A sense of humor must be as individual as fingerprints.
I recently read a newspaper column where the columnist sang the praises of Lucille Ball and her zany humor. This guy considers Lucille the Queen Bee of funny. I’m going to admit to the world -- possibly igniting a riot of rage full including rotten, airborne vegetables -- and well you get the general idea…bad things may happen when I admit this.
Lucy leaves me mildly amused at best.
Get it out…let me help. “Boo! Hiss! You stink!”
I can’t help it. I’ve watched Lucy. I’ve even laughed at Lucy, but she just doesn’t do it for me.
While I’m attacking American Institutions…I don’t like “Love Is…” or “Marmaduke” or “Family Circus.” I detest “Nancy” and “Blondie” annoys me.
I do have Dilbert strips stuck on my refrigerator. I’ve purchased Far Side t-shirts, and Calvin and Hobbes books. Not all of them leave me rolling on the floor, but the ones that do become instant laugh-pump primers and put me in the laughing mood.
I love Dilbert’s Wally. “Robotman” had a series on Fleshy the hairless cat that almost always killed me.
I appreciate clever plays on words and twisted thoughts, and some great physical humor.
Three Stooges – some, but it gets too painful.
Just give me a great tumble so I can savor it. Movies…ahhh. Some day I’d love to get a DVD of hilarious moments in cinema. It would include the Ruperick scenes from “Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels” the taxi incidents, the ride up the escalator and the raccoon hug scene from “Elf.” I’d include the scream scene from “Elizabethtown” and all the dirt bike trips from “Nacho Libre.” The DVD wouldn’t be complete without one-line snippets from “Napoleon Dynamite,” “What About Bob?” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “The Three Amigos.” Mockumentaries?…oh, now you’re talking.
I’m just getting started. What would you include in your Best Highlights of Humor DVD?
Monday, April 16, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Serials and Scenarios - Brandilyn Collins - Pointed (gulp)
So what does it feel like to be threatened by one of the leading Christian suspense writers? Scary. If anything happens to me...well I think you might know the first place to look.
My questions in red her threats (I mean answers) in blue.
Fiction character you would most like to be or most identify with and why?
Snoopy. He’s cool. Although he never got a manuscript accepted, so maybe I’d better rethink this one…
If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question -- what question would you ask of whom?
How about a question my son asked me when he was five: “How do dogs get any privacy?”
Some out there in writing land have strange rituals. Share yours.
I talk to myself and my characters. Although for a novelist, this is actually quite normal.
Scary, isn’t it.
Pick one…..Pink iguana, purple cow, periwinkle giraffe. Which one and why? Can be negative or positive.
Iguanas are ugly in any color. A purple cow’s too common. (Well, there IS a poem about one.) A periwinkle giraffe would be way cool.
Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.
“I do not know how the suns and worlds are turned. I only see how men will plague themselves.” Mephistopheles, in Goethe’s Faust.
What a perfect description of Satan. I used this phrase in Coral Moon.
If you were assured of writing a best-seller, what genre would it be? Give us a sliver of information, a characteristic or glimpse of a scene.
Seatbelt Suspense, of course.
As for a glimpse—uh-uh. Then I’d have to kill you.
What period of history intrigues you the most?
Now. Although I suppose now’s not history. It’s, well…now. Although now will be history tomorrow. So how about if I write about now tomorrow? Only tomorrow, now will still be now…
Oh, dear. I have just got my knickers in a twist.
What makes you feel alive?
A heartbeat’s a good start.
How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?
I’m still stuck on the “worm into the heart” visual.
Hm. Could be an interesting way to kill somebody off …
Favorite season and why?
Summer. In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Why? It’s paradise.
Superhero you most admire and why?
My husband, for reasons too numerous to list.
Super power you'd love to borrow for awhile?
Flying. I’ve done this in my dreams a few times. It’s awesome.
Favorite chore
Is this a trick question?
Anything you'd do but don't because of fear of pain? What is it? Ex. Bungee jumping, sky diving, running with scissors.
I will never snowmobile again. I will never snowmobile again. I will never snowmobile again. I will never…
Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.
All the folks who say “For you and I.” Everybody does this now. Agh! Even writers. Even preachers and teachers and speakers—people who oughtta know better.
Societal pet peeve…sound off.
Poor customer service.
Thanks Brandilyn. Happy Friday the 13th, everyone.
My questions in red her threats (I mean answers) in blue.
Fiction character you would most like to be or most identify with and why?
