My Wish for 2013

For me, 2012 was a stellar year both professionally and personally. I escaped the confines of the 8-5 working grind and made my lifelong dream a reality by publishing three books. My family members remained relatively healthy, I welcomed another step son-in-law into our growing family and discovered my oldest step-daughter and her husband will be expecting their third child. I got to explore the Virgin Islands with some of my favorite people, visited my best friend for a week in Texas and my sister-in-law in Florida. I even got to see Coldplay in concert and attend my first zombie walk.

The bar for my 2013 has been set pretty high. A lot of people wish for a slimmer body, more money or even fame. While any and all of those would be really nice, all I wish for in the new year is happiness. Sometimes it's the smaller things that bring me joy, such as concerts (so far I'm set to see Rihanna and Taylor Swift) new movies (The Mortal Instruments and World War Z look amazing) or even a successful sequel to my books (Shymers and The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life are up next). Other times it's in the news that one of my family members remains cancer-free or holding that future step-grandbaby for the first time. And I'm not going to lie - I'll be totally elated when when sitting on the beach in Cabo with a drink in hand.

But there are people who had a terrible year, and for some of them, 2013 won't look much brighter. Some are busting their butts to keep food on the table or fighting against their diseased body to stay alive. Those families mourning children murdered in the senseless school shooting are going to have probably the longest years of their lives. Two families in my community were recently given the devastating news that their sons have a form of cancer. Happiness will not come so readily for these people. It's up to the rest of us to do what we can to try to do something to make them smile. I strive to leave an impressionable mark on this lifetime, as should we all. Remember when your life is at its highest, there are others who may be at their lowest.

Tonight as you raise your glass to toast your friends and loved ones, remember that tomorrow is a new year and with that new year comes new beginnings and fresh opportunities at happiness. Whatever form happiness may come in, I will welcome it with open arms. And I wish it on each and every last one of you, whatever that may be.

Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (in Every Way!)

To tell you the truth, I'm a big fan of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I wasn't nearly as excited about this movie. I tried reading the book and it nearly bored me to tears. Whenever as a story is told with an attempt to make each sentence a work of poetry instead of just spitting it out, my eyes glaze over (and I totally realize that I'm well within the minority on that). With the exception of Samwise Gamgee (it's even a fond nickname I use for my daughter), I'm not a fan of the hobbit characters. In fact, they were my least favorite characters of the series.

So did I like The Hobbit, or not? Before I give my official review, here's a rundown of my comments while watching it (yes I used my phone in the theatre, but I had the glow completely contained inside my purse - my son didn't even know I was using it and he sat right next to me - so chill out already):

I have a feeling this is going to bore me to tears.

Wait, is this a musical?

Why do these movies always have to include giant, creepy spiders?

Seriously, does Cate Blanchett age?

(One from my son: Wait, what is Count Dooku doing in this movie?)

Why are there always super high mountains with super narrow cliffs in these movies?

Storm giants totally remind me of those boxing robots.

Obviously another movie made by "grown" boys.

I'd take on Voldemort any day over the creepy one-handed ogre dude.

For someone who's terrified of heights, I've spent a third of this movie fearing a heart attack.

Why did we have to see this in 3D again?

Smeagol seriously needs to see a psychiatrist.

Ah, so that's how all this ring stuff started. Why didn't they tell us this before?

Okay, so I guess this IS a musical. Starring Smeagol.

Big birds you can ride and now a fire-breathing dragon? Hello, Harry Potter rip-off!

Based on these comments, one would probably guess I hated this movie. But I didn't. In fact, was surprised just how much I loved it! By the last scene, I realized I like it even more than any of the LoTR movies. I even adored Bilbo Baggins - a hobbit! While there were a lot of same elements from the LoTR as well as reoccurring characters and places, the overall feel of the movie was somewhat different. A lot of it had to do with the almost all new cast of dwarfs that led the story. They were a mix of brave, comical and lovable characters. Throw the charismatic Gandalf and a new-and-improved, younger version of Bilbo and you have your heroes of the story. There were certainly more light-hearted scenes compared to the LoTR trilogy, which is probably a given considering we're dealing with the most comical characters of the series. I'll admit the signing made me roll my eyes by the second song. At least they were all relatively short. And the last two melodies, sung by Smeagol (who doesn't love that creepy bastard) and the goblin king with a nasty goiter, actually made me laugh.

