| wwww.ericluck.net Eric Luck, the website February 2007 |
| Get my new mystery/suspense novel, "Most Fortunate Son," by clicking on one of the following links: Amazon.com Barnes and Noble.com Booksamillion.com PublishAmerica.com |
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February 4, 2007 Had a Public Speaking Gig
I don't do this very often, but I'm willing. Able is another matter.
Went up to the high school and told them about me and my book.
It went about how I figured.
The kids loved me.
I don't do this very often, but I'm willing. Able is another matter.
Went up to the high school and told them about me and my book.
It went about how I figured.
The kids loved me.
February 9, 2007 Searching for My Own Astronaut Love Triangle
We just returned from the mall. I went with Bunny to the PTA Book Fair because slightly used
paperbacks are $.50 and hardbacks are $2. For that I will go to the mall. It was my first time to any mall
since the late 1990s.
No. I am not kidding.
I do not like to go to the mall for any reason. That is part of the reason that I still wear shirts that I
purchased in the eighth grade. My eighth grade. The other reason is that those clothes are all back in
style now.
So here is the good news. Despite an hour long, exhaustive search, I did not find my book among the
offerings. I have personally sold several hundred of them in the metroplex, but I had the forethought to
sign them all. My logic there is not that my autograph would be value other than to make the owner feel
guilty if they threw it in the used book disposal. So far, so good. Will keep you posted.
So I was standing in line at the mall to check out. Ten paperbacks for $5 - you cannot go wrong with
that deal. It is only a matter of time before all copies of my book in the DFW area are in that book fair.
By the time I got to the front, it turns out the line I was standing in was not to check out of the book fair at
all. I waited fifteen minutes in the line of guys signing up to claim to be the father of Anna Nicole's baby.
I wondered why I was the only guy in line holding books.
Hell yeah, I signed up.
Then I asked which line was to sign up for an astronaut love triangle. Once they pointed that one out, I
queued up. But that line turned out to be to sign up for the "Ted Haggard 3 Step Lickity Split Program"
to return to heterosexuality. I heard that one of the three steps involves going to Chili's for a Chipotle
Bleu Cheeseburger and a beer. I do that anyway. Only three steps! It will just be a refresher course for
me, but who can argue with that kind of success?
What a week.
We just returned from the mall. I went with Bunny to the PTA Book Fair because slightly used
paperbacks are $.50 and hardbacks are $2. For that I will go to the mall. It was my first time to any mall
since the late 1990s.
No. I am not kidding.
I do not like to go to the mall for any reason. That is part of the reason that I still wear shirts that I
purchased in the eighth grade. My eighth grade. The other reason is that those clothes are all back in
style now.
So here is the good news. Despite an hour long, exhaustive search, I did not find my book among the
offerings. I have personally sold several hundred of them in the metroplex, but I had the forethought to
sign them all. My logic there is not that my autograph would be value other than to make the owner feel
guilty if they threw it in the used book disposal. So far, so good. Will keep you posted.
So I was standing in line at the mall to check out. Ten paperbacks for $5 - you cannot go wrong with
that deal. It is only a matter of time before all copies of my book in the DFW area are in that book fair.
By the time I got to the front, it turns out the line I was standing in was not to check out of the book fair at
all. I waited fifteen minutes in the line of guys signing up to claim to be the father of Anna Nicole's baby.
I wondered why I was the only guy in line holding books.
Hell yeah, I signed up.
Then I asked which line was to sign up for an astronaut love triangle. Once they pointed that one out, I
queued up. But that line turned out to be to sign up for the "Ted Haggard 3 Step Lickity Split Program"
to return to heterosexuality. I heard that one of the three steps involves going to Chili's for a Chipotle
Bleu Cheeseburger and a beer. I do that anyway. Only three steps! It will just be a refresher course for
me, but who can argue with that kind of success?
What a week.
