This is a guy who doesn't have to write fiction - he lived an amazing story

This story popped up on Facebook and I can't believe I've never heard this man before. This is the kind of thing that sounds like a movie, but it was this guy's real life: from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the story of the aptly named Arnold Braver.

Go read the post. I wish I could just copy and paste it, but that wouldn't be cool. Basically, this guy was a Jew in 1940's Germany and was captured by the German Army. Knowing being discovered as Jewish would mean death, when accused, he denied it to his captors.

At one point an officer told him to turn around and (from the FB post): Arnold refused, saying, “If you want to kill me, look me in the eye.” The officer walked away.

 

As the Allies approached and it became obvious to the German military that the war was lost, they incredibly employed Braver to save themselves. “They decided to surrender to me, provided I could give them safeguard to the American prisoner of war camp,” remembered Arnold. “They dreaded being captured by the Russians.”

 

Braver survived the war and celebrated his 101st birthday earlier this year. It does suck he had to deny his beliefs, but he also should never have been put in that position in the first place, and it did save his life. 

 

Tell me this story doesn't sound like something straight out of Hollywood. I would watch that movie. And this guy actually lived it.

 

Amazing.

RIP Dame Maggie Smith

Legendary actress Dame Maggie Smith died this morning in London. She was 89.

 

As I mentioned earlier this month when James Earl Jones passed, when you get to a certain age (for me it's 90-ish) that person has had a nice, long life, especially ones as well lived as Smith and Jones. But it still such a bummer to lose people like them.

 

I'll remember her as the Dowager Countess Violet in Downton Abbey and also for her performance as Dora Charleston (a satire of Nora Charles) in Neil Simon's Murder by Death. For others, she'll be remembered for her role in the Harry Potter franchise. 

 

Even before those famous franchises, Smith boasted an amazing career on stage and screen. She also loaded up on awards, winning two Oscars, four Emmys, five SAG Awards, a Tony, and five BAFTAs as well as their Lifetime Achievement and Academy Fellowship Awards.

RIP to an amazing Dame.

"Life is a game, where the player must appear ridiculous."

(The Dowager Countess)

Words of Wisdom on writing villains

I never see my bad guys as simply bad. They want pretty much the same thing that you and I want: they want to be happy. (Elmore Leonard)

This reminds me of one of the pieces of advice that writers receive more than anything in crafting a compelling villain (as opposed to a moustache-twirling cartoon), and that is that the villain is the hero of his own story.

Now get back to your writing.

19 Candles

 

I didn't forget it IRL, but it seemed like I should say something about it since, at her age, this could be her last. Sophie turned 19 earlier this month. She has officially outlived her predecessor Wilma, who made it to 18.

 

While I'd be happy to have her live forever, the main reason I don't think Sophie will make it to 20 is that in the past year she's finally become the high-maintenance elderly pet she had never been before. In addition to the daily probiotic she's been on since spending Christmas at the emergency vet in 2021, in the past year we've added monthly flea treatment, regular fluids, Mirataz (an appetite stimulant for when she gets overly picky about eating) and even Miralax, an over-the-counter (human) laxative to keep her pooping on a regular basis. It all got so involved that I had to create a calendar to keep track of what she gets and when.

 

 

You know those YouTube videos where people demo giving their cats fluids and it's no big deal because you just give them a treat and they don't even notice the needle? Yeah, that's not how it works with Sophie. I don't blame her hating it, I just wish I didn't jab myself almost as often as I jab her. Recently, just as I let her go, I noticed blood on her and worried that I'd hit something internally. Then I noticed blood on my hand and when I went to wash it off, it kept bleeding. I'd jabbed my thumb and hadn't even noticed. The only good thing about the process is that she doesn't have to have the needle in for long - just a couple minutes to get the dosage.

The Mirataz works pretty good at stimulating her appetite, but it also has issues. It's an ointment that you rub into the earflap, and while that makes it easy to apply, the portion that doesn't get absorbed ends up as crust and the past couple of days I've been trying to remove all the build-up without tearing up her ears.

