Local Book Authors Sale

On March 16, my husband and I went to Salem to visit a sale of local book authors. I knew several of them and I like to support the local writers.

The event did not look to me to be well attended by the general public. Mostly I saw the authors standing around talking to one another. The event only ran for two hours, from 11 to 1, which I thought were strange hours anyway.

I didn't take a camera, but I did snap a few cellphone photos. (I still have an iPhone 5 (SE). Still works, I don't care if it's old.)

This is Dan Smith. He sold me a book called, "News,"
which is about a news reporter.

This is Bill, who teaches journalism at Radford, and a woman who 
writes true crime. You may have seen her on shows like 20/20 that
delve into these true crime things. I don't read true crime.

The author on the left, Jane Fenton, has a best-selling novel on Amazon called Repo Girl,
which I didn't buy there but I did purchase a copy for my Kindle. The woman on the
right had a book called, "42 Things to Do Before You Go," which is sort of
a bucket list of things to attempt before you off yourself. I bought that book.

Ken Conklin lives not far from me and wrote a book called "Norvel," which is about
a Black Olympic Medal winner from our county.

I didn't speak to this person, I don't know why. I just had the phone out
snapping pictures and this was one of them.

This is Ken Conklin and Amanda Cockrell. Amanda was one of my professors
at Hollins University when I was working on my masters degree. We have
been friends on Facebook a long time, too. She recognized me but I didn't
think she remembered much about me. That made me a little sad. But it has
been 10 years since I saw her, so that's ok.

 

Sunday Stealing

1. If you could witness any event from history, what would it be?

A. I would like see Queen Victoria take the throne.

2. What do you think about conspiracy theories?

A. Everyone is out to get me! How dare you ask such questions! Don't you know the government sees everything? I think they're silly and sad at the same time. This meme sums it up fairly well:

3. Do you like cartoons? Do you have /had a favorite one?

A. I used to like cartoons, but I haven't watched any in a long time. I liked Bugs Bunny when I was a youngster. What's up, Doc?

4. What did you most dislike in school?

A. I disliked the cliques that formed in the schools. Seems to be the way social groups evolve, though.

5. What sounds are in your opinion relaxing? The sound of the sea? Traffic? Vacuum cleaner? Combine harvester on the field? Some kind of music? Birds singing?

A. Music is more relaxing than most of those. Bird song can be relaxing sometimes, unless it's a murder of crows cawing. I sleep with white noise - the hum of an air purifier - because I hear the refrigerator and other appliances turning off and on if I don't. 

6. What was the last thing you read?

A. The last thing I read, besides these questions, was an article about the GOP budget proposal that would raise the retirement age to 69 and it would gut Medicare, too. It also makes it federal law that life begins at conception and does away with IVF. So, if you want to work until you drop dead and not be able to pay for your medical care while you're doing that, and you want your granddaughter with fertility issues to never have a baby, vote Republican.

7. What is one thing that has stumped you so hard you won't ever forget it?

A. How Hillary Clinton lost the election in 2016.

8. What are you interested in that most people aren’t?

A. Local government. The real local government, not the craziness that some people are trying to pass off as the local government.

9. What’s something you really resent paying for?

A. Electricity. I don't mind paying something for it, but it has bloomed in price in the last 10 years and nothing I do seems to bring the usage down. I think it should not be shareholder owned, as that runs up the prices. They worry more about paying their shareholders than keeping the trees cut back so you don't have outages. 

10. If you could choose a different time period and place to be born, when and where would it be?

A. I am happy with where I am now, although if I get to come back in the future, that's ok, too.

11. What's one question you would ask Superman?

A. If he has to use deodorant. I don't know if Kreptonians sweat while they're on Earth.

12. What's your favorite smell? What's your least favorite smell?

A. My favorite smell is my husband's chest after he has had a shower. My least favorite smell is a skunk.

13. How do you feel about cars becoming fully autonomous and having no steering wheel, breaks, or accelerators?

A. I don't think I will be driving one. I do not like the idea of something without a human mind behind it driving me around.

14. What are your favorite books and authors?

A. I read all sorts of things, so I don't really have favorites. Looking back over my "books I have read" list, which I started in 2006, I see a lot of Janet Evanovich, Debbie Macomber, Sue Grafton, Stuart Woods, David Sedaris, Neil Gaiman, Nora Roberts, David Baldacci, Louise Penny, Fanny Flagg, Naomi Novik, Kate DiCamillo, Juliet Marillier, Richard Paul Evans, Lois McMaster Bujold, Tamora Pierce, etc. Tolkien's books are the only ones I reread, although I have put Heather Cox Richardson's book back in my "to read" pile to reread because I think it deserves a second look.

