Yesterday was a tough one for that part of me. The part that even at 36, still tries to look at the world with child-like wonder. For me, NASA and the shuttle program always embodied that. As some of us watched Discovery make its way to Virginia yesterday, a little bit more of that wonder shriveled.

Sadly, we have grown into an intellectually stilted nation only interested in sensationalism and the next reality show. Our politicians are only concerned with fighting among themselves, finger pointing and the next election. Our children are no longer taught to think in school, instead they are taught to pass standardized testing that would beat the hunger for knowledge out of anyone. Excellence and innovation, I fear, are extinct. Perhaps we deserve the slow death that we’re setting ourselves up for. Or maybe there’s still a glimmer of hope. No one will really know until it plays out.

Because I prefer hope over doom and gloom, I give you a wonderful video and Neil deGrasse Tyson’s take on why we stopped dreaming and why we should again.

After you watch, sign the petition to give NASA a whole penny of your tax dollars and help us dream again.

I came across these photos of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto on Pinterest today. Let me just say… holy hell Batman! I just heard the pitter-patter of thousands of homophobic little geeky feet running away. (I’m not saying all geeks/trekkies are homophobic!)

This one isn’t bad at all. Just two dudes hanging out right?

This one isn’t terrible either. Sure it’s a little intimate, but no real harm done.

This one is about the same until you look a little closer and realize that Chris Pine is sort-of straddling Zachary Quinto. Oh, and where the hell is his other hand?

And finally, my favorite of the set, the one I like to call Mom, Dad, Meet my gay lover Rudolpho. I mean holy Christ! Quinto’s thumb is not only casually slipped through Chris Pine’s belt loop, but his hand is about an inch from the goods.

Am I crazy or are we about to get a whole different kind of Star Trek? Uhura… girl, you’ve been replaced!

Not too long after I started my new job, I came in one early Friday morning to one of my fellow early birds playing Tiny Dancer loudly enough to be heard throughout the mostly empty office. It was a little surreal at the time, taking me immediately to that scene in Almost Famous. So now, Tiny Dancer is my must hear on Friday morning song. It gets the day started right. And if it comes in the form of the Almost Famous video, that just makes it all the better.

Aah! Kate Hudson… you had so much potential.

Happy Friday to you all

Congrats to Vera Sime who won the coin toss this morning and the $100 Visa or Amazon gift card! A mighty thanks to both participants in my sad little contest.

Vera, please contact me via email or facebook with your preference and your address so that I can get that card out to you asap.

There is only about a week and a half left to get in on the contest and win a $100 Visa or Amazon gift card.

As I’ve said before, I have horrible contest karma. As of this morning, that translates to two entrants. Not that I don’t want to give one of these ladies a gift card, hell, I wish I could afford to give them both a card, but on my end, the contest is a bout getting new reviews.

So, if you like free money, and I know you do, leave a review of Voodoo Dues or of Vampire Blues on Amazon or GoodReads and get in on these great odds of winning the gift card! Scroll on down a post or two for the contest details and good luck.

Dear tattooed dude in the Boba Fett helmet, would you like to go out come home with me? I am totally up for playing the intergalactic fugitive if you’d like to capture me. Or, if anonymity is your thing, I could wear my trooper helmet. Though, that might be a little weird considering the character’s shared genetic material and all. Then again, I do like a few of those kinky sprinkles on my vanilla ice cream, if you know what I mean, and I think you do! Ooh! Or I could wear a Vader helmet and you could “punish” me for freezing Han Solo in carbonite. Those are just a few ideas. I’m certainly open to suggestions.

Sincerely,
Your potential sex kitten

Okay kiddos, here’s the way it’s going to work…

On Saturday, March 17th, 2012, Voodoo Dues will be free on Amazon. Download it!

That’s the giveaway part

The contest part will end on April 7th, 2012.

Leave a review on either Goodreads or on Amazon (for either book) between March 17 and April 7th and you’ll be entered to win a $100 Visa or Amazon gift card. It’s your choice!

If you’ve left a review on both sites and would like to be entered, please message me on Facebook, Twitter or email me at ssimmons.author (at) gmail.com and let me know. If you’ve left a review on only one site, please leave a review on the other to be entered.

On Sunday, April 8th, I’ll put the reviewer names into a randomizer and select a winner. The reviewer’s name will be posted here, on Facebook and on Twitter. The winner will then have 7 days to contact me by email at ssimmons.author (at) gmail.com to claim the gift card.

It’s Monday and I could really use some sexy werewolf action, if you know what I mean. Thankfully, There have been some great photos of Joe Manganiello going around.

This one is my favorite from the Italian Vanity Fair shoot. Nom nom! It just puts all kinds of scenarios in my head that I can’t go into here because it involves helping him with that pesky button and zipper combo. lol

Here’s one that I haven’t seen before, a pre-werewolf shot from 2007! And he’s clean shaven, which we almost never see. He had great arms even before the wolverine makeover.

I have to say though, that this version does it for me over youngster Joe. The scruff, the little bit of grey at the temples. *sigh*

In my opinion, that is the perfect way to end a Monday!

I sat down with my folks last night and watched Larry Crowne. It wasn’t our usual fare; no explosions, no carnage (unless you count a career). It was a pleasant, enjoyable hour and forty minutes.

Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he’s worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves…often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. — (C) Universal Pictures

What surprised me was the venom that the critics spat at this movie. For my money, it was fun and enjoyable. We laughed a lot. George Takei was very funny as was Cedrick the Entertainer. Julia Roberts had my mom and I in stitches over the cheesecake.

For those critics who complained that it was fluffy and not “realistic” enough, I would like to know if they’ve ever been suddenly unemployed in this economy. After being in that unemployed boat for two years and living that reality, I definitely don’t care to re-live it through my entertainment.

If you’re not against being quietly entertained and smiling quite a bit, I recommend Larry Crowne.

This morning I am going to try to fill in the gap on the blog where I lost posts in the move earlier this year. I apologize in advance for cluttering up your readers with old posts. Happy Saturday!