Posted by One more week until we get rid of this darn February. Yay!
Peeps, before I get too far into this update, I implore you to be careful out there. Lately, I’ve noticed a huge upswing in scams – in emails, texts, phone calls, messaging, etc. It’s everywhere and some of them are quite good/believable. Take an extra minute to re-read something. Tell the person on the phone that you’ll call them back (if they hang up or say no or won’t give you a working number – it’s a scam!)
Okay, now onto more fun things. I’ve got a brand new event (for me) coming up! It’s the Lucky Finds Market in Gurnee, Illinois. I’ll be among a throng of various vendors, crafters, authors, and artists in The Ten Hotel. Looking forward to this one! (Sunday, March 15 from 11am to 4pm for those in the area)
The next event isn’t too far away either. The Bishop Hill Author Fair will take place in Bishop Hill, Illinois on Saturday, April 11 from 11am to 4pm. Again, if you are in the area, swing by!! As usual, I’ll be posting all the details on the events page as we get closer.
Still in the works is the new website. I just received an update today from the person who is creating it, so…it’s happening! Very excited, a bit nervous, but looking forward to sharing the new digs with everyone soon!
While I haven’t had the opportunity to begin draft #1 of my new novel, I have been working on reviews for Candace Nola and her website, Uncomfortably Dark. https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/home/categories/random-reviews (if you scroll down a bit, you can find my reviews). I’m also in the process of starting a brand new class at our local senior center (a very busy, active place for those of us over 55!) I plan to feature a new topic each month with the first class on March 12th. The topic in March is Scams! (see, there’s a method to my madness! lol) If you are in the Bloomington-Normal area and want in (and are over 55), hit me up! I’ll get you the info as to how to join ARC (the senior center) and the class! 🙂
Okay, what the heck have we been watching:
Game Night (2018) – Max and Annie’s weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party — complete with fake thugs and federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night. (Google) This is the kind of movie that starts heading in one direction and ends up taking a pointy left turn somewhere around the halfway point. Overall, it’s a fun, goofy, chaotic ride that keeps getting more tangled and twisty. If you’re looking for a crazy ride with some good actors and actresses, give this a whirl. I gave it a healthy 6.8 and Charlie came in at a 7.2.
If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You (2025) – With her life crashing down around her, Linda tries to navigate her daughter’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist. (Google) I had some difficulty with this one and I feel the need to clarify what I’m about to say. First, I found the mom (played very well by Rose Byrne) to be incredibly irresponsible. Yes, she’s dealing with all manner of tough situations (a sick kid, an absent spouse), BUT, every time she was faced with an issue, all I saw was her giving in and crumbling and not actually DOING anything productive. I understand, theoretically, that this was a story about a ‘woman underwater’ with all the stresses in life, but HOLY COW! DO something! Change something! Talk directly to your husband about the situations! Instead, she acts like a doormat through the entire film. I gave it a 7.0 (because the movie itself was quality), but I was silently screaming at her for two hours. Charlie had no issues (lol) and gave it an 8.9.
ER (1996 – ) Set in Chicago, this medical drama deals with the personal and professional crises of the doctors in the emergency room at County General Hospital. From the exciting to the mundane, a day in the frantic hospital serves up many interesting dilemmas as well as heartrending choices for everyone on staff. (Google) Yes, I am currently re-watching the original series. I saw it when it first came out, but haven’t gone through all the episodes from the beginning until now. Wow. I’ve forgotten (and remembered!) a lot of it. I think our watching of The Pitt (2025/2026) kind of pulled me in this particular direction. So many great guest stars, impactful stories, and having a wonderful time seeing Noah Wyle as a 24 year old again! (plus all the other original stars) If you’ve never watched this show, do it. If you haven’t seen it in a long time, revisit it. Totally worth it. (As of this writing, I’m in the middle of Season 3. There are 15 seasons)
Okay, that’s a wrap, peeps! Keep an eyeball peeled for updates on the blog, the events, the reviews, the interviews, and random bunnies that are starting to appear! 🙂
Sue Rovens 