Local Politics

Marathon Girl and I live in a small community of about 15,000 people. We like it here. It's quiet, we have nice neighbors, and there are plenty of kids for our kids to play with. You'd think that living in such a small, peaceful community that the local politics would be something that would barely be worth noting. Yet in the three or so years we've lived here, the local political scene has been fairly nasty.

Last week a local political group held a "meet the candidates" night. Half the candidates felt the group sponsoring the event was biased and decided to hold their own event. The result? Two separate events and a lot of nasty remarks about the candidates that went to the other event.

There have been ads in the small, local paper and left on our door advertising websites by candidates and other political groups targeting other candidates and encouraging you to find out the "truth" before the primary elections on Tuesday.

You'd think with such a nasty campaign that there'd be some big, local issue that would cause such bitterness. Sadly you read all the campaign literature or talk with the candidates and there's really not that much difference between the candidates. They all basically say the same things on the same issues. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is how much say some developers will have regarding the future growth of the community. While it's an important issue and one that I do have feelings about, I'm not sure it warrants all name calling and feuds that the candidates have become involved in.

I've lived in much larger towns where local elections were never this nasty. Sure, there were issues or the occasional spat between two people running for office but for the most part people has some sense of decency as they campaigned. I'm always more impressed with candidates that can differentiate themselves from the pack and use persuasion instead of name calling to attract votes.

Not here.

It's enough to make Marathon Girl and I wish when you voted in the primaries on Tuesday that you could vote for "None of the Above."

An Acutally Funny Movie

There are two kinds of movies I don't watch often because they're rarely done well.

The first is scary movies. No, I'm not talking about the horror genre where someone chases you through a corn field with the chainsaw but movies that are actually supposed to be tense throughout and keep you guessing what's going on. The only recent movie I've seen that really scared me from beginning to end was The Ring. (See how far back I have to go!) Now that was a movie that not only had me tense but a truly creepy bad guy, and a great ending. (I know lots of people didn't like the ending but I thought it was a perfect ending for that movie. Too bad the sequel was horrible.)

The second is romantic comedies. Comedies of any type are difficult to write and I applaud those who try because humor writing is not my strong suit. Not only are these extremely difficult to make, when they do succeed the filmmakers usually are successful in the romantic part but fall far short on the comedy level. The last good romantic comedy I reviewed, The Lake House, fell into that category. That movie succeeded it the romantic department (and was a good film overall) but I don't recall laughing much when I watched.

But this last weekend Marathon Girl and I actually saw a romantic comedy that succeeded in the comedy end and mostly in the romantic end too. That movie? Music & Lyrics.

(Yes, I know that movie came out in February but with three young, active kids we rarely are able to see movies as soon as they come out.)

Okay the movie wasn't perfect. It was a little too cheesy in some areas and I'm not a huge fan of Drew Barrymore or her acting, but this movie had me rolling on the floor with laughter. So much so that I stopped caring about all the other faults the film had.

Here's the type of humor you can expect in the film:

Alex Fletcher: The best time I've had in the last fifteen years was sitting at that piano with you. Sophie Fisher: That's wonderfully sensitive... especially from a man who wears such tight pants. Alex Fletcher: It forces all the blood to my heart.

And this:

Alex Fletcher: Theoretically, I could pick you up because I will be taking a cab. Sophie Fisher: I could be standing outside at 9:40 in bright orange clothes, so you wouldn't miss me... Alex Fletcher: Oh, good, you'll get some road work done while you wait, then.

Or even this:

Alex Fletcher: [singing] Sleeping with a clown above my bed... [spoken] "Clown" is not right Sophie Fisher: That's "cloud." Why would you put a clown in your bed? Alex Fletcher: It would not be the first time.

For those who have always wondered how to make me laugh, that's exactly how to do it.

Music & Lyrics is the first romantic comedy in recent memory that I've not only enjoyed more than Marathon Girl but laughed more than a couple of time. I enjoyed it so much that when Marathon Girl's sister came over the next night I watched it again and laughed even harder the second time I saw it.

