Stephen Burckhardt's Blog: My Blog Ramblings, page 47

Monday Movie Madness: Young Guns 2

Hello Posse!

Big things are going on this week in the US but I do not want to touch on any of that in my blog. I want this to be a reprieve from the stress of what is going on in the world. I will just say, I hope you all stay safe and healthy this week and can find peace during stressful times.

Today's blog is going to be short and sweet so I can get pack to writing Into the West: Last Showdown. I know I write that often and then drone on forever because I just love writing about movies, but today I mean it (now, we'll see if I can do it)!

Today's movie is the sequel to Young Guns, Young Guns II: Blaze of Glory. This American Western was released in 1990 and stars Emilio Estevez again as William "Billy the Kid" Bonney. He is joined again by Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Christian Slater. William Petersen is featured as Pat Garrett.

Once again we follow the life of Billy the Kid (Estevez) around the time of the Lincoln County War. During this time in history, Billy the Kid was a member of "The Regulators". This was a group of gunfighters who banded together to hunt down the people responsible for the murder of John Tunstall. This is historical fiction but draws heavily on the records and legend of Billy the Kid. The sequel covers the time after Tunstall's death up to Billy the Kid's reported death. This is an important detail, as the story is narrated by a man known as Brushy Bill Roberts. Roberts came forward in 1950 and claimed that he was in fact the real William H. Bonney.

When the Regulators crossed the line from bringing Tunstall's murders to justice to taking revenge on them, the Regulators become wanted men themselves. Billy the Kid and the Regulators head for Mexico to escape the federal agents who are after them. When the authorities become frustrated with their inability to capture the band of men, they recruit an old friend of theirs to help, Pat Garrett (Petersen). In this battle of skill and strategy, only the most cunning will prevail.

Movie Snack

As a kid, William H. Bonney's first arrest was for stealing food (or clothes from a Chinese Laundry, sources disagree on this) so it only seems fitting to try to come up with a food that would have been popular around this time in the territory. I'm going to go with Thrift and Spice's Gorditas. (

I hope you have a great week, posse! Now, it's time to get your snacks and settle in for another great western!

Take care,

Stephenhttps://youtu.be/tMvn0glhQaM

Friday Funnies: Booch Day!

Hello, Posse!

Happy Booch Day! What the heck is "Booch" day you ask? Booch is a nickname for Kombucha. That lovely fermented tea drink that is full of gut-loving bacteria to set your digestive system on the right track for a healthy new year.

We are going back to LiveEatLearn.com for some great Kombucha recipes (

If you have made some New Year's resolutions to get in shape and improve your health, you might want to check this out. There are so many wonderful health benefits that come with drinking Kombucha. If you don't want to brew it, there are many premade options on the market today. Just check out your local health food store or natural section in the grocery and try a few brands. You can find them with or without Chia seeds, a variety of flavors including ones that come close to tasting like popular soda brands. Drinking Live Soda's Kombuchas was how I finally kicked my soda habit many years ago.

But for now we need to get back to the funny part of this Friday Funnies blog. Since we were talking about Kombucha and health, how about a few fitness jokes? I hope these will give you a good chuckle to start your weekend off right.

Enjoy,

Stephen

Q: Can I make a confession? I’m not bench-pressing anymore.A. I feel better! That took a real weight off my chest.

Q: What exercise do hair stylists always do at the gym?

A: Curls.

Q: Why did the fisherman go to the gym? A: He heard they had mussels there.

Q: Why did the shellfish stop going to the gym?

A: He pulled a mussel.

Q: Why did they open a gym in hell?

A: To exercise your demons.

Q: A peephole was found in a locker room at the local gym. A: The police are looking into it.

Q: Why did the chicken go to the gym?

A: It wanted to work on his pecks.

Q: Why did the divorced couple stop going to gym together? A: It wasn’t working out.

Q: Why can personal trainers always lift more than prisoners?

A: Because pros always outweigh cons.

Q: Why did the hamburgers go to the gym?

