Cinco de Mayo

Mexican culture

Image: Pixabay

In appreciation of Mexican culture, I want to highlight the work of singer/songwriter, Chavela Vargas, who passed away in 2012 but whose voice still lives on via various venues, including YouTube. She had an amazing voice. To learn more about her, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavela_Vargas. One of my favorites from her is Gabino Barrera, which I first heard in the movie sound track for Werner Herzog’s My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?.  To listen to the song, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvkwuO_3YU.

Branch Out

branch out

Bring on your “A” game
Reach inside yourself
Aim for the stars
Never say “never”
Connect with others,
Have a good heart.

Open your mind
Unleash your abilities,
Trust them to blossom like never before.

Off-Stage Fright

mask

Image: Pixabay

Stacey is in love with Dan and is nervous about their first date. When she finds out they are going to the Comedy Club, she is doubly nervous. She’s heard about how some comedians can be merciless in picking on their audience. Still, she hopes they have a good time tonight.

“Hey, when you told me you enjoyed funny movies, I thought I’d take you to this club. I’ve heard it stars a lot of good up and coming comedians.” Dan tells her, as they are seated in the front row, practically touching the stage.

“Oh, no,” Stacey thinks, alarm bells ringing in her mind.

“I got us good seats because I know the manager who works here. You like it?”

Stacey tries to smile wider and barely assures him when the emcee comes up onstage and greets the audience.

Dan turns his attention to the stage and Stacey continues to fret inside.

After sitting through two comedians, both of whom have picked on the guests sitting near the stage, Stacey can barely keep from fidgeting; her dread escalates after every joke. She feels herself almost ready to hyperventilate when the next and thankfully last act comes on stage.

As the comedian starts his monologue, she realizes how funny he actually is, but this doesn’t stop the tension that continues to build insider her. Then, the moment she’s been fearing all evening happens; the comedian homes in on her and Dan. Her heart thuds.

“Yo, you’re the spitting image of my bobble head  . . . “ As the comedian starts his riff on Dan, Stacey’s ears  fill with the rush of blood flushing her face, making her deaf to the words. The tension that’s been building all evening finally bursts into a show of hysterical laughter.  Beads of perspiration trickle from her hairline down to the side of her lashes.  There too goes the mascara.

Inspired by BRH’s day 19 of napowrimo

Oops Brief: The Crush

crashed due to office crush

Mike steps outside of his glass-walled office to retrieve his report from the printer, which is located across from his enclosure. As he heads back to his door, he glances to the right and sees Lindsay, his office crush, talking to one of the new Account Managers. He becomes jealous, gets distracted and crashes into the transparent doorway. He staggers back, dazed. When he opens his eyes, he sees his crush and the new guy staring at him, seeming concerned.

The Steel Kiss by Jeffery Deaver (a book blurt)

This is the 12th in a book series about a world-renowned forensic detective, Lincoln Rhyme, who is quadriplegic, and a kick-ass New York detective, Amelia Sachs. Together they make a powerful combination of increasing the odds in solving complex cases. They’re the kind of characters you miss after you finish the book. The crimes they solve are full of puzzles that make you think along with this duo. Another fun thing about this author is he writes about current or past events or just things that he finds interesting. For example, in this story he delves into computer automation, which plays a part in the criminal’s killing method.

With this review and maybe all I do going forward, I’m keeping things short. I call these “blurts” because I want you to know about the book or movie without spoiling it for you. So that’s all for now, folks.

Listed below are prior Deaver books on his Lincoln Rhyme series in the order they were published; here you can see how the romance between Rhyme and Sachs came to blossom. Yes, this too is a big draw of thriller series. You’d be surprised how many such series include romance. However, this genre contains action, mystery, and heinous crimes, too. I will continue updating the list below, as I finish reading his new publications.

The Bone Collector
The Coffin Dancer
The Empty Chair
The Stone Monkey
The Vanished Man
The Cold Moon
The Broken Window
The Burning Wire
XO
The Kill Room
The Skin Collector
The Burial Hour (2017)
The Cutting Edge (2018)