Dental Day

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Good morning. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce my blog. Let me tell you this has been a most harrowing week. Every year the most hostile of events happens: Dental Day. Dental Day is where I am suddenly snatched off my novelist’s comfortable mattress at some unholy morning hour, put in my novelist’s car, forced to hear her growl and literally scream at traffic whilst I am driven in terror to the vet’s. Whilst there, I am set on a cold hard counter while the nurse gives my novelist a breakdown of the procedure. This stranger then takes me out of my novelist’s arms into a dreadful back room where my gorgeous front leg is shaved, a needle is painfully stuck into it, and after a while everything slowly goes dark.

When I come to, the nurse who took me into the land of horrors, is enthusiastically petting me. I slowly realize I am incarcerated, lying on a towel in some sort of stark minimalist cage. I have no idea what has happened or where I’ve been and my mouth feels like a feral kitten was shoved inside. There is numbness in the back of my jaw. I can feel the film of some gel on my eyeballs of all places, and I can hardly keep my lids open. My novelist is nowhere to be found. I lie there, groggy, terrified, and alone. If that isn’t shocking enough, suddenly, a plastic tube I didn’t realize was shoved down my throat is pulled out. Half the day has somehow gone by.

Then somewhere, sometime later, maybe in the midafternoon I am taken back to the room where it all began, and my novelist is there waiting for me. I have no idea how to respond. The creaky whining sounds I make seem foreign and I am confused. I just want her to hold me and get me out of this prison. She carries me as…Him pays them, pays them, mind you, for torturing me! My novelist carries me out to the car and sets me on a blanket on her lap. She holds me till we get home. She is most gingerly with me, no longer the maniac who screamed and yelled at traffic that morning. After we get out of the car, I retire to the office and collapse on my pillow near the window. I stay there most of the day sad, groggy, confused and in pain. I refuse to eat, refuse to leave the office until bedtime when my novelist puts me on the bed, opens my mouth and injects some sort of liquid between my teeth and I find some sort of relief from the pain and fall asleep. At least Dental Day is over for another 363 days. I shall try to forget about it for now and hope I am not emotionally traumatized. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: THE SUBSTANCE (2024)-HBO MAX

Just in time for Halloween, this highly imaginative, highly innovative film is finally streaming on HBO Max. If you haven’t seen it yet, you really should. Inches from perfection this is a phenomenal tightly put together stunner of a movie that would have made Stanley Kubrick proud. Brilliantly and meticulously directed and written by Coralie Fargeat, had the third act starting with the moments after Sue’s bathroom scene up until its brilliant last shot been less over the top it would have been a masterpiece. Someone should have figured out at some point that this was no longer a horror film but rather a work of art and gone less for comical gruesomeness during the climax and more for a poignant message. Had that happened, it would have been the best film of the year and one of the best for years to come.

Exercise celebrity Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore in a fearless well-deserved Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winning performance) is great at her job. Except that she has hit her fifties. Her producer Harvey (Dennis Quaid who is deliciously vicious here) wants a newer, younger star. He callously takes her to lunch on her birthday and fires her over a large bowl of shrimp. Understandably upset, Elizabeth gets into a car wreck shortly after and meets a young handsome Male Nurse (Robin Grier) who slips her a note in her coat pocket with a USB file for The Substance, a way to a younger better self. Skeptical at first, Elizabeth throws the drive into the trash. But upon finding out there is an audition for someone to take her place, she recovers the drive and decides to go through with it. She contacts The Substance (voiced by Yann Bean) who provides her with an address. Shortly after, she receives a small package in the mail. Inside is a keycard with a number on it in bold print.

Heading to a sketchy part of LA and into some sort of hidden doorway that only opens halfway, Elizabeth finds a rather modern small facility where a locker matching her keycard number has a package in it. She takes the package home, opens it and follows the instructions. This DNA kit leads to the birth, as it were, of Sue (Margret Qualley, in a stunning performance that for some inexplicable reason did not garner her a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination) a younger version of herself and from that point on, chaos begins.  

The film rightly won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling for Pierre Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli.

An Experiment

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Good afternoon. Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce this week’s blog. For the past several days my novelist and I decided to conduct a small experiment. We wanted to know which types of MBTI personality types are most likely to write which types of genres. We thought it might help writers to know where their strengths lie. For instance, if you started off penning a comedy and suddenly hit a bout of writer’s block, could changing the genre or partnering the genre to something in your wheelhouse be of help? The idea came about when my novelist, who is taking a writing class in science fiction thought about a time in college when she remembered one of her literature professors who was teaching from the novel The Left-Hand Side of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin had mentioned that Sci-Fi writers were a niche group. My novelist, who had always thought this to be true, wanted to prove the theory. And so, she began looking up sci-fi writers and their corresponding personality types and started to see a distinct pattern. She then decided to pose the question to AI and came out with the same list as her save for one author. And that author was in the same quadrant as most of the other writers. And so, I proposed that we try this with all genres, and this was what we discovered:

Action: ESTP, ENTP, ISTP, INTJ, ESTJ

Dramas: ENFP, ISFJ, INFJ, INFP, ENFJ, ESFJ

Thriller: INTJ, ENTP, INFJ, ISTP

Horror: INFJ, INTJ, INFP, INTP, ISFP

Comedies: ENFP, ENTP, ESFP, INFJ

Romantic Comedies: ESFP, ENTP, ENFJ, ENFP, INFP

Fantasy: INTJ, INFP, INFJ, INTP, ISFP

Science Fiction: INTJ, INTP, ENTP, INFJ, INFP

Mysteries: INTJ, INFJ, ISTJ, INTP, ENTP

Broken down by type the list would look like this:

ESTJ: Action

ISTJ: Mysteries

ESFJ: Dramas

ISFJ: Dramas

ESTP: Action

ISTP: Action, Thriller

ESFP: Comedies, Romantic Comedies

ISFP: Horror, Fantasy

ENFP: Dramas, Comedies, Romantic Comedies

ENFJ: Dramas, Romantic Comedies

INFP: Dramas, Horror, Romantic Comedies, Fantasy

INFJ: Dramas, Thriller, Horror, Comedies, Fantasy, Mysteries

ENTJ:

ENTP: Action, Thriller, Comedies, Romantic Comedies, Science Fiction, Mysteries

INTJ: Action, Thriller, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mysteries

INTP: Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mysteries

It bothered us greatly that no genre came up for the ENTJ. We thought this was odd. And so, we decided to also ask AI to give us a more in-depth answer for each personality. Here is what it came up with:

ESTJs—often called “The Executive” in MBTI theory—bring structure, clarity, and purpose to their writing. They tend to favor genres that reflect their values: tradition, leadership, and practical impact. Here’s a breakdown of the genres ESTJs often gravitate toward:

Genres ESTJs Often Write

•           Historical Fiction: ESTJs appreciate order and legacy. They often write stories grounded in real events, emphasizing discipline, leadership, and moral clarity.

•           Political Drama & Legal Fiction: With their strategic mindset and respect for systems, ESTJs excel at crafting narratives around governance, justice, and institutional conflict.

