Just finished watching another episode of 'Game of Thrones'. This is one show I'm glad I started watching. It is a bit confusing sometimes, to keep all the names straight, but nevertheless, it is a great show. Plenty of action, intrigue, erotica, and a good story. The ending of tonight's episode was surprising and I can't wait for the continuation. It is fantasy, to be sure, but it isn't any different than watching a movie about knights and kings from hundreds of years ago. Certainly a wonderful change from all the cop-shows and CSI shows. Or even all those reality shows.
The Borgias has come to an end. My wife and I really enjoyed that one also. That was not fantasy but taken from history. A bit of an eye opener about the corruption in the church and the power-play and politics that goes on, probably still to this day. Makes one wonder if the religious leaders truly believe what they preach or if they are only in it for the power and prestige their positions bring.
By the way, I've written around 22,000 words in my new novel so far. Right now it has the title 'Conspiracy', but that will change once the story is finished.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thunder and Lightening
Talk about Mother Nature. We had quite some hail today. Our lawn was covered with ice-pellets. A small mountain stayed on the grass for hours after the storm was over. Some of the flowers on the flowerbeds were damaged, but they'll grow back. Luckily, I haven't planted my garden yet, otherwise I'd be singing the blues right now, lamenting the loss of my tomato and pepper plants, but they are still patiently waiting to be planted...safe in their little pots. That is always part of my fear after planting my garden...hail.
Apparently, a tornado touched down in St. Adolph, but no damage was done. Crazy weather. Another system is supposed to move in for Monday.
Apparently, a tornado touched down in St. Adolph, but no damage was done. Crazy weather. Another system is supposed to move in for Monday.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Where is Summer?
Last night we had minus 3 Celsius. Been covering up our flowers for the last three nights, but tonight the low temperature will be 7 plus. We saw our first hummingbird at the feeder today. We hung out the feeder last week. The North American Finches have been here for a while now. They probably are wondering where the warm weather is. The chokecherry tree is is full bloom as is the crab-apple tree. Maybe next week it will be warm enough so I can plant my tomatoes, peppers, and seed my garden. The summer and the growing season are so short. There isn't much time for things to grow. But we shouldn't complain. So many parts of Manitoba are under water, people have lost their houses and cottages. And all the tornadoes in the US. Terrible. So much property destroyed and so many people killed. One wonders what is going on. Mother Nature is a strong force and we are nothing but puppets and toys when she unleashes her powers and lets them run rampant.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Orola, Warrior Priestess
It seems yahoo does not put the whole link onto my posts or perhaps it is the Amazon site itself, because the link published on the post takes you to the Amazon Kindle ad site.
Well, anyway, anyone interested please, follow this link to get to my books at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1243894445/ref=sr_nr_af_1?ie=UTF8&field-is-available-new=1&rs=&sort=relevancerank&unfiltered=1&rh=n%3A!1000%2Ci%3Astripbooks%2Cp_27%3AHerbert%20Grosshans
Well, anyway, anyone interested please, follow this link to get to my books at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1243894445/ref=sr_nr_af_1?ie=UTF8&field-is-available-new=1&rs=&sort=relevancerank&unfiltered=1&rh=n%3A!1000%2Ci%3Astripbooks%2Cp_27%3AHerbert%20Grosshans
Orion on Kindle
Orion, Symbiont of Passion is available now from Amazon on Kindle. Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1243894445/ref=sr_nr_af_1?ie=UTF8&field-is-available-new=1&rs=&sort=relevancerank&unfiltered=1&rh=n%3A!1000%2Ci%3Astripbooks%2Cp_27%3AHerbert%20Grosshans
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1243894445/ref=sr_nr_af_1?ie=UTF8&field-is-available-new=1&rs=&sort=relevancerank&unfiltered=1&rh=n%3A!1000%2Ci%3Astripbooks%2Cp_27%3AHerbert%20Grosshans
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Cancelled TV shows
I just saw the list of cancelled Television shows and it sucks. It seems all the shows I’ve been watching won’t return.
The Chicago Code. One of the best Crime dramas in a long time. Cancelled.
The Event. Loved the show. Cancelled.
V. I thought it was great. Good drama, no stupid jokes (the same in the above shows). Cancelled.
Medium. It’s been running for a long time and my wife didn’t care for it anymore. I still liked it. Cancelled.