February 16, 2007 Talk Show Roulette
One reason I don’t update this very often is that I don’t like to reveal material. You never know what I might be
able to steal for the next book and I would hate for you to have read most of the plot on the stupid www before
you pay $18 just to read it again.
There are a few random talk show highlights I made mental note of over the years. I have not yet figured out
how to work them into anything for my own benefit. So here are a few notes worthy of a chuckle. Have a great
day.
Carnac:
(envelope to head)
"A first baseman's and a catcher's,...a home run and a grand slam, ...and Dolly Parton."
(opens envelope)
"Name two big mitts, two big hits, and a Country-and-Western singer."
Ellen DeGeneres to reclusive rock star, Prince. Yes, you read that correctly. She interviewed him on her show
a while back, and I somehow saw it.
"So, do you ever… like… wear shorts?"
Tom Arnold (on Letterman) was asked about Roseanne's claim that he has a small penis. Tom answered,
"Well, even a 747 would look small, Dave, if it were flying into the Grand Canyon."
Many years ago Letterman had Arnold Schwarzenegger on his show, and Arnold wanted to show a clip from
his latest movie. Letterman said, "Okay, do you need to set this thing up… or is it just gunfire?"
One reason I don’t update this very often is that I don’t like to reveal material. You never know what I might be
able to steal for the next book and I would hate for you to have read most of the plot on the stupid www before
you pay $18 just to read it again.
There are a few random talk show highlights I made mental note of over the years. I have not yet figured out
how to work them into anything for my own benefit. So here are a few notes worthy of a chuckle. Have a great
day.
Carnac:
(envelope to head)
"A first baseman's and a catcher's,...a home run and a grand slam, ...and Dolly Parton."
(opens envelope)
"Name two big mitts, two big hits, and a Country-and-Western singer."
Ellen DeGeneres to reclusive rock star, Prince. Yes, you read that correctly. She interviewed him on her show
a while back, and I somehow saw it.
"So, do you ever… like… wear shorts?"
Tom Arnold (on Letterman) was asked about Roseanne's claim that he has a small penis. Tom answered,
"Well, even a 747 would look small, Dave, if it were flying into the Grand Canyon."
Many years ago Letterman had Arnold Schwarzenegger on his show, and Arnold wanted to show a clip from
his latest movie. Letterman said, "Okay, do you need to set this thing up… or is it just gunfire?"
February 18, 2007
HOT NEWS FLASH: "Most Fortunate Son" by Eric Luck
Canadian Readership Could Double!!! ***
***But only if my friend Anne would let somebody read her copy of my book.
HOT NEWS FLASH: "Most Fortunate Son" by Eric Luck
Canadian Readership Could Double!!! ***
***But only if my friend Anne would let somebody read her copy of my book.
February 22, 2006 Drapes That Make Your Hair Hurt
I have questions about this photo. I have questions about any photo in which my little brother is the most normal looking human in
the shot. This one is from December, 1958. My brother was 11 months old. I was just over four years old.
There is not a doubt in my mind that the impetus for having this photo taken originated with my mother. Any photos we have all came
from her desires. She looked for any legitimate reason to take photos or have photographs taken. Her argument for this one
probably revolved around Christmas and one of her tools of persuasion was undoubtedly "guilt." She lived with three males, after all.
Here we go:
* Why was there ever a time... in the history of ever... that drapes such as these would be considered desirable? Would you have
loved to read the photographer's mind about using them as the backdrop?
* Where do you get a lamp like that one and who is that guy carved in wood?
* Do you suppose Mom tried to get Pop to wear a bowtie too and he refused?
* Why didn't they put the dweeby bowtie on my brother instead? He wouldn't know any better. Obviously, I didn't either. Instead, he is
the only one who is dressed as he might be dressed on any day of the week. Meanwhile, I am left looking like the funny host's
straightman sidekick on the "Bowling for Dollars Matinee." Again, I was four years old. Still, it makes me think that the ensemble
worn by TV's Icky Twerp on Slam Bang Theatre was more stylish than I could possibly have thought.