So yeah, multiple meds, pickier than ever about her food, and peeing all over the apartment. That just started up a couple years ago. It's weird, it's not like she lets loose because she can't get to the box in time, but rather she has certain spots in the apartment, and lately it's gone from once in a while to pretty damn frequently, which is wreaking havoc with my carpet. My apartment will be renovated sometime next year so all the damage will be replaced, but if she's still around then I'm concerned about the effect she'll have on the new wood floors. I've never been the pet owner whose pet trashes the place, so it's kind of weird. She does still go in the box, but she's going outside the box more and more often.

And there's also the fact that the last couple of times she's been to the vet, they've picked up a small murmur when they check her heart. The funny thing is her most recent kidney readings weren't as horrific as I was expecting them to be, but apparently now the heart is a problem.

So yeah, this is probably her last birthday. I guess I'll have to wait and see what I'm blogging next September.

Greetings from Bourbon Street!!!

From these people! I have no idea who they are, but apparently they're visiting New Orleans, found the EarthCam on Bourbon Street, and hilarity ensued.

 

Next year's Bouchercon (and yes, I will be attending) is back in The Big Easy and that's reignited my love for all things French Quarter. Bouchercon 2016 was in NOLA, the first time I'd ever been there, and I fell in love with the place. Registering for next year brought the feels flooding back and I'm in NOLA-mania mode again. And among other things, that meant reacquainting myself with the live cams on Bourbon Street. 

 

I've already seen multiple mule carriages, but I just caught these people waving at the cam and it was hilarious. The way they were checking their phones, I think they had someone at home watching them and sending them pictures of themselves. They seemed to get a real kick out of it and it was impossible not to get caught up in the fun. So whoever you people are, thanks for bringing a little sunshine into my day and enjoy the rest of your vacation!

 

Laissez les bons temps rouler, my friends!

 

Speaking of Bouchercon, I'm working on a story to submit for their anthology. Getting into a Bouchercon anthology has been on my bucket list for a while and it would be great to get into this one. Wish me luck.

It's that time of the year again

Twenty-three years ago this morning. 😢

RIP James Earl Jones

Goodbye to a class act and a truly gifted actor: James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93.

Jones had a legendary career on stage, film and television. He's probably going to be best remembered as the voice of Darth Vader, but I'm a sucker for his film debut in Dr. Strangelove:

 

"Hey, what about Major Kong?"

 

I know 93 is a good old age and life, but this one really hurts.

Future uncertain

Many, many years ago I was at work and my Mom called to inform me that a movie was being filmed at night at the Puente Hills Mall. A huge chunk of my teen and early adult years were spent at that mall. It's in the City of Industry, adjacent to Hacienda Heights, where we'd moved to just before I started high school. Back then, the mall was the hangout.

 

The area never really had the cache or excitement of some other Southern California neighborhoods, so I assumed and opined that it was probably some crappy B-movie. A real movie could command a more popular mall in a more desirable location, or so I assumed.

I couldn't have been more wrong. What was being filmed were scenes from a movie that would become a classic: Back to the Future. The humble Puente Hills Mall had been tapped to portray Hill Valley's Twin Pines/Lone Pine Mall and it's been beloved by BTTF fans ever since.

In recent years Puente Hills had become a ghost mall. Many tenants left, although there was no explanation of why the mall was being abandoned or what plans were for its future. That is, until now, as Los Angeles Magazine reports: The 'Back to the Future' Mall Sells for Redevelopment.

 

It seems what the future holds for Puente Hills is still a mystery, but with this sale the mall is one step closer to its next phase, whatever that turns out to be.

 

Also, I had no idea people did this. So cool. Wonder if this year will be their final get together.

An awful day in the world of hockey

Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets and his brother Matthew were killed while cycling yesterday. Gaudreau, 31, leaves behind a wife and two young children. I read somewhere that Matthew, 29, leaves behind a pregnant wife.

As if all that wasn't enough, today - the day after their deaths - was supposed to be the wedding of their sister. Apparently the wedding was cancelled, understandably.

Oh, and it gets worse. Reports are that the vehicle that struck them as they biked was driven by a drunk driver. So this could have all been avoided.