Off the Map. A quirky show about doctors in the jungle. We enjoyed it. Good acting and action. Cancelled.
Shit, my Father says. Cancelled. Too bad. I like William Shatner and I thought he was funny in the show, even though a bit crude, but that was his character in the show.
Fortunately, another of our favorite shows, The Vampire Diaries, is coming back. Thank goodness for small favors.
We’ve been watching ‘The Borgias’ and ‘Game of Thrones’. Those are two great shows. Plenty of action, intrigue, erotica, and no stupid jokes. I hate those shows with stupid jokes, especially when the shows are serious dramas.
If I want to watch comedy I will, like Mike and Molly, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory. We love those and hope they are coming back. We used to watch 2 ½ men, but it was beginning to get lame. Maybe the new show with Ashton Kutcher will breathe new life into it. However, I have a feeling it won’t be the same without Charlie Sheen.
The Chicago Code. One of the best Crime dramas in a long time. Cancelled.
The Event. Loved the show. Cancelled.
V. I thought it was great. Good drama, no stupid jokes (the same in the above shows). Cancelled.
Medium. It’s been running for a long time and my wife didn’t care for it anymore. I still liked it. Cancelled.
Off the Map. A quirky show about doctors in the jungle. We enjoyed it. Good acting and action. Cancelled.
Shit, my Father says. Cancelled. Too bad. I like William Shatner and I thought he was funny in the show, even though a bit crude, but that was his character in the show.
Fortunately, another of our favorite shows, The Vampire Diaries, is coming back. Thank goodness for small favors.
We’ve been watching ‘The Borgias’ and ‘Game of Thrones’. Those are two great shows. Plenty of action, intrigue, erotica, and no stupid jokes. I hate those shows with stupid jokes, especially when the shows are serious dramas.
If I want to watch comedy I will, like Mike and Molly, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory. We love those and hope they are coming back. We used to watch 2 ½ men, but it was beginning to get lame. Maybe the new show with Ashton Kutcher will breathe new life into it. However, I have a feeling it won’t be the same without Charlie Sheen.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The End of the World
Unbelievable! It is always amazing how many coots and idiots live among us. How many times has somebody predicted the End of the World? It seems they haven’t learned yet because they keep popping up. This evangelist spent his entire retirement fund ($144,000.00) to announce on billboards that Judgment Day is on May 21st, 2011 (Yesterday). It was supposed to start with an earthquake and then continue around the world every hour with another one until the Earth was destroyed. Well…we are still here. What is he going to do now? Ask for donations from the other idiots who believed him? Perhaps some day one of these Doomsday-Sayers will get it right, who knows.
I remember quite a number of years ago, one of these ‘prophets’ gathered all of his followers on top of a mountain and waited for Jesus to pick them up. They gave away all of their possessions. Imagine how they felt when nobody came to pick them up and now they had no place to return to. Maybe they are still waiting... How can anyone feel sorry for them?
History is full of stories like that. It seems, people never learn. I am always puzzled that there is no shortage of people who believe these charlatans. If they don’t wait for somebody to physically take them to a better world, they commit suicide to speed up the process. Are people really that dumb or ignorant?
Unfortunately, the answer is Yes. One only has to look at the religions on this planet, the big, so-called ‘True’ religions and the cults, the smaller groups. What do they actually believe? They believe that there exists a better world than the one we live in. They believe the world will be destroyed some day and all the faithful will be saved and taken to this better world. It's a wonderful dream. Most of us dream of a better world. Is it because this one is so bad? Who is to blame for this bad world we live in? Why would the next one be better when everyone who makes this one bad will also be there? Wouldn’t it be better to try to make the one we have a better place instead of dreaming about a fantasy world that may not exist?
Something to think about.
The Mayans predict the end of ‘the world we know’ will happen in 2012. According to the Mayans this happens periodically every so many thousands of years. Scientists speculate about Earth’s possible destruction by a huge meteor that might collide with our planet some day.
It’s all speculation. I am more inclined to believe the scientists than the writings in old books or the visions of so-called prophets or seers.
