Cats, Dogs, Snow, and New Releases

Happy Hump Day

Yesterday it was 70 degrees in Dayton. The sidewalks were full of people walking, jogging, strolling with their dogs. My tulips and daffodils are up about four inches and many of the early blooming shrubs have new buds.

Right now it's snowing. Hard. Big fat flakes. With high winds and a projected low tonight of six degrees.

I think Mother Nature is seriously annoyed with us.

However, I have something good to celebrate today. The release of blog friend Stephen Tremp's new book -

ESCALATION

 The Adventures of Chase Manhattan

Don't you love this cover?

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones” - Albert Einstein. In Escalation, the final installment to Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Trilogy, a seemingly innocent discovery in Einstein-Rosen Bridges, or wormholes, becomes a Pandora’s Box—opening doors to other unexpected and unpredictable realities such as parallel universes, time/space travel, and an evil hitchhiker from another dimension.

 This is a book and a series you don't want to miss.

Now - on with our hump day funnies.

First, something for you cat lovers.

This is why I have a dog. (hee hee)

But at least cats catch mice:

 That helps, right?

And we dog people have problems, too.

Note to the Dogs:
I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It Is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space that you are taking up, is nothing but sarcasm.
 
Also, the proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Thank you.

Your Human

Time for your weekly "aw". 

 

 If that didn't get you, you've never rescued a friend.

 Are we there? Over the hump and sliding toward the weekend.

Wonderful!

(Did you have a favorite?) 

As I finish this, the temperature is still dropping and the wind has totally removed the dry leaves I piled around my new flowers this morning.

Sigh.

Oh, by the way, I do have my car back. Now I need a service call for my wallet.

 

Have a great week, everyone.

Quote for Today:

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying. ~ Rodney Dangerfield

I'm Back and Look What I've Got

Hi. Remember me?

Yes, it's been a while. I've been a bit incapacitated but I'm trying to get back into the blogging grove and hope to visit you all soon.

The past two months were a mixed bag for me. Lots of lost time on my writing and two missed conferences I'd been looking forward to attending but there were some high points I'm going to be sharing with you over the next few weeks.

First, though, I'm very happy to be getting back to blogging by being part of the cover reveal for Stephen Tremp's latest, ESCALATION. 

Isn't that a great cover.

Here's a bit about ESCALATION:

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones” - Albert Einstein 

In Escalation, the final installment to Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Trilogy, a seemingly innocent discovery in Einstein-Rosen Bridges, or wormholes, becomes a Pandora’s Box—opening doors to other unexpected and unpredictable realities such as parallel universes, time/space travel, and an evil hitchhiker from another dimension.

Chase Manhattan has survived attempts on his life from numerous sources in his effort to destroy the technology. But he is far from safe. Now Chase and his comrades must not only break world renowned physicist Professor Nicholas Fischer out of prison a second time, but also smuggle him across hostile borders in Europe and the Middle East to prevent events threatening to spiral into World War III.

At stake: an end to Western civilization as we know it. The result: an epic clash where science and the supernatural take center stage, vying for mankind’s destiny. The setting is global as the world divides into an East vs. West climactic battle. The action is swift, adrenaline-charged, and non-stop. Unending twists and turns will keep the reader turning pages and wanting more.

Together, Breakthrough, Opening, and Escalation follow the lives of the unlikely participants from innocence to a coming of age through sacrifice, betrayal, passion, lust, unconditional love, and hope. Escalation will appeal to fans of modern-day science fiction, action, and horror.  

I know I can't wait for this release. How about you?   

I'm going to try to get around and see everyone as soon as I can. If you stop by, please say hi so I'll know you haven't given up on me.

New Word of the Day:

Googleheimer's - [goo-gle-hei-mers], noun: condition in which you think of something you want to look up, then forget what it is by the time you get to the computer

Best and Worst Movie Remakes

Welcome to the 

BEST AND WORST MOVIE REMAKES BLOGFEST 

This blogfest comes to us courtesy of the Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh, with co-hosts Al Diaz, Livia Peterson, and Stephen Tremp. 

My first movie remake qualifies as a Best and a Worst.

The Best goes to the 1954 version of  A Star is Born staring Judy Garland. 

This was a remake of the 1937 version which starred Janet Gaynor.

 

 But a Worst goes to the 1976 version starring Barbra Streisand.

My second Best remake goes to Ocean's 11. 

I'm awarding this one not because the 1960 original was bad - it wasn't. In fact, I really like the Rat Pack version. 

But it's a lot harder for a remake to top a good original than a stinker and I think the 2001version did just that. 

 My second Worst remake award goes to Sabrina.

The 1954 original was a delightful romantic comedy starring 

Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden.

It was nominated for several Academy Awards and remains a favorite classic.

 

 

 

The 1995 version starred Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, and Greg Kinnear. 

I really expected to like this movie. I love romantic comedy and...well, it was Harrison Ford.  But the movie was flat, there was no chemistry between Ford and Ormond, and the whole thing was just a waste of two hours.

 

 

 

 

This last one isn't exactly a movie remake but I'm including it anyway. . 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a wonderful animated Christmas show based on the book by Dr. Seuss and perfectly narrated by the great Boris Karloff. 

It happens to be my favorite Christmas special and I watch it every year.

 

It DID NOT need to be made into a feature film vehicle for Jim Carrey.

 

 

Okay, those are my picks. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? What would be yours?

 

Hop around today and check out some of the other choices. 

To see the list of participating blogs, click here.

Joke of the Day:

My neighbor was working in his yard when a late model car came crashing through his hedge and ended up in his front lawn.

He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a lawn chair.

"Ma'am, forgive me, but you appear quite elderly to be driving."

"Well, yes, I am," she replied proudly. "I'll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough that I don't even need a driver's license anymore."

 

"You don't need one?" 

"Nope. The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver's license. I told him yes and handed it to him. He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the license into pieces, and threw them in the waste basket. Then he told me, 'You won't need this anymore.'  So I thanked him and I left!"