L.S. Murphy's Blog, page 33
July 11, 2011
Good News Time
I received some great news this weekend. My short story "Firestorm" has been selected to appear in the upcoming UnCONventional anthology from Spencer Hill Press. Check out the cover art:
UnCONventional will be released in January 2012.
Happy Writing.
Tagged: 2011, Authors, Books, Cover Art, Covers, Fiction, Fun, Good News, Just for Fun, Musings, News, Opinion, Opinions, Photography, Photos, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Writers, Writing
June 24, 2011
Save Del Taco
When word got out that developers planned on tearing down the iconic Del Taco building on South Grand, people took to the Internet to voice their displeasure. Right now, the "Save St. Louis Del Taco" Facebook page is at just over 8,500 followers.
A lot of people are wondering what the big deal is. I'll tell you.
First, the building is on the National Registry of historic places. It wouldn't be on the list if it wasn't unique. It wouldn't be on the list if there wasn't some historical significance. Why tear down something that has character? Is it as beautiful as the Fabulous Fox Theater down the street? Nope. But can you really imagine anything else in that spot? Nope. Even when Del Taco closes, as it inevitably will, the building will stand out in its individuality.
Second, people care because they have memories there. As someone who can't show her daughter where she really went to high school because the building is gone, I can understand the outcry. Students at St. Louis University frequent the taco shop and create memories there. It's no fun to drive past a location where something used to be and try to recall it. But seeing it as it once was, even under a different incarnation, still holds that memory. And continues to create memories.
This morning on the radio one of my favorite talk show hosts was all for tearing down the building and creating something new. In his opinion, it would give people jobs. Yes, that is true. BUT what about all the abandoned buildings in the area that are falling in on themselves? What about all the empty historical homes that could be refurbished and made beautiful again? There are jobs there too, but he didn't say anything about that.
Tearing down the building is all about the cold, hard cash. The developers see an opportunity to add more business in one spot, thereby boosting their own income. There isn't anything wrong with that. That's what they do. If only they could see the value of history over the value of a buck.
Like so many other people, I hope the building stays. I hope that another restaurant can open up there and continue the late night food craving tradition. And I hope that the developers look at the building for what it is, not what they want to put there.
St. Louis has a rich history. It would be a shame to start tearing it down.
Tagged: 2011, History, Just for Fun, Memories, Missouri, Musings, News, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Rants, St. Louis, Writing
June 21, 2011
Marine Corps Week
This week St. Louis has been invaded by the USMC.
Watch the aircraft fly in and land at Ballpark Village:
The Albany Marine Corp Band:
Fredbird joins in as the band plays Earth, Wind, & Fire:
Marine Week is a welcome addition to St. Louis. It gives civilians a look at what it means to be a member of The Corps and the equipment that they use to protect our freedoms. It's a chance to get to know some of the men and women behind the uniform. And a chance to say thanks.
Semper Fi.
Tagged: 2011, Events, Fun, Just for Fun, Local, Local News, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Week, Marines, Memories, Military, Missouri, Music, Musings, Opinion, Opinions, Photography, Photos, Pictures, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, St. Louis, USMC, Videos
June 9, 2011
The Kindle Issue
I love my new Kindle.
And that's kind of a problem. Not a massive problem, but a tiny one.
It's too easy to use. Yep, TOO EASY.
I can connect to Amazon's Kindle store and instantly download whatever I want, whenever I want. Even new releases the SAME DAY. I thought this would be awesome. And it is. Sometimes.
It isn't the same as discovering a book in a store. Seeing a beautiful cover, feeling the weight of the pages in your hands, reading the back blurb. The thrill of discovery is just not there with ebooks.
The other problem with the ebook is that it kills the anticipation of buying a book that you've been desperately waiting for. Again, because I can download it instantly. The thrill of anticipation is gone. The excitement of walking into the bookstore to seek it out…gone.
It's also way too easy to overspend too. Even with the cheaper prices. But buying too many books will always be a problem for me. Not a terrible one to have.
Now that I have a Kindle, I know this. It's not going to stop me from using it. But it won't stop me from going to the bookstore and buying a print book either. Ebooks are just a new way to read. I don't believe that they will kill off paperbacks or hard covers for a long time.
No, print isn't dead. Not by a long shot.
