Looks like I was not alone. Last night's episode (Better Angels) of The Walking Dead raised many questions.
I blogged live during the show. You can read that here.
Things got crazy at the end of the show. When it ended I couldn't help getting worried. No I was not worried about all the killing. Or the fact that Carl is starting to creep me out. He's like some creature-kid from a Stephen King movie. But whatever.
No. What's bothering me is the fear that The Walking Dead is going to become like Lost. I don't think that is what's going to happen. But like I said. I worry. (And don't get me wrong. I dedicated years watching Lost. Week after week. Loved all the constant questions raised. Loved that everyone was assured answers were forthcoming. Bull-crap! Writers took a cheap, easy way out. Everyone was dead all along? Really? Dead all along?)
What everyone was dying to know--How in the hell did Randy and Shane become zombies?
Here's what I found. The TV show, as we all know, is based on the comics.
While I am an avid reader, I did not read The Walking Dead graphic novels.
In my own words, and in my best understanding, based on the comics -- the zombie virus is airborne. Everyone is infected.
If you are "Alive" and get bitten or scratched by a Walker, within a designated amount of time -- that person will become a Walker, as well. However, if a person dies of "natural" causes -- that person will come back as a Walker, too.
It all, now, comes down to destroying the brain/head of the person. Whether a zombie, or just someone who died.
I think back to the episode where Rick's group is holed up inside the C.D.C. (The one where Andrea wants to stay, and explode with the building). The guy left alive, left to run the C.D.C. whispers something horrifying to Rick.
Could it have been that the disease is airborne? That everyone is actually infected?
That would, in fact, be horrifying. Hopeless. Wouldn't it?
Uh-huh. Sure as hell would ... meaning maybe Andrea had the right idea. Giving up. Surrendering to an exploding death?
Yes? No?
This is my two cents. Love to hear yours. Send me comments, emails, feedback!!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Pigeon Drop, Johnny Blade, Adverse Impact, Convicted, Third Ring, Tenth House, Mind Play -- and as Thomas Phillips, The Molech Prophecy
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Live Blog: The Walking Dead: Better Angels 3-11-12
Tonight's episode of The Walking Dead, is entitled: Better Angels. Time Warner's show summary states: "Someone dangerous may be loose near the farm; Rick, Shane, Daryl and Glenn keep the group safe ..."
Tune in tonight as I blog live during the show ... post questions, tweet questions, email questions ...
Quick re-cap from last week. Rick's group saved a young man. That young man was part of a larger group that posed a serious threat to everyone's safety. After saving the man, healing him, and a failed attempt at dumping him 18 miles away from the farm ... the group now faces a delicate crossroads. The fate of the young man. Treat him as a sort of prisoner around the farm. Or simply kill him.
Dale. Perhaps the voice of reason. The seasoned male of Rick's group, is appalled. The crossroads should never have come into play. Not in his opinion. The young man is a human being. Killing him makes them as bad as, if not worse, than the unknown people they fear (not talking about the zombies).
Dale storms out of the house, washing his hands of the plans to murder the young man.
Rick, Daryl and Shane escort the young man to the barn. Hands tied behind his back. Rick cocks his gun. Shane forces the crying man to his knees ... Rick asks if he has any final words ...
As the male begs for his life, as Rick raises the gun and aims at the center of the man's forehead --
It is Rick's son who shows up, telling his father, "do it, Dad. Do it..," that stops Rick from actually putting a bullet in the man's head.
Carl followed the men to the barn. Wanted to watch them take the life of the man from the other group ... the dangerous group ... Carl. He's a boy no longer.
And, unfortunately, Dale, who ventures off into the fields to investigate a downed cow, encounters a loose zombie --the one Carl freed from the mud--and is eaten. His stomach chewed open beyond repair.
There was no repair. Once bitten, even if his wounds could have been stitched, would have turned.
While Rick hesitates to put Dale out of his misery, Daryl steps up to the task and ends it ... Lights out, Dale. Lights out!
TONIGHT'S EPISODE ...
Dale says Rock's group is Broken. Best way to honor his death is to Un-Break it, and prove Dale wrong.
This -- during Dale's funeral. As Rick promises to do things the right way, Dale's way, Shane and "his team" mercilessly slaughter the walkers ...
T. Dog, Andrea, Shane ...
Gripping intro teaser!
Looks like Shane's already forgotten the talk between himself and Rick. He does not want to take orders. He does not agree with Rick -- and Andrea's in no mood to babysit Shane, despite Rick's pleasant request.
Carl confides in Shane he has a pistol. He's been talked to before about having guns. Like Shane, Carl has trouble following orders. Following directions.
It doesn't take a zombie expert to realize "his" zombie killed Dale.
Is there hope for Carl? Remorse, maybe? Or is he more like Luke Skywalker's father, destined for darkness?
Not exactly sure why Hershel's suddenly open-arms to the group. Not sure at all. I've seen every episode. Only thing I can figure, that night in the bar--where Rick killed two men saving Hershel--is what turned the old man around.
Lori? One week you are telling your husband that Shane is a threat. Dangerous. And now, now you mess with Shane's head -- apologizing, telling him you don't know who the father is of the unborn baby (Shane/Rick) ... why would you do that? Why now?
Because you know what? Shane is dangerous. She saw it. Rick saw it. And, hello, Dale saw it!
You made things worse Lori. Wow. You just made everything worse!
Just gotta point out. Are they driving a 4-door Hyndai Veloster? I only ask, because I drive a 3-door Veloster.
But I digress ...
Shane is up to something. Gee, wonder if Lori messing with his head and Carl choosing to confide in him, has anything to do with it??? Ah-yeah. I bet it does.
Glenn works on the RV. Andrea, what, suddenly, maybe regrets being a bitch towards Dale during his final days?
It's Glenn who feels he's let Dale down. Andrea too.
The three of them, after all, were something of the trio most of last season ...
Ok. As much as Dale grated my nerves, maybe I miss him some, too. Some. Not a whole lot. He was a bit of a whiner. No. A big whiner. I don't miss him. Not at all.
I think it's a little late to have the, I'm-going-to-die-your-mother-is-going-to-die-talk with Carl. Kid's been watching Walkers slaughtered, and non-infected devoured since day one of the outbreak. Despite Lori's issues with her son having a gun--a kid Carl's age should have been trained to use a weapon from day one!
But that's just me. But it's my blog!
I gotta figure out the young guy's name. I mean, he's about to be beat by Shane and I have no clue what his name is.
It isn't that Shane lost it, it's that the world has moved too far away for him to keep up. Change is too constant for him to keep his bearings. In a way, I do sympathize with him. (Oh, and thanks to T-Dog, I know now that the young guy's name is RANDY!!)
Shane wants to protect his group. To do so he needs to know where Randy's group is camped. For this, I do have respect for crazy-Shane. Crazy, crazy Shane.