A: To firm up their buns.

Q: When I was at the gym, my leg suddenly started mooing.

A: The doctor said I suffered a calf injury.

Q: The lights went out in the gym today and the bodybuilders were left fumbling for their protein shakes.

A: None of them could find their whey in the dark.

Q: Why did the newlyweds buy a gym membership?

A: They really wanted their marriage to workout.

and, in keeping with the blog, last but not least . . .

Q: Why do some people not brew Kombucha?

A: Obviously they have no culture.

I Accidentally Became a Meme: Kombucha Girl

And for another Kombucha blog tie-in, check out this video of the woman who became an internet meme for posting a video of herself trying Kombucha for the first time.

WARNING: there is a bit of racy language but it is bleeped and blurred out.

https://youtu.be/rbyXWZVx5HcOriginal Video of Brittany Broski (Kombucha Girl) Tasting Kombucha for the first timehttps://youtu.be/sVN7eEkHJFo

Whatever Wednesday: First Dates

Hello, Posse!

I thought this would be a fun topic for today as it happens to fall on the 8th anniversary of the first date for my husband and I. Before I met Pedro, I had some incredibly BAD first dates. So bad, they make you want to give up dating altogether and just adopt a lot of pets kind of bad.

From guy not showing up or even calling for hours after he date was scheduled to admitting to felonies in first date idle conversation. It really was an interesting time being single and I thank God everyday I am past that.

When my husband and I set up our first meeting, we were very straight forward with each other. We both agreed that we were getting too old for games and pretense and we would rather just lay all our cards on the table from the get go and not waste our time if things did not feel right. I think that should have been the first sign that it was going to work out for us.

We agreed to just meet for lunch one day and see if we clicked enough to make a date. This was not going to be a date, just lunch. We'd meet for the length of time it took to order and eat then, if we had any interest we would set a date. If there was no interest, we would part ways and at least we had a pleasant lunch out.

We met at the Hana Cafe in Old Town in Wichita, Kansas. Our quick little lunch ended up lasting eleven hours. We ended up leaving the cafe and going other places. At one stop, Pedro surprised me with the rose you see here. I dried it and it still hangs on our bedroom wall.

Our date lasted so long because once we started talking, we just couldn't stop. We are still like that. We can talk about anything and everything and often have trouble shutting up. We dated constantly from then on and were engaged in three months and married in December of that same year. It would have been sooner but Pedro had trouble getting time off for the honeymoon from the company he had just started working for when we met.

In December 2020, we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary and we are still going strong. Now, I hope some of you will share your first date stories. You can share whatever you want, the good, the bad, the funny, whatever you want.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening,

Dianne

Monday Movie Madness: Tombstone

Hello Posse,

I'm rushing through, creating some blogs and other social media items to be posted over the next few days. I'm trying to free up some time this weekend and the beginning of next week to actually get some writing done on part five, Into the West: Last Showdown.

I had wanted to have it finished and online for the huge books fair that happened last October. I had been wanting to attend this even for a few years now and I had planned for this to be the year . . . then CoVid19 happened. I knew I was not going to be able to go and honestly, it killed my motivation and the story has just been fighting me ever since.

However, my online writing group has decided to work together to support many of us s we work to finish the novels we are currently working on. The goal is to finish the project by the end of January. My goal is set and I have a lot of support from my group and P.R. (Shaggy too) so I have no excuses to not get it done. So if the next few blogs seem a little rushed, they are.

But enough new updates for now, on to today's western, Tombstone!

I love this movie so much. This is definitely one I can watch again and again. Tombstone is an American Western from 1993. It features an all-star cast including Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Dana Delany and is narrated by Robert Mitchum. The film is rather loosely based on the lives of the Earp brothers and their Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona in the 1880s

Wyatt Earp (Russell) and his brothers, Virgil (Elliott), and Morgan (Paxton) have decided to settle down in Tombstone, Arizona and start a respectable business in an attempt to leave their days as gunslingers behind them. They are exciting to finally be able to be a family again and build a nice quiet life together, but trouble soon upends their plans. A ruthless local Cowboy gang targets them and forces them to return to their old ways to bring peace to their new community. Doc Holliday (Kilmer) joins his best friend Wyatt and his brothers to restore law and order to their new home.