Snoopy. He’s cool. Although he never got a manuscript accepted, so maybe I’d better rethink this one…
If you could ask any person, living or dead, a random question -- what question would you ask of whom?
How about a question my son asked me when he was five: “How do dogs get any privacy?”
Some out there in writing land have strange rituals. Share yours.
I talk to myself and my characters. Although for a novelist, this is actually quite normal.
Scary, isn’t it.
Pick one…..Pink iguana, purple cow, periwinkle giraffe. Which one and why? Can be negative or positive.
Iguanas are ugly in any color. A purple cow’s too common. (Well, there IS a poem about one.) A periwinkle giraffe would be way cool.
Favorite turn of phrase or word picture, in literature or movie.
“I do not know how the suns and worlds are turned. I only see how men will plague themselves.” Mephistopheles, in Goethe’s Faust.
What a perfect description of Satan. I used this phrase in Coral Moon.
If you were assured of writing a best-seller, what genre would it be? Give us a sliver of information, a characteristic or glimpse of a scene.
Seatbelt Suspense, of course.
As for a glimpse—uh-uh. Then I’d have to kill you.
What period of history intrigues you the most?
Now. Although I suppose now’s not history. It’s, well…now. Although now will be history tomorrow. So how about if I write about now tomorrow? Only tomorrow, now will still be now…
Oh, dear. I have just got my knickers in a twist.
What makes you feel alive?
A heartbeat’s a good start.
How does something worm its way into your heart? Through tears, truth, humor or other?
I’m still stuck on the “worm into the heart” visual.
Hm. Could be an interesting way to kill somebody off …
Favorite season and why?
Summer. In Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Why? It’s paradise.
Superhero you most admire and why?
My husband, for reasons too numerous to list.
Super power you'd love to borrow for awhile?
Flying. I’ve done this in my dreams a few times. It’s awesome.
Favorite chore
Is this a trick question?
Anything you'd do but don't because of fear of pain? What is it? Ex. Bungee jumping, sky diving, running with scissors.
I will never snowmobile again. I will never snowmobile again. I will never snowmobile again. I will never…
Grammatical pet peeve…sound off.
All the folks who say “For you and I.” Everybody does this now. Agh! Even writers. Even preachers and teachers and speakers—people who oughtta know better.
Societal pet peeve…sound off.
Poor customer service.
Thanks Brandilyn. Happy Friday the 13th, everyone.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Serials and Scenarios - Coral Moon
Appropriately, the author interview will post tomorrow, Friday the 13th. Could it get any better for the queen of seatbelt suspense...wait til you see her answers. shudder. Buckle up and check out Coral Moon.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310252245
Brandilyn Collins is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Web Of Lies, Dead of Night, Stain of Guilt, Brink of Death, and Eyes of Elisha just to name a few.Brandilyn and her family divide their time between the California Bay Area and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.She also maintains an informative blog called Forensics and Faith where she daily dispenses wisdom on writing, life, and the Christian book industry.
Review:
Kanner Lake....don't really want to visit, but I sure am enjoying reading about the place. Sounds beautiful, homey, like a slice of traditional America....except for the murders.
Nothing like a little murder to totally twist a sweet little tourist spot into a mutated pretzel of doom.
At least poor Paige gets to sit this one out. Well kind of. She's at least got other things to think about than the body she found in her hot tub. Hint...a certain handsome.
Oops don't want to spoil the story.
Bottom line, if you love Collins stuff, you'll find much to like in Coral Moon. This is her best yet. Plenty of gruesome and twisted creepiness to keep the suspense fans whipping through the pages, and lots of down home sweet and charming characters. Most of them anyway.
Well done. Quick read. Great story. Might want to read it in the full on sunshine. After dark...trust me, you don't want to go there.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310252245
Brandilyn Collins is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Web Of Lies, Dead of Night, Stain of Guilt, Brink of Death, and Eyes of Elisha just to name a few.Brandilyn and her family divide their time between the California Bay Area and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.She also maintains an informative blog called Forensics and Faith where she daily dispenses wisdom on writing, life, and the Christian book industry.
Review:
Kanner Lake....don't really want to visit, but I sure am enjoying reading about the place. Sounds beautiful, homey, like a slice of traditional America....except for the murders.
Nothing like a little murder to totally twist a sweet little tourist spot into a mutated pretzel of doom.
At least poor Paige gets to sit this one out. Well kind of. She's at least got other things to think about than the body she found in her hot tub. Hint...a certain handsome.
Oops don't want to spoil the story.