Or is he acting? Switching sides. Double-agent. Shane, Shane, Shane, you crafty character!
Ok. Did not see that coming. Shane's Tree-Hugging -- gruesome! Love it!
I thought he was playing double-agent, all smart. But no. No. The plan is to simply attack and destroy the other group -- which Randy said, before being killed, that they were 5 miles down the road ...
Daryl won't be fooled. And we all know Andrea'll do whatever Shane suggests, whether she realizes it or not.
But Rick ain't buying Shane's shananagens ... Shane's all screwed up. He knows it. He better.
Oh yeah. Rick knows it, and now Shane knows that Rick knows. Did you see that look Shane gave Rick in the woods as they comb through leaves in search of Randy? Oh yeah -- Rick does not feel safe with Shane, and so Shane takes point.
Daryl -- the clever tracker -- can read the woods like a blind person with braille.
Shane has Rick go first. Deeper into woods. Further away from Daryl and Glenn (and the dead Randy Walker) ...
Daryl and Glenn learn that Randy was not bitten before becoming a zombie so much as his neck had been snapped.
But who snapped ... Wait ... Wait ... Shane! Shane snapped it! Shane is a stock-raving-mad-lunatic!
I don't like it. Rick with his back to Shane.
Could this be the end of the road for Shane?
It won't be Rick.
"At least have the balls to call this what it is. Murder!"
Shane thinks Lori and Carl will get over the death of Rick -- they did it once before.
Shane is melting down. "You've got a broken woman. A weak boy. Haven't got the first clue on how to fix it!"
Rick won't draw. He remains unarmed. He won't be suckered into a duel.
And, oh shit. I did not see it coming. I did not!
Rick plugs his blade to the hilt into Shane's chest!
Where the hell did Carl come from? Why is he holding a gun?
Carl! Carl! Don't point a gun at your father!
And how the hell did Shane become a zombie??
Had to do some research. Looks like Randy and Shane became zombies--not because they'd been bit, or scratched--but because the virus is airbourne. So when you die--for any reason--you will come back as a zombie. Bites and scratches from a zombie cause the living to become zombies. And now mere "natural" death may due it as well!
Remember the CDC episode where the Director whispers something horrific to Rick before the CDC building exploded? Could he have told Rick the virus is airbourne? Hmmmm...
It's been fun! Tune in next week when, you guessed it, I'll blog live for the Season Finale!!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Pigeon Drop, Johnny Blade, Adverse Impact, Convicted, Third Ring, Tenth House, Mind Play -- and as Thomas Phillips, The Molech Prophecy
Tune in tonight as I blog live during the show ... post questions, tweet questions, email questions ...
Quick re-cap from last week. Rick's group saved a young man. That young man was part of a larger group that posed a serious threat to everyone's safety. After saving the man, healing him, and a failed attempt at dumping him 18 miles away from the farm ... the group now faces a delicate crossroads. The fate of the young man. Treat him as a sort of prisoner around the farm. Or simply kill him.
Dale. Perhaps the voice of reason. The seasoned male of Rick's group, is appalled. The crossroads should never have come into play. Not in his opinion. The young man is a human being. Killing him makes them as bad as, if not worse, than the unknown people they fear (not talking about the zombies).
Dale storms out of the house, washing his hands of the plans to murder the young man.
Rick, Daryl and Shane escort the young man to the barn. Hands tied behind his back. Rick cocks his gun. Shane forces the crying man to his knees ... Rick asks if he has any final words ...
As the male begs for his life, as Rick raises the gun and aims at the center of the man's forehead --
It is Rick's son who shows up, telling his father, "do it, Dad. Do it..," that stops Rick from actually putting a bullet in the man's head.
Carl followed the men to the barn. Wanted to watch them take the life of the man from the other group ... the dangerous group ... Carl. He's a boy no longer.
And, unfortunately, Dale, who ventures off into the fields to investigate a downed cow, encounters a loose zombie --the one Carl freed from the mud--and is eaten. His stomach chewed open beyond repair.
There was no repair. Once bitten, even if his wounds could have been stitched, would have turned.
While Rick hesitates to put Dale out of his misery, Daryl steps up to the task and ends it ... Lights out, Dale. Lights out!
TONIGHT'S EPISODE ...
Dale says Rock's group is Broken. Best way to honor his death is to Un-Break it, and prove Dale wrong.
This -- during Dale's funeral. As Rick promises to do things the right way, Dale's way, Shane and "his team" mercilessly slaughter the walkers ...
T. Dog, Andrea, Shane ...
Looks like Shane's already forgotten the talk between himself and Rick. He does not want to take orders. He does not agree with Rick -- and Andrea's in no mood to babysit Shane, despite Rick's pleasant request.
Carl confides in Shane he has a pistol. He's been talked to before about having guns. Like Shane, Carl has trouble following orders. Following directions.
It doesn't take a zombie expert to realize "his" zombie killed Dale.
Is there hope for Carl? Remorse, maybe? Or is he more like Luke Skywalker's father, destined for darkness?
Not exactly sure why Hershel's suddenly open-arms to the group. Not sure at all. I've seen every episode. Only thing I can figure, that night in the bar--where Rick killed two men saving Hershel--is what turned the old man around.
Lori? One week you are telling your husband that Shane is a threat. Dangerous. And now, now you mess with Shane's head -- apologizing, telling him you don't know who the father is of the unborn baby (Shane/Rick) ... why would you do that? Why now?
Because you know what? Shane is dangerous. She saw it. Rick saw it. And, hello, Dale saw it!
You made things worse Lori. Wow. You just made everything worse!
Just gotta point out. Are they driving a 4-door Hyndai Veloster? I only ask, because I drive a 3-door Veloster.
But I digress ...
Shane is up to something. Gee, wonder if Lori messing with his head and Carl choosing to confide in him, has anything to do with it??? Ah-yeah. I bet it does.
Glenn works on the RV. Andrea, what, suddenly, maybe regrets being a bitch towards Dale during his final days?
It's Glenn who feels he's let Dale down. Andrea too.
The three of them, after all, were something of the trio most of last season ...
Ok. As much as Dale grated my nerves, maybe I miss him some, too. Some. Not a whole lot. He was a bit of a whiner. No. A big whiner. I don't miss him. Not at all.
I think it's a little late to have the, I'm-going-to-die-your-mother-is-going-to-die-talk with Carl. Kid's been watching Walkers slaughtered, and non-infected devoured since day one of the outbreak. Despite Lori's issues with her son having a gun--a kid Carl's age should have been trained to use a weapon from day one!
But that's just me. But it's my blog!
I gotta figure out the young guy's name. I mean, he's about to be beat by Shane and I have no clue what his name is.
