Review - A Monstrous Regiment of Women

I jumped into this second book in the 'Mary Russell' series, hoping it would be as good or better than the first novel, The Beekeeper's Apprentice. Beyond that, I really had no expectations.

The book started out a little slower than I might have liked for a sequel. However, the genre and the way the book is set up essentially required a certain amount of buildup in order to set the plot for the newest mystery in the series.

Thus, even though we already had a great deal of information about the relationship between Mary Russell and the famous Sherlock Holmes, it was vital that we learned more about Mary's studies, her "coming of majority" and receiving her inheritance, her interest in scripture/religion, and basically take the time to get to know her better.

It's been a bit since I read the first book, but it seemed like this novel focused a lot more on Mary's character and let her come into the limelight a bit more. In Beekeeper, she did hold her own with Holmes in many ways, but he was often an overpowering factor. In Monstrous Regiment, the general setting (a feminist organization), Holmes was forced to take the passenger seat (he most definitely wasn't relegated to the back seat).

Holmes was still very present with all of his precise observations and intense/eccentric behaviors. But Mary definitely came "of majority" both in terms of receiving her inheritance but also in terms of being a viable character and a force to be reckoned with.

The mystery of the book was developed very gradually. Mary has a school friend who is having some 'man trouble' and seeks Mary's advice. Before we go too far into thinking that he will be at the heart of the plot, Mary is quickly invited to attend a 'service' at this "Regiment of Women" where she becomes very intrigued by the woman who controls the organization. Her intrigue grows to a combination of admiration, curiosity and finally suspicion. A handful of coincidental deaths lead Mary to dig deeper and to use some of Holmes's influence to utilize police (and other - Mycroft) records to investigate the society.

The "man problems" subplot managed to stay in the periphery due to the man's drug addiction and I really liked the way King wove the drug addiction throughout the main plot as well. Her descriptions of the "high" and "low" points of addiction and recovery were very vivid and especially intriguing as Mary experienced some of that dark underworld.

The final unraveling of the mystery happened a bit too quickly for me after the slow buildup. Fortunately there was an intense period towards the end that helped bridge the gap. The 'revelation' phase did work out pretty well, though part of me still felt like there were a number of unfair additions (primarily who the real villain was) but there was enough previous buildup to make it work.

So overall, I really enjoyed this book. I had a lot of fun getting to know Russell a bit better and to learn more about her interactions with Holmes (there was on surprise referred to early on that then hangs over the entire book and partially resolves itself at the end…I'd heard rumors of this from my wife when she read the series, but the way Holmes presented this to Mary still shocked me). The Regiment of Women was very interesting both in terms of their makeup in the plot and the ideas and concepts presented. There were a lot of very interesting religious and educational discussions that were a lot of fun.

This book is definitely a sequel to its predecessor. If you wanted to read it as a standalone, you could certainly do that without missing out on too much. But the first book was good as well so I'd suggest that if you're interested at all. I'm looking forward to reading through the rest of the series and so far I can heartily recommend it.


4 out of 5 stars

View all my reviews

Review - The Three Musketeers (Play)

I was very excited to see The Three Musketeers on the schedule over at Hale Centre Theatre this year. I've always enjoyed adventure stories like this one with the swordplay and the intrigue. I've seen numerous movie versions of the show and really enjoy them. My favorite movie production is the version Disney put out many years ago…they had a stellar cast which I absolutely loved and the writing and directing was a lot of fun.

So anyway, when we got our tickets and arrived at Hale, I was excited for a fun filled night. Generally speaking, that's what I got, although I must sadly say I was a little let down. Part of that was that I wanted the repartee of Tim Curry, the interactions between Keifer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Oliver Platt or even the goofy but fun Chris O'Donnell. But even distancing myself from the movie version, there were still a number of points where I was less than satisfied.

Right from the beginning, the swordplay was done pretty well and it set the tone for the rest of the show. The choreography on the sword fight was good, but it felt a little forced and over-the-top (even for a stage production).

I'm sure part of the intent was to give us audible investment as well as visual, but the various grunts/huffs/groans/etc of the actors felt a little distracting (almost cheesy).

Even outside of the swordplay, the general mannerisms and line presentation sometimes had a little too much passion behind it. Don't get me wrong, I applaud the enthusiasm and the energy the actors gave, but sometimes it felt like too much for the scene they were presenting.

As we got into the dialog and general interaction, I was quickly worried that the forced accents (not quite sure of the intended nationality of some of them) would become distracting. Most of the time they didn't, but there were sometimes when the dropping of an "R" or the presentation of a "soft A" felt a little strained and made me wish that they would all just speak "american." If an accent sounds forced, it's distracting and breaks the illusion. It's easier for me to believe no accent than a strained french/english/european accent. If it's not sounding natural, don't do it.

My other qualm with the show is something I'm not sure how they could best avoid…but I had hoped they would. For those who have been to Hale, you know they have a moderate sized stage "in the round." For those familiar with The Three Musketeers, you'll realize that it is a story that takes place in a wide variety of locations often involving a lot of action. Unfortunately these two elements combined for, what I felt to be, a LOT of transitions that sadly broke up the momentum. There were a TON of "fade to black" moments…lots of very short scenes followed by a quick fade to black for prepping another short scene followed closely by another fade to black. Overall, I think they did a good job working with what they had to work with…I'm not sure the best way to overcome this, but there were a few times when the energy and tension just fell apart for me as we faded to black and waited a few seconds for the next part of the action.

I honestly feel a little bad being so negative in this review…I've seen quite a few shows at Hale and have really loved them. I certainly admire the cast and crew for putting on another stellar show. While I have some complaints about the way it played out, I don't want anyone to think I am degrading their talent, skills, or resources. With all of the great shows I've seen at Hale (and I'll continue to go there), I was a little let down and felt like this was one time where they failed to meet my expectations.

I still enjoyed the story and this has rekindled my desire to read the book. I enjoyed the production but if I had it to do again, I would likely save the money to purchase tickets to a different show and instead go watch the movie. The show plays for another week though there were rumors they were sold out. Still, if you happen to go see it (or if you've already seen it), let me know what you think. I'd be curious to hear other people's opinions.


2.5 out of 5 stars

(NOTE: All images taken from Hale Centre's flickr photostream)

LOST??? I am....

OK, so I literally never watched a full episode of lost (I saw about 2/3 of the pilot and a few minutes of other episodes here and there), so I have absolutely no idea what’s going on with any of this...

Strangely, all of these “unanswered questions”, actually make me want to watch the show MORE. I’m not quite sure why...

Enjoy the video:

Wednesday Writings #11 - Just a Dream?

Today's "Wednesday Writing" is a continuation of a story started back with Morning Machinations, and then continued in Communication Between Friends, Daydreaming Decisions, Off to the Park, Driven,  Coming Home and finally in Revealing Photographs.