•           Military Fiction & War Memoirs: Their affinity for hierarchy and duty makes them well-suited to stories of command, sacrifice, and tactical decision-making.

•           Nonfiction (Leadership, Business, History): ESTJs often write to inform or instruct, especially on topics like management, civic duty, or historical analysis.

•           Mystery & Procedural Crime: They enjoy logical problem-solving and structured storytelling, often favoring detective fiction with clear resolutions.

Why These Genres Fit ESTJs

•           They value clarity, structure, and purpose in storytelling.

•           ESTJs often write with a moral compass, emphasizing justice, tradition, and leadership.

•           Their writing tends to be organized, direct, and impactful, often aiming to educate or uphold societal values.

If you’re crafting an ESTJ character or channeling their mindset in your own writing, think in terms of legacy, leadership, and logic.

ESFJs—often called “The Caregiver” or “The Provider”—bring warmth, empathy, and social insight to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that explore relationships, community, and emotional growth. Based on recent analyses, here’s a breakdown of genres ESFJs often gravitate toward:

Genres ESFJs Often Write

•           Romance: ESFJs excel at capturing emotional nuance, interpersonal dynamics, and heartfelt connection. They often write stories that explore love, loyalty, and the complexities of relationships.

•           Slice of Life & Contemporary Fiction: With their focus on everyday experiences and social harmony, ESFJs often write character-driven stories that reflect real-world challenges and triumphs.

•           Young Adult (YA): ESFJs are drawn to coming-of-age narratives that emphasize friendship, identity, and emotional growth.

•           Poetry: Their sensitivity to emotion and rhythm makes them natural poets, especially when expressing themes of love, loss, and beauty.

•           Fantasy & Science Fiction (with emotional depth): While not always their primary genre, ESFJs may write speculative fiction that centers on relationships and moral dilemmas.

•           Biographical & Inspirational Nonfiction: ESFJs often write to uplift and connect, sharing stories of resilience, kindness, and personal transformation.

Why These Genres Fit ESFJs

•           They value emotional resonance, social connection, and uplifting themes.

•           ESFJs often write with a strong moral compass, emphasizing empathy, loyalty, and community.

•           Their stories tend to be accessible, heartfelt, and character-focused, often aiming to comfort or inspire.

ISTJs—often called “The Logistician” or “The Inspector”—bring discipline, structure, and realism to their writing. They tend to favor genres that reflect order, tradition, and logical progression. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ISTJs often gravitate toward:

Genres ISTJs Often Write

•           Historical Fiction: ISTJs love accuracy and legacy. They often write stories grounded in real events, emphasizing tradition, duty, and moral clarity.

•           Science Fiction (Structured & Realistic): They enjoy speculative worlds with consistent rules, especially those that explore technological systems, governance, or ethical dilemmas.

•           Crime & Mystery: ISTJs excel at logical problem-solving and structured storytelling, often favoring detective fiction with clear resolutions.

•           Drama: They may write emotionally grounded stories that explore family, responsibility, and societal roles.

•           Dystopian Fiction: ISTJs are drawn to cautionary tales that explore the breakdown of systems and the consequences of disorder.

•           Psychological Fiction: Their introspective side may lead them to write stories that explore internal conflict, trauma, or moral ambiguity.

•           Nonfiction (History, Psychology, Law): ISTJs often write to inform or preserve knowledge, especially in areas that require precision and depth.

Why These Genres Fit ISTJs

•           They value accuracy, structure, and realism in storytelling.

•           ISTJs often write with a clear moral compass, emphasizing justice, responsibility, and perseverance.

•           Their stories tend to be methodical, grounded, and purposeful, often aiming to educate or uphold societal values.

ISFJs—often called “The Defender” or “The Nurturer”—bring empathy, tradition, and emotional depth to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that reflect human connection, moral values, and the quiet strength of everyday life. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ISFJs often gravitate toward:

Genres ISFJs Often Write

•           Historical Fiction: ISFJs love exploring the past, especially stories that honor legacy, family, and cultural continuity.

•           Mystery & Cozy Crime: They enjoy structured storytelling with moral resolution, often favoring gentle mysteries over gritty thrillers.

•           Fantasy (Character-Driven): ISFJs may write fantasy with strong emotional arcs, focusing on loyalty, friendship, and personal growth.

•           Young Adult (YA): Their sensitivity and insight into emotional development make them natural YA writers, especially stories about identity, belonging, and resilience.

•           Classic & Literary Fiction: ISFJs often admire and emulate timeless works that explore human nature, ethics, and quiet transformation.

•           Psychological Fiction: Some ISFJs write introspective stories that explore mental health, trauma, and healing, often drawing from personal experience.

•           Self-Help & Inspirational Nonfiction: Their nurturing nature often leads them to write books that comfort, guide, or uplift others.

Why These Genres Fit ISFJs

•           They value emotional authenticity, moral clarity, and personal connection.

•           ISFJs often write with gentle wisdom, focusing on healing, loyalty, and quiet courage.

•           Their stories tend to be intimate, reflective, and deeply human, often spotlighting unsung heroes or everyday resilience.

ESTPs—often called “The Dynamo” or “The Entrepreneur”—bring a bold, action-oriented energy to their writing. They thrive on excitement, sensory detail, and fast-paced storytelling. Here’s a breakdown of the genres ESTPs often gravitate toward as writers:

Genres ESTPs Often Write

•           Action & Adventure: ESTPs love adrenaline and movement. They often write stories packed with physical challenges, daring escapes, and high-stakes confrontations.

•           Thrillers & Crime Fiction: Their sharp observational skills and love of tension make them natural at crafting suspenseful plots, especially those involving deception, chase scenes, or psychological manipulation.

•           Romantic Comedy & Drama: ESTPs are charismatic and socially intuitive, which translates well into witty banter, flirtatious dynamics, and emotionally charged relationships.

•           Urban Fantasy & Supernatural: They enjoy blending real-world grit with fantastical elements, especially when it allows for stylish combat, clever protagonists, and rule-breaking magic.

•           Satire & Dark Humor: ESTPs often have a mischievous streak and enjoy poking fun at societal norms, authority figures, or pretentiousness through sharp, irreverent writing.

ESFPs—often called “The Entertainer” or “The Performer”—bring charisma, emotional vibrancy, and sensory richness to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that allow them to explore relationships, dramatic tension, and the thrill of the moment. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ESFPs often gravitate toward:

Genres ESFPs Often Write

•           Romance: ESFPs excel at capturing chemistry, emotional highs and lows, and the drama of love. Their stories often feature passionate characters and dynamic relationships.

•           Drama & Contemporary Fiction: They enjoy writing about real-life situations with emotional depth, especially stories that explore identity, friendship, and personal growth.

•           Young Adult (YA): ESFPs are drawn to coming-of-age narratives filled with social dynamics, self-discovery, and vibrant emotional arcs.

•           Fantasy (Character-Driven): While not always focused on world-building, ESFPs often write fantasy that centers on bold, expressive characters and magical experiences.

•           Comedy & Satire: Their playful nature and social intuition make them great at writing humorous, witty, and socially observant stories.

•           Memoir & Personal Essay: ESFPs often write from experience, sharing vivid stories that connect emotionally and inspire others.