It isn't that Shane lost it, it's that the world has moved too far away for him to keep up. Change is too constant for him to keep his bearings. In a way, I do sympathize with him. (Oh, and thanks to T-Dog, I know now that the young guy's name is RANDY!!)
Shane wants to protect his group. To do so he needs to know where Randy's group is camped. For this, I do have respect for crazy-Shane. Crazy, crazy Shane.
Or is he acting? Switching sides. Double-agent. Shane, Shane, Shane, you crafty character!
Ok. Did not see that coming. Shane's Tree-Hugging -- gruesome! Love it!
I thought he was playing double-agent, all smart. But no. No. The plan is to simply attack and destroy the other group -- which Randy said, before being killed, that they were 5 miles down the road ...
Daryl won't be fooled. And we all know Andrea'll do whatever Shane suggests, whether she realizes it or not.
But Rick ain't buying Shane's shananagens ... Shane's all screwed up. He knows it. He better.
Oh yeah. Rick knows it, and now Shane knows that Rick knows. Did you see that look Shane gave Rick in the woods as they comb through leaves in search of Randy? Oh yeah -- Rick does not feel safe with Shane, and so Shane takes point.
Daryl -- the clever tracker -- can read the woods like a blind person with braille.
Shane has Rick go first. Deeper into woods. Further away from Daryl and Glenn (and the dead Randy Walker) ...
Daryl and Glenn learn that Randy was not bitten before becoming a zombie so much as his neck had been snapped.
But who snapped ... Wait ... Wait ... Shane! Shane snapped it! Shane is a stock-raving-mad-lunatic!
I don't like it. Rick with his back to Shane.
Could this be the end of the road for Shane?
It won't be Rick.
"At least have the balls to call this what it is. Murder!"
Shane thinks Lori and Carl will get over the death of Rick -- they did it once before.
Shane is melting down. "You've got a broken woman. A weak boy. Haven't got the first clue on how to fix it!"
Rick won't draw. He remains unarmed. He won't be suckered into a duel.
And, oh shit. I did not see it coming. I did not!
Rick plugs his blade to the hilt into Shane's chest!
Where the hell did Carl come from? Why is he holding a gun?
Carl! Carl! Don't point a gun at your father!
And how the hell did Shane become a zombie??
Had to do some research. Looks like Randy and Shane became zombies--not because they'd been bit, or scratched--but because the virus is airbourne. So when you die--for any reason--you will come back as a zombie. Bites and scratches from a zombie cause the living to become zombies. And now mere "natural" death may due it as well!
Remember the CDC episode where the Director whispers something horrific to Rick before the CDC building exploded? Could he have told Rick the virus is airbourne? Hmmmm...
It's been fun! Tune in next week when, you guessed it, I'll blog live for the Season Finale!!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Pigeon Drop, Johnny Blade, Adverse Impact, Convicted, Third Ring, Tenth House, Mind Play -- and as Thomas Phillips, The Molech Prophecy
The Hunger Games Trilogy
I will admit, despite her being a best selling author, I have never heard of Suzanne Collins. My 19 year old son, who rarely, if ever, read anything started reading The Hunger Games as a download on his smart phone. In weeks he had read three novels. All by Collins, all part of this Hunger Games trilogy. He kept telling me, "Dad, you have got to read them."
I am not opposed to reading Young Adult novels. Quite the contrary. I read plenty of them. Both best selling series, and individual titles (which include, naturally, the Harry Potter saga, and Twilight epidemic). When I saw my boss at work reading them, I thought -- there's gotta be something here. I mean, I looked the book up. I read the synopsis. And while it sounded so-so, I wasn't compelled.
Online I read the first chapter of the first book. It did not move me, immediately. I had a general sense what the story was, or so I thought. I kept picturing the popular short story, The Lottery. And, well, for the most part, it is comparable.
However, there is a lot more depth and character enrichment. As there should be. One is a short story. The other, a trilogy.
What I did then was order all three books on-line. (While my own novels are now mostly available for Kindle, I do not own a Kindle or Nook. And do not prefer reading books that way. Even though I have Kindle and Nook software on my iPhone, I cannot even for a moment understand the desire or need to read an entire novel on my cell...but that's just me, I guess. Old fashioned).
I found I could not wait for the books to arrive.
I am not going to summarize any of the stories in this blog. Way I see it, if you haven't heard of this best-selling trilogy, or at the very least, seen trailers for The Hunger Games movie due out in theaters in a week, then my taking you through the stories in a blog is pointless.
In hours I devoured the first book. At Christmas, my three kids and I became archers. When I say archers, I mean I invested in bows for the four of us. Joined a range where we can shoot target practice up to 30 yards. A wonderful indoor facility. We are not hunters. At all. Not sure I could shoot a deer, or even a turkey--unless survival depended on it. But the game of archery, the skill behind it, is challenge enough! We love it. Ah, but I digress. Where was I . . .?
I devoured the first book in hours. I think I felt a connection to Katniss and Gale. If, at first, for the simple fact that they hunted using the stealth of bows and arrows. But quickly, and I mean quickly, cared about them as characters. Especially Katniss.
Katniss, in my opinion, is the exact opposite of Bella.
You know who Bella is, right?? Please, do not make me explain.
Bella is the polar opposite of Katniss. The opposite end of the rainbow. Thank God.
While I suffered through Bella's teenage angst filling chapters with endless whining, Katniss compelled me to continue reading because of the abundance of strength, despite natural fear.
The three books caught me by surprise. Each ending left me wanting more -- having not guessed the final direction the books would take.
While Suzanne Collins was someone I never heard of, I know her now. She writes in a simple fashion. Despite a complex plot filled with politics and levels of altered states, it is easy to follow. The picture she paints with her words is crisp and concise.
I have not seen the movie(s). But will. I only hope they are not destroyed the way I felt the Twilight movies desecrated the novels. Already, however, and sadly, some of the characters casted in the film are so far off from what my imagination imagined ... it is going to be difficulty for me to fully enjoy the movie. For example, Rue. The actress portraying Rue -- not what I pictured. At all.
Alas, the book is always better than the movie.
My recommendation -- at the very least, read The Hunger Games before seeing the movie :-) But, hey, that's just my humble opinion. A lot happens in the book. And I can't believe the movie will express it all or as eloquently as Suzanne Collins did in her novel1
Enjoy,
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Pigeon Drop, Johnny Blade, Adverse Impact, Convicted, Third Ring, Tenth House, Mind Play -- and as Thomas Phillips, The Molech Prophecy
I am not opposed to reading Young Adult novels. Quite the contrary. I read plenty of them. Both best selling series, and individual titles (which include, naturally, the Harry Potter saga, and Twilight epidemic). When I saw my boss at work reading them, I thought -- there's gotta be something here. I mean, I looked the book up. I read the synopsis. And while it sounded so-so, I wasn't compelled.