Bottom line, if you love Collins stuff, you'll find much to like in Coral Moon. This is her best yet. Plenty of gruesome and twisted creepiness to keep the suspense fans whipping through the pages, and lots of down home sweet and charming characters. Most of them anyway.
Well done. Quick read. Great story. Might want to read it in the full on sunshine. After dark...trust me, you don't want to go there.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Scribbles and Scrambles - Going, Going, Gone...
Is it dead?
chiv·al·ry (sh v l-r )
n. pl. chiv·al·ries
1. The medieval system, principles, and customs of knighthood.
2.
a. The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.
b. A manifestation of any of these qualities.
3. A group of knights or gallant gentlemen.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chivalry
A few recent incidents have morphed into a monster sized question.
I’ve mentioned the whole cell phone in the public restroom thing before. Ewww.
Apparently, cell phone etiquette is not being taught. I suppose text-messaging “socially acceptable cell phone usage” tips is out of the question. Verizon, Qwest, Sprint – feel free to use my idea.
My co-worker shared her frustration over standing in line at a department store counter as a woman tried to return an item while multi-tasking by talking on her cell phone. The cashier had to interrupt her conversation four times before the woman exploded, hung-up, dealt with the transaction and stormed from the store.
Hmmm. The weighty word “hello” comes to mind.
I hate to judge, but I often overhear cell phone conversations. Generally they resemble something like this.
“Hey.”
“Yeah, I’m bored.”
“Did you see American Idol?”
“*#%*$! Me too. I can’t believe it.”
Now that we have the Bluetooth technology with ear pieces, communication has hit a new level.
Have you carried on a conversation with someone who is talking to the voice in his or her head yet? That’s fun. Something to look forward to.
This morning I practiced a bit of reverse chivalry – it was either that or becoming one with the carpet. Three healthy, seemingly in their right mind and moderately intelligent young men filled a hallway as they walked toward me. Kind of like a football offensive line. I ducked into a doorway. Maybe they were practicing for the annual running of the bulls’ festival. Or I might have donned my invisibility cloak instead of my jacket this morning. I was a little fuzzy when I left the house.
Sigh.
Okay, so which is a dying art? Chivalry, courtesy or common sense?
chiv·al·ry (sh v l-r )
n. pl. chiv·al·ries
1. The medieval system, principles, and customs of knighthood.
2.
a. The qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women.
b. A manifestation of any of these qualities.
3. A group of knights or gallant gentlemen.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chivalry
A few recent incidents have morphed into a monster sized question.
I’ve mentioned the whole cell phone in the public restroom thing before. Ewww.
Apparently, cell phone etiquette is not being taught. I suppose text-messaging “socially acceptable cell phone usage” tips is out of the question. Verizon, Qwest, Sprint – feel free to use my idea.
My co-worker shared her frustration over standing in line at a department store counter as a woman tried to return an item while multi-tasking by talking on her cell phone. The cashier had to interrupt her conversation four times before the woman exploded, hung-up, dealt with the transaction and stormed from the store.
Hmmm. The weighty word “hello” comes to mind.
I hate to judge, but I often overhear cell phone conversations. Generally they resemble something like this.
“Hey.”
“Yeah, I’m bored.”
“Did you see American Idol?”
“*#%*$! Me too. I can’t believe it.”
Now that we have the Bluetooth technology with ear pieces, communication has hit a new level.
Have you carried on a conversation with someone who is talking to the voice in his or her head yet? That’s fun. Something to look forward to.
This morning I practiced a bit of reverse chivalry – it was either that or becoming one with the carpet. Three healthy, seemingly in their right mind and moderately intelligent young men filled a hallway as they walked toward me. Kind of like a football offensive line. I ducked into a doorway. Maybe they were practicing for the annual running of the bulls’ festival. Or I might have donned my invisibility cloak instead of my jacket this morning. I was a little fuzzy when I left the house.
Sigh.
Okay, so which is a dying art? Chivalry, courtesy or common sense?
Monday, April 09, 2007
Scribbles and Scrambles - Holiday Snippets
For the want of anything of value – let me ramble on about nothing. Maybe something will gel, fall out and bounce off the floor. Then if it does, I can pick it up and run with it.
Conversations yesterday with my fabulous family and friends netted some tiny fragments of ideas that could be twisted and misaligned into possible entertaining anecdotes for your perusal.
The idea for a deaconess cart was brought up at church – it quickly went downhill from there and now the entire deaconess committee is hoping to get a golf cart aka the deac-mobil to transport communion supplies back and forth. Yes, I agree. This is a sad picture of American Christianity. But did that stop me from participating in the banter? And I am not going to enter the debate or conversation regarding the title – deaconess. Let me just say that our denomination does not use pom-poms or lead cheers.