I look forward to any thoughts, suggestions, reactions or critiques.  One of my biggest worries right now is trying to balance the blog posts such that they can advance the story by keeping some excitement/interest building while also not rushing the story so much to make it feel cheesy.  In other words, keeping you from getting bored while still making sure there are enough details and intrigue in short blog posts.  My other worry is a problem I often have...of trying to make the "middle" of the story work (as far as revealing/solving the mystery) and then producing an acceptable/believable conclusion.

So far, so good.  I guess we'll see.

Enjoy.

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Just a Dream?

Morning came sooner than either girl hoped. The radio from Gabby's alarm actually woke Julie up long before her friend. Julie shuffled into the bathroom and tried to work out the aches and knots in her shoulders and back. Gabby really didn't have a comfortable couch. Julie had slept very fitfully, and the couch was only part of the problem. When she left the bathroom and saw Gabby stumbling out of her bedroom, it was evident that neither girl had a restful night's sleep.

After a few minutes of near silent puttering, both girls felt their way into the kitchen and slumped over the table. Julie tried to put forth her most enthusiastic smile but she could tell it came off more like a tired grimace. She watched as Gabby pulled some glasses from the cabinet and then stared at the fridge.

"You ok Gabby?" After another moment of silent, Gabby cleared her throat and, mumbling something, quickly flung the fridge door open. A bottle of salad dressing flew from the door onto the floor and other bottles and jars rattled slightly. Gabby stooped slightly and scrutinized the contents.

"What is it Gabby?" Julie stood and walked over to stand by her friend.

"I was worried there was going to be another note on my juice."

"Is there?" Julie craned to see over Gabby's shoulders.

"No. There's nothing." Gabby grabbed the carton of juice and took it to the table. Julie stared in the fridge for a moment, grabbed a cup of yogurt and sat down. For a moment, neither girl said anything. Gabby at a banana while Julie slowly spooned bites of yogurt into her mouth.

"So what do you want to do Gabby? About all this, I mean?"

"I really don't know Jules."

"I still think we could go to the police."

"Yeah. But what would they do? What could they do? Besides laugh at us and call it some big prank. I mean, nobody's been hurt yet. No laws have been broken."

"Did you forget I was picked up last night for breaking and entering? And what about whoever broke into your house to deliver the first note? And the car? I'll bet the car is stolen. We could have them investigate that."

"Sure. Tell them I just happen to have a very expensive, very nice stolen car. And that somebody just gave me the keys along with a couple hundred bucks cash. They'd either laugh me out of the office or lock me up. No, I don't think the police can help with this."

"Then what?"

"I don't know. I guess we do what the last note said and wait for new instructions." She finished off her juice and carried the glass to the sink and stood, staring out the window.

"Who knows when that will be. We need to do something now. What about the photo albums. We could take those to the police. Have them see what they can find out about Evan."

Gabby just shook her head as she turned back around.

"I just don't think the police are the answer Jules. I agree that we need to find Evan. We need to get him to talk to us. To tell us more about what he knows. He gave me that wedding album for a reason. I think it's so I'll trust him. Trust that if I loved him enough to marry him, that I should be willing to trust him."

"What are you talking about? You did NOT marry him. That album is a hoax. Those pictures are some crazy photoshop prank. You haven't met him before the party. You've never been married. This is all some cruel cruel joke and it has to stop."

The fatigue and aching muscles made it difficult for Julie to keep her emotions in check. She was on the verge of shouting and had to fight down her frustration and try to show Gabby the sympathy she deserved. As their eyes met, Julie noticed that Gabby's were filling with tears. Julie stood and pulled Gabby into a hug.

"I'm sorry Gabby. I don't want to hurt you, but you know this isn't real. It can't be real."

Gabby led them to the couch and picked up the wedding album. She flipped a few pages and then stopped at the image of her and her mother.

"I know it's not real. But I want it to be. Even if I don't marry Evan, I want my mom back. I miss her so much Jules. I miss her so much."

Julie wrapped her arm around Gabby and pulled their shoulders together. Suddenly, Gabby turned her attention to the other book that had fallen onto the floor and lay open to one of the multi-colored drawings.

"What's that?" She pulled away from Julie and bent to pick up the book.

"I don't know. It's the other book that was in the backpack. Didn't you look at it? It's just bizarre."

"How did….it's not…I don't understand…" Gabby slowly turned through the abstract colored swirls and blots. When she reached the formal, linear, mechanical looking sketches, she fanned through a few pages briefly but then returned to focus on one of the colored images. She drew her fingers across the page, tracing a harsh red line that spiraled around the top of the paper and then ended in a wild blob of red that looked like an angry stormcloud.

"What is it Gabby?"

Without a word, Gabby stood and walked to her bedroom. Julie picked up the discarded album and looked at the picture in front of her. Slightly off center was a pair of humanoid blobs colored a grayish green. From one of them a series of jutting straight orange, yellow and blue lines shot out an inch like a strange circle of lightning. From the other came the red line that extended to the top of the page and spiraled around before ending in the large red cloud. All around the image random purple and green squiggles and blobs fought to frame the image.

Julie couldn't understand why this image would have meant anything to Gabby. She looked up as Gabby walked back into the room carrying another binder. She sat on the couch and lay the closed binder on the table next to the other one. Julie looked into Gabby's eyes with growing confusion.

"This is a dream journal I made when I was a young kid. I kept having recurring dreams. Nightmares really. There was a time when they would wake me up nearly every night. My mom convinced me that I should make a journal of the dreams. That by putting them on paper, I would be able to make sense of them and hopefully make them go away. At first, it didn't help. But after a while, the dreams came less and less frequently. Finally, they stopped coming and I was able to sleep again. Off and on through the years, I would still have the dreams. Sometimes even now I wake up in a cold sweat with these images swirling all around me."

Gabby opened the binder. The inside cover said "Gabrielle's Dream Journal" and was decorated with the innocent flowers and horses of a young girl. She turned through the next few pages of handwritten notes and then stopped on a full page drawing. She slid her dream journal next to the notebook from the backpack. The two images where identical. Even down to a small tear and a large diagonal crease on the left side of the page.

"I showed my journal to my mom. She and I read many books on dream analysis and talked through a lot of my fears and anxieties. No one else has ever seen this book. Through my childhood I kept it buried in my dresser drawer under my sweaters. Since I moved out, it's sat buried at the bottom of a box in my closet."

Julie reached out and pulled the two books closer to her, bending down to stare at the images. Even under the closest scrutiny, the two pictures were identical. From the position of the lines and colors on the page to the actual strokes of crayon and the imperfections of the paper.

"They're the same Gabby. Exactly the same. This is impossible."

The girls continued to stare at the books; Gabby trying to work out the impossibility of her drawings ending up in a binder given to her by Evan; Julie trying diligently to find some difference, any difference that would prove some sort of strange conspiracy to frighten them. Neither girl was able to come up with anything to satisfy their questions.