Why These Genres Fit ESFPs

•           They value emotional immediacy, sensory detail, and relatable characters.

•           ESFPs often write with flair and spontaneity, favoring stories that entertain and connect.

•           Their writing tends to be expressive, engaging, and socially attuned, often spotlighting personal transformation or relational drama.

ISTPs—often called “The Virtuoso” or “The Craftsman”—bring precision, pragmatism, and a love of mechanics and action to their writing. They tend to favor genres that allow for exploration, problem-solving, and physical or tactical engagement. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ISTPs often gravitate toward:

Genres ISTPs Often Write

•           Action & Adventure: ISTPs thrive on movement and challenge. They often write stories featuring survival, exploration, or combat, with protagonists who rely on skill and instinct.

•           Thrillers & Espionage: Their analytical minds and love of strategy make them natural at crafting suspenseful plots involving deception, puzzles, and tactical maneuvering.

•           Science Fiction (Tech-Focused): ISTPs enjoy exploring how machines, systems, and innovations shape human experience—especially in gritty, realistic settings.

•           Mystery & Detective Fiction: With their problem-solving mindset, ISTPs often write stories centered on logic, deduction, and uncovering hidden truths.

•           Military Fiction & Tactical Drama: Their respect for skill, hierarchy, and precision often shows up in stories about elite units, covert missions, or battlefield strategy.

•           Survival & Wilderness Fiction: ISTPs are drawn to stories where characters must rely on resourcefulness and physical prowess to overcome nature or isolation.

Why These Genres Fit ISTPs

•           They favor hands-on protagonists who act decisively and solve problems under pressure.

•           ISTPs write with clarity, realism, and technical accuracy, often avoiding emotional excess.

•           Their stories often emphasize individualism, autonomy, and mastery—themes central to ISTP psychology.

ISFPs—often called “The Adventurer” or “The Artist”—bring sensitivity, aesthetic depth, and emotional authenticity to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that allow for personal expression, beauty, and introspection. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ISFPs often gravitate toward:

Genres ISFPs Often Write

•           Poetry: ISFPs are deeply attuned to emotion and sensory detail, making them natural poets. Their work often explores love, nature, identity, and fleeting moments of beauty.

•           Romance & Contemporary Fiction: They write emotionally rich stories that focus on relationships, personal growth, and the quiet drama of everyday life.

•           Fantasy (Lyrical or Character-Driven): ISFPs may write fantasy that emphasizes wonder, emotional journeys, and symbolic landscapes rather than rigid world-building.

•           Young Adult (YA): Their empathy and introspection make them well-suited to coming-of-age stories that explore identity, belonging, and emotional resilience.

•           Memoir & Personal Essay: ISFPs often write from experience, sharing heartfelt reflections on life, love, and transformation.

•           Artistic or Experimental Fiction: They enjoy pushing boundaries with form and style, often crafting stories that are visually or emotionally evocative.

Why These Genres Fit ISFPs

•           They value authenticity, beauty, and emotional depth.

•           ISFPs often write with a gentle, introspective voice, focusing on personal meaning and aesthetic experience.

•           Their stories tend to be intimate, expressive, and quietly powerful, often spotlighting the inner lives of characters.

ENFJs—often called “The Protagonist” or “The Teacher”—bring passion, empathy, and visionary depth to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that explore human connection, transformation, and moral complexity. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ENFJs often gravitate toward:

Genres ENFJs Often Write

•           Fantasy (Epic or Allegorical): ENFJs love crafting symbolic worlds that explore good vs. evil, personal growth, and societal transformation. Their stories often feature chosen-one arcs, moral dilemmas, and emotionally resonant journeys.

•           Romance & Drama: With their emotional intelligence and insight into relationships, ENFJs often write stories that explore love, sacrifice, and interpersonal dynamics.

•           Science Fiction (Social or Ethical): ENFJs may write speculative fiction that critiques society, explores future ethics, or imagines transformative change.

•           Mystery & Psychological Fiction: They enjoy unraveling human motives and exploring inner conflict, especially when it leads to redemption or revelation.

•           Classic & Literary Fiction: ENFJs are drawn to timeless themes of justice, identity, and human nature, often writing with philosophical depth.

•           Biography & Inspirational Nonfiction: Their desire to uplift and guide others often leads them to write about real-life heroes, change-makers, or personal growth.

•           Webtoons, Manga, and Comics: ENFJs often enjoy visual storytelling that blends emotion, action, and character development.

Why These Genres Fit ENFJs

•           They value emotional depth, moral clarity, and transformational arcs.

•           ENFJs often write with a visionary voice, aiming to inspire, connect, and elevate.

•           Their stories tend to be character-driven, philosophically rich, and socially conscious.

ENFPs—often called “The Campaigner” or “The Visionary”—bring imagination, emotional depth, and boundless curiosity to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that allow them to explore ideas, challenge norms, and connect deeply with readers. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ENFPs often gravitate toward:

Genres ENFPs Often Write

•           Fantasy (Whimsical or Philosophical): ENFPs love magical worlds that explore identity, morality, and transformation. Think The Alchemist or Harry Potter—stories that blend wonder with meaning.

•           Young Adult (YA): Their empathy and idealism make them natural YA writers, especially stories about self-discovery, rebellion, and emotional growth.

•           Science Fiction (Speculative or Social): ENFPs enjoy imagining future societies and technologies, especially when they challenge norms or explore human potential.

•           Romance & Drama: With their emotional insight and love of connection, ENFPs often write stories that explore relationships, passion, and personal evolution.

•           Adventure & Magical Realism: ENFPs are drawn to genre-bending tales that mix reality with fantasy, often with quirky characters and unpredictable journeys.

•           Memoir & Personal Essay: Their introspective side often leads them to write about their own experiences, especially when it helps others feel seen or inspired.

Why These Genres Fit ENFPs

•           They value authenticity, imagination, and emotional resonance.

•           ENFPs often write with a playful, visionary voice, exploring what could be rather than what is.

•           Their stories tend to be character-driven, philosophically rich, and emotionally vibrant.

INFJs—often called “The Advocate” or “The Mystic”—are deeply introspective, idealistic, and emotionally attuned. Their writing often reflects a desire to explore meaning, morality, and transformation. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres INFJs often gravitate toward:

Genres INFJs Often Write

•           Fantasy (Symbolic or Philosophical)

INFJs love crafting allegorical worlds that explore good vs. evil, destiny, and inner transformation. Their stories often feature chosen-one arcs, spiritual journeys, and moral dilemmas.

•           Literary Fiction

They gravitate toward introspective, character-driven narratives that explore psychology, relationships, and existential themes.

•           Science Fiction (Ethical or Visionary)

INFJs may write speculative fiction that critiques society, imagines utopias/dystopias, or explores consciousness and identity.

•           Mystery & Psychological Fiction

With their love of hidden meanings and emotional depth, INFJs often write stories that unravel motives, trauma, and redemption.

•           Memoir & Personal Essay

INFJs often write to process emotion and share insight, especially around healing, growth, and purpose.

•           Poetry

Their sensitivity to language and symbolism makes them natural poets, especially when expressing themes of love, loss, and spiritual longing.