15. Have you had a reading or palm reading done?

A. Yes. But it was a long time ago.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

AITA?

Generally, I do not post much on Facebook. I don't interact with many people even though I have hundreds of friends. I "like" things sometimes, and sometimes I put up a photo (usually one that also ends up on my blog), but I seldom comment.

This morning, an author I follow asked a question that went something like this: If you don't buy my book, would you mind telling me why?

A few people had answered, most having to do with money.

This author writes self-help books about a particularly traumatizing topic. I have never bought her book, but I have read articles she's written. I have followed her page for a long time (years), and never commented.

I thought about her question and decided to give an honest answer, and I admit this was hard for me to write, but it was the truth. "I haven't bought your book because I don't want to relive the things I have gone through."

The rest of this is paraphrased; you'll see why at the end.

A little later, I saw that she had responded thusly: "That's a false assessment."

This irritated me and I felt it was, well, cruel and certainly not empathetic. Who is she to tell me what may or may not trigger me when I'm dealing with something traumatic? I noted that one person had given my comment the little "cares" thing on Facebook and on the author's response, someone had put the little "wow" emoji.

I wrote back. "That's a really crappy answer to give to someone who is trying to be helpful to you. And don't bother blocking me because I'm unfollowing you."

I immediately unfollowed her, but because she responded back with my name, it popped up as something I could see if I clicked on the notice. I didn't realize that would happen. I don't have confrontations like this enough to know.

Anyway, I clicked to see what she'd written.

She wrote back: "A little touchy, aren't we? My book would teach you something. It's still a false assessment."

I wrote back: "You shouldn't ask questions if you don't want to know the answer."

She wrote back: "You sound just like the mean people I write about."

I wrote back: "Oh wow, good job! Insult and name calling all at the same time. Nice of you to let your readers see what you're really like. I'm done here. Peace to you."

And then I blocked her, so I wouldn't see if she responded anymore, and later I went back into my archives and deleted everything I'd commented, because I couldn't go to her page since I'd blocked her.

Which is why I had to paraphrase this entire conversation, because I blocked her and then deleted my comments.

Was I in the wrong here, to take offense at her lack of sensitivity, when she's a self-help author writing about a sensitive topic?

Saturday 9: Got the Money

Saturday 9: If You've Got the Money (1950)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this week's song, Lefty Frizzell is eager to go out on the town and hit all the night spots. What are your plans for the weekend?

A. I may go listen to an author talk at the library, but it depends on the weather. We have lots of rain and wind in the forecast. Also, if Virginia Tech wins in the women's basketball game today, then I will watch their next game.

2) He tells his girl he'd rather ride in her Cadillac than his old car. Back in the 1950s, Caddys were quite the status symbol. Lefty bought a white one with the profits from this record. Elvis also had a fondness for Cadillacs and preferred pink. Have you ever owned a Cadillac?

A. I have never owned a Cadillac. My father has, though.

3) Lefty was a big deal in Big Spring, TX. He was a popular attraction at local bars, a favorite among oil workers who liked to unwind by listening to live music. How do you relax after a tough day?

A. I take a hot shower and read a book.

4) This was Lefty's first hit. He wrote "If You've Got the Money" and recorded a demo for producer Jim Beck to play for established singers. When no one else wanted to record it, Beck decided to give Lefty a shot. The result was a million seller that spent 22 weeks on the country charts. Tell us about someone who took a chance on you.

A. In 1984, the owner of the local weekly hired a new editor. I popped in and asked if I could write stories for him. In October 1984, my very first article, "Making Shiloh Apple Butter," appeared in the paper, and I've been writing stuff since. If the new editor hadn't agreed to let me write, I wonder what would have happened to me? 

5) After this record became a hit, success came quickly to Lefty, perhaps too fast. He signed conflicting contracts with promoters and managers which resulted in lawsuits. Have you recently consulted a lawyer or had a document notarized?

A. Not recently, no.

6) This song hit number one on the country charts twice: first this version and then in 1976 by Willie Nelson. Do you have a favorite Willie Nelson song?

