I must be crazy to get ANOTHER hobby!

So, one of the reasons I haven't been blogging so much this summer is besides trying to complete my fifth fantasy novel, working full-time, getting our kindergartener to the bus and home again, taking care of horses (dogs & cats), I've decided to try my hand at a new hobby.

Model horse showing! What??!! Yes, I have my show string of around twenty horses. I went to my first show with no idea what to expect. I've had Breyer horses for more than 35 years. I picked the models in the best condition and took the opportunity to open the boxes of horses I was given when I got older. I thought for sure I had a good chance. Not quite. As soon as I arrived at River City Model show in Evansville, IN, it became apparent my horses were too retail. All the winners in the Original Finish Breyer were special runs, limited editions. I did manage 6 ribbons with my highest placing being 4th place with my Rural King Brabant draft.

Needless to say my attempt at customizing Breyers didn't do well. I'm not giving up, but will choose a smaller model (Stablemate) for my next victims. I had the hardest time at getting smooth brush strokes.

After the show, I brought 3 new models to update my collection to the 2000's.  At the second show (My Ol' Kentucky Live show in Elizabethtown, KY), I tried to think out of the box at breeds and avoid the big classes (mustang). Horrible decision. If I would have kept the horses as mustangs, they might have done better. So now I'm faced with the dilemma heading into show #3 in Nov. The judge from the first show is the judge at this show.

I also grabbed some of my daughter's Stablemates that we got at Breyerfest with the One Day Ticket. One of the horses actually got first place in Collectability and earned a NAN card to get into the Nationals next July!!  I was totally shocked! So now, my daughter has a few less toys to play with.

To add to my addiction, I just brought 2 customized Breyers from Ebay. There is a big possibility that I have spent all this money and none of them will place in their classes. Oh, and just a heads up - if you're wondering what you get when you win, not much.  I think it's just the bragging rights of having the most awesome horse.

Stay tuned for updates at my next show - Autumn Leaf Model show in Indiana.

LORDS OF ACID: Paying Tribute to my '90s College Self

 

I went to the Sextreme Fest '17 to see Lords of Acid and Combichrist in Louisville, KY this week. It was my first visit to the Mercury Ballroom. My night started out watching girls in front of me get the "wand" waved over them in a security measure. When it was my turn, the bouncer decided to get more personal and frisk me down. He did such a good job it nearly rolled my socks past my ankles. I would give him an A+ for doing his job, but kind of embarrassing to get into the venue and go in search of a place to right my legwear.

The show started at 8pm, right as billed, by a up-and-coming band, The Wiccid. Two men and two keyboards - after a girl's heart, you know! (I'm the kind of girl that isn't that crazy about guitars, but give me some good keyboarding and you'll have me on the dance floor in no time.) This Los Angeles duo was just signed by the Cleopatra Records. Nice chaps, who afterwards gave me a sticker for whatever purpose I chose.

Then we all waited almost an hour for Christian Death to come to the stage. They never did. We saw their roadies get the place ready for them (including projection screens that illuminated the band name upside down on white sheets), but a bit later same said crew took down the decorations, removed the instruments, and began to ready the stage for Combichrist. No details were given on why a billed act never showed.

But when Combichrist came on, no one even remembered Christian Death. I had never seen Combichrist before, but had albums and danced to a billion songs from them. They rocked. The most amazing thing about the show, other than LaPlegua's enthusiasm that was almost electric, was watching Joe Letz, the drummer, torment his "helper." The poor kid had to chase down so many drums, had to retrieve an untold amount of drumsticks, and had to reposition microphone after microphone - all the while doing so completely straight faced.


Lords of Acid came on and even with the technical difficulties they did a great job. It makes me a little uncomfortable to say I saw them as a fresh-faced college student in the '90s at the Sextacy Ball and enjoyed them still more than twenty years later. Okay, I'm not as dance-y as I used to be - one hip replacement later will do that to you - but it was still a great time.

All in all, I would call the evening a success! Who knows, maybe I'll see them in another twenty years!
 

