Pandemonium

Good afternoon. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to tell you pure pandemonium has broken out. My novelist has had her eyes glued to the computer since this morning because the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Preview dropped today. This for me is one of the most heinous weeks of the year. It is a most dreadful event where she pays attention to the sale but not to me. Alas, I am left to fend for myself as she drills down page after page looking at clothing and bobbles until her eyes are bloodshot and she walks around like she is in a trance. I, in the meantime, have been working on my new story The Dog Doctor which I will be releasing chapter by chapter. But there she sits, absolutely addicted. There is something profoundly wrong with that. Anyway, I am now going to go fetch myself some tea and dog biscuits and stay out of her way until the fever breaks. 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: HITCHCOCK (2012)- NETFLIX

Right now, Netflix has a fantastic array of Hitchcock films to watch including some of his very best work: Frenzy, Family Plot, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo and of course Psycho. And if you are a true cinephile you have seen them all, probably multiple times. If you have never seen these films, cinephile or no, all seven of these are required viewing. If you watch nothing else this summer watch all seven of these movies. Especially the last four as they are masterpieces. Movies don’t get much better than this. So, unless you are watching The Dekalog or all of Stanley Kubrick’s films, stop what you’re streaming right this minute and view every one of these.

Now to this underrated movie from 2012, which is about how Hitchcock went about bringing Psycho to life. One would think a director with as much success as he had would be able to make his next movie without much struggle. But alas, business jackasses are everywhere. Alfred Hitchcock (brilliantly played by Anthony Hopkins) reads the book Psycho by Robert Bloch and is immediately smitten. Not even his collaborator and wife Alma Reville (BAFTA nominee Helen Mirren) can convince him otherwise. He is so determined that no one knows anything about the book before he makes the film he sends his secretary Peggy (Toni Collette) out to purchase every copy.

Because he didn’t make enough money with Vertigo and the studio considered it a failure (If you can believe that. My favorite Hitchcock movie by the way.) they don’t want to finance the film. So, Hitchcock decides to put up his own money and goes to work hiring Joseph Stefano (Ralph Macchio) to write the script, Janet Leigh (Scarlet Johansson) and Anthony Perkins (James D’Arcy) to play the leads and  Vera Miles (Jessica Biel) whom Hitchcock had a bitter past with to co-star. In the meantime, Alma Reville has gotten fed up with her husband’s dismissiveness of her contribution to his success and considers starting an affair with screenwriter Whitfield Cook (Danny Houston).

Washed and Blow-Dried

Good morning. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here and I must tell you of the unstoppable, inevitable horror that happened to me yesterday. In the morning whilst I was peacefully lounging on my office pillow, ready to begin my illustrious activities, my novelist snatched me up, stuck me in the car, and rushed me off to get groomed. I thought my meltdown would have negated that event. But alas, it happened and happened it did. They put me in a tub and washed, shaved, and clipped me. My nails buffed. My teeth brushed. I came out looking gorgeous, but it was a nightmare to get that way. Whilst I was there, I also got myself into trouble. I am squirmy when I get groomed, and I accidentally got a boo-boo on one of my legs. Going forwards the groomers now require me to get my hair done with clippers with a comb because I just cannot sit still. My novelist wholeheartedly agreed with this decision. That said, here I am with my Lady and the Tramp ears and magnificent makeover:

Am I not the most gorgeous specimen of Canis lupus familiaris you have ever set your eyes upon? You know I am. For now, I will leave you with this photographic masterpiece. Until next week I bid you adieu.

Also, an update on the College Board Test:

The College Board has set up a retake test scheduled for the end of this month for the students who lost 20 minutes/10% of their test time. I am delighted to hear this. I hope they all do well. And thank you to the College Board for rectifying this situation.

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 ORDER (2024)-HULU

There is something marvelous about a movie based on a true story told well. And this week’s film fits the bill. The story is based on Bob Mathews, a young man who lived in a small town in the Pacific Northwest called Metaline, Washington who decided to break off from the Ayrian Nation and start his own group called The Order. He was more radical than the older Aryian Nation members and he and his group started blowing up porn stores, robbing banks, and other criminal activities to fund a major national attack over the course of one terrifying year from 1983-1984. They were also responsible for the murder of Denver, Colorado radio host Alan Harrison Berg, for which the Pulitzer Prize nominated play Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian was loosely based. The play was made into a film with the same name and directed by Oliver Stone.

Justin Kurzelseamlessly directs The Order and Zach Baylin, Kevin Flynn, and Gary Gerhardt wrote the screenplay. The movie is based on the book The Silent Brotherhood: The Chilling Inside Story of America’s Violent, Anti-Government Militia Movement by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt.

