Today is the First Loves Blogfest! Your first movie, first music (song/band,) first book, and first person. Four loves, one blogfest!
(And between my regular blogger buddies and a hundred and seventy blogfest participants, I did not get to everyone on Monday. If I missed your blogfest entry, rest assured I will visit you Tuesday. After two hundred blogs today, it's all beginning to blur...)
First, Ninja News!
(Because something is always happening around here…)
Jeremy at Geeky Tendencies is celebrating a hundred followers! He has teamed up with GIANTmicrobes to host a giveaway in order to celebrate. Check out his blog for details.
My friend Dafeenah at Indie Designz worked with several others and started Ebook Deal of the Day. They offer low-priced and free eBooks for the iPad and the Kindle. Check out the information and links at her SITE.
This month, Laura Eno is on her Enchanted Life Book Tour. Go visit her for the full schedule. Congratulations, Laura!
Rick at The Writer and the White Cat had a big announcement last week – “White Cat Publications, LLC. is pleased to present the submission guidelines for its first anthology, Airships & Automatons, edited by Charles P. Zaglanis.” Congratulations, Rick!
Diablo III comes out Tuesday! Yes, I might be picking it up at midnight Monday night. Then I can play it all day long on my laptop at work.
Very cool news! CassaFire jumped back into Amazon's Best Sellers for science fiction/space opera last week!!
Due to some mean-spirited, anonymous comments, I’ve had to adjust the security on my comments. Sorry about that – hope it won’t be for long. In the meantime, pray for the anonymous commenter(s).
FIRST LOVES BLOGFEST!
This movie scared the crap out of me. I was even afraid to lift the toilet seat lid. Every time I swam in the deep end of the pool, the music haunted me. Despite all of that, seeing this film in the theater was exhilarating. It was a pure adrenaline rush and the first big summer blockbuster. It made me realize that movies could be major events.
This was the first band I felt made music specifically for me. It dealt with complex subjects and ideas. The band never dumbed down their music or lyrics – they felt fans were smart enough to keep up. (Which is one of the reasons I so admire progressive rock.) If I was down, I could play a Rush song and it would turn my day around. And that is still true today!
I read The Hobbit and LOTR in grade school but found them ponderous and frustrating at times. Then I discovered this book. Brooks took a similar formula and made it more accessible. It’s one of the few books I’ve ever read more than once. (Read it three times as a matter of fact!) Definitely launched my love of fantasy and of writing.
Person – My wife
Yes, my wife was my first love. She’s been with me so long that I even insert memories of her into my life before we met. She has really taught me a lot about opening up, dealing with others, and becoming a better person. I truly admire her work ethic. She works harder in one day than I do in a month. (Really!) She is an all around joy and I am blessed to have her in my life.
Thank you to everyone who signed up for my blogfest! Please visit others on the list below.
Want to win a GIANTmicrobe from Jeremy? Looking for deals on eBooks? See a good movie this weekend? (Sorry, didn’t go to the theater, but we did watch Hugo again – damn that film is brilliant!) And what are YOUR first loves???
I LOVE that your first love was your wife.
ReplyDeleteLike me, your first LOVE was your spouse ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I watched Jaws only once. I was a little kid and it scared me for life LOL never wanted to watch it again, though I agree it's a classic.
And congrats on CassaFire rising into Amazon's Best Sellers!
Suze, she really was my first love.
ReplyDeleteJuliana, thank you!
Congratulations on the success of CassaFire Alex. Sorry you've been having trouble with anon trolls.
ReplyDeleteMy dad loved Jaws. He made us kids watch it at the drive-in 14 times. No lie. I think I grew up watching that movie. And yes, that darn song stayed in my head. "Show me the way to go home..." LOL.
ReplyDeleteWell i8'm yet to see what your comment security is to be - not those hideous captcha codes I hope. They're the most frustrating thing on the blogs or facebook. We all get sad people commenting stuff they shouldn't at times, but as you say, pray for them. I find blogger throws most of my rubbish in the spam bin, even some ridgy didge good blogger somments, lol.
ReplyDeleteLovely that your first love is your wife. My story much the same as you'll see if you come by and I expect you will...
Jaws, erk! We live in real life Jaws territory here. So sad when those sharp-fanged ones kill a human but the ocean is their territory I guess and they think surfers sitting on their boards waiting for a wave are turtles.
