AWESOME

Star Trek was awesome!!! I loved, loved, loved the new cast - they were the embodiment of the original characters! I'm not going to post much about the movie because I'm afraid I'll give away some spoilers, so I'll wait until later to do a review. But just let me say, it was freaking awesome!!

Zachary Quinto is Spock - he had the language, actions and logic of the original down to a T. But the one that surprised, and impressed, me was Karl Urban - his portrayal of Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy was dead on! I truly believed he was Bones! Simon Pegg also did a great job of Montgomery "Scotty" Scott - he was very funny. I also enjoyed Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov - how did he master that Russian accent? Chekov is apparently 17 in this movie, but I don't remember him as being younger than the rest of the crew in the original. And of course, there was Chris Pine as Capt. James T. Kirk - since I never liked William Shatner, I thought Pine brought a lot to the character and made him a believable rogue. I could just never picture Shatner as a womanizer.

I had a little trouble accepting John Cho as Hikaru Sulu, mainly because I kept seeing Kaumar, but he did a good job. I also had a little trouble with Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura, I think she was just trying too hard; Nichelle Nichols was sexy without trying. And although I love Ben Cross - he played Sarek, Spock's father - every time he opened his mouth to speak, I kept hearing Barnabas Collins from DARK SHADOWS: THE RIVAL.

My only complaint with the movie is probably petty, but it bothered me nonetheless: Why in the 21st century did J.J. Abrams feel it was necessary to put the women in those short, skimpy skirts from the original series?? I mean, I understood when they wore these skirts in the 1960s, because it was the sexual revolution and all, but geeze. Isn't it time we quit sexualizing women? Okay, I'll get off my soap box now.

Great movie - great next step in the franchise - can't wait to see it again!!

My 500th Post ...

... at least on Rightmyer Rants. I'm fast approaching the same amount on 2 of my other blogs - My Muse and Me and Bobbi's Book Nook. I totally missed my 1st year blogging anniversary in February, but actually, I think 500 posts is a bigger milestone.

FREE FLOWING FRIDAY:

1.) As you can tell from my 499th post, I'm going to see STAR TREK this weekend - I am so excited!! I was never a fan of Capt. Kirk - sorry Shatner - but it will be interesting to learn how he turned into the cocky, female obsessed captain he did.

2.) Unfortunately, because of STAR TREK (we can only go in the afternoon due to hubby and daughter's work), I won't get to attend the book signing of my friend, Earl Dean. His first novel - THE TAILOR MAIDEN'S SECRET - was released this week and he will be in Gratz Park in Lexington for Mayfest. However, the leader of my writing group is going to pick up a book for me and I should see Earl next week at our group meeting. If you happen to be near Gratz Park between noon and 4 on Saturday, stop by to see the 17+ authors scheduled to be signing books.

3.) Although I love the rain, if it doesn't dry up for at least one day, I may have to bushhog my yard. Trying to mow one-acre with a push mower and wet grass is soooo not going to happen.

4.) Just finished Ted Dekker's newest book - THE BONEMAN'S DAUGHTERS - can we all say creepy?! This was a haunting murder mystery about a serial killer who kills young girls by breaking all the bones in their body - without breaking the skin. It truly held my attention and I read it in 2 days (400 pages). If you love Dekker and murder mysteries, this one is great. I have a feeling it may end up being one of the big "beach reads" of the summer.

5.) I'm hoping I have enough flowers blooming this weekend to be able to pick my Mother's Day bouquets - we've had lots of rain, but not a lot of sun. Every year I pick enough flowers from my yard to make my Mom and my Mom-in-law a HUGE bouquet. The snowballs are beautiful, as are the Iris and mock orange, but I depend on the peonies and I don't have very many that are currently open all the way. I'm praying for sun today and tomorrow to help them open.

Later ...

To Boldly Go ...

The mastermind behind LOST and FRINGE - J.J. Abrams - is going to boldly go ... where many have gone before him. The genius of Abrams is going to take the beloved STAR TREK franchise into a totally new and fresh direction, and I am literally shaking with anticipation at the thought.

Simply entitled STAR TREK - not STAR TREK 11, even though it is the 11th feature film - Abrams is finally going to shed light on how the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise became the legends we have come to love. For years, I've been hearing the rumors of a new STAR TREK, but after the feeble attempt with the last movie - STAR TREK NEMESIS - I had given up hope. Don't get me wrong, I am a NEXT GENERATION girl, but I didn't like the last movie, even though Jean-Luc Picard remains my favorite captain of the Enterprise.
That is until it was announced that Zachary Quinto had been cast to play a younger version of Mr. Spock. OMG, Sylar as Mr. Spock - he was the absolute perfect person to play this pivotal, iconic role. At one point a few years ago, the rumor mill was saying that Adrian Brody would be playing Spock. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Adrian Brody - THE JACKET was truly disturbing - but he is no Spock.

