A Nice Place In The Sun: 10/1/08

10/25/08

Beetlejuice! (Saturday's Happy Halloween Movie Moment)

10/21/08

What Are Your Irrational Fears? (Tuesday's Question)

Today's Tuesday's Question asks, What Are Your Irrational Fears?

How many of you can relate to the elephant in this image? I read once that fear is, "False Evidence Appearing Real," so I repeat the phrase in my mind when I'm frightened.

However, that would be a bad idea if a bear extended his paw to meet my acquaintance...or lions, tigers, and wild wolf dogs were running towards me.

In those cases if I repeated to myself, "It's false evidence appearing real, it's false evidence appearing real" those words would be my last.

But, repeating those words to myself is effective when it comes to irrational fears, such as, walking refrigerators... being strangled by furniture...or your mother-in-law talking through the picture frames...that kind of stuff. That's what I mean by irrational fear...

What are your irrational fears?

Below is a note to first time visitors, plus an announcement at the end of the paragraph to those of you familiar with Tuesday's Question. Because I know you will not read this paragraph, and I don't blame you, but if you do, I have a small announcement about the Butterfly Award in addition to the award for Tuesday's Question at the end of the post. Oh, I guess, I just told you what I wrote.

Anyway, again, if this is the first time you've visited Tuesday's Question, I wrote a brief description below:

All participates answers are posted in the same post along with a link to their site, but you don't have to own a blog to participate. All you have to do is write your answer to the question in my comments and I will do the rest~

In addition, every participate is welcome to a Tuesday's Question Brag Badge posted with a code in my sidebar. The Brag Badge gives you the opportunity to bring your visitors to archived Tuesday's Questions where you can show off the ingenuity of you and fellow blogger's past comments.

By the way, I have two awards I've created for Tuesday's Question's most loyal participants this past year. Most of you are probably already aware of my Top Commenter Award plans because I've mentioned them in recent Tuesday's Question posts. I was going to nominate the recipients today, but I didn't want to interfere with the question itself, plus I'm trying to decide which award I like the best. Maybe, I should let you decide. Let me know what you think, O.K.?

Plus, I literally received the coolest award called the Butterfly Award for the Coolest Blogs from two of the coolest blogger's. First the wonderful Abelle at Only in Silence nominated me, then my good friend Shinade at The Painted Veil, nominated me as well. Therefore, tomorrow will be an awards day on A Nice Place In The Sun.

I'm grateful for your patience and understanding these past few weeks, all of you have been super great people.

And for those of you reading this for the first time, thanks for participating, reading, or stopping by to visit. Answers are posted as quickly as possible throughout the day with a link to the participating blogger's blogs. I've provided a link for you to visit the bloggers whose answer because chances are if you liked a bloggers answer, you will also enjoy their blog.

Have Fun, and remember Tuesday's Question is a weekly post of original questions, well, questions off the top of my head anyway. ~

Alright, get ready, get set...set? Go!

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My first brave commenter is my friend Shinade at The Painted Veil

Hello Annie,
Right now I am sitting here at my computer typing a message to you.

I did read all the way through also. thanks for the mention. you are just so sweet.

I only have one truly irrational fear, well maybe I have more but I don't have time to write a book...lol..okay?

My biggest irrational fear in the entire world is a snake.

Any kind of snake even rubber play snakes.

My grandsons all learn very young not to get any where near me with any type of snake real, alive,dead, or in any other form.

That's it for this Tuesday!

Hugs:-)

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The next answer is from my special friend and veteran of Tuesday's Question, Sandee from Comedy Plus, who gives a perfect example of an irrational fear. Thank you Sandee~

That I have to go back to work at the same place I worked before I retired. I know I don't have to, but I worry about it sometimes. I even have dreamed about it. I wake up in a sweat too. Almost anywhere would be a better place to work then back there.

Congratulations on the award. Have a great day Ann. Big hug and lotsa lovies. :)

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The third answer is from Grace at Broadway Matron, who gives another good as well as funny example of an irrational fear. Thanks Grace~

Bugs - now that might not be irrational but I can't stand the sight of any kind of bug even if it is a picture in a newspaper article - I'll scream, drop the paper and refuse to pick it up - that's irrational.

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10/19/08

Twist And Shout And Free Verse

Twist and Shout…this is the song in my head today… I’ve made a blog plan and part of my blog plan includes what I’ve decided to call Sunday Morning Free Verse.