Like your book too. LOTR is definitely hard going but worth it.
Denise
Thanks, Michael.
ReplyDeleteE, that's a lot of trips to the drive in.
Denise, will check yours tomorrow. And you have scary sharks that jump out of the water!
I loved the Sword of Shannara also, although I've only read it once. It frustrated me that the eyes on one of the characters changed colour half way through the book(oops) hehehe.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay to your wife being your first love.
I'm so jealous you can play Dibbles during work! I'm not sure I would line up at midnight for it (getting too old). Might download it from Blizzard so I don't have to ;)
LOVE the Shannara Series! Ah the memories.. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the Link to The Writer and White Cat Anthology call. I'll definitely be putting something together to try for that! Gotta start getting my name out there somehow!
Awww, your wife! How romantic. I can't wait to post my choices.
ReplyDeleteSweet that you mentioned your wife. I hope she read it.
ReplyDeleteGreat news on CassaFire and Amazon.
ReplyDeleteI like your firsts. Jaws is a scary/wonderful movie.
Teresa
I'm always touched by stories of people who married (and stayed married to) their first love. It's a very special thing.
ReplyDeleteI saw the actual, mechanical Jaws at Universal Studios. He's not quite as scary up close like that than he is on screen.
xoRobyn
"...And you know the thing about a shark. He's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes like a doll's eyes..." This movie terrified me the first time I saw it and still does.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome about your Ninja wife. She sounds like the very best kind of people and you both make this world a whole lot more welcoming. :)
What a fun blogfest. I am already enjoying the posts!
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that I still haven't seen Jaws??? I wasn't born when it was made and at the time I was little I was too scared to watch. Do you think I can handle it now at 25, lol Thanks for hosting this awesome blogfest, Alex :D
ReplyDeleteWe were driving home from seeing Jaws and stopped for gas. My husband (my first love too, by the way) was outside the car and I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and freaked - certain it was a shark. In a gas station. About five miles from the ocean.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was one scary movie.
Heh, reminds me of my grandma saying about my father and his mate seeing Jaws in the theatre.
ReplyDeleteThey wanted to sit up front, but halfway through the film, came slinking back to mummy. ^_^
Ah grandparents, they'll embaress the heck outta you in front of your kids.
Congrats on Cassafire getting back into Amazon's Best Sellers list.
I love that your wife is your first love, it's so sweet.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on CassaFire, it's still on my TBR, but it's moving up :)
You are just saying that your wife was your first love to make all of us look bad, right? :) :)
ReplyDeleteAww! I love that your wife was your first love! Very sweet!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember how old I was when I saw Jaws, sometime when I was a kid in the 80s, but I was always fascinated with it. Probably cause I found the paperback in my parent's stack of books.
ReplyDeleteI love Jaws and have watched it a ton of times! It never scared me, but I live very far from the ocean.
Congrats on being on the Amazon's Best Sellers list! Jaws really scared me too, and I love what you wrote about your wife. Thanks for hosting another fun blogfest! Julie
ReplyDeleteHOORAH FOR CASSAFIRE!!!! How keeewwl!!! Yay for you!!
ReplyDeleteAwww Capn Ninja! Love your romantic tribute to your Mrs Capn Ninja!
Oh and I shall try to pray very hard for these evil commenters. Nah, sorry, I'm a bad ninja and wish a plague on the houses of these smellies! Booo!
Take care
x
Yay for hitting the Amazon Best Sellers list! I'm gutted to not be able to participate in this, but I've already posted two blog posts today! JAWS was epic. I watched it as a kid in the cinema, and every time I sat on the toilet, thought a shark was gonna bite me in the behind!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on Cassa Fire, well done! Jaws, yes I can relate to it being very scary when it first came out and I remember Rush, they weren't bad either. Also loved the Hobbit!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fantastic blogfest; I'm really enjoying learning about everyone's first loves.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of first loves! I have to confess that I never yet managed to watch Jaws all the way through, I'm a bit of a scaredy cat! But isn't the music just the most amazing soundtrack ever? Two notes, that's all it took. Adore the fact that your wife is your first love! That's amazing, congratulations to you both.