A. Not really. He wrote "Crazy" which is a good song.

7) In 1950, when this song was popular, Americans began using credit cards. Do you pay with a credit card to get rewards? If yes, what rewards are you accumulating (cash back, airline miles, etc.)? 

A. I accumulate cash back. I usually let it build up and then use it over the holidays.

8) Also in 1950, Sears Roebuck and Co. acknowledged a major spike in catalog sales and took the unusual move of devoting the cover of their Spring/Summer catalog to their "satisfaction guarantee." This was meant to allay the fear of customers uncomfortable with ordering by mail instead of buying in person. 74 years later, Amazon delivers more than 3 million packages every day. Would you rather check out a product yourself in a store, or do you prefer the convenience of ordering from home?

A. It depends on the product. I would rather see furniture in person, for example. I'd also rather try on clothes before I buy them. Things like books or pots and pans and such I don't mind ordering online.

9) Random question -- You're singing along with the car radio to your favorite song when you reach your destination. Do you wait until your song is over to get out of the car?

A. I generally wait until the song finishes. I do the same thing with an audiobook. I used to sit in the garage until the end of the chapter, back when I was using CDs to listen to audiobooks instead of my cellphone.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

A Tribute to an Uncle

Last week we visited the Salem Museum. As we walked along the brick-lined entrance, we started reading names on the bricks.

Imagine our surprise when we found my husband's uncle's name on one of the bricks!

Uncle Dale was a long-time coach at Salem High School. Dale Foster is known for his long-standing role at Salem High School in Salem, Virginia. He served as the athletic director before moving to an assistant principal position at Andrew Lewis Middle School.

We don't know who put the brick in, whether it was family or students who remember Uncle Dale. But it was cool to find, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

I have been watching the eagles nest at Big Bear Valley for a while now. The two eagles there, named Jackie (female) and Shadow (male), had a clutch of three eggs, which I understand is somewhat rare. They usually only have two eggs per year. These two eagles usually lay eggs from January to March. The pair has successfully raised a couple of offspring, but their eggs do not always hatch.

That is the case this year. The three eggs are now far past the point of viability. The eagles continue to sit on the eggs. I find this sad, but instinct will eventually move them on. Maybe next year. The camera is on the nest 24/7, 365 days a year. It goes down a while in the summer when the nest is not used when the camera crew cleans the lens and makes repairs but otherwise is on all the time. It's a nice view even when the eagles aren't there.

Anyway, here are some facts about this fascinating bird.

1. Grip Strength: An eagle’s grip is up to 10 times stronger than that of a human.

2. Diversity: There are over 60 species of eagles, mostly found in Asia and Africa.

3. Nesting Heights: Some eagles, like the Golden Eagle, build their nests atop high cliffs.

4. Symbolism: Eagles are symbols of freedom and peace, often depicted on state flags. The bald eagle is one of the national symbols of the United States and The Philippine eagle is the national bird of the Philippines and is an endangered species.

5. Eagle Eyesight: An eagle’s eyesight is up to 8 times stronger than a human’s.

6. Bald Eagles: The term “bald” in Bald Eagle comes from an old English word meaning "white-headed."

7. Hooked Beak: Their beaks are perfectly designed for hunting and tearing through flesh.

8. Lifespan: Eagles can live 20-30 years in the wild, and even longer in captivity.

9. Eagle Beaks: With age, an eagle’s beak can warp and bend, making it hard to feed.

10. Conservation: January 10th is recognized as Save the Eagles Day.

11. Fish-eagles are often found in coastal areas and are known for their fishing prowess.

12. Buzzard-eagles are smaller and often mistaken for hawks.

13. Large eagles can lift prey weighing up to around 5 lbs. I've seen the eagles in Big Bear bring in sticks that looked to weigh at least that much.

🦅

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 852nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Fire on the Mountain

 

We have a forest fire directly across from us, in Stone Coal Gap and/or Broad Run. We saw it when we got up this morning, and I called my father first, since he lives over that way. He was unaware of the fire. 

Later I learned there was about 30 acres burning, and it was crawling up the ridge. This picture was taken around 10 a.m. this morning.

The Forest Service has been sending in helicopters and planes to drop water. I've never seen that done so have been trying to catch it happening. I've seen the helicopters but not the water drop.

We are under a severe burn watch because of low dew points and windy conditions. There are several other fires around us in other communities.

Where Are the Eagles?

In The Lord of the Rings, one of the biggest plot contrivances that some folks get confused about is the introduction of the Eagles.