When it was announced that Chris Pine would be playing James T. Kirk, I asked my hubby, "Who is Chris Pine?" After Googling him, I realized the only movie of his I had seen was PRINCESS DIARIES II. Huh - a prince playing a rogue - sounds logical to me.

Eric Bana - of BLACK HAWK DOWN and HULK fame - will be playing Nero, the movie's time-travelling Romulan villain. The trailers I've seen for the movie depict Nero as a truly evil villain, but can he compare to Kahn? Time will tell.

Leonard Nimoy will reprise his role as Spock - Spock Prime - who has come from the future to provide help. The movie will explore his half-human, half-Vulcan origins and learn how his character developed over time.

Lieutenant Uhura - originally played by Nichelle Nichols - was my favorite character from the original series. She was such a good female role model for young girls growing up in the 1960s. The new Uhura will be played by Zoë Saldana - I have only seen her in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL.

Rounding out the rest of the Enterprise crew are:

Karl Urban - from the 2nd and 3rd movies of THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy - as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Simon Pegg - from SHAUN OF THE DEAD and RUN, FAT BOY, RUN - as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott

John Cho - from the AMERICAN PIE movies and the HAROLD & KUMAR movies as Hikaru Sulu

Anton Yelchin - from HOUSE OF D and CHARLIE BARTLETT - as Pavel Chekov
Rounding out the cast are: Bruce Greenwood portraying Christopher Pike - the original Enterprise captain from the first STAR TREK pilot; Ben Cross as Sarek - Spock's father; Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson - Spock's mother; Chris Hemsworth and Jennifer Morrison as George and Winona Kirk - Kirk's parents.

So, if you come calling at my home on Saturday, won't be nobody home - we'll be out to the movies ...

The Morning After LOST

Follow the Leader - Season 5, Episode 15 (#101)

"Jack and Kate find themselves at odds over the direction to take to save their fellow island survivors, Locke further solidifies his stance as leader of the Others, and Sawyer and Juliet come under scrutiny from the Dharma Initiative."

*****SPOILER ALERT*****


I did not like watching Daniel die again, even if it was through Kate and Jack's eyes. Will his mother be able to bring him back to life? I sure hope so. It appears Daniel Faraday may really be dead, unless Eloise does what's written in the journal.

What??: Where did Richard get the ship in a glass bottle kit?? Does he have a way off the Island?

Hubba-Hubba moment: Sawyer telling Juliet he loves her. Okay, okay, so I haven't been much of a Juliet fan, but that was so romantic. Romantic, at least, until Kate was hauled aboard the sub and planted between Sawyer and Juliet. Poor Juliet can't catch a break.

Holy mackerel moment: Locke seems hell-bent on killing Jacob! So what exactly did Jacob do to piss Locke off? Also, the bomb is under the Dharma Compound?! Holy crap, Batman!

Funniest moment: When Dr. Chang is grilling Hurley about the year he was born and who was the President. All the funny moments seems to happen with Hurley - he is so good at comic relief.

Famous last words: "We'll buy Microsoft." That's my Sawyer - always thinking about the bottom line.

Best flash back: Seeing the current Locke watching the Locke from 3 years before. Can you imagine seeing yourself from 3 years in your past?

Heart wrenching moment: Watching Sun's face when Richard tells her he saw the 1977 Dharma crew die. Poor Sun! By the way, how come Sun doesn't know who Richard is? I thought all the original Losties had seen Richard before - shouldn't she remember him?

Unbelievable of the night: I can't believe Sawyer betrayed the rest of the Losties!

Best "pay back's a bitch" moment: Radzinsky is totally crazy! Doesn't he know that torture never gets you anywhere? But then Phil bitch-slaps Juliet - what a coward hitting a woman who's tied to a chair! Something tells me Radzinsky and Phil will eventually get what's coming to them.

Best quote of the night: "Since when did shooting kids and blowing up hydrogen bombs become OK?"
"Ah, how sweet" moment: The look Dr. Chang gave Miles when he finally realized Miles was his son.

I don't understand moment: How can the current Losties from the future be on the same Island with the 1977 Losties? How can Richard be in 2 places at one time?

Something fishy is afoot: Richard and Ben agreeing that Locke may have become a problem. I smell a conspiracy brewing!

Whoa moment: Sayid swoops in like the Lone Ranger.

Best "We're off to see the Wizard" imitation: Locke and his people marching off to find Jacob.
What I missed: Still missing Rose, Bernard and the rest of the original Losties!!

Next week is the 2-hour season finale!

.

I Knew Him When

Congrats to Earl P. Dean on the publication of your first novel! Earl is a friend and a member of my writing group - The Community of Mercer County Writers. Now I'll be able to say, "I knew him when!"

