For those in Arizona, just a reminder as to where I’ll be this Saturday (May 17): Pioneer Books 2820 E University Dr # 102 Mesa, Arizona 85213 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Marathon Girl Knows What She's Talking About
Since I’m very busy at work, in the middle of writing a second book, and trying to be a good husband/father, the most convenient time for me to work out is during my lunch hour. This isn’t a big deal. There’s a gym close to my work and the exercise in the middle of the day keeps me sharp and focused for the remainder of the afternoon. The only downside to using the gym is, on days that I run, I’m forced to use a treadmill. I’d much rather be outside running – especially on days like today when the temperatures are in the high fifties and there’s nothing but blue skies and sunshine outside my office window. But since my office doesn’t have a shower handy, I go to the gym.
When I started running at the gym last summer, Marathon Girl informed me that running on a treadmill is a lot different than running outside. She said to best way mimic an outdoor run, I needed to make sure I was running on the treadmill with an incline of three percent. Running with no incline, she said, is like running downhill. As a result when you try to run outside again, you’ll struggle.
Of course, I ignored her advice. Sure, Marathon Girl’s a world-class runner, won two marathons, etc. but what could she possibly know about running on a treadmill? Not much, I thought.
So I had to learn my lesson the hard way. Back in February, Marathon Girl and I went on a run together. I had no expectations of keeping up with her but I was surprised at how hard the five mile run was for me. I had to stop three times and catch my breath.
During one of these breaks Marathon Girl asked if I was having a hard time with the course.
“Yeah,” I said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”
“Do you get winded when you run at the gym?”
“No.”
“Are you running with an incline on the treadmill?”
I looked away. I wanted to blame the twenty pounds of muscle I’ve added in the last year, the cold weather, or anything except for the fact I hadn’t listened to her.
“That’s what I thought,” Marathon Girl said as she turned and started running again.
The next time I ran at the gym, I added a slight incline, slowly raising it every week until I can now complete a four mile run in under thirty minutes with a three percent incline.
Thankfully, all that hard work paid off.
Last Monday I didn’t have a chance to work out during lunch. After I got home Marathon Girl suggested we put the kids in the stroller and go running together. Of course she kicked my butt, but I was able to keep up with her and complete the entire run in a decent time without stopping or getting winded – even while pushing a stroller with Aidan in it.
After the run, Marathon Girl put her arm around me and complemented me on being able to keep up with her.
“I take it you’ve been running with an incline on the treadmill.”
“Yeah,” I said. “How on earth did you know.”
Marathon Girl just smiled at me and walked into the house.
I’m never ignoring her running advice again.
LOST: Cabin Fever
Last week, I wrote that that the Island was rearing its head again, supplanting Ben as the main character? And last night episode was about the mysterious Island trying to save itself.
Throughout LOST, most of the survivors have a history of seeing people or things from their past. This episode really confirmed that these dreams and visions the survivors are the Island’s way of communicating with people. Horace appears in Locke’s dream telling him how to find the cabin – although it was really Hurley that saw it first – and then Jack’s father is the one speaking for Jacob. If only future Jack could find a way to talk to his father. Maybe then he wouldn’t turn into a drunken mess and find the island.
One of the themes of LOST from the beginning is that fate or destiny brought many of the survivors to the Island. This episode reinforced that idea. I felt that it should have been Locke, not Ben, the Island really wants running things. Despite Locke’s best efforts – messing up (intentionally?) the test Richard Alpert gave him as a young boy or refusing to go to science camp in Portland as a teen – he can’t escape the Island’s call. (Maybe that explains Ben’s almost timid and mousy behavior. I was so disappointed. He’s so fun to watch when he’s on the warpath.)
And Michael has a destiny too. He just can’t die – no matter who wants to kill him. His mission isn’t over – yet. I’m not sure if he’ll be alive at the end of the series. I’m guessing the Island has some important work he wants Michael to accomplish before the island’s magical protection is gone.
As for Locke saying they had to “move” the island, maybe that’s why the despondent, drunk Jack of the future is so frustrated: The Island’s moved and Jack’s unable to find its new location.
Exercise Rocks!
I love exercise. Nothing invigorates my mind or body like exercise. After feeling languid all morning, I went to the gym during lunch. I feel refreshed, revitalized, and ready to knock all my assignment at work out of the park and write another chapter in my book tonight! (After LOST, of course :-) .)
Orson Scott Card vs. J.K. Rowling
Orson Scott Card’s written some interesting commentary on J.K. Rowling and her frivolous lawsuit against Steven Vander Ark and his Harry Potter reference book Lexicon.
Card writes:
If Steven Vander Ark, the author of Lexicon, had written fiction that he claimed was original, when it was actually a rearrangement of ideas taken from the Harry Potter books, then she'd have a case.
But Lexicon is intended only as a reference book for people who have already paid for their copies of Rowling's books. Even though the book is not scholarly, it certainly falls within the realm of scholarly comment.
