Mary Louise Eklund

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Comic Comments – Fury To the Max

Let’s start by being clear – Max comics are for adults. What makes them different from say regular Marvel? They drop the f-bomb and other curse words. People smoke – something forbidden now even for the healing factor crowd in the main titles. There’s nudity – no just right shadows or things in the foreground. They have sex, they depict some sex scenes, and yes they talk about sex. The fighting in some titles is more graphic, more blood and gore. When a guy gets punched it’s not just spittle that’s gonna fly. Still with all of that you’ll see and experience more extremes in an R movie than in a Marvel Max comic. It’s more than their general comics but not as much as an R movie. Got it? So if seeing women’s breasts or the f-word in type or blood fly in a fight – these titles aren’t for you.

That said they are for the rough and tumble character of Nick Fury! I like this take on him. He’s free to be what his character is set up to be in the regular line. I don’t seem him not cursing, not bedding the women, and not spoiling for a good fight when he can get one. He doesn’t mince words, says what he thinks but as a good soldier eventually follows orders even if he thinks it could be to his death. In this series he’s telling about his career post WWII in all it’s unvarnished truth. The first arc deals with Fury’s first days in French IndoChina as it’s moving toward what would become the Vietnam War. He’s the perfect character to use the Max setting to tell his tales.

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 – Axel Alonso, Editor In Cheif – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

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.

This arc takes place in early 1954. We meet a politician Congressman Pug MCCuskey who thinks if Indochina falls to the communists then all of Southeast Asia will fall and he’s an anti-commie man second only to Joe McCarthy. Next we meet Agent Hatherly who will be Nick’s side kick through this. He’s a new CIA agent assigned to the the embassy where Nick’s the field operative, or so they say. Finally we meet the fiery and fiesty Shirley DeFabio secretary to Pug and becomes lover to Nick. The main cast is set. The task is for Nick and Hatherly to evaluate a French Foreign Legion post as allies to help assess it and improve security. What they find there disturbs them – for Nick it’s the indefensible position, under trained men, and lack of supplies that worry him the most. For Hatherly it’s the Nazi that admits to killing Jews serving as an ally to the US and going unpunished.

The story is a nutshell of politics in Indochina at the time. Nick comes at it as a pragmatic fighter while Hatherly gives us the idealistic fighter’s take. Both wind up taking a beating as Vietnam rises to overthrow the French colonials. The story is told with the rough edge of a fighter giving a true to the character voice for Fury. We all know how this is going to turn out in the end. Vietnam isn’t a good chapter but it is one every student of history shouldn’t over look or forget. Here we watch as the two polar opposites confront the issues as they were in ’54. New type of war differing from the one we’d just won. They struggle to make their ideas of war fit with the situation, colonialism is dying and our former ally Russia is now our enemy. Does that mean we should take former Nazis as our allies to defeat them? Just as in real life there are no clear cut answers. In the end the characters are wrong, all of them and glad to get out with their lives. Yet we who possess the benefit of hindsight know this isn’t the end of Vietnam for our warrior.

Miss DeFabio is all Nick could want in a woman. She’s a fighter, nay a brawler! She’s beautiful and sexy. She likes sex and has no qualms about that. She’s pragmatic and honest. She’ll help him out under the table if she sees it as the right thing to do. (Like warning him about Hathaway going off the reservation after the Nazi). She uses her influence to help Nick and her legs to pull him in closer, all for the better enjoyment of both of them.

Another issue that’s always bother me about Fury is that he heals and doesn’t age. He addresses that right up front just stating it as fact. I’ve come to think over the years that our Fury is a mutant, with somewhat of a healing factor. It would explain a lot and maybe the term didn’t apply to him back in the day and he just skirted the whole issue by not having a SUPER power. I dunno but just like I stick my fingers in my ears and LA-LA-LA-LA away aliens and magic, I’ll do the same and make Fury a low level mutant.

In the end the story was the best Nick Fury story I’ve read in some time. Considering he’s in my top five favorite Marvel characters I was pleased to see him comfortably sitting in his own title, telling his own story, his own way. It’s most enjoyable and I’m hoping this team has a long long run with Fury Max.

Now after such praise for the story how can the art live up to it? Well I dunno how but it does! The style of the covers shows the influence of the age the story is set. The art is excellent for the story. It picks up the details of the age, dial phones with receivers that are somewhat pointed at the top, the fashion isn’t perfect but carries the flavor of the age with a modern flare. It is made to appeal to today’s audience with a feel of the era in which it sits. The good guys and gals are lovely even in the nude – remember this is Max. The bad guys or generalized characters are given traits to make them memorable. It all fits with the flashes to Fury today in his bathrobe dictating his memories. A great success in supporting a strong script.

