Mollie Hunt's Blog, page 67

HOPE FOR TODAY

 

Let’s rest awhile from today’s tragedies and travesties,

from the sick and dying and dead,

from the keening of loss,

the misery of fear.

Let’s pierce the veil of hate and vengeance

to the things that were meant to be

in this miracle of life.

 

Close your eyes, find your safe place.

Surround yourself with what you love.

Call forth your memories of joy and wonder:

a kitten’s mew, a lover’s sigh,

a rose that blooms through all weather,

a cloud shaped like a lamb,

a book whose story is endless,

a cup of coffee in the pre-dawn rain

 

Follow the raindrops, the book, the cloud, the rose

to the home within where God lives

and feel the peace,

the hope,

the faith

that in spite of mob mentality,

prejudice,

blood lust,

the pain and hurt and death that is the veneer of our society-

the mad scientist, the money lover,

the cop killer, the killer cop,

the child abuser, the lion killer,

the suicide bomber, the religious nut with a gun,

 

we are better than that.

We are stronger than that.

We are more than that.

 

Let’s bear the light of our love

to heal the broken world.

CAT STUFF

I don’t consider myself a collector. The idea that I purposefully go out seeking cat objects is ludicrous. Yet when I look around me, at my desk, my shelves, my bookcase, my jewelry, even my clothing, I have to wonder. From every side, round furry faces with pointed ears and bright gem eyes stare back at me. Plush, wood, ceramic, paper – there are cats. Cats everywhere. But I’m not a collector.

  

There is something about the fluid shape of a cat, the perfect symmetry (or in some cases, perfectly imperfect) that pleases the eye and soothes the soul. When I am sad or lost for words, I run my gaze over the long back and shapely tail. When I am anxious, the serenity of a sleeping cat calms me. And when I’m just here and present, I enjoy looking at their form. To me, cats are flawless.

 

I’m picky about the cat items with which I surround myself. I can tell whether the artist has a true affinity for cats or he is just doing a design job. Cutsie kittens or uncat-like caricatures are not my preference. On the other hand, I enjoy the strange colors of the whimsical post-war MIJ figures, the Oaxacan carved totems, and the Japanese maneki-neko because the pieces embody the personality of a real cat.

 

I have many pictures of cats, portraits of cats-gone-by, photos of my beautiful current cats. There is an original wood block print by San Francisco artist Louise Gilbert and a linoleum print made by an unknown child. In my office is a wall calendar, a day planner, and a cat-a-day. Over my living room couch hang 6 photos by Best Friends Sanctuary photographer Clay Meyers. I sent him this snapshot of Dirty Harry lounging in front of his work.

 

Though I don’t keep them on my bed like a starry-eyes teenager any more, I have a number of stuffed plush cats, One growls when pressed; another walks, driving my real cats crazy; yet another is in itself a cat toy. I also have a tribble who trills, given to me by author David Gerrold, but that’s another story.

 

There is more – much more: cat lamp, cat needlepoint, cat tile, cat vase, cat cup, cat salt and pepper. But I assure you once again, I do not collect cat stuff. Ask me about my Star Trek autographs. Now that’s a collection!

 

WHAT I’M WATCHING: INSPECTOR MORSE

INSPECTOR MORSE

Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1987–2000)

Inspector Morse – intellectual, cynical, and more than a little snobbish – tackles the most devious crimes found in the diverse community of Oxford. —Netflix 

In this older but excellent British television mystery series based on books by Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse (John Thaw) and his second, Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately) seek to solve convoluted murder crimes without the aid of cell phones, forensics teams, or DNA evidence. With Morse, it’s all clues and details. The viewer must watch not only the foreground, but also what goes on in the back to get the full effect of the story. 

Equally as important as the inventive storylines is the Morse character, himself. Prickly, well-read, alcoholic, and naïve when it comes to attractive women, Morse can never be happy. The closest he gets is when he listens to his music. The series uses that music well, punctuating it with canyons of dramatic silence. 

Lewis plays perfectly against Morse, the young family policeman comfortable and assured in his normality. He bows to Morse as his superior but often with the rolling of eyes. Lewis has his own powers of detection and helps Morse see through the muddle of a confusing case. 