Three stars (out of four) for the funniest movie I've seen in years. A must see for those who find the above examples funny.

I Wish I Could Have Seen This Game

When it comes to sports, I always enjoy seeing an underdog beat a much "better" and more heralded team in a big game. Needless to say I don't watch much college football anymore because the BCS bowl games instead of a true playoff system never allows any schools from smaller conferences ever have a shot at the national title.

That being said, I really wish I would have watched I-AA Appellation State beat Michigan on Saturday. When it comes to sports, I live for moments like that

At Least They Eliminated the Stank

 

Last month the gym I’d been working out at since February closed temporarily for remodeling. This wasn’t a big inconvenience since there was another gym about an equal distance away that I could visit. Besides the gym I had been going to had a lot of old equipment and I was looking forward to using some newer stuff.

This week the gym reopened. And while there were a lot of needed improvements, there were a few things I thought the gym overlooked.

First the good.

Most of the new equipment is a huge improvement over the old stuff. For example, they have this news machine the works my triceps better than anything I’ve used before. I love it.

The gym seems more open feel to it. It doesn’t feel like there’s tons of equipment smashed against each other and the equipment is laid out in a more orderly fashion.

They put television screens throughout the gym instead of just the cardio section. This serves as a nice distraction between weight reps.

They improved that heating/air conditioning system so now there aren't hot and cold spots in the gym.

Finally, they somehow managed to eliminate that ever-present stank that seems to be part of locker rooms. I have no idea how they did or if the smell went away simply because the locker room went unused for six weeks

Now the bad.

Since the gym I frequent tends to be near a high school and a major university, there's a lot of want-to-be or ex-football players that visit the gym on a regular basis. By far the most popular piece of equipment in that gym is a standard weightlifting bench. Before they remolded everything there were five benches that could be used at anytime. Now there are only two. Yep, that's right, two weight benches. This has created some problems as instead of people using their own bench, they now have to share it with others. I prefer not to share, if possible.

Then the old benches that were used for more dumbbell-type exercises were adjustable so you could sit, if you wanted, at different angles to work your muscles differently. The new benches just lay flat. No option to raise parts of them at all.

Finally the old gym had plenty of those places where you could get a paper towel and wipe down the equipment after you're finished. Now, there's one location that located on the far end of the gym. This means that most people won't bother walking that distance just to wipe down the equipment. That new equipment is going to look nice very long at this rate. Yuck!

Overall, I'm glad the for the improvements but would have thought they'd put a little more effort into making it a little more friendly for those who spend a lot of time using free weights. The other lifters on see on a regular basis feel the same way. Complaints from me and other weightlifters have been taken at the front desk.

And, yes, I did thank them for getting rid of the stank!

Feels Like 2002 All Over Again

For the least six years I've subscribed to an email alert that sends me the latest Detroit Tigers games summary as soon as their game is over. For most of that time these email alerts were just kind of a way for me to keep in touch with the Tigers without reading about just how awful they were actually playing. Then last year everything changed. The Tigers, much to the surprise of everyone, became a contender in the American League and made it to the World Series. Instead of drudgery, these emails became my way to read about their latest success and savor the possibility of playoff run -- something I really hadn't experienced in over 15 years.

This year the Tigers entered the All-Star break as arguably the best team in baseball. They were hot and it looked like only the Red Sox might stand between them and a shot at another World Series.

Then something happened. The Tigers began to sputter. Their roar turned into a quiet meow. Since break they've gone an awful 18-27 and have only won one series against the lowly Twins. (They thankfully split a series with the hated Yankees this weekend.) They're now 2.5 games behind the Indians for the lead in the Central and 4 games behind the wildcard race.

Now those emails alerts have become drudgery. I open them waiting to read how the Tigers blew their latest game. It's like 2002 all over again.

Yet I still subscribe to those email blasts and probably always will. I'm still a Tiger fan no matter how awful they play.

I just wish those Tigers hadn't gotten my hopes up by playing so well the first half of this year.

I was just getting used to enjoying those emails.