Imaginarium Convention in Louisville, KY

My writers group will be at the Vendor Fair at Imaginarium  Convention in Louisville, KY October 6th - 8th. Three days of gaming, film, and creative writing! It is our first time attending this event as the Sellersburg Writers Group, but we're are excited and ready to go!

Michael Knost is this year's guest of honor and is joined by a plethora of established authors and film makers. I am excited to have the opportunity to pick the brains of some great authors, and possibly try to work up the courage to talk to some publishers.



Please visit the website for more info:
http://www.entertheimaginarium.com/


Come join us at the book fair at Imaginarium! See you in October!!

Holy smokes! I haven't written in forever and a new Doctor is on the horizon!

I am sorry it's been so long!  Summer hits and suddenly all free time goes out the door. It's difficult juggling 5 year old and writing. It seems the five year old won this time. Not much going on, still working on the time travel. I realize I need to flesh out the ending more (and that keeps me in line with getting 80,000 words).

Summer also saw the end of our current Doctor in Doctor Who. It is a shame; I was really starting to like him. Glad to hear the next Doctor will be a woman. She'll get into the same great adventures as the previous Doctors, so I'm not worried one bit.

Tears for Fears LIVE!!!

I got to see one of my favorite 80's bands, Tears for Fears, on May 21st at the Louisville Palace. I'd never been to the Palace before, and I absolutely adored the place! It is amazing inside. Our seats were in row D, and pretty close to the stage. And they rocked!

The opening act was the back-up singer for TFF. She was a good singer and even a little funny. She had us all laughing, but I was ready for what I came there for!  Bring on the band to play my most favorite song of my most favorite movie - "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" from Real Genius. I know, cheesy, but still my favorite (other than Better Off Dead).


Roland and Curt - then



Roland and Curt - now

They opened with "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," closed with "Shout." Roland sang the "Creep" cover from Radiohead. An acoustic version of "Mad World" was great. They sang a total of sixteen songs, but I loved every minute of it.

I really hope one day I will be able to see them again. It ranked up with one of the highest concerts I've seen and was sorry to have to leave the Palace. What an awesome time!

Doctor Who: Extremis

Finally!  It has been revealed why Nardole has the authority (and gumption) to talk to the Doctor in such a manner. I like Nardole, but it has really irked me why he continually talked to the Doctor as if he'd known him forever. Of course, as a Time Lord, I guess it could be possible Nardole did know him forever.

Nardole, The Doctor, & Bill
Courtesy of Threeifbyspace.net

Thank you, River Song!

It was good to see Missy again (almost like an evil, troublemaking old friend, but still good!). I was thinking she was the one behind the door. Then you add the Pope, Vatican priests, ancient texts that drives people insane, alternate computer universes, oh, yeah, the Doctor is blind!

And then there were these guys ...

Courtesy of mirror.co.uk

Terrifying aliens out to create simulations and make trouble. So, I will have to wait until next week to see what happens.

Well, bring it on! I am looking forward to it!

Doctor Who: Zombies in Space

Really, zombies in space is almost as good as dinosaurs on a spaceship, but I didn't cry in "Oxygen," like I did with Matt Smith's 2012 adventure. The humans in the latest Doctor Who's episode fared about as good as the dinosaurs, though. I knew dead people walking around outside a spacecraft was probably not a good sign!

Matt Smith, Queen Nefertiti and others find dinosaurs!
Courtesy of BBC One

Bill and Nardole join the Doctor, and they come to the rescue of soon-to-be oxygen deprived individuals. The numbers aren't in their favor. I loved Bill's reaction to the blue man, and I am really liking her so much! She's still making smart decisions, and her reactions are believable.

Not exactly walking dead, but still dead
Courtesy of BBC One

Still! Who is in the vault? Obviously someone who is a good piano player. Nardole obviously doesn't know the Doctor has visited whoever is behind the door. I did appreciate the tidbit in which Nardole stated it was the Doctor that directed him to be such a stick in the mud when it came to the Doctor going on adventures that took him away from the vault.

I can see the writers are starting to weave in Capaldi's departure from the show. It figures he is starting to grow on me AFTER he made the decision to leave the show.