, or top research scientists. It’s just not done. They are treated well and monitored well. They aren’t buck privates and anyone with leadership position in the military knows, understands and works with that. If there’s one thing the modern military trains, trains, trains on is management techniques when working with civilian contractors. More and more base activities are civilian contractors, professionals don’t spit scream at other professionals. The military is nothing if not professional. The community isn’t easy to research or get to know just by its nature. People are discreet to the point of not even mentioning job titles or rank when off the clock. They have to know you, and know you for years, before you learn much more than those simple things. Then we are all aware of classified lines, stories are generalities not specific. So you’re working on a project and really into it when Hulk hands appear in the transom of your office and some shouts HULK HUNGRY FOR BURRITOS PUNY HUMAN MUST LEAVE COMPUTER NOW OR HULK SMASH! and start rattling the glass or there was a temperature inversion and due to contamination from earlier research in the area before modern protocols you had to stay in doors for hours trapped in the wrong damn building with that deadline looming. There’s more of a social camaraderie between researchers and military. The stiff stuff is just when on show for the public. I can’t prove that, but trust me it’s true. This book got much right. It’s just they haven’t been there and it shows. Kinda like Hunt For Red October movie was great and we in the sub community loved it but there were details that made us roll our eyes and laugh. You just can’t get a small quiet community unless you’ve lived & worked in it.

So in the end it’s a fun well researched story about an adult scientist that’s a teenager socially. He’s sticking it to the government bad guys (a la ET type) breaking out of a secure research facility. It was fun and it romped for me. I loved it and was anxious for the next issue. The science was hard and well researched. The story hit notes that I knew well living decades socializing with that community. The issues raised were issues we did have talks about and still do talk about from time to time. There aren’t any pat answers. I loved it and can’t wait for more. Sure I hit ’em hard but when someone writes about family you notice the little things that are off, over all this hit it and knocked it out of the park as a fictional story.

I’ve had some people drag their feet on reading this because the interior is black and white art. Really people are you that shallow? It wasn’t that long ago that daily funnies in the paper we read as kids didn’t have color! The art is wonderful. It is stylistic but not overly so. It also realistic enough. It strikes that balance of being just that much better than real life to be good comic book art. It’s detailed and so well done you don’t notice the missing color. Honestly if you give it a chance the story and art blend together to make the experience so entertaining you get lost in it. Besides look at this way you don’t have to see any bad coloring jobs or odd glowy photoshop effects either. It’s all straight forward art supporting the tale!

Bottom line – pick this up. The science is sound but fun. The story is a romp set in a world few actually see and even fewer who have will talk openly about to strangers. It raises questions that all of us need to ponder not just the people at the lab tables. It’s well worth the money and buzz it created.

You know what’s coming next – interior shots!

Yeah total project failure would be bad. However I’ve never heard of it happening usually something comes out of the pure research even if it’s not the project goal or foreseen in the conceptualization of the goal. Also projects take decades to complete to make an assessment, David isn’t that old to have that many projects listed as a total failure. Oh and see my note about civilians not being buck Privates.

Okay I heard of one case where a researcher struck another (both civilian). It did not go down well for the striker – jail time, stripped of clearance, lost job… not good at all. Strikee was fine. I have to say as we heard the story from another facility we all put the striker down as crazy, went off the deep end.

Okay this is a good scene to get into David’s head, his emotional head. Having talked with people who went through the whole child college student thing I get the emotional insecurity and immaturity he’s showing here.

I get what he’s saying about golf courses. Also I have to point out we’ve given up lots of bases, all the officer clubs, many of the base gyms, movie theaters, post offices, barbers and such consolidating down to more efficient numbers. Getting fewer lines drawn between officers and enlisted with just BQs and Pubs instead of BOQs & BEQs with O-Clubs and E-Clubs. These are people who will die for you, your country on order with hesitation – my husband, my son. So I think now that we’ve packed them in can’t we allow some bases (the remaining ones) to have their Rec areas – golf courses, marinas, and camp grounds. They have to blow off steam somewhere and remember the very low ranking enlisted don’t have any disposable income. Many depend on federal assistance like WIC to feed their families, so why not give those families affordable recreation as thanks. As it stands today every 65 minutes a service member in the US commits suicide – maybe we need to spend more on helping them cope in these ways instead of ignoring that side of life. **sheepishly gets off soapbox and puts it away**

Until next time folks.