Why These Genres Fit INFJs

•           They value depth, symbolism, and emotional truth.

•           INFJs often write with a visionary, reflective voice, aiming to heal, inspire, or provoke thought.

•           Their stories tend to be layered, philosophical, and emotionally resonant, often spotlighting transformation and inner conflict.

INFPs—often called “The Mediator” or “The Idealist”—bring emotional depth, imagination, and a strong sense of personal meaning to their writing. They’re drawn to genres that allow them to explore identity, morality, and transformation, often through lyrical prose and introspective characters. Here’s a breakdown of what INFPs often write:

Genres INFPs Often Gravitate Toward

•           Fantasy (Mythic, Symbolic, or Whimsical)

INFPs love crafting magical worlds that reflect inner journeys, moral dilemmas, and archetypal themes. Think The Chronicles of Narnia or His Dark Materials—stories that blend wonder with philosophical depth.

•           Young Adult (YA)

Their empathy and introspection make them natural YA writers, especially stories about self-discovery, emotional growth, and rebellion against conformity.

•           Literary Fiction

INFPs often write character-driven narratives that explore existential questions, emotional nuance, and the beauty of everyday life.

•           Poetry

With their sensitivity to language and emotion, INFPs frequently express themselves through poetry—often exploring themes of love, loss, nature, and longing.

•           Memoir & Personal Essay

INFPs write to process and share their inner world, often crafting deeply personal reflections on identity, trauma, healing, or purpose.

•           Magical Realism & Speculative Fiction

They enjoy blending the surreal with the real, using metaphor and symbolism to explore psychological or spiritual truths.

•           Romance (Idealistic or Bittersweet)

INFPs often write love stories that emphasize emotional connection, authenticity, and the tension between fantasy and reality.

Why These Genres Fit INFPs

•           They value authenticity, emotional resonance, and symbolic meaning.

•           INFPs often write with a lyrical, introspective voice, aiming to connect, heal, or inspire.

•           Their stories tend to be intimate, imaginative, and morally rich, often spotlighting transformation and inner conflict.

ENTJs—often called “Commanders” in MBTI theory—tend to gravitate toward genres that reflect their strategic minds, bold vision, and desire to influence systems or provoke thought. Based on recent insights, here are some genres ENTJs are often drawn to as writers:

Genres ENTJs Often Write

•           Science Fiction & Dystopian: ENTJs are future-oriented and love exploring systems, power structures, and societal evolution. Sci-fi and dystopian genres let them build worlds that critique or reimagine political, technological, or corporate systems.

•           Thrillers & Political Intrigue: With their love of strategy and high-stakes conflict, ENTJs often excel at writing tightly plotted thrillers, especially those involving espionage, leadership struggles, or corporate warfare.

•           Historical Fiction: ENTJs appreciate the lessons of history and may enjoy reinterpreting pivotal moments through a modern lens, especially when leadership, revolution, or innovation is involved.

•           Nonfiction (Leadership, Sociology, History): Many ENTJs channel their analytical strengths into nonfiction, especially works that explore leadership theory, social systems, or historical analysis.

•           Fantasy with Political Depth: While not always drawn to whimsical fantasy, ENTJs often enjoy writing epic fantasy with complex political systems, power struggles, and moral ambiguity—think Game of Thrones over Harry Potter.

Why These Genres Fit ENTJs

•           They allow ENTJs to explore power dynamics, challenge norms, and propose visionary alternatives.

•           ENTJs enjoy structured storytelling with clear goals, rising tension, and decisive outcomes.

•           They often write with a purpose—to persuade, provoke, or lead readers toward a new understanding.

ENTPs—often called “The Visionary” or “The Debater”—are imaginative, intellectually agile, and endlessly curious. They thrive on novelty, subversion, and pushing boundaries, which makes their writing bold, genre-bending, and idea-driven. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres ENTPs often gravitate toward:

Genres ENTPs Often Write

•           Speculative Fiction (Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Utopian)

ENTPs love exploring “what if” scenarios—alternate futures, radical technologies, or societal upheaval. Their stories often challenge norms and provoke thought.

•           Satire & Dark Comedy

With their wit and irreverence, ENTPs excel at poking holes in institutions, ideologies, and social conventions. Think Catch-22 or American Psycho.

•           Fantasy (Unconventional or Meta)

ENTPs enjoy twisting tropes, breaking the fourth wall, or creating chaotic magical systems that reflect philosophical or political ideas.

•           Thriller & Conspiracy Fiction

Their love of complexity and layered plots makes them natural at crafting stories involving secrets, manipulation, and intellectual cat-and-mouse games.

•           Philosophical Fiction

ENTPs often write stories that explore abstract ideas—identity, freedom, morality—through allegory or surrealism.

•           Graphic Novels, Manga, and Experimental Formats

They’re drawn to hybrid forms that let them play with structure, visuals, and nonlinear storytelling.

•           Nonfiction (Manifestos, Essays, Polemics)

ENTPs often write to challenge, persuade, or provoke—especially on topics like innovation, politics, or cultural critique.

Why These Genres Fit ENTPs

•           They value intellectual stimulation, novelty, and subversion.

•           ENTPs often write with a playful, provocative voice, aiming to entertain, challenge, and inspire.

•           Their stories tend to be idea-driven, structurally inventive, and thematically bold.

INTJs—often called “The Mastermind” or “The Architect”—bring strategic depth, intellectual rigor, and visionary thinking to their writing. They gravitate toward genres that allow them to explore systems, ideologies, and transformation through tightly structured narratives. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres INTJs often write:

Genres INTJs Often Gravitate Toward

•           Science Fiction (Hard, Dystopian, Philosophical)

INTJs love exploring future systems, ethical dilemmas, and technological evolution. Their sci-fi often critiques society or imagines radical change.

•           Fantasy (Epic or Political)

They enjoy building complex worlds with intricate power structures, moral ambiguity, and strategic conflict—think Mistborn or A Song of Ice and Fire.

•           Thriller & Psychological Fiction

INTJs excel at crafting layered plots with intellectual tension, manipulation, and high-stakes decision-making.

•           Philosophical & Literary Fiction

Their introspective side leads them to write stories that explore existential themes, identity, and the nature of truth.

•           Historical Fiction

INTJs often write about pivotal moments in history, especially when they can analyze systems, leadership, or ideological shifts.

•           Mystery & Crime

With their love of logic and deduction, INTJs often write cerebral mysteries with strategic pacing and minimal emotional excess.

•           Nonfiction (Strategy, History, Psychology, Philosophy)

They frequently write to inform or persuade, especially on topics that require deep analysis and structured argument.

Why These Genres Fit INTJs

•           They value intellectual depth, strategic complexity, and thematic precision.

•           INTJs often write with a visionary, analytical voice, aiming to challenge, reveal, or reshape.

•           Their stories tend to be idea-driven, tightly plotted, and morally layered, often spotlighting transformation through insight or power.