It's not my style to review movies and books by picking apart every aspect and scene. Bottom line is that if you're a fan of the fantasy-type movies, I think it's safe to say you will definitely enjoy this one. Even most fans of Harry Potter would probably appreciate this tale, although for children you should be aware that there are some scenes with Smeagol and the goblins that were a little freaky for my 10-year-old. I think "An Unexpected Journey" was a perfect title for this little gem. Definitely not what I was expecting from a Baggins.

Writer Wednesday: Maria Monteiro

Welcome to the first installment of Writer Wednesday! Each week I hope to introduce you to a new indie author and ask them 10 questions to get to know them.

First up is my friend Maria Monteiro, who just released her second book called Letting Go. I first met Maria on Twitter back in April when we were both releasing our first books. I commented to her that I have a tattoo the same as the title of her book (Hold on Tight) and we hit it off right away. We even have a (somewhat neglected) blog together. In addition to being a concert junkie and kind hearted, Maria can write a mean romantic triangle.

Tell us about your new release, Letting Go.

Letting Go is the squeal to Hold on Tight. At the end of Hold on Tight, Emma is still left confused about who she wants to be with. She’s starting to get feelings for Court again while still holding on to her feelings for Nash. In Letting Go, Emma decides who she wants to be with, but there is a secret she has to tell and issues with her parents she has to deal with. The second book is not only about choosing a guy, it’s also about dealing with curve balls life throws at you.

What's your favorite scene in this book?

It’s a scene she has with her mom in her parents' room. I have a very close relationship with my mother, so anytime I wrote about Emma’s relationship with her mother, I got a little emotional.

Were any aspects of the story brought on by either personal experience or inspiration?

Yes. There is a scene in which Emma goes to the Bowery Ballroom to see her one of her favorite bands and the lead singer makes eye contact with her. That actually happened to me and I reacted the same way Emma does in the book. I also love ice cream just as much as Emma does. I seriously could eat it all day long.

When did you first realize you wanted to become an author?

In the fourth grade, when I wrote my first story. I remember thinking wow, this fun to be able to control people like this. In a weird way I felt like I was playing God with my characters. Little did I know, sometimes they control me. I know that sounds crazy, but I’m sure authors out there know what I’m talking about. 

What are some of your personal favorite books?

My all time favorite book is Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve read it. I wish John After was a real person and I could find him.

What music do you listen to while writing?

While I was writing Hold on Tight and Letting Go I listened to O.A.R, Lifehouse, Parachute and Yellowcard. For the book I’m writing now, I’ve been listening a lot to Dave Matthews, Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, American Bang and of course O.A.R.

What's the most satisfying thing about writing?

That feeling you get when your manuscript is done. It’s amazing when you have accomplished something you started. It’s a moment of great pride. It’s a beautiful feeling.

Hardest thing?

Having to promote your work. I’m not good at it at all. I wish I knew the secret to it, but I don’t. It’s also hard to say goodbye to the characters you worked with for so long. You find yourself missing them, even though they drove you crazy towards the end. 

What is your current work in progress?

Right now I am working on an adult romantic comedy titled Facing Home. It’s about a girl who has to move back home after being away at college because she cannot find a job. She has to deal with everything she left behind including her ex-boyfriend who is about to marry one of her best friends. I’m having a lot of fun writing it.

If you could choose to shake the hand of any person, who would that be?