There's No James A. Madison

Many of you may remember this blog entry about a public school in my old public school district that made the mistake of booking the wrong John Stewart for their fundraising event. Well that wonderful school district is back in the news after making another silly mistake.

Utah's James A. Madison Elementary School may have a nice ring to it, but there is a problem since the nation’s fourth president didn't have a middle initial.

No one is really sure how the "A" became included in the name, which was among those submitted by teachers, students and parents from the Ogden School District.

Principal Ross Lunceford told the Ogden [sic] Standard-Examiner he wasn't going to try to get to the bottom of the "A" imbroglio, but will have to have the school's marquee changed along with the greeting on the answering machine.

The school board will also vote next Wednesday to ratify the James Madison name change.

"It's not that critical of an issue. We'll just take the A out and call it James Madison," said board President Don Belnap, who told the newspaper he didn't notice the problem with the initial even though he was a history major in college.

I really think its time the Ogden City School District replaced their current logo

with the modified FarSide cartoon

Interview with HALO

HealingAfterLoss.org interviewed me a few weeks ago. That interview was published in their newsletter that came out today. Here's a summary of the interview. FTFC: What inspired you to write Room for Two?

Abel: There were two factors that inspired me to write Room for Two. The first was that I had a hard time finding books that I could relate to as a young widower. All I could find were self-help books or a handful of poorly-told first person accounts from others who had lost a spouse. I didn't find the self-help books all that helpful and thought the first person accounts rather condescending and preachy. Those authors would stop telling their story and assumed that I was feeling the exact same way or was going the exact same emotions. On some level I could relate to their stories but I felt like these authors arrogantly thought they had the answer for everyone who lost a spouse.

However, the biggest reason I decided to write the book was because complete strangers told me my story was inspiring. About two months after my late wife passed away, I started a blog about my day-to-day experiences as a young widower. The blog became rather popular and I started to receive emails from people all over the world. Though I received many emails from young widows or widowers, most emails came from people who were happily married and told me how my experience made them appreciate their spouse more. Many people told me I should turn my story into a book and share it with people, so I did.

FTFC: How does Room for Two differ from other books about young widows or widowers?

Abel: I just tried to tell my story. I didn't try to interpret my experience for the reader. My hope is that I wrote it well enough that people will still be able to relate to it on some level even if they didn't lose a spouse to suicide. I think there's a universal feeling of sadness and loss that most people can relate to. I also think people like stories that show people rising and overcoming obstacles that are placed in their way. I believe I told the story well enough that when others read it, they can relate to it as well – even if they haven't gone through the exact same experience.

FTFC: Is Room for Two only a book young widows or widowers would enjoy?

Abel: I think the audience the book is much broader than that though I think young widows and widowers will get more than other people out of it simply because they can probably relate to my experience on a deeper level than those who haven't lost a spouse. Friends, family members, or those who are dating a young widow or widower might find it a useful roadmap as to what their loved one might be experiencing. Anyone who enjoys a good love story or a story about overcoming life’s trials would also enjoy it.

FTFC: What are some issues in Room for Two young widows and widowers might particularly be able to relate to?

Abel: Aside from the grieving and loss issues, about half the book focuses on my dating experiences. I had two relationships in the year following my wife's death - one good the other bad. My stories might highlight some challenges not only young widows and widowers but what those dating them might experience as well.

FTFC: Was writing the book difficult?

Abel: I've always thought of the first draft of Room for Two as my own personal therapy. The first draft was also plain awful. However, once I had the story out on paper, I was able to take a step back and look at it objectively, edit it, and do the necessary rewriting to make it publishable.

FTFC: Are there any parts of the book that are still hard for you to read.

Abel: I still have a hard time reading the parts about my daughter, Hope. It was very fortunate that Hope was able to live as long as she did. The death of a child is something you never really get over. Even though it's been five years, I still can't read the parts about her without tearing up.

FTFC: Tell us a little about your life now? Does your story have a happy ending?

Abel: I've been happily married to a wonderful and beautiful woman named Julianna - the same Julianna that I date in the book - for four years. We have three kids and despite the stresses that come with raising a family, I couldn't be happier.