Both girls jumped at a sudden eruption of sound coming from down the hall. After anxious glances at each other, they stood and followed the rhythmic buzzing sound into the bathroom. In the cabinet under the sink, Gabby pulled out and turned off a portable alarm clock. Dangling from a string tied to the clock was a plain white envelope with GABRIELLE written across the front in block letters. Gabby slumped to the floor, leaned back against the bathtub and took a deep breath. She looked to Julie, who shook her head and reached for the envelope. Before she could grab it, Gabby pulled it slightly away, slid her finger under the flap and tore open the seal. Inside was a blue piece of paper in the shape of a bird and another hundred dollar bill. She glanced at the words on the note and then held them over so Julie could see.

8:45, FIDELITY TOWER OFFICE BUILDING, NORTH LOBBY, ELEVATOR TO FLOOR 16

Gabby looked briefly at Julie and then at her watch. Without saying a word, she stood, stepped across Julie's outstretched and started for her bedroom.

"You're not going are you?"

Julie stood and ran out into the hallway then down to Gabby's bedroom to watch Gabby rifling through her drawers and closet then rapidly throwing on fresh clothes.

"Gabby. Just wait."

"There's no time Jules. It's already five after eight. You know how traffic is into downtown. If I'm going to be there on time, I have to go now."

Gabby raced past Julie and back into the bathroom where she splashed water on her face and pulled a brush through her hair to try and minimize the just-woke-up-frizzled-look. Unsatisfied, but out of time, she went to the living room and through the binders, along with her own dream journal, into the backpack, which she then slung over her shoulder before turning back to look at Julie.

"Are you coming?"

Julie started to shake her head, knowing this was a bad idea, then decided it was a worse idea to let Gabby go alone.

"I'll be right there. Let me grab my bag. I'll change my clothes in the car."

As Julie turned to pick up her own bag, Gabby sprinted across the room and nearly tackled Julie pulling her into a hug.

"Thanks Jules. Thank you. I know you don't want to, but I really need you."

She released the hug and beamed a huge grin. Julie smirked and shook her head.

"I'm just trying to keep this from going from bad to worse. Just promise me that you'll listen to me when this thing goes too far. I don't want you getting hurt."

Gabby grabbed Julie's arm and squeezed gently.

"I will. Thank you Julie."

A few minutes later, Gabby suppressed giggles as Julie commented on the BMW while changing her clothes and brushing her teeth in the passenger seat. The windows were lightly tinted, but even then a commuter next to them nearly swerved off the road while Julie pulled a T-shirt over her head and fluffed her hair in the mirror.

Thirty minutes later they were circling the streets downtown looking for an open parking spot within a few blocks of the Fidelity Tower. Julie continued explaining what a bad idea this whole thing was. Gabby's exhaustion left her on the edge of uncontrollable laughter that burst out every time Julie complained. Finally they parked the car and walked the three blocks to the office building. At 8:41, they pushed into the lobby.

Pelican Plunge at Castaway Cay

Mmm…ever since they announced the Disney Cruise Line many years ago, I was very excited about it. I'm a huge fan of Disney in general and the Disney Parks/Experience in particular. I have always loved Disneyland since I went as a kid and have had tons of fun taking my own kids a couple of times now. I've been to Disney World a couple of times and absolutely love the immensity and immersive nature of that experience and I hope to take my kids out to Florida before too long.

In addition to my love of Disney, I absolutely love the beach…especially a nice warm sandy beach like those in the Caribbean. Lynette and I went to the Bahamas on our honeymoon and it was fabulous. In various trips to east and west coast and even mountain lakes like Tahoe, I just love relaxing on the warm sand and listening to the water lap on the shore…or paddling around in the surf as it breaks against the sand. It's just awesome.

So, the Disney Cruise Line experience is something I really want to try out. A couple of days in WDW, some time at sea and then some time on a "private" Disney island, Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. Sounds wonderful.

Just the other day Lynette suggested we create a "Disney Cruise" account where we'll just keep socking money and whenever we have enough for the trip, that's when we take it. Sounds like a good plan to me.

To help make the fun more enticing, Disney just put out this video showing some additions they're making to add water park style fun to the warm waters on their private island. Just another part of the experience. Good times. :)

Has anybody been on a Disney Cruise?  What did you think?  Did you take kids?  What did they think?

What motivates you?

I know the Internet attention span is generally 2 minutes or less...so the 10 minutes of this video may dissuade some of you.

But you really ought to take a few minutes to watch/listen. It's a pretty cool speech about what really motivates people. It's a paradigm shift that I've seen a number of businesses and organizations make but I'd like to see the idea take hold to an even greater extent.

Utah "Board Game Convention" 2010

It looks like this year's board gaming adventure will be on a smaller scale than last year. Rather than multiple days with multiple sponsors, etc, it's a single day with (so far) no sponsors.

Never fear though…even though it's on a smaller scale, it looks like so far there's a lot of enthusiasm and should still be plenty of killer gaming. Also, because it's a smaller scale, the price is quite a bit less than in previous years…only $5. The entry fee is actually a donation to the Game Club to help build their library, so not only are you getting a great day of gaming, but you're also supporting a great cause.

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, June 26 and come meet up with the "Great Move Game Club" for a fun filled day of board game nirvana. I'm hoping to be there through the day and may try to bring along my wife and kids (Jason was feeling a little left out last year).

Hit up the forum on Board Game Geek or the Event Page on Facebook for more information or to RSVP.

Hope to see you there. :)

No Worries

Wednesday Writings #10 - Revealing Photographs

Today's "Wednesday Writing" is a continuation of a story started back with Morning Machinations, and then continued in Communication Between Friends, Daydreaming Decisions, Off to the Park, Driven and finally in Coming Home.

I look forward to any thoughts, suggestions, reactions or critiques.

Enjoy.

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Revealing Photographs

It was nearly 45 minutes before Julie knocked on the door but Gabby hadn't even noticed the passage of time. She was too engrossed in scanning through photo after photo of her own wedding. Julie started apologizing for taking so long to arrive and then demanding an explanation from Gabby about everything that was going on. Without speaking a word, Gabby answered by motioning Julie to the sofa and sliding the scrapbook along the coffee table for her friend to see.

Julie glanced sideways at the book and started to protest but as she watched the pages turn, she fell silent. Even though Gabby had been staring at the images for nearly an hour, she was still confused and shocked every time she turned a page.

The book was filled with nearly a hundred pages of pictures, starting with a few silly pictures of she and Evan dating and getting engaged, then documenting their amazing wedding day and concluding with pictures from a honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean.

Some of the pages included dates and informed Gabby that she and Evan had married in June. But in June of next summer. A gorgeous wedding invitation confirmed the date and provided additional details about the ceremony and the various meals, receptions and other celebrations surrounding the event.