The scenery is lovely, both in city and country, and sometimes the sets saying more than the dialog. The innovative cinematography plays a big part in conveying the lush tapestry that is the series’ hallmark. No reflective surface is safe, whether window glass, rain-wet asphalt, or the polished paint of Morse’s vintage Jaguar. The camera slips seamlessly from mirror to scene or layers through the hazy reflection in a window, much like the convoluted twists and turns of the crimes that must be solved. 

This is my third run-through of the series and I am enjoying it as much as the first time, though I miss sitting with my parents, sipping tea, and watching real-time like we did back in 1987.

 

 

WHAT I’M WATCHING: MURDER SHE WROTE

MURDER SHE WROTE

Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (1984–1996)

Professional writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) uses her intellect, charm, and persistence to get to the bottom of every crime she encounters. The series aired for 12 seasons with 264 episodes.

I am a writer. I am a cozy mystery fan. I am depressed – what else would I do but binge-watch the 1984-96 mystery series, Murder She Wrote?

Though in some ways dated, (think big hair, big shoulders, and big glasses) the long-running series still has a lot going for it:

The star-studded cast* boasts stars before they were stars, big and little name stars, and a liberal sprinkle of beloved classic stars who, like Ms. Lansbury, have moved past their youthful prime.
Not only is Jessica a woman of a certain age; she manages to pull off being both a lady and a smartass at the same time.
There are over 250 episodes which can accommodate even the longest binge-watching funk.
Everything turns out alright in the end.

The only thing Murder She Wrote lacks is a couple of cats.

*To note, the star list includes many Star Trek actors such as Kate Mulgrew, Ricardo Montalban, Rene Auberjonois, Levar Burton, George Takei, and of course William Windom  who played Commodore Matt Decker.

 

WHAT I’M WATCHING: CASTLE

CASTLE

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama | TV Series (2009–2016)

After a serial killer imitates the plots of his novels, successful mystery novelist Richard “Rick” Castle receives permission from the Mayor of New York City to tag along with an NYPD homicide investigation team for research purposes.

Gotta love Castle. Nathan Fillion is such a cutie, and his partner in anti-crime, Stana Katic, is the master of the blank look that says so much. Together they are funny, poignant, mysterious, and sexy.

I’m late to the Castle game, having only seen a smattering of shows before I began binge-watching from the beginning on DVD. Apparently the recent season 8 was the final season. I don’t know why it’s being canceled or why some of the stars didn’t want to go on: maybe the story has run its course; maybe people’s tastes have changed; maybe it went downhill – I don’t know. I’m only up to Season 3 but have enjoyed every minute of its edgy, cozy, quirky, and comfortably predictable stories.

Castle’s daughter (Molly C. Quinn) and mother (Susan Sullivan) are both gems, and the detectives (Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever) play off each other excellently. The sets are richly detailed, as is the writing. As a Firefly fan, I’ve caught a few references to the canceled-too-soon sci-fi cult classic. As a writer, I’ve noted some true verbiage of writing technique. These background elements raise Castle from a run-of-the-mill cop show to a clever, polished piece of entertainment.

Of course, I, like every writer, want to be Castle: rich and famous, living a life of ease. And it goes without saying that we all want that bullet proof vest that says Writer instead of Police.

 

Eight Week Challenge: STUFF HAPPENS

Stuff happens.

Stuff like starting a new medication for my GAD and having it do the exactly reverse effect, throwing me into a full blown anxiety episode. Apparently I have a strange reaction to some drugs. (recall the great Cymbalta withdrawal of January) and my doctor is going to give me a DNA test to see what’s going on. Meanwhile I’ve been off… way off. I did clear out a horrible tangle of weeds at the back of my house so in a way, I did that part of my challenge. I also have no appetite so I probably have lost weight though I don’t want to look in case I haven’t. BTW, anxiety and depression is not a good way to diet.

Then my old sweet kitty got sick and Crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I am wordless with grief. I had to cancel a reading, postpone my new book launch, and I haven’t been able to write. As a cat lady, this is not my first experience with loss, but each is a tragedy it takes painful time to come back from.

