For those of my readers who get hot under the collar because the local stores have full-blown Christmas displays beginning in late August, stop reading now!
For those of you who decided to stick with me, Christmas spirit has come. One radio station in the major market in which I live started playing all Christmas, all the time last Friday. This doesn't bother me as it does some, simply because I'm a Christmas Junkie--I love (almost) all Christmas junk (whether it's really junk or the real thing). I cry over showings of It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas.
[aside] My only beef with the radio playing so much Seasonal music is that on the day they started I hear the Euthrythmics' version of "Winter Wonderland" twice in the same day. If you're going to play all Christmas format, there is enough material out there that you don't have to repeat the same song (let alone the same version of a song) more than once in a 24-hour period. [aside over]
Anyway, for all of you but Bill Crider, who might take offense at the crocodile line, here's a little Christmas cheer:
I really missed it this year. "Talk Like a Pirate Day" is September 19th, and I was so busy, I forgot to celebrate. So, in honor of Columbus Day, and for those of you who want your pirate fix, I'll let these guys tell you why I missed it:
And I hope not to let it happen again (or else, I guess I'll walk the plank).
As the Cardinals look toward another shot at the title (at least they made the play-offs again), Puddin 'N Pie brought home this pencil drawing from her 2nd grade art class.I call it "Bush Stateyum" -- Enjoy!
So, if it was Christmas Eve a couple of days ago for Sci-Fi Wonder Boy Henry Melton, then it felt like Christmas for me today when I opened up the mail and found this . . . (see picture)
Melton is one of those authors who, when one of his novels finds its way into my grubby little mitts, I set aside all my other leisure reading to devour his latest. I suspect that there will be a review up at Book 'Em Benj-O within a couple of weeks. Until then, check out the interview I did with Henry when he won another award. If you haven't read one of Melton's books, pick any one, they're all winners in my book.
Update: 10/08/09 -- Review now available (click the link above).
It's been awhile since the word police reared its ugly head, but I just couldn't take it any longer. I saw it again today on a blog where the author should know better. What was it, you ask? That bear of a usage error known as "less." The word "less" is a quantitative amount, and not a numeric register. In other words you can have less water or less money, but you cannot have less dollars.
The culprit this time happened to be a book reviewer who suggests that one should rate a book that they are reading with "5 or less stars."
Of course, this is just another of those things that for no particular reason gets to me, but when reviewing, and using a five-point scale, you should rate with 5 or fewer stars.
Then you'll be interested in Charles Ardai's Hard Case Crime. I've read a couple of selections from this publisher and find them very satisfying escape novels. Also, check out their Twitter drawing for ARCs of upcoming releases.
It's hard for me to believe that I found this before it made it to Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine (so I probably just overlooked it there [update: as I suspected, Bill was up on this story when it first came out--see the comments section]), but the Blushing Bride alerted me to the release of a new Robin Hood film starring Russell Crowe. Interestingly enough, Crowe seems to be taking his role as the outlaw of Sherwood Forest seriously. Read about it here.
First we had Gladiator which skyrocketed Crowe into the hearts of a majority of American women; then there was Master and Commander (Gladiator on the High Seas as I have affectionately dubbed it); now I guess we'll be treated to Gladiator in the Big Woods. Schedule for release is claimed for 2010. You be the judge.
I thought perhaps many of my readers missed the blatant beg for a new Slush Mug in my last post, so here's a vintage clip that shows why they are so great. Aside from the cool bike with the banana seat in the opening scene this is just kewl!
Like most awards in the world of blog, the Deer Cupcake Award is really another disguise for the dreaded meme. But I won one!!! So, what else could I do but participate (thanks to my e-friend David Kirk over at Frogtown for the acknowledgement). And here are the rules for accepting this prestigious honor:
I must answer all the following questions on this blog,
I must replace one question I dislike with a question of mine own invention,
and then I must add one additional question. Eventually, some poor blogger, who seeks to accept this award, will wind up having to answer a hundred questions, huh? But not today!
And heeeeeere we go--
1). What is your current obsession? Usage—it’s been an obsession for a long time. It’s why I occasionally include the “Word Police” category on this blog. It’s also why I get aggravated with big house publishers who should know better but crank out books full of those pesky typos that were missed by the spell/grammar check software since all the line editors were “let go” for financial reasons. So much for integrity.
2). Where are you right now? Mulberry Grove—look it up. 3). Coffee or tea? Depends on the mood: coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon . . . unless we’re talking about ice cream.
4).What’s one of your favorite movies? All-time: It’s a Wonderful Life (no secret with my love of Christmas) – but recently I was really moved by Fireproof.
5). What’s one thing you’re looking forward to? Pastors & Wives retreat with my Blushing Bride—in Branson!!!! Thanks for keeping the kids Mom & Dad!
6). Who was your childhood crush? I remember Mary Ann was so much more beautiful than Ginger.
7). What is your (current) favorite Song? The old hymns “Fairest Lord Jesus” and “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting”.
8). What would you like to get rid of? 15 pesky pounds, but they just act as if they’re here to stay.
9). What’s your favorite book? Grisham’s A Time to Kill. It’s his first, but still his best.
10). Why did you start your blog? I needed an outlet to write. I then started a more ministry-related blog, and finally started my book review blog (check them out).
11). If money was not an issue, what is one thing you would purchase for yourself? A big, big house—part of which would be my family’s living space, part of which would house a quiet study with all the latest equipment and books for me to do some serious writing, and part of which would be home to the best used bookstore around.
12). If you could live in a foreign country, which one would you choose? Ukraine—specifically, Crimea . . . Been there, done that, would love to do it again.
13). What is one trait about yourself that you wish you could change? I have a tendency to procrastinate, but I’ll stop that tomorrow.
14). Chocolate of choice? Mocha-flavored Blue Bell
15). What is one thing you've changed your mind about in the last ten years?Dr Pepper (used to abhor the stuff, now I can’t get enough) 16). What is one thing you've changed your mind about in the last ten days?I know everything. Yes, I do. No, I don’t.
17) If you had to choose between books and movies and could only read or view one or the other the rest of your life, which would you choose? Books are imagination builders—movies, imagination binders. Which would you choose?
18) What’s something from your childhood that brings fond memories? Slush Mug! This was great fun--and now I find that you can still get one. If anyone is listening, I've got a birthday coming up! (Red or Blue is fine ;))
Congratulations to Kavya Shivashankar. The thirteen-year-old from Kansas who spelled all her words out in her hand as she spelled her way to the national championship this year.
I just received word from Lulu.com that my sermon collection, So, This Is Church, has been selected for listing in their new Amazon Marketplace program. What this means is that I'll get a little more exposure for that particular title, and perhaps more sales.
For the uninformed, So, This Is Church is a collection of sermons dealing with foundational issues of the local church and her practices. Chapters deal with the Foundation of the Church itself (Christ and His gospel), worship, evangelism, fellowship, and the like. Interested? Hop on over to Amazon.com and take a gander.
Issues with the program include a price hike to accommodate Amazon's cut and still ensure Lulu gets theirs and they can still produce the book with a tad leftover for me (the author/publisher). If you want the best price on the book, purchase it at my Lulu.com store. And have a great day.
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