Gabby stared incredulously at her own blissful smile in the pictures. In one picture, Julie stood next to Gabby, their arms around each others' shoulders and their heads leaning together. Below that was a picture of Julie catching the wedding bouquet.Another image was an action shot of Gabby twirling around in her dress to show off its shimmering beauty.

She had to admit that it was a gorgeous dress. Everything in the pictures was beautiful and matched so many of the dreams Gabby had for her wedding day. From the blue and yellow colors to the fabulous stoneware and greenery decorating the reception area. Even the honeymoon matched up with her dreams. She'd always hoped to go to Europe on her honeymoon and the pictures from the trip felt like an absolutely dream.

Neither girl knew what to say. They flipped slowly through the pages for nearly ten minutes before Julie broke the silence.

"What is this?"

Gabby didn't reply.

"Gabby, what is this all about? This is a crazy joke, right? Where did this come from?"

Gabby turned another page and looked at the image of her standing next to her own mother. Her mother's face radiated with maternal joy. Her eyes were bright and her smile wide. She looked healthy and vibrant as though the wedding of her daughter had imbued her with a second life.

A tear started at the corner of Gabby's eye and a lump grew in her throat. She remembered vividly sitting at her mother's hospital bed after her mother's stroke just two months ago. Gabby remembered her mother's advice to find a nice boy to marry. She remembered her mom asking Gabby to tell her future grandchildren about the grandmother they'd never know. Julie noticed the look of anguish on Gabby's face and pulled her into a hug, pushing the book aside.

"Gabby, this is some kind of sick joke. It has to end. We need to end this."

"How? I don't understand Jules. I'm so confused. Evan gave me this book today. How did he make something like this? Why would anyone make something like this as a joke? This isn't a joke Julie. This is something else. Something else." Gabby's voice broke as she spoke. She began to sob softly, leaning her head into her friend's shoulder and letting the tears flow.

"I don't' know what this is Gabby. But we'll find out. Together, we'll find out and we'll make it stop."

The two girls sat for a few more minutes on the couch and then Julie walked Gabby into her bedroom and settled her down in her bed. Gabby was asleep almost instantly. Julie returned to the living room and flipped through the album some more. Turning back to the beginning, she noted that the invitation and some of the initial pages provided a last name for the mystery man. Evan Fitzgerald. She pulled out her phone and quickly ran a search on him. Nothing noteworthy came up that she could identify with any certainty as the man tormenting her friend.

This had to be some type of joke. Some master of photo manipulation had created this elaborate hoax. It didn't make any sense, but she couldn't think of any other explanation. She vowed that first thing in the morning, she'd drag Gabby down to the police station with the photo album and the pile of notes from Evan and they'd put things right once and for all.

Julie prepared to settle down on the couch and try to get some rest when she saw the backpack sitting beside the coffee table.  Inside was another large folder similar to the wedding album the girls had been looking at.  Curious, she pulled the album from the bag and set it on the table.  Opening the cover, it relieved Julie not to be staring at more wedding pictures, but she wasn't quite sure what she was looking at.

There was no title page or any text at all on the first few pages she flipped through.  It seemed to be a portfolio of some type, filled with strange abstract drawings, illustrations and schematics.  What little writing there was appeared to be in some kind of code or scientific notation as it included symbols and markings Julie didn't recognize.

The first dozen pages showed spirals, blots and wisps of colors.  In a few, there seemed to be abstract humanized forms, blurry and hidden among the swirling lines on the page.  Then abruptly the style changed to pages with very straight, clean deliberate lines and very little color.  After a few of these, the straight lines took on the look of an architectural or mechanical sketch with lines and symbols alongside as if for notation.  Finally, towards the back of the book, all of the styles seemed to come together on individual pages.  The clean schematic objects generally sat in the center of the page with abstract human forms beside or superimposed on the flat lines with the abstract colors, smudges and swirls bordering the entire scene.

Without any understanding, Julie reached the final picture of the book.  The image on the final page seemed to be the ultimate culmination of all the previous pages.  It included the mash-up of all the previous styles as well as lengthy paragraphs of text written in the strange symbols or notation.  But most disturbing of all was a small 3x5 photograph tucked in at the corner of the page.  It showed a group of 8 individuals, dressed formally and standing beside a podium.  Six of the people were total strangers to Julie.  But the two on the right were immediately recognizable.  Holding hands and beaming broad smiles at the camera were Gabby and Evan.

Review - Soulless

This book was initially intriguing to me for a number of reasons. Primarily it sounded like an interesting new twist on what seems like a stale/copycat world of paranormal fiction. It takes place in early 20th Century England with a steampunk feel to it (which I almost always find fun). It involves a fun dynamic between vampires, werewolves, society at large and political intrigue. It creates a new set of rules for interactions between the supernatural community. And it presents a new (at least to me) kind of heroine in the character of Alexia. Overall, I was fairly excited to read this before I even opened the book.

The first chapter did a great job of maintaining my interest by throwing me right into the action while at the same time developing the unique characters and relationships that really drive this novel. I quickly got a sense of the style and mannerisms of Alexia as well as of her supernatural 'counterpart', Lord Maccon, the head of the supernatural investigative/police force (as it were). We're given numerous details right away that outline some of the various tensions we can expect through the book. The presentation is done smoothly such that the reader isn't bored by lengthy diatribes about werewolf-vampire relations or about the special abilities of Alexia herself. Rather than drown us with facts and history, the author does a great job of showing off the dynamics with small explanations that keep us engaged.

As the story progresses, the narrative throws in twists and turns that really make for an interesting plot. There were a few segments that dragged a little bit for me but generally the writing and the story were engaging enough that I could deal with the occasional monologue.

Once we got into the heart of the particular conflict for this novel, the details were rather curious. There were a number of isolated events that created intrigue and mystery. As the tension grew and the action grew closer to Alexia, the mystery really heated up. There were a lot of elements that had me wondering as to the overarching plot and the involvement of certain characters.

As we progressed into the climax, I was rewarded in linking the involvement of one of the peripheral characters, which always feels nice when unraveling a mystery. However, there were a number of new and unusual elements that came as a big surprise. Sometimes too many revelations can be unsettling, but I felt like the presentation here made up for "pulling the rabbit out of a hat" near the end. The nature of the mystery and the setup of the plot allowed for the level of secrecy that presents grand revelation.

My general complaints about the book are really fairly minor.

My first very small complaint has to do with the peripheral claim of this novel that it's a "novel of vampires, werewolves and parasols." In fact, the series itself is subtitled the "parasol protectorate." Now, I will acknowledge that Alexia does have a grand attachment to her parasol and she mentions it verbally and in thought a number of times in the book. Furthermore, it serves her very well during the early encounter. However, the overarching presence of the parasol just didn't seem great enough to warrant "front cover" treatment. In fact, through many of the climactic moments, Alexia isn't using her parasol but is rather thinking "I wish I had my parasol." It's almost as if its absence creates more importance than is there. Granted, it's a very minor grip, but since it figured so much on the front cover, I expected it to get more play in the book.