Mayfest 2009 Book Signing
Saturday, May 9th from noon - 4pm
Gratz Park in Lexington, Kentucky

Earl will be signing his new book, A TAILOR MAIDEN'S SECRET and you will be able to buy a copy of the book on Saturday, or you can order from Wasteland Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To learn more about the Mayfest events, click here.

A TAILOR MAIDEN'S SECRET

"Arliane Donestica attends mid-school on a planet called Pooda, a forbidding world of the future so far removed from Earth in space and time that the old world exists as a mythical origin for the poodan progenitors.

The Poodan Youth for Unity, sponsored by Pooda's Elders, are chasing Arliane through her snowbound city at the request of the Elders, pressuring her about unspoken activities that might tie her to rebellion similar to her mother's. Activist and wife as well, Arliane's mother had died in a protest by explosion.

Were the Elders behind it? Read of a biological mystery, political strife and forbidden action to discover the answer in A TAILOR MAIDEN’S SECRET."

Earl Patrick Dean is a computer programmer working in Kentucky. He holds a BA degree from Transylvania University and graduate certificates from The Institute of Children’s Literature, and has attended the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning workshops on Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror and Online Writing Workshop for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. He loves reading and collecting books, and writes mostly science fiction and fantasy stories.

Earl has published stories in SAY...WHAT’S THE COMBINATION?, MORNINGSTAR ANTHOLOGY and KENTUCKY BLUE.

Way Back Wednesday - The Exorcist

The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty. It is about the demonic possession of a young girl, and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her daughter through an exorcism conducted by two priests.

The film features Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow and Jason Miller. Both the film and novel took inspirations from a documented exorcism in 1949, performed on a 14-year-old boy. The film is one of a cycle of 'demonic child' movies produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including The Omen and Rosemary's Baby.

The film became one of the most profitable horror films of all time, grossing over $402 million worldwide. The film earned ten Academy Award nominations — winning two, one for Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay.



In the central storyline, Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) notices dramatic and dangerous changes in the behavior and physical make-up of her twelve year-old daughter Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair). Regan first starts out by having seizure, but then exhibits strange, unnatural powers, including levitation and great strength, and often expresses vulgar language and blasphemy in a demonic male voice during these periods.

I must admit, I was not old enough to see this movie when it first came out - I was 11 year old - but I do remember all the hype surrounding it. I was able to read the book when I was 12, after "borrowing" it from my babysitter's teenage daughter. Okay, so I took it without permission, but I did return it before it was missed. The book gave me nightmares for weeks!

I was in my late 20s when I finally got to see the movie, and since then I have watched the extended, version you've never seen before, many times. It still remains one of the scariest movies I've ever watched.

The spooky "spider-walk" scene was cut from the original version, but later digitally remastered for the extended release

Vanity vs. Safety

According to the Chicago Sun Times, Anita Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich was killed Saturday by a careless driver. Zaffke was thrown from her motorcycle when a Laura Hunt, 46, failed to stop at a red light and slammed into the motorcyle.

The IDIOT driver was painting her fingernails at the time of the crash!

"... the woman told police she was painting her fingernails and did not notice the light was red."

How could this woman be so vain as to worry more about her appearance than watching where she is driving? I just don't understand!

The victim suffered from multiple internal injuries to the chest and abdomen, as well as a apinal fracture - she lived for one hour after the accident.

"...She has been charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and the state’s attorney’s office is investigating further charges."

It never ceases to amaze me at the people I see trying to drive a car and:

Talk on a cell phone
Powder their nose
Apply makeup
Read a book - YES, I have seen this!
Watch a movie on a portable DVD player - YES, I've seen this, too!

People, keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel! My family is out on those roads and I want them to be safe, even if you could care less!

A New Century of Star Trek

After postponing a fall release date, I have been anxiously awaiting the premiere of the new STAR TREK movie, due in theaters this Friday. My anticipation was speared on Saturday when the new edition of Entertainment Weekly (EW) arrived in the mail. There on the front cover was Zachary Quinto - also known as Sylar on the NBC hit series HEROES - as Spock. Be still my heart!! He could be the twin of Leoard Nimoy's younger version of Spock.

So this new movie is supposed to delve more deeply into the "back story" of the STAR TREK crew - and I think this is a wonderful direction to take the series. Although I'm not a true "Trekkie" because I really didn't enjoy the original STAR TREK series, I became a huge fan with the introduction of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Can we say Jean-Luc Picard?? Make it so, Number One.

Hopefully, J.J. Abrams - currently of LOST and FRINGE fame - has given us the type of movie that will keep the STAR TREK franchise alive. I love his work on ALIAS, LOST, and FRINGE, so I have high hopes for STAR TREK.