We'll use the movies as examples here, because I don't have the books right in front of me. But in the movie, first we see an Eagle when Gandalf, trapped high in the sky in Saruman's white tower, sends a moth to call for one. A lone Eagle soars by and Gandalf takes a leap from a great height and lands on the Eagle's back to fly safely away from his captor.

The Eagles do not appear again until the end, when in the third film, as the Men of the West are fighting off orcs and Sauron seems to be winning, Pippin stops amidst the fighting and cries, "The Eagles! The Eagles are coming!"

And the Eagles come and fight off the dark riders, and later, when Frodo (well, actually Gollum) has destroyed the One Ring and ended Sauron for good, the Eagles carry Gandalf to the top of Mt. Doom to rescue Frodo and Sam from the volcanic mountain.

The big question many folks ask is, why didn't the Eagles carry Frodo to Mt. Doom in the first place, instead of having him wander all over Middle Earth to try to take the One Ring to Mt. Doom?

It's a good question, and it is a bit of a plot hole. There are many answers, but answer I like best is that the Eagles are another race, sentient beings like humans, and have agency. They therefore cannot be subjugated into doing the will of others. Although it does seem like performing a task that would stop evil would be a good thing.

Many of the non-human characters in The Lord of the Rings have agency: the Ents, who are tree shepherds, orcs, who are used and abused, goblins, who are wild things, for the most part, and wizards, who look like men but are not men. And we must not forget the elves, who also look human but are not, or the dwarves, who look human too, only shorter, as well as the hobbits, who look like humans but are shorter still.

In many interviews I've read about Tolkien, who wrote The Lord of the Rings books, he claims that the books are not about war. However, the author served in World War I and his sons in World War II.

I think The Lord of the Rings is about war.

Lately, I've been watching the eagles in California as they attempt to hatch a trio of eggs. The time for viability for the eggs has long passed, but the eagles continue to try to hatch eggs that aren't going to hatch. It has been an interesting couple of months watching these birds as they built their nest and laid the eggs. Now it's sad to look in on them, sitting diligently on eggs that, at least according to scientists, are simply rotting and not hatching. It reminds me of all the time I spent trying to have a child even though it was a fruitless exercise.

I have had eagles on my mind.

However, another question keeps running through my mind, and getting all confused with The Lord of the Rings, the eagles on the nest, and this country. The question is this: where are the Eagles? Not the eagles on the nest. Not the Eagles of Tolkien's world, not exactly.

I think Tolkien was using the Eagles as a metaphor for the U.S., who was late entering both World Wars. We entered World War I three years after it started, and World War II began in 1939 and we didn't enter it until the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. How many lives were lost, how much devastation was rendered, because the United States didn't step up when we should have?

The Eagles were late and came in near the end. They were, however, crucial to winning the wars, World War I, World War II - and the war in The Lord of the Rings.

So that question keeps crossing my mind these days: where are the Eagles? Not the Eagles of The Lord of the Rings, but the Eagles who are true patriots, the ones who will see through the conspiracy theories and the crackpot craziness and stand up and set the United States back upon a better path. Because technically, the US is now at war with itself. We are close to taking that old Constitution and ripping it to shreds, no matter who wins, although one side is more distasteful to me than the other.

Right now, I see no Eagles, not on the right, and not on the left. I caught a glimpse of a lone Eagle in Liz Cheney, which is something I never thought I 'd ever say, but if we have an Eagle guiding us, at the moment that's who it is (and I'm not sure of that). If she is like the lone Eagle swooping in to save Gandalf, where and when will the other Eagles come from? Who will rise up to make this nation over and bring back our better angels? It won't be the Republicans, who are bent on turning back the clock, taking away rights, and creating an American version of Hungary. 

The Democrats are no angels. I'm not sure they are Eagles, either, having turned away from the philosophies of Franklin Roosevelt as they have in the last 40 or so years. Roosevelt had his flaws, as all men do, but he did seem to have the welfare of this nation, and of the world, on his heart when he made decisions. (Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Japan, not Roosevelt. We don't know what Roosevelt would have done with those bombs, although he didn't stop their construction.)

We aren't in a novel at the moment. This is real life. But we have lots of fighting going on all over the world, and we have lots of in-fighting going on in this nation. We have climate change creating monumental catastrophes. However, we have no wise wizards at our sides, no guidance that comes from anything beyond the beaks of those who crave great power, even if that power is only to be the loudest mouth in a thread on a Facebook page. Given the wealthy crows who own the social media companies, what else should we expect?