My next complaint is certainly a very personal one and one which I went back and forth on. It's about Alexia's character and personality. She is an intriguing character with a lot of quirky elements to her. But personally, I often found her rather annoying and sometimes a little too staid. Even at the end of the book, she feels almost aloof and certainly a bit of an enigma. It leaves me curious, but also annoyed that I still feel distanced from her. I know this complaint is hardly fair since I readily acknowledge that the author did a fabulous job of getting us inside Alexia's head, heart and "soul" (or lack thereof), but for some reason, I personally just didn't feel connected enough with her to properly understand her.

Probably my largest complaint is one that can be taken or left depending on your own reading preferences and the audience for this book. I'm not a big reader of romance novels, so I can't speak to relative comparisons, but for me, I was a little shocked by the graphic nature of the one sex scene in the book. Don't read that last sentence wrong…the scene itself was certainly in the PG-13 level and is unlikely to be very shocking when compared with some of the steamy romance books out there, but in terms of the nature of the book, it surprised me a little. There was a LOT of sexual tension throughout the novel and we encountered some inner monologues where Alexia wondered at her understanding of her father's books on the subject of sex and anatomy. We also have scenes where Lord Maccon is in the nude (due to his transformations) and we're given some humorous but not explicit reactions from Alexia to his anatomy. The final sex scene itself was well written to portray the curiosity and experience…it wasn't overly explicit, but just explicit enough that I wouldn't recommend this book to younger readers just for that scene, even though the rest of the novel would be perfectly fine. I would have rather had the "carriage scene" be more innuendo and suggestion followed by a "fade to black" and then an "after the fact" wrap up.

My final complaint is not wholly a complaint. There were a number of elements that were presented either peripherally or even more explicitly (the octopi?) but never received any resolution or explanation. For a reader trying to solve the mystery, these items really muddied the waters and left me unfulfilled when they weren't addressed. At the same time, knowing now that this is the first in a series, it left me interested to see how these larger mysteries play out in the future. So while I was dismayed at the numerous threads left unresolved, I'm curious enough that I'd like to read future books to learn more.

These minor complaints are certainly rather minor. The writing style and flow is well done and the story was captivating. The mystery is engaging and fun. The new spin on the supernatural conflict is intriguing. While I may not love the character of Alexia, I'm interested in her comings-and-goings enough that I really enjoyed the way this book played out and I look forward to future adventures.


4 out of 5 stars

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Graduation 2010 - I finally made it!!!

Huzzah!

It's official. I have (finally) finished up my Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah. It was a lengthy, but also a fun and informative adventure. There are a few things I might have done a little differently if I had it to do all over again, but since I don't have it to do over again, there's no sense dwelling on that.

Instead, I just want to shout out a huge thanks to all those who supported me and stood by me. Thanks especially to my family for their patience with me through the many years of sporadic homework requirements, occasional late nights and stressful moments of cramming for tests or pushing out papers.

Thanks also to Lynette for putting together a fabulous "graduation party" to celebrate. I was surprised at how many family and friends came over to celebrate with us. It was a fun filled barbecuing time. I'm glad the weather held out so we could party down out back.

So…future plans? For the immediate future anyway, nothing is changing. I've got a great job working with a wonderful team of people. I eventually want to transition into teaching a secondary ed English class. But with millions and millions of dollars being cut from every district around me, now does not seem like a terribly stable time to jump into the teaching profession. Not that there's every a 100% stable time, but for now, I'll take advantage of working in the software industry to pay down bills, take some cool vacations, and otherwise prepare for the financial transition to teaching. Who knows, I may even start down the track to a Master's Degree. :)

Anyway, thanks again to everybody who supported me. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and friends.

Enjoy the slideshow below for a little collage of some of the celebration.

Wednesday Writings #9 - Coming Home

Today's "Wednesday Writing" is a continuation of a story started back with Morning Machinations, and then continued in Communication Between Friends, Daydreaming Decisions, Off to the Park and most recently in Driven.

And definitely if you have thoughts, comments, or feedback, feel free to throw it my way.  I'm not sure if I'll completely finish this story on the blog or not.  It's fun doing a sort of serialization effort here but I don't know if that's really what I wanted to do with my "Wednesday Writings."  The original plan was that they'd be more "flash fiction" style exercises to help break writer's block and keep me fresh and ready to continue working on my larger works in progress that I've been heinously neglecting.

Still, I'm having some fun with these characters and the story.  Hopefully you are too.

Enjoy.

---

Coming Home?

After struggling to turn the car around and then slowly working her way down the canyon, Gabby finally turned the corner to see the roads winding back down to the city. In the distance, the sun was barely visible on the horizon, bleeding out brilliant pink, orange and red as it drifted away.

During her drive down the canyon, she'd argued with herself over everything that had happened over the past 24 hours and especially over the events of the past few hours. She replayed the events in her mind, trying to make sense of them.

Less than twenty four hours ago she had met a good looking guy who had seemed genuinely interested in her. Even though she really couldn't remember her meeting with him, she felt like there was a connection there and based on what Julie had said, Gabby had kissed the mystery man after a late night bite at the diner. Then the next morning, a cryptic note arrived with $100 and instructions to meet at the park.

With more curiosity than fear, she'd arrived at the park to be given another note with another hundred dollar bill, a book, some keys and more instructions. Amazingly, the keys gave her the choice of a few cars and led to her driving this beautiful new BMW. All that seemed to be required was for her to deliver a book to a house and then return home. And that's when the police showed up.

The police!

She suddenly remembered leaving Julie behind to follow after Evan, the mystery man on the motorcycle. She hoped everything was alright with Julie. Gabby glanced at the clock. It had been nearly an hour since she'd last seen her friend. She flipped open her cell and called. It went straight to voicemail.

"Julie, this is Gabby. Call me as soon as you get this. I'm sorry for running off on you like that. Call me and let me know you're okay."

She hung up and continued driving down the mountainside. The color on the horizon was nearly gone now and lights were starting to glow all over the city. Gabby turned onto the highway and headed back to her apartment. She was confused and tired and really just wanted to go home and get some sleep. But first, she needed to talk to Julie and to find out what was in the backpack Evan had left for her. As she drove, she called Julie two more times from the road and sent a quick text as well.

In another ten minutes, she was home. Turning the key in the lock, a shiver ran up Gabby's spine and she worried that someone might be waiting for her. Someone had already proven they could get into her apartment. During the day, she hadn't thought much about it. But now, standing on her dimly lit porch on the third floor, she felt more than a little scared.

