The death of actor Paul William Walker IV

When I turned on my laptop this afternoon, I saw a news flash that this young actor had been killed in an automobile accident today. At first, I thought maybe it was one of those internet hoaxes, but minutes later, the sad and tragic news had been reported from some very reliable news sources.  It wasn’t until I had read that his publicist had released a statement that the news was true that my mind finally accepted it. I didn’t know Paul William Walker IV, but I along with millions around the world was familiar with his work. I especially enjoyed his Fast & Furious movies. Paul left us way too soon, yet he had accomplished so much in 40 years. He made  a living doing something that he enjoyed: acting. I felt that I had to post something as I am way to familiar with losing a child. Of course his parents may never see it, but then again, maybe somebody on Facebook knows them, and will send it to them. I thought I’d post it here as well.  From my Facebook page:

Mike Limon

My heart goes out to the family, friends, and relatives of actor Paul William Walker IV, his daughter, Meadow Rain, his brothers Caleb, and Cody, and his sisters, Ashlie, and Aime. and especially to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Paul William Walker III. The pain and loss of the death of a child is something that no parent should ever endure, I speak from experience. I offer Mr. & Mrs. Walker my heartfelt condolences during this time of your great loss.
On behalf of millions of Paul’s fans, please know that your son Paul William Walker IV, entertained countless people around the world in his movies. and gave great joy to many. He will be truly missed, yet he left behind a legacy of his work on film for us to enjoy. For that, I say, thank you Paul! Rest in peace my young brother. You have truly gone too soon.

Writing your life by Mary Borg a book review

I won this book from Goodreads in one of their giveaways when I first joined. I was thrilled to win this because as a writer, these type of “how to” books always catch my attention in the bookstore.There are many and I mean many of these types of books out there. They all seem to have the same title, “How to write your life’s story, write your story,” etc. What makes Mary Borg’s book different is that she takes the reader/writer by the hand, and shows them how  to write an effective autobiography. She uses very down to earth and simple directions which makes it fun. Mary gives the reader several ideas to start out with leaving the reader with no excuse for not starting today. I particularly enjoyed the writing tips, reading suggestions, and examples from everyday people, that Borg has included in every chapter. She gives the reader a blueprint to use beginning from childhood to adulthood, and includes many thought-provoking questions to write about. Questions such as, “What is your favorite color, time of the year, favorite holiday,” gives  both the beginner or seasoned professional a plethora of starting points in beginning their own story. She also answers questions like, why write my autobiography, what would I include in it,  who would I write it for, and who could possibly want to read it? Don’t think for a moment that your story is not interesting enough to read. No two people have lived the same life.  It has been said that writing can is hard, and perhaps that has kept people from writing their autobiographies, but Mary Borg makes it looks so easy, and with her help, it is. I highly recommend this book, even if only to record the stories of your life for your children to pass onto their children someday. You will not be disappointed by this book.

 

Facing the Music and living to talk about it by Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys – a book review

Ever wonder what fame can do to you at an early age? In his book, “Facing the Music,” Nick Carter gives the reader an inside look into his life as a Back Street Boy. He found fame at the age of twelve, after entering local singing contests, while growing up in Tampa, Florida.  Carter writes about growing up in  his dysfunctional family,  his drug use of marijuana, Ecstasy, and prescription pills,  and the death of his younger sister Leslie, who died from a drug overdose, for which he blames himself.  Nick was filled with guilt because he was touring with the Back Street Boys, and was not there to help his younger sister.   Nick writes about  how out of control he was like the time he was arrested outside a night club after a police officer told him to go back inside. Another time,  after drinking all day and night with a friend, he is arrested by Huntington Beach, California, police officers for drunk driving.  He writes about a valet outside a hotel, who refused to give the clearly intoxicated Carter his car keys, and gave them to his friend, who also was drunk, but faked being sober. Down the road, Carter switches places with his pal, and is only to drive a brief distance before he is pulled over.  He credits the valet, who  most likely called the police, for probably saving his life. It took that event for Carter to wake up and to call his manager, asking him for help in entering rehab.

Nick briefly details his BSBoys brothers in the book, including the sixth BSB, manager Lou Pearlman, whom Nick refers to as “Big Poppa.”  Pealrman was taking more than half of the millions that the group was earning and they quickly ended their relationship with Pearlman.

Another interesting tidbit of information was the fact that Carter’s parents made Brian Littrell, one of his brothers in the boy band, Nick’s guardian. This made sense as Carter would be spending more time with the group, and away from his own parents.

While reading this, I was a little disappointed that Nick didn’t include more stories about being a Back Street Boy,  but then I realized that this is a self-help book, written from the perspective of a person with addiction problems, who just happens to be a celebrity. He does include several self-help techniques that may be helpful to others who struggle with addiction, and for that, I am glad that he wrote the book.