So, I ask again, where are the Eagles? Where are those who would stand up against the powerful, and be the beacons that we need to lead us to a stronger, brighter, fairer and better world?

Sunday Stealing

1. What ONE thing would you change about your life? How would your life be different?

A. I would be healthier. I would eat better, exercise, and have a less sedentary lifestyle. Maybe I would run marathons. 

2. What is the hardest thing you have ever done? Why was it hard for you? What did you learn?

A. Keeping my mouth shut is the hardest thing. I should always keep my mouth shut. I have learned it is the best way to get through life without problems.

3. Write about the most glorious moment in your life so far.

A. Glorious moments are for a different sort of person than I.

4. Write about a moment you felt brave.

A. When I stood up to a bully.

5. What made you happy today?

A. My husband took me to lunch.

6. What did you dislike most about growing up?

A. Chores. I had a lot of chores.

7. Write about five activities you love the most and why you love them.

A. Reading books, because they take you to other worlds, playing guitar, because music takes you to another space, writing, because it allows you to put on paper whatever you're thinking, hugs because they make me feel loved, and dancing (when no one is watching) because it makes me feel free.

8. Do you have an embarrassing moment that still makes you cringe?

A. Yes. But that doesn't mean I have to write about it.

9. What has been your best trip so far?

A. Probably my trip to Spain and France when I was 16, simply because it was out of the country. In the U.S., I enjoyed our trips to Williamsburg, VA a lot.

10. What traits (physical or personal) do people notice when they meet you for the first time?

A. I haven't any idea. I'm not especially pretty but I'm also not butt ugly. I've been told I have expressive eyes and nice skin.

11. Is social media a blessing or a curse?

A. It's what we make it.

12. What is your greatest hope for your future? What steps can you take to make it happen?

A. I would just like to take it day by day for now, thank you very much.

13. What did you struggle most with today?

A. That not speaking up thing I wrote about earlier.

14. Name the biggest priority in your life right now.

A. My husband is always my top priority.

15. What are 5 things you wish others knew about you?

A. (1) I need a lot of hugs. (2) I am very lonely. (3) I miss being a student. (4) I hate the way my body looks. (5) I do not ever stop thinking.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Charlie Mops

Saturday 9: Charlie Mops (2007)

Not familiar with this week's song? Hear it here.

 

1. This week's song is about a legend, Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer. Tell us about something you enjoy so much you could sing about it with the same enthusiasm the Salt Sea Pirates sing of beer.

O! I enjoy the place I live, the beautiful Blue Ridge, there's not much I can say about the mountains that would be bad! Here and there you find a bridge, a flower, and a tree, there really isn't much in the mountains to make me sad!

2. The lyrics tell us beer goes well with breakfast, dinner and snacks. Think about what you dined on yesterday. What beverages did you have with your breakfast, your dinner, and your between-meal snack?

A. Just water. That be all I drink, matey.

3. "Charlie Mops" was chosen because it's an Irish drinking song and Sunday is St. Patrick's Day. Do you expect to raise a glass in honor of the day?

A. No.

4. Beer is not the only beverage often dyed green for St. Patrick's Day. In 1970, McDonald's introduced the Shamrock Shake, a milkshake made with a minty green syrup. If we were to go out for shakes right now, what flavor would you order?

A. Chocolate, although I am allergic to milk and haven't had a shake in 40 years or so.

5. Legend has it that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, who can be mischievous pranksters. Is there anyone you would like to avoid today?

A. There are always people I would like to avoid. That is what makes home so attractive. They aren't here.

6. For all our talk of green, it was not the original color of St. Patrick's Day. Through most of the 18th century, blue was worn across England and Ireland to honor St. Patrick. The Irish switched to green to express their independence from the English. Which color do you wear more often: blue or green?

A. Blue.

7. Today St. Patrick's Day is observed all over the world. In Tokyo, it's not a single day but a weekend celebration. When you think of Japan, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

A. Honestly, it would be my college professor who translates poetry and has spent time in Japan; I've seen her photos from there and it's been like taking a trip with her, sort of. So, when I think of Japan (and China), I also think of Jeanne, who used to be my professor but is now my friend.

8. One of the biggest parades each year in Buenos Aires is for St. Patrick's Day. Have you ever participated in a parade?