Okay, quick story before I tell you. Three years ago I was walking around feeling dead inside. I wasn’t writing or doing anything creative. I felt so blah with no motivation. One day my husband came home and said let's do something this weekend. I said okay what? He told me about a concert near us with a band I had never heard of. I love concerts, so I agreed to go. I didn’t know anything about this band and their name made me think they were a boy band. I went without knowing anything about them (I wasn’t in the mood to Google them). Little did I know they were about to change my whole life. I don’t know what it was about their music, but it woke me up creatively again. They made me feel like I had a purpose. Since then they have become my favorite band, I have all their albums, not a day goes by that I don’t listen to at least one of their songs and I go see them in concert every chance I get. For that reason I would love to shake the hands of Marc Roberge, Chris Culos, Richard On, Beng Gershman and Jerry DePizzo the guys from O.A.R (Of A Revolution) and thank them for saving my life.

Ways to follow Maria: Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, her website

Where to find her books: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBook and Kobo

Maria Monteiro was born in Chile and moved to America when she was only three years old. She was raised in Sleepy Hollow New York, but no, she's never run into the Headless Horseman. She got her BA in English and her Masters in Literacy. She became a preschool teacher, and though it’s been fun, it has never been her dream to teach. She has always wanted to write.

My Christmas Present to You

With Christmas only hours away, I'm feeling in the giving spirit! Both Shymers and What I've Done have been reduced from $3.99 to $2.99 each, and The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life is only 99 cents! All I ask in return is that if you enjoy reading my books, please review them on a website like Goodreads or the Amazon product page.

Don't own a kindle? You can still download the free kindle app to your cell phone or computer for free here.

Hope the holidays find all of you healthy, happy and full of good cheer!

Game on, Mayans

For the past few days, Twitter and Facebook have been buzzing with jokes about the apocalypse and people saying they aren't going to pay their bills, show up to work, etc. I'm not going to lie. A small part of me is totally freaked out by all this end of the world talk. It doesn't help that the History Channel is constantly pumping out shows explaining why the Mayans are right. And you can bet that somewhere the geeks who work for that channel are having a major end of the world bash (my invite must have been lost in the mail).

R.E.M. says it best - click here to listen

So what am I doing today, knowing the end may almost be near? Cleaning my house. Not because I'm worried about dying in the middle of a dirty mess (people who know me will die laughing at that thought), but because we are starting our Christmas celebrations tonight with our oldest children and their families. I laughed when our plans first came to be, realizing that we were all gathering the night the world is supposed to end. But the liquor cabinet is full, a ton of snacks are planned and my husband even bought some extra ammo "just in case." If this is truly our last night together on this earth, we're set. I'll go out with those I love and have a full belly.

All kidding aside, the possibility of impending doom has made me reflect on my life. I've decided that R.E.M. accurately sums it up for me. If it really is the end of the world, I feel fine. I'm healthy, happy, surrounded by love and have a slew of friends and family who I adore. I've made mistakes, taken chances and pursued things that make my life fulfilled. I've lived life to the fullest, loving, laughing and experienced just about everything that makes our time on this earth worthwhile. So if this truly is the end, I'm okay with it. There probably isn't anything we could do about it anyway, so why not go out with a smile?

Maybe tomorrow when we wake, we'll be able to laugh at the Mayans and feel a renewed sense of purpose (so long as we're not surrounded by zombies). I think we have about a 99.99% chance of seeing another normal day. If I'm wrong, then cheers to all of humanity. It's been a great ride.

Book Giveaway

As promised, a name was drawn when my website reached 1,000 views and Brighton Hill is the winner! Thank you everyone for participating, and thank you so very much for your ongoing support!

Our Place in a Violent World

Just as most Americans, after the horrific slaughter last week in Connecticut I suddenly feel like I'm drowning in my personal quest to keep my children's moral compasses in check. How do you explain to your child something that you don't understand yourself? What kind of monster could kill so many innocent people? How do I send my kids off to school each day and assure them that they'll be safe?