Rowling's hypocrisy is so thick I can hardly breathe: Prior to the publication of each novel, there were books about them that were no more intrusive than Lexicon. I contributed to one of them, and there was no complaint about it from Rowling or her publishers because they knew perfectly well that these fan/scholar ancillary publication were great publicity and actually boosted sales.
But now the Harry Potter series is over, and Rowling claims that her "creative work" is being "decimated."
Of course, she doesn't claim that it's the Lexicon that is harming her "creative work" (who's she borrowing from this time?); it's the lawsuit itself! And since she chose to bring the suit, whose fault is it? If she had left Vander Ark alone to publish his little book and make his little bit of money, she wouldn't be distracted from her next novel.
When I first heard about Rowling’s lawsuit, I thought she was overreacting. I sure didn't see any copyright infringement by Vander Ark – especially since Rowling herself has praised Vander Ark’s website and claimed to have used it at times when writing her books.
For the record, if I ever write a series of books that are even a tenth as popular as the Harry Potter series, I’d be thrilled if someone wanted to write a reference guide or a scholarly work to complement it. Rowling should have been flattered that there was someone out there that cared enough to actually compile such a guide. It sounds like her success has gone to her head.
I’m probably one of the few people that has never read a single Harry Potter book. Card’s article, along with Rowling’s despicable behavior, makes me never want to even read any of them. (OK. Who am I kidding? I’ll probably give in once my kids express interest in reading them or want me to read the books out lout to them. But I will wait until then.)
You can read Card’s entire article here.
The judge is expected to rule on the case Friday. Stay tuned for updates.
Iron Man
Note: This is my second post today. Scroll down to read my other entry or click here.
Despite being somewhat of a comic book geek growing up, I never read a single Iron Man comic. I couldn’t have told you anything about Tony Stark (the man behind the Iron Man’s mask) or any of Iron Man’s special powers. None of that, however, stopped me from going to see the Iron Man movie on opening day.
*** Minor Spoilers Follow ***
Robert Downy Jr. plays Tony Stark, the rich and famous owner of Stark Industries – the world’s top weapons manufacturer. Stark is out in Afghanistan demonstrating his latest weapon to the U.S. military. But he’s captured by a powerful Afgan warlord who demands Stark create the same weapon for him. Instead Stark creates a suit that allows him to escape and starts him on the path to becoming Iron Man.
Part of the first superhero movie is setting up how the person actually becomes the hero and Iron Man is no different. After his escape, Stark begins to question the purpose and mission of his company becomes obsessed with building another suit. Yet this part of the movie doesn’t seem to drag. There’s enough testing or the suit gaffes and company-issues with Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) second in command that it keeps the plot and tension going. And when the action gets going – look out! There’s a surprising amount of real-world tension that many superhero movies lack.
Iron Man is one helluva superhero – one that I actually admire because – like Batman – Tony Stark has no superpowers. Instead or special powers or genetic mutations, it’s Starks’s obsessive drive to make the world a better place that leads him to become Iron Man. (And all these years I thought it was only Bruce Wayne/Batman who fit the bill. It’s nice to be proven wrong.)
You don’t have to be an Iron Man or even a comic book fan to appreciate this movie. Downy Jr. delivers a wonderful performance and the writers create a wonderful complex and driven character that fun to watch even when he’s not in his Iron Man suit.
The only place the movie falls flat is the tension and "relationship" (I use that word very loosely) between Stark and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Not enough time is spent on the Potts character or their relationship so romantic tension between the two characters in nonexistent. The scene where Stark tries to make a move is painfully bad. Thankfully, that’s only a small part of the film.
Overall, Iron Man is a fun summer movie and a must see for anyone looking for a well written, action-packed thrill ride. Oh, and if you sit through the credits, there’s a nice surprise at the end. Can you say, Iran Man 2 in 2010? I hope so!
Iron Man *** ½ stars (out of 4)
LOST: Something Nice Back Home
Sometimes I wished I lived on the mysterious island of LOST. Sure, I’d have to put up with a smoke monster, Ben and the rest of the Others, a bunch of crazy plane crash survivors, and mercenaries hell-bent on killing everyone, but the one thing I wouldn’t have to put up with: Snow on the first of May. That’s right. Snowflakes fell yesterday and we had to turn the heat on because it was so darn cold. Where’s that global warming when you really need it? At least on the island I’d be running around in tropical weather. :-)
But on to last night’s episode…
It appears the Island will not go gently into that good night. Maybe it read my last post where I raved about Ben being such a great main character and decided it was time to come back into the picture. Whether it be taking Claire off into the jungle by her father(?!) or letting Miles know where Rousseau and Karl are buried, the Island wants to get back in the game. My gut tells me that despite everything Ben and Charles Widmore are doing to possess the Island, it will not have masters. It is really in control of things.
