VOTE FOR JULI! PRETTY PLEASE!

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I was hanging out at Pickleope's blog the other day and at the end of a post about Scooby Doo giving Pickleope trust issues, I found some very interesting information. It seems The Indie Chicks at Indie Chicks awards are celebrating their first birthday by giving out Badass Blog Awards. Pickleope was nominated and asking for votes. So I voted for Pickleope. I hate pickles, but not pickleopes.

Then I perused all the categories. When I saw the Best Mommy Blog nominations, I squealed with delight. Surviving Boys is nominated! That's Juli's blog!

When I had 13 followers for what seemed like forever, Juli was the breakout person who followed me. She was #14. And then others followed. I love Juli! You'd better believe I voted for Surviving Boys in a New York minute.

So please go to http://theindiechicks.com/badass-blog-awards-vote-for-your-favorite-bloggers/ and find the words "Best Mommy Blog." The last nominated blog is Surviving Boys. Please go there right away and vote for Juli and Surviving Boys. I have no idea when the voting ends.

In the comments on her post yesterday, Juli said that her husband Tony had tried to vote for her and it said the category was closed. But fishducky left a comment saying she had voted for Juli. So I don't know what the deal is with the voting, but please TRY to vote.

If you need reasons to vote for Juli other than "because Janie Junebug told me to," then I have reasons for you:

• Juli has shepherded her two sons, Oldest and Youngest, through the death of their father (Juli's ex) with grace and dignity.
• Juli has married Tony and created a blended family with Bonus Brother.
• Juli has started lacing up her sneakers and she's on the move. This summer she'll take on the challenge of the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for the Cure to benefit breast cancer research. She's raised the money required to enter, and she's going to walk 60 miles during the hottest part of the summer because we ALL know someone who's been affected by breast cancer.
• Juli works super hard as a mom, a mail carrier, and a blogger.
• Juli has really developed her writing skills in the past year. She was always a good blogger, but I've watched her get better and better. 

I'd really like to see Juli win this award. I'm sure everyone who's nominated is deserving, but hey! Juli is one of our own around this neck of the blog.

This is Juli.
She's my bud.
Please vote for her.

Please don't procrastinate. Vote for Surviving Boys now! Go to http://theindiechicks.com/badass-blog-awards-vote-for-your-favorite-bloggers/.

Thank you.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

THANK YOU & A NICE COMMENT

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I appreciate that so many of  you called MD Towing to thank them for helping me. One of you even wrote a thank you note to them.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, click HERE to read the post.

I wrote a 5 Star Review of their services that I posted online.

Since you probably wouldn't have any reason to go back to the post and read all the comments, I want to share a comment here. It's from Alex's wife. He was answering the phone at MD and dispatching the gentlemen who assisted me.

Alex's wife calls herself Hot Lips, and she writes:

Thank You for appreciating what my husband (Alex)and the

drivers do..... They are all hard workers! It's hard to find good 

companies these days and just as hard to find good people who 

are genuinely appreciative of their work!


I think her comment is really sweet and it made me very glad that so many of you joined me in telling

them that they're doing a great job.


Infinities of love,


Janie Junebug

MOVIE WEEKEND: ANNA KARENINA

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Today I present for your consideration Anna Karenina (2012, Rated R, available on DVD).

I am not a fan of the Russian writers, but for some reason, I'm fond of poor, foolish infatuated Anna Karenina; so I felt eager to see this movie. Furthermore, it was directed by Tom Stoppard, who directed The King's Speech, a movie I loved and thought very well made. Alert: I'm in error here. Tom Hooper directed The King's Speech. Tom Stoppard is one of the writers for Anna Karenina; it was directed by Joe Wright. Changes everything, doesn't it?

Anna (Keira Knightley) is married to the rather cold and pompous Count Alexei Karenin (Jude Law). The marriage doesn't seem very interesting or exciting, but Anna loves their son. Then Anna meets the dashing young Count Vronsky (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). Soon everyone is gossiping about their affair, and when Anna leaves Karenin for Vronsky, she loses her son and finds she is cast out by society.

I like this movie, and I don't.

The costumes are lavish and beautiful. The entire movie is stylishly choreographed. When Anna and Vronsky dance together for the first time at a ball, the other characters stop moving as we see the whirlwind romance beginning. As Anna and Vronsky dance past the other characters, the still dancers suddenly make a single movement in unison, indicating that, yes, they are there, but they are of little importance compared to the two people who are falling in love.

The sets are interesting, too. A horse race is acted out on stage, rather than on a track or in a field. The actors make visible movements from one set to another, but the viewer does not see the accoutrements of film making. Rather, the transfers have a flair and originality.

The overarching component of the film, however, is its rhythm. Office workers stamp papers loudly in unison and make the same movements, suggesting the dullness and repetition of the work. More important, though, is the rhythm of the train we see and hear in the most important scenes of the movie – when Anna first meets Vronsky at a train station and a man is killed by the train, and then again, when the train moves relentlessly as Anna meets her fate.