Every Sunday I will write the events of the past week as soon as I wake up or shortly thereafter. I’m going to write whatever pops into my semi- conscious mind at the beginning of the day. Although you can do this any time of the day, the best time for me is as soon as I open my eyes.

I thought since many of you are home and slumbering around on Sunday morning you may have time to join me. Just write the events of last week or whatever comes to you as quickly as you can, don’t think, just write, that’s what I mean by free verse. It’s like a warm up, for example, free verse is to writers, what stretching is to runners.

I usually haven’t the time to write freely before every post, but my writing is much better when I can verse an idea a few times before I write my first then final draft to a manuscript, story or article. It’s also another word for brainstorming, because often an idea will hit you if just write without thinking several times. In addition, if you already have an idea, it will help you tighten your words so that they will be easy to edit when you write your final copy.

However, that’s not what we’re going to do here this morning, in fact, we’re not even going to write a first draft. We’re just going to write and not think about what we’re writing. I thought it would be a fun thing to do, sort of like having someone twist you on a tire swing, then let you shout your way down as you fly in circles.

O.k. I’m going to highlight my week now as fast as I can without editing or thinking… Ready Set go!

Happy Sunday everyone~ That is if you’re awake yet. I didn’t start waking up this early on Sunday morning until I couldn’t sleep at night.

I couldn’t sleep last night, I don’t know if it was my cat, (Simon) keeping me awake, or if I’m become decrepit before my time, but I lay in bed and read, dozed, read, dozed, read, went to the bathroom, returned to bed, and read, dozed, read, dozed, you get the picture…I hope.

Simon jumped on the bed and purred like a kitten to go outside, and then when he realized the cute kitten stuff wasn’t going to work, he started his manipulation tactics, which I must admit are getting better. Finally, he gave up and there was the sweet sound of silence, and I almost fell asleep…But, I was awakened by the loudest ringing sound…this side of Winchester Cathedral. It bang my ears like a drum, chimed my and melted my brain into mush. I was in such a sound sleep…that I must have been dreaming because the sound was just Simon at the front door moaning. His cries of desperation begin with a moan which blends into a growl like whine, I call it the growl whine. Let me see if I can articulate it better, he makes the sounds a human being makes when we’re freezing; so it sounds like Brrrr, but it ends with what sounds like the word “owl” on the end- I call it a moan growl. . The prefix is Brrr and the suffix owl, hence, Brrowl, and as the browl gets louder he locks onto the vowel sound O really loud, so it sounds like BrrrOwl BrrOwl pounding into your brain.

I couldn’t take anymore of it, so I jumped from my bed in the dark with my water bottle, tripped over my guitar, praying I didn’t break it or a bone, and chased the little maniac through the house. I sprayed the water bottle as I ran hoping to soak him good…then there was silence…the opposite of the sounds seconds before…it was so silent you could hear the tick tock of a clock if I had one….

I turned on the light, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. I know he was wet, but I couldn’t find him to dry him off so I brought my heavy eyes back to bed, and tucked myself under the warm covers…it was so nice. But not for long….the BrrrOwl…came back again….without turning on the light I picked up the water bottle on my bed side table, and swished the water in it back and forth so he could hear it,. Then, more silence followed by …Brrowwwlllll…silence….browwwwwllll…silence…and I suppose we went to sleep for a few hours until morning. No more catnip for Simon, he is a bad drunk. Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you about the catnip I bought him the night before at the grocery store. I was looking forward to a nice evening after spending one night in the hospital this week, in addition to my lion escape, Yep, it’s all there in my Chicken Feed post. To sum it up I had a hard week, so I bought a magazine, a coke, and a catnip toy for Simon. I’ll find some use for that cat nip…but it will not be for him…

I missed Tuesday’s Question because I fainted, then my doctor trapped me overnight in a hospital and had my room guarded my lions. I had to jump from a window and run as fast as a cat seeking shelter from a pouring down rain..

And the magazine got wet from the coke in my bag.

THE END

Happy Sunday!

Now it’s your turn, and remember, don’t think, just write. And please forgive my errors, (I hope Google does) because I couldn’t bare to read it- I would have edited...

Have a fun, happy, weekend full of music, laughter, and dancing- And be nice to one another…))) Oh, and Twist And Shout is on my sidebar as the song in my head today.

10/18/08

Jaws (1975) Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment

"See it, before you go swimming"

Recently, I joined The Humor Bloggers.com where I participated in the Humor Blogger Carnival hosted by one of our funniest bloggers on the web, Ettarose, at ettarose-edgeofsanity. If you wished to join the carnival you could write on one of two subjects and chose your own title. One of the subjects was how did you grow up in the decade you were born, such as the 50's 60's or 70's and I decided to write about the seventies, and chose the title Growing Up In The Seventies.