After this misadventure in Indochina the next arc moves forward to 1962 and Cuba, or Cuber as JFK called it. You know our hero Nick Fury wasn’t on the sidelines for that one.

***Warning MATURE content below that is also somewhat spoilery for the story***

***Warning MATURE content below that is also somewhat spoilery for the story***

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January 11, 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
Comic Comment – The Fate of The King of Wolves

Keeping true to form of long arc followed by a short one, Fables issues 122 & 123 comprise a mini arc entitled The Destiny Game. The last time we visited the Fables title the Cubs In Toyland arc had just completed. The last few stories involving Bigby and Snow’s cubs have centered on the San Diego 2009 Comic Con One Page Fables predecitions. We’ve seen Winter become the North Wind, Therese did an evil thing, Darien died to stop her. Though she could be the pauper too – because now she is one. Ghost killed people before s/he learned that was wrong, except no one died to stop Ghost that I can remember. This two story arc is concerned with Ambrose as an adult, we see his fate. We also learn how Bigby and his cubs came to have their designated fates. Another excellent story with fantastic art brought to us by the team at Fables.

The second story of the issue continues to follow Bifkin’s adventures in Oz. It moves to the title story in the next issue. Bifkin’s revolution continues and now he’s found himself the leader of a great nation. Faced with the same issues as George Washington, offered a kingship, needing to lead but wanting to retire to his beloved library Bifkin has some hefty choices to make and ideas to implement.

First 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. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Now for the creative team on this arc first story entitled The Destiny Game: Written and Created by Bill Willingham – Guest art by Gene Ha – guest colors by Art Lyon – letters by Todd Klien – Special Thanks to Zander Cannon – Issue 123 also included Andrew Pepoy in the Special Thanks – Assistant editor Gregory Lockard – Editor Shelly Bond

The creative team for the A Revolution in Oz: Bill Willingham, Writer/Creator – Shawn McManus, Artist – Todd Klein, Letters – Gregory Lockard, Assistant Editor – Shelly Bond, Editor.

It seems every time I comment on Fables it becomes a love letter to them for doing what I dream comics can do. Last commentary on Fables I mentioned how they evoke my childhood love for Classics Illustrated. This arc pulls on that more with the adult Ambrose being the author/narrator of the tale. The illustrations are the same fine quality as those beloved comics from long ago. The structure of the tale reminds me of many of the classics. I was entranced at the first and not disappointed by the story or the art.

Ambrose explains how Bigby got the fate of marrying his beloved Snow and having seven pups with the destines of “to become Gods and Monsters that lay waste to worlds.” Whose fates were later refined by Ozma’s one page prediction from SDCC 2009.

Here in the story Bigby prefers his wolf form and rules the forest. He longs to kill his father. He runs into the green skinned woman that doles out fates. Upon chasing her he makes a deal to hear his fate. It is one of death in three days. He goes to mourn his fate in his forest.

There he meets a familar background character – the turtle wearing the teacup world on her back. She’s a vain queen whose fate was to become this turtle and warn others. She explains that the green skinned lady doesn’t read fates, she assigns them! She’s the messenger for the 3 fates.

Here we see the Fates give their messenger 7 important fates. The same number of children Bigby later has. Is it coincidence? Are the important fates the children that are to become Gods and Monsters? The story doesn’t answer these questions. We are left to ponder and draw our own conclusions.

Just how Bigby gets the fate of Snow and his cubs instead of death in three days is answered. Also how Ambrose knows this story when even Bigby doesn’t know the fate he’s given in full is also answered. It worth the read to see how the simple tale sheds new light on the fates that have unfurled in the last few Fables arcs.

Finally we are left to ponder this part of Bigby’s fate “You’ll outlive all your children but only after you’ve died seven times.” Any guesses on how THAT is going to come into play? I see fodder for Willingham to build many more excellent arcs around the Wolf family.

The Revolution in Oz story is just a few pages in each each issue. Here we see the the final defeat of the current Emperor. It pays to have an animated hanging rope on your side. The Toms of the Emperor are fleeing leaving Bifkin’s revolutionaries in power. So now what? That’s why the story takes the title role in the next issue as I said.