It's the acting in Anna Karenina that disappoints me. Jude Law is probably the best of the bunch. Keira Knightley is beautiful, but she's not Anna. I think it's that she doesn't have an aura of tragedy about her, and perhaps her acting skills simply weren't up to the part. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is simply awful as Vronsky. We have no reason to think that Anna would give up her son and the rest of her life for Vronsky, who looks kind of half-witted and has the most ridiculous dyed blonde curls on top of his dark hair.

This movie is definitely not for children. It would bore them. They'd whine, When will this be over? and you wouldn't be able to watch. Because I'm unhappy with the acting, but I like the style of the movie, I give Anna Karenina The Janie Junebug Kinda Sorta Seal of Approval.

I think someone out there will like it.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

BOOK NOOK: FISHDUCKY'S FABLES

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Today I hope I'll have you clicking away on your computers to buy Fishducky's Fables by Fran Fischer, known to many of us as fishducky, of fishducky, finally!

You can purchase Fishducky's Fables from Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Fishduckys-Fables-Fran-Fischer/dp/1482581434 or from the Wayman Publishing site at http://www.waymanpublishing.com/index.php/books.

This book is a steal at $5.92 because it will give you at least 592 laughs.

You get fishducky's versions of fairy tales; the REAL story behind how some things happen; stories about gods, goddesses, and other important people; a couple of scary stories (that aren't scary at all); and some nursery rhymes, fishducky style.

With fishducky, you don't get three little pigs. It's "The Four Little Pigs," which starts with

Once upon a time there were four little pigs and the time came for them to leave home and seek their fortunes. Their mother packed them each a lunch of peanut butter and slop sandwiches (their favorite), some carrot sticks, an apple and a can of V8 juice. She gave them each a kiss and told them, "Be sure to buy some land and build a sturdy house, because that will keep you safe and warm for the rest of your lives. Keep in touch with me and your dad and be sure to write if you find work. Adieu, mes enfants!" (She came from a family of Porc Gascons, a French breed, and wanted everybody to know it.)

Now, how could I not be hooked by a mommy pig who's as pretentious as I am? This book is just plain adorable. The stories are short. You can take the book with you and read while you wait for the doctor, lawyer, or Indian chief to see you. I read a few stories every night, and went to sleep smiling.

You can also read it with kids. My grandchildren love it.

Thus, Fishducky's Fables earns The Janie Junebug Highest Seal of Approval.

You wanna know why it has my seal? I'll tell you why. Because it's funny, it's well written, it's inexpensive, it's by my favorite fishducky, and my middle child published it.

If that's not enough to make you buy it, you just let me know, and I'll invent more reasons (like maybe you could find the book with The Golden Ticket in it that allows you to visit Bud and Fran and ride up and down in their elevator as many times as you want).

Go on. Give yourself a smile and a laugh with Fishducky's Fables,

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

AUTHOR AUTHOR: FABULOUS FISHDUCKY PART II

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

To read the first part of my interview with author Fran Fischer of fishducky, finally!, please click HERE. And now here's the rest of the interview, followed by some good dirt information about Fran and her many talents.

Remember, fishducky's first book is available NOW. It's called Fishducky's Fables, and you can get it at http://www.amazon.com/Fishduckys-Fables-Fran-Fischer/dp/1482581434. A quick reminder: In the book, fishducky rewrites fairy tales, fables, and nursery rhymes, in her own unique and hilarious style.

Q. Did you tell your children the kinds of stories that are in your book?

A. Not that I recall.  I didn't realize that I was funny then.  (See answer #1.) 

Q.. How did you reach the decision to write the book?

A. Your "middle child", Elisa conned me into it.  I submitted two or three stories to her for an anthology.  I didn't think I could, but she convinced me that I could write a book.  I asked her how many stories I would need and she told me ten or twelve.  I wrote ten and sent them to her.  She said I was halfway there.  It was so much fun.  I couldn't turn off my brain and I just kept writing.  I almost expected to find a message scrawled in lipstick on my bathroom mirror saying, "Stop me before I write again!"   

Q. Which story in the book is your favorite and why?

A. Actually, I have no favorite.  If one of the stories didn't make me chuckle or at least smile after many readings, it was deleted. 

Q. What can we expect from the fabulous fishducky in the future?

A. I have no idea, but since I'm only 36 (in my mind, anyway) there's plenty of time to figure that out. 

Q. What do you want the world to know about you and your book?

A. I consider it my fourth child.  As an unbiased mother, I can tell you it's brilliant and would be a bargain at twice the price.  Buy it!!

I suspect some readers will be making purchases in a hurry, fishducky!

Now I want to tell you a little more about the multi-talented fishducky.

