Not as good as I remember

Foxes
There's things from my youth that I look back on and remember with fondness. It's strange to see, hear or read something from twenty years ago and it's either as good as you remember, about as good as you remember, or totally NOT what you remembered. I rented the movie Foxes and it wasn't anything like I remembered. I saw this movie in 1980 so that's 26 years ago. At the time I thought it was a powerful movie with themes of loneliness and alienation. Jodie Foster and Scott Baio were in this and I watched it yesterday and was disappointed in it. I hate it when my memory of something is ruined. It was okay but not as fantastic as I remembered. Jodie Foster was the standout as well as the actress who played the drug addict Annie. I wish I left my fond memories alone.

Movie Quotes
1. "Sir, do we get to win this time?"

2. "You think I got this way because I dress like Peter Pan?"

3. "Chewing gum is really gross. Chewing gum I hate the most."

4. "What is best in life? To crush the enemy. To see them driven before you. And to hear the lamentation of the women."

Downtown Utica
I love the nice weather because I walk through downtown Utica on my lunch. I love to watch the buildings and the people and admire the beauty. Older cities like Utica have distinct buildings. I've been to newer cities where it's homogeneous where all the buildings are sterile and look the same. Utica is unique and memorable. No two buildings look the same. In the summer I like to sit in Hanna Park by the water fountain and read.

Writing Progress
Well, I'm moving along on my memoir. . . 10,000 words. I find that I tend to write the first 20,000 words and last 20,000 very quick with the middle being where I drag. I start every book with an idea and with a conclusion but I never know how I'm going to get there. I guess that's part of the fun. I realize that nobody but my wife and kids will ever want to read this but I'm going through with it anyway. It's funny how people think that their life is interesting and everyone will buy it. In reality very few people lead extraordinary lives that merit a best-selling memoir. People trust the memoir and get sucked in. That's why it's important to put a disclaimer in the beginning if you have some fact changes.

Back to Eldest
I can't for the life of me understand why critics lambasted the book Eldest. Some called it the worst novel of the year. I love it so far but then again I'm white trash with a trailer park sensibility. I love pork and beans from a can, 80's hair metal, grilled cheese, velvet Elvis paintings and trucks! I like what I like and that's what I like. I'm not afraid to say I like something nobody else likes. I'm a Buffalo that's drifted from the herd and I wouldn't want it any other way. I like it like that!

Quote Answers
1. Rambo: First Blood Part 2

2. Napoleon Dynamite

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

4. Conan the Barbarian

Recap of Rome

Appearance Summary
I had a standing room only crowd at the Jervis Public Library in Rome, NY. I led the discussion on the Loomis Gang and was honored to have a direct descendent in the audience and another descendent of another gang member. I'm amazed the knowledge people have of the Loomis Gang. I followed this discussion with a book signing. Mary Beth from the Jervis library was a wonderful host. The library was very beautiful. I have always loved the city of Rome. It's a great Mohawk Valley book end to Utica.

Adirondack Scenic Railroad
I wanted to mention a really cool way to spend an afternoon. You can take the Adirondack scenic railroad from Union Station in Utica and ride the old rails up to Thendara station. I try to do this at least once a year. During July and August they have Loomis Gang train robberies. I have Daisy riding this train in the sequel! The scenery is breathtaking and it's very relaxing. Thendara station is right next to the beautiful Old Forge where there's shopping and Enchanted Forest.

Metal Mania
VH1 Classic had a two hour block of heavy metal videos and I loved it. Ozzy, Warrant, White Lion, Dio, David Lee Roth and Skid Row were just a smidgen of the great music from my high school years. Sure you can look back and the hair is fluffy and the pants are tight yet the music was FUN. It was all about the girls, the beer and the music. Let's go back to 1987!!!

DR. Who
The Sci-Fi Channel has brought the newest edition of Dr. Who to it's channel and I'm thrilled. I have always loved this show since I was a child. The premise is the Dr. is a time traveling alien. In last night's episode he went back to Victorian London and mixed it up with some zombies and Charles Dickins. What a bunch of fun! I give it the Webslinger Thumb Up!

Down to the Dirt

Book Review
I just finished Down to the Dirt by Joel Hynes and I liked it very much. It's the story of a troubled youth in Canada named Keith who's struggling to find his place in the world. Keith drinks and gets into all sorts of problems with his girlfriend, the cops, townsfolk and many more. It's a slim volume that reads quickly. Now, back to Eldest!