Well, by now, you probably think you know where I'm going with this since Jaws was released in 1975, and you would be correct, however, I would also like to dedicate this Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment to The Humor Bloggers, (because it's one of my new pop-stands) in addition to the host of the first Humor Carnival, Ettarose from ettarose-edgeofsanity, and you didn't know that.

Here's what I wrote about the film in my post,

It sounds silly now, but at the time that Jaws was in theaters it scared everyone half to death. The movie chilled you to the bone so bad, that my best friend, my brother, and I could not go to sleep the night we saw it.

It was ridiculous...but we kept thinking irrational thoughts. For instance, I kept telling myself that it was impossible for a shark to crawl on shore, flag down a taxi, come to our house, and devour all three of us while we slept in our beds. I also had another imagined scenario, which involved a great white out on the town dining to Jaws “music” while he munched on my rib cage; a nightmare too horrifying for me to swallow alone. No pun intended- so the three of us ended up piled in the bed together the night we saw the movie in 1975.

See it, before you go swimming~

Have a great Saturday, full of fun, love, and laughter~

10/16/08

Chicken Feed

Graphics & Myspace layouts

Stumble It!

"An illness is like a journey into a far country; it sifts all one's experience and removes it to a point so remote that it appears like a vision.
Author": Sholem Asch

Lately, this quote is my story and the image my vision. When you are ill you're on the outside looking in on your life, it's like watching your moments as they happen... you want to say "No, stop. It's not supposed to happen like this- rewind the tape, or take that moment out of the frame, and go back to the moments when life was easy and peaceful."

There are differing degrees of illness and hardship, after all human suffering doesn't discriminate; therefore, we've all had a sense of impending doom from time to time. You know the feeling you have when you are coming down with something, or running fever?

Well Tuesday, I felt a sense of dread coming around the bend chug-a-lug chug-a-lug, with a heavy load of supplies. I felt a whoosh as if I had bounced off a Mack truck and mashed into a wall too fast to comprehend the encounter. I was tired and wanted to sleep- then, I fainted.

And life only knows about life itself, so it will keep going as if nothing has happened- although you may feel a need to be peeled from the pavement, others will keep driving around in their cars, going to the grocery store, and playing in the park with their kids..because as I said, life will go on...it doesn't matter if you want to shout, "Stop! Everybody just stop! Please give me time to let things sink in. "

That's the time to drop your groceries or whatever you have in your hands, and ask someone to help you pick things up...just let go...let the package fall where it will and slow down...

Therefore, I will slow down and try to spend my time making others happy and staying grateful for the luck and love I have in my life. Although, I hate it when my circumstances overflow into the lives of others, as was the case this past Tuesday when I didn't show up for Tuesday's Question.

However, as you can see, wild tigers couldn't stop me from coming back to write and publish Tuesday's Question today. After all, this weekly post is my way of passing link love to some fabulous blogs, but it's also my way of connecting with my readers and hopefully introducing a few bloggers to each other. It's our weekly stomping ground here on A Nice Place In The Sun and I want you to know I will never forget about you.

Therefore, in a perfect world, I would have been here on Tuesday to post.

But it's not a perfect world, because when I woke up Tuesday morning I had an aggravating fainting spell that I thought I better go see about, therefore, I didn't have time to write the post. I started to write one real quick, but then I wasn't sure if I would be here to moderate the answers. So, as luck would have it, Dr. Cover his Butt made me spend the night, and told his tigers to follow me everywhere, even to the bathroom. Well...of course when he said bathroom I had a light bulb moment... I thought, I could put some food in the bathroom...hmmm

Suspenseful story, huh?

Anyway, as the night went on, the big cats lay on the floor and purred, and I thought about how much they were going to love my dinner when they awoke from their slumber at midnight.

And..it worked...I put my dinner (chicken feed) in the bathroom, and cried, "Here, Kitty Kitty" and two of them scrambled to their feet, wiggled their noses, and ran behind the (soon to be a locked) bathroom door. (That will show them how much of a chicken I am) Then I jumped out the window and made a run for it. (And my doctor was worried about letting me go home, Ha )

I hauled butt....I ran like a wild chicken woman in the rain~

(I know, I look like a rooster, but that's my disguise)

Those felines didn't touch a tail feather...this chicken woman crossed the road home with time to spare...Whew! And Tuesday's Question is right below this post. It is the first Tuesday's Question not authored by me. You'll see it's a good one. If you do not see it below right now that means I'm working on it, and will post it in a jiffy~

Thanks to all of you for being such good sports, you're the greatest people on earth~ :))))

If Your House Was Burning Down and All Pets And People Were Safely outside...(Tuesday's Question)

...but you had time to grab one more thing. What would it be?