Fishducky and Inger of Desert Canyon Living are long-time friends. Inger has featured fishducky's art on her blog, including the following:

Yes, this is a fishducky original.

My middle child, Elisa, from The Crazy Life Of A Writing Mom, has had the privilege of meeting fishducky. Elisa says that fishducky is so funny she could be a stand-up comedian. And if my middle child says it, then it must be so. My middle child was also intelligent enough to publish Fishducky's Fables through her great company, Wayman Publishing. You can click on the link to Wayman to buy the books they've published, including fishducky's. 

And, finally, I'm going to get all sickeningly sentimental on you and tell you that when I was a young and struggling blogger, fishducky found me through some of the other blogs she followed (she didn't write a blog at the time, but she was a loyal follower), and she sent me an email asking if I'd like to be one of her "duckies." 

I knew I had made it at that moment. I was a success. Fishducky sends hilarious emails to her duckies, and she's given me two of my most treasured virtual possessions. Both are always present on the sidebar of my blog. They are my badge

 because fishducky understands that I am The Queen of Grammar, and this button:

Yes. My blog is Fishducky APPROVED. I know of no greater honor. 

And now I must rush off to get a plane ticket to Las Vegas. Fishducky has asked me to marry her, and I've agreed. 

But, before I go, I'll write my review of Fishducky's Fables and post it tomorrow.

Infinities of fishducky love,

Janie Junebug

AUTHOR AUTHOR: FABULOUS FISHDUCKY

Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Today we laud and magnify the great Fran Fischer, probably better known as the hilarious fishducky of fishducky, finallly!, because her first book has been published. It's called Fishducky's Fables, and it's available at
http://www.amazon.com/Fishduckys-Fables-Fran-Fischer/dp/1482581434.

Here's what Fran looked like once upon a time:

Here's what she looks like now:

Oops! Sorry.
This is me when I worked in a doctor's office.

Now, here's fishducky:

This is the synopsis from the back cover of Fishducky's Fables:

This book contains every single fairy tale, legend and nursery rhyme ever written (except for the ones Fishducky didn't include).

Join Rapunzel, the Ugly Duckling, Snow White, Chicken Little, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty & the Beast, Robin Hood and many more beloved characters in this hilarious short story collection that will have readers laughing out loud.

Today you get the beginning of my interview with fishducky, and tomorrow you'll get the rest of the interview, along with some great gossip information about fishducky. On Wednesday, I'll review Fishducky's Fables.

Uh, Oh, Here We Go:

Q. Fishducky, were you born funny? And no, I don't mean did you come out of your mom's nose instead of through the birth canal. But when did you become aware of your ability to bring people so much joy through laughter?

A. How did you know about my birth?  My mother went into labor, then she started sneezing, and there I was--a beautiful, but messy little girl.  Actually, I wasn't funny as a little kid at all.  I was very shy.  It wasn't until I got old that I realized I was funny, but then we all laugh at old people, don't we?

Q. Were your parents and siblings humorists? Did you all sit around the dining room table and make each other laugh until chicken soup squirted out of your noses?

A. No, we were a very loving but quiet family.  Besides, that would be an awful waste of chicken soup! 

Q. Who can make you laugh a lot?

A. None of the new comics.  I used to love  Rodney Dangerfield, Totie Fields and George Carlin.  There were some TV shows I would never miss, like I Love Lucy, MASH, Laugh In, Get Smart and even Batman.  My sons could make me laugh ever since they were little!

Q. Do you think Bud is funny? Does Bud think you are funny? (*Note: Bud is Fran's husband.)

A. Bud does think I'm funny.  Unfortunately, that's funny "peculiar", not funny "ha ha".  I seldom think he's funny.  As far as I'm concerned, the difference between our two senses of humor is that I have one and he doesn't. 

Q. Do your children think you're funny? I'm especially curious about this because The Hurricane often says to me, Mom, I know you think you're funny, but you're not (the little brat).

A. We have two boys and one girl.  The boys and their wives think I'm funny but my daughter, not so much.  She has her father's personality and the boys have mine.  She thinks she's funny, but she's not.  I'm pretty sure that a wandering band of Jewish accountants switched one of their babies for her in the hospital and raised my real daughter themselves.  All of my grandkids think their grandma is a hoot!  This is from one of my posts: Bud & I were at a restaurant with our daughter, her husband & their two teenaged daughters,  One of the girls said that some movie star, I think it was Johnny Depp, was cool.  Their father asked, "What about me?  I'm cool."  They laughed & told him, "Dad, you're not cool!"  He asked if their mom was cool.  "No."  "What about Grandpa?  Is Grandpa cool?"  They thought for a minute & said, "Not really."  He then asked, "How about Grandma?  Is she..."   Before he could finish his question, they answered, in one voice, "Yeah, Grandma's cool!!" 

Oh, yeah. Fishducky is definitely cool. More fishducky tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!