My column for this week: RT @TheNewsSun Life's not fair; get used to it : "It's not fair!" How many times do we... http://ping.fm/TzoaV

Finally home after day of shoppung. New dress and shoes!

Yay! I don't need blood pressure medicine!

Got my 500 words done...passed the 30 mark! Yay me!

just finished reading "The Boneman's Daughters" by Ted Dekker. A somewhat disturbing tale - very dark.

This is turning out to be a rotten day so far. May have to take it out on one of my fictional characters!

My latest column is online at http://ping.fm/gMHPu

Rained good part of the day. We need it, but I could do without the thunder.

Day 26 of at least 500 words/day...

500 words done! Now watching "Taken" with boys.

John's feeling better, I got my 500 words written. Dead tired. Night all!

Three recent books I've read...

At the moment, I'm on page 134 of Ted Dekker's "The Boneman's Daughters" (and it's pretty interesting so far). But I recently finished 3 books that I'll make a few comments on here. Keep in mind this is my opinion and only my opinion:

The Associate by John Grisham: This one felt like a return to "The Firm," the novel that got Grisham launched into the spotlight. A graduating law student gets blackmailed to become a corporate spy. Some interesting bits there, certainly not the worst Grisham has penned, but I still prefer "A Time to Kill" and "The Runaway Jury" over this one.

Star Trek: The Movie Novelization: As I've indicated, I really like the new Trek movie. The novelization (which has Alan Dean Foster's name on it along with two other authors) does what movie novelizations are supposed to do (at least in my opinion): fill in gaps the movie left out. Not as good as the movie, but at least we find out what happened to Porthos!

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult: I started this book on Sunday, while traveling back home from John's college graduation. I finished it sitting in my bathtub the next day, tears streaming down my face. This is a powerful,, intense, emotional book, and Jodi Picoult's writing is amazing. The movie version comes out in June, but don't wait for it - buy the book and read it today!

Stressing out for some reason. Probably due to working on computer, which was finally working when I left home.

Column finished! Now getting ready to find a replacement video card for desktop

Okay, enough goofing off. Time to get to work!

Finally home. Wrote my 500 words and now going to bed!

Lots of things going on!

I've added links to my Livejournal and new Facebook pages to my list on the side. Check them out - I'm going to try to keep things current. Emphasis on the word "try."

Tomorrow Don and I head to Tennessee to see our oldest son John graduate from college. Where did the time go?

So right now I should be writing my column and packing and stuff. Why is it that I keep getting distracted?

The New Star Trek Movie

Well Don and I have just gotten back from the new Star Trek movie, and I wanted to throw out some of my thoughts on it. Don't worry, no spoilers.

First off, I am a huge Star Trek fan. My first professional fiction sale was for a Star Trek anthology titled "Strange New Worlds 10." So I was interested in this latest installment of the Trek universe.

I liked the movie. And when I first heard about it, I wasn't sure I would.

Prequels are tricky things to pull off. If you are writing a prequel, you are bound by what has happened already. For example, if Mr. Smith exists after the prequel, you can't very well kill him off during the prequel.

Fans of Star Trek can be a challenge to please. There have been five series, an animated series, and a number of movies. Some fans have taken almost an ownership attitude with the series, feeling that they and only they should dictate what should and should not happen with the franchise.

I tried to go into the movie with an open mind. I loved the original series. I wasn't sure how I'd react to other actors playing Kirk, Spock, Scotty and the rest. Would there be anything familiar, or Trek-like in it? Or would it feel like someone just slapped "Star Trek" on a movie that bore no resemblance to that universe?

I was impressed. They managed to pull it off.

There are echoes of the original series throughout the movie. The actors playing the characters have done their homework. Some do better than others (the actor playing McCoy just nailed the character) but overall I didn't watch this thinking, "That isn't so-and-so!"

And they do find a way to get around the predictability factor prequels labor under. I won't tell you how, because it's a spoiler. Let's just say it's Trek-like.

I can see future movies with this crew happening and being done well. And I would love to see this one again. A fellow writer got to see it in an IMAX theater, and I admit I'm terribly jealous.

If you like the concept of Trek and are willing to see a somewhat different version of how our beloved characters turned out, you will enjoy this movie. If true Trek only means Shatner, Nimoy, etc., you will have to let go of that if you want to see this movie. And if you don't, you'll be missing out on a good flick. Your choice. Your loss.

Funny Publishing Glossary

I got this from an elist I'm on. If you're writer, these will make you laugh out loud. If your not a writer but know one, this will explain a lot!

http://www.rightrea ding.com/ publishing/ publishing- glossary. htm