But then again…I might just be wrong. In the meantime, I write my stories and my own visions of humanity’s future. They all start with the word ‘if’.That is my contribution of trying to make the world we live in a better, more pleasurable place, to provide readers with a place they can escape to for a few hours. Sure, the worlds I create are imaginary, but no less real than the one promised in old books.
I remember quite a number of years ago, one of these ‘prophets’ gathered all of his followers on top of a mountain and waited for Jesus to pick them up. They gave away all of their possessions. Imagine how they felt when nobody came to pick them up and now they had no place to return to. Maybe they are still waiting... How can anyone feel sorry for them?
History is full of stories like that. It seems, people never learn. I am always puzzled that there is no shortage of people who believe these charlatans. If they don’t wait for somebody to physically take them to a better world, they commit suicide to speed up the process. Are people really that dumb or ignorant?
Unfortunately, the answer is Yes. One only has to look at the religions on this planet, the big, so-called ‘True’ religions and the cults, the smaller groups. What do they actually believe? They believe that there exists a better world than the one we live in. They believe the world will be destroyed some day and all the faithful will be saved and taken to this better world. It's a wonderful dream. Most of us dream of a better world. Is it because this one is so bad? Who is to blame for this bad world we live in? Why would the next one be better when everyone who makes this one bad will also be there? Wouldn’t it be better to try to make the one we have a better place instead of dreaming about a fantasy world that may not exist?
Something to think about.
The Mayans predict the end of ‘the world we know’ will happen in 2012. According to the Mayans this happens periodically every so many thousands of years. Scientists speculate about Earth’s possible destruction by a huge meteor that might collide with our planet some day.
It’s all speculation. I am more inclined to believe the scientists than the writings in old books or the visions of so-called prophets or seers.
But then again…I might just be wrong. In the meantime, I write my stories and my own visions of humanity’s future. They all start with the word ‘if’.That is my contribution of trying to make the world we live in a better, more pleasurable place, to provide readers with a place they can escape to for a few hours. Sure, the worlds I create are imaginary, but no less real than the one promised in old books.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tulips in the Garden
There is nothing more beautiful and uplifting than a flowerbed. Tulips are one of the first flowers to appear. We don’t have many, only a few. They’ve been in bloom for a couple of days now. Some are yellow, some red, and some yellow with red stripes.
Our plum tree is also in full bloom. Perhaps in other parts of Canada flowers and trees bloom earlier in the year, but here in Manitoba it is cold for many months. We’ve only had warm and dry weather for a few days now. Last week we still had frost at night.
Next week I want to plant my vegetable garden. The tomatoes I grew from seeds in the basement are developing nicely but are still spindly and tall. Can’t compare them with the stocky, thick-stemmed plants the garden centers are selling. I don’t know how they prevent their plants from becoming leggy. I read on one site to cut the top leafs and the plants won’t shoot up so fast, but I can’t see the gardeners, who grow plants on masse, to take the time with every plant. It is fiddly and time-consuming. There has to be a better and easier way.
I shall enjoy my tulips as long as they bloom. Sadly, they don’t last too long, but our lilies are coming along fine. Some of them are quite beautiful. My wife adds more every year and they do multiply. Unfortunately, not all of them survive the cold winter.
The dandelions are also in full bloom, but they are a nuisance flower and I shall be spraying them next week, weather permitting. I tried to make a salad with dandelions leafs one time, but I think I will have to be quite desperate to make it again, even though they are supposed to possess healing qualities.
Our plum tree is also in full bloom. Perhaps in other parts of Canada flowers and trees bloom earlier in the year, but here in Manitoba it is cold for many months. We’ve only had warm and dry weather for a few days now. Last week we still had frost at night.
Next week I want to plant my vegetable garden. The tomatoes I grew from seeds in the basement are developing nicely but are still spindly and tall. Can’t compare them with the stocky, thick-stemmed plants the garden centers are selling. I don’t know how they prevent their plants from becoming leggy. I read on one site to cut the top leafs and the plants won’t shoot up so fast, but I can’t see the gardeners, who grow plants on masse, to take the time with every plant. It is fiddly and time-consuming. There has to be a better and easier way.
I shall enjoy my tulips as long as they bloom. Sadly, they don’t last too long, but our lilies are coming along fine. Some of them are quite beautiful. My wife adds more every year and they do multiply. Unfortunately, not all of them survive the cold winter.