ReplyDeleteWonderful blogfest, I did consider taking part but I'm just swamped with other commitment (not to mention sick little ones!) at the moment so I'll give it a miss this time... Here's to next time! Thanks for organising. :-)
Lynda, proof that editors don't catch everything! And I might also be too old to get it at midnight.
ReplyDeleteAlicia, go for it!
Tonja, she read it.
Thanks, Robyn. And Bruce the shark had issues...
Melissa, thank you!
Twenty, only if you don't plan to go to the beach for a few years!
LD, about as realistic as one in my toilet!
Thanks, Aldrea.
Maggie, no! I really didn't love anyone else until I met her.
Kitty, you go right ahead an be bad!!
JC, I understand why you skipped though. Next fest!
Nicky, hope you can join us next time.
Thanks, everyone!
Happy First Loves Blogfest Day, Alex!!! I came here looking for inspiration for my post and, as usual, have found much. I can't beeeeleeeeeeeeeve anyone works harder than you but if that's true, Mrs. Alex deserves a medal.
ReplyDeleteLove that a Canadian band is your choice for music!
Wonderful choices especially your wife. Hope the blogfest goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteI put mine on and have had very little response, seeing that I did it not to let you down other people seem to ignore my attempt. It took ages to do as my eyes were bad.Never mind I AM going to rest fro a few days.
Yvonne.
I cheated a little about the first love. ;) Jaws was my first scary movie. My father and sister convinced my mom to let me go see it. The next day we went to the beach, I put on a brave face and dove in the ocean. I couldn't let my mom know how scared I was. I didn't want to be the baby in the family. :) Great blogfest, Alex. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the nasty comments, how sad.
ReplyDeleteI think I covered my eyes a lot of the time when I watched Jaw. It will not get onto my "love" list. But I guess boys feel differently.
ReplyDeleteThe Spinster’s Vow
I could have guessed the Rush one and that was so sweet about your wife. Ahhh...:)
ReplyDeleteyour first love was your wife? that is so brilliant. That means you've never had your heart broken, which is great because its awful going through that pain...
ReplyDeleteAs I know 3 "big" games will come this week to PC. Diablo III, Max Payne 3 and the Game of Thrones rpg.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatelly I won't try any of them. I'd like to build a timemachine...
Jaws was one of my first movies too, probably and RUSH, particularly Geddy Lee, is awesome! That's a great story about your wife.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting such a fun blog hop
That's very sweet your first love was your wife <3
ReplyDeleteI think few have swam in the ocean after JAWS with confidence. I do, but keep hearing "ta da, ta da , ta da, ta da, tada" (the theme from the movie)
Jaws was creepy, but I am too old for it be my first love ;)Besides I started falling in love at a very early age. Nasty comments?....Well as General of an army of Ninjas they were bound to happen, I wouldn't let those "Puney" things bother you. You are lucky to have never had your heart broken and to have had a wonderful woman at your side from the beginning! Loving this blogfest :)
ReplyDeleteGreat choices on your first loves! I do remember seeing Jaws in the theater. It must have been one of my earliest moviegoing memories. My dad was a Navy man and I forever worried that his aircraft carrier would get attacked by a great white. I do remember crying over that thought.
ReplyDeleteAwesome first loves!! That's so cute that your first love was your wife :)
ReplyDeletePosting my answers ASAP!
My intro to Spielberg was Jurassic Park, though I should go back to some of his older movies. I've only seen clips of the famous scenes of Jaws so far.
ReplyDeleteI've read some of Terry Brooks' books and really liked them. I'll have to check out the one you recommend. I love fantasy.
ReplyDeleteAwesome about everyone's good news. Too bad about the bad anonymous commenter.
Thanks for the shout-out!
ReplyDeleteGiant microbes, huh? I'll have to peek in there.
Congrats on CassaFire moving up. :)
You and your wife are very fortunate to have each other.
Thanks for mentioning my giveaway!
ReplyDeleteJaws is one of my mother's favorite movies.
Yep, Jaws will always be a fave for me too, although I was too young to see it when it came out in the theatre. I had to fall in love with it from home video. I bet it was awesome seeing it for the first time on the big screen. wow.
ReplyDeleteI love Sword of Shannara too!! I used to have wicked dreams of the characters after I read it. So cool!! Cheers to the wifey! She sounds amazing. :)
So cool that your first love is your wife!