*****Page Scans**** Warning****Maybe Considered Spoilery********

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January 9, 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
Movie Comments – Disillusionment

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.

We watched this movie recently and I enjoyed it greatly. The Ryan Reynolds character comes to the realization of how dirty politics is through some brutal events. The candidates aren’t the stars here it’s the back room men (yes they are white males) that are the stars of the tale. The differences aren’t about ideals which are mocked but about what can “I” get, what can “we” get from doing this, or what damage can we inflict on the other side? It’s not a pretty picture but it’s a fascinating one to watch. Being a cynic wearing a hopeful human coat I could relate to the Ryan character. However honestly it’s the Marisa Tormei reporter character that sums up my true thoughts. Her statement in the bar to Ryan near the beginning of the tale was the most eloquent and succinct statement of my thoughts on politics today.

The painful disillusionment of Ryan’s character is interesting and powerful to watch. I think any of us that have seen a few elections know how it feels on some scale regardless of what side of the aisle come your political leanings. Oh of course it’s ramped up to add drama to the movie. The brutal crush of innocence and the innocent in the chase of the ultimate political power is a very old human story. To see it retold yet again with modern trappings is striking. Like most tragedies you want to look away, to not see it. Yet you can’t. I’m not sure if it’s morbid curiosity morbid fascination, lessons of a cautionary tale, or hope of redemption that kept me watching. I’d like to think it’s the latter but my gut said it’s the first and second.

This movie isn’t action driven. It’s a character driven tale. It moves subtly and builds with small but emotionally impactful turns for the main characters. Sometimes the off the cuff decisions change our life the most and that’s the start of this ride. Those decisions don’t always change it for the better. Once you see behind the curtain of how it works and what it takes to work you can’t unsee it. The magic is gone and the brutal knowledge will change a person. The question at the center of the movie is what will the main character do with his full knowledge of what goes on behind the curtain. THAT’S what kept me watching, THAT’S why I liked this move very much.

The slow destruction and reconstruction of a character is something amazing to watch. Good stories (as opposed to movie rides or comfort beach reading) are about the character arc – start here, experience story, then end there. A truly good story leaves the characters irrevocably changed. The change doesn’t have to be for the better, but it is drastic enough they can’t go back to who/where they were at the beginning. The Ides of March has that in spades for the main character played by Ryan. The events of the movie make him a different man. The tensions comes in not in the destruction of who he was but in the construction of who he is to be – what choices will he make, what events will push him to be that final incarnation of the character at the end. The power of this tale was I wasn’t sure just what I wanted that reconstruction to be given the setting. In the end I think Ryan’s acting gave us the answer unequivocally in his eyes in the final scene. The new character steps into his next story a changed man. The movie goer is left to ponder just what that change means.

January 7, 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
Comic Comment – Too Much Magic for Me In Wolverine Annual

For those not into comics I introduced the concept of the Annual back with the Uncanny X-Men’s 2012 Annual. I’ve been avoiding the Wolverine Annual double issue entitled Clandestine due to the cover. It has the wacky faux Ancient Egyptian look to the cover. After studying Egyptian hieroglyphs some I just can’t tolerate the ‘Hollywood’ image of it, so built on horrid misunderstandings. Take that and couple it with my severe dislike of magic or aliens in my X-Men and you can imagine my severe disappointment that this year’s annual double issue was based on a blending of both. Yeah, to say I didn’t like it is putting it mildly. Disgusted dislike coupled with taking offense for a now dead for centuries religion/people might get to the heart of my thoughts.

Now for the every 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.

Giving credit where credit is due – Alan Davis, Writer & Penciler – Mark Farmer, Inker – Javier Rodriguez, Colorist – VC’s Clayton Cowles, Letterer – Davis, Farmer, & Rodriguez, Cover Art – John Denning & Jake Thomas, Assistant Editors – Lauren Sankovitch, Associate Editor – Tom Brevoort, Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

This annual ties into Daredevil Annual this year. Clandestine opens with a dream memory of Logan/James. As he falls asleep (btw he has a HUGE tv in room perks of being the headmaster I’d guess) there’s a news report about a about a museum fire stopping the plastoid robots murderous rampage. This is noted to have taken place in Daredevil’s issue.

We are then introduced (or reintroduced) to the Destine family. They are descended from Adan Destine (who James knew long ago) and his djinn lover Elalyth. I don’t know much about the Destine family and tend to ignore them. They are too magical for me. In this issue they consist of two kids that want to be superheroes with their powers, a blue furry man with red hair that turns to fire when he’s angry (looks a lot like our beloved Dr. Hank McCoy) some silver woman, a floating computer geek, and a lovely raven haired beauty that used to be one of Logan’s many flings.