Regrettably, I ran into some trouble this past Tuesday which I explained in the preceding post, "Chicken Feed" but instead of waiting until next Tuesday to post this weeks question, I decided to post it today. Also, I promised to pass out awards to the bloggers who have answered the most Tuesday's Questions this year this week as well. So I decided to post this weeks question this today and next Tuesday I will give out Tuesday's Questions awards.

When I read through Tuesday's Questions archives last week I was blown away by how many of you answered every Tuesday's Question. (You know who you are) Therefore, I want to thank you now, as well as next week with Tuesday's Question's Award For Excellence. Therefore the show will go on, starting with today's belated Tuesday's Question.

This weeks question was suggested by my excellent friend, fellow blogger, and marvelous writer, Dawn from Twisted Sister.

And the question is: If your house was burning down and all people and
pets were safely outside... but you had time to grab one thing. What
would it be?

If this is the first time you've visited Tuesday's Question, I wrote a brief description below:

All participates answers are posted in the same post along with a link to their site, but you don't have to own a blog to participate. All you have to do is write your answer in comments and I will do the rest~

In addition, every participate is welcome to a Tuesday's Question Brag Badge posted with a code in my sidebar. The Brag Badge gives you the opportunity to bring your visitors to archived Tuesday's Questions where you can show off the ingenuity of you and your fellow bloggers past comments.

Whether you are participating or reading, I thank you for stopping by for a visit. Answers will be posted as quickly as possible throughout the day (in today's case the week) with a link to the bloggers blogs who commented, therefore, don't forget to visit the participating bloggers blogs. Chances are if you liked their comments you will like their blogs. Have Fun, and remember Tuesday's Question is a weekly post of original questions, well, questions off the top of my head anyway. ~

With the exception of today, because again, today's question was authored by Dawn from Twisted Sister, a loyal Tuesday's Question participate, fantastic friend and great contributor.

Thanks Dawn~

Alright, get ready, get set...Just kidding, I always wanted to say that, well... writing it is close... Anyway, I'm going to write the question again for those of you with short- term memories, like me: So Ready? Set? Go!

And the question is: If your house was burning down and all people and
pets were safely outside... but you had time to grab one thing. What
would it be?

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My first answer is from Grace at Broadway Matron, who said,

My lap top - it has all my photos on it

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My next answer is from my sweet friend Maunie at Mauniejames3, who actually should be disqualified for...well...the question asks what is the ONE thing you would grab...But, I couldn't stop laughing at her answers, so I went ahead and let her slide by...:)) Thanks for the laugh Maunie~

Gee I want to take so many things..
The kids album with all the baby pictures.

My jewelry...(I know a material thing) but my gold charm bracelet and all my earrings...bracelets...

Our box of personal papers with birth certifics...passports...everything important...

Boy Annie...aren't you sorry you asked? LOL

The keys to the house in Florida...

The cup youngest grandchild made.

The picture of my Dad's whole family.

My beautiful plants

The pictures I bought...perfect for me...

The pots my cousin Laurea made me

What I would be happy to leave...
The three stuffed trout hubby and the boys caught at various times.

The deer foot lamp (don't even ask)

The ugly gold chair my mother in law gave us that matches nothing and hubby will not let me put a cover on .

The bows arrows and guns in the gun safe..

The ironing board

All the hunting clothes, boots and parafinallia.

Penney's disgusting toys.

hubby's trophies for skeet shooting.

Wow!!! I am just a horrible wife and Mom...oh yeah and the junk in the garage and basement that hubby's is saving for some thing!

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The next answer is from the hilarious Ettarose at ettarose-edgeofsanity who would probably have to be retrieved by the fireman along with Maunie for getting more than one thing...

(laughing)...read her answer...

The first thing would be my court papers for guardianship for my three precious Grands. I could get another copy, but I would not take a chance. Then I would try to drag my 3,000 pictures out. Story of my entire life!

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The next answer is from Margaret at Eyespi20.com

Great answer Margaret~

It would have to be my computer since all my photos are on it. Which is a wake-up call to me to get a couple of thumb drives and back those puppies up to something more portable!

Great question!