Speaking of gluttony – served with three full meals yesterday. And as my insane F and F are wont to do, we found a different twist on the whole “a starving child in a ____________ (insert third-world country here) would love to have what’s on your plate” guilt trip. One location served a tweak on the traditional ham…corned beef. A teen person left a chunk on her plate. Her father said. “Hey, there’s a starving Irishman who’d love to have that.” (Said person was Irish – so it’s okay to share – no comments about unfair comments).
Finally, conversation turned serious and even a little sinister as a cousin shared a recent hunt for art. His hair-stylist has great paintings on his walls. Cousin asked where they’d come from. The stylist looked both ways, leaned in close, and whispered. “I’ll tell you sometime.”
Weeks – maybe even months (I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the real details) my cousin received a cryptic phone call. “This is Agent X, (okay, it was really the stylist’s name – but it was still weird) meet me at the unmarked warehouse on the waterfront. Park in the alley, walk around front.” They found the unmarked building and a man standing outside, he held six different leashed of six dogs who were in various stages of doing their doggy duty. The guy jerked his head toward the building…so they entered.
My cousin left with some sweet deals on original art, and the instructions to tell no one the location of the building.
Hey, I warned you.
If I don’t get targeted by Agent X – I’ll be seeing you around.
Conversations yesterday with my fabulous family and friends netted some tiny fragments of ideas that could be twisted and misaligned into possible entertaining anecdotes for your perusal.
The idea for a deaconess cart was brought up at church – it quickly went downhill from there and now the entire deaconess committee is hoping to get a golf cart aka the deac-mobil to transport communion supplies back and forth. Yes, I agree. This is a sad picture of American Christianity. But did that stop me from participating in the banter? And I am not going to enter the debate or conversation regarding the title – deaconess. Let me just say that our denomination does not use pom-poms or lead cheers.
Speaking of gluttony – served with three full meals yesterday. And as my insane F and F are wont to do, we found a different twist on the whole “a starving child in a ____________ (insert third-world country here) would love to have what’s on your plate” guilt trip. One location served a tweak on the traditional ham…corned beef. A teen person left a chunk on her plate. Her father said. “Hey, there’s a starving Irishman who’d love to have that.” (Said person was Irish – so it’s okay to share – no comments about unfair comments).
Finally, conversation turned serious and even a little sinister as a cousin shared a recent hunt for art. His hair-stylist has great paintings on his walls. Cousin asked where they’d come from. The stylist looked both ways, leaned in close, and whispered. “I’ll tell you sometime.”
Weeks – maybe even months (I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the real details) my cousin received a cryptic phone call. “This is Agent X, (okay, it was really the stylist’s name – but it was still weird) meet me at the unmarked warehouse on the waterfront. Park in the alley, walk around front.” They found the unmarked building and a man standing outside, he held six different leashed of six dogs who were in various stages of doing their doggy duty. The guy jerked his head toward the building…so they entered.
My cousin left with some sweet deals on original art, and the instructions to tell no one the location of the building.
Hey, I warned you.
If I don’t get targeted by Agent X – I’ll be seeing you around.
Friday, April 06, 2007
Serials and Scenarios - In High Places
In High Places : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764203460
Tom Morrissey: http://www.tommorrisey.com/
The Review:
I didn't know what to expect when I cracked open "In High Places."
Would it be a traditional action-packed guy type of read, or would I find something to take with me?
The cover hinted that I might find some richness, and depth, so I took a deep breath and opened it.
From the first paragraph I was pulled into a world of stark beauty and unforgiving landscape. I didn't expect to get as involved with the characters in this novel as I did, and I'm glad I invested the time and heart into their story.
This is not a plot-driven, adrenaline-adventure as much as a character study. Yet it is a fast-paced read because of the constant tension. There was no place that I wanted to set the book down, and I ended up reading late into the night several nights in a row.
From the detailed teaching, and interweaving of mountain climbing techniques and tools, to the richness of relationships, to the agony and ecstasy of the human condition, I was sucked in.
This is a novel for readers who want to savor story.
Tom Morrissey took me to mountaintops and taught me things I never knew I wanted to know.
I'm not into techie stuff, most of it leaves me cold, but Morrissey has done an amazing job of throwing in enough technical jargon and details to make his story crackle with intensity and foreshadowing.