Cemetery Dance Magazine
I just received my latest issue of Cemetery Dance Magazine. This is the best publication out there for reviews of horror books, cd's, DVD's including the outstanding King Zone news by Bev Vincent. I'm looking forward to delving into issue #54.

Daily Sentinel
There's a fantastic article by Norm Landis on my upcoming Rome, NY appearance in the March 22nd issue of the Daily Sentinel newspaper. It's at www.romesentinel.com . Just type "The Loomis Gang" in the search and you'll find it.

Mohawk Valley Pot Luck
I went to Cafe Domenicos today for a hot cup of organic green tea. I LOVE this place and it's right on Genesee Street in Utica, NY. There was some dude playing an acoustic guitar while all the bohemian artisans sat around pontificating life's great questions like: "did I put the fabric softener in my laundry?" Seriously, this place has a cool atmosphere and a long selection of teas and coffees.

The Man in Black

Walk the Line
Everyone knows that I love Johnny Cash's music. I have my character Daisy Daring wearing a Johnny Cash t-shirt in my book. Daisy even plays the man in Black's music while working on the map. Needless to say I was very excited to get my hands on the biographical movie Walk the Line. And my opinion? Drum roll . . . Loved it, loved it -LOVED IT! Has there been anyone on the planet cooler than Mr. Cash? If so, point them out to me.

Violence Movie

A History of Violence
I watched this movie last night and it was interesting to see Viggo Mortenson from the Lord of the Rings play the part of a small town man turned hero who might just be a long lost killer from Philadelphia. This movie had long dull periods with quick bursts of graphic violence. I don't know if I've ever seen a man's nose pushed into his face in a movie and this happens twice! I liked the part where Joey and his wife have a fight on the stairs. Watch this movie and you'll see what I mean.

Dreams
Sometimes I can have the freakiest dreams. The other night I dreamed I had a dozen King Kong gorillas chasing me and they cornered me and I was about to be squashed when I woke up. The mind is a strange blob of water, fat, blood vessels and plaque yet somehow this grey mass holds the secrets and fears on our ancient blood. Joseph Conrad tapped into this in his fantastic short story Heart of Darkness. As the character Kurtz says, "The Horror. . . the horror."

My Writing Day
Well my glamorous life as a writer begins every day at 5:00a.m. It's hard to get out of bed to write when my wife, my kids and the dog all are warm and toasty while I sit and clack buttons on the keyboard. I only do it because I love it. I know I'll never be a J.D. Salinger or a Stephen King. Hell, I'll never be a Christopher Moore or a John Kennedy Toole let alone a Peter Hamill or a Bentley Little. Not even close to a Betty Webb or a Twist Phelan. That's okay. I'm fine with the fact I'm a mediocre writer. I just try to have fun and inject that into my stories. I try to get better every day. I try to make my wife and kids proud of me. That's all I care about. I'd be damned before I'd sell my writing soul for a buck and a slew of fake back-slapping friends. I'm comfortable in my skin and that's about all. I'm happy with my creaking, leaking house, my oil-dripping truck and my socks with the holes in them. I don't own a flat screen television, a blackberry, an I-pod, a TIVO or any other brain sucking accoutrement. I'm fine with my ten year old Pentium 75 computer and my tube television with the faded colors. Heck, I don't even mind eating cold cuts and drinking flat soda out of cracked dollar store drinking glasses. If you want class and decorum, don't come looking to me.

Movie Quotes of the Week

Quotes
Do you know the movie these are from?

1. "Don't piss down my neck and tell me it's rainin'"

2. "If you're going to waste the bronze, you have to do it in style."

3. "Never give up. . . never surrender!"

4. "Chinese, Japanese. . . dirty knees. . . look at these!"

Down to the Dirt
I've put Eldest on hold for a week while I'm reading Down to the Dirt by Joel Hynes. It's a slim volume that packs a dramatic punch. The only problem is I took this out of the library and it reeks of cigarette smoke. I love this book so far. Let's see if it holds up to the finish.