Online I read the first chapter of the first book. It did not move me, immediately. I had a general sense what the story was, or so I thought. I kept picturing the popular short story, The Lottery. And, well, for the most part, it is comparable.
However, there is a lot more depth and character enrichment. As there should be. One is a short story. The other, a trilogy.
What I did then was order all three books on-line. (While my own novels are now mostly available for Kindle, I do not own a Kindle or Nook. And do not prefer reading books that way. Even though I have Kindle and Nook software on my iPhone, I cannot even for a moment understand the desire or need to read an entire novel on my cell...but that's just me, I guess. Old fashioned).
I found I could not wait for the books to arrive.
I am not going to summarize any of the stories in this blog. Way I see it, if you haven't heard of this best-selling trilogy, or at the very least, seen trailers for The Hunger Games movie due out in theaters in a week, then my taking you through the stories in a blog is pointless.
In hours I devoured the first book. At Christmas, my three kids and I became archers. When I say archers, I mean I invested in bows for the four of us. Joined a range where we can shoot target practice up to 30 yards. A wonderful indoor facility. We are not hunters. At all. Not sure I could shoot a deer, or even a turkey--unless survival depended on it. But the game of archery, the skill behind it, is challenge enough! We love it. Ah, but I digress. Where was I . . .?
I devoured the first book in hours. I think I felt a connection to Katniss and Gale. If, at first, for the simple fact that they hunted using the stealth of bows and arrows. But quickly, and I mean quickly, cared about them as characters. Especially Katniss.
Katniss, in my opinion, is the exact opposite of Bella.
You know who Bella is, right?? Please, do not make me explain.
Bella is the polar opposite of Katniss. The opposite end of the rainbow. Thank God.
While I suffered through Bella's teenage angst filling chapters with endless whining, Katniss compelled me to continue reading because of the abundance of strength, despite natural fear.
The three books caught me by surprise. Each ending left me wanting more -- having not guessed the final direction the books would take.
While Suzanne Collins was someone I never heard of, I know her now. She writes in a simple fashion. Despite a complex plot filled with politics and levels of altered states, it is easy to follow. The picture she paints with her words is crisp and concise.
I have not seen the movie(s). But will. I only hope they are not destroyed the way I felt the Twilight movies desecrated the novels. Already, however, and sadly, some of the characters casted in the film are so far off from what my imagination imagined ... it is going to be difficulty for me to fully enjoy the movie. For example, Rue. The actress portraying Rue -- not what I pictured. At all.
Alas, the book is always better than the movie.
My recommendation -- at the very least, read The Hunger Games before seeing the movie :-) But, hey, that's just my humble opinion. A lot happens in the book. And I can't believe the movie will express it all or as eloquently as Suzanne Collins did in her novel1
Enjoy,
Phillip Tomasso
Author of Pigeon Drop, Johnny Blade, Adverse Impact, Convicted, Third Ring, Tenth House, Mind Play -- and as Thomas Phillips, The Molech Prophecy
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Live Blog: The Walking Dead: 02-12-2012
Stop back here tonight. I will be blogging live during the premiere of tonight's Walking Dead. Please post comments, questions, and repost as much as you want. Otherwise, see you back here soon!
I will start this off with: Who is your favorite character, and why?
And, were you shocked with who came out of the barn, and what happened right after? Or did you see it coming?
You can also read my zombie short story, Vaccination, while you wait for tonight's mid-season premiere!
Walking Dead 1st premiered on October 31, 2010 and voted the “Best Television Series Drama at the 68th Golden Globe Awards.”
Cast of Main Characters:
Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln)
Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies)
Carl Grimes – son of Rick and Lori (Chandler Riggs)
Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal)
Andrea (Laurie Holden)
Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn)
Glenn (Steven Yeun)
Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus)
Carol (Sophia's mother)
Sophia (Carol's daughter)
Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson)
Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan)
OK... Here we go ...
Season Finale -- Shane tries to take matters into his own hands. But it is Rick Grimes who steps up and handles the situation.
And the new mid-season opens where the old one ended ...
Friends and family members slaughtered as the exit the barn. Andrea drives a sickle through the head of a young girl's mother ...
Shane is pissed off that the farmers, the Greene's, new Sophia was in the barn...His temper gets them thrown off the land, despite Lori being pregnant.
Then Shane turns his anger on Rick--blaming Rick for putting everyone in danger to search for a little girl "that everyone of" them knew "was dead!"
I think, too it is time for them to move on from the farm. It served its purpose for the opening episodes in late 2011. With Carl getting shot. Letting Glen meet a woman to fall in love with. The barn was clearly the climax. And worked. Everything built to the barn. And to finding Sophia.
It's time to get back on the road. Time to start a new trek towards a new unknown destination. There is almost too much safety at the Greene farm. Too much normalcy. Bury the dead and get rolling!
The tension is thick. Building tight and hard between Shane and Dale. Shane's character is in terrible inner turmoil. Does it all stem from his relationship with Rick's wife? His inability to let go? To move forward? Is it justified? Maybe in the non-apocalyptical world, no. But based on all that has happened? I say yes. Shane's character is as borderline insane as the rest, with just enough additional doses of his own nightmare to tip him over the edge.
Burn the bodies of the dead. Bury the ones you know. Burn the rest. That's what Andrea said. And that's what they plan to do. Andrea has changed. A lot. Retrieving a severed arm and throwing it into the back of the pick up before jumping in after to sit among the piled corpses? Oh yeah. She is far from the same suicidal "victim" she'd been in Season 1.
And where in the world did Hershel go? Why would he pack his bags and leave? For booze?
Maggie's not going to let Glen go. Worried about his "team" bossing him around, does she see that her saying, "No", is as de-masculating?
So who is Shane trying to hook up with. Andrea still? Or Carol?
I like Dale. But he gets under my skin. Too righteous. Although--he might be right. Shane is out of control. We did all see what happened at the end of 2011. Shane and Otis were on a run. Going for medical supplies. Carl's life hung in the balance. When surrounded by zombies, with no way out, Shane did sacrifice Otis. Left him as bait so that he could escape. And escape he did. It was a pivotal point for Shane's character.
So Glen is "allowed" to go with Rick. Good for him. And, this may be thie first time Glen and Rick have had some time alone. Poor Glen-- he'd only ever told his mother that he loved her. He left Maggie hanging. She confessed her love, and he chickened out.
Overall, I like Glen. He played a great roll in 2011.
Showing more of the Greene family in this episode. With the exception of Otis, who Shane killed, Maggie and Hershel, I really don't know much about them. Beth? Bess? She's in shock over seeing her mother skull-stabbed.
And Daryl is "done looking for people". Is he? Is he really? Or is he, too unraveling. Why wouldn't he be? His brother was possibly killed in Season 1. He feels shuned by the others becuase he's clearly a redneck. He wants to love, but holds back.