Grizzled and seasoned FBI agent Terry Husk (well-acted by Jude Law) settles into a vacant field office in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He hopes to encourage his wife and two daughters to move there with him, but he knows his chances are bleak. He begins looking through a case involving the Aryan Nation and its founder in Hayden Lake, Idaho, Richard Butler (Victor Slezak). While engaged in the case, he heads over to the local sheriff’s station where he meets Deputy Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan). Bowden is suspicious there is more nefarious activity going on than meets the eye. He tells Husk a young man named Walter West (Daniel Doheny) has gone missing and he suspects foul play at the hands of the Aryan Nation.

In the meantime, Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult in an excellent performance) and his followers Pierce (Sebastian Pigott), Yarbrough (George Tchortov), and Lane (Phillip Forest Lewitski) rob a bank in Spokane, Washington. This act is part of the beginning of Mathews ultimate plan, to follow the doctrine of a novel called The Turner Diaries. As the robberies continue, Husk and Bowen race against time to figure out Mathew’s ultimate plan and stop him before he unleashes his ever-strengthening army on the United States government.

Certified Sadistic Accountant Chapter Forty-Six

Good afternoon. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce the forty-sixth chapter of my story Certified Sadistic Accountant. This week I had the most embarrassing experience. I will tell you this could be graphic. I will do my best to be discreet and tasteful in my description of the events. I was out for a walk with my novelist, and I did my business as it were, and my novelist noticed some blood. Alarmed, she immediately swept me up, headed home, called the veterinarian who most fortunately had an opening, and drove me over. I detested going to the veterinarian and I was trembling the entire way. Once inside I trembled even more. My novelist carried me up to the desk and we were quickly escorted into one of the patients’ rooms. The nurse came in and took my information as I sat quivering on my novelist’s lap. I was then set on the counter and the young and kind doctor came in. She examined me and realized my anal glands were swollen. The doctor and nurse then took me back to the medical area where she attended to my discomfort and relieved me of my issue. She then kindly returned me to my novelist with my derriere feeling a bit out of sorts but better. They told us that was all that needed to be achieved and sent us home. I am feeling ever so much better after that. And that is this week’s spooky Halloween story. Here now is chapter forty-six of Certified Sadistic Accountant. Joyeux et effrayant octobre!

Certified Sadistic Accountant

by

Gigi the parti poodle

Chapter Forty-Six

After Curtis read Fia’s note he peered out the window blinds. Just as he suspected, the accountants had followed him home that night. He saw Grady’s van parked across the street. He carefully folded the note back up and slipped it into the pocket of his blazer. Then he grabbed his keys, headed outside, locked the door, hopped in his Honda and backed out of the driveway.

From the minivan the accountants watched him take off. Grady turned on the engine and headed after him.

“Don’t get too close,” Makenna said.

“You’re driving next time,” Grady said.

“Just don’t let him know we’re on his tail.”

“You think we might get back in time to swing by McDonalds?” Irwin asked. “I need to get some dinner before I work on those accounts.”

“If you say one more word about your accounts, I’m going to slide open this door and shove you out.”

“I’ve seen her do it too,” Lance said. “It’s gruesome. Besides, McDonnald’s sucks.”

“No, it doesn’t. I collected all four of those adult Happy Meal toys and sold them online for two thousand dollars.”

“Are you yanking my chain? You made two thousand dollars off those things?”

“Mint condition and brand new.”

“Nobody makes two thousand dollars…are you serious? Those things are weird.”

“Yeah, well, they’re two thousand dollars weird.”

“I wanted the one with the white hat,” Grady said.

“Shut up about your plastic dolls and keep your eyes on Cook,” Makenna said.

“Looks like he’s heading for the mall.”

“I haven’t had a Hot Dog on a Stick in ages,” Irwin said. “When I was a kid, I used to get a Hot Dog on a Stick then afterwards I’d get a frozen yogurt with gummy bears and strawberries.”

“I always got Reese’s Pieces,” Lance said.

“Turn the car,” Makenna shouted at Grady. “We’re losing him!”

“Shut up,” Grady said. “He’s merging, not turning.”

“Keep an eye on him. At this rate he could be heading towards Canada.”

“I could use some Tim Hortons right about now,” Irwin said.

“What is your obsession with junk food?”

“What kind of treats did you like as a kid, Makenna?”

“None. I was always dieting.”

“That sucks.”

“He’s heading for the lake,” Grady said. “You think Cook has lakefront property?”

“Maybe,” Makenna said. “There’re some smaller cabins out there.”