ReplyDeleteMy (boyfriend) fiancé (<--- still getting used to saying that ;-) ) has The Sword of Shannara on his bookshelf and it's also one of the few books he's read multiple times. He says I should read it!
First Congrats on the #1 Spot on Amazon for Cassafire. Great first loves posting also. OMgosh on Jaws. Me and my cousin were supposed to go to the Matinee to see an Elvis movie and snuck to watch Jaws instead. I was scared for weeks.
ReplyDeleteawe, lovely firsts! Even though I had a prior bloggin engagement for today - I'm still having a blast reading all of these 'firsts' for the blogfest!
ReplyDeletejust watched jaws w/my 13 yo son this wknd! still awesome as ever! and he liked it too
ReplyDeleteshannara series was one of my frst aves too. loved fantasy!
you are so sweet! support from the mate is essential in writing!
and who dares throw ninja stars your way!
Great choices! Jaws did carry that double edge of terror and thrill ride. Swimming in the lakes that summer took so much courage!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my first loves was a video player and TV of my own and a membership to a video store!
ReplyDeleteI love Terry Brooks's Shannara books...still, to this day. Someday soonish I want to start a re-read. Probably next year (for me, that seems soon!).
ReplyDeleteJAWS was amazing! A true classic.
Rush are actually a new favourite of mine. Yep, I'm late to the party!
This is great, Alex. I remember Jaws in the theaters, too. I was so glad I was inland for college and not back home in California.
ReplyDeleteAnd those Shannara books rocked.
I would have loved to participate, Alex but I have to tell you going back that far in my memory banks is more of a challenge than the A-Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteNow I do remember my first love. Im sure that's because it impacted me in a major way.
Sorry to miss out on all the fun; it just it just isn't happening for me in the other areas.
Much success with the First loves fest! Great idea.
http://betty-alark.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-type-of-character-are-youhanging.html
How did I know you'd say Rush? Jaws too. You and my husband should talk. Thanks for the blogfest, Alex! Always have fun! :)
ReplyDeleteI still haven't watched Jaws and can't say I will. I've seen pieces of it and I don't like those suspense movies where I scream when something pops out at you!
ReplyDeleteAh. Jaws. My parents told me not to watch it. They said it was too scary. Boy, they were right. But now, if its on TV then I'm watching. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy a good Rush song. I don't immerse but I do like them.
My brother always says I should read Mr. Brooks but I haven't gotten to them yet. One day.
Great fest, sir! I agree. You're not totally evil. Just a smidge. Maybe a tad!
I went to see The Avengers. Un-be-BLEEPin'-lieveable!
HMG
Wow, your wife works harder than you? She's my heroine. Love that she's your first love.
ReplyDeleteI STILL won't swim in the ocean because of that damn JAWS movie. That's deep psychological stuff they inflicted on us with that fish. :)
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the anonymous commenter.
ReplyDeleteAll great first loves, btw. Although, I can't help but chuckle when watching Jaws today.
Jaws - *shivers* I'm afraid of the ocean
ReplyDeleteRush!!!! - I love them sooo much!
Sword of Shannara - Never heard of it but you have piqued my interest
Wife - This is so sweet! Made my heart melt!
Great post Alex! I definitely LOVED Jaws too - it's one of those memorable movies you can watch over and over - even if it's totally terrifying. Have a great week! :)
ReplyDeleteJAWS freaked me out too! I was afraid to be in deep water even in lakes! One time I swore I saw a fin while I was out fishing with my grandpa in Michigan! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on CassaFire jumping back up!
Jaws was a great movie and got me to read the book. Your book choice looks like something I should check out. Great firsts!
ReplyDeleteCathy, no other band I could pick!
ReplyDeleteYvonne, you rest. It's still early here so you'll get more responses.
Ciara, I don't think I could've gone swimming in the ocean the next day!
Lass, I hope I never find out what that feels like.
Siv, you're right that it was bound to happen some day.
Rusty, you mean attacked like in one of those bad SyFy movies?
Jamie, you NEED to watch Jaws!
PK, the Shannara books were awesome!
Rachel, you should!
Tara, it is still very effective.
Trisha, better late than never.
Betty, next time!
Mina, I guess I'm predictable that way...
Heather, you need to read his books. And wasn't Avengers awesome?
Danielle, you rock!
Thanks, everyone! So far the blogfest is a huge success.