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The next answer is from mrsmouthy.com
who also gave me the link to what appears to be a good children's book. Thanks Mrs. Mouthy, I'll check it out.~

Easy. I'd grab the Internets.

Hey, I see you write children's book reviews. Have you read Babar in awhile? It's MESSED UP and I blogged about it earlier this week, if you're interested. http://mrsmouthy.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C48DB47FC79C0C2C!1004.entry

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And my next answer came from the author of the question! Dawn from Twisted Sister, is the first person besides myself to have authored a Tuesday's Question~

And it's a great one~ And by the way, Dawn, I'm the one who was late posted the question in the first place` ;)) In addition, you are the author.

Thanks a million Dawn~

I'm sorry I'm late answering Annie... I've been a bit distracted.. but you already know that!
I would grab my photo albums... everything else can be replaced... but those old photos can never be returned.

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10/13/08

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

(Isn't that a pretty lamp? ;)

10/12/08

Slogbite.Com "Let's All Do The SlogBite"

SlogBite.com is a new site directory introduced to the blogosphere by the dancing man above Mel Kaye... or is it Fred Astaire? Nope, it's Mel, who by the way, also created Monday Morning Power, Are You Grateful.com, Complain, Complain, Complain, and now Slogbite. With SlogBite Mel is building a new concept in site directories, (full participation)

SlogBite is currently under construction, however Mel is accepting participants in preparation for SlogBite’s official launch.

Here's some information I copied from SlogBites home page that will give you a better idea of how the site will work, how to join, and how to do the SlogBite...

Free Hi5 Glitter Graphics

I'm getting ready to do the SlogBite...

Join SlogBite:

* There is no need to register!
* SlogBite is a new concept in site directories (full participation.)
* You decide what specific categories you want to be listed in (you can choose multiple categories.)
* You decide your level of participation, “A” List or “B” List, by following the simple requirements.
* You complete the form that appears in each category.
* If you need a category to be created, it will be done upon request.
* SlogBite is not limited to just blogs. It is open to anyone who has a web-presence.
* SlogBite is meme based (lots of link-love, once officially launched) for the “A” List.
* SlogBite has a varied selection of badges to choose from. Flying one of the badges is a requirement for both the “A” List and the “B” list.
* Upon request, I will create a custom badge for your site that will point directly to the SlogBite category directory of your choice.
* SlogBite will have “Special Participant Features” for top referrers.

Searching for Sites:

* Choose a category that interests you. Then choose a site to visit by clicking on their “most representative” post (”See the Best before you see the Rest”.) This way you start out with the best post that site has to offer in this category; a great way to browse sites (beneath the SlogBite Banner); or
* Type in a keyword that may be found in a site name, the representative post or the site description and “enter” (beneath the SlogBite banner); or
* Choose a graphic link that intrigues you. They are all over SlogBite; or
* Choose a current conversation that interests you (just beneath “Choose a Category.”)

Now, Let’s All Do The SlogBite

Short note from me: What pleases me about SlogBite is that you can list your blog or site under different categories and choose your own level of participation. I like having the freedom to write about a variety of subjects, therefore, sometimes it's hard to choose one category.

In addition, when you join more that one category you're creating an opportunity to widen your audience and reach a variety of readers. Another thing I like is the opportunity to advertise the post that represents my best work before they've read my blog. In other words, sometimes your best posts pass your readers by, especially when you're posting daily. But with SlogBite your readers can read "your best" post in each category before they read "the rest" of your blog. It gives readers an idea of your writers voice if they've never read your blog before.

I like all the features on SlogBite, but again, the freedom to pick more than one category, helps me spread my wings as a writer. For instance, I write humor, but I also write for children, hence, I like to write an occasional picture book review. Therefore, although the majority of my posts are humorous, it's nice to know I can also submit a few book reviews.

Anyway, go see what you think about SlogBite...You don't have to dance...or at least...I don't think you do. I wonder if Mel is going to read this...well...he didn't say anything about having to dance, he just said, "Let's All Do The SlogBite."

Although, I would dance with him if I could get this bowl off of my head...

Free Hi5 Glitter Graphics

10/10/08

Growing up in the Seventies

Stumble It!

I wrote the following post for the first edition of the Humor Bloggers.com Humor Carnival that was posted today by our host Ettarose from ettarose-edgeofsanity. Also, I thought I should mention that Ettarose decided to dedicate this First Edition of the Humor Bloggers Humor Carnival to our "fearless leader" Chelle B of The Offended Blogger

With that said, hold onto your hats, because it's going to be a non-stop succession of laughter from some of the funniest bloggers in the blogosphere.