INTPs—often called “The Architect” or “The Thinker”—bring analytical depth, abstract imagination, and philosophical curiosity to their writing. They gravitate toward genres that allow them to explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and construct intricate systems or theories. Based on recent insights, here’s a breakdown of genres INTPs often write:

Genres INTPs Often Gravitate Toward

•           Science Fiction (Hard, Philosophical, or Speculative)

INTPs love exploring futuristic technologies, alternate realities, and abstract concepts like consciousness, time, and identity. Their sci-fi often includes complex systems and thought experiments.

•           Fantasy (Intellectual or Metaphysical)

They enjoy building intricate worlds with unique rules, often using magic or myth as metaphors for philosophical or psychological ideas.

•           Philosophical Fiction

INTPs frequently write stories that explore existential questions, moral ambiguity, and the nature of truth, often through allegory or surrealism.

•           Mystery & Psychological Thrillers

With their love of logic and deduction, INTPs often craft cerebral mysteries or thrillers that hinge on puzzles, secrets, and internal conflict.

•           Literary Fiction

They gravitate toward introspective, idea-driven narratives that explore human nature, societal structures, or intellectual dilemmas.

•           Nonfiction (Philosophy, Psychology, Science, Systems Theory)

INTPs often write to analyze or explain, especially in fields that reward deep thought and abstract reasoning.

•           Experimental or Postmodern Fiction

Their love of breaking conventions and exploring meta-structures often leads them to write nonlinear, genre-defying works.

Why These Genres Fit INTPs

•           They value intellectual depth, abstract exploration, and structural complexity.

•           INTPs often write with a detached, analytical voice, aiming to provoke thought, reveal patterns, or challenge norms.

•           Their stories tend to be idea-driven, layered, and unconventional, often spotlighting internal conflict or systemic critique.

We found these insights fascinating and hope sharing them with our readers was enlightening if not helpful. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: CITIZEN X (1995)-HBO MAX

Of all the films HBO has produced, this is amongst their finest hours. The movie was released on HBO in 1995 to great critical acclaim and won a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy for Donald Sutherland’s fantastic supporting acting performance. In fact, I would say the film stands toe to toe with both The Silence of the Lambs and Memories of Murder. After watching the recent HBO film Mountainhead a couple of days earlier, it is heartbreaking to see how movies in general have severely declined in quality.

The movie is based on the book The Killer Department: Detective Viktor Burakov’s Eight-Year Hunt for the Most Savage Serial Killer in Russian History by Robert Cullen which is about one of the most notorious and prolific serial killers of the 20th century. I wanted to choose a terrifying movie with the advent of Halloween coming on. And so, I chose one of the bloodiest, coldest, most calculating leviathans of them all: bureaucracy.

In the USSR in 1982, while workers are harvesting a collective farm, the body of a child is found. The body is taken into the morgue to be inspected by new forensic specialist, Viktor Burakov (Stephen Rae, who turns in a phenomenal performance that should have won him a Golden Globe and an Emmy and shockingly he wasn’t nominated for either). Burakov demands the police search the woods around the farm and they come back with seven other children’s bodies. Burakov realizes he has a vicious child molester and serial killer on his hands and goes to the members of the provincial committee for crime for help. But when he asks for computers, manpower and a press release to warn the public of the danger, they refuse. After all, to admit there is a serial killer in the USSR, is to admit they have a problem thought unique to the decadent western world. However, his commanding officer Col. Mikhail Fetisov (Donald Sutherland) the head of the provincial committee for crime knows Burakov is right. He promotes Burakov to detective and puts him in charge of the case. As there has never been a department of such in the USSR, it is named The Killer Department.

The tenacious Burakov works diligently on the case as more bodies of young people start to show up. He pleads and begs with the members of the provincial committee for crime to help him start watching the train stations where he believes the culprit picks up victims and takes them to the woods to kill, rape and mutilate. Burakov and Fetisov find themselves in a long, drawn-out fight to cut through red tape as they bring in psychiatrist Dr.Alexandr Bukhanovsky (Max von Sydow) to help them fight to bring down an elusive blood-thirsty monster. Rounding out the cast are Jeffrey DeMunn who is superb in his Emmy nominated roll here and Imelda Staunton who plays Burakov’s wife.

Chimpanzees

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Good morning. Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce my blog. This week I have been considering chimpanzees. They are intelligent primate, but can show physical aggression and be extraordinarily dangerous. They like to stand up on their hind legs, swagger, bang on objects, charge, hit, throw rocks, and bite. They like to change their physical appearance by making their hair poof as if they had goosebumps. They also like to form social coalitions so they can form a group and have control over other chimpanzees. We know now, thanks to people like Jane Goodall and Darwin that many animals have feelings, emotions and inner lives. But what if, like humans, some of them don’t. Chilling to consider, isn’t it?

I thought I would ask AI about the matter and here is what it said:

“Yes, some non-human primates, especially chimpanzees, do exhibit behavioral traits that resemble human psychopathy. While we can’t diagnose animals with psychopathy in the clinical sense, researchers have used models like the triarchic model of psychopathy—which includes boldness, meanness, and disinhibition—to study these traits in chimpanzees.

🧠 Key Findings from Research:

•           Chimpanzees have shown individual differences in traits like:

•           Meanness: aggression, lack of empathy, and callousness toward others.

•           Boldness: fearless dominance, social assertiveness, and low anxiety.

•           Disinhibition: impulsivity and poor behavioral control.

•           These traits are assessed using adapted personality measures and behavioral tasks, such as approach-avoidance tests with novel stimuli (e.g., mannequins).

•           Some chimpanzees engage in violent or manipulative behaviors that mirror human psychopathic tendencies, including brutal intergroup aggression and strategic deception.

🧬 Nature vs. Nurture:

•           Just like in humans, early-life experiences and genetic predispositions play a role. For example, trauma or disrupted social bonding in infancy can influence the development of antisocial traits.

•           Interestingly, the genetic contribution to psychopathic traits appears strong in both humans and chimpanzees, suggesting evolutionary continuity.

This line of research is helping scientists understand the biological and evolutionary roots of psychopathy—not just as a disorder, but as a spectrum of traits that may have adaptive functions in certain social environments.”

Although my novelist has occasionally visited zoos, I have not. I am afraid to go because I might see a chimpanzee. How would I explain to this sometimes volitile creature that they are acting rude? How would I explain the importance of manners? How would I teach it to speak French? How would I show it how to drink tea? How would I attempt to educate it in how to use a map? This puzzles me greatly. NASA did something interesting with chimpanzees. They shot one into space. That must have been a relief knowing there was one less chimpanzee on earth for a while until it was returned to avoid bad press. It was aptly named Ham. In fact, something like thirty-two primates were shot into space over time. That made me think I might like to study rocket science. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: BALANCE (1989)-YOUTUBE

One of my favorite shorts, if not my most favorite short of all time is this Academy Award winning mini masterpiece written and directed by Chrisoph and Lauenstein Wolfgang. I might note, I am not the only one out there who has marked this special cinematic piece amongst their personal best of breed as well. The premise is simple yet striking. A group of five well-dressed fishermen stand on a square platform somewhere in space and time. Each of them has a different number on the back of his coat: 23, 35, 51, 75, and 77. What the numbers mean are up for debate. However, they may be there to identify each character in lieu of a name to show anonymity or perhaps show how people are reduced to nameless cogs in a corporate, societal, or political system. When each fisherman moves, the platform tilts, and the others must move a few steps to get the platform back into balance, so no one falls off one of the edges. To say much more would be to ruin it for the viewer. I will instead give you this link and this link to watch the short. An absolute must see film.