Jaws scared the crap out of me and I didn't even see it in theaters. Love Rush, but I rarely listened that closely to the lyrics. Looking forward to reading through everyone's firsts. Great idea for a Blogfest.
ReplyDeleteA2ZMommy and What’s In Between
Alex, Gooood day! I want to say great first loves... though the Jaws is still the kid screaming inside of me, that bobbing head. Woof. Of course Rush is still the ultimate... I don't know mine, maybe Cheap Trick....My first real book I read was a book on Zoology as my mother took me to the library when I was 10 and I chose that. She said I would never finish it... 1400 pages later I could tell you a lot about animal studies.
ReplyDeleteJeremy
Oh my gosh, Jaws terrified me in the theater too. I have family on Martha's Vineyard where it was filmed and visited there often as a child, so recognizing all of the places where the shark attacked made it even scarier for me. I've never totally gotten over it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Cassa Fire jumping back onto the best seller list, that's awesome!
Congrats on being on the best seller list! Excited for you!
ReplyDeleteMy first love was my husband. I know what you mean about the memories thing. Seems like events before him were lived in an entirely different lifetime. I am abundantly blessed.
Thanks for the info and links. Happy Monday!
I love that your wife was your first love!! Sweet!
ReplyDeleteShame on the mean-spirited people out there. You're a better person to pray for them, Alex.
I LOVED Jaws, too! I was terrified of the drain the bathtub!
I love rush!!! Heck yeah. They are awesome. My favorite is Tom Sawyer, but all of this stuff is great. It is awesome that your first love is your wife.
ReplyDeleteAndrea
I can'r believe your wife works harder than you! The two of you together must be whirlwinds :-)
ReplyDeleteI have never, ever watched Jaws!
Anonymous mean spirited comments???
ReplyDeleteCowards!
I read The Sword of Shannara, but wow, so long ago. It would be fun to revisit it after all of these years.
Aww, that's so sweet. I love that your first love is your wife! - My hubby is my first actual love, but I went with who my first crushes were . . .so I epic failed this part of the post. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI was 12 when Jaws came out. I lived in Florida at the time & practically lived at the beach, so Jaws scared the crap outta me, too, especially since the dolphins who covorted just offshore looked so much like sharks from the beach. That's so sweet you married your first love. So did I! As for your lame-o anonymous commenters, well that's like shooting Bambi or something. You're like the nicest guy I know! People sure can be idiots sometimes.
ReplyDeleteWe have one thing in common: our wives.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't get it with mean-spirited commenters. I haven't had any for a while but have had quite a few in the past. Seems like there are better ways to spend time than leaving comment like that.
Oh man, Jaws is still such a great movie! And i totally hear you about the deep end of the pool, especially if you were swimming at night and the pool wasn't lit.
ReplyDeleteawww...you always say such nice things about your wife :-) And I remember Jaws...yikes!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember how old I was when I first saw Jaws- but it was scary back then and I was into anything horror related.
ReplyDeleteOoh, Jaws always scared me too much to be one of my first love movies! And that's so sweet about your wife being your first love! How romantic.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool your wife being your first love. And Jaws is all time awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love that your wife is your first love...and all that you said about her - so sweet! I've never seen Jaws, I'm afraid of open water enough without having another reason! lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting this great event, Alex!
Thanks, Tracy!
ReplyDeleteJeremy, you rock. And 1400 pages is determination.
Julie, that would make the movie all the more scary!
Karen, it is like a totally different life.
Thanks, Candylynn.
Andrea, you rock!
Jay, the only bad thing is so many other books have stolen the ideas. But it's still great.
Tyrean, no fail!
Nancy, I've never been called Bambi before, but coming from you - thanks!
Stephen, Amen!
Sarah, not lit? Not a chance!
Oh yeah, I remember when Jaws came out. It was a huge hit. I'm from San Diego and everyone was scared to go in the water! Congrats on CassaFire, I guess some people know what they're talking about...
ReplyDeleteI love your loves ;D
ReplyDeleteI almost picked Jaws! Great memories with that one~ We were on an island when I saw it. The next day we had to take a ferry! My brother did not want to board it~
You are sweet. I bet your wife loved this~
One of my picks opened for RUSH :D
I cheated, a bit, lol
Great answers, Alex! Your wife must be a beautiful woman! I did my dadai (Dad) for that part. He was my first love. Rush are bodacious! Love them. *waving*
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Alex! I am so enjoying reading all the responses to your challenge!