A. Yes. I was in the high school band, and we marched in lots of parades. I hated them. Then when I became a news reporter, I had to take pictures of them. 

9. Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, crowns a Miss St. Patrick's Day. Tell us about an event you recall from your college days.

A. I was an adult student who lived off campus, so I didn't really participate in much of the after-school events. I went to numerous poetry readings, though. Once, I begged my husband to come with me, I don't remember who was reading but at the time it was important to me - but he bought a load of cattle at 3 p.m. that day, and I went on to the reading by myself, but he came from the stockyard to be with me - in boots covered with mud and he smelled like cow. I was so glad to see him that I didn't mind. Well, I didn't mind too much. I'm not sure what everyone else thought, though. Those poetry readings were awfully hoity-toity.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen

Things my parents said . . .

1. Because I said so.

2. If you swallow your gum, it will stay in your stomach for 7 years.

3. If you swallow a watermelon seed, it will grow in your stomach.

4. Keep making that face and it will freeze like that.

5. I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it.

6. I have eyes in the back of my head.

7. You can't swim for 30 minutes after eating.

8. If you sit too close to the TV, you'll go blind.

9. I'm just going to the store for one thing. (Comes back 3 hours later.)

10. Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about.

11. Wipe that smile off your face or I'll wipe it off for you.

12. Do as I say, not as I do.

13. I hope your kids turn out just like you, so you'll know what it feels like.

Did your parents say things like this?

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 851st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Movies, TV, & Books

Last night we watched part of the Oscar Awards, mostly because we couldn't find anything else we wanted to watch.

The only movie I have seen of all the movies mentioned was Barbie. I don't go to the theater often and some of these movies simply haven't made it to HBO/MAX yet.

Most of them I'd barely heard of. I am not a connoisseur of pop culture, apparently.

As for the Oscar Awards show, I neither liked it nor disliked it. It was just something to watch.

Movies

Now, on to the most recent movie I have watched: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, starring Jason Momoa.

Apparently, this movie was in theaters in December. We watched it when it came on HBO last weekend.

It is not a great movie. It's not even a good movie. When I spend more time trying to see what references to other movies and books I can find in a picture than actually watching the picture itself, then it's definitely not holding my interest.

This movie had references to Star Wars, H.G. Wells books, Batman and Robin, 48 Hours, Castaway, Thor, Harry Potter, and loads of other DC Comic lore. I am sure I missed other references, too.

Frankly, I'm about comic-book charactered out with movies, and hope that Hollywood moves on to better films, preferably not remakes of old ones as that seems to be the pattern of the moment. I would like to see something original occasionally.

I'm not going into the Aquaman plot; anyone can find a rehash of it on Wikipedia and all I wanted to note was I saw it, Momoa was fun to look at, and it was definitely a "B" rated flick.

TV

This brings me to the most recent binge of TV. I watched all six episodes of HBO's True Detectives: Night Country, staring Jody Foster. Mostly I watched it because I have always liked Jody Foster.

This show was weird and creepy. My husband said it gave me nightmares, although if it did, I don't remember them. But it was a different sort of show and I'm not sure I would have watched it had it not been for Foster.

Foster's character was a true hard-assed bitch named Liz Danvers. (The name made me think of Super Girl, whose last name was Danvers when she wasn't saving the world, so I wish they'd used another name, unless the inference was intentional.) Danvers was trying to solve two murders along with another police officer, Evangaline Navarro, played by Kali Reis.

Actually, it was more than two murders, as the initial murder was of six different men, all found naked out in the frozen Alaska tundra, their faces contorted in fear and their bodies molded together with ice. The officers called it a "corpsicle," which should tell you a lot about the humor of this show. It was very dark humor. Somehow this murder tied in with an older unsolved murder case. 

Most everything that seemed supernatural in the show could be explained, but it was one seriously delusional piece of work. Masterfully done, well-acted, and a bit crazy. I am glad I watched it, but like Game of Thrones, it's not something I intend to ever watch again.

Books

I've mentioned recently that I finished Heather Cox Richardson's book, Democracy Awakening. It's a very important book for these times and one that I encourage everyone, regardless of political persuasion, to read. The historical aspect that leads us to today is incredible and I guarantee that there are things in this book that one did not learn in the public schools, and maybe not even in college.