Aesthetics

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Good afternoon. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce this week’s blog. For the past few days, I have been pondering the word aesthetics. Certainly, I consider myself a poodle of extraordinary aesthetics. However, being an ENTJ and my novelist being an INTJ, aesthetics seems to mean less to us than whether something works. Sensory perceptive and sensory judgement personality types, which we try to keep our distance from, especially the extroverted ones, are all about aesthetics because, well, they are sensory. They will have never ending discussions on how the perfect butter horn should be made or exactly, precisely what color the banister should be painted. Or how to spend shocking amounts of money to sculpt themselves into the perfect body type. My novelist and I prefer to discuss abstract ideas and visionary brainstorming. It isn’t that we dislike beautiful things we just like things to be well-made and/or work well no matter what they look like. Some of the greatest rock stars of all time are not pretty but their music is astounding. Some musical celebrities today are hired for their looks, which is most unfortunate. Especially when someone whose aesthetics are not as exemplary may be much more talented and would pen far better music gets left on the sidelines. Beauty in our society is more than overrated. It’s disturbingly worshiped. If the dull flat metal plane with the small worn brown seats and no first class can take off, fly and land and the shiny sexy one with the neon party lights and the big plush cherry red reclining chairs crashes into the ocean, bursts into flames, is circled by sharks, and everyone and everything on it gets destroyed, which one are you going to board? Until next week, I bid you adieu.  

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: AKA CHARLIE SHEEN (2025)-NETFLIX

This week’s film is a biographical documentary on one of Hollywood’s most notorious living movie stars, Charlie Sheen. This two-parter is told mostly through Charlie Sheen’s memories of his life from childhood to present. It is fascinating which celebrities participated in the documentary and what they had to say about the man who include Jon Cryer, Chuck Lorie, Dennise Richards, Sean Penn, Heidi Fleiss, and brother Ramon Estevez. Sheen’s father Martin Sheen and his older brother Emilio Estevez decided not to be a part of the documentary but footage of them is in the film.

The challenge in watching this movie is what made/makes Charlie Sheen tick. His association with other celebrities is fascinating, such as Nicholas Cage and Mathew Perry. His experimental lifestyle and capacity for living the fast life is harrowing. And his relationship with his father and ex-wife Richards is extraordinary. But the real question here is how we decipher what kind of person he really is and why he has lived the life he has. Some experts think he has bipolar disorder. Others believe he has extreme narcissism. Still others think his actions may be linked to drug withdrawal. Some believe he exhibits psychopathic traits. I do agree with most of these thoughts and would add it appears he has a good chance of having the genetic allele MAOA which is responsible for aggression and impulse control. He also might have 5-HTTLPR which is associated with psychopathy and addiction. But only a psychiatrist could make these determinations. He is typed as an ESTP which is the most likely personality type to be psychopathic (and an actor for that matter) followed by ENTP, ENTJ and ESTJ. ESTPs are even jokingly called the Con Artist Personality Type. Interestingly his father Martin Sheen is typed as an ISFJ which is a perfect match for ESTP and probably explains their incredible bond as a father and son. The bottom line however is Charlie Sheen is interesting to listen to and you kind of like him…at a distance…and hope he can and is pulling his life together.

Go To University

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Good morning. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce my blog. This week my novelist’s alma mater commenced fall classes, and it got me thinking about my time at the Sorbonne. I adored studying Literature, Language, and Culture there. One may not realize this, but they have a special program at the Sorbonne for highly gifted poodles. I was delighted to spend time relaxing and studying at the Montparnasse and engaging in intellectual conversations with other highly gifted Caniche. It put a wag in my tail and a spring in my trot. Which makes me think of all those Gen Z students out there who should be going to college right now and are not. How much is this generation getting lied to and cheated? My novelist and I worry that the great scheme is that universities may start only offering classes in business, law, communications, law enforcement, religion, and political science. Or in other words, vocations psychopaths go into. I find it perplexing that most of the individuals who stand on golden soap boxes and tell people not to go to college, go to college themselves. Send their mentally compromised offspring there to boot. I might add there are a fair number of young men out there who should be studying at universities and are not. Do they think they are going to get the woman of their dreams who is likely going to college if they themselves do not go? Do they think an educated woman is going to want an uneducated man? It seems to me that that there is an evil force that wants this generation and the one after it to be uneducated, impoverished fools, draining their parents’ savings by living at home and working menial labor occupations. All this wilst our country’s level of knowledge falls behind the rest of the world, and we collapse into a state of disease, famine and oppression. I am but a mere poodle, but I would say a con artist who tells an intelligent young person who should be getting an education not to go to college should be doused with honey and introduced to a pack of angry rabid chihuahuas. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: SIZU (2022)-HULU

If you are looking for a smart, intense, amusing action film this cleverly written and directed piece by Jalmari Helander is for you. Set in the Lapland wilderness of Finland in 1944 towards the end of WWII, we meet a man named Aatami (Jorma Tommila who turns in a great visceral performance). Accompanying him are his beautiful horse and his unbelievably cute well-trained Bedlington Terrier. Aatami is panning for gold in the river and isn’t finding all that much…until by happenstance he comes across enough gold to fill a couple of saddle bags. All he wants to do is peacefully return home and be rich. As the three of them begin heading back, they happen to cross paths with a caravan of Nazi soldiers. The soldiers are led by Bruno (Aksel Hennie) and his right-hand gunman Wolf (Jack Doolan). The Nazi’s have captured several young Finish women, including one named Aino (Mimosa Willamo) that they are hiding in one of the trucks and are using for recreational purposes.

Bruno is aware the Germans are going to lose the war, and he and his entire troupe will all be executed. But when Aatami falls and his large and numerous gold nuggets tumble out of the bags, Bruno sees it as the answer to freedom. He thinks it will be easy to overtake the old man and gather up the gold for himself. What Bruno doesn’t want to believe are the reports he gets from headquarters of what kind of a man Aatami is and the unbelievable lengths he will go to so he can stay alive and keep his treasure.

I will add this film is unashamedly gory at points and not for the squeamish, but if you are a fan of tarantinoesque films, I highly recommend this entertaining dark humored thriller.  