The dandelions are also in full bloom, but they are a nuisance flower and I shall be spraying them next week, weather permitting. I tried to make a salad with dandelions leafs one time, but I think I will have to be quite desperate to make it again, even though they are supposed to possess healing qualities.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Dual Visions
'Dual Visions' has a new cover. The book contains 2 novellas. 'The Cliffs of Time' is a time travel story, and 'Orion, the Hunt' is a Science Fiction Adventure story. Here is the new cover:
If you want to read more about it click on this link: Dual Visions
If you want to read more about it click on this link: Dual Visions
Monday, May 09, 2011
Iceworld
Did the final edits on 'Iceworld', Book six in my Xandra series and fixed more mistakes. Amazing how your eyes can deceive you. I thought I caught everything the first time around. Anyway, it is done. The final word-count is 68,000. Just the right length for an ebook. I wrote the blurb and submitted the novel to Melange Books, my publisher.
I started writing Book seven in the series, but now I have to put it aside for awhile, because I suddenly had an idea for a contemporary mystery novel and it is stuck inside my head. The book wants to be written. I already wrote 5,000 words and I'm hooked. The story flows nicely and I've created a bunch of characters with backgrounds and so forth. I pretty much know where I'm going with the story so it is not a secret anymore for me. It doesn't always happen that way, but this is not an adventure/exploration story where I don't know myself what the characters will experience. The excitement of discovery is not there in this kind of story, but it is still fun to write and to develop the characters. I have the gist of the story but the details come to me as I write. Of course, one never knows what happens as the story develops. Sometimes the characters have other ideas and want to take a different road from the one I planned for them. Sounds crazy but that is the way it works.
I started writing Book seven in the series, but now I have to put it aside for awhile, because I suddenly had an idea for a contemporary mystery novel and it is stuck inside my head. The book wants to be written. I already wrote 5,000 words and I'm hooked. The story flows nicely and I've created a bunch of characters with backgrounds and so forth. I pretty much know where I'm going with the story so it is not a secret anymore for me. It doesn't always happen that way, but this is not an adventure/exploration story where I don't know myself what the characters will experience. The excitement of discovery is not there in this kind of story, but it is still fun to write and to develop the characters. I have the gist of the story but the details come to me as I write. Of course, one never knows what happens as the story develops. Sometimes the characters have other ideas and want to take a different road from the one I planned for them. Sounds crazy but that is the way it works.
Friday, May 06, 2011
Osama Bin-Laden and the Law
Now there are those who wonder if killing Osama Bin-Laden was legal. What??? Legal? You people must be kidding! Who cares. The man was a terrorist. Terrorists don't worry about the law and about legality. The only way to fight them is to drop down to their level. Should the President of the US have gone to the Pakistani government and asked for permission? Maybe he should have asked the Saudis, after all he was an Arab. Or perhaps he should have gotten permission from the Al-Quaida. I can only shake my head. I wouldn't be surprised if some lawyer doesn't come around and wants an inquiry. Who would pay his fees though? I guess he would have to figure that one out yet. I'm sure he'll find some group who would fund him. There are plenty of 'do-gooders' around who worry about the stupidest things and want to see justice done. Well, justice has been done. It doesn't matter how. One less terrorist walking the Earth. That man caused so much death and chaos in the world. Every time I am in an airport I curse these bastards who are responsible for the delays at the borders, the body searches, the additional cost to travel and the worry there might be some suicidal/murderess fanatic boarding the plane with me. I applaud the team of SEALS who finally put an end to the evil that was Osama Bin-Laden.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Osama Bin Laden is Dead
Wow! So much has happened this weekend. Our Conservative Government under Harper won a majority, the Liberals are way down, the NDP under Jack Layton are the official opposition, the Bloc are pretty well dead with 3 seat, and the Green Party has one seat. Finally, the government can get back to what its function really is…to govern the country, pass laws to protect its citizens, instead of bickering and arguing and wasting taxpayers’ money and getting nothing done. At least now we should have peace until 2015 and we won’t waste more money on another election in the Fall.
The other big news, of course, is the death of the infamous Osama Bin Laden.
He finally got what he deserved on May 1st, 2011. An important day in the history of this planet. Shot in the chest and head by a team of navy seals who stormed his compound in Pakistan during the night. It took ten years, ten years in which he instigated many terror attacks on innocent people in the free world, but in the end he was brought to justice.