ReplyDeleteYou just won my heart by saying your first movie love was JAWS. It is still my favorite movie EVER.
ReplyDeleteAlex, congrats on CassaNova making it back into Amazon's best sellers! Super cool! Also, thanks for all the news you keep us up to speed on and the links. Jaws scared the heck out of me, too, when I saw it at the theater. I was afraid to swim in the ocean for years. Another great blog fest that you put together! Wow!
ReplyDeleteAll great first loves that you mention, especially your wife. How sweet that is.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the anonymous creeps.
Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI love Rush too!
Tim
The Other Side
The Freedom of Nonbelief
Not participating, but will come back to read all the interesting reveals about 1st loves.
ReplyDelete***
Sometimes, Alex, the lucky ones find their match early in the game. Your were lucky. It took me two tries.
I like Hugo as well, and it's one of those I'd watch again, like Midnight in Paris.
You and my husband have so much in common!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on CassaFire!
My problem is that I'm too old to remember first anything!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big Rush fan, but I already had a ton of music that had snagged me before I'd heard them.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
Jaws terrified me too. I remember screaming out loud at one point - so embarrassing in a packed cinema!
ReplyDeleteThis has been a FAB blogfest. I love that your first love is your wife as though she's been in your life forever.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of your book choice. Jaws! duh duh!
I knew someone who used to like Rush, though I can't say I know any of thweir music I'm afraid.
Here I thought I was reasonably early, in my time zone anyway, and there is a hundred comments already almost ...
ReplyDeleteLove these challenges and to read stuff about people. How did I know you would say it was your wife? Very cool.
Alex from A Heep of Everything
Jaws was epic. We were on Cape Cod the summer it came out ... a lot of people wouldn't swim at the beaches. lol
ReplyDeleteWahoo on CassaFire! That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnd I still haven't seen Jaws all the way through yet. I watch it through my fingers, and I still haven't seen that part when the one dude dies when the shark totally jumps on the boat. I run from the room and tell the people I'm watching it with to tell me when that part is over.
Yep, JAWS is a scary one indeed. I don't think I'm familiar with Rush, so will have to look them up. Although I think I heard of the author Terry Brooks before, that particular books is one that I'm not familiar with but as a huge LOTR fan, I may check it out...if I have time between watching movies.
ReplyDeleteIt's sweet that your wife is your first love. That's like a match made in heaven!
I'm curious as to how much work she does in a day or, I wonder if the curiosity should be on how little work you get done in a month, lol. Either way, cheers to you both!!!
~Nicole
Blog: The Madlab Post
@MadlabPost on Twitter
Congrats on your books sales. Rush was also one of my favorite bands.
ReplyDeleteOh, well, I want to comment at length, but I'm really pressed for time (as always), so I'll just say one thing:
ReplyDeleteI -wanted- to love Sword. I almost did. It was great right up to the end where I felt Brooks just copped out. It ruined the book for me. I did read the first trilogy, though, but he never really pulled it together enough for me to think much of him. It was so close, though, which is probably why I was so disappointed.
awww...who knew you were a romantic! I love that your first love was your wife:)
ReplyDeleteNow you rock even more.
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Aww! It's so sweet that your first love (person) was your wife.
ReplyDeleteAnd JAWS is an awesome movie.
Aw, how wonderful that your first love was your wife!I sense a romantic person lurking behind your manly exterior, Alex...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gwen!
ReplyDeleteElla, you were much more likely to see a shark on that ferry than I was in my toilet! And my wife was touched.
Robyn, you rock!
Libby, that's awesome.
Lynn, it's been an epic morning so far.
Timothy, you rock!
DG, I pray I never have to try again.
Christopher, that made me laugh!
Alex, got to catch me really early...
Mary, I bet!
Cassie, you are funny.
Nicole, we're both very productive people.
Thanks, everyone! Wow, still have so many more blogs to visit...
Hi Alex, your wife sounds super awesome, just like you and if I remember right you told me that she has the Continuous Giggle Syndrome like me. I would love to meet her.
ReplyDeleteBtw..I never pegged you as a romantic ;)
I've been trying to read Sword of Shannara for years, but my library doesn't have it, and when I have money for it, they don't have it at the bookstore. Guess I must not be supposed to read it yet, lol!