FTFC: Where can people learn more about Room for Two?

Abel: They can read a summary of Room for Two and the first chapter on my website: www.abelkeogh.com.

Echo Park by Michael Connelly

(This post is for TheFlyingRat and Nixtress)

Is there a better writer than Michael Connelly alive today? Maybe one or two, but not many, that’s for sure.

I just finished Echo Park and once again I'm blown away by Connelly ability not only to tell a story but to add depth and to his characters that make them not only believable put people that you care about.

In Echo Park we find homicide detective Harry Bosch haunted by the murder of Marie Gesto -- a case he was unable to solve for the last 13 years ago. Out of the blue Bosch learns a serial killer is willing to confess to her murder and many others in order to avoid the death penalty.

For Bosch, now part of the Open-Unsolved Unit, his job is his life. He has a passion for it that others he works with simply don't have. Bringing killers to justice and giving family members some sense of closure is what he lives for. He's revisited this case many times over the and still stays in contact with Marie's parents to give them occasional updates.

Because Connelly does a marvelous job with his characters, we understand why Bosch acts the way he does in pursuit of the truth even if we don't agree with them or they comes across as reckless and dangerous. We also feel Bosch's agony when he learns he may have missed a clue many years ago that could have solved the crime and prevented other deaths and how that spurs him to do everything in his power to bring the murderer to justice -- even if it means losing a woman he loves.

Connelly does an excellent job with the serial killer character and showing us the man's distain for others. I'm also glad Connelly doesn't follow the Hannibal Lecter route when it comes to his serial killers. He doesn't have to stoop to the level of showing gross acts of torture or sadism. We see his callus regard for life through the serial killer's interaction with Bosch and others and through police reports. The few moments where we see the true dark side of the killer are done perfectly to horrify and illustrate just how far to the dark side he's gone, not simply to gross out the readers. But, like most of Connelly's villains, we're also able to sympathize with him just a little when we learn what may have led him down his dark path of destruction.

The plot is full of twists and turns that are real and don't feel contrived. The writing, like most of Connelly's work, is clear and crisp perfectly detailed so you feel like you're right behind Bosch as he pursues the truth.

A final good think about Connelly's books is that you don't have to read previous Bosch novels to understand his character or the story. If you haven't read any Connelly before, this book is a good one to introduce yourself to a wonderful writer and a thrilling story.

Four stars (out of four) for the thrilling and page-turning Echo Park.

You Don't Have to Join PayPal

I've received a couple of emails from people who want to purchase a personalized copy of Room for Two but believe they have to join PayPal to do so. For those who may think this, you don't have to join PayPal to purchase a personalized copy of my book. All you need is a credit card. From my webstore, after you've selected your shipping destination and entered in who you would like the book personalized to, click Proceed to Checkout. You'll be directed to PayPal's website where you can review your order.

On PayPal's site you'll see the following message right above Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover card logos that reads: "Don't have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account (where available). Continue."

Click on Continue and that will take you to a screen where you can enter in your credit card information (or bank account if you want to pay that way) and place your order.

Though PayPal would like you to join them, it's not required to purchase personalized copies of my book.

If anyone has further questions about this, feel free to send me an email.

Order a Personalized Copy Today

Order a Personalized Copy Today

You might notice a new image on my website that looks something like this.

If you click on them, they'll take you to my web store, keoghcreative.com. At this store you can order personalized copies of my book, Room for Two. (You can also order non-personalized copies for family and friends if you want too. The personalization is optional.) This is a great chance to get early copies of the book.

Room for Two is also listed on Amazon.com though the copies from the publisher haven't arrived at Amazon's warehouse yet. If you prefer or order that way, you can do so by clicking on these icons that are also conveniently located on my website. Just remember that it might take 1-2 weeks before they receive books from the publisher and are able to ship it.

If you're looking for Room for Two in bookstores, be patient. It usually takes 4-6 weeks after the publisher receives copies for them to arrive on store shelves. I’m not sure at this time which stores will be carrying it but it won't reach shelves until mid-September or early October.

If you can't wait that long, order a copy from my store today!