Reading Update and Meeting with Writer Friends

On Monday I was able to attend an in-person plot group meeting with some writer friends. What joy! We met at a Panera Bread that has outdoor seating (gotta be safe!). Only four of us showed, but it was wonderful. I really missed talking books with people and they helped me a lot with my own (which is a mess). Plus, they’re my friends and it had been so long since I’d seen them. It was the boost I needed to get back to work, especially since I now have some ideas of what needs fixing.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #35

Dates read: September 4-10
Title: My Bonny Heart
Year of publication: 2016
Author: Synclair Stafford
Genre: Historical romance
Series: Pirate’s Progeny, Book #1
# of Pages: 277
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: A treacherous past haunts ex-pirate Anne Bonny’s attempt at a fresh start. Rescued from a Port Royal jail, she’s forced to marry a prominent landowner to retain custody of her children. She vows no other man will ever dictate her life again. But the lord she is to wed is more tempting and infuriating than the devil himself.
    Addison Blackhurst agreed to wed a fellow merchant’s daughter, solidifying the expansion of his rice plantation and trading business. Not mentioned in the contract? A temperamental, out-of-control widow who is unlike any woman of his acquaintance, complete with not one, but three children. But from the beginning, he’s drawn to her wild spirit and seductive charms.
    Through Anne’s husband-repelling schemes—and Addison’s equal endeavors to ignore them—they find an exasperating, yet most fascinating attraction. When Anne’s past threatens her future, and Addision believes he’s lost her for good, only a pirate’s resolve can determine if love will prevail. 
My thoughts: This was a fun read. If you like historical romances NOT set in England, this will be a treat for you. I hadn’t realized until after reading it that Anne Bonny was a real person, and that no one knows what happened to her after giving birth in jail. This story COULD be a possibility.

In sports… The Rams and Steelers won their first games of the season. Yay! But the Vegas Golden Knights season has come to an end with their loss Monday night. My hockey watching days are now on hold until the next season starts, whenever that will be. I’m thinking there won’t be much of a break after the finals.

So… what has brought you joy lately?

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Reading Update, Hockey, and Football

I’m still watching hockey. I like the Vegas Golden Knights because Marc Andre Fleury is on the team (he used to be the goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins—my favorite team). He’s not always playing goalie, but by this point I’ve just become a fan. So as long as they’re in the playoffs, I’m watching.

I think football starts up tomorrow. Hubby is looking forward to that. I may be, too. My Rams play on Sunday night. Steelers play on Monday night. So at least we’re able to watch those games at home. Not sure I want to go to a restaurant to watch games this year.

Here’s what I read since my last update:

Book #34

Dates read: August 28 – September 3
Title: Break the Day
Year of publication: 2019
Author: Lara Adrian
Genre: Paranormal romance
Series: Midnight Breed #16
# of Pages: 260
Paper or plastic: Trade paperback
How obtained: Purchased
Blurb from book: After a shocking betrayal nearly killed him and the people he cares about the most, what Breed warrior Rafe wants more than anything is revenge against the insidious brotherhood called Opus Nostrum. But to achieve that goal, he must turn his back on the Order and infiltrate a dangerous gang with ties to Opus. Risking everything to redeem himself and carry out his deep-cover mission, Rafe will let nothing stand in his way—least of all his desire for one of the loyalists he should despise, a mysterious, dark-haired beauty named Devony Winters.
    But Devony has secrets of her own to protect, as well as a personal duty she will do anything to fulfill. And as a daywalker passing herself off as human to the gang she’s been embedded with for months, the last thing she needs is a dangerous former member of the Order unraveling all her hard work. Her plans depend on keeping Rafe at arm’s length, but if she surrenders to the dark need he stirs within her, it will be her heart that pays the ultimate price. 
My thoughts: Been awhile since I read the last book in this series and had no problems getting caught up in the characters (or even remembering who is who!). Great romance.