Today's generation of kids are waaaaay too desensitized. Between movies, Internet and video games, they've become numb to the whole concept of death unless it happens in their personal life. When I was growing up, many of the killers in horror movies were either a mythical creature or someone who came back from the dead to revenge their deaths. But an exception to that rule, and also one of the most disturbing I had ever seen, was Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's no secret that I love a good scary movie, but there are times when I draw the line with senseless violence.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the first of many films to feature mentally deranged humans torturing others. One of the first horror movies I was unable to finish as an adult was Hostel. I just couldn't grasp the concept as entertaining and it was too disturbing to watch. Businessmen paying to torture young backpackers in Europe? How is that anything other than sick and twisted? There have been a slew of movies to follow Hostel that focus on deranged humans torturing other humans.

When The Dark Knight Rises came out, I braced myself for the worst after the shooting in Colorado. But I didn't find Bane's character nearly as disturbing as Heath Ledger's role in the previous Dark Knight film. I guess this only proves that mentally ill people are going to imitate things that come out of Hollywood, no matter what degree of twisted they may be. While I understand this, I still wonder why we add fuel to their imaginations with disturbing films.

When speaking to a friend this past weekend about the Newtown shootings, she pointed out that Americans think shows in Europe revolve too much around nudity and sex, while our entertainment has taken a major swing into gore and violence. When looking at the fatalities from guns in each country, it would seem that the US needs to reassess our goals. There were a reported 8,583 gun-related deaths in the United States in 2011 alone. Just this past week, a grandfather in Minnesota shot his granddaughter when he thought he heard an intruder in the night. Why give anyone and their dog the right to hold a weapon that kills? Why are there weapons available to the public that hold a hundred rounds of ammunition? I'm not going to go into the whole "right to bear arms" issue here, but it just seems gun violence is out of control. Something needs to be done. I know that making guns illegal is not the answer because, as some people recently pointed out in the endless debate, so are cocaine and meth. But something needs to be done as here have been far too many senseless acts of violence in recent years. As President Obama recently stated at the Newtown memorial service, "We're not doing enough and we'll have to change."

What can we as a nation actively do about the violence? Adults need to educate the next generations on right from wrong and monitor what they're exposed to. As much as I try to limit what my 10 and 12-year-old see on the Internet and watch on TV, I know it's impossible to protect them from everything. Still, they don't get to watch The Walking Dead with me and they don't have any video games that involve shooting humans. I know they'll go to a friend's house and see a violent horror movie or play the latest Call of Duty - they already have. But for the majority of their young lives, they'll be exposed to shows in which people are kind to each other and hopefully understand that senseless violence is inhumane.

And above all, we have to teach our children how to be considerate to others. In this modern society of road-rage and school shootings, we have to make more of an effort to demonstrate kindness. We have to show by example that it's not okay to bully others or wish cruel deaths on our enemies (i.e. explain to your children why the Korean singer Psy was horribly wrong in singing about torturing American soldiers and their families). This holiday season, make a point to reach out to others in need and lead by example. Let's show the world that the United States is still filled with good, and teach generations to come that violence is not the answer.

Movie Review: Warm Bodies ( A Flick With Heart...and Brains!)

With a four hour road trip, I was fortunate enough to catch an advanced screening of Warm Bodies last night. If you follow me at all, then you already know that I've been dying to see this movie ever since I finished the brilliant book by Isaac Marion. I'm a zombie junkie, having written my own zombie book and being obsessed with The Walking Dead. I'm always on the lookout for anything unusual in the genre, like Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead. As shown in the movie trailers, the premise of Warm Bodies is based on a zombie boy somehow changing after he falls in love with a living girl. A hardcore zombie fan recently told me, "I don't know if I'm ready for the 'power of love' curing zombies," but I'm here to tell you that this story is so much more than than some sappy love story.

True to the book, Warm Bodies had a little bit of everything: comedy, heart-warming moments, action and romance. In Marion's zombie apocalypse, the dead are able to function and retain a little piece of their former selves, although they only see flashes of their old lives. Still, they can open doors and operate record players. With a little effort, they're even able to say a few words at a time. I've heard people say that they're completely turned off by this concept, but since a zombie apocalypse has never actually happened, we don't know what it would really be like. We can only pretend through the magic of writing and cinema.