Some might be frustrated with the slightly slower pace of the literary style. If you hate literary, you might not enjoy this book, but then again, you might. Some will be disappointed at the reality of life and how it taints our hopes and expectations. If so, you may want to avoid reading this book that doesn't follow sit-com formatting.
If you want a beautifully penned, powerful story of redemption, one full of sadness, reality, pain and heart breaking starkness, then I believe this book will touch your soul.
I am a new fan. I intend to find his other novels and read them.
Tom Morrissey: http://www.tommorrisey.com/
The Review:
I didn't know what to expect when I cracked open "In High Places."
Would it be a traditional action-packed guy type of read, or would I find something to take with me?
The cover hinted that I might find some richness, and depth, so I took a deep breath and opened it.
From the first paragraph I was pulled into a world of stark beauty and unforgiving landscape. I didn't expect to get as involved with the characters in this novel as I did, and I'm glad I invested the time and heart into their story.
This is not a plot-driven, adrenaline-adventure as much as a character study. Yet it is a fast-paced read because of the constant tension. There was no place that I wanted to set the book down, and I ended up reading late into the night several nights in a row.
From the detailed teaching, and interweaving of mountain climbing techniques and tools, to the richness of relationships, to the agony and ecstasy of the human condition, I was sucked in.
This is a novel for readers who want to savor story.
Tom Morrissey took me to mountaintops and taught me things I never knew I wanted to know.
I'm not into techie stuff, most of it leaves me cold, but Morrissey has done an amazing job of throwing in enough technical jargon and details to make his story crackle with intensity and foreshadowing.
Some might be frustrated with the slightly slower pace of the literary style. If you hate literary, you might not enjoy this book, but then again, you might. Some will be disappointed at the reality of life and how it taints our hopes and expectations. If so, you may want to avoid reading this book that doesn't follow sit-com formatting.
If you want a beautifully penned, powerful story of redemption, one full of sadness, reality, pain and heart breaking starkness, then I believe this book will touch your soul.
I am a new fan. I intend to find his other novels and read them.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Scribbles and Scrambles - Throwing Hair
A random thought occurred to me around 7:10 a.m. this morning.
This is a near miracle in itself. Rarely, am I awake enough at 7:10 a.m. to experience anything resembling a clear epiphany.
Would I go so far to call this an epiphany? Ha.
That would be a “no” for the uninitiated to the way my gray matter ebbs and flows.
Ready?
You sure? Because not only is it rich, it is pre-coffee.
Porcupines must really throw their quills. I believe this because I have been victimized by the art of small hair throwing mammals.
As I struggled to consciousness this morning, nearly twenty minutes after getting dressed and smearing makeup in the proper spots, I realized the calico had made a mattress of my body.
I wore black. Had the creature on my lap been black, I wouldn’t have coaxed it gently off of me. But calico is yet another story. Carefully, I pushed and prodded, hoping not to startle it as one would hope to avoid startling a skunk. With a yawn, and dirty look such as only a cat can muster, she stretched and jumped to the floor.
There, in the brief airborne split-second, she released a cloud of orange and white hairs which beelined for my black and immediately wove themselves into the fiber of my clothing. Did I see a single black cat hair? No.
See what I mean?
And we call them dumb animals!
Beware of small creatures throwing anything. Our local zoo houses a gorilla that amuses itself by throwing …ugh…never mind.
This is a near miracle in itself. Rarely, am I awake enough at 7:10 a.m. to experience anything resembling a clear epiphany.
Would I go so far to call this an epiphany? Ha.
That would be a “no” for the uninitiated to the way my gray matter ebbs and flows.
Ready?
You sure? Because not only is it rich, it is pre-coffee.
Porcupines must really throw their quills. I believe this because I have been victimized by the art of small hair throwing mammals.
As I struggled to consciousness this morning, nearly twenty minutes after getting dressed and smearing makeup in the proper spots, I realized the calico had made a mattress of my body.
I wore black. Had the creature on my lap been black, I wouldn’t have coaxed it gently off of me. But calico is yet another story. Carefully, I pushed and prodded, hoping not to startle it as one would hope to avoid startling a skunk. With a yawn, and dirty look such as only a cat can muster, she stretched and jumped to the floor.
There, in the brief airborne split-second, she released a cloud of orange and white hairs which beelined for my black and immediately wove themselves into the fiber of my clothing. Did I see a single black cat hair? No.
See what I mean?
And we call them dumb animals!
Beware of small creatures throwing anything. Our local zoo houses a gorilla that amuses itself by throwing …ugh…never mind.
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