I've been Prey-ed upon

Okay, so my oldest needed a book to do a report on. I sucked in my gut and grabbed my wallet and headed to the library. Yeah. You know that thing called a "overdue fine"? Well, even if you don't check out a book for three years, you still have to pay the fine.

Fifteen dollars poorer, Matt and I left the library with three books. One was Michael Crichton's PREY.

1) I really enjoyed the story. Great plot. Fabulous hero.

2) Despite how much I enjoyed the story, at times I felt like I was reading a screenplay. Why? Lots of dialogue and not much setting, sensory, or character details. In fact, instead of being in a fictional dream, I...well, it was as if I was seeing soundbites from a movie in my head. The book wasn't a book. It's a potential movie.

3) I have no problem with writing a book for the purpose of it being made into a movie. You can bet I'd go see this one. But I'm not too keen on reading a movie. Years ago, I watched THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST with William Hurt and Geena Davis. Great movie yet everytime I've read the book since then, I don't see those actors in my head. The book is it's own species. Over Christmas, I read Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. I couldn't stop seeing Keira Knightly in my head. She IS/WAS Elizabeth. Honestly, why waste your time reading the book when the movie encapsulates (did I spell that right?) all the good stuff from the book.

I feel the need for a movie. And I need to finsh the laundry.

My favorite day of the week

I love Thursdays.

Shall I count the ways?

Smallville.
Lost.
Green Lantern. Yes, tonight, he's back!
Jack.
The every brilliant Chloe.
The every industrious Kate (loved how she stole the walkie-talkie)
Getting the opportunity to hate Lex yet can't
Getting the opportunty to hate Ben and can
Wishing Lana had the spunk Lois does
Wishing Sayid had a bigger story line
Wishing Clark would figure out Lana isn't his future
Wishing I could figure out...nawh, I don't want to figure any Lost mysteries, not yet

Blabbing Standards

I admire folks who can review books. Saying something nice when there's not much nice to say...wow. Then again, I suppose not everyone is as picky about books as I am.

Did you see how I used "folks"?

My oldest wrote an essay for his application to the Math and Science Center at the HS he wants to attend next year. Well, he used "people" three times in a paragraph, so I suggested he vary his word choice.

"What about folks?"

"Folks? Mom, no normal person says folks."

"Well, I use it."

"Case in point."

"Fine, but you can't keep using people. Doing so make dull writing."

"Change it to homo sapiens of the personable kind."

"That's my boy."

I'm telling ya, he's going to win over the selection committee with that one phrase.
While I wasn't too impressed with those four books I read, I haven't discounted the publisher as one of my preferred ones. They're reputable. They have nice covers.

Runny noses and whining

As I sit her on the sofa blowing my nose and waiting for the medicine to kick in, my dog (his name is DOG, pronounced Dee Oh Gee) keeps whining. Why? He's already wizzed in the front yard. And I took him on a walk in the car as I drove the middle two critters to school. Yes, I know walking the dog is more effective if the dog is actually walking along with you instead of you driving the car, but somethings a gal has to do what a gal has to do.

Occasionally, DOG hops down from the ottoman and cleans the window with his nose. All the while, he whines.

Doesn't matter if the whining comes from me, my kids, other people, or the dog, whining is taxing. Really, what good does whining do? Okay, I freely admit I like whining about how crappy I'm feeling when I'm sick, but it's justifiable whining because it's merely there to elicit sympathy from others.

Hmm. Just dawned on me that the only ones here at home to whine to are my 11-month-old, my four-year-old (both still sleeping), and DOG. Well, the stupid cat might be here too, but if I acknowledge she's really here, then I might feel guilty enough to feed her. It has been a day or three since I last saw food in her bowl. But she's on a diet so she doesn't need to eat every day, and I'm doing my best to help her reach her target weight. See how loving I am.

No one likes whining so why do we do it?

I figure it's because we're infected with Bill Belichek-itis. Oh, woe is me. Why can't you people realize I'm a god and deserve your adulation?

Last night over dinner, my oldest son said, "Cheaters never win."

What's up with stupidology?

Cheaters do win sometimes. See New England Patriots 2007 season.

Cheaters also are exposed for the frauds they are. Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds. Marion Jones. Justin Gatlin.

I don't mind listening to my writer friends whine about how discouraging getting published can be because I care about them and empathize with their feeling. I despise listening to cheaters whine.

Life is hard, but God is good.

Now excuse me while I go blow my nose again as I'm ignoring the cat's mews. She's really not hungry despite what you may be thinking. What's she's really saying is put me outside so I can go job around the block so I can lose this winter blubber.