So… Are you watching sports on TV this year? Do you miss going to the games? High school football has started up, but only family members are allowed to attend (and I’m not so sure I’d go anyway). They used to broadcast the games on the radio, which is what we used when we were out of town, but the announcers aren’t allowed in the booth, so no radio, either. I can pay to watch via a streaming thing, but I don’t miss it THAT much.

Happy Reading!

Stacy

Favorite Movies of Each Sport and We’re in the Finals Again!!!

Oh. My. God. Double Overtime (and it’s a good thing I wrote most of this post earlier)! I think my heart gave out. But the Penguins did it. They’re going to the finals two years in a row. I’m so HAPPY!!!

I saw this request go around on Facebook and thought it would make a nice blog post, especially since I’m so gung ho on hockey right now. What am I saying… I love sports (well, most sports), so of course I would love movies featuring a sport.

So… Here are my favorite movies of each sport:

• FOOTBALL: Necessary Roughness; The Blind Side; The Replacements; Remember the Titans; Jerry Maguire; The Longest Yard (w/Burt Reynolds)
• BASEBALL: Bull Durham; A League of Their Own; Major League (I & II); Field of Dreams; The Natural; The Rookie
• HOCKEY: Mystery, Alaska; Slap Shot
• BASKETBALL: Finding Forrester
• BOXING: Rocky
• GOLF: Caddyshack; Tin Cup
• SOCCER: Bend it Like Beckham
• SURFING: Soul Surfer
• OLYMPICS: Cool Runnings; Chariots of Fire

As you can tell, I love football and baseball movies. Basketball? Not so much, but then I’m not a fan of that sport (except during March Madness). I tried to find a tennis movie, but there wasn’t one I watched.

Out of all those sports, though, want to know which ones I played in? Baseball (softball, actually) and golf. I think if my high school had a softball or golf team for girls, I would have been on them. But they didn’t exist way back in the dark ages. J

Wednesday night we were hit with some major storms. Actually, our phones went off with a tornado warning. Never got that before. Quickly turned on the TV just as their live feed showed a tornado touching down…in my daughter’s town! Which is next door to our town. We’re all fine; her work place suffered minor damage, though (2 blocks away from her apartment!). But dang… That was just too close.

So… Doing anything fun this weekend? I’m gonna go see some caves. Hope to take some pictures and share. And it’ll be a fun weekend, too. Because the PENS WON!!! Yay!

Happy Friday!

Stacy

Funny Ad or Failure?

Have you seen that Geico commercial about the lemonade stand where everyone who comes up to it asks “Ice tea?” and they’re told, “Nope, lemonade.”? Well… I wasn’t getting it. Thought the people were idiots (and maybe the advertisers, too). It was clearly lemonade. Why would they ask if it was iced tea?

Then Hubby pointed out that the man on the commercial is IceT. D’oh! Now I get the ad. Now I laugh when I see it.

But is an ad that has to be explained an effective ad? I’m thinking no. I thought Geico had lost their mind, so how many others think the same thing?

I’m so glad I can zip through the commercials during the shows I record. Unfortunately, when you watch live sports, you’re stuck with seeing them.

Speaking (okay, writing) of sports… The Wayne High School football team easily won Friday night (after an hour lightning delay), Ohio State played awesome on Saturday, Steelers are playing the way we love to watch them play, and even the Rams won their welcome-back-home game. Yay! Wonderful winning weekend. Hope it continues.

On Friday I ate breakfast before walking to the fitness center. That worked so much better and I’ll continue doing that, as long as the weather allows it. I like to walk outside (and getting my 10K steps), but not in the rain or temps much below 50. I may be crazy, but I’m not that crazy!

So… Do you think an ad that has to be explained an effective ad or a flop?

Have a great Monday!

Stacy

Favorite Sports Players

On an evening I was having dinner with just my daughter (I think it was on one of those $5 movie nights), I told her I was having problems with coming up with some favorites list. She's the one who came up with this one. At first I thought I only had one favorite player, but as we talked, I realized there are others I love, too. Here's my list of favorite sports players (past and present), in alphabetical order.

Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds. Back in 1976, while stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA, I became a Reds fan because I became a Johnny Bench fan (even though I was a Dodgers fan first and never lived anywhere near Ohio). Don't know exactly what it was that drew me to him, but it stuck and has lasted ever since.

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins. I wouldn't even know who this player is if it weren't for the fact my daughter got me hooked on hockey (and the Penguins). And maybe he helped cement my relationship with the Penguins (being a fan, that is). I love to watch him play.

Steve Garvey, Los Angeles Dodgers. I grew up a Dodgers fan (back when Sandy Koufax played). Since moving away from the area, I don't keep track of the players any longer, but Steve was the last Dodger I was a fan of (that I can remember, anyway!!).

Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers. He went to the University of Southern California – a college I would have liked to have attended if I knew what I wanted to do and didn't join the Army instead. I love his enthusiasm on the field. I will definitely miss him when he retires.

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds. Right now he's my all-time favorite player. I watched him play with the Dayton Dragons (the Reds' Single A Farm Team) and loved him them. I love the way he plays – the way he seems to love to play. And I'm thrilled he signed a contract to be with the Reds for a long, long time. I've got to get out to Cincinnati and watch a game this season (and maybe get a jersey). The Reds are hot!!

Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams. I got hooked from his story of how he got to the NFL. Who doesn't like a good underdog story? And he played for a team I grew up rooting for. The year he took them to the Super Bowl (and won) was THE BEST!!

There are so many players out there, so many teams, I'd be amazed if I hit your favorite. But if I did, let me know. You can also tell me your favorites and see if they're on my "hate" list. Yeah, I have a lot of those, but don't think I'll list them. I don't need to give them any more thought than necessary.

Third Place

What do you know? I came in THIRD on one of the brackets games I entered. It’s a shocker, I’ll tell you that. No big money (only $14), but that’s not why I played. I just wanted to see if my guesses were better than everyone else’s. Came pretty darn close. Only two others guessed better than me (one of those two  happens to be my husband – he always seems to beat me!).

Granted, I wouldn’t have cared if I came in last if OSU was in the final game, though. I was rooting for them all the way (even though I had Kentucky win in my bracket). Almost didn’t want to watch the game last night because of their loss, but decided to turn it on at the last minute. I just muted the sound (the announcers are kind of annoying) so I could edit. Yep, that’s right – I multi-tasked!

I didn’t stay up to watch the end, though. Those games start too darn late. Yeah, I know why they start late, doesn’t mean I gotta like it.

This Friday we attend our first Dragons game of the season. So far it looks like it might be a decent night out for April (clear and a bit cool). I still have hockey on the brain (the Penguins are in the playoffs!), but I enjoy baseball, too. I hope the Dragons have a good season.

Hockey & The Stanley Cup Playoffs

Does the NHL (National Hockey League) seem to have the longest season of all the sports? The season starts in October and goes all the way into June (when you include the playoffs).

But when you love the sport, the season doesn't last long enough, does it?

I became a fan when my daughter did. Maybe I was looking for something to have in common with her. Hockey never interested me before, that's for sure. But once I started watching it, and understood the rules and calls, I got hooked. Well, hooked on one team – The Pittsburgh Penguins.

It's hard to love a sport when you can't find them on television, though. Going to the games can get expensive (even one game is expensive!), so I have to rely on Versus or NBC. Unfortunately, they don't always air the Penguins games, even during the playoffs.

Doesn't seem fair. If it's between Washington DC vs the NY Rangers game or the Penguins vs Tampa Bay game, why the heck wouldn't Versus show the closer of the two? Pittsburgh is closer to Dayton than DC or NYC. So frustrating! I'm glad CBSSports.com has the details, but it just isn't the same as watching it live (and that's nothing compared to actually going to a game – I love the energy there!).

So, are you a fan of the game?

Go Pens!