Because my friend, hilarious blogger, and out host, Ettarose from ettarose-edgeofsanity, is not only one of those people who has an instinct for what's funny, she can articulate it perfectly.

Most of her readers already know this, therefore my woman's intuition tells me that the response will be overwhelming, and my womanly intuition is always right - always- I think.

Anyway, do yourself a favor and start the week off laughing at the number of talented Humor Bloggers who posted an entry, you'll be glad you did. All entries were posted at 12:01 A.M. this Monday the 13th of October on Ettarose's blog, ettarose-edgeofsanity, so please click on your favorite bloggers links in addition to a few others you've never met, and if they made you giggle, take Ettarose's advice and "Stumble the "daylights out of their posts."

However, I'll have to ask you to hit the Digg It submit button that I happen to have available at the top of this post. Because today, of all days, I'm having trouble logging into Stumbleupon. ;)

Alright, I believe that's it- So go laugh, have fun, and have a fantastic week.

And thanks, if you're here because you clicked on my link from Ettarose's blog, Edge of Sanity, you're the best~

I hope you enjoy the humor carnival and my entry...

What I remember the most about growing up in the seventies were those ugly green seventies colors, my parents divorce, weird movies, and riding around in cars listening to the radio. It’s funny, because I have plenty of other stuff I could write about; I had plenty of friends, loved writing, playing the guitar, and of course boys. However, the first thing I thought about when I started writing this post was that ugly green color that was so popular, weird movies, and finally riding in the car listening to the radio. Therefore, I suppose the ugly color green is where I'll begin...

When I was nine, I remember doing my homework on the green seventies carpet in our sunken living room, surrounded by brown paneled walls, a built in bookcase, and a sliding glass door. We had a green telephone mounted on the wall in the kitchen, a green kitchen table covered with a green tablecloth, a green refrigerator, and a green oven. Actually, I could have just written that everything in our home was green, except the draperies, us, and the dog.

I suppose I should also make it clear that our house wasn’t the only house that had green appliances, carpet, phones, and furniture. It made me feel like I was living in Stepford town, because everyone in Stepford Town, was comfortable living in houses with the same floor plan, making their husbands dinner during the same football game and vacuuming that same flat green or shag carpet. The only difference between our town and the city of Stepford was that our material things turned green over night, whereas the women in the town of Stepford turned into robotic perfection over night.

Anyway, the idea behind The Stepford Wife's is as scary as the picture itself and what's really strange is that it was produced in the same decade. Are you hearing Twilight Zone music? Well, anyway it was just one of the films that scared the daylights out of me at the time.

The film is about a town called Stepford, a place full of replacement wives that move about with robotic perfection. The Stepford Wives are stand-ins for the imperfect women who were alive before their husbands moved them to the land of oneness. I don’t remember much about the setting, but I would be willing to bet that all the houses in Stepford had green carpet, green refrigerators, green telephones, and sunken living rooms.

Anyway, I suppose weird movies were just a part of growing up in the green decade. After The Stepford Wives, my mother treated my brothers and I to another popular film entitled, Soylent GREEN. I think she took us to see these movies because they were playing at drive-in theaters, where she could read and easily hide my brothers and I in the back seat.

Soylent Green is a futuristic film made in 1973, and supposedly set in the year 2022. It is about an overpopulated world in the future. The planet becomes so overpopulated that the world begins to run out of resources, like land, food, jobs, etc...
Soylent GREEN was bleak and depressing, especially to a twelve year old, and I wanted to go home, particularly when I discovered the truth about the "Soylent Green wafers."

The Soylent green wafers were supposed to be the future worlds answer to starvation, or something like that. I was too young to understand it, but this is how my brother explained it to me in the car after the movie, “Well, Annie, you see they (Don’t ask me who "they" was) were running out of land, so “they” didn’t have anywhere to bury dead bodies, and because “they” were out of food, “they” decided to turn the dead bodies into food, then call the food Soylent Green.

Then, I asked my mother why did they have to eat people, and why did the people turn out to be GREEN.

Solvent Green gave me nightmares for weeks, mainly because I was already emotionally disturbed by the worlds obsession with the worse color green ever invented, and now I had a glimpse of what the future might have in store- Gee… eating people was bleak enough, but I still wondered why the little square chucks of human had to be green?

Then, when I grew a little older, along came Jaws! So, if you missed the movies about eating little green chucks of people, you could watch a movie about sharks eating people beneath the ocean blue...or green. It sounds silly now, but at the time Jaws was in theaters, it scared everyone half to death. The movie chilled you to the bone so bad, that my best friend, my brother, and I could not go to sleep the night we saw it.