Movie Snack

If you are like me, the first image that comes to mind when you think of Tombstone and food is the frozen Tombstone pizzas. Now, you could just go pick one up at the store and be done with it, but where it the fun in that?

Since my favorite line in this movie is, "You tell him I'm comin', and hell's comin' with me!" I thought a nice spicy Diablo Pizza recipe would be a good pairing for this movie. I found a great one on ,,Wewalka.us, Pizza Diablo with Marinara Sauce. (

If you don't have Wewalka pizza crust in your area (check out their store locator on their website to find their products near you), a great basic pizza dough you can make at home is the Crazy Dough recipe from BiggerBolderBaking.com (

Gemma'S Crazy Dough has become my go to recipe for just about anything for which I need dough: rolls, hamburger/hot dog buns, bread sticks, and of course pizza. Check out all of Gemma's recipes. They are great!

But honestly, who doesn't like the convenience of the premade dough sometimes like the Wewalka brand you see here.

If you are not a fan of spicy foods (my mom is not at all) you can adjust this recipe to your taste. Just leave off the hot sauce, jalapenos, and chile flakes from the Diablo Pizza and you still have a decent basic salami pizza. You can always play around with the ingredients. Add some fresh slices of tomato, mushrooms, some extra cheese, whatever you like. It's really hard to make a bad pizza, so experiment a little. You accidently might mix up a new favorite. Just don't get the toppings too thick or it will not cook up right. If you want a thick pizza, I suggest you bake the crust for a few minutes (about 5-10) to give it a headstart before you add your toppings.

I personally love adding things to the Crazy Dough recipe when I make pizza. I toss in a teaspoon each of thyme, basil, rosemary, oregano, and garlic powder. Then, I toss in a good handful or two of shredded cheese. You could even try doing do this with the Wewalka premade dough. Just knead in the herds and cheese into the dough and roll it out again. Have fun with it!

Now, it's that time, posse! Grab your snacks and settle in for another great western!

Enjoy!

StephenTombstone 1993 Trailerhttps://youtu.be/XTWYKf5hXIg

Friday Funnies: Seriously!

Hello Posse!

Wow . . . where to even begin today? I do not know about you, but I know I could really use something funny right now. After spending most of 2020 dealing with the stress of the pandemic and political back and forth from politicians to have 2021 start of with the unrest in Washington DC . . . I'm just beyond my stress limit.

I never go into political or religious discussions on my site, and I never will. This is NOT the place for that. However, I will say that no matter what side of the issues you are on, the conflicts are adding to everyone's stress level right now and it is more important than ever to find the things that make you happy!

Have a pet? Go play with it and hug it! Like reading? Spend some time with your favorite characters. Reread a favorite book and get lost in their world for a while. Like music? Pull out your favorite albums (yes, I said it, albums. Vinyl is back baby!) and listen to some classics that remind you of happier times. Like movies? Make that popcorn and settle in for a marathon of your favorites. Focus on the fact that life goes on and no matter what, good people will always band together to move forward.

In keeping with that idea. I hope you will read on and join me in a few laughs. But first, a video clip from one of my favorite stand-up comedians, Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias.

https://youtu.be/hmNOe94Kz3Q

In keeping with his set, read on to enjoy some jokes about coffee (These are for you, Tina).

Q: How do you take your coffee?
A: Seriously! Very, very seriously!

Q: Why did the cappuccino go to the police station?
A: To report a mugging.

Customer: This coffee tastes like dirt.
Waiter: That’s not surprising, sir, it was just ground this morning.

Q: How is a divorce like a good Italian espresso?
It’s expensive and usually a little bitter.

Q: Why are Italians able to make such good coffee?
A: They know how to espresso themselves.

