Category: For Fun

My Cat: Willow

9/5/2021

As a child of the eighties, I've been a huge fan of many movies that came out in that decade. Back to the Future? LOVE that trilogy. Made my husband watch them. Star Wars? Many of you know by now how I feel about that space-themed fairy tale.

I also love The Princess Bride. Flight of the Navigator. Soooo many other films I could name - but when I met my new kitty, we came up with her name based 90% on the way characters from the movie WILLOW address the titular character.

We welcomed our precious new kitty to the family earlier this summer, Willow the Tabby. Even as I type this, she's on my desk, between me and the keyboard, purring at me. She's super affectionate. She comes when called. She's eight months old now and already happily a house cat who (occasionally) explores the great outdoors. The family that fostered her informed me that sweet Willow was found on the side of the road, in a duffle bag full of her brothers and sisters. :-(

Who. Does. That?!

In case you're wondering, Izzie the Aussie and Willow the Tabby are getting along fairly well, too. The first couple of days were rough, but now they both run to the door when I come home, demanding love. And they both cuddle up next to me when I'm reading. So life with pets is absolutely wonderful.

I plan to put Willow in a story soon. How do you feel about pets in stories? Ambivalent? Annoyed? Or do you find them adorable?

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Favorite Fantasy Reads:

9/2/2021

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How do you feel about a bad-boy hero?

I think Anne Shirley said it best for me. "I'd like a man who COULD be wicked. But wouldn't be." This is just who I am. I always fall for the wounded, mysterious guy in books and movies. (Don't get me started on Ben Solo.) My oldest daughter is the same way - she will never forgive the Avatar animators for pairing the kick-butt heroine with a little bald boy when she could've had a fire prince. We watched Phantom of the Opera the other day, and she (without prompting from me) took the Phantom's side!

My husband is a real-life good guy. He was law enforcement for a time. But the other night we were talking about this very thing and he looked me right in the eye. "If anyone ever hurt you, I'd burn down everything and everyone in my way to make them pay." I mean. Yeowza. That makes my heart fluttery.

I'm all about the layers that a bad guy has going on. Layers upon layers. Plan upon plan. This is a guy who thinks things through. He knows the world isn't a safe place, and he takes it upon himself to protect what's his (including the heroine) at any cost. He also is emotionally mature. He knows pain and suffering. He's been broken and pulled himself back together.

Wesley the Farm Boy? Sure, he's nice. But the Dread Pirate Roberts - he's seen stuff. And he's going to stop at NOTHING to get the girl, revenge himself on the (real) bad guy, and ride off to his pirate ship.

So who does this quasi-bad-boy thing right? K.M. Shea does! Royal Magic - the hero was literally the villain in the last book, and he's still a ruthless fighting machine. Check and mate. Magic Forged - a vampire. But not a broody mopey teen. A vampire who wields his power and influence with precision. And totally supports his lady-love. Crown of Shadows - the hero is literally an assassin. The meet-cute is him trying to fulfill a contract to kill the heroine. Spoiler alert: doesn't work. And it takes three awesome books for their slow-burn romance to kick into gear.

Check out her books HERE on Amazon.

So who's your favorite bad-boy love interest?

And yes, in case you were wondering, I'm madly in love with the new Loki series on Disney+. *swoon*

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Cowboy Slang. It's a Thing.

8/27/2021

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My Favorite Western Movies

8/21/2021

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It will not surprise you in the least that most of them have an element of romance in them...

Let's talk Western movies! What are some of your favorites? I have so many that it is hard to choose but I managed to narrow it down to five.

(1) Westward the Women - it's an older film about a wagon train of women going west to be brides. They have a LOT of problems on the way. But it's ultimately about the strength of a group of women relying on each other to make the journey. And yeah. There's a love story.

(2) The Magnificent Seven (original version) with Yule Brenner (the King of Siam in the musical The King and I) as the main morally gray hero. Love him. I really wish Hollywood would've let him be a romantic lead more often. He's VERY intense, in a swoony way.

(3 & 4) Tie of two musicals. Calamity Jane (Doris Day is amazing and hilarious in this one) and The Harvey Girls (Judy Garland stars in this romance!) - I LOVE Musicals. Can't get enough of them.

5) I also LOVE The Mask of Zorro. Don't know if that counts as a western. It should. I grew up watching the black and white film with Tyrone Powell in the lead part, and this reboot of the story made me fall in love with Antonio Bandaras.

Have you seen any of my favorites? What are some of yours?

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My Comfort Item: Headphones

5/6/2021

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Do you have a comfort item as an adult?

I love my headphones. They're one of my comfort items for MANY reasons. First of all, they're super comfy. And cute. Rose gold accessories? Yes, please!

I slip them on when I'm working and need to focus - they mute the world, OR I can play ASMR videos on YouTube. My favorites are thunderstorms and crackling fireplaces. Sometimes, I listen to music.

These headphones let me enjoy audiobooks while I rest.

These headphones let me stay in a private bubble, even in public places like airplanes and airports. Wearing these is a signal - this person is not open to talking to strangers right now. For me, it helps so much. I'm so grateful for them. They give me a bit of quiet in a chaotic world.

What about you? Do you have something that you love, as an adult, that gives you peace? (Yes, I know I'll have many of you who immediately cite books or scriptures, I'm thinking outside those boxes today!)