*How did society arrive at the conclusion that the horn rimmed cat's eye shaped glasses frames were really, really attractive?
* Whose idea were my socks?
I have in my possession several different poses of this scene. Clearly, Mom brought a photographer into the home and they gave her
the proofs. The drapes and the lamp appear in all of them. All versions are funny.
* What color do you suppose Pop's lips were here? Them is some scary lips.
We lived in this house in Midland, Texas until I was eight years old. How could I remember some seemingly insignificant things from
age two but have no memory of this hilarity?
All my memories from this tiny house are really, really good. All of them.
I might be laughing at Pop's lips for some time to come.
UPDATE:
Recent headshot of me:
I have questions about this photo. I have questions about any photo in which my little brother is the most normal looking human in
the shot. This one is from December, 1958. My brother was 11 months old. I was just over four years old.
There is not a doubt in my mind that the impetus for having this photo taken originated with my mother. Any photos we have all came
from her desires. She looked for any legitimate reason to take photos or have photographs taken. Her argument for this one
probably revolved around Christmas and one of her tools of persuasion was undoubtedly "guilt." She lived with three males, after all.
Here we go:
* Why was there ever a time... in the history of ever... that drapes such as these would be considered desirable? Would you have
loved to read the photographer's mind about using them as the backdrop?
* Where do you get a lamp like that one and who is that guy carved in wood?
* Do you suppose Mom tried to get Pop to wear a bowtie too and he refused?
* Why didn't they put the dweeby bowtie on my brother instead? He wouldn't know any better. Obviously, I didn't either. Instead, he is
the only one who is dressed as he might be dressed on any day of the week. Meanwhile, I am left looking like the funny host's
straightman sidekick on the "Bowling for Dollars Matinee." Again, I was four years old. Still, it makes me think that the ensemble
worn by TV's Icky Twerp on Slam Bang Theatre was more stylish than I could possibly have thought.
*How did society arrive at the conclusion that the horn rimmed cat's eye shaped glasses frames were really, really attractive?
* Whose idea were my socks?
I have in my possession several different poses of this scene. Clearly, Mom brought a photographer into the home and they gave her
the proofs. The drapes and the lamp appear in all of them. All versions are funny.
* What color do you suppose Pop's lips were here? Them is some scary lips.
We lived in this house in Midland, Texas until I was eight years old. How could I remember some seemingly insignificant things from
age two but have no memory of this hilarity?
All my memories from this tiny house are really, really good. All of them.
I might be laughing at Pop's lips for some time to come.
UPDATE:
Recent headshot of me:
Above left you see my son, Evan in 1985. Above right, you see me in 1956. We have had a few chortles this
week comparing the two and making clone jokes.
It is not possible for me to dileneate between actual childhood memories and those that are prompted by
photographs. I am convinced this one on the right contains both for me.
This is one of my favorite childhood photos. It was taken in July, 1956 in the carport of my grandparents house in
Grandview, Texas (37 miles south of Ft. Worth). I remember playing with the little door covering the gas tank
access on my grandfather's car by flipping it up and down and laughing.
I suspect I was kneeling down in a mimic of my father who held the camera. Pop was artistically minded. He was
aware of angles, perspective, viewpoints and light. He was a really terrific sketch artist when motivated. This
capture is one of my favorite photos that he ever took.
You can see my grandfather's legs beneath his car, standing so as to not interfere in the photo. That was his
manner. It would not have occurred to him that it would be a better photo with him in it.
I promise he was smiling.
My dad died in 1992. He and my mother are buried in Grandview near his parents. I have only been to Grandview
one other time since his funeral. This house still stood in 1996, but it appeared to be empty and was in general
disrepair then. Any sadness at that sight was evenly tempered by these wonderful memories...and photographs.
Photo credit to Pop. He would have thought that Flickr was man's greatest invention. If he had a Flickr page, I
would so double fave this.
Maybe triple fave it.