Hershel's drinking. And Beth--yes, it was Beth, not Bess--needs him. Holding out for hope, Hershel realizes hope is a sham. "A bait and switch."
...And here we go -- 39 minutes in -- and some action. Lori is driving. Where? No idea. Maybe into town to find Rick and Glen. Is she distraught over Dale's news that Shane is crazy? When a zombie steps out into the street while (cliche) Lori consults a map. (It's a one-horse town. Not sure why a map is needed). She strikes the zombie -- or maybe he wasn't one, and rolls the vehicle. (Will she be okay? Will the baby growing inside her? Grrrr ... commercial ... great!)
...And back to the bar. Back to obvious talk, about the obvious lack of hope. Sophia stepping out of the bar with her sluggish, jerking walk, milky white dead eyes and growling was all the prove Rick, Hershel and perhaps everyone else needed to prove ... Hope is dead.
Who is this? Two more men looking for Last Call? (Were the men who entered the bar, disrupting a hopeless conversation betwen Hershel and Rick from early episodes -- like from Season 1? I couldn't see them close enough. I don't think so. I think--I hope, a new "clan" is being added to the mix. But I still want to see what happened to the group huddled behind closed doors -- the armed men, protecting a community of elderly and sick. Remember them? Remember Rick gave them half the guns he'd come across? What happened to them?
What about Lorie. Remember at 39 minutes in she crashed? Rolled her car?
Only ten minutes left! What will the cliff hanger be?
I don't trust Dave. Dave from Philly. Dave and Tony. The new guy that walked into the bar. Not at all.
Stole a gun off a dead cop.
Dave talks about everyone's rumors towards salvation. Coast Guard, Nebraska.
Fort Benning. Rick's plan. Rick's rumor.
Dave shoots it down. Lame-Brains runing the show. Go from pipedream to pipedream.
Ah, but Dave asks too many questions.
And yes. Tony is urinating in the corner of the bar.
It's coming. I feel it. Gun fight. A saloon brawl!
Dave seems sensative. Ready to pop. Living out of cars. Trying to connect. Trying to level experiences.
Rick ain't buying it.
Friends having a drink? That's what Dave wants everyone to believe.
Even innocent Glen--youg Glen who's in love but won't admit it--is apprehensive.
Not appreciating Rick's advice to keep looking, Dave goes for his gun.
But there is no out-drawing the New Sheriff in town. Officer Rick Grimes.
He draws and fires and blows Dave away. And puts two holes into the swollen gut of Tony.
...Meanwhile, back at the farm (always wanted to write that) ...
Bodies of the infected burn ...
... But what about Lori? Not a thing. Not a frame of an update!!! I guess that is the cliff hanger. Have to wait until next Sunday to check in, and check up on Lori's condition.
Hope you'll join me then!
(Please, leave comments, questions, feedback, whatever!)
--Phillip Tomasso
Author of (now for Kindle) Pigeon Drop, Adverse Impact, Johnny Blade, Third Ring, Vaccination
I will start this off with: Who is your favorite character, and why?
And, were you shocked with who came out of the barn, and what happened right after? Or did you see it coming?
You can also read my zombie short story, Vaccination, while you wait for tonight's mid-season premiere!
Walking Dead 1st premiered on October 31, 2010 and voted the “Best Television Series Drama at the 68th Golden Globe Awards.”
Cast of Main Characters:
Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln)
Lori Grimes (Sarah Wayne Callies)
Carl Grimes – son of Rick and Lori (Chandler Riggs)
Shane Walsh (Jon Bernthal)
Andrea (Laurie Holden)
Dale (Jeffrey DeMunn)
Glenn (Steven Yeun)
Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus)
Carol (Sophia's mother)
Sophia (Carol's daughter)
Hershel Greene (Scott Wilson)
Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan)
OK... Here we go ...
Season Finale -- Shane tries to take matters into his own hands. But it is Rick Grimes who steps up and handles the situation.
And the new mid-season opens where the old one ended ...
Friends and family members slaughtered as the exit the barn. Andrea drives a sickle through the head of a young girl's mother ...
Shane is pissed off that the farmers, the Greene's, new Sophia was in the barn...His temper gets them thrown off the land, despite Lori being pregnant.
Then Shane turns his anger on Rick--blaming Rick for putting everyone in danger to search for a little girl "that everyone of" them knew "was dead!"
I think, too it is time for them to move on from the farm. It served its purpose for the opening episodes in late 2011. With Carl getting shot. Letting Glen meet a woman to fall in love with. The barn was clearly the climax. And worked. Everything built to the barn. And to finding Sophia.
It's time to get back on the road. Time to start a new trek towards a new unknown destination. There is almost too much safety at the Greene farm. Too much normalcy. Bury the dead and get rolling!
The tension is thick. Building tight and hard between Shane and Dale. Shane's character is in terrible inner turmoil. Does it all stem from his relationship with Rick's wife? His inability to let go? To move forward? Is it justified? Maybe in the non-apocalyptical world, no. But based on all that has happened? I say yes. Shane's character is as borderline insane as the rest, with just enough additional doses of his own nightmare to tip him over the edge.
Burn the bodies of the dead. Bury the ones you know. Burn the rest. That's what Andrea said. And that's what they plan to do. Andrea has changed. A lot. Retrieving a severed arm and throwing it into the back of the pick up before jumping in after to sit among the piled corpses? Oh yeah. She is far from the same suicidal "victim" she'd been in Season 1.
And where in the world did Hershel go? Why would he pack his bags and leave? For booze?
Maggie's not going to let Glen go. Worried about his "team" bossing him around, does she see that her saying, "No", is as de-masculating?
So who is Shane trying to hook up with. Andrea still? Or Carol?
I like Dale. But he gets under my skin. Too righteous. Although--he might be right. Shane is out of control. We did all see what happened at the end of 2011. Shane and Otis were on a run. Going for medical supplies. Carl's life hung in the balance. When surrounded by zombies, with no way out, Shane did sacrifice Otis. Left him as bait so that he could escape. And escape he did. It was a pivotal point for Shane's character.
So Glen is "allowed" to go with Rick. Good for him. And, this may be thie first time Glen and Rick have had some time alone. Poor Glen-- he'd only ever told his mother that he loved her. He left Maggie hanging. She confessed her love, and he chickened out.
Overall, I like Glen. He played a great roll in 2011.
Showing more of the Greene family in this episode. With the exception of Otis, who Shane killed, Maggie and Hershel, I really don't know much about them. Beth? Bess? She's in shock over seeing her mother skull-stabbed.
And Daryl is "done looking for people". Is he? Is he really? Or is he, too unraveling. Why wouldn't he be? His brother was possibly killed in Season 1. He feels shuned by the others becuase he's clearly a redneck. He wants to love, but holds back.
Hershel's drinking. And Beth--yes, it was Beth, not Bess--needs him. Holding out for hope, Hershel realizes hope is a sham. "A bait and switch."