Back to Back

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Good morning. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce our blog and to tell you it has been a brutal week. I had terrifying appointments back-to-back. On Tuesday morning I was rudely awakened and whisked off to the groomers where I was bathed, trimmed, buffed, brushed and every horrific thing you can imagine. After it was over I was certain I was done with all the nastiness for the week. And then Wednesday morning, I was snatched up, put in the car and dashed off to the vet. THE VET! I was not ill. I eat healthily and keep myself in good shape. But there I was at the vet. Whilst there in that cold minimalist building, they poked, prodded, snogged and weighed me. I was escorted into the dreaded back room where I was administered shots. Shots that hurt. They also drew blood out of my neck. It was mortifying. All just to be told I was fine and to come back and get my teeth cleaned. TEETH CLEANED? That’s near surgery! They knock me out and when I wake up, I am in unbelievable agony. I was terrified getting my teeth cleaned was on today’s agenda. I mean, why not? I’ve been thoroughly tortured two days in a row, why not make it three? Fortunately, my sarcasm led to nothing. I am writing this in the safety of my home or my palace, as it should be. But just to be safe as soon as I finish this, I am spending the rest of my day hiding under the bed covertly penning my blog story. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: UNKNOWN NUMBER: THE HIGH SCHOOL CATFISH (2025)-NETFLIX

Here is a popular, riveting documentary that plays out like a dark twisted fairy tale. After you reflect on watching it, you’ll know what I mean. Without giving too much away, the story focuses on the first love of a couple of middle school students. Lauryn is a quiet, pretty athlete, and Owen is a likeable more outgoing one. The two are happy and have a lot of fun together. Their parents befriend each other, and everything seems idyllic in the kids’ small-town world.

And then when the young couple enters high school, Lauryn starts receiving angry, vicious text messages from an unknown source. Shortly after, Owen starts to receive angry, vicious text messages as well. Whoever is sending the texts seems to know a lot about the two kids’ lives. Disturbingly so. Suddenly, the texts stop for several months…and then they start up again with the messages becoming more brutal and relentless than before.

Everybody becomes a suspect: fellow students, rivals, teachers, cousins. Paranoia abounds and fingers get pointed at everyone, while the two kids spiral further into despair. The principal is alerted, the police are brought in, and then the FBI is assigned to the case as all of them try to sort out this dirty snowball that continually rolls, grows, and barrels out of control.

Most profoundly is the oddity of the perpetrator. But even more illuminating is how bad humans are at recognizing when someone close to them is mentally ill. And of course, in the end it is technology/science that finds resolution where people fail. Some viewers will find the whole story disturbing, unbelievable, and disgusting. Others will see it as a study in psychology. Although I did not know who the perpetrator was until their reveal, once I did, all the puzzle pieces fell into place. Because the bottom line is trying to apply logic to the actions of a compromised mind is an act of futility. And believing the words of a pathological liar is the folly of fools. Anything they say is up for debate. Overall, I found the film to be a well-executed exercise in predictable human behavior.

After watching the film, you can read this article which may give some insight into the perpetrator’s actions.

MY FRIEND NOEL

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I was profoundly sad to find out yesterday that a wonderful, intelligent, talented man died due to complications from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition I never knew he had.

Noel Wilks was a gentleman and a scholar. I first met him in middle school, and we were in a play together called I Sincerely Doubt That This Old House is Very Haunted. He played a ghost, and I played the mother of the lead actress. Noel was always kind and polite to me. He always treated me with respect and I in turn treated him the same. This was not often the case amongst other students who were usually malicious, and it was part of what made him stand apart from the herd. I remember when he was elected student body president in eighth grade, a position he very much earned and deserved. He was always a gifted public speaker who not only wrote well but spoke well.

In high school Noel was on the debate team where he competed in Lincoln Douglas events.  Unfortunately, he had left the team by the time I joined and competed in Interp events, so we did not get to go to tournaments together. As a freshman, he was cast in the school dramatic play in the fall and had only one line; “Me too.” I was an usher for the play and got to see the performances. He delivered it remarkably well and did what any good actor would do on stage when one does not have much dialogue, he used props and physical actions to bring his character to life. He went on to become the high school student body president, a position he unfortunately later relinquished. 

During a couple of summers while I was in college, I had the great misfortune of returning home. I worked full time during those warm months to pay for school, often two jobs, one of them being first a busser and then a waitress at a restaurant called Sophia Maria Browns which served Italian, Mexican and American food. Sometimes I would see Noel come into the establishment, and we would chat briefly. My hope was he would find a way to leave the small-town wasteland where we grew up and go to college which is where he belonged.

After I graduated from the UW, Noel and I crossed paths again. He lived across from me at an apartment complex. I moved there to work on plays at WWU to gain further experience in acting and theatre. While doing so I was again employed as a waitress, despite my vehement hatred of serving people so I could save as much money as possible. My goal was to attend the NSC in NYC where our fellow high school student Brina had studied. Noel often talked about wanting to attend college, which I encouraged him to do. Once the hotel where I waited tables had a Christmas party for the staff. It was a formal event, and Noel was the date of one of the waitresses I worked with. We dressed up and had a lot of fun that night eating a great meal and dancing. A couple years later when I was preparing to leave for the NSC, I gave him some of the items from my apartment. It was heartbreaking to move away from him.

Noel and I crossed paths again occasionally and spoke at all the class reunions I begrudgingly forced myself to attend. It was always worth the misery just to get to see Noel and have a conversation with him. I was hoping to see him again because over time I had changed from acting to writing and thought perhaps I might hand him one of my novels which he would be welcome to read or use to prop up a table leg if necessary.

Sometimes I had the opportunity to speak with Noel on the phone. He was the first to alert me to the unexpected news that our classmate Brian Flemming had died. I remembered the first time I saw Brian in Kindergarten, and the thought that came into my six-year-old mind was, I feel sorry for him. I don’t know why.

The worst part about hearing of Noel’s passing was knowing how much he brought to the world and how much more he had to offer. Noel was not perfect, but he was perfectly wonderful. I knew he was deeply affected by his father’s untimely death, and I had always hoped Noel would not experience an untimely passing as well. Unfortunately, we cannot always get what we hope for. I genuinely wish I had spoken to Noel more. I wish I had known him better. I wish I could have been a better friend. I send his family my deepest condolences and prayers.

Science Fiction

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Good afternoon. Gigi the parti poodle here once again to introduce my blog. I continue to work on my blog story which I am doing differently than ones in the past. I am writing the full story before I post it as opposed to posting one chapter at a time as I go along which I did with my other six stories. The way I did it before was a more experimental attempt for me to craft a story. My novelist, in the meantime, is preparing to take a writing class concentrating on science fiction.

She tells me the most difficult part of writing science fiction is doing research to understand the science one is writing about. Some writers don’t believe in doing research, but my novelist is not one of them. She is stringent about trying to get every scientific or technical thing she writes about correct. I think this attempt to achieve technical accuracy may be a major difference between the two most common types of writers, NTs & NFs.

For instance, in Hollywood one would find most screenwriters to be ENFJs. Many novelists would likely be INFJs. However, when it comes to rational thought, NTs would start to populate the author & screenwriter list. For instance, Arthur C. Clarke (INTP), Issac Asimov (INTJ), Christopher Nolen (INTJ), Quintin Tarantino (ENTP), Stephen King (INTP), Jane Austin (INTJ), Mark Twain (ENTP), Emily Brontë (INTJ), Chuck Palahniuk (ENTP), C.S. Lewis (INTJ), James Cameron (INTJ), etc. In other words, when it comes to thinking rationally and outside the box, NTs tend to creep into the writing realms.

