Aug 15, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . Boy, 9, Missing
Two months ago my brother took me to Barnes & Noble and said those most magical words. “Pick something.”
I’d passed this book on my way through the stacks, and the cover grabbed me. The back blurb grabbed me. And since my I-want-him-to-be-my-agent friend instructed me to stop reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil [I KNOW, right?! Good thing he didn’t tell me to also give up the movie before NOLA is finished!], this one seemed like a good fit to also use in my proposal and marketing plan at a not-too-much-later date.
I did the dutiful chore of pretending to ignore my brother. I said, “Oh, no. That’s okay. Thanks anyway.”
I squealed in public and gave him a hug and my mother said, “Molly Jo!” and I said, “Like I’m gonna pretend he didn’t just offer to buy me a book.” Please, peeps. We all know that’s tantamount to the winning lottery ticket, am I right? Shyah.
So, here’s where I get into the book. This means the spoiler section. Which means if you don’t want to know about the book, y’all need to turn the channel. That is, stop reading. Stop scrolling. Just leave the page now.
Really?
There’s no turning back.
Okay, then. You’re still here. [Thank you for that!]
Let me start with saying, I really wanted to like this book. I really did. The premise seemed like something I would like. The reviews were raves. But . . .
I can’t give it more than three stars. If I can rate it exactly two-and-a-half, I would. Because while the story telling is really good, I was taken out of the story too often.
Lucas, 9 years old, is found dead in his parents’ bath tub on an evening when they were hosting a dinner party with another family. The only, uhm, witness, is Sam, 10. Who says nothing about it. Nothing. For twenty-three years. And then his own nine-year-old son, Matthew, goes missing.
The story is told in first person narrative from Francis’s point of view. Francis is Lucas’s brother. He was just thirteen when it happened, and from then on he was struck with ridiculous anxiety some of which, when described, made me consider MONK on TV. He’s now an adult, has changed his last name to hide from the past, and works at the local newspaper where his boss is his old paramour.
The cast of characters include Francis’s fifteen-year-old daughter Amy who just came to live with him when her mother decided her career in Paris was more important than being a mom. Amy is a superfluous character and to be honest, I found the story reminded me of her existence. It could have easily been told without her. Francis was so wrapped up in finding Matthew that he doesn’t see Amy for days. And she’s only been in town for days. Granted, that plays into his insecure dad role, but it wasn’t necessary. Francis is a mess already.
He has unlikely allies with Sam’s wife Miranda, who first attacks him; Cam, his aforementioned boss; Kira, a local news reporter who is writing Sam’s story; and a psychologist he tracks down after searching for his own father who has also gone missing and is the prime suspect in Matthew’s kidnapping.
Of course, a good mystery needs red herrings and misdirection. But some of the other characters and subplots are unnecessary and distracting. The narrative jumps from adult-Francis telling it as it happened, to the occasional “draft” written by Kira- in third person narrative, telling the events as relayed to her by Sam, to flashbacks. But these tend to jumble and are at times hard to follow. This both adds to and distracts from the story, leaving the reader feeling a little more unbalanced than they should.
The resolution was unfulfilling, a conglomerate of tying up loose ends and at parts, what Flannery O’Connor has stated as the “surprising but inevitable ending.” However, the wrap-up was very predictable and read a bit like someone trying to tie up all the ends, while unfortunately missing some.
The middle section of the book was heavy with F-bombs; not terribly overloaded but much more so than the rest of the book.
There were typos throughout the novel, which greatly detract from the reading experience. A few punctuation errors, word usage, and spelling. There were at least two instances of word usage where I couldn’t tell if the author failed at being clever, or an editor missed an error.
The biggest plot inconsistency happens right away: In the first chapter, the medical examiner stands over the tub, looking down at the “freakishly contorted” body in the water. Two pages later, we learn that prior to any officials coming on scene, Lucas’s and Francis’s mother had pulled Lucas’s body from the tub to try to resuscitate him. Did she put his unresponsive body back into the tub?
The author capitalizes the word “dumpster” throughout the book.
I don’t think this book is terrible, but I also don’t think it’s great. I can’t recommend it, but I won’t stop you from reading it.
Have you read a book that left you apathetic about it?
TWEET THIS: Review: Boy, 9, Missing, by Nic Joseph. @RealMojo68 #amreading #boy9missing
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Aug 14, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : What’s on My Plate?
What’s on my plate this week? Well, y’all voted and results are 2-to-1 in favor of Andouille Jambalaya.
Just kidding! You already know what’s on my plate, because you voted for potato chip casserole!
Now, the original version is found in The Unemployment Cookbook, but as you can probably tell by the photo above, BEE The Zebra is not about to let Nippers have all the redoux fun.
Potato Chip Casserole: Five Ingredients
BEE likes to get crazy creative in the kitchen (say that five times fast!), and he also likes to add some sass to everything he touches. Of course he does, he’s a dazzling Zebra, after all.
So of course regular chips and regular meat wouldn’t do for his culinary contribution. Why, he practically leapt out of my bag at the store when he saw these on the shelves:
BEE spicy and sassy!