...And here we go -- 39 minutes in -- and some action. Lori is driving. Where? No idea. Maybe into town to find Rick and Glen. Is she distraught over Dale's news that Shane is crazy? When a zombie steps out into the street while (cliche) Lori consults a map. (It's a one-horse town. Not sure why a map is needed). She strikes the zombie -- or maybe he wasn't one, and rolls the vehicle. (Will she be okay? Will the baby growing inside her? Grrrr ... commercial ... great!)
...And back to the bar. Back to obvious talk, about the obvious lack of hope. Sophia stepping out of the bar with her sluggish, jerking walk, milky white dead eyes and growling was all the prove Rick, Hershel and perhaps everyone else needed to prove ... Hope is dead.
Who is this? Two more men looking for Last Call? (Were the men who entered the bar, disrupting a hopeless conversation betwen Hershel and Rick from early episodes -- like from Season 1? I couldn't see them close enough. I don't think so. I think--I hope, a new "clan" is being added to the mix. But I still want to see what happened to the group huddled behind closed doors -- the armed men, protecting a community of elderly and sick. Remember them? Remember Rick gave them half the guns he'd come across? What happened to them?
What about Lorie. Remember at 39 minutes in she crashed? Rolled her car?
Only ten minutes left! What will the cliff hanger be?
I don't trust Dave. Dave from Philly. Dave and Tony. The new guy that walked into the bar. Not at all.
Stole a gun off a dead cop.
Dave talks about everyone's rumors towards salvation. Coast Guard, Nebraska.
Fort Benning. Rick's plan. Rick's rumor.
Dave shoots it down. Lame-Brains runing the show. Go from pipedream to pipedream.
Ah, but Dave asks too many questions.
And yes. Tony is urinating in the corner of the bar.
It's coming. I feel it. Gun fight. A saloon brawl!
Dave seems sensative. Ready to pop. Living out of cars. Trying to connect. Trying to level experiences.
Rick ain't buying it.
Friends having a drink? That's what Dave wants everyone to believe.
Even innocent Glen--youg Glen who's in love but won't admit it--is apprehensive.
Not appreciating Rick's advice to keep looking, Dave goes for his gun.
But there is no out-drawing the New Sheriff in town. Officer Rick Grimes.
He draws and fires and blows Dave away. And puts two holes into the swollen gut of Tony.
...Meanwhile, back at the farm (always wanted to write that) ...
Bodies of the infected burn ...
... But what about Lori? Not a thing. Not a frame of an update!!! I guess that is the cliff hanger. Have to wait until next Sunday to check in, and check up on Lori's condition.
Hope you'll join me then!
(Please, leave comments, questions, feedback, whatever!)
--Phillip Tomasso
Author of (now for Kindle) Pigeon Drop, Adverse Impact, Johnny Blade, Third Ring, Vaccination
Sunday, January 22, 2012
BLUE--All Things Blue
No idea when, or how it started. Goes back to the beginning, best I can recall. My beginning. Not the over all beginning. I couldn't know that, but suspect--however--that it just might be so. That it might date back, all the way back to the beginning. Of time, that is.
See, I don't eat or drink anything that is blue.It sounds silly, crazy, ludicrous, whatever. It is what it is. If something is blue, I won't eat it. Won't drink it. It's more like, actually, I can't. The thought of doing so makes me gag. Choke.
I once opened a watermelon dum-dum sucker. Stuffed that bad boy right into my mouth. I was talking. Not paying attention. The candy tasted awesome. Loved it. When I took a breath from whatever long-winded tale I was spinning, I removed the stick from my mouth, and my eyes opened wide. The ball of hard candy at the end was blue. Blue! It's watermelon flavored. When was the last time you saw a blue watermelon? Green rind. Red inside. Wet. Juicy. Black seeds. But blue? Blue?
I threw out the dum-dum, and picked up the garbage pail. Held it under my face. I thought I might hurl. Didn't want to vomit in front of everyone. Wasn't sure I could help it. The thing was blue!
Let's not get me all wrong. Blue is actually my favorite color. I'm a NY Yankees fan. How could I not love blue? When it comes to food and drinks. Blue is out.
And I feel the loss.
In the summer, blue Gatorade looks so damned refreshing.
Birthday cakes, cupcakes are almost always decorated in blue frosting, or highlighted with blue frosting, spoiling the entire baked treat for me, myself and I.
You think I'm kidding, right? Just needed a spoof for a funny blog.
Not so. Not so at all.
Facebook has a Blue Food Phobia page. Oh yeah. I joined. Didn't even realize it existed until I decided to write this blog.
Found this on the Internet:
"It is hard to find natural food with blue color, because mother nature does not produce blue food. Blue is said to be an appetite suppressant. Color greatly affects our hunger."--Takako Hara, "Hunger and Eating". California State University, Northridge/Spring 1997
I don't think the color has anything to do with appetite. If you know me, you know my appetite is hardly suppressed. Regardless, maybe blue does something to me. Affects me.
I don't have any clear direction for this blog. I am just -- hoping, to share with everyone -- trying to explain that blue food, blue drinks ... in short, they suck. I don't want to see them. Taste them. I do not want to drink them. Eat them.
Simply put, if I dated Smurfette -- she'd be one very unsatisfied girlfriend. See what I'm saying?
All right! Enjoy!
--Phillip Tomasso
Check out my books on Amazon!
Follow me on Twitter!
See, I don't eat or drink anything that is blue.It sounds silly, crazy, ludicrous, whatever. It is what it is. If something is blue, I won't eat it. Won't drink it. It's more like, actually, I can't. The thought of doing so makes me gag. Choke.
I once opened a watermelon dum-dum sucker. Stuffed that bad boy right into my mouth. I was talking. Not paying attention. The candy tasted awesome. Loved it. When I took a breath from whatever long-winded tale I was spinning, I removed the stick from my mouth, and my eyes opened wide. The ball of hard candy at the end was blue. Blue! It's watermelon flavored. When was the last time you saw a blue watermelon? Green rind. Red inside. Wet. Juicy. Black seeds. But blue? Blue?
I threw out the dum-dum, and picked up the garbage pail. Held it under my face. I thought I might hurl. Didn't want to vomit in front of everyone. Wasn't sure I could help it. The thing was blue!
Let's not get me all wrong. Blue is actually my favorite color. I'm a NY Yankees fan. How could I not love blue? When it comes to food and drinks. Blue is out.
And I feel the loss.
In the summer, blue Gatorade looks so damned refreshing.
Birthday cakes, cupcakes are almost always decorated in blue frosting, or highlighted with blue frosting, spoiling the entire baked treat for me, myself and I.
You think I'm kidding, right? Just needed a spoof for a funny blog.
Not so. Not so at all.
Facebook has a Blue Food Phobia page. Oh yeah. I joined. Didn't even realize it existed until I decided to write this blog.