February 6, 2013
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
Book Comments – Even A Master Needs An Editor

The Legal Disclaimer: The cover image is the property of its owners I reproduce it here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique.

As I sat down to write this I thought who am I to review Stephen King a modern master of the novel?

As a writer, no one was the first answer. As a writer I study him for some of the best example of modern description. Short quick phrases that set the scene and help keep the action moving. He’s a master at it. I’ve heard it called Blitzkrieg characterization. How he moves from type of tone and genres in 11/22/63 is masterful. As a writer I’ve not got a leg to stand on and offer any judgement.

As a reader, I stand upon a mountain of books read over a lifetime of loving story. I’m in a strong position as a reader to comment on what I like and don’t like. I read multiple books at a time across multiple genres of fiction and non-fiction. So I figure I’m in a good place as a reader to offer my comments on King’s latest novel 11-22-63. It’ll be on that stance I’ll make comments.

11-22-63 left me in an odd place as a reader – I wanted more or less story. When I finished I was very unsatisfied despite it being a long 849 pages. This story blends genres. It’s publicized to be about going back in time to attempt to stop the assassination of Kennedy. Along the way to the point of the story it visits the territories of sci-fi, horror, alternate history, and romance. I’m not against blending genres but the only one I thought that got a full story arc was the romance, the other aspects of the story were left feeling unfinished for me.

I’ll be the first to admit as a reader the genre of this blend I like the least is romance. I loved it as a teenager but my taste changed. So during the pages of romance and lyrical waxing on the two lovebirds jitterbugging – I was bored, bored, bored and wondered when the heck were we going to return to the sci-fi of time travel, or the horror of the It creature, or start the alternate history of interfering with Oswald? Instead I was stuck in an overly sentimentalized non-existent Texas town reading a romance.

As for the sci-fi part I wanted to know more about Al, the man who discovered time travel and developed the mission the main character Jake/George carries out. I wanted to see how the rules were figured out by Al. I wanted to know more about his diner’s relationship with the phenomena he found. I was frustrated because King broke the first rule – don’t tell show. We were told the rules of time travel and I wanted to see how they were discovered.

As for the horror part I liked the references to the It creature by starting the story out in the middle of the It story. Having read the novel long ago I recognized Pennywise and a few of the characters in the town. Carrying Pennywise forward in the story and linking him with the assassination by suggestion was great! I wanted to know how this dark force was related to Oswald! But alas that thread was never completed. I liked how it was going but once the event of interfering with the assassination started that was pushed aside and forgotten. I closed the book thinking – so what the hell did Pennywise have to do with it? Was it just pages and pages of a distraction?

Then there’s one of my favorites – alternate history! I thought surely with a book about time travel to stop with the Kennedy assassination I’d get some alternate history either way the mission went. If Jake/George is successful or not he’s change history in many ways waiting out the years to get to the event, just like Al had to change it in his discoveries. Just like the green card man explained to Jake/George (a second case of telling NOT showing). As a reader I got a glimpse of what the mission did to the future but not HOW it did it in the third case of telling not showing. The bulk of the book was eaten up by getting to the assassination and the ending was rushed. The alternate history was short changed. I didn’t get to live the world after the interference with the main event, the whole thrust of the plot – instead I glimpsed it and was told the payoff that I’d waded through 100s of pages of romance to see.

Finally the fatal flaw for me was Jake/George’s supposed worry about effecting history before the event? Heck you are setting out to change a lynch pin event in history who cares if you start that change a few years earlier? You are changing ALL OF TIME AFTER THE INTERFERENCE FOR ALL ETERNITY what does a few years, heck decades, heck even centuries matter? There’s eternity on the other side of the mission! Unknown-illions of lives from 1963 to the end of time shifted – what’s a few billion changed for less than a decade matter in balance with that? His reasoning doesn’t make sense. Sure it’s fun to stalk about the edges of Oswald’s life for years but that’s not why I picked up the book. I picked up the book on the promise of time-travel interfering with the Kennedy assassination and for me what happens after that.