But enough of this blathering. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: ONE OF THEM DAYS (2025)-NETFLIX

One of the best comedies of the year is now streaming on Netflix. This clever and funny script was written by Syreeta Singleton and directed by Lawrence Lamont. The story takes place over the course of one day in Los Angeles where Dreux Jones (Keke Palmer) is underemployed and working as a waitress. She gets off work in the morning and is picked up by her roommate, a free-spirited artist named Alyssa (SZA). The two are the best of friends but there is a wedge between them named Keshawn (Joshua David Neal). Keshawn is Alyssa’s boyfriend. He’s a get rich quick kind of guy who has been flopping at the women’s apartment. Alyssa made the not well thought out decision of giving Keshawn the $1500 in rent money to give to the landlord Uche (Rizi Timane). However, Keshawn decided to spend the money on printing T-shirts he plans to sell instead.

When Uche comes to the door asking for the rent, Dreux tells him Keshawn paid him. Uche says otherwise and if the two women do not pay the rent by 6:00pm that evening, he will remove all their belongings from the apartment and put them out on the street with ex-neighbor Fabian (Ray Santiago). This is not the best day for this to happen as Dreux has an important job interview that afternoon for a management position.

She heads back in to confront Alyssa about Keshawn and the stolen money and, both women suddenly realize Keshawn has taken off. Turns out he’s been cheating with Alyssa with a woman named Berneice (Aziza Scott) who becomes vengeance driven when the two women head over to her apartment to confront Keshawn. The two friends manage to escape and spend most of the day desperately try to come up with a way to scrape together the rent money in time for Dreux to get to her interview and for both to pay the rent before they find themselves on the streets.

Squirrels

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Good morning. Today I am delighted to report this week I had no baths, no trips to the vet, and no time in the clink. I am a free and happy poodle with plenty of time on my hands to continue penning my blog story and enjoy tea and discussions with Bernard D. Bunny. He was delighted to have me back as well. As we were sipping a lovely Irish Breakfast blend, he mentioned the grass is slowly getting greener and the squirrels are quite active. He said he had a chat with Sergio, one of the resident squirrels and Sergio explained that it is time to save up for winter. I found this whole process rather fascinating. Poodles do not save up for winter. They delegate their novelist to do it for them. I am impressed by the self-sufficiency of these creatures. I even considered applying their methods to my life. Not the living in a tree part, that is gauche. But the way they utilize planning ahead in their daily lives. And of course, the beauty of sporting a bushy tail. Fascinating. Until next week, I bid you adieu.

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: MANHUNTER (1986)-AMAZON PRIME

Here is a great blast from the past. A solidly written thriller that sometimes gets overlooked. Although bloody at times, it relies far more on tension and psychology than gore. Michael Mann directed this chiller and co-wrote the script with Thomas Harris based on Harris’s bestselling book Red Dragon, the first in his Hanibal Lecter series.

Will Graham (Willam Peterson) is a gifted former FBI profiler. He has a past with Hanibal Lecter (Brian Cox who reprised the role in Succession) whom he caught, and it is not a pretty one. Will spent a long time in a hospital and later its psychiatric ward after Lecter attacked him before being incarcerated. Will retired after that. But his former FBI superior Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina) comes to him for help. A new deranged serial killer is on the loose who likes to murder a family each full moon. And he likes to make a big bloody mess when he does. They call him The Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan) and he’s on the hunt again. It is up to Will to figure out who he is and where he will strike next even if it means having to consort with Dr. Lecter and putting his marriage and his safety on the line once again.

Rounding out the cast are Kim Griest as Will’s wife, Molly Graham and Joan Allen as blind film lab worker Reba McClane. Look for Chris Elliot in an early career role.

Déjà vu

~ gigicatchesair ~ Leave a comment

Good afternoon. It is I Gigi the parti poodle and I must tell you I cannot fathom what happened this week. On Saturday at noon my novelist whisked me off and took me back to the clink! Why? Why did she do this to me? I was just there. This time, I was forced to stay with a poodle, a doodle, a chocolate lab and a Shepard mix named Sophie. Sophie and I had met before, so I had at least one familiar companion, and it was a delight to see her. But the point of the matter is my novelist abandoned me yet again. At least I have one element in my favor. In the clink, my name is Emperess. I may be the smallest dog there, but I am the most sovereign. However, I am still sad. I now understand what royalty goes through when its members visit one of their countries that is not their home. They may be royalty there, but homesickness sets in.

Sophie and I went on walks around the grounds. She told me she was delighted I was staying with her. I explained I had just been here two weeks ago. I told her about Gemma, the kind Boston Terrier. She told me she knew Gemma and that she thought she was a kind Canis lupus familiaris as well. She said she was sorry to hear about my plight, but not to despair. My novelist would indeed return.

During the evenings, the standard poodle, the doodle, the chocolate lab, and Sophie and I played Charades. I was superb at it although I lost a few rounds to the standard poodle. He was quite arrogant about it as well. He’d just been to the groomers and constantly pointed out I needed grooming. A bit cheeky, don’t you think? What is it to him whether I’ve been preened and primped? The point of the matter is he won some of the Charades games and I won the others. Next time that pompadoured narcissist is going down.

The biggest insult of all was my novelist did not come to pick me up. Apparently, she had an appointment. So, she sent…Him…and the dogsitter. I was absolutely mortified and confused when they arrived without my precious novelist. How could she be so cruel? They drove me home and when I arrived at my residence my novelist was there to greet me. We had words, let me tell you. Or at least I had words I barked at her. She remained calm and took me outside as if she never noticed my anger.

We are now back in the office; I am on my pillow in front of the window, and she is at her desk. I am calmer now. Miffed but calmer. Until next week, I bid you adieu.  

MY BOOKS

You can check out my books Chicane and all five installments of the Musicology book series Musicology: Volume One, Baby!, Musicology: Volume Two, Kid!, Musicology: Volume Three, Twist!, Musicology: Volume Four, Sweetie! and Musicology: The Epiquad on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback editions. You can also check out Musicology’s web site at www.musicologyrocks.com and vote for who you think will win Musicology!

STREAM OF THE WEEK: HORRIBLE BOSSES (2011)-NETFLIX     

This week’s pick is raunchy, shameless, and disturbed. And for you lucky Netflix subscribers it’s available to stream. Three good friends in Riverside, California all have one thing in common: they each have a horrible boss. Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) works for a financial firm under Dave Harken (Kevin Spacey) who forces him to work long hours and refuses to promote him. Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) is a dental hygienist who made the mistake of exposing himself on a schoolyard playground and works for Dr. Julia Harris (Jennifer Aniston) who sexually harasses him on an hourly basis, and Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) who happily works at a chemical company for owner Jack Pellit (Donald Sutherland) has his life put in a tailspin when Jack dies and his heartless cocaine-addicted son Bobby (Colin Farrell) takes over.

Over drinks at their favorite bar the three of them start to imagine how much better their lives would be if they had their bosses killed. They head for the wrong side of the tracks and at a bar there meet ex-convict Dean “Motherfucker” Jones (Jamie Foxx) who agrees to be their “murder consultant” and begins instructing them in how to carry out their nefarious plan.

The hilarious script was penned by Michael Markowitz and directed by Seth Gordon who directed the fantastic documentary The King of Kong : A Fistful of Dollars which was one of my Streams of the Week and I heartily recommend it.