ReplyDeleteYay for CassaFire and Jaws still freaks me out every time I swim in the ocean.
ReplyDeleteDidn't have the time to participate this time, but I kind of posted my favs in a comment on Clarissa's blog.
ReplyDeleteJaws, yes that was breathtaking when it came. I re-saw all of them with the a couple of summers ago. I told me that movie effects have had some progress since then. But still an entertaining movie >:)
Cold As Heaven
Sweet you only loved your wife.
ReplyDeleteI had to switch to no anonymous comments when someone left a bitter message about not winning one of my book trailer comments.
Late to the party as always.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool news about Cassafire. Congrats.
Jaws was not my cup of tea.
Your First love is your wife, that's awesome in my books!!
So had such a different blog post idea when I saw the title. haha
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome news about CassaFire! And Diablo III. Wow. I spent far too many hours on the first one.
ReplyDeleteThat's sweet your wife was your first love. And The Sword of Shannara is a great book. I felt the same way about the Hobbit and LOTR.
Jaws also freaked me out! I remember watching it when I was about 10 years old and was super scared of the water after :D
ReplyDeleteAnd your comment on your wife is so adorable! :D
Aww, for your wife! How romantic!
ReplyDeleteAs for the movie, YES! Jaws is epic. LOVE that choice.
Cracking post Alex. Jaws is a classic in so many ways! I know Peter Benchley tried to do it again with an octopus, but there were just too many great things in this one not to love it.
ReplyDelete- Maurice Mitchell
The Geek Twins | Film Sketchr
@thegeektwins | @mauricem1972
Aww for your wife being you first love...too sweet!
ReplyDeleteJaws is scary!
Just slipped into the party to find it in full swing!
ReplyDeleteJaws? OMG, that movie traumatized me back in the day... I think it was the crazy musical score... come to think of it, that could be the reason why I'm movie-challenged... blame it on the shark!
Your wife as your first love - what a special blessing!
Andrew, I read it when I was young, so it rocked then.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nutschell!
Talli, don't let anyone know...
Rachna, yes, she is a giggler.
Rebekah, forces are against you!
Cold, if you look you can see the mechanics of Bruce the shark. I just try not to look.
Jesse, do I want to know?
Christine, good - it wasn't just me!
Maurice, I do remember reading Beast, but it wasn't the same.
Thanks, everyone! I'm still visiting blogs, so be patient. So many participants this time!
Jaws scared me as a kid, but I kept watching.
ReplyDeleteNice shout out to your wife!
Yes, I share your opinion about Rush, are great.
ReplyDeleteI never saw Jaws--I'm not a fan of scary movies--but I vaguely remember playing the music in our community orchestra and it was creepy and a lot of fun! Nice to meet another Brooks fan too :)
ReplyDeleteLove your 'firsts'. You are one of the ultimate 'good guys'. Your wife is lucky to have you around too, as I'm sure she knows.
ReplyDeleteI didn't play in this one, but I'm enjoying it all the same, as a lurker. Some great first stories out there.
Congrats on the Amazon ranking, I'd be lying if I said I don't check my own ranking for "The Man in the Cinder Clouds" every day...I know what it feels like to see that jump.
ReplyDeleteMy first love for music was my first concert...an outdoor show with the Cleveland Philharmoic, and they played the 1812 Overture. They fired off around 40 cannons...way impressive! I have a deep-rooted appreciation for classical music due to that concert.
For movies, I'm going with Star Wars. I was born in 1971, so I was at the perfect age to get caught up in the mania, especially the toys.
Leovi, you rock!
ReplyDeleteAllison, Terry Brooks is great.
Rick, forty cannons is impressive. I was too old for they toys, but Star Wars was my second pick.
Great post, Alex. Jaws was a big one for me, too, I loved that movie and got totally caught up in shark-mania. It didn't scare me enough to keep me out of the water, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the blog fest, it's a blast!
Your wife sounds like a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI love the Sword of Shannara too - great read
Lxxx
I remember watching Jaws as a kid and then not swimming in the lake (yes, the lake) for a few weeks!
ReplyDeleteI just rewatched it with my 12yo son over Christmas break. He loved it.
