Death Becomes Her

Last Friday I was murdered. Stabbed in the heart 12 times with a butter knife. Did it hurt? Not nearly as much as realizing I couldn't even solve my own death!

I was attending a murder mystery dinner, and turned out to be the victim. My name was Purple, a diva rock star with anger management issues.

As the story unraveled and the guests got into the roles, I really thought a lot about the writing of a mystery. In a novel, clues should be slowly revealed, not too obvious, but clear enough that at the end, if you haven't figured it out, you have a Homer Simpson, "DOH!" moment. The murder mystery dinner did not quite end up that way. The clues were confusing, if not entirely vague, the characters mostly unaware of what they were supposed to do. Not even the murderer guessed that she did it. Speaking of which, the picture is of me and my murderess. The white mask I'm wearing is the representation of death...or something like that.

So, did I have a good time? Absolutely! I was obnoxious, I yelled a lot, and everyone hated me. It was awesome. But with better writing, I think those mystery dinners could really take off.

The Human Spirit

On September 11, one can't help but think of the horrible events of nine years ago.

My thought process is usually the same. At first it saddens me to remember all of those who were lost at the hands of terrorists. Then, I am inspired by recalling the numerous stories of courage, selflessness, and patriotism which came out of those terrible circumstances. It reminds me there is no greater force in the world than the human spirit, and that when tested, the good far outweighs the bad.

That day, a small number of people tried to bring down more than buildings and airplanes. Because of the basic goodness of human nature, they did not succeed.

Time and Travel...not time travel.

Time: We all have the exact same amount of it in a day so I'm told. Although if you board a plane in LA and fly to, let's say, Japan then you actually don't get the same amount because in the 12 hours it took you to fly you will go back 16 hours in time and arrive 4 hours before you left. If you stay in Japan you have added 4 hours to your life but if you leave you have to pay the piper and you loose all that time again. I know it doesn't seem fair but time waits for no man.

Because I have family back East we travel back sometimes and find that we have lost two hours. I like to lose them at night because it seems easier that way but still they're gone until we fly home and get them back, which I like to do in the day time cause then I feel more productive...see how that little cheat works? Out at night and lose sleep, back in the day and gain two hours to unpack.

Maybe there is something to this whole time travel thing after all.
What's your take on time and travel?

A BRAND NEW CAR

I grew up watching The Price is Right and often fantasized about the moment when I would have a chance to win A BRAND NEW CAR. Well, I had that chance today. I was one of 100 people who qualified for the chance to win a new car, courtesy of a local radio station. About 40 of us showed up at the car dealership in Ogden, UT to see who would be the lucky one to drive home the prize.

We waited a couple of hours for the big moment, with hubby and I struggling to keep the kids happy in the heat with the provided free hot dogs, an inflatable attraction, and the requisite booming music.

The longer we were there, I started to feel a bit silly for participating in such an event. Although I held no real expectation of winning, I wanted to come because the odds were decent and I didn't have to embarrass myself by performing a typical radio stunt such as a pie eating contest, karoke, or similar. I was there simply because of filling out a form and having my name drawn.

As luck would have it, the station decided to draw a few more names for the contest from those in attendance and hubby was chosen to compete.

The procedure was, those who qualified were given a CD and would take turns putting their disc into the car's player until one announced the winner. Somehow, in the process of distributing the CDs, hubby was skipped and the station employees went into a mild tizzy trying to figure out where their mistake was.

Unable to rectify it, they took us aside and promised us free tickets to an upcoming concert as an apology/bribe not to make a fuss. Hubby and I, not ones to pitch a fit unless there is more serious injury, accepted the deal.

I proceeded to line up with the other hopefuls, everyone clutching their CDs in anticipation. A woman who was first in line slid into the driver's seat, popped in her disc, and all the bells and whistles indicating the winning entry went off. I guess the deejays have something to learn about building suspense.

Although I left sans new car, we were happy to get something for our efforts, unlike the rest of the disgruntled group. I was also happy to note I had observed the woman who won reading Mockingjay while we waited for the contest to begin. At least I lost to a fellow reader of quality material.

Sir-Kirk-A-Lot

We want Kirk, we want kirk, we want kirk.

Stop the invisible cows!

This photo has very little to do with my story but it made me laugh.

So I drove by a stop sign today that I have driven by several times before...and by several I mean almost weekly for 4 years, so about 200 times. And if you caught that I drove by without stopping that's because the sign is not on the road I drive on. It's next to the road at what should be an intersection. The only problem is I just noticed today that there is no intersecting road.

In my digital distraction, child screaming, radio tuning drives by in the past, I've assumed it was a dirt road intersecting with the main road and hence a stop sign on the edge of this field.
NO ROAD, folks.

I was driving with my two youngest children 7 and 4 today when I saw it.
I said, "Hey there's no road there. Just a stop sign."
Daughter: "Maybe it's for the invisible road, with the invisible cars."
Me: "I hope they watch where they're going cause I can't see them."
Son: "No, Mom. It's for the cows. The invisible ones."
Daughter to son: "Stop acting like you know everything."
Me: "If there invisible, why isn't the stop sign invisible too?"
Silence in the back seat for 10 seconds...bliss.

So does anyone out there want to tell me why a stop sign would be out in a field with no road leading to it? Feel free to be creative. As you may have guessed, the rest of the drive home I was distracted with stories of spacial rifts and invisible cattle-flying.

Earl

Earl is approaching.

So my question is: If you had to evacuate, what would you grab?

For me: After my family and dog were safe I would take with me: wedding pics, all my picture CD's, my thumb drive, (laptop if possible--it has all my stories on it), my framed sand dollar, the book of letters from Steve, two of my favorite necklaces (I swear those two calm me down and if I am evacuating, I need calm).

My kids would have their own lists.  One would grab his collection of Hot Wheels, one would grap books, and my "baby" (who is almost 6) would try to take all her toys.

I'm not sure what my husband would grab. I may have to ask him later today.  That may be good deep thinking time together. :)

Well, what would you grab?