It’s still summer in Portland. The figs ripen on the trees. The bees buzz in and out of my husband’s hives. It’s only supposed to rain a little today.

This will be my last 8-week Challenge post. Good luck, all of you who are taking this challenge, and best of luck to Danielle.

Danielle, no matter what, you have succeeded.

 

The Caffeinated Writer writes:

The closer the end of this challenge comes, the faster it goes. And the faster the challenge goes, IT MEANS IT’S ALMOST TIME TO LEAVE. We’ve got 3 weeks left of the eight week challenge…

Source: Eight Week Challenge: Update 5

Mollie Hunt’s Extremely Informal Newsletter #4

Cat Tip of the month: Did you know that cats can get ingrown claws? If not clipped, a claw, especially the dew claw, can grow around in a circle and back into the cat’s foot pad. The condition looks almost like a button or a shell and is very painful to the cat. Older cats are especially susceptible because their claws tend to thicken. Keep your cats’ claws trimmed regularly.

Hello friends! I am feeling overwhelmed with all the thing coming up in the next few months so I decided it would be the perfect time to send out a newsletter. 

Upcoming News:  

Cover Reveal and Contest for Cat’s Paw, a Crazy Cat Lady Mystery #3. Can you guess which wonderful Leslie Cobb cat painting I will be using for the Cat’s Paw cover? Visit Leslie’s website at Cat Art by Leslie Cobb and check out her work, then email me your guess or write it in the comment line of any of my Cover Reveal Facebook posts. Correct guesses win a signed copy of Cat’s Paw. New hints every Monday. (Contest ends when I reveal the cover on July 18, 2016)

Hint 1. It will have a cat on the cover.

 

Nothing to do with writing, but the big Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas is coming up at the beginning of August. The convention is 5 full days this year, in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek, the original series. Headline guests this year are Whoopi Goldberg and Kirstie Alley, plus 100 of our favorite Trek actors. I’m over the top excited!

 

   

Upcoming Events:  

The Power of the Pen Reading and Book Signing Series, Wednesday, July 6 – Refreshments at 1:30pm – Reading begins at 2:00pm at Courtyard Fountains Senior Living, 1545 SE 223rd, Gresham, OR.

8th Annual NW Book Festival, July 30, 2016 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. A wide array of local and regional authors gather for a day in Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Cat’s Paw, a Crazy Cat Lady Mystery #3 Launch Party will be August 18 at Another Read Through Independent Bookseller, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

When cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon attends an exclusive art retreat at the world-famous Cloverleaf Animal Sanctuary, she gets more than a lesson in drawing. Accused by vigilantes of a shocking double homicide, she persuades them of her innocence and heads home to Portland, but murder follows in her wake. It all comes down to cats in this 3rd Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery.

Conversations with Writers: a Hillsboro, Oregon group that invites writers to read and tell about their work and their writing methods. I will be talking on “Changing the World Through Fiction: Introducing altruism without using soapbox rhetoric (or putting your reader to sleep.)” September 26, 2016  7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 Brookwood Pkwy, Hillsboro.

As a fiction writer, I create an engaging and entertaining story; as an animal rescue advocate, I raise awareness of our companion animals and the ways we can help them. By introducing characters and situations involved with animal welfare into my cozy cat mysteries, my readers come away with more than a pleasant read.

 

Thanks for playing along. I love hearing comments and suggestions. 

 

 

WHAT I’M WATCHING: HINTERLAND

HINTERLAND 

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery | TV Mini-Series (2013– )

A noir crime drama set in Aberystwyth, Wales, where troubled DCI Tom Mathias solves murders while searching for redemption. —IMDb

Y Gwyll, (English translation: The Dusk), is a Celtic noir police detective drama series broadcast on S4C in Welsh. The main character, DCI Tom Mathias, is played by Richard Harrington. The English language version, titled Hinterland, with brief passages of Welsh dialogue, aired on BBC One Wales. When it was aired on the BBC in 2014, it was the first BBC television drama with dialogue in both English and Welsh. —Wikipedia