Curtis glanced in the rearview mirror and saw they were still on his tail. As he continued down the winding path, he realized there was still enough light outside for him to notice the spring flowers and the fresh green leaves on the trees. He cracked his window and breathed in the faintest smell of the cherry blossoms like the ones Fia had pointed out at the mall. He sped up and was able to put some distance between himself and his pursuers. As he approached his Aunt Odette’s cabin, he made a sharp turn into the driveway and rushed to park the car inside the garage, shut the door, killed the engine and remain quiet.

“He turned there,” Grady said and pulled the minivan into the driveway. “This looks like a place with an attic.”

Makenna scowled. “I don’t like this.”

“Why?” Lance asked.

“Firstly, I don’t see Cook’s car. Secondly, it’s too easy. Cook’s too smart to be easy.”

“Look,” Grady said. “You wanted us to follow Cook home. We followed him home. You wanted us to follow him here. We followed him here. And now you’re telling us something isn’t right? None of us have time for this. We all have a job to do.”

“Not if we end up in prison for breaking and entering. Not to mention animal cruelty. Then you can kiss your job goodbye. I’m telling you; this is a trap.”

“Trap, Schnapp. I couldn’t care less. I’m going in there to see what Cook is up to and fix his little red wagon.”

“Fine. Go ahead and trot your little hooves right in that cabin and get your pork loins handed to you. We’ve followed him all the way out here. There’s no need to rush now.”

“All those in favor of going inside and dealing with Cook say aye,” Lance said.

All three men said “aye”.

“All those opposed?”

“Nay,” Makenna said.

“The aye’s have it. Let’s boogie.”

“Have a blast.”

“Oh, no,” Grady said. “You forced us out here, you’re going in,”

Makenna narrowed her eyes. “Fine.”

Irwin slid open the side door of the minivan and he, Lance and Makenna disembarked. Grady jumped out of the driver’s side door. The four of them headed for the front porch. As they did, Makenna kept a close eye on the left-hand pocket of Grady’s jacket where he’d put the keys to the minivan.

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: EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014)-NETFLIX

If you are on the hunt for a stellar science fiction film you’ve not yet seen, look no further than this week’s pick based on the novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. This is a smart, riveting, entertaining, edge of your seat film about a military officer who gets shanghaied by a ruthless general after which all sorts of wild things happen. The script is co-written by none other than Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie along with Jezz Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, and deftly directed by Dough Limen. The special effects here are outstanding and hold up superbly after ten years.  

Aliens known as Mimics have invaded the earth. And Major Willam Cage (Tom Cruise) is more than happy to be the television spokesperson for the battle that will stop them. That is until he is called into the office of General Bringham (Brendan Gleeson). Bringham, a stone-faced warmonger, tells Major Cage he is being sent to the front lines to film the suicide mission battle to attempt to stop Mimics from completely overtaking Europe and the world at large. Stunned by this assignment, Cage tries everything from reason to blackmail to make Bringham see that he clearly is not fit for battle. But as Cage leaves the general’s office he is arrested, tasered, and wakes up to meet Master Sergent Farrell (Bill Paxton) who gleefully leads him to the barracks with the rest of J Squad. The next day Cage is whisked off to battle where he crosses paths with highly honored Full Metal Bitch better known as Rita (Emily Blunt) and he finds out they are both doomed…or are they?

Certified Sadistic Accountant Chapter Forty-Two

Good morning. It is I Gigi the parti poodle here to introduce Chapter Forty-Two of my story Certified Sadistic Accountant. I will soon be wrapping up this tale and begin an entirely new story soon. It’s hard to believe I have been writing this one for almost a year. Today, I am taking a day trip to visit relatives. We are having a family summit. It is imperative I go along as someone must run the show. And the best person to run the show is always a poodle. I plan to command and demand and inform as that is what poodles are best at. I detest riding in automobiles, however. I long for the day I can take a train. I love trains. I have never taken one and it is a dream of mine. I revel in the idea of looking out the window and watching the world roll by. My novelist and I rewatched most of The Commuter this past week and I absolutely adore it. Yes, it is a guilty pleasure with a terrible ending, but it is so much fun. That said, I am up early, looking over my notes and preparing my speech and practicing pounding my paw. I am going to be magnificent. And with that thought here is Chapter Forty-Two of Certified Sadistic Accountant.

Certified Sadistic Accountant

by

Gigi the parti poodle

Chapter Forty-Two

Thirty minutes later, Makenna, Lance, Grady and Irwin all arrived at the Dupree Tax Agency each carrying a pastel paper cup from The Steamed Bean. Grady and Irwin turned and headed into the breakroom to retrieve a fresh croissant. Makenna marched up to Lance.

“Why do you think Cook the Books never reported us to the police?” she said.

Lance shrugged. “He never knew it was us.”