Book Trailer
I met with Dave and Demian today to discuss the book trailer and I'm VERY excited. We have a date, a location and actors lined up. We also have a kick-ass musician to do the score. I'll throw out the full details and all the names once it's done. I'm amazed at how many creative people there are in the Mohawk Valley. . . and they all seem to know each other. I guess like minds tend to gravitate towards each other. I plan on sitting back at the film shoot and watching with my mouth shut. I want to let the director do his thing without the annoying writers messing things up with hissy fits.

My Next Project
I'm writing. . . a memoir on my life. I doubt this would interest anybody other than my wife and kids but I'm doing it anyway. I figured my writing needed a change up so I've switched to non-fiction memoir writing. Unlike James Frey, mine is 99.2% true. I can't vouch for it being interesting. I wonder if I want my wife and kids reading about some of things I've done. They think of me as the Clark Kent father figure not someone who, heaven forbid, performed mortal human deeds of vile and unsavory Lex Luthor flavor.

Wanted
My friend Craig recommended the graphic novel Wanted by Mark Millar and I found it a very fascinating character study. A neat concept where all the worlds superheroes are snuffed out and now the world is run by a fraternity of super villains. Gibson leaves his hum-drum life to become "The Killer". Very, very cool!

Quote Answers
1. The Outlaw Josey Wales

2. Mad Max

3. Galaxy Quest

4. The Devil's Rejects

MirrorMask

One Bizarre Movie
You know something is strange and bizarre when I call it "weird." I watched the movie MirrorMask last night and it was a really cool movie with some of the strangest CGI sequences ever. It was written by Neil Gaiman from the Sandman and used Jim Henson studios. I give this a HUGE webslinger thumbs up. I love creative and cool stuff that throws people off kilter. The concept is a young girl hates her life as a circus performer and dreams herself into this world of unreality.

American Idol
Why am I so addicted to this television show? I love it and can't figure out why. So far my favorites are Chris the bald rocker and Katherine the sable-haired beauty with the silk voice and the face of Madeline Stowe. Simon's comments are my favorite part of the show. The man knows what he's talking about.

One Final Thought on James Frey
Well, he wrote A Million Little Pieces and made millions of dollars. Since Frey's lies hit the world and Oprah's scolding, he's been dropped by his literary agent, dropped by his publisher, his movie deal up in the air and tar and feathered by everyone. I still like the book. My thought is to let a pounded hamburger fry. Or let a. . . Oh forget the bad analogies. I would say that Bruce Willis was right when he said tabloids tell lies every day and nobody cares so cut this sap a break. I have mixed feelings. We'll see what happens with memoirs from now on.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOQRSTUVWXYZ
That's in case you forgot it.

Borderline Eccentric
Well my little brother told me I was "borderline eccentric." Let me tell you that I'm way beyond the pale when it comes to sanity. Poor people like me are called "nuts". "Eccentric" is a term used for rich crazy people like King George or Michael Jackson.

P
Didn't you review above? The "P" is AWOL you bubble-headed booby!!!!!!!

CYB Productions

Book Trailer
I have to admit that I'm having a blast with my writing life. I met with the talented film director David Dellecese to discuss him shooting and directing a trailer based upon my book Daisy Daring. Check out his movies at www.cybproductions.com . I asked Dave if I could have my cousin Zenna Monaghan play the part of Daisy and he said, "Yes." He's the director so I stay out of the way. He's casting the parts of Jessica Suckling and Shane Loomis. Hopefully, we'll be shooting this :30 to 1:00 trailer very soon. I love interacting with creative people and there's just so many in the Mohawk Valley.

Appearance
Don't forget that I'll be at the Jervis Public Library in Rome, NY on Saturday, March 25, at 2pm. I'll be discussing the Loomis Gang and signing copies of my book.

13 Going on 30
I watched this movie with my wife and I loved it. It's light and fluffy and not meant to be anything other than fun. Jennifer Garner is the standout as the 30 year old woman trapped with her 13 year old mind. I loved the part where she dances like the Thriller video.

Graphic Novel
I'm working with the super talented Craig Rippon on a graphic novel adaptation of a crime novel that I wrote. It's an honor and you'll soon see his artwork on this website. Once in a lifetime you meet somebody with the talent that Craig has. He had worked for DC Comics and it shows in his graphic novel panels.

Amazon and Barnes and Noble
My book is now available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com . You can also go direct to my publisher North Country Books. Their new 2006 catalog is out and I'm thrilled to see my book on page 23.