As Jesus said to his disciple Peter: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. There is even a song out there ‘If you live by the sword you die by the sword’ by Jamestown Story. This is so fitting.
Bin Laden got a burial at sea. He’ll make a welcome meal for the sharks. They didn’t want to create a shrine by burying him somewhere in a grave with a marker on it.
Apparently, Pakistan helped with the operation. I just wonder why nobody in the Pakistani Intelligence Service knew that Bin Laden was hiding out in that million Dollar mansion. It was a fortress with 18 foot walls. Wouldn’t anyone question what is behind those walls? He must have been there for quite some time.
They found out about his hideout through his courier. Obviously, we will never know the details, because there will be some bleeding hearts who will question the way the information was discovered. It really doesn’t matter. The man is dead and finally some of the people who lost a loved-one in that attack on September 11 ten years ago will have closure and the satisfaction that the man who orchestrated that terrible incident was punished for his crime.
Of course, it would be foolish to assume that the age of terrorism is over. Osama Bin Laden will have a successor. I don’t remember his name. He’s a dentist. But then again, with the new position comes a target on the man’s back, or should I say: On his forehead?
I wonder if Osama Bin Laden got his 72 Virgins now that he has passed into whatever place he thought he was going. Is he busy having sex right now? Or do the terrorists only get the 72 Virgins when they commit suicide? Just wondering. It still is beyond me that there are men so stupid to actually commit suicide so they can have sex in the afterlife.
The other big news, of course, is the death of the infamous Osama Bin Laden.
He finally got what he deserved on May 1st, 2011. An important day in the history of this planet. Shot in the chest and head by a team of navy seals who stormed his compound in Pakistan during the night. It took ten years, ten years in which he instigated many terror attacks on innocent people in the free world, but in the end he was brought to justice.
As Jesus said to his disciple Peter: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. There is even a song out there ‘If you live by the sword you die by the sword’ by Jamestown Story. This is so fitting.
Bin Laden got a burial at sea. He’ll make a welcome meal for the sharks. They didn’t want to create a shrine by burying him somewhere in a grave with a marker on it.
Apparently, Pakistan helped with the operation. I just wonder why nobody in the Pakistani Intelligence Service knew that Bin Laden was hiding out in that million Dollar mansion. It was a fortress with 18 foot walls. Wouldn’t anyone question what is behind those walls? He must have been there for quite some time.
They found out about his hideout through his courier. Obviously, we will never know the details, because there will be some bleeding hearts who will question the way the information was discovered. It really doesn’t matter. The man is dead and finally some of the people who lost a loved-one in that attack on September 11 ten years ago will have closure and the satisfaction that the man who orchestrated that terrible incident was punished for his crime.
Of course, it would be foolish to assume that the age of terrorism is over. Osama Bin Laden will have a successor. I don’t remember his name. He’s a dentist. But then again, with the new position comes a target on the man’s back, or should I say: On his forehead?
I wonder if Osama Bin Laden got his 72 Virgins now that he has passed into whatever place he thought he was going. Is he busy having sex right now? Or do the terrorists only get the 72 Virgins when they commit suicide? Just wondering. It still is beyond me that there are men so stupid to actually commit suicide so they can have sex in the afterlife.
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Whatever happened to Spring?
What a surprise. Woke up this morning and this is what we saw through our window.
There is green grass underneath all that snow. All the snow was already gone and we had a dry yard. I was getting ready to start cleaning up the old, dry grass and rake everything. My lawn-tractor is ready to go and now this. We're actually having a winter advisory in this region. Part of the number One Highway is closed between Brandon and the Saskatchewan border. This does not help the flood situation. Already the flood forecast has been revised. Because of this snow and the precipitation we had yesterday there will be areas flooded that previously were not in danger.
There is green grass underneath all that snow. All the snow was already gone and we had a dry yard. I was getting ready to start cleaning up the old, dry grass and rake everything. My lawn-tractor is ready to go and now this. We're actually having a winter advisory in this region. Part of the number One Highway is closed between Brandon and the Saskatchewan border. This does not help the flood situation. Already the flood forecast has been revised. Because of this snow and the precipitation we had yesterday there will be areas flooded that previously were not in danger.
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