Cooking For The Stars

Thanks for sticking with me. I hope my teaser last week inspired you to come back today. Cooking For the Stars is a little like Dancing With the Starts, except it’s cooking instead of dancing, and “for” instead of “with,” and there’s no audience phone-ins, or Judges scores, or a giant set, or dazzling bright lights, or microphones, or celebrity hosts, but other than that, it’s exactly the same. So, since I promised good things, let’s not waste any time.

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The Things You Find In The Name of Research

As a writer I spend copious amounts of time researching. Yes that’s right. Even though I write fiction, there are things that still have to be researched because, unless I’m writing about a completely made-up world, people are going to know if I’m not describing a person, place or thing correctly. Ergo – research.

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Snicker Snort

I don’t know about you but I love corny jokes and slogans. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that make you groan, roll your eyes and snicker snort. Not an all out belly laugh, but that little giggle that halfway comes out your nose. I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff. Stupid stuff. The world – in my humble opinion – needs more stupid snicker snort moments.

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Blonds Are Disappearing From TV Land

I’ve noticed lately a strange phenomenon when I watch TV. There are very few blondes in any of the shows I watch on a regular basis. This led to a more extensive investigation on my part. I started randomly watching shows I’ve never watched before just to see what the main characters look like. The phenomenon continued. Hardly any blondes.

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Easter Fools

So this year Easter falls on April Fools Day. You’ve probably all seen this meme

I’m not normally one to appreciate pranks. In fact, I usually hate them. But, this guy is brilliant.

I love his made up words. And the definitions were even better. And, the best part, he did it with a straight face.

Well folks, the story does not end there. No sirree. This guy’s video went viral and that lead to this:

I love Ellen and I love that she gave him a spelling test. So perfect.

Have you seen this video before? Do you think this guy is clever? I think he’s probably an amazing teacher. And, he’s cute to boot. Do you like pranks? Are you one to go all out for April Fools? Come on, fess up and share the details.

Word of the Day: Ethamivan

Fun fact about me: I don’t think I’ve ever played an April Fool’s joke on anyone.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, March 2018. Meme courtesy Google Images. Videos courtesy YouTube (ellentube)

 

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When Suspension of Disbelief Goes Too Far

Suspension of Disbelief. It’s a common enough term for writers of fiction. It’s a fine line to walk when writing certain kinds of fiction. But, the average person may not quite understand what that term is.

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Now You’ve Gone and Done It

Congratulations. You’ve ended up in my book. Some of you are thinking, cool. Authors, on the other hand, are staring at the computer screen right now with mouths agape. Why are authors gaping? Because they know that if someone ends up in one of their books, it cannot be good. Usually it’s offensive, rude, and mean people who end up in books. Most certainly, they die. So, you see, ending up in a book is definitely not a good thing.

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OMG – Just Watch It!

This video speaks for itself. Just watch it. I dare you not to laugh out loud.

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Making the Best of a Bad Day

We all have bad days. It happens. Today is a bad day for me. I knew it was going to be. But, instead of dwelling on it, I’m making an effort to fill my day with as much joy as possible. Dancing brings me joy. Not MY dancing so much, although I do enjoy hoofing it occasionally. But watching really good dancers do their thing. That brings me joy.

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Do You Ever Wonder?

A week or so ago I was watching one of those crime shows on TV, you know the ones where they have an agent/detective go “undercover” and spy on someone? In this show, the gal was sitting on a park bench with ear buds, bopping along to some unheard tune when this jogger stops and plants himself on the bench next to her and starts up a conversation. Now, this gal didn’t want to converse, yet neither did she want to appear as though she were spying on someone. So, she provided the occasional nod or “um hm” while continuing to watch her target from the corner of her eye.

That scene got me to thinking – which can be a scary thing I’ll admit. I wondered if this had ever happened to me. I mean, I’ve been known to strike up a conversation with a totally random stranger if the mood hits me. Yet I wondered, have I ever intruded in a clandestine spying operation? Have I ever encountered a completely random person, who appeared to be sitting/standing idly, yet was really annoyed because I was distracting them from their bad guy’s activities with mindless chit chat?

Seriously, how many of those mornings at Starbucks or the gas station or the grocery store have I talked to an undercover law enforcement person doing their surveillance job?

That in turn got me to wondering other oddball things. Like, have I ever had in my possession counterfeit money? Have I ever spent counterfeit money passed on to me from some other source?

Have I ever happened upon a drug deal without even being aware it was happening in my presence?

Has a late night sting operation ever had to be aborted because I happened along for a snack at a convenience store? Gosh, I hope not. And yet . . . hmmmm?

How many people do I talk to every single day are hiding concealed weapons? Being from Mississippi I’m sure that number is quite high.

There are just so many things that could be happening right in front of my nose. I know that from now on everyone is going to look suspicious to me. How about you?

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong – or maybe right – time? What sorts of clandestine things have you interrupted? Come on – please share. Have you ever wondered if you’ve thwarted a crime just by showing up some place? Surely this isn’t just me.

Word of the day: Ididem

Fun fact about me: I’m tap dancing again.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, October 2017. Photos courtesy Google Images.

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