She flung open the door and jumped backwards onto the landing, as though expecting some mystery assailant to charge her immediately. Breathing heavily, she reached inside and turned on the light. The entryway was empty. She grabbed an umbrella from near the door and gripped it firmly like a baseball bat.. Slowly and methodically, Gabby slunk from room to room. Each time she found a room empty, she was both relieved and fearful that someone was waiting around the next corner. Finally she decided the place was empty and she fell with a sigh onto her couch.

She sent another quick text to Julie and then pulled open the backpack. At the top was another plain envelope with her name written on it. This time, instead of the large block print, the writing was uneven and looked hurried. Before looking at the rest of the contents, she opened the envelope, removed a letter and began to read.

Dearest Gabrielle,

I am certain by now that you are confused, frightened and perhaps a bit frustrated with everything you have been put through. I truly wish I could enlighten you and help you catch the vision of what is going on around you. But alas, it cannot be so. At least not for now. 

What I hope to do for you my sweet, is to allay some of your fears and give you the conviction and resolve to persevere amid the confusion and chaos your life is about to become. Unfortunately, I am certain that my method of trying to boost your confidence in the situation will prove to be even more perplexing and to bring more questions to your mind.

Sadly, I only have two courses of action open to me. The first would be to avoid all contact with you and to let you muddle through this without any sense of hope. The second, and the path I choose now to follow, is to bend the rules as much as I dare and to draw you into my confidence. 

The rules I follow do not allow me to directly communicate anything to you that will reveal my purpose or your purpose. I will interpret this as meaning I can reveal nothing to you by either speech or writing. Instead, I will allow you to infer what you can from the few articles I have now placed in your path. I fear I cannot discuss them nor explain or respond to anything you will find.

But I will end by saying this to you:

I WILL keep you safe from harm.
I will ensure your success.
And when this is all over,
I WILL be there for you.

Yours yesterday, tomorrow and forever,

Evan.

Gabby finished reading the letter and set it aside. She was more confused than before and, if the letter was any indication, she was about to become even more muddled. The backpack contained two large binders filled with plastic page inserts. She pulled them out, set one aside and flipped open the cover of the other. She gasped aloud as she stared at the first page of a detailed photo scrapbook.

Surrounded by stickers and hand drawn images of flowers, cherubs, hearts and fireworks was a 5 by 7 photo of a bride and a groom standing side by side, holding each other's hand and smiling brightly at the camera. Above the picture, written in Gabby's own fanciest handwriting was the title "When Two Become One: The Story of Evan and Gabrielle"

She had no idea how long she stared at her own wedding picture, but Gabby was finally shaken back to the present by the sound of her phone ringing in her pocket. Still unable to take her eyes off the picture, she answered the phone. It took her a few seconds to realize that Julie was shouting at her.

"…believe you actually left me there to be arrested. Do you have any idea what I've been through? Have you ever been arrested Gabby? Do you know what it's like to be dragged into a police station? I told you this was a bad idea. I told you we should go to the cops in the first place. But no. 'No problem' you said. 'What could it hurt' you said. I'll tell you what"

"Julie. Julie!" Gabby had to shout to interrupt her friend. "Julie. I know you probably hate me right now. I know I have no right to ask anything of you. But, can you come over? I really need to talk. And there's something you need to see."

Gabby could practically hear Julie fuming on the other end of the phone.

"Are you serious? Really? After leaving me stranded to be arrested you have the gall to ask me to come hang out with you and console you? I'm the one who's just been traumatized. I'm the one needing somebody to come help me out."

"Julie. I really just need you to come over here tonight. Please. I need your help."

Gabby listened to the silence and, when Julie didn't respond, she set her phone down and hung up. Then, she started turning through pages of the scrapbook and looking over her own wedding. A wedding she was sure had never happened.  Or at least, she thought she was sure.

The Speed of Google Chrome

I've honestly only used Chrome a couple of times. It seemed alright but didn't really do anything for me that I couldn't get from Firefox. In recent months, however, Chrome has been coming up in general market share which means I'll probably need to start officially supporting it at work and thus using it on a more frequent basis.

This particular video isn't really a motivator for me...but it's still pretty cool. It's a creative, attention grabbing way to show off Chrome.

Enjoy.



(Grabbed from this blog)

Review - Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

When I first read a blurb about this book a year or more ago, I thought it sounded hilarious and I wanted to pick it up. My wife is a big Pride and Prejudice fan and I kept thinking of getting it for her as a gift. And yet, for more than a year, I passed it by on store shelves. Finally, a couple of months ago, my sister-in-law loaned the book to us.

Be warned that some of what I type below will be considered a spoiler both for this Zombie version of the story as well as for the original Pride and Prejudice novel. Rather than avoid spoilers, I figure I may as well just go with the writing flow…after all, this story has become so mainstream that I won't be spoiling anything for those who really care (since they're already familiar with it) and those who don't care are unlikely to ever read the story, so it doesn't matter.

As I dove into the reading, the first thing I noticed that the language was very similar (in some cases identical) to the style and wording in the original novel by Jane Austen. The presentation and the descriptions of the zombies (the 'unmentionables') were all done in the formal tones of early 19th century British literature. The new author Seth Grahame-Smith, does a good job of capturing the character's voices and maintaining the 'free indirect speech' that Austen employed in the original.

From a high level, the plot points in this new rendition remained somewhat true to the initial flow published 200 years ago. Elizabeth still finds herself first outraged, then intrigued and later enamored by the stoic Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet is still more interested in getting her daughter's married off than in anything else (even the zombies ravaging the countryside). Wickham still turns out to be a prick. Collins is still repulsive. And I still find Mr. Bennet hilarious (and very relatable) in his resignation to the world around him and his sarcastic approach to the dealings of his family.

There were a number of fairly notable changes to the plot. Obviously the introduction of the zombies creates a huge departure. Beyond that, there were a few smaller changes that struck me as odd such as implied affairs between Elizabeth's aunt and some unknown "friend" and the slightly askew storyline of Collins and Charlotte.

The most outrageous departure, however, happened near the end of the book when Darcy confronts Wickham and 'persuades' him to 'do the right think' and marry Lydia. I need to go back and review the exact language of the original…but even without reading Austen's original wording, I am 100% certain that this new book took a significantly more dramatic view of what happened. I'll grant authorial license and the idea that perhaps Austen was "being conservative" when she represented what Darcy did to Wickham. But Grahame-Smith took it almost to the other extreme. The only way he could have gone farther would have been to have Darcy actually kill Wickham (which would have disrupted the plot similarities). Instead, he leaves Wickham a cripple for life with no control over himself or his bodily functions. The remaining scenes with Wickham were rather disturbing for me and were too large a departure for me to willingly accept it.

In terms of what the novel did, it succeeded. This book provides a humorous/ironic mash-up of a classic story of society and romance with the story of unlikely heroes doing their best to slay the vile monsters that are overtaking the land.