The hero in our story simply goes by 'R' as he can't remember his name. He wants to connect with someone. He collects things he finds, like snow globes and vinyl records. He wants to feel human again. When out on a "hunting expedition" for food, 'R' becomes smitten with a pretty blonde girl and decides to bring her back to their hive at an abandoned airport (right after he eats a part of her boyfriend's brain and is able to glimpse into some of the couple's past experiences). The whole story is focused on this couple getting to know each other and trying to understand what is happening when 'R' begins changing for the better. This is as far as I want to go with the plot as I don't want to ruin it for others who haven't read the book and want to see the movie (but you really should read the book if you haven't).

While you may find it hard to grasp the concept that a girl could fall in love with a zombie, I remind you how so many of us were quick to believe that a girl could fall in love with a creepy vampire who seems completely repelled by her and watches her sleep at night. 'R' is nothing but sweet to Julie from the very beginning (except maybe for the part where he smeared his zombie blood on her face, but that was only to keep her from smelling like fresh meat), and becomes more and more "human like" as the story progresses. Dare I say, this was a much better love story than Twilight.

The only beef I walked away with after seeing Warm Bodies involved the music. I know it's kind of a petty thing, but I'm moved by a good soundtrack and this one just didn't cut it. And I had high hopes when The Black Keys were used for the trailers. Only one song stood out from the rest in one scene when 'R' and Julie are parting ways. Otherwise, meh. I get that some of the songs had to be old since they're being played from old records, but there are much better choices they could have used. The songs were so blah that I can't even remember off hand what they were, other than Guns and Roses's Don't Cry, which was totally appropriate for the scene.

Overall, I was not disappointed with how the story came to life on the big screen. Sure there were major parts cut out (like the marriage of 'R' to a random zombie girl and their adopted children) and the ending was altered somewhat, but the most important things, like the heart and soul of the story, were well preserved. The Boneys (creepy corpses who have deteriorated to nearly a skeletal remain and show no sign of human nature) were as terrifying as I had pictured them, the best friend to 'R' ('M') was the hilarious side kick the readers of the book had come to expect, and 'R' was every bit as likable as our narrator and guide through this unusual experience.

My 22-year-old step-daughter was my date and had not read the book. She laughed quite often along with myself and the rest of the audience (including some super annoying cacklers). After it was over, she told me with a bright smile, "That was really good!"So who should go see Warm Bodies? Zombie lovers, people who like Isaac Marion's book, hopeless romantics, anyone who likes a good laugh and anyone who can really appreciate a really moving story. I guess that covers just about everyone. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would say this movie has earned a solid 9. It was that good.

Catch it in theaters on February 1st.

Chasing the Magic of the 80s

Very few movies in recent years have managed to nail that magical plateau the block busters of the 1980s were able to achieve. I mean that era gave birth to the epic series of Indiana Jones and Star Wars, the brat pack of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, and the phenomenal children's stories of E.T. and The Goonies. And that's only naming a very select few.

I'm dying to see more of that enchanting magic in today's films. Not to say that we haven't had our own epic films in recent generations, because we definitely have. But they don't have that 80s touch. And I'm not even going to try to pretend to compare Harry Potter to anything as it's in a whole universe of its own. I mean yes it's a children's series and yes it's freaking brilliant, but (don't get me wrong - I'm a diehard fan of the series) there's something to be said about an average group of kids who stumble onto an adventure of a lessor scale than a decade-long series.

The only teen and children's movies on a smaller than HP level that I can honestly say have accomplished the great feat for me are Easy A and Super 8. They each brought back a legendary feeling that can only be achieved by brilliant writers and sensational casting. But I'm still waiting for more like these. More of that gut wrenching teen angst and more of boys' adventures that dig deep into your soul, making you want to watch them over and over again to capture that special feeling.

Recently, Hollywood seems to be set on either remaking old films or adapting best sellers to the big screen (you'll hear no complaints from me on the latter). But where is that old magic? Are screenwriters not able to understand what it was it about those 1980s movies that made them so amazing? Is it just because it was such a simple time and things weren't so complicated?