Found this on the Internet:
"It is hard to find natural food with blue color, because mother nature does not produce blue food. Blue is said to be an appetite suppressant. Color greatly affects our hunger."--Takako Hara, "Hunger and Eating". California State University, Northridge/Spring 1997
I don't think the color has anything to do with appetite. If you know me, you know my appetite is hardly suppressed. Regardless, maybe blue does something to me. Affects me.
I don't have any clear direction for this blog. I am just -- hoping, to share with everyone -- trying to explain that blue food, blue drinks ... in short, they suck. I don't want to see them. Taste them. I do not want to drink them. Eat them.
Simply put, if I dated Smurfette -- she'd be one very unsatisfied girlfriend. See what I'm saying?
All right! Enjoy!
--Phillip Tomasso
Check out my books on Amazon!
Follow me on Twitter!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
On Writing . . . I Suppose
I don't know. Been having a rough time with writing. Not the actual writing part. But watching everything change in the publishing world. Not easy. Never has been. But, I guess like Kodak, I am still not comfortable with the digital world. I prefer paperbacks and hardcover novels as opposed to electronic Kindles, and Nooks.
A good friend let me borrow her Nook so I could read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo before the movie came out. She actually had the entire series on there. Didn't mind how long it took me to read them. I kept her Kindle for almost three months and barely read any of the first book. Just couldn't get into it.
Ironically, a few months back, many of my older novels were re-released electronically for Kindle. Including two new novels. Convicted and Pigeon Drop.
I am hard at work on two new novels. One is a zombie horror story, based on my recently published short story, Vaccination. The other is the third installment in the Nicholas Tartaglia series (Tenth House, Third Ring) that I am calling First Fragments.
The goal is to continually write new blogs. Ones that I hope my friends and family, and new followers, will re-post on Facebook, and Twitter, and share with anyone and everyone they can possibly share information with -- which shouldn't be asking too much, now should it?
You all have a great day. I need to get back to writing!
For My Books on Kindle Click The Link
A good friend let me borrow her Nook so I could read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo before the movie came out. She actually had the entire series on there. Didn't mind how long it took me to read them. I kept her Kindle for almost three months and barely read any of the first book. Just couldn't get into it.
Ironically, a few months back, many of my older novels were re-released electronically for Kindle. Including two new novels. Convicted and Pigeon Drop.
I am hard at work on two new novels. One is a zombie horror story, based on my recently published short story, Vaccination. The other is the third installment in the Nicholas Tartaglia series (Tenth House, Third Ring) that I am calling First Fragments.
The goal is to continually write new blogs. Ones that I hope my friends and family, and new followers, will re-post on Facebook, and Twitter, and share with anyone and everyone they can possibly share information with -- which shouldn't be asking too much, now should it?
You all have a great day. I need to get back to writing!
For My Books on Kindle Click The Link
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Short South Bend Story
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You all have no idea who I am. Not for real. I know that.
Well, my last novel was published in 2007. Wow. Has it been that long? It has. Pathetic.
Anyway, the publisher booked me on a live morning television talk show. One of those Good Morning America types, without the ratings, or viewership.
I packed a bag. Went to the airport and and flew, first to Chicago, and then over to Indiana.
A limo met me at the tiny airport. And by limo, I mean black Lincoln Town car. The driver held up a sign.
It would have been really cool if more than three people were in the airport.
I stayed at a hotel not far from Notre Dame's campus. In fact, I was told it was walking distance from the hotel.
Seeing the campus would have been awesome, I imagine. But by the time I arrived at the hotel it was nearly 7:00 PM. It felt like it was ten below zero. Everything was frozen solid. I wasn't going to walk--I didn't have clothing for it. I had a leather coat and jeans, that I came in, and a suit for the show in the morning.
Instead, I found a Chinese place that delivered, and watched television in my room.
I did the show the next morning. It went all right. Was cool being on the set of a morning show. The background was just that, background. The set sat in the center of an almost black-wall warehouse. Camera's and cables all over the place.
This isn't a blog about the show, though. Not even a blog to promote my novel -- because you don't know who I am. But a blog about going home.
Ah yes, going home.
After my interview a taxi whisked me back to the airport. This was awful, actually. It was barely 9:00 AM, and my flight wasn't until noon.
But it didn't make sense to go back to the hotel.
I had a book with me. Figured I'd get some coffee, lunch, sit and read while I waited.
So I get back to this tiny airport -- which resembled the airport on the old TV show WINGS, more than a real airport. But I am not well traveled. Maybe the was the norm. Rochester International Airport is a good size, but it resembles a ghost town any time I've been in there ... But I digress.
I buy a sandwich at the ONLY open sandwich place -- and pay Airport prices for it, despite airport size -- and find a comfortable chair among the three in the lounge. Reading is going well. Eating, equally well. And then I look at the time. Still over three hours till my flight.
I think.
My plane tickets are my bookmark for the novel I'm reading.
I look at them.
Hmmm. Seems I am going to fly out of Indiana at 12:20. Won't get back to Rochester until almost 5:00 PM. Have a stop with another couple hours lay-over in Chicago.
I would arrive in Chicago at ... 12:05.
My stomach drops. My PR person at the publisher messed up my flight. Thank God I found the error!
I gather my things and wheel my suitcase up to the airline counter.
The woman behind the desk smiles. "How can I help you, sir?"
Maybe I am tired. I know I am upset with my publisher. Either way, I feel this entitles me to sarcasm.
With that entitlement, I ask, "Ah, yes. My ticket says my plane leaves here at 12:20 and will then land in Chicago fifteen minutes before it even takes off. I only have some college, but I am not sure how is that even possible?"
Without missing a beat, the woman -- still giving me that big smile -- says, "You fly through a time zone ... sir."
Hmmm. A little added emphasis on, sir?
Ah-yeah. I heard it. Deserved it.
It was the longest ten yard walk from the counter back to the chair I'd been sitting in.
Only now, I don't want to sit there. I want to hide. Sit someplace else.
Guess what? There is no where else. Think WINGS. One sofa. A few chairs. I'm waiting for Tony Shalhoub to walk in, partly as Monk, partly as a Taxi driver ... whatever.
So then, just as I sit. Just as I open my book and use it as a hand-held wall to block the woman at counter from seeing the red in my face ... I hear, "Sir? Excuse me, sir?"
I slowly lower the book. Eyes dart around. Trying to find out, One--is someone talking to me? Seems logical, since I'm the only one here. (Di Nero anyone? Anyone? No? Ok?) And Two--if someone is talking to me, then who is it?
But I know, One, someone was talking to me, and Two, who it was.
I recognized the voice. Last thing it said to me was ... "sirrrrr". Hard to forget.
"Ah, yes?" I say. Stand. Set my book down.