Unfortunately, the form of the novel did not allow it to succeed otherwise for me.

There were TWO instances in the novel when I actually laughed out loud. The first, because it was just so unexpected and caught me off guard. The second because it was just ridiculous. So as to the "humorous" aspect of the mash-up, I was left seriously unfulfilled.

The writing itself was good in the sense that it stayed mostly true to the narrative style and language of Austen. There were a handful of points where the writing felt too 'modern' or even had blatant typos or misused words. My general complaint with the writing though was that of taking the story/mashup to the next level. I was already very familiar with the P&P story. I've also read and scene a number of zombie stories.

As I read the mashup, it felt less like a comfortable 'joining' of the two genres and more of a 'rewrite Jane Austen and tack some monsters on the side.' Most of the scenes with the zombies were spread fairly thin throughout the book. Minimal references would be given throughout key scenes critical to "remain true" to the original. I felt that the 'new' author could have done much better by supplying much more 'adventure' or 'action' to the story. Of the very few scenes involving any battles, they were moderately well written and sometimes engaging. But they were spread too far apart and often too short to provide any real memorable addition to the story.

I came away feeling that the same thing could have actually been achieved in Austen's time if she had written in that a pack of voracious wolves were hunting the countryside and the characters had to be ready to take them down. The result would have been nearly the same (minus the curse from the brain-eaters)…that the characters would have occasionally had scenes where they pulled out a rifle or a sword and cut down some beast before continuing on their merry way to romp along the city streets.

Normally, I could have read this book in a single week…instead, it took me nearly a month and I had to literally FORCE myself to finish it. I was bored with it and ready to move on well before I was halfway finished. I pushed through to the end, mainly with the hopes of something noteworthy or spectacular in the modified conclusion that would leave me feeling like my reading experience was actually worthwhile.

Unfortunately, now that I've finished, I cannot say that it was a worthwhile read. If someone is interested in this book, I would suggest they skim through it, glancing at the artwork and reading a few excerpts. Sadly, that brief skim is more than enough to gain what's notable from this novel.


1.5 stars out of 5

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Wednesday Writings #8 - Driven

Today's "Wednesday Writing" is a continuation of a story started back with Morning Machinations, and then continued in Communication Between Friends, Daydreaming Decisions and then Off to the Park.

Enjoy.

---

Driven

Gabby nervously drove down the road. She didn't have a car and didn't drive very often. Add to that the fact that the car cost more money than she'd earned in her life and she felt both excited and a little frightened. She'd misjudged the parking lot exit and had driven over the sidewalk, squealing tires and swerving to recorrect herself and line up on the road. She giggled as she thought about Julie's reaction to her speeding away like that. Glancing in the rear view, Gabby saw Julie pull onto the road behind her and speed to catch up.

Gabby turned onto the main road and accelerated up to the speed limit. She had to consciously stop herself from continuing to press the pedal down. She could feel the smooth power of the car and absolutely loved it. She wondered what she was supposed to do with the car after she dropped off the book. The note had said to return home for more instructions but didn't say anything about the car. Looking at the clock in the dashboard, she decided to deliberate about that later. She had only a few minutes left to reach the house and deliver the book. She turned off onto another side street and then pulled to the curb as she glanced at the map.

After a moment of orienting herself, Gabby pulled back onto the street. She noticed that Julie was now right behind her, following closely. The sun was setting behind them so Gabby could only see the silhouette of her friend but she could feel Julie's eyes glaring at her and was sure her friend would have plenty to say once they stopped. Gabby made a couple of quick turns deeper into the neighborhood and then saw the landmarks from the map.

A large old barn with peeling paint, broken boards and overgrown grass and weeds.

A rather ordinary house painted with an extraordinary pattern of green and yellow horizontal stripes.

A huge oak tree with branches extending halfway over the street.

And then, a small red brick house with a high pitched roof and the numbers 323 painted on the black mailbox by the front door. This was the place.

Gabby pulled to the curb and turned off the car. She stared at the map again to be sure then stepped out of the car holding the book and the note. As she walked to the front door, she heard Julie's car door slam shut behind her.

"Are you sure about this Gabby?"

Gabby kept walking slowly forward. She didn't want to look Julie in the eye. She knew her friend's face would be etched with concern, maybe even a little fear. After all, that's what Gabby was feeling. She felt that if Julie's look confirmed her own fears that she might lose her nerve and turn around. She didn't know what to make of everything that was going on, but she didn't see how it could hurt her. Moreover, it seemed to be of benefit to her to keep going. She'd already made $200 today for doing almost nothing. She'd gotten to drive her dream car. If she delivered the book, there might be more or the same. If she didn't, the adventure might end.

"I really don't know Jules. But it can't hurt anything, right?"

When she reached the door and pulled the keys up, she tried to fill her face with bravery and resolve and then turned to see if Julie was following her. Julie stood staring back from halfway up the lawn. Julie's face was much as Gabby had expected it to be, her eyes drawn slightly closed with worry and pleading. Gabby cleared her throat as she felt a lump begin to form. She turned back to the door. Part of her wanted to knock, but instead she put the key into the knob, turned it, and pressed the door slightly open.

A cool whisp of air fell through the small opening and sent a shiver up her arm. She felt herself falter. Her breathing became shallow. Her throat and chest started to constrict. She suddenly worried that something might be waiting on the other side of the door. Her mind was suddenly flooded with fears.

"Well?"

Gabby jumped in spite of herself as Julie stepped next to her and spoke. She felt the color melt out of her skin. Her blood went cold and she shivered again.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Gabby looked at Julie who smiled back.

"Let's deliver this book and get out of here." Julie continued to smile at Gabby as she spoke. She nodded and Gabby looked back to the door. She pushed it the rest of the way open and the girls stepped inside.

The house was cold and dark. The only light came from the door they entered. All of the windows were covered with full curtains. A heavy ticking of a clock came from a nearby room but otherwise, the only sound was that of the girls breathing and walking along the dark wood floor of the hallway. Julie looked along the nearby wall for a lightswitch but found nothing. Gabby continued to walk down the hall, her gaze focused on a dark rectangular object she assumed to be the trunk in which she was to place the book.

From the exterior of the house, neither girl imagined the inside would be so large. The hall seemed to go on forever. The darkness helped add to the illusion as it was difficult to tell what existed where the blackness became too deep. The wall was lined with picture frames. Julie pressed the door open all the way to let in as much light as she could. As Gabby stepped closer to the trunk she caught some motion out of the corner of her eye. She let out a small shriek, turned to face the motion and jumped backwards away from it at the same time. Even in the dim light, she quickly felt foolish on realizing that she stared at her own terrified reflection in a mirror hanging on the wall between a pair of picture frames. As she looked at her own face, she became more worried about her actions. Looking in her own eyes, the illusion was broken and Gabby was forced to admit that she felt an acute sense of terror.