 

Like many others horrified by the news, I can't help thinking of the utter devastation that has hit this family. It's Shakespearean in scope. Today and this weekend should have been a joyous family celebration, but instead they're planning the funerals of two young men senselessly lost. This family has lost two sons/brothers, two wives have been widowed, at least three children have been deprived of their fathers, and a young couple's marriage will always have the shadow of her brothers' deaths attached to it. I don't know how, as a family, you survive something like this.

Full report on NHL.com.

And this story got even more brutal: Johnny Gaudreau's wife is nine weeks pregnant.

Here we go again

Remember this shit show? Guess what's happening AGAIN next week? THAT'S RIGHT.

 

I really miss when my writer's conferences were WRITER'S CONFERENCES and not the family vacation discount plan.

Changes need to be made, and they will be made. You can't let people treat you and things that are important to you like shit and keep going back for more. 

 

Updated 8/27/24: I should be there right now.

 

 

Rough week for celebs

Rest in peace to some talented individuals who left us recently.

Oscar-nominated actress Gena Rowlands (June 19, 1930 - August 14, 2024) due to complications from dementia.

 

French star Alain Delon (November 8, 1935 - August 18, 2024) from natural causes.

Peter Marshall, host of The Hollywood Squares (March 30, 1926 - August 15, 2024) due to kidney failure.

 

Singer-songwriter Greg Kihn ("The Breakup Song") (July 10, 1949 - August 13, 2024) due to Alzheimer's complications.

 

Famous Amos (Wally Amos), successful talent agent turned cookie mogul (July 1, 1936 - August 13, 2024) due to complications from dementia.

 

How scary is it that three of those five were afflicted with Alzheimer's/dementia? Has that devastating condition always been so common?

And sadly, it looks like Matthew Perry's drug overdose death last year could have been avoided, at least at the time: arrests have been made in connection with his death. 

Oh, and speaking of unnecessary deaths, I hope these guys fry. Unfortunately, Los Angeles has a "DA" (cough *George Gascon* cough) who loves felons and will probably let them off with a slap on the wrist.

Updated 8/19/24: Adding one more...

Daytime TV talk show icon Phil Donahue (December 21, 1935 - August 18, 2024) following a long illness (undisclosed at the time of the announcement).

The Portland "Pie Guy". And the more I think about it, the more (evil) genius it is.

Genius or rip-off artist? Given what the economy is like these days, I'm gonna add survivor to the list of possibilities.

 

 The full thread is here.

Buying in bulk.

Spray painted sign = artisan street cred, apparently.

Another satisfied customer?

So yeah, this guy goes to his local store, buys a bunch of mass-produced pies, labels them as "artisan", then sells them at his local farmer's market for $10 per slice. And apparently, people buy into it, no pun intended.

Let's do the math:

At my local Ralphs, their "bakery fresh" pies go for $5-$6 each. We're talking the usual, apple, peach, pumpkin. Some of the fancier ones are in the $10 range. Say you get six slices from each pie and sell them for $10 each, you've made a profit of roughly $55 per cheap pie, $50 per fancier pie. For argument's sake let's say he takes ten pies and sells all 60 slices. That means (not factoring in the cost of the space, plates, and plastic forks) he would make about $600 in one day. If he only does one market per week that's $2,400 per month, more if he does additional markets. Not too shabby.

Not to mention, it's probably all cash. I wonder if he has a business license or needs one to rent a space at the market. I don't know how these things work, but there seems to be a lot of untraceable, tax-free potential there.

Not gonna lie there's a certain genius to this, although in a way it's a bit unfair to the actual small bakeries at the market. Also, I live in L.A. and I think $10 per slice is a lot, but like one of the commenters said, the pie is worth what people are willing to pay. But even if you sold the pies for $5 per slice, if nothing else that's a nice supplemental income with no actual work/baking involved. 

There's a small-biz bakery where I live and they sell their actual artisan pies for $62 for a full-sized pie, $13.25 for a mini-pie, and $9.25 per individual slice, and I think those prices are astronomical. And they have the cost of a physical location, employees, and a baking facility. Mr. Portland Pie Guy seems like he would have little overhead. Probably a one-man operation.

If the economy and job market were booming, I would say this guy is a slick con artist, but given how expensive and tough everything is these days, I have to laud him for finding a way to make a living. So, I personally am going to give him a pass. Plus, I have to admit that I kind of wish I'd thought of it first.