Q: What did the coffee lover name her dogs?
A: Cream and Sugar.

Q: How do you know if you’ve had enough coffee?
A: You pick up the cream and pour out butter.

Q: What do you call it when you walk into a cafe and you feel like you've been there before?
A: It's Déjà brew.

Q: What’s the difference between coffee and other people's opinions?
A: I ask for coffee.

Q: Why did the hipster burn his tongue?
A: He drank his coffee before it was cool.

Q: How does Moses make coffee?
A: Hebrews it.

Q: Why do people always drink so much coffee at work?

A: It's become part of the daily grind.

Q: How do you know tech guys love coffee?
A: They invented Java!

and last but not least . . .

Q: What do you call it when coffee drinkers make jokes about their coffee?
A: It's a brewhaha.

Have a wonderful weekend, posse! Stay strong, laugh daily, and find joy where you can. We will get through these tough times . . . TOGETHER!

Be well,

Stephen

Whatever Wednesday: Podcasts

Hello Posse,

I hope your new year has started off well. We are doing good here. Pedro and I are still mostly just staying home and just keeping to ourselves. It makes things quiet and peaceful. Today I wanted to talk a bit about podcasts.

Podcasts are becoming more and more popular. With just a few pieces of equipment, just about anyone can start up their own podcast from the comfort of their home. I have even toyed with the idea of doing a podcast briefly once a week in place of one of the blogs. Mondays would be a good time to do this. I often have a lot more information I want to give about the movie I am featuring but do not always have the time to write it all out.

I remember I was first introduced to podcasts back when I worked in the stockroom at Barnes and Noble. The manager in receiving would record several episodes of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me and play the during work. I got completely hooked on that show.

Nowadays you can find a podcast to feed just about any interest you might have. Like history? Why not check out Ridiculous History on iHeartRadio. This show gives you the lighter side of history with true stories of all sorts of scandals and wild escapades throughout history but with a thoroughly researched historical accuracy.

Like old western radio shows? Why not check out Old Time Radio Westerns on Apple Podcasts. This show features different old western radio shows in each episode.

I could create a long list of possible topics for you to check out but seriously, just go to Google, time in any topic of interest for you and follow it with podcast and I will bet you dollars to donuts there will be a handful of options from which you can choose.

I have been interviewed on a few podcasts myself including the one in my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, hosted by Landon Huslig. Wichita Life Podcast can be found on several platforms but you can listen to their shows here on Stitcher. (

So what do you think about podcasts? Would you like to hear one from me about western movies or for Whatever Wednesdays? We will see how my writing schedule goes as to whether or not I will have time to take on any new projects (I can't keep up with the ones I have now) but I seriously need find something that works better for my marketing.

I need to expand my exposure and what I am doing now it just not growing my following very well. I have been at this for five years and am nowhere close to even breaking even on my writing endeavors and making an actual profit is not even within reach with my current set up. If this is ever going to be a viable career for me, I need to come up with a better business plan. Any suggestions you have for what would draw in more readers is always appreciated.

For now, why not check out a few podcasts and have a wonderful Wednesday!

Dianne

Monday Movie Madness: Young Guns

Hello Posse,

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's transition and are getting into the swing of 2021. This time of year always makes me laugh. I think back to when I was in junior high and thinking about the future. I remember thinking how when we went from 1999 to 2000 I would be so OLD. I was 33 that year. Having aged 20 years since then, I find my thoughts about age back then to be quite amusing.

So far this year has not been good for me and technology. my design program I use to make my ads is a flash based program that is no longer supported on Chrome. I tried even using it on Safari but it is messed up. To make things more annoying, I had all my ads I have created this past year sorted into neat little albums so I could quickly find things. When I went in yesterday to make a new ad, the albums are all empty and the ads are all in one general file.

For some reason I also decided to try to at a Tumblr page to my social media to try to expand to a broader audience and pick up some new followers. That is a whole new learning experience. I have never even looked at this social media platform before so I am starting this process from the very beginning. Wish me luck.