"Gabby? Are you ok?" Julie watched as her Gabby stood completely still staring at the mirror. She quickly crossed the ten feet of floor to stand beside her friend and wrap her arms around her shoulders.

"Come on Gabby. Let's get this over with."

The two girls turned again to the trunk and continued walking. It only took a couple of steps to reach it. Their eyes were adjusting the mostly-darkness and they could see the end of the hall a few feet away curving into what looked to be a library or sitting room of some kind based on the large shadows of chairs and shelves. As they stopped in front of the trunk, Gabby took a deep breath to steady herself. She tugged at trunk lid but, as she expected, it was locked. The key clicked in the lock softly and the lid made a subtle jump as the lock released its tension.

Gabby pulled open the lid and was confused to see that the trunk was completely empty. Not trusting her own vision, she brushed her hands around the felt-lined edges of the trunk before placing the book inside. She then pressed the lid down, turned the key in the lock and stood beside her friend. The two girls turned and walked quickly down the hall and out the front door. They practically ran across the lawn to the cars. Gabby's heart was pounding. She took a final look over her shoulder then turned to look at Julie.

Julie stared back with a sheepish half smile and patted Gabby on the shoulder.

"That wasn't so bad, huh Gabby? Now let's go get some dinner or something. Your treat, right?"

Gabby smiled back. Sometimes Julie got on her nerves but most of the time, she really loved her friend and was glad to have her by her side.

"Sure thing. But we're going in my new car." Gabby walked around to the driver's side door, grinning at her friend. "I'll meet you at your house and then you ride with me."

Gabby slid into the smooth leather seats and started the car. She smiled as it purred to life. She rolled down the window and started down the road, feeling the warm air flow in. She looked in her rear view mirror. Julie stared after her for a moment the climbed into her car. Just then, a police car came zipping down the road in front of Gabby. As it passed her, the sirens started blaring and it skidded to a stop at an angle in front of Julie's car.

Gabby stopped the car and looked over her shoulder. She saw another police car coming from the other end of the street. It too turned on its sirens and lights and proceeded to box Julie in. The sirens stopped but the lights kept spinning. The officer from the first car threw open his door and stood behind it, drawing his gun, pointing it towards Julie and shouting something at her. An officer from the second car quickly did the same. Gabby started driving again, turning her car around.

Suddenly a black motorcycle zipped in front of her and screeched to a stop directly in her path. The rider hopped off and ran over to Gabby's window. His build was familiar but it wasn't until he flipped up the visor of his helmet that Gabby recognized Evan staring at her.

"Don't go back Gabrielle. Your friend will be fine. But you must leave here now." His voice was as calm as it had been in her vague memory, but it was filled with strength and intensity that excited her. She felt a slight jolt rush through her as he spoke. As if her heart had jumped. No, not her heart. Her entire soul. The reaction was exhilerating and she nodded wordlessly as he spoke.

"Follow me. Do not look back. I promise you that your friend will be alright. For now, you must trust me and follow me. Can you do that?"

Gabby stared in wonder at this mystery man. He alternated his gaze between her awestruck face and the police standoff at the other end of the block. The second officer on the scene was looking at the conversation happening at the BMW window and started pointing and saying something to the other cop. Evan's eyes narrowed as the policeman climbed back in his car.

"We go now! Follow close. Go where I go. I will keep you safe."

Without another word, Evan climbed onto the motorcyle, spun it around and sped off down the block. Gabby looked back and saw that the second police car was backing up and working itself back onto the road. She put the car back in gear and floored the gas. A second later, she was close behind Evan, both of them accelerating quickly through the quiet subdivision. At the same time, police sirens blared to life behind her. Looking in the mirror she saw the police car speeding up behind her.
Instinctively, her foot let up on the gas and hovered for a moment over the brake. Then she remembered Evan in front of her and turned her focus on him. As she did, she felt the same strange sensation she'd felt earlier as she tried to remember their meeting at the party. The world around her felt like it was slowing down. Like she was in a fog. Like suddenly nothing existed but the two of them. She felt strangely tied to the man on the motorcycle in front of her.

The motorcycle's turn signal blipped for a second and then the bike turned tightly onto a side street. Without any thought but keeping him in sight, Gabby pulled on the steering wheel and screeched around the corner. Another couple of turns like that and they were on the highway, though in Gabby's mind, it was just another stretch of road laid out before them. She sensed the gap widening between the two of them and she pressed the gas pedal to the floor. The motorcycle zipped off an exit and twisted up a curving road onto the side of the mountain. Gabby followed close behind anticipating the turns now before the turn signals flashed the driver's intention.

Then, the motorcycle began to slow. Gabby turned onto an unpaved road and coughed slightly as the tires kicked up dust. She pressed a button and the power window slid closed. Ahead of her, a large dust cloud whirled around the rider of the black motorcycle. There were times when all that was visible was a flickering red taillight. Then suddenly, the dust cloud doubled in size. Gabby watched as the motorcycle spun around and around in circles kicking up dust all around him. She put on the brakes and brought the car to a stop. The next thing she saw unnerved her even more. The motorcycle stopped briefly in the middle of the cloud. It looked like the rider stood for a moment. Then suddenly the motorcycle was racing towards her out of the dust and back down the mountain road behind her.

Gabby's eyes widened in shocked confusion. She hit the gas and cranked the wheel but then hit the brakes again when she realized there was no way she could do a U-turn on the skinny dirt road. Even a three-point-turn was unlikely. She thought about shifting into reverse and backing down, but wasn't sure exactly how far up they'd come and she definitely wasn't confident in her ability to back down a skinny mountain road. She started forward in dismay, hoping for a turnoff nearby. As she started driving, the dust began to settle and she saw a black backpack lying in the road where Evan had traitorously turned around. She stopped the car and got out.

For a moment, she stared back down the hill. The dust trail from the motorcycle was almost completely settled, erasing any trace of his hasty retreat back down the mountain. Gabby walked to the backpack and picked it up. As she did so, she realized that the light was failing quickly. The sun was nearly down. In spite of tremendous curiosity, confusion and anger, she carried the backpack back to the car and tossed it onto the passenger seat. Fighting back the alternating urge to cry or to break something, she continued to drive up the mountain in the hope of finding a pullout where she could turn around and start back downhill before it got too dark.

The ultimate Mother's Day gift?

This image was the headline of an email I just received. It's an interesting campaign and it got my attention...but really...I don't know about your mom, but I'm not going to go out and buy gaming equipment for my mom for mother's day. And I can't think of many mother's out there who would want to receive gaming gear. I will acknowledge that there are a few ladies out there I know who play MMOs or other video games. But for the most part, I am pretty sure that if I gave something video-game related to any of the mothers in my life...that I'd get (at the very least) that stern 'mother' look...you know the one...the one from your childhood that makes you want to go whimper in a corner and beg for forgiveness. :)