It was ridiculous...but we kept thinking irrational thoughts. For instance, I kept telling myself that it was impossible for a shark to crawl on shore, flag down a taxi, come to our house, and devour the three of us while we slept in our beds. I also had another imagined scenario, which involved a great white out dining on the town with Jaws “music” playing in the background, as he munched on my rib cage; a nightmare too horrifying for me to swallow alone. No pun intended- so the three of us ended up piled in the bed together the night we saw the movie in 1975.

However, when I grew older and bought my own movie tickets the movies got better... I remember the 1970’s producing many great films, one of the best of which was The Way We Were. I remember singing The Way We Were on the front of the ferryboat that crosses the Mississippi River, which was also green...(but, a pretty green)

My friends and I used to drive along the road that runs parallel to the river and listen to the radio in the days before Ipods, videos, computers etc... Our favorite (and still my favorite) form of entertainment was the car radio, or playing music ourselves.

So although everything was green in 1970 it did have its charms, too many to write in a blog post. In addition, everything gets better when you become an older teen-ager anyway, which I was in the later part of the seventies. I was all of sixteen in a time when you could still get away with things you could never get away with today. For example, we sang and danced on the ferryboat with people we picked up along the river at places we’d never been before, and were likely to never return.

We spoke of our dreams about the future with strangers from the French Quarter in New Orleans, where we stopped to get something to drink or use the bathroom; because you could still be a reckless youth in the green years.

However, riding in the car did have it's problems, one of which was finding a place to go to the bathroom, especially late at night, and one night I just so happened to need a bathroom. But unfortunately most of the fast food joints were closed, and we were already kicked out of the big truck car wash on the levee, (Don’t ask) so we decided to go to the State Capital grounds because it had gigantic oak trees perfect for privacy because of the moss on their branches.

When we reached the grounds my boyfriend pulled in front of the capital building with the three couples who were friends of ours in the back seat. I told him to hold the flashlight on me until I got to the tree because it was pitch dark outside.

A little scared, I squat under the closest tree that I could find by the car. As I played with the moss on the tree, I realized that I heard birds chirping. I thought "How bizarre; what kind of bird chirps at night?” Then the chirping sounded louder and closer, so I thought, "These birds sure are friendly" and continued to use the bathroom.

Then suddenly, I heard a shrill chirping over my head that sounded too aggressive for a bird- My heart quickened as I put my hand on my head and felt the bird on my head! Horrified, I tried to knock it off, but it started flapping its wings and latched its claws into my scalp! I tried to run from the tree, but my pants were down so I kept falling, and this hateful bird still managed to stay on my head!

From the car, I could see my friends and boyfriend laughing, and I couldn’t understand why... It didn’t occur to me at the time that I was running with my pants to my knees and bats attached to my head! I couldn’t coordinate my legs with my pants wrapped around my knees, so I waddled like a penguin a few steps then fell, then waddled more and fell a few more times, until I finally reached the safety of the car, with bats still attached to my head and screeching as they tightened their grip.

Finally I reached the car, only to find that my friends didn’t want anything to do with the horrible creatures, so when I approached the door, they drove forward a few feet hoping the bats would jump off my head. In the meantime, I could see my friends in the back seat laughing hysterically, because I was trying to grab the car door with my pants down, and every time I grabbed the knob my boyfriend slowly drove forward.

I was furious with him at the time, but after things calmed down, I told Steve (my boyfriend)not to feel bad about driving forward the way he did, because I understood he was thinking about their safety. After all, I knew they didn’t want the bats to get in the car, surely I understood that.

But Steve smiled and said, "Ann, the bats were long gone by the time you reached the car. It was just so funny watching you try to catch the car with your pants down. We were laughing so hard we couldn’t tell you that what you were feeling were branches on the top of your head. The bats flew off a few yards after you ran from the tree. We could see you waving your hands trying to knock the branches off but we just couldn't stop laughing. I'm sorry honey, I thought you knew, but I have to say that is was the funniest thing any of us had ever seen."

But you know he never explained why he keep driving forward when I approached the car...although I suppose I knew the answer. (Because the bats were still on my head)

It’s not the decade we grow up in that is special, weird, or fun, because every decade has its stuff; it’s the imagination and heart of the people who share the time with us, that's what makes life worthwhile.