I also didn’t pick up the book to read an idyllic look at small town America in the late 50s early 60s. I felt the touching on the social ills was there just to give a nod to the modern reader. Yeah I know it was a time when women weren’t liberated, black were segregated, and domestic abuse wasn’t seen as a police but rather a family matter. After a few periphery nods he goes on with the almost “Leave It To Beaver” tone of the story. Sure there are dark events but they all pull together, have a talent show, and deal with them as a white happy community! I choked back my barf and pressed on hoping for more time travel mission.

When I closed the book I spent a long time thinking about why I felt disappointed as a reader. What would have made me happier with the story – the answer was an odd one. Either make it a series of books covering Al’s adventures through Jake/George through the alternate history and end with Jake/George telling us how it ended. So one answer was give me more so I’m not left hanging on these issues that felt unfinished. Second sell it as a romance with some time travel mission to it and cut down the first part of the book. Third keep it as a time travel book cut Pennywise, romance, and tighten the focus. Fourth make it a pure genre not a blend. King’s best books have been that way in my opinion as a King reader.

So as a reader I walked away with too many questions to call it a great read, it was a good read. As a writer I’ve learned look for plot holes have beta readers look for unanswered questions, know when to cut threads out if you can’t tie them up at the end. I think my biggest lesson as a writer is that genres exist to satisfy the reader – so that the book has focus and the reader can get the full story. Successful blending of genres means you answer all the plot elements you raise be they sci-fi, horror, alternate history, or romance.

In the end I’d quiz someone about what are they looking for in a read before I’d recommend they open this book. It has a lot to offer as most stories by masterful writers do – but it’s not perfect.

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
Movie Comments – Remake? Bring Something New To The Table

The required US 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

I love spy drama. I especially love spy drama of the Cold War period. I’m hoping to see a movie about 26 Sept 1983 the day the world almost died and didn’t know it. Until then I enjoy fiction inspired by the mood of the times.

The original BBC Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is one of my favorite spy movies. When the remake came out recently I was hoping for a new take on telling a favorite tale. Like most movies I don’t catch them in the theater but do catch them later. This was one of our weekend movies.

I can’t say I didn’t like the movie. I did. I can say it was true to the BBC original. I enjoyed the twisted tale as always where who is who and where do loyalties fall is always fun. Except when it was over I pondered why the remake? Did we really need to make a copy of the classic? Nope. I walked away from this one with nothing more than I got from the original. It wasn’t updated. It wasn’t tweaked as far as fashion, setting, or anything. It was all the same tale with fresh faces and new names playing the parts.

The required US 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

Some movies are so well done, so powerful, so masterfully made the first time they don’t need remakes. Casablanca comes to mind. It doesn’t need to be copied with fresh faces and color. It stands as the best it can be as it is. So what if the new generation doesn’t know Bogie let them be introduced to him at his best. That’s how I feel about the ’79 version of TTSS. It’s Cold War drama at its best. Let it stand as the masterpiece that it is.

I felt for the cast of the new one. The best they could do is live up to the first. When up against something like this – you are set to fall short. Gary Oldman turns in a powerful performance but it is only equal to Alec Guinness’s in the original. Hard to exceed a master in one of his best performances ever.

I’m not sure what I wanted when I sat down to watch. I generally stay away from remakes of movies I think are the final say on that particular story. When it was over I was left with the thought that this added nothing nor took anything from the original, that it was just eh – new faces in familiar places. I don’t think I needed that. Despite the sets being spot on to period, fashions being grand, pacing and delivery top-notch I was left thinking I could have just watched the ’79 one and gotten the same thing saving the world millions.

If you’ve not seen the first and you don’t want to watch actors of a previous generation at the top of their game then this version is for you. Otherwise – get thee to a library and look up the original. It’s excellent and it was the first. Until next time!

January 18, 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
New Year Means Inventory

Blue sea jasper with fossil inclusions pendant

I have as the saying goes more beads ‘than Carters has little pills.’ It is so true. Last week while in Virginia Beach I went to bead stores whose stock was less than my personal collection of unmade components. That’s when I realized (no, not that need to stop buying beads don’t be silly!) I need an inventory system.