Hinterland is not cozy. In fact, it can be deeply disturbing, and it’s not just the villains who have a darkness in their psyche. DCI Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington) is angst incarnate. (similar to David Tennant in Broadchurch but not as cute)

Troubled characters and the tragic cases they investigate aren’t the only things that make Hinterland powerfully noir: the bleak setting, a musical score as haunting as whale song, and especially the use of morbidly fascinating close-up cinematography project the story behind the story. Using reflection, mirror images, and those incredible ultra-close-ups, the camera often tells more than the spare script. We go from a long-shot of clouds scudding in a grim gray sky to fly specks on chipping paint, a child’s toy imbedded with ash. Shadow play, odd angles, silhouettes and contrast create the surreal world of seabound Wales, the edge of the world.

Thought-provoking and insightful, Hinterland is an intelligent effort at masterpiece. I can’t be multi-tasking when I watch this gritty mini-series.

 

 

Eight Week Challenge: Update 3

I’m going outside right now. Yes, I am. Going out for my 30 minutes of gardening that I chose to pursue for my 8-week challenge. Yup, any minute now I’ll get off the computer and put on my sweats. Just as soon as I finish reading my email…

Challenges are hard. When one challenges oneself, once cannot lie or fudge. “Do or do not – there is no try.” (Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back) So instead of declaring myself a miserable failure, I’m going to skew my challenge. Yes, I will continue to get outside, but I also must include a secondary challenge: to work on my new Crazy Cat Lady mystery every day.

You would think this would be an easy one, since writing is to me right up there with ice cream and cats, but it’s easy to get distracted. (i.e. the never-ending email) I’ll let you know how it goes.

The Caffeinated Writer writes:

Hello friends! I’ve determined that I am indeed correct in that by creating this challenge, I’ve made these weeks seem to go by super fast. I made the mistake of counting how many days …

Source: Eight Week Challenge: Update 3

SAVING MONEY WITH THE PERPETUAL CALENDAR

        

Everybody has that favorite calendar. You know, the one that makes you sad when the year is over; the one you may put somewhere discrete for the following year, just to look at the pictures one more time. It may be a favorite artist, or scenes from a place you visited. It may represent a cause. (I receive ones from the Humane Society, Cat Adoption Team, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary annually.) It may be a calendar you made yourself, or one that was made for you by friends, children, or grandchildren. It may be something funny that always makes you laugh, no matter how bad your day is. Maybe it’s something really old and nostalgic that you just can’t throw away. Or maybe you just like saving money.

       

So if you’re like me, you have a drawer or shelf or box somewhere filled with these calendars. Imagine my delight when I found a way I could use them again and again!

It is called the Perpetual Calendar, which is a calendar that is valid for many different years. Perpetual calendars use algorithms to compute the day of the week for any given year, month, and day of month. With a Perpetual Calendar, you can figure out which years are the same, and use those old calendars again.

At the VP Calendar site, the 20th and 21st centuries are broken down into 14 different charts. Only 14, and that includes the conundrum that is Leap Year! I’m amazed, and I think you will be too.

Here’s how it works. Say, you want to find out which calendars in that drawer/ shelf/ box you can use next year, 2017. According to the chart at ALL CALENDARS OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE you have quite a choice. Here are the years past that have identical dates to 2017:

1589, 95

1606, 17, 23, 34, 45, 51, 62, 73, 79, 90

1702, 13, 19, 30, 41, 47, 58, 69, 75, 86, 97

1809, 15, 26, 37, 43, 54, 65, 71, 82, 93, 99

1905, 11, 22, 33, 39, 50, 61, 67, 78, 89, 95

2006

Now you know what to do with that 1623 calendar your ancestors brought over on the Mayflower.

I am the biggest pack rat, but even I don’t have calendars that go back anywhere near that far. There are still lots of choices from the last half century though. Most years have between 4 and 6 choices since 1966. Leap years have the least number; usually only 2.

So don’t throw away that Star Trek/ Firefly/ Lord of the Rings/ Gnomes calendar – save it and use it again!

Here are a couple of sites for you to start with:

VPCalendar.net : 20th & 21st Centuries

ALL CALENDARS OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE: 1582 through 11582