I should get to the movie now. I woke up with a migraine and spent most of the morning in bed nursing it. When I finally dragged myself out of bed to get some work done, P.R. immediately started telling me to go back to bed. I doubt I can argue the point for much longer. Plus, my social media posting service, Zuitte, is messed up and not working. They assure me they are aware of the situation and are working on it, but I will have to post everything manually today. No stress . . . I'll see what I can get done.

Young Guns is an American bio-Western that tells the story of Billy the Kid's life during the time of the Lincoln County War. the film was directed by Christopher Cain and has an all-star cast: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Terence Stamp, Terry O'Quinn, Brian Keith, and Jack Palance.

The movie was filmed in New Mexico where the war took place in 1877–78. It was filmed in and around New Mexico. The film earned more than $45 million on an $11 million budget. Not only was it a financial success but it was said to be the the most historically accurate telling of Billy the Kid's story according to historian Paul Hutton.

DUring the war, distinguished British gentleman, John Tunstall (Stamp), hires a group of young men who are down on their lucky to tend his ranch. Tunstall is killed by Lawrence Murphy (Palance). The young men who had come to love Tunstall decide it is up to them to bring the murderer to justice. The group that includes Doc Scurlock (Sutherland), Richard Brewer (Sheen) and William Bonney a.k.a. Billy the Kid (Estevez) set out to make things right though not everyone agrees what that means.

Movie Snack

The most popular movie snack in the US, popcorn, actually has roots in New Mexico. The earliest ears of popcorn are said to have been discovered in this area of the US. So what more fitting snack to pair with today's film.

I LOVE popcorn. I often make it for Dinner when P.R. is out of town and I just have popcorn and watch a movie for dinner. I love to mix a few M&Ms in it when the popcorn is still hot. It melts the chocolate inside but the candy coating keeps it from being a mess to eat.

I have been wanting to try a few more flavors and found some great suggestions on Live Eat Learn's website. ,,Check out their Easy Homemade Popcorn Seasoning ideas. (

Now, it's that time posse! Grab your snacks and settle in for another great western movie!

Enjoy,

StephenYoung Guns Trailerhttps://youtu.be/yp8hqVS6nq4

Friday Funnies: Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021!

Hello Posse!

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve and are not feeling too worn out today. I know so many of us have been looking forward to this day. It is a relief to see 2020 come to an end and look forward to 2021 with renewed hope for health and prosperity in the coming year, more so than any recent New Year's transition.

With this new beginning, may people make resolutions to help them focus on the changes they wish to bring out in the new year. Personally, I made a resolution years ago to stop making resolutions and shockingly, I've kept that resolution. But what about you? Do you make resolutions? I would love to read them in the comments!

For now though, I think we need to start this New Year off right with a good laugh or two. So It is time for a few New Year's jokes!

Enjoy!

Stephen

Q: What is a New Year's resolution?

A: Something that goes in one year and other another.

Q: What is the best New Year's resolution?

A: 1080p (if you aren't into computer graphics, you may not get that one)

Q: Where is the best place to do math on New Year's Eve?

A: Times Square.

Q: What is the worst job to have on New Year's Day?

A: City clean up crew!

Q: Why was everyone so happy Jan. 1 2021?

A: Because hidesight was finally 2020!

Resolutions . . .

My 2021 Resolutions:

Gain weight.
Save less money than last year.
Set realistic expectations.

Incredible Hulk's 2021 Resolutions:

Smash less.
Be nicer to puny humans.
Buy new clothes . . . check out Spandex!

More Resolutions:

Guy: Hey, did you make and resolutions this year?

Girl: Yes, 1080p, 720p, and a few 480p. How about you?

Guy: Yeah, to not be so nerdy.

Here is to being more optimistic in the coming year!

May your glass always be half full . . . of good quality whisky, gin, or vodka!

Cheers!
Here is to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2021!!!

One last thing . . .
Let's start the year off with Some Good News! https://youtu.be/3GwU4GKzLXY

Whatever Wednesday: Looking Back at 2020!