Maybe I'm just getting old and nostalgic.

What do you think?

Soundtracks That Are Good for the Soul

It's no secret how much I love music. My family is always teasing me because I declare every other song to be my favorite. I'm one of those people who literally has music playing wherever I go (when I do chores around the house, my phone is in my pocket). I live for concerts (I've ben to dozens in my lifetime). I encourage my children to play instruments (piano, violin and bass guitar). I tear up when I hear the adult choir sing at church. I even have three music-themed tattoos.

While I appreciate all kinds of music, there are select few songs that can really reach down into my soul and move me to the point that my eyes water and I'm rendered speechless. Most of those songs just happen to be movie soundtracks. When searching for a song to use in the Shymers book trailer (the amazing winner is The Holy Grail by Olive Musique), I considered what goes into a truly memorable musical score and considered my favorites. Each of them usually features a piano and/or string instruments, sometimes paired with haunting voices.

Here are some of my favorite songs from soundtracks that really got to me. Maybe these songs are so moving because they come from excellent movies. Maybe I just have a fetish for this genre. Or maybe these songs are just all that amazing. Click on the songs' titles to hear them.

Lily's Theme: Alexandre Desplat

Safe Now: Mark Isham

Family Matters: Michael Giacchino

May It Be: Howard Shore & Tara Scammell

Forrest Gump Suite: Alan Silvestri

The Abyss: Alan Silvestri

E. T. Soundtrack Suite: John Williams

The Dream: James Horner

The Walking Dead: Bear McCreary 

While I could have listed everything John Williams has ever done, I decided that would be redundant so I only chose one. And while I know The Walking Dead theme song isn't necessarily a "soundtrack" and it's not actually a movie, I think the song deserves to be listed.

Are there any powerful soundtracks that you would add to this list?

Book Giveaway!

In just over a week I've had 600 views of my new website! YAY! I'm crazy excited!

To celebrate the thousandth page view, I'm giving away one of my three books (winner's choice) to one person who is following my blog. Winner will be notified via registered Google account as soon as the counter reads 1,000. Winner can choose between paperback or digital.

So follow my blog ("join this site" link on lower right side of page) and spread the word! 

Good luck, and thanks for following!

Faking Happiness

I've always tried to be a positive person. Sometimes it's extremely difficult with bills to pay, so many different people to please, never ending housework and a stressful job. Most of the time when I seem all happy and upbeat, however, I'm actually faking it.

For five years I worked in a county courthouse where people came to me when they needed to file for divorce, had issues with child support, or had their children taken away for poor choices in parenting. I'm not even sure why I took the job in the first place - just the description of it makes me want a Xanax. Regardless, I tried to be friendly to people I waited on. But many of them were so angry and bitter that my attitude didn't phase them. Being the normally upbeat person I am, that work environment nearly killed me. Not only was my spirit crushed, but the word "hate" came from my lips nearly every hour. Then it hit me - if I stayed there I was going to be one of those gray-haired old ladies who snaps at everyone and never smiles. I was becoming one of those people who is crabby because they hate their job.

Fortunately, my loving husband allowed me to take a chance and leave that environment to pursue the things that I've always dreamed of (writing) and that make me happy (photography). I'd love to tell you that everything became all unicorns and rainbows after that. But it didn't. I quickly discovered that there is a lot of work that goes into my dream profession. Now my spirit is becoming crushed with stress. Yet I try like hell to remain upbeat.

And it's a lot of work.

I used to work with a friend who would come into the office every single morning with a giant smile and say in the cheeriest of voices, "Good morning, friends!" The rest of us would usually grunt something back in return with not nearly the same level of zest. After a time, I asked him why he was always so damn happy. He confessed that most of the time, he was faking it. He knew that we were all in poor moods and that his spirit would be infectious.