THE NEW CAST OF STAR TREK:

Chris Pine - James T. Kirk
Zachary Quinto - Spock
Leonard Nimoy - Spock Prime
Eric Bana - Nero
Bruce Greenwood - Capt. Christopher Pike
Karl Urban - Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Zoe Saldana - Nyota Uhura
Simon Pegg - Scotty
John Cho - Hikaru Sulu
Anton Yelchin - Pavel Chekov
Ben Cross - Sarek
Winona Ryder - Amanda Grayson

Borel Pulls Off Derby Upset

Calvin Borel pulls off an upset! Not only did he win the Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird, but he also won the KY Oaks yesterday on Rachel Alexandra - awesome!!


(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

My Derby Pick

I have a truly scientific way of picking my Kentucky Derby horse - I always bet on the gray horse or the filly. This year it will be #12, General Quarters.



At age 75, Tom McCarthy, a retired biology teacher and high school principal, on the fringes of horse racing for five decades, has his Derby horse. McCarthy claimed General Quarters - a gorgeous gray colt - last year for $20,000, and the colt has already won the prestigious Blue Grass Stakes, which earned McCarthy $460,000. Before General Quarters, the trainer had career earnings of $229,020.



There is one very strong factor that could given General Quarters an edge: That's the weather. With a 70 percent chance of rain and a sloppy track, General Quarters is one of only a handful of horses that has performed well on muddy tracks.

Isn't he beautiful? And he loves the slop! A gray horse that can run on an off track - what could be better?

(Photo copyright David Stephenson of the Lexington Herald-Leader)

Derby Humor

No, Lee Cruse ... my hubby's jacket does not look like a throw back to the Civil War. Hehehe ...

The Kentucky Oaks

Despite the threat of rain early in the day, the 135th Kentucky Oaks attracted the fourth largest crowd in the history of the race that was first run in 1875. The event has attracted more than 100,000 fans in 10 of the past 11 years, topped by the crowd of 111,243 that attended the race in 2005.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA continued her domination of the three-year-old filly ranks with a deceptively easy victory in Friday's $554,500 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, pulling clear by 20 1/4 lengths on the line. The margin of victory is believed to be an Oaks record. Available records date to 1916 and the largest previous victory margin was 10 lengths, a feat last achieved by Lite Light in 1991.


(Photos copyright Brisnet Editorial)

Free Flowing Friday

1.) Happy May Day - As a child, this was the day I would pick flowers from my Mom’s garden and give them to my neighbors in colorful handmade baskets. Iris’, peonies, daisies, tulips, roses – whatever happened to be blooming would be the flowers I would pick and I cut the stems to fit the basket and arrange them nicely. I would take these little baskets to several neighbors’ homes, hang them on the doorknob and then ring the doorbell and run away. I always got the biggest kick out of watching my neighbors open their door to a small basket of flowers.


2.) Welcome to the 1st Saturday in May - known to all Kentuckians as Derby Day. The Kentucky Derby is the best 2 minutes in sports. Over the years I've come to dread Derby Day because my hubby always has to work (he works at WLEX) and I hate when he is away from home. I've been to the Derby my one token time and I have no desire to go back - it's much more fun watching all the activities on TV.

3.) Canna lilies - A friend brought me a huge bag of canna lilies he dug from his garden, so I plan on spending the afternoon planting these in my gardens. It's supposed to rain again tonight, so this should be a perfect time to get them nestled into the flower beds.

4.) Amber's wedding - My oldest daughter's wedding is fast approaching (June 20th). I am currently working on a memory book for her with photos and other items from her life. I'm hoping to have this done before the wedding, so I'm working on it several hours a day. I can't believe my baby is getting married!

5.)Writing - I currently have several story ideas rattling around in my brain but I haven't had time to do as much writing as I want. I need to at least get the ideas down on paper and I can worry about fleshing them out later. I'm working on editing a collection of my Mercer's Magazine stories to publish in a book. This is taking me longer than I anticipated.

6.) Mother's Day is fast approaching - it's next Sunday, May 10th. My flowers are just starting to bloom, so I hope I have enough to make bouquets for both my Mom and my Mom-in-law. This is something I've been doing for many years - picking bouquets from my gardens; some years I have plenty of flowers, other years not so many. I'm hoping this year will be a plentiful year, but after the ice storm, I'm not so sure.

7.) Reading - Of course, I'd rather read than do almost anything, but I'm behind on a few book reviews. I guess the main reason is because I've been working in the garden, but I've also been working on Amber's book, so my reading time has been cut almost in half. I am currently reading "All the Layered Light" by Charles Semones. I've read this book of poems and essays before, but Charles was the guest speaker at our writing workshop this week, so I was inspired to re-read his wonderful words.