10/7/08

Tuesday's Question's Moderator Is Under The Weather

Tuesday's Questions Moderator Is Under The Weather

Regrettably, my Tuesday's Question's side kick and moderator is under the weather, so to speak, therefore, we had to cancel this weeks Tuesday's Question. However, we have a great question scheduled for next week, in addition to awards for last years top participates. When I read through the archives of Tuesday's Question, I was blown away by the fact that some of you answered almost every Question. (You know who you are) Therefore, I want to thank you now, as well as remind you that next Tuesday along with the question, I will be passing out Tuesday's Question's Award For Excellence.

And by the way, next weeks question was suggested by my excellent friend, fellow blogger, and marvelous writer, Dawn from Twisted Sister and you're going to love it. Until then, I hope you will enjoy the links I included from my favorite comments.

How would I Know You? Describe yourself to a fellow blogger who was sent to pick you up at the airport sight unseen.

What's The Worst Food You've Ever Tasted In Public?

Who Was/Is Your Most Eccentric Family Member Or Your Most Embarrassing Family Memory?

Thanks for being such great sports, and I will resume my regular posting schedule tomorrow. And remember, you're important to me~

10/4/08

Saturday's Favorite Movie Moment " Peggy Sue Got Married "

I love these lines...Peggy Sue's Father, "Peggy Sue, are you drunk?"

Peggy Sue, "...ahhhh...
Just a little, I had a tough day!"

Peggy Sue's mother, "She gave blood today."

Peggy's Father, "This is not giving blood, this is drunk!"

This Saturday's favorite movie moment is from the 1986 film classic Peggy Sue Got Married, starring Kathleen Turner and Nicolas Cage.

10/3/08

I'm Not Cute

The picture of Baby Owl on the cover of the picture book, I'm Not Cute, caught my eye at Barnes and Noble the other day. Baby Owl is so cute that I immediately grabbed the book off the shelf in the Children's Department and sat in my chair at the little table. The same little table where I always sit to catch up on the Children's Picture Book Market. I pick the first picture book that captures my eye and if the story keeps my interest, I review it for my readers.

However, since I'm a humorist writer in addition to writing for children, I haven't written a children's book review on A Nice Place In The Sun for some time. It's hard for a children's writer/humorist to categorize a blog, but I'm hoping my readers who stop to read a humorous story will bear with an occasional book review.

I know children's picture book reviews may be a little elementary, but hopefully you can share the books I review with a child you know or treat the child within you to some marvelous stories.

I usually do not include this much introduction to a book review, but since I haven't written one in awhile, I didn't want some of you to wonder what in the world I was doing...even if half of the time I'm not sure myself...

Alright, now that I've explained myself, I can tell you about this great picture book, I'm Not Cute, by Jonathan Allen.

From the onset of this story the reader discovers that Baby Owl doesn't like being treated like a baby or told he is cute. Adults and children will be drawn into Baby Owls dilemma early on, by Jonathan Allen's masterful use of the simple words used in early childhood in addition to his bright and humorous illustrations.

Baby Owl wishes to be a "huge and scary hunting machine with great big soft and silent wings" however all the animals in the forest insist on telling him how cute and cuddly he is all the time. Baby Owl's frustration is evident by his reaction to the animals in the forest, which we see by the expressions on his face, as well as the body language depicted in the illustrations. For instance, Baby Owl squirms, fidgets, and squishes his face into toddler like expressions with each encounter.

For example, when "Squirrel" compliments him on his "big baby eyes" and the "Fox" pats him on the head. Toward the end of the story, Baby Owl begins to orbit into a tantrum, when the other animals affections prove too much for comfort. Even though Baby Owl denounces the animals claims about how cute he is, with the line, "I'm Not Cute!" the animals never change their mind. Baby Owl's resistance to the notion that he is a cute little baby is so toddler like it's hilarious.

However, when Baby Owl returns home to tell his Mom how the other animals acted and she validates his feelings, he decides that maybe it wasn't so bad being cute after all. Baby Owl isn't comfortable with Mom's agreement, so he shouts to his mother, "But I am cute!... I am! I am!"

Then when Baby Owls fussiness begins to escalate Mom knows that it's time for bed, and the story ends with Mom putting Baby Owl to bed, and whispering, "You're so cute, Baby Owl.... For a huge, scary, sleek, sharp-eyed hunting machine, that is."

The conclusion wraps the story up nicely, and will send adults as well as children off sleepy and satisfied.

I'm Not Cute is available on Amazon as well as Barnes and Noble.

It's 32 pages, and published by Hyperion, $14.99

Ages; 2 to 5