Hulloh! Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue chips and buffalo sauce chicken? It’s a match made south of the Mason-Dixon Line, yes? Oh, honey, I cannot begin to tell you the mouth watering that happened before we even started cooking.
What’s that? You want the full recipe? Say no more. BEE, if you please:
The Unemployment Cookbook: Potato Chip Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 bag (8 to 12 oz.) potato chips, crushed like little nuts under your hoof
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted. That means don't add anything to it.
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted. Nothing but 100% strength, here.
- 1/2 soup can full of moo juice. That's milk, remember?
- 1 can (10 to 12 oz.) tuna or chicken, drained.
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together like a herd in a stampede. Just not so vigorously it spills over.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
3.1
https://franklymydearmojo.com/2017/08/14/the-unemployment-cookbook-potato-chip-casserole/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
A few helpful tips for y’all:
- If you buy a smaller bag of chips, use a smaller can of meat and only one can of soup.
- BEE likes to get the combo soup- chicken and mushroom in one can. Hey, works for me!
- I mix in a larger bowl then transfer to a smaller baking dish.
- You can sprinkle with cheese or jalepenos. Or both!
The next recipe poll will post next week, so be sure to follow Molly Jo Realy on Facebook for your chance to vote!
How do you change up your family favorite recipes?
TWEET THIS: BEE the Zebra presents Buffalo Chicken Potato Chip Casserole. @RealMojo68 #recipe #amcooking #unemploymentcookbook
Frankly, My Dear . . .: Buffalo Chicken Potato Chip Casserole
With a hungry zebra and a tasty buffalo,
Happy eating!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Aug 13, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, On Faith.
God’s Word is powerful. Limitless. Stunning. Beautiful. Revealing. Compelling. Strong. Soft. Secure. Infinite.
While not open to interpretation on a whim, His Word is fluid and flexible in that He is living love, and His Word is alive. He is personal, moving in, around, and through us to minister not only to us but those around us.
He just is. Period. And so is His Word.
His Word is created to guide us through every aspect of life. No matter our situation, prayer, or praise, His Word is relevant.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
Praising? Praying? Happy? Sad? Angry? Confused? Uncertain? Dancing? Mourning? Turn to the Bible. Read it. Soak in it like a meadow of wild lilies. Learn it inside and out. Hide His Word in your heart, and you will know the peace He gives in all situations.
Frankly, On Faith: There’s a Verse for That.
God knows what’s in your heart, and He is longing for conversation with you. The Bible isn’t homework. It’s home.
What are some of your favorite Bible verses?
TWEET THIS: Frankly, On Faith: There’s a Verse for That. @RealMojo68 #faith
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Aug 12, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Memes (“Meems”) are photos or images with a message. The picture gets your attention, and the text hammers the message home. In this sense, it is very much an important tool in your social media box.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Memes help hammer your message home.
But memes aren’t just for marketing. They’re for drawing in your audience, and keeping them. They’re for sharing a moment of your day, a sentiment, or an aspect of who you are.
What’s more appealing to you: Someone always shouting “Buy my product!” or someone offering to buy you a lemon infusion tea? It’s the tea, right? [Note to self: Add sugar.]
So, a meme is a way of saying, “Hey. I know you’re there, and I think you might like this.” Or “Here’s the personal side of me.” Now and then, about one in every six or so posts, it’s okay to share a marketing meme.
Start with a basic photo. Pixabay and Canva are great sources for free-to-use photos when you don’t have one of your own that suits the need. Then you can use apps like WordSwag or PicMonkey to edit the photos and add texts. You can also use PowerPoint, which works great for presentations.
PRO TIP: Take time to take a good photo. Don’t rush through putting together a blurry meme. If a photo is worth a thousand words, make sure they sing the praises of your professionalism.
In this first example, I wanted to share with girls that we can climb those steps in our way and turn the journey into our favor. I searched the internet for “climb” photos, and inspirational quotes, and married the two. Voila!
basic photo: metal steps
#BossBabe Meme
Now, the following is a photo, not a meme. There’s no text. But if I were to add text, it might be a banner or a twelve-point star that reads “Happy Mail Day” or “I know what my weekend looks like.” Neither of those statements is direct marketing, but it draws your attention to the book, yes? I certainly hope so. And in doing so, my mission is accomplished. It could also state, “Bad hair day. Happy book face.” But let’s just . . . not.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Happy mail
Memes are great for Instagram, but remember to add personal photos also. People really do want to see you in your natural habitat (hence my oh-so-many photos of reading through lunch at Starbucks, or Happy Planning, or both) and how you interact with others. Unless it’s a cat fight. Y’all don’t need to be posting the negatives, okay? Thanks.
As long as your memes relate back to your brand in some aspect, or draw your audience in with a personal touch, it’s a good meme. I couldn’t get away with sharing something SciFi Zombie-esque. That’s just not me. But if that zombie’s eating a big helping of jambalaya down in New Orleans, then we can talk.