Makenna narrowed her eyes. “Of course, he knew it was us. You think that surveillance system of his wasn’t running when you spray painted the lens? He got a great look at your face. He knew exactly who you were. The more I think about this whole out of the blue kidnapping thing with Dupree’s kid, the more suspicious the whole thing seems.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Exactly how stupid are you? We’ve been giving Cook a hard time ever since he stepped foot in this office. Yeah, he seems all polite and hardworking and such. But I think underneath all that façade is a sadist waiting to pounce. I think he staged this kidnapping, and he wants to pin it on us.”

Lance blew a raspberry. “We didn’t kidnap Dupree’s kid.”

“No. But I think Cook looked at that video and thought, maybe he could get Dupree’s daughter to help him stage a kidnapping. She could get out of working here and he could get us back for all the times we messed him. Then he’d keep that tape of us breaking into his house to make us look like criminals. And then pin a kidnapping charge on us a well as a break-in to really make us suffer.”

“That’s nuts.”

“Maybe. But if I were Curtis I’d be out for some serious revenge.”

“We didn’t even steal anything.”

“No. But that pocket rat of his got killed when we were at his apartment. Even if he can’t prove it.”

Lance took a sip of his coffee. “I’ve been wondering if there was another surveillance camera at his duplex.”

Makenna leaned over and tapped her long red manicured nails on Lance’s desk. “The landlord,” she said. “You’re right. There’s more footage. We need to do something.”

“Like what?”

Makenna stood up and folded her arms. “I’m thinking.”

Just then, Fia unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Both accountants looked at her with anxious eyes. She looked at no one and headed up the stairs to her father’s office.

“Fia,” he said when she stepped inside and closed the door. “You decided to come in today?”

“I didn’t want you answering the phones, Daddy,” she said.

Mr. Dupree chuckled. “That’s sweet of you, dear but you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

“I want to finish my spring break time here at the office. I would feel better if I did.”

“Alright.” Mr. Dupree watched his daughter turn and head over to the door. “Fia?”

“Yes?”

“Cook…Curtis Cook my accountant said something interesting to me this morning.”

“What?”

“He said he wondered if it was an inside job.”

Fia turned around and looked at her father. “An inside job?”

“Are you sure you didn’t recognize something familiar about your kidnapper?”

Fia bit her lip. “Why would one of your accountants want to kidnap me?”

“I don’t know. It’s perplexing they sent a ransom note but never wanted money.”

“I know. I read it.”

“The more I think about it, the more I think Cook may be right. I think someone in this office might be out for revenge.” Mr. Dupree picked up a signed baseball from the wooden stand he had sitting on his desk and began fiddling with it. “I don’t think it’s Makenna and I don’t think it’s Lance. Each of them won the tax bonus contest during the last two years. Grady hasn’t won it since Curtis started working here and Irving’s never won it. But then again neither has Curtis…are you sure you didn’t see the face of your captor?”

“Daddy, the attic was dark and-”

“See, that’s what’s so strange. None of my employees has an attic. How did you end up in an attic?”

“How do you know none of your employees has an attic?”

“Because all their addresses have an apartment number. None of them live in a house so none of them have an attic. But somehow, they were granted access to one.”

“I need to get down to the receptionist desk to take-”

“You aren’t in on this, are you, Fia?”

Fia’s heart was thumping. “I didn’t kidnap myself, daddy.”

“This isn’t some twisted performance art piece, is it?”

“Daddy-”

“Because this whole attic thing is driving me crazy.”

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: CIVIL WAR (2024)-HBO MAX

This week’s movie is a recent release now playing on HBO Max. If you are a fan of the brilliant 28 Days Later, you will love this non-zombie road trip about a dystopian United States where a small group of journalists head off in a van to get an interview with the president as rebel factions prepare to siege the Whitehouse. This is a tense and unflinching story written and directed by Alex Garland with some interesting effects used to put the audience in the position of press on the ground and in the middle of the action.

Renowned world-weary photojournalist Lee Smith (Well-played by Kirstin Dunst) who was once touted as the youngest member of the Magnum Photos cooperative, has decided to head out to Washington DC to interview the President of the United States (Nick Offerman) as the modern-day American Civil War rages on. Along for the ride are her long-time fellow college Joel (Wagner Moura), and mentor Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson) who warns Lee against the idea. While out photographing brutal fighting in Charlottesville, Virginia, Lee comes across and helps and injured a young would-be journalist Jessie Cullen (Callie Spaeney) from Missouri who has always idolized Lee. Jessie wants to join the group for the ride, but Lee, well versed in the dangers of war journalism, does not want her to go with them. Jessie goes with them anyway and after Lee sees some of the young woman’s work, she becomes her mentor.