Tagged: 2011, Amazon, Books, eBooks, Fiction, Fun, Just for Fun, Kindle, Musings, Opinion, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, Writers, Writing
May 27, 2011
A Perfect Surprise
If you read my post yesterday, you know that it was my anniversary. My husband and I had a deal. We were going to buy a new TV for our bedroom. That was it. Nothing more.
When I woke up, there was a basket by my coffeepot that held three bags of my favorite whole bean coffee (Thomas Coffee here in St.Louis) and a box of tea bags. It was a sweet and thoughtful surprise.
He offered to bring lunch to my office from my favorite Chinese restaurant. Of course, I wasn't going to turn that down!
He walked in with two of his coworkers, who are also very good friends of mine. We chatted, but I couldn't help notice that the hubby was hiding something behind his back.
Then he handed me a bag with the perfect surprise: an Amazon Kindle.
I'd been thinking about and wanting a Kindle for a quite a while. In fact, I started saving up a few bucks here and there to buy one. I'm not a fan of using my credit card and my mother taught me the value of the dollar a long time ago. (Okay, she taught me to be "thrifty" as she puts it.) 
I should have known he'd do something like that. He's always throwing my off by picking up on the little things I say and acting on them. If I casual mention something a few times, he doesn't hesitate to get it for me. He doesn't have to do so, but that's just the kind of guy that he is.
He may have given me the perfect gift, but the reality is I ended up marrying the perfect man.
Tagged: 2011, Anniversaries, Anniversary, Books, eBooks, Family, Fun, Gifts, Life, Marriage, Memories, Missouri, Musings, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Reading, St. Louis, Surprise, Surprises
May 26, 2011
Rockin' Thursdays – Special Edition
Today is my wedding anniversary. It's been a wild and wacky ride so far, and I look forward to many, many years to come.
So, in honor of this special day, here's a little song that describes the true meaning of love.
Yep, I love him just the way he is and I wouldn't change anything about him, even the things that drive me nuts.
Sing it to the one you love with the lyrics.
Tagged: 2011, Anniversaries, Anniversary, Family, Fun, Just for Fun, Life, Love, Memories, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Videos, Wedding, Weddings
May 12, 2011
Rockin' Thursdays
Oh, Glee, how you school me on music.
Tuesday's episode introduced me to "Rolling in the Deep". Now as a self-professed admirer of Jonathan Groff (Again why does this man not have a record deal when Matthew Morrison does? That is soooooo unjust) I immediately fell in love with the song. In fact, he could sing the ABCs and I'd swoon.
But I digress.
I'm just as addicted to the original Adele version as the Groff/Michele Glee version.
Sing along with me. Here are the lyrics
Tagged: 2011, Adele, Fun, Glee, High School, Just for Fun, Music, Musical Addictions, Musings, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Rolling in the Deep, Videos
May 5, 2011
Rockin' Thursdays
There is a four-day weekend on the horizon with me. And there is only one place I am going to spend it. HOME.
A trip to the tropics would be lovely or a cabin in the mountains would make me happy, but I prefer staying home and enjoying the laziness. When you travel, there is the hassle of getting there, the hurry of packing everything in, and the stress of getting back home. As enjoyable as a real vacation can be, it doesn't relax me in the same way as staying home for a day or two.
Yeah, let me go "Home".
Sing along with Michael Buble (I do!) with the lyrics.
Tagged: 2011, Fun, Just for Fun, Memories, Music, Musings, Opinion, Opinions, ramblings, Random Thoughts, Rockin' Thursdays, Videos
May 3, 2011
The American President
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This image from Reuters caught my attention yesterday when it was released. And it reminded me of the movie "The American President" starring Michael Douglas and Annette Bening.
There is a scene in the movie where fictional President Andrew Shepherd is faced with a decision on whether or not to bomb a building in retaliation for an attack on an American facility. The following scene is the aftermath of Shepherd's decision.
I imagine that President Obama felt the same way in the aftermath of bin Laden's death. Not that he had regrets for ending bin Laden's life, but for the innocent life that was lost – the woman used as a human shield. Whether she positioned herself as his shield or was placed there is up for debate, but she was as much a victim of bin Laden's terror as anyone else.
There is no doubt that President Obama made the right decision, even without 100% certainty that bin Laden was inside. The fact is that the mission was a success. Our military got the modern-day John Dillinger. Public Enemy #1 is dead.
Tagged: 2011, Barack Obama, History, movies, Musings, Opinions, Osama bin Laden, President, ramblings, Random, Random Thoughts, Videos