Here are some of my most recent memes:
Galatians 6:9 NLT
#BEEtheZebra Media Tip No. 1
Good writing ~ Hemingway
Slay the Day
Marketing Tip: Leave Reviews
Liz Taylor: Slay Today #BossBabe
Passion- Julia Child
Create eye-catching, personality-sharing memes and your audience will read what comes next.
How do you get your audience’s attention?
TWEET THIS: #SocialMedia Saturday: Memes Aren’t Just for Marketing. @RealMojo68 #franklymydear
TWEET THIS: If a photo is worth a thousand words, make sure they sing the praises of your professionalism. @RealMojo68 #meme
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Aug 11, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
Money’s a touchy subject, right? As in,
DON’T TOUCH MY MONEY!
You work hard for it, only to have five cents left three seconds after you get paid.
Now, I know I’ve given y’all a few tips for saving a little here and there, but it’s been a while since I’ve taken you down my road to credit recovery. What is it about soul-baring posts that brings us closer together? Is is the security of knowing we’re not alone? That others are in the same boat? Yes. At least, for me.
It happened when I heard another ad on the radio. You know the ones I’m talking about. Refinance your house. Get this low-interest credit card. Let us consolidate your loans. The one that really got my attention was for a payday loan. I was seriously considering it until I did the math. I don’t mean the three-figure interest rate. I mean, how many people like me were listening to that ad at that moment?
Is there anyone out there?
Let me again remind you: I am not a finance professional. I hold no advisory license, and the information in this post is only what has worked for me, and what I would share with a close friend over a cup of coffee. My treat, of course.
So when the wolves are howling and you’re sleeping in quicksand, here are few things I’ve learned that have helped oooch things out of the red.
- Accept the reality. Believe it or not, this was the really hard one for me. I wanted to think I wasn’t a statistic, that my situation was so unique that as soon as everyone heard, surely Robin Hood would come to my rescue and my bankbook would be saved without ransom. Yeah. That didn’t happen. I had to really hunker down and take note of my own deficits and at times, lack of budgeting skills. Then I learned, and re-learned, what I can and can’t do and came up with a viable plan.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Be Your Own Hero
- Stay accountable. I don’t mean that as a play on words, but there it is anyway. There are several ways to conquer this. For me, each step working together weaves a stronger fabric that has helped me recover my finances. First, I write things out. In the current climate of instant digital access, it’s so easy for me to glance at my iPhone and think, “Budget’s done!” but let’s be real. That ain’t nothin’ but a scapegoat and an excuse. Once I started really using my Happy Planner Budget, I saw not only where my money should go, but also where it was going. Can someone say, “Ouch!”? It wasn’t pretty, not always. But a good dose of reality helps me stay on track. I also stayed accountable by sharing the dirty details of my situation with my family, and with the creditors. Which brings me to the next item.
- Communicate. I know y’all have heard me harp on this like angels in a concert, but honestly. Be honest! If you can’t pay it, say it! When I get to the point of stop pretending everything’s okay, people heard me. I mean, I had a woman pray over my finances with me. And she was a collections agent! Who even does that?! I’m a huge proponent of saying it like it is. This is two-fold: 1. My financial story doesn’t change from month to month when they ask why I still can’t pay the full amount. 2. They’re more willing to work with you when you explain your circumstances.
- Evaluate. Now, I know a lot of credit recovery education suggests different ways of paying this bill first, or roll the savings into that one. I’m not gonna tell you how to pay off your bills. It’s personal! I understand the value of paying the smallest bill first and getting it out of the way. But I also see knocking out the high interest. I had to sit down and really go through the papers (and phone calls) to figure out the best option for me. You can, too! Yes, you really can! It takes a little brain power, a little solitude. But you can conquer your budget!
- Accept the reality. Yeah, I know. I already said this. Well, think of this as your muffaletta sandwich, okay? The bread is the same but you have a top and a bottom. The other tips are the ohmygosh filling. This slice of bread is the foundation. It may get a little soggy, but it’s still holding the food together, right? So here’s the important thing to remember. Are you listening? This one took me forever to realize, but here it is:
You’re not perfect. Your budget doesn’t have to be. Your credit doesn’t have to be.
I’ve had to watch as my credit tanked, but I’ve also enjoyed seeing it climb back up. It’s a long road and sometimes the roller coaster is out of my control. But I’m still riding it, and it ain’t over yet.
Whatever your credit situation, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. That radio ad and television spot for a quick fix? Don’t do it. It’s not aimed at you. You’re smarter than that. It may be a long, difficult road, and it may never lead to a mansion and fancy cars. But trust me, it’s worth it. There’s a personal satisfaction of putting effort into doing what you can do. And if it doesn’t turn out the way you hope, at least you tried. I’m proud of you for that!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Be Your Own Hero
You can be your own hero. You can find a way. It may not be the way you want, and it may not be easy. But at least it’s yours.
What are some ways you work toward better credit?
TWEET THIS: Budget problems? Here are a few tips to oooch out of the red. @RealMojo68 #credit #fivethingsfriday
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