It seems that a deceased family member has something to do with the plastoid robot attack on the burning museum. James being Logan, near by, and a family friend gets called into the fray. Except it’s under false pretenses, which seems to be the modus operendi for this family. Then again they are all siblings and half djinn. Dr. Strange shows up because of all the hoo-doo going on set off his alarm bells.

There’s much angsting, magical morphing, magic tripping, magic and regular fighting. Then at one point canopic jars turn into monsters which Logan battles – thus the tacky cover. In the end Logan the new man, protects the kids and makes a noble sacrifice to do it. Then he doesn’t want the kids to see him as heals from the massive damage he took, another sign of growth and caring in the man. He does show some of his headmaster self in doing a mini-Loganesque-lecture to the family about false pretenses being appearing to be the easiest solutions but causing the greatest damage. I mean look at the burned out museum and lost antiquities, the dead brother, those killed by the plastiods, and his own damage. The lessons are good but really made me want to fall back on “knowing is half the battle. GO JOE!” at the end.

Also my stomach turned at how abused the Ancient Egyptian was in this. It’s a personal peeve of mine. In cases like this I just roll my eyes and think “Hollywood!” disdainfully. However the Egyptians left written explanations of what they thought, meant, did, wanted, dreamed about, wished for… I studied hieroglyphs because I felt if a people wrote all over stuff they were a people who wanted to be understood. Our knowledge and understanding of them grows exponentially each year as more and more is translated. We are way past Budge’s bad translations, Victorian moral influence filtered by his mastery of Sumerian first. However as was lamented in StarGate by Dr. Jackson the Egyptologist “You guys are still relying on Budge!” as he erases their bad attempt at translation. I find it frustrating that an ancient peoples who we can know so much about from their own words are so misunderstood and misrepresented. As a writer who attempts to be understood through the written word my heart goes out to them, fellow writers of thousands of years ago.

Now for the art – I did enjoy that. It’s very strong art with origins in the old comics I used to read. No wacky 80s influence of hair flowing every where and odd shaped “fit” people. Sure the people are fit and better than average but that’s what comics do make take the normal and teak it to be a bit more – lovely, grotesque, fit or whatever. This art does that. Can’t complain as a Wolvie fangurl for his nude sleeping scene nor do I take task for the overly endowed women. All are within range for me in comics, not too extreme. As for the coloring there were a few times things looked a bit too ‘shiny’ or over highlighted for me. That’s just being picky, and it wasn’t something that bothered me or kicked me out of the story. So Cudos for the art team if only you’d had a decent story to illustrate.

You know what’s next – a few scans that may be spoilery so you’ve been warned

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January 3, 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
Are your Black Eyed Peas Cookin’?

Black Eyed Peas by mfhiatt on Flickr. Used under the granted Creative Commons 2.0 No Commercial, Share Alike, Attribution license granted.

There are traditions in areas of the country that don’t translate nationally. Just like there are words that are regional – a knit cap can be a toboggan, toque (my favorite word for it), bob hat, sock cap, tossle, cora cap, stocking hat, or beanie all depending on where you are in the US. I’ve enjoyed adopting various traditions of areas we have lived.

One that I was raised with was the tradition of black-eyed peas and hogs jowl for New Year’s Day meal. The tradition goes – if you keep count of how many black-eyed peas you eat that day each will turn into an extra dollar in your pocket the following year. Sadly, I could never keep count. Don’t freak out about hog jowl it’s just like a thick cut bacon. Honestly when I’ve needed a substitute living where that’s not a tradition I’ve gotten thick cut bacon and couldn’t tell the difference. So if you want you can do that.

Hoppin’ John with Mustard Greens by Morydd on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons 2.0 No Commercial use, No Derivatives, Attribution License

Mike had no traditional New Year’s Day food. Only tradition he had was to mock the other tradition my family had – watching the Rose Parade. Since I’ve married him, I’ve never watched a parade on TV in peace. Still I could make the traditional dinner for New Year;s Day and we’d toast the year in with champagne back when we stayed up to midnight.

Then we moved to Charleston and the traditional New Year’s Day meal was expanded. There it was Hoppin’ John you ate. That’s black eyed peas, rice, and salted pork. Debb over at Sunshine Factor posted a great recipe for the traditional meal. This was a more flavorful way to do the tradition than just beans and bacon. So I adopted Hoppin’ John and tweaked it to be a bit healthier – used lean cuts of ham or turkey ham, upped the veggies and enjoyed getting the fiber of the peas.