Shortly after that, I helped my daughter with a science fair project in which she wanted to test whether smiling is contagious. The theory was executed in three different airports and on beaches while on vacation. For the most part, it worked. If someone wasn't smiling and they saw my daughter beaming up at them, the light in their eyes would usually transform and they would smile back. The ones who didn't smile back were clearly the sterotypical "grumpy type" - business men in a hurry, people with a permanent scowl on their face, mothers dragging along screaming toddlers.

From that point on, I vowed to remain positive and upbeat, hoping to infect others with my attitude. I stopped hanging around people who are total Debby Downers and never happy (despite my best efforts). I almost never complain to my friends on Facebook. I surround myself with happy music all day long (which can completely transform one's day). If I come across anyone who seems down or is having a tough day, I make a point to reach out to them. I am overly friendly to people who wait on me at gas stations and restaurants. Even if I am having the worst day and feel like crawling back to bed, I go out of my way to be nice.

Just as with the smiling experiment, however, my upbeat attitude doesn't work on everyone. There are people who are so unhappy in their life that they simply cannot see past their own gloom.

But at least I can take comfort in knowing I tried to make a difference. Even if I'm totally faking it.

TV Review: The Walking Dead (Mid-Season 3 Finale - Recap)

AS ALWAYS, MY RECAPS CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Mid-season finale? Are you kidding me AMC? (Okay we all knew it was coming, but it still sucks.)

There was a lot going on in this episode and I'm guessing if you're reading this blog, you've already watched this it. For that reason, I'm just going to touch on some of the note-worthy things that happened.

To start, prison redneck dude hitting on Herschel's 17-year-old daughter gave new meaning to the word perv and I'm pretty sure every fan of the show got a chuckle out of his confession that he thought short hair = lesbian. What an idiot. Speaking of idiots, what exactly were Rick and the guys thinking by leaving a cripple old man, two teens, a newborn and Carol all alone? I guess they're lucky the writers of the show decided to make a man out of Carl as he had their backs. Am I the only one who caught on to how quickly Ricky Jr. was ready to shoot yet another mother? That kid definitely has mommy issues. Thought it was ironic how that new lady was all, "Come over here boy so I can spank your little ass" and Carl was all smirking because he knew that lady couldn't touch him behind bars. So typical of young kids today.

It was a sweet moment when Glen and Maggie were reunited until Glen got up and deboned that walker. That was just nasty. But then again, this is the same guy who once smeared intestines on his body and then wore them around his neck. I have to say, I'm really curious to know just how much damage a person could do with a human bone. And for the love of Pete - why does every keep pointing a gun at Merle but not using it? They've shot and killed every other dirt bag who came off as a mild threat to the group. Add the fact that Merle's hand is missing because of their group and he's the biggest threat they've seen in this apocalypse. Daryl wanted to go after his blade-armed brother, yet it didn't take a whole lot of convincing on Rick's part to leave him behind. Then we saw Shane's ghost, which was strange and also a good indicator that Rick won't be done talking to pretend people any time soon. We pretty much know for sure Rick has gone bye-bye.

On Twitter I said that the Governor was almost being sweet with his daughter. That was me being facetious, people. The guy is seriously off his rocker. And it's about time Andrea discovered just what a creeper he is (although how THICK is she that she didn't catch on to the fact earlier that her Loverboy was trying to keep her away from the "terrorists"?). I give her three days tops before she's back in crazy's arms (oh wait, she's already hugging him in the preview). And that fight scene between Michonne and the Governor? One of the best in the history of television.

Finally, we are given the showdown between the Governor and the Dixon brothers. I'm going to be cocky here and say they aren't going to do anything to Daryl, because we saw him running in the previews for the next episode in February. I also think the show knows their fan base would be shaken to its core, as well as the fact that it would probably plummet to a painfully lower number. But that's all wishful thinking more than anything.

To those of you who aren't fans of the The Walking Dead, I give you two months of not having to read my review of it every week. Don't say I never gave you anything. ;)

And to those of you who are big fans of the best show on television, what do you plan to do while the show is on hiatus? Stock up for the impending apocalypse? Catch up with past seasons for a walk down memory lane? Work on the sequel to your first zombie book? Okay, that last one was for me.