Sounds of July 4, 2013 outside my window

This photograph shows several people moving sparklers around in patterns. It was taken with a low camera shutter speed, creating the visual perseverance seen. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As I write this, the sun has gone down on another day, and the fireworks have already started.  As l lie on my bed looking out my window,  I hear the sounds of small sparklers coming from the houses next door, and also some very large booms coming from down the street. I am also listening to the local police department dispatchers on the radio, as they continue to alert patrol officers of reports of various fireworks disturbing in several neighborhoods. I smile as I listen and think: there is no way that the police can cite or even stop everybody from shooting off fireworks. They just don’t have the manpower to do it. It’s amazing to me. The list continues every 5 minutes over the radio. The police department must be receiving hundreds of calls! Yet, the dispatcher continues to do her job even though she realizes it’s probably a waste of her time, this is what she gets paid to do.  This goes on every year, and you would think that my neighbors would know that the police can’t catch everyone. So why do they even bother to call? The noise is not bothering me, and I’m only glad that they aren’t shooting them off at midnight! What I do miss however is the sight of the large fireworks display that the local high school used to have. I could see the bright colors in the sky, and, man, were they beautiful. Now, I have to settle for seeing them on TV, which is not the same. What about you? How are you spending your evening? Did you attend a fireworks show, or maybe even shot some off yourself? If you did, I hope that you were careful. Unfortunately, this is the time of year when most hospital emergency rooms will receive patients with firework related injuries. The damage that just one of these explosives can do that a person’s body is frightening. So, please be careful this evening, but I hope that you have (had) a safe holiday. God bless America.

Fireworks #1 (Photo credit: Camera Slayer)

Jim Morrison & Ray Manzarek of The Doors

From my Facebook page:

Mike Limon

On this day, July 3, 1971, Jim Morrison, lead singer and co-founder of The Doors, dies in Paris, France of heart failure. I just watched a video with the late Ray Manzarek, keyboardist, and other co-founder of The Doors, in which Ray states that he received a phone call phone from a man in Paris, who claimed to have actually buried Jim Morrison’s body. Ray asked him if he actually saw Jim’s body to which the man replied, “No, it was a sealed casket.” This would explain why years later and up to his death a few months ago, Ray actually believed that Jim is still alive and living somewhere in the States.

Picture of Ray Manzarek in Seattle at the Triple Door. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are reasons Noah packed no clothes – A book review

Robert Jacoby’s book opens with Richard Issych, a nineteen year old who wakes up on a bed in a strange environment unable to move. As his mind becomes clearer, he realizes that he is being restrained quite possibly in an emergency room. The depressed young man then remembers  that he tried to commit suicide by taking over seventy Quaaludes, and trying not to panic, he demands help as he wants to live. A doctor reassures him that he is doing his best to help him. He later discovers that he is being held for observation in a mental ward, and will not be able to leave until his assigned doctor is convinced that he won’t repeat his actions. This strange environment if foreign to Richard, and he has to learn how things work such as being told when to eat, and to line up for his medication. During his stay he befriends others including Phillip, his roommate, who is on his third visit, Vic, another young man around his age, as well as women like Susie and Red. As he gets to know these strange people, who all have problems of their own,  he finds the one thing that they all have in common is that they all tried to hurt themselves, as Richard is constantly asking his new friends, what are you in for?  After meeting with his doctor, who tells Richard that his treatment may include electro shock therapy, Richard then is determined to somehow find a way to escape his new prison. Daily activities include playing games, watching television, and every so often, a field trip is taken along with  the men in white coats, the so-called muscle, who handle unruly patients, so nurses won’t have to. He finds a way to call his parents, and they do visit him. The setting reminded me of One Flew over the Cuckoo’s nest, but not as intense. Jacoby does provide some surprises in the book.

This book is an easy read (I was able to finish it in just a few days) thanks to the author, who keeps you interested in the characters surrounding Richard, as well as Richard’s own dilemma of wanting to be free of his surroundings, and just to return to his parents home, who wonders if it is possible to  become normal again. Does Richard improve? Is he allowed to go home? You will have to read this book and find out for yourself. You get the answers to these questions, but they made not be the answers that you expected. I highly recommend reading this fast paced and exciting book.

United nations stop North Korea NOW page on Facebook

Korean Missiles (Photo credit: danielfoster437)

LeMay Cuban Missile Crisis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hello faithful readers!  First of all, I want to welcome my friends, Karen Freeman Welch, and Norman Hall. They have become the newest followers of my blog, and I appreciate it. They and you, are helping me to obtain free books to read and review from publishers. The only catch is on one site that  you must have 30 regular followers. I believe that I am up to 21, so I need 9 more. Then I will receive the new books to read and review. So if you like what you read, tell your friends about it. Let them know that they can become followers by clicking on the button follow my blog on the lower right side of the page.

FACEBOOK PAGE “United Nations Stop North Korea NOW”

I don’t know about you, but I am currently keeping an eye on North Korea’s offensive military activities  If you have been watching the news, then you know that they have threatened both South Korea and the United States with impending war. They have  nuclear missiles that are aimed at, and can reach the East coast. President Obama is making sure that we have missiles that can intercept theirs, and destroy them before they ever reach our soil. They were admonished about the missiles and told not to build them, but they went ahead and did so anyway. How arrogant of their leader, Kim Jong Un.  For those of you on Facebook, I invite you to our page,  “United nations stop North Korea NOW”. You can read about the most recent developments, and even join the page if you would like to help support us. It doesn’t cost anything, but a few moments of your time. Don’t get caught off guard because you were not aware of what they are doing.  This is a very serious and real threat. Remember the Cuban missile crisis in 1962? President Kennedy was able to keep us from going into a nuclear war with Russia. For those of you younger readers, I encourage you to Google it, and read about the details.  I was 5 years old, but I still remember the worried look on my parents, teachers, and neighbor’s  faces, as they watched the television reports, convinced that we would be attacked at any moment. Fortunately, it never got that far. But, North Korea is causing a similar concern. Anyone who remembers this,  doesn’t want to go through that tension and worry again. I usually write about happier  and more upbeat things, but we must get the word out. We have been threatened and warned, and we just can’t sit around doing nothing, while waiting for war to start. I’m personally hoping that it doesn’t come to that. War is never the answer to any problem!