A little confused about when the Kate and Jack romance begins. I’m assuming it’s after he becomes drunkenly obsessive about getting back to the island. (One site dated the paper Jack was reading as August 31, 2007 but wasn’t sure.) Too bad. I liked the Jack who was totally focused on getting back to the island. I’m sure they’ll find a way back either next season or the final one.
The best part of the episode was the Sawyer/Claire/Miles trek back to the beach. Filled with tension. Now we know why Aaron isn’t with his mother anymore. Of course the question is what happened to her. (I think the island wanted to protect her. But why not Aaron?)
Everything comes back to the mysterious Island. One day it will reveal all of its secrets.
Public Appearances
If you check out the menu bar, you'll notice I've added a Sightings tab. This is where I'll list my upcoming public appearances. There are two in the coming weeks. Book Signing
May 17, 2008 Pioneer Books 2820 E University Dr # 102 Mesa, Arizona 85213 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Directions
Writing Conference
June 7, 2008 Cedar Fort Writing Conference 2373 West 700 South Springville, Utah 84663 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Presenters include Abel Keogh, Janet Jensen, and Eloise Owens. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. Seating is limited. To register call 801.489.4084.
Update: You can find out the details of the writing confrence here.
Young Widows Unite
Ember sent me an interesting article that appeared in the (Ogden) Standard-Examiner last month about a young widow support group.
After Kimberly Love Killpack's husband died, she didn't want to see anyone but her immediate family -- and the stranger who sent a book to her during the viewing.
The book, "Tear Soup," was left to help comfort Killpack. Inside was a picture of another young widow by the name of Kimberly Kemp and her four children.
"I immediately called her," said Killpack, 43, of Pleasant View.
"She came up that night, and we talked for hours. It was so nice to talk to someone who said she knew how I felt and really meant it."
Kemp, 45, of North Ogden, said she knew she had to reach out to others because others had reached out to her…. Kemp told Killpack about other widows she had met, and they decided to arrange a time they could all get together.
"I met Michelle from a group in the Layton/Kaysville area. Her husband passed away two weeks after Sam. I knew I had to include her," Killpack said.
"Tonya was on the news a month after Sam died, and I had this overwhelming feeling she would be an important part of my life. I had known Angie's family ... We all became soul mates -- and we saved each other."
The group has grown from two women to more than 40.
Two thoughts.
First, I’m glad there’s a group like this out there. I know I would have liked another young widower to talk with after the late wife died. I felt so alone during that time it would have been nice to have another person to talk to who understood what I was going through. I think the service these women are performing is a vital one for those who have lost a spouse.
The second is because of the differences between men and women, I wonder if young widowers would ever form a group like this. I can see a couple of young widowers getting together and talking for a night over food and drink. However, forming some sort of social group that meets monthly (or on a regular basis) doesn’t seem like something most men would do. It seems like after an initial meeting, asking questions, and getting things off their chest, they’d lose interest in the group.
Awhile back Nothing Good About Grief belonged to a widow group in Florida that met occasionally. I remember reading about the gatherings she occasionally attended but, like the Utah group, it seemed to be comprised of just women. I don’t ever remember her mentioning men attending unless they were dating one of the widows. (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
Thinking back to my own experience, though I would have appreciated someone or a group to talk with all those years ago, I doubt I would have met up with other young widowers more than once unless I became good friends. But I would have been happy with the fact that I talked with another young widower and could have emailed him if a future question or issues came up. A monthly meeting with other young widowers wouldn’t have been necessary for me.
LOST: The Shape of Things to Come
Sometimes I wonder if LOST would have lost its way if it wasn’t for Benjamin Linus.
Before Ben became part of the series, we had a bunch of intriguing characters who survived a plane wreck but none of them could really be considered a main character of the show. (You could make a strong case that Jack or Locke fit this bill. I would say that the island itself was the main character through the first season and half.)
After Ben was introduced, we saw how everything revolves around him, his decisions, and his actions. All the other characters are responding and reacting to whatever he does. And last night’s episode illustrated this perfectly. We saw how Ben manipulated Sayid into becoming an assassin and how Hurly, Claire, Sawyer and others now rely in him for their lives, and how even the rich and powerful Charles Widmore is simply reacting to whatever Ben does.
But it isn’t the fact that the LOST universe revolves around Ben that makes him a great main character. The writers have shown us enough of his background and human side that we feel sorry for him. We’ve seen enough of his sad childhood and his unloving father that we can’t help but see that maybe part of the reason he’s evil is because, in part, some of his past experiences.
And even though we know he’s very evil and manipulative person, we couldn’t help but feel his shock and sadness when his disavowment of Alex backfired and she was executed. No one really blamed him for turning the smoke monster on the soldiers. And now his quest for revenge in flashforwards doesn’t seem pointless – even if we don’t agree with his actions we can last least see the motivation behind them.
Ben makes LOST tick. And I’m looking forward to (hopefully) two more seasons of this intriguing character.