Actually we’ve had Hoppin’ John every year since. We’ve introduced people to the tradition complete with the challenge of counting peas for dollars in the new year. I have to say even the skeptics walked away Hoppin’ John lovers. It’s a tasty dish, that just fills you up and has almost a comfort food effect. I think we might have started a new tradition in a few homes along our moves since Charleston.

Hoppin’ John by Grace Fell on Flickr. Used under the Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution, Non-Commercial, Share Alike License granted.

Now Hoppin’ John is a beloved dish in the Low Country (Charleston area of South Carolina) much like She-Crab Soup and 7-Bean soup. It’s a warm meal and Charleston summers are very hot and humid (It’s said you shower in April and dry off in December). So making the beloved dish in the hot summer doesn’t suit. However, when we lived there the morning newspaper in Charleston (then they had two) solved the problem by posting a Hoppin’ John Salad recipe for the summer months -a cool tasty dish based on the beloved recipe. I make it every summer and we enjoy the heck out of it. It’s become a tradition at our house for cook outs in the summer months. Since Debb shared the basic Hoppin John I’ll share the salad…

HOPPIN’ JOHN SALAD

2 cans (14.5 oz each ) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 cup uncooked long grain rice

1 can (15 to 16 oz) black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1 cup diced red and/or yellow bell pepper

1 cup thinly sliced celery

3/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

1/2 cup herb or Italian vinaigrette salad dressing

In a medium saucepan, bring broth and 1/4 cup of water to a boil. Stir in the rice. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until rice is tender and all broth is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

In a very large mixing bowl combine black eyed peas, bell pepper, celery, and scallions. Add warm rice and vinaigrette. Stir gently to combine. Chill for 12 hours to allow for marination. Serve.

Yields 6 main dish servings or 10 side dish servings.

Now you’ve got two recipes for a New Year’s Tradition be you in a cold climate or a hot one. Let me tell you that Hoppin’ John has many variations – each home puts their own spin on the dish. The main core of it is a flavorful black eyed pea and rice dish usually with pork, but in some homes it’s not. I’d suggest taking the basic recipe to follow for the first time then add what you think would make it better for your family. True Southern Cooking isn’t about following recipes but instead about cooking flavorful dishes that vary from cook to cook. If you’ve ever been to a covered dish dinner south of the Mason Dixon you know what I’m talking about. There maybe four green beans there and each one is different and delicious. So customize! It’s expected. The recipe is only a starting guideline not an absolute this isn’t chemistry!

New Year’s Day Lunch 2009 – Traditional Hoppin’ John by Judy Baxter aka Old Shoe Woman on Flickr. Used under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution, Non Commercial, Share Alike License granted.

Now the question is how did it get its name? Honestly no one knows. The origin of the dish is American but there are strong African, French, and Caribbean roots to it. At least that’s what the food historians tell me and from tasting variations with pineapple and tomatoes in them I’d agree. Some forms definitely have a strong Creole flare. The tradition is the first man to hawk the dish in the streets of Charleston was a Freeman called Hoppin’ John due to his peg leg. Another tradition is that to share a meal the African family would tell you to Hop In and John is just the John Doe fill in for a name. Finally the last one I’ve heard is that children would hop around the table in anticipation of the tradition and to get the luck from it as it was served.

4.20.08 -Hungry Mohter- cornbread, hoppin’ john, collards, grits by NoDame on Flickr. Used under the Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution, non Commercial, Share Alike License granted.

Ahh the luck – I’ve shared my family’s tradition of counting the beans. Another variation is to serve it with greens (Collard, mustard, turnip doesn’t matter) and the more you eat of greens with the beans the more greenback and coins you’ll get in the new year. Still another tradition that’s more toward Louisiana than South Carolina is placing a shiny dime in the dish. Whoever gets the dime in their serving gets the best luck in the New Year. No matter if you count beans, eat greens, hide a dime, or just eat Hoppin’ John it’s said to bring good luck for the year. So I figure what’s the harm the new year can use all the luck it can get and I love seasoned beans and rice!

Ours this year will be vegetarian but served with greens, cornbread, and thick cut bacon. Pictures will be posted at Flickr, G+ and thus feed to Twitter and Facebook. So keep an eye out for our good luck!

Until next time!

December 31, 2012