The last bead store I visited was owned by a retired Navy couple (he was a retired Captain from submarine force imagine that!). We chatted and after loving the receipt I got where each item was named and quantity given I turned the talk to inventory. They said that Bejeweled software had a program for craft show jewelry designers.

Well now I got money as a Christmas gift and this sounded great. After checking it out on-line. I settled on purchasing Jewelry Design Manager for my needs. Fit my Christmas money and needs – great!

Now for the hard part – putting all my component inventory and finished goods into the system. No really, remember I COULD open a small bead shop on just my components! We’re talking the thousands. Each has to costed, photographed, and entered.

Um, that’s what I’ve done for three days. I’ve just worn the tip of the iceberg. The good news is I do have a finite number of items (unlike genealogy where there are infinite people when taking living dead and by marriage). That means an end does exists.

The bad news is I do have a life beside beads and somethings have to give. It can’t be my writing time that’s my other personal business goal. It’s gonna be internet time. I’ll still post Monday through Friday, that’s my plan even if it’s a wave and a photo. I’ll still answer comments, e-mails, and the like but maybe every other day on that. I’ll read them daily so if you need a response put that right up front in the message. I expect I’ll tweet more 140 characters is quick and vents my non-story writer.

I’m here. I’m not going away. Just deep into two projects (novel & inventory). Until next time! Take care.

January 16, 2013
Comic Comments – Fury Goes To Cuba

When we last visted Fury Max – Nick was in Vietnam just as American were getting involved on the French side of Indochina. That mission was a good read with great historical grounding. The mission wasn’t successful except it got Fury an assignment he liked better for helping out Congressman Pug McCuskey. The bad news is – it has to do with Cuba, Cuban nationals, and the Kennedy White House.

Now for the ever present US 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. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

First a very satisfied nod to the creative team: Garth Ennis, Writer – Goran Parlov, Artist – Lee Loughridge, Colors – Rob Steen, Lettering – Manny Mederos, Production – Sebastian Girner & Nick Lowe, Editors on Issue #4 – Nick Lowe, editor on Issue #5 & 6 – Axel Alonso, Editor In Cheif – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

The bright side of the previously failed Indochina mission was Pug’s secretary Shirley. She and Fury struck up a friendship with benefits. That was early 1954, after a flash Nick today dictating his memoirs while his call girls take a rest between sessions we are taken to 1961. Fury is training Cuban Nationals in Central America. At least until the soon to be Senator Pug calls him for another off the books job.

But in this one – it appears Shirley wants more than quarterly visits. In the middle of one of Nick’s visits she announces she’s marrying Pug. She doesn’t want to go back to the South Side of Chicago she wants the good life. If Nick will stay and give it to her she’ll reconsider – but no that’s not Nick.

He and his side kick Hatherly’s reward for training the Nationals as best they can – an off the books assignment from Pug and the leaders of the Nationals – Kill Castro. They get a gung-ho radioman and set out on their mission in the middle of the Bay of Pigs event. You can guess how it turns out. What you can’t guess is just how low Pug will sink and how he’ll put his new wife in danger doing it.

I like the story except for the end. It’s not that the mission fails (sorry I don’t consider that a spoiler basic knowledge of American history tells you that) I just didn’t get what Fury did or why. I’ve always gotten Fury’s thought process. Sure it’s screwed up at times, at times I DO NOT agree with it, at times it’s so clouded by testosterone that it reeks. His final decision in this arc just didn’t make sense for the character. Maybe it’ll be a plot device we’ll see develop later but as it stands – it’s out of character to me.

Though I have to say I’m loving this title. It’s historically accurate, great writing, and the art is fantastic. It all comes together to give me a comic I want. Yes Fury is a man’s man but that’s the appeal kinda like Bond with a more rugged edge and dirtier finish. That I enjoy. We are getting to see Pug, Hatherly, and Shirley develop into full characters not just cut-outs of spy novel characters. I can’t wait for the next arc to complete. I’m hoping this team stays for many issues to come.

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January 15, 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