Hello, Posse!

I am sure if you are like me, you are looking forward to 2020 coming to an end and have hope that 2021 will be a much better experience for us all! I look forward to being able to safely go out and run errands and buy my own groceries in person again.

In 2020, we have been prevented from doing so many things; traveling at will, going to concerts and sporting events, it has even prevented many from going to work, hugging loved ones, and so much more. The Covid19 crisis has cost people jobs and homes, family and friends, and worst of all, some have lost their own lives. I know many people who have contracted the virus, and thankfully, most escaped with a mild case. However, not all were so lucky. I have friends who have lost loved ones and spent the holiday season grieving their loss.

We here with www.StephenBurckhardt.com have been lucky to escape the virus so far, but there are still months to go before the global situation is under control. We have been blessed that we are all able to work from home. For me, this was even a silver lining in all of the chaos of this year. My husband, Pedro, who normally travels quite a bit for work, was able to work from home. For the first time since we were married, we got to see each other every evening for almost an entire year.

We have missed out on a few things, we had planned to fly to Chile so I could meet more of his family who live there. I was to attend the Frankfurter Buchmesse here in Germany. It is the largest trade book fair in the world. However, Covid19 put a stop to that. I was to attend an award ceremony in England for an award for which I was a finalist. The organizers were forced to make the ceremony virtual due to Covid19 restrictions. While these things were disappointing, missing them will never outweigh the fact that we have made it through the year with our health and our family intact. We are blessed and we will be forever thankful for that.

As we head into 2021, we are praying that each and every one of you find peace, happiness, prosperity, and good health in the new year and for all your years to come. Thank you for being a part of our posse and we hope to keep you entertained well into the future.

With deepest gratitude,

Dianne Burckhardt

writing as Stephen Burckhardt

Monday Movie Madness: New Years Eve!

Hello, Posse!

I trust you had a fabulous Hanukkah, Christmas, and/or Kwanzaa celebration, which ever you celebrate, and are looking forward to the New Year. With the way most of 2020 went, I think just about anyone would be happy to see this year come to a close.

To round out this year, I give you my last in the holiday themed movie blogs and will be getting back to my westerns starting next week. I want to thank you all for indulging me with my holiday movie fun. I have always been so in love with movies. I remember begging mom to stay up late and watch the Late Late Show (I think that is what it was called) with her. It was the last movie on TV in the evening before the station went off the air for the night (yes, I am that old). Writing these blogs feeds my movie addiction.

Tonight's movie is considered the third in a sort of romantic comedy trilogy by director Garry Marshall. He directed three movies centered on different American holidays and all featured an all-star, ensemble casts. The trilogy included Valentine's Day (2010), Mother's Day (2016), and today's flick, New Years Eve.

This all-star cast includes: Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Zac Efron, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Josh Duhamel, Héctor Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sofía Vergara, Til Schweiger, Jake T. Austin, Hilary Swank, and Robert De Niro.

As with Marshall's other holiday movies, New Years Eve intertwines stories of several people as they explore relationships and search for love, forgiveness, second chances and hold out hope that better things are to come. A dying patient (De Niro) clings to life in hopes of seeing the ball drop in Time Square at least one more time. His nurse (Berry) watches over him. A rocker (Bon Jovi) has a confrontation with a former lover (Heigl) in the middle of an exclusive party. A guy who has lost more than his holiday spirit (Kutcher) gets stuck in an elevator with a singer (Michele) on her way to a New Years Eve gig. These are just a few of the New Yorkers who cross paths on this holiday night. Who will find love? Check out the movie for yourself to see.

Movie Snack

Today's movie snack is not only a good pairing because with the various vegetables in the dish, it is basically an ensemble cast of veggies in a bowl (I know that's a stretch, but go with me on this).

The Heritage Cook.com's, Lucky Texas Caviar (

So now it is time to grab your snacks and settle in for another great movie.

Enjoy!

Stephenhttps://youtu.be/h_dt27_0vL4