Movie Trailers...Ah, The Anticipation

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I saw this picture and clicked on the link. I then watched the trailer for Ender's Game. If you haven't seen the trailer and you want to, click: HERE. What is it about movie trailers that pack so much enjoyment and anticipation into such a small package?

Since we really don't see movies in theaters (except Pixar films, which I believe, denying the children--and adults--the opportunity to see these films in the theater could be considered a borderline child abuse activity...) so when I see a movie trailer I pretty much know I'm not going to be watching it in the theater.

But then certain movies come along and I see the trailer and, well...I think I just might need to see it  before it hits Redbox.

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Another trailer I enjoyed can be found: HERE. I know it's another SciFi flick, but those tend to make for excellent movies to be seen in a theater.

This one comes out next week...I'll probably wait for that one. Ender's Game, I've been waiting for many years to see that so when November 1 2013 rolls around, I might not be able to wait any longer...

* Photo used without permission from: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1342021888/tt1731141

§ Photo used without permission from: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1177264384/tt1408101?ref_=tt_ov_i

TriUtah Woman Of Steel Triathlon & 5K...

Are You Up To The Challenge?

TriUtah, my friend's company, is holding a race a week from this Saturday in American Fork, Utah. It's called the Woman Of Steel Triathlon & 5K. Several weeks ago I made a little movie trailer about the last play I was in. My friend saw it and asked if I'd do one for his race. It took me a little while, but today I finished it and posted it to YouTube. Here's the link: TriUtah Movie.

I've posted these little movies on this blog in the past. I thought I'd do it again.

If you're in the area and interested in these races, please check out the race and sign up. You'll have a great time!

Four Years...A Short Story

The Weekly Writing Prompt

I missed last week's writing prompt. I was a little busy, but this week I'm back. In honor of this week's announcement that many of these little story gems are going to be released in e-book form on May 10, 2013, I decided to write about a writer. Of course, the picture lends itself to just such a subject perfectly. It is a great picture--so many possibilities for stories.

Here are the rules, if you're not familiar with them:

1) Use the photo and the 5 words provided in your story
2) Keep your word count 500 words or less.
3) You have until next Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, to link up your post.
4) Click on one of these links: Nicole, Carrie, Tena or Leanne, submit your story in the inLinkz link.
5) Have fun, don’t stress, let those creative juices flow!

This week's randomly generated mandatory words are:

Mole

Napkin

Poison

Concert

Neck

And so, here's what I came up with...

 Four Years

Yesterday marked exactly four years since I sold my last manuscript, my procrastination being a fact my agent, editor, and mother take every opportunity possible to remind me of on a daily--sometimes, hourly--basis. Not all the nagging from the collective pains in the neck is bad, however. At least I know if I died, three people would need to adopt a new hobby.

I don't know why I wandered into the bookstore yesterday. The place is like poison to my writing, kryptonite to my creativity. But I looked on-line and the city was dead...an independent film festival? No thanks--too many emo, mid-twenty, faux-intellectuals trying to out-combo their friends with their Starbucks concoctions. A concert? Nuh-uh--too loud and full of basically the same people except they are not intellectual enough to know they should be acting pretentious at an independent film festival.

Instead I went for a walk and ended up at the bookstore, the same bookstore where I did my first book signing what feels like a lifetime ago, but was really only a decade. How much has changed since then... I remember that humid summer night when I nervously set out copies my first written work (the book I still can't believe ever got published..) on the card table the management was kind enough to set up for me beforehand. I couldn't believe that night. My fear of having no one show up quickly vanished as lines of people with the book I wrote in hand shoved it in front of me. I remember that sense of elation as I autographed everything put in front of me...books, shirts, a napkin--it didn't matter. The feeling was intoxicating. 

That was years ago and something changed since that night. I don't know when it happened but over time my outgoing personality devolved leaving only the social mole I am today. Many, including my mom, believe this journey into reclusiveness caused my writing discontinuance. What do I think? I think they're probably right.

The halls of the bookstore haunted me as I walked past the rows books filled with history, fiction, self-help, and almost everything else. Children ran unsupervised throughout the store and I felt something breathe in me, a feeling I hadn't felt in four years. 

After I left, I walked home, booted up the MacBook Pro and began writing. I'm 7950 words in on my latest WIP and I have no idea how this will turn out.

Word Count:  413

Flowers, Sunsets, A Wedding Reception And A Broken Bowl Thrown In...

Today was one of those days when I took a couple of pictures of different things and now that the day's over, I'm not sure which photos to include in the blog. So, I'm just going to put a lot in.

My son broke a bowl today and it broke in such a cool way, I just had to take a picture of it.

The sun came out for a little while in the afternoon so I put on the macro lens and snapped a couple of pictures of flowers and a nail.

Tonight we went to a wedding reception for my friends's son. His friends decorated their car in a way I had not before seen.

And, because of the clouds we've had in the valley for the past few days, the sunset was incredible. Such was my day in pictures.

Flash 500 Is Coming!

I received word today that sometime in the near future a free e-book called Flash 500 will be available for you to download. This is what the front page will look like. If you've followed my blog you may have noticed I write a short story about once a week that consists of 500 or less words, five randomly-chosen words and a photo. The trick is to create a short story worth reading.

I've been writing these stories for almost a year and have had a lot of fun doing it. The gals who began the blog writing exercise (where we submit our stories...) decided to compile some of the stories we wrote into a book and they were kind enough to include a couple of my stories. And, perhaps the best news, they included a story written by my 14-year old son. He's going to be a published author at 14!

They're putting the finishing touches on the book now. I'll update this blog with more details as they are available. It's been a good month... ;)

Five Impressive Teens...

Tonight I had the honor to share an evening with five very impressive teenagers, one of which was my oldest son. They graduated from their three-year course of study.

Parents and grandparents, friends and siblings gathered in the community center and after the younger classes were acknowledged and given their due, it was their turn to speak. Each prepared and presented a wonderful talk on what statesmanship means.

We went out to dinner after and even remained after the restaurant closed. Each of the graduates spoke of the admiration they had for each other. We as parents and grandparents spoke of the changes we've seen over the past couple of years and even further back.

Like I said, it was an honor to be with them tonight.

Lunch At Chers...

Back when I worked downtown, I many times visited Chers Deli. It was one of those places where you can get a no frills, no nonsense sandwich for not a lot of money, which is good because I'm so cheap. We used to go to the little pharmacy that was just across the street from Chers. They also offered pre-made sandwiches. They're no longer in business. Oh well...

On Monday I found myself without a lunch and so I went to Chers and ordered a sandwich. The picture makes it look a little green, but it wasn't--just wheat bread.

 

The deli offers a daily special which is just one of their regular sandwiches at a reduced price. Monday's was egg salad. I bought the Chers signature sandwich.

Will I return? Pretty sure I will.