"We can get you on a flight to Chicago. Leaves in twenty minutes, and then a flight from Chicago to Rochester -- have you in Rochester by 2:00 PM, if you'd like?" Smile is still there. It might have been painted on. I am not sure I saw her lips move when she spoke.
"Um. Yes. Okay. Ah-yeah. That would be great." Then I became Jerry Lewis.
I went up to the counter.
"I need your tickets, sir."
I spin around. Hands pat my shirt. There is only a breast pocket. I pat my dress pants. Nothing.
I smile at the woman. And spin again. A One-Eighty. The tickets are sticking out of my book. I walk toward over, slide them out from between the pages. Head back, hand them over to the woman.
"And your suitcase?" She says.
I try to smile. "Of course."
For whatever reason -- maybe because I was too fucking stupid to recognize time zones -- I pat my shirt.
No suitcase in that breast pocket.
I go back and get my suitcase. Wheel it over. Smile.
I smile, not to be friendly. But because my book and suit coat are still over on the chair. I have to head back there a third time.
I will not spin, I think. I will not spin.
I wait until she tells me I am all set, hands me my new tickets with instructions to Gate 1, because best I can recall -- that was the only gate and I can see it from where I am -- but I sure as shit am not going to say anything sarcastic. No way!
That is when I return to the lounge for my book and suit coat, and I wave and thank the woman as I head to Gate 1, anxious to be home, but thankful to be out of Indiana's airport!
Hey you know what? That's the end of the blog!
Sincerely,
Phillip Tomasso
Well, my last novel was published in 2007. Wow. Has it been that long? It has. Pathetic.
Anyway, the publisher booked me on a live morning television talk show. One of those Good Morning America types, without the ratings, or viewership.
I packed a bag. Went to the airport and and flew, first to Chicago, and then over to Indiana.
A limo met me at the tiny airport. And by limo, I mean black Lincoln Town car. The driver held up a sign.
It would have been really cool if more than three people were in the airport.
I stayed at a hotel not far from Notre Dame's campus. In fact, I was told it was walking distance from the hotel.
Seeing the campus would have been awesome, I imagine. But by the time I arrived at the hotel it was nearly 7:00 PM. It felt like it was ten below zero. Everything was frozen solid. I wasn't going to walk--I didn't have clothing for it. I had a leather coat and jeans, that I came in, and a suit for the show in the morning.
Instead, I found a Chinese place that delivered, and watched television in my room.
I did the show the next morning. It went all right. Was cool being on the set of a morning show. The background was just that, background. The set sat in the center of an almost black-wall warehouse. Camera's and cables all over the place.
This isn't a blog about the show, though. Not even a blog to promote my novel -- because you don't know who I am. But a blog about going home.
Ah yes, going home.
After my interview a taxi whisked me back to the airport. This was awful, actually. It was barely 9:00 AM, and my flight wasn't until noon.
But it didn't make sense to go back to the hotel.
I had a book with me. Figured I'd get some coffee, lunch, sit and read while I waited.
So I get back to this tiny airport -- which resembled the airport on the old TV show WINGS, more than a real airport. But I am not well traveled. Maybe the was the norm. Rochester International Airport is a good size, but it resembles a ghost town any time I've been in there ... But I digress.
I buy a sandwich at the ONLY open sandwich place -- and pay Airport prices for it, despite airport size -- and find a comfortable chair among the three in the lounge. Reading is going well. Eating, equally well. And then I look at the time. Still over three hours till my flight.
I think.
My plane tickets are my bookmark for the novel I'm reading.
I look at them.
Hmmm. Seems I am going to fly out of Indiana at 12:20. Won't get back to Rochester until almost 5:00 PM. Have a stop with another couple hours lay-over in Chicago.
I would arrive in Chicago at ... 12:05.
My stomach drops. My PR person at the publisher messed up my flight. Thank God I found the error!
I gather my things and wheel my suitcase up to the airline counter.
The woman behind the desk smiles. "How can I help you, sir?"
Maybe I am tired. I know I am upset with my publisher. Either way, I feel this entitles me to sarcasm.
With that entitlement, I ask, "Ah, yes. My ticket says my plane leaves here at 12:20 and will then land in Chicago fifteen minutes before it even takes off. I only have some college, but I am not sure how is that even possible?"
Without missing a beat, the woman -- still giving me that big smile -- says, "You fly through a time zone ... sir."
Hmmm. A little added emphasis on, sir?
Ah-yeah. I heard it. Deserved it.
It was the longest ten yard walk from the counter back to the chair I'd been sitting in.
Only now, I don't want to sit there. I want to hide. Sit someplace else.
Guess what? There is no where else. Think WINGS. One sofa. A few chairs. I'm waiting for Tony Shalhoub to walk in, partly as Monk, partly as a Taxi driver ... whatever.
So then, just as I sit. Just as I open my book and use it as a hand-held wall to block the woman at counter from seeing the red in my face ... I hear, "Sir? Excuse me, sir?"
I slowly lower the book. Eyes dart around. Trying to find out, One--is someone talking to me? Seems logical, since I'm the only one here. (Di Nero anyone? Anyone? No? Ok?) And Two--if someone is talking to me, then who is it?
But I know, One, someone was talking to me, and Two, who it was.
I recognized the voice. Last thing it said to me was ... "sirrrrr". Hard to forget.
"Ah, yes?" I say. Stand. Set my book down.
"We can get you on a flight to Chicago. Leaves in twenty minutes, and then a flight from Chicago to Rochester -- have you in Rochester by 2:00 PM, if you'd like?" Smile is still there. It might have been painted on. I am not sure I saw her lips move when she spoke.
"Um. Yes. Okay. Ah-yeah. That would be great." Then I became Jerry Lewis.
I went up to the counter.
"I need your tickets, sir."
I spin around. Hands pat my shirt. There is only a breast pocket. I pat my dress pants. Nothing.
I smile at the woman. And spin again. A One-Eighty. The tickets are sticking out of my book. I walk toward over, slide them out from between the pages. Head back, hand them over to the woman.
"And your suitcase?" She says.
I try to smile. "Of course."
For whatever reason -- maybe because I was too fucking stupid to recognize time zones -- I pat my shirt.
No suitcase in that breast pocket.
I go back and get my suitcase. Wheel it over. Smile.
I smile, not to be friendly. But because my book and suit coat are still over on the chair. I have to head back there a third time.
I will not spin, I think. I will not spin.
I wait until she tells me I am all set, hands me my new tickets with instructions to Gate 1, because best I can recall -- that was the only gate and I can see it from where I am -- but I sure as shit am not going to say anything sarcastic. No way!
That is when I return to the lounge for my book and suit coat, and I wave and thank the woman as I head to Gate 1, anxious to be home, but thankful to be out of Indiana's airport!
Hey you know what? That's the end of the blog!
Sincerely,
Phillip Tomasso
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