Have you missed me? Bah! Don't bother lying! I can see that you haven't been coming around. But it's ok, I won't hold that against you. Yet. ;)

Since today is Halloween, I've decided to have a lovely little Halloween Treat for you! Isn't that nice of me? Aren't I just super swell? (this is the part where you say 'Oh yes, Hero, you're wonderful!)

Hmm - needs work, but it'll do.

So - today ONLY - we are going to have hidden coupon codes on the blog for copies of Much Ado About Russian! Woo Hoo!

Today only you can purchase a paperback or digital copy of MAAR at 50% off! Just search through the pages of this blog to find the coupon codes and use them at the sites listed below.

NOTE: if you know others who are interested - please pass on the link to this page and let them have the fun of searching for themselves. Do not just share the coupon codes.


Have fun!

Smashwords - Digital Copies for Kindle, Nook, iPad, PC and more
Find the 5 digit code and go to:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66869

My CreateSpace Store* (part of Amazon.com) for paperback
Find the 8 digit code and go to:
https://www.createspace.com/3601725

*My CreateSpace store is owned and operated by Amazon.com. It is a secure site. Amazon provides me with this site so that I can offer discounts and promotions such as this.

Sooo... just some random thoughts that have been on my mind in regards to commercials.

Paper Towel Tantrum: I am SO sick of the paper towel ads that make is seem like a major felony to use more than 1 sheet of paper towel at a time. Seriously, how hard up do you have to be to be obsessed with someone using 3 sheets to clean up a big spill rather than 1? Aren't you more concerned with getting the mess cleaned up? Are you really going to be upset over the use of 2 sheets more than you think you could have made do with? If so, sorry, you've got some issues.

Marital Bliss?: Am I the only one that hates the commercial with the guy who goes to his wife in the greenhouse and tells her he signed up the family for unlimited calling and she says how she should have listened to her mother and married John Clark? I have a couple of issues with this commercial. One: they make the wife out to be a raving bitch. Nice, thank you. Obviously, if an announcement such as his triggers a reaction like that there are some series problems going on in that marriage. Two: Yeah, they were 'free' - free after he signed up for unlimited texting for the family. And we all know that texting is WAY more expensive than regular talking, so odds are he actually spent more for all that unlimited texting than she assumes he spent on the unlimited minutes. No matter how you look at it, the commercial is awkward and uncomfortable and sure as heck doesn't want to make me do business with that company.

May the Force Be With You: On the other hand, don't you just love the commercial with the kid dressed as Darth Vader whose dad makes the car click on and off and the kid thinks it's The Force? That is just awesome! What a really clever idea - kudos to the ad agency who came up with that one.

Where's the Beef: I admit it - I love that Wendy's is revitalizing their classic Where's the Beef campaign. You can't go wrong with a classic!

The Fabric of Whose Life Exactly?: Glad to see the Cotton people have decided to feature some attractive clothes for a change. Anyone remember the one with the bright orange and gold caftan that looked like it came from Mrs. Roper's closet? Don't ask me who was wearing it - she was blonde - but other than that it was too hard to focus on anything other than the incredibly hideous garment.

Eenie Meenie Minie Moe: Can't recall the brand but some uber clever ad guys scored with a great commercial for a pack of gum that contains 2 different flavors. The guy does the old 'eenie meenie' to choose which flavor to have and finds himself with a very large tiger sitting beside him; his caught "toe" in the guy's lap. The guy is dumbfounded and more than a little nervous. Then the tiger says "You're not going to make me holler are you?" Priceless!

The Magic Island: I'm pretty sure it's Target that has an ad where they say 'this house runs on island time' and then they show the family gathered around the kitchen island doing various kitchen things and using appliances like coffee makers and Kitchenaide mixers, griddles, crock pots etc. But here's the thing. There are no outlets on that island. There's no cord on that coffee maker at the beginning of the ad. In fact you never see the cords on any of the appliances. There's no place to plug in that mixer or anything else if they did have their cords. And if you're thinking that the outlets are on the side of the island, the camera shows it fully at the end. No outlets. So it must be a magic island. Wonder if they stock those at Target?