Another book I recently finished that was quite eye-opening was Educated, by Tara Westover. This memoir of a young woman who was "homeschooled" and a member of the Mormon faith is incredibly eye-opening and concerning. The story opens with an admonishment that the book is not meant to deny or endorse any religion, but it doesn't make religion of any kind look good. I think it reflects the evangelical religiosity that has taken hold of some folks and made them a bit crazy, regardless of brand of faith. I have never been one to live my life on emotion and have tried to be rational in my thought processes, although being human I am sure I've failed. But people who are living only on faith and belief are people I cannot understand. They do not step back and self-examine themselves or their actions and cannot or do not see reality in a way that I understand.

It is difficult to be the person who is different in any family; I imagine it must be nearly impossible in an evangelical one. Westover's memoir showed how difficult it was, and how hard it can be to overcome backwards thinking. 

It's definitely a book to read (or listen to, as I did), and think about.

Sunday Stealing

1) What is your favorite thing about winter?

A. When it is over. It is my least favorite season.

2) What is your favorite winter sport?

A. I don't really have one, but I have been watching Virginia Tech's women's basketball games recently. I don't know if basketball is considered a winter sport. If it's not, then I'll go with ice skating (watching it on TV, not doing it in person).

3) What is the best winter treat?

A. Hot chocolate.

4) What is the earliest time in the year it ever snowed where you live?

A. October 10, 1979. We had a thunder snow.

5) What is the best way to stay warm in the winter?

A. Use a lot of sweaters and throws.

6) What are your favorite things that are paper?

A. Books, newspapers, and magazines.

7) What are your favorite things that are cotton?

A. Clothes.

8) What are your favorite things that are leather?

A. Belts.

9) What are your favorite things that are floral?

A. Artificial flowers.

10) What are your favorite things that are wood?

A. Guitars.

11) If you think your house is haunted, what should you do?

A. Either learn to live with it or move.

12) When should you investigate a strange noise in your basement?

A. When you hear it.

13) How do you know if an abandoned building is safe to visit?

A. If it has a "condemned" sign on the outside of it, it is not safe. If there are signs of people being there recently, it's probably not safe. Otherwise, have at it.

14) How do you decide whether to solve a problem as a team, or split up and go it alone?

A. It depends on the problem and the other person. I have a tendency to go it alone for most things, though.

15) Where do you store your knives and where would you look if one was missing?

A. I store my knives in a wooden block that came with the knife set. If one was missing, I'd look in the dishwasher or in the silverware drawer. And if it wasn't there, I'd ask my husband what he did with it.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Hold Me Now

Saturday 9: Hold Me Now (1983)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's song begins with a young man gazing at a picture of himself and his girlfriend in happier times. Are there any photographs in the room you're in right now?

A. There's a photo I took of a bee in a flower, and a picture I downloaded of Melissa Etheridge playing her guitar.

2) His girl tells him he's a dreamer. Do you consider yourself more a dreamer or realist?

A. Definitely a realistic dreamer.

3) "Hold Me Now" was a big hit for the British pop band, The Thompson Twins. They got their start in the late 1970s in the English city of Sheffield, so named because the River Sheaf runs through it. Do you know how your town got its name?

A. My closest town, Fincastle, was named for Lord Fincastle, the son of Lord Dunmore, Virginia's Lieutenant Governor in 1772, when the town was established.

4) Today lead singer Tom Bailey performs solo and is an outspoken advocate for veganism. Vegans abstain from consuming animal products, particularly in their diets. Are you a vegan, or have you ever tried to stick to a vegan diet?

A. No and no. 

5) Tom's former bandmate Joe Leeway has left show business altogether and concentrates on a career in hypnotherapy. This therapy is commonly used to treat insomnia, smoking cessation and obesity. Is hypnotherapy something you have tried, or would consider?

A. I have tried hypnotherapy. 

6) In 1983, when this song was popular, Motorola introduced the first cell phone. Today cell phones are an essential part of our everyday lives. Do you still have a landline?

A. Yes.

7) Also in 1983, American West airlines took off, flying between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Where did you travel to on your most recent flight?

A. I haven't been on an airplane since 1993. We went to Disney in Florida and back.

8) In 1983, Princess Diana was the world's top cover girl. Are there any magazines in the room you're in? If yes, who or what is on the cover?

A. The only magazine in here at the moment is the one I wrote for the county's 250th anniversary, and it has a picture of the county courthouse on the front.

9) Random question: Is anyone on your bad side this morning?

A. No one I know personally.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.