Congrats big time on CassaFire being back on the bestseller list! And how funny that after Jaws even the toilet scared you. What classic theme music that was to warn that the shark was coming -- still gives me goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making the bestseller list--again! :)
ReplyDeleteI have to read more books by Terry Brooks. I've only finished one.
Thanks for hosting this blogfest!
Just now followed your blog after doing the A to Z challenge. I did a reflection post but didn't realize a separate linky existed. Oh well! The first loves sounds fun, I've seen several on my blog list post about. Will try to visit the others listed. You have so much going on in your blog, I'm looking forward to keeping up with it.
ReplyDeleteAw, love those "firsts" Alex- except maybe, Jaws, lol. Freaky deaky- I don't think I've watched the whole thing through.
ReplyDeleteI had The Sword of Shannara as a kid, but I never read it. I can't remember where it went.
ReplyDeleteGreat movie and song picks.
Thanks for this, Alex! It was a lot of fun! Btw, I like your "firsts." :)
ReplyDeleteGreat blogfest! You might have to start doing a weekly newspaper for us. :-) Always love what you write about your wife. Have a great night!
ReplyDeleteI love that your first love is your wife... :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fantastic idea for a blogfest - I wish I'd signed up!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet is it that your first love is your wife? And Rush? Jaws? Super cool, Alex. Super cool.
Jeff, glad you've had fun!
ReplyDeleteLaura, you are cool.
Kelly, what if someone had released a shark in the lake?????
Helena and Golden, thanks!
Stephsco, welcome!
Medeia, bummer.
Tracy, that is a thought!
Thank you everyone! All right, about forty more blogs to visit...
Interesting news today and I love your list. Jaws scared the bejeezus out of me too.
ReplyDeleteLate to the party. I've been out most of the day dealing with business. Trying to catch up.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't watch Jaws, Alex. Call me a whimp, lol! My husband, on the other hand, practically knows it by heart. I love Terry Brooks books. I turned my son on to them. He likes them but prefers Salvadore Drizzet series.
Aww, what a sweet thing to say about your wife. She's home to you. That's special.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
I have never been able to sit through the entire movie of Jaws. My cousin watched it before me and couldn't take a bath for a month. He was scarred for life so of course so was I!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on CassaFire being back on the best sellers list!
ReplyDeleteI remember Jaws all too well! I was always a beach baby who wouldn't get out of the water for anything until that movie came along. To this day I get nervous going in the water when I'm at the beach! That music comes right back every time and I just know he's out there!
Rush was very memorable and definitely a big favorite of mine in my teens. I saw them in concert several times.
Don't think I ever read that book but I do remember it.
Excellent blogfest Alex! Thanks so much for hosting :-)
PS - so unbelievably sweet that your wife was your first love!!
ReplyDeleteI remember the terror of seeing Jaws.
ReplyDeleteSmart guy, naming your wife.
This was a great idea for a blogfest, and I love to hear about real-life love stories! They exist! :D
ReplyDeleteJennifer, sorry you missed it. Although you could still sign up and post tonight!
ReplyDeleteSia, Terry Brooks is awesome. And I liked Salvadore's Drizzet series.
Theresa. the bathtub made me nervous as well.
Martha, glad you've enjoyed it. And awesome you've seen Rush in concert. Won't tell you how many times I have seen them. And yes, my wife is my only love.
Susan, it was the truth!
I've never actually watched Jaws, but I remember catching a scene of it playing on the tv screens in an electronics store. I didn't really want to watch it after that. Though now...
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you've had problems with mean commentors. Does my being super excited for all your good news make up for it a little?
Cool first loves... Ohh I love Jaws too:) Thanks for the great blogfest:)
ReplyDeleteJaws - sooo creepy. When I get in the ocean, I swear I hear those two notes and I just KNOW there are sharks coming for me.
ReplyDeleteLove that your first love was your wife.
I too, love that your wife is your first love. That doesn't happen every day! Thanks for visiting my blog. I love yours!
ReplyDeleteAwesome first loves! So sweet about your wife. All I want to say now is: awwwww! :)
ReplyDeleteLove Jaws and Rush. That is too sweet about your wife. Congrats on CassaFire being back on the best seller list. That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteTo this day my oldest brother is terrified of sharks because of Jaws. That's so cute that you insert memories of your wife being in your life before you even met her. Congratulations on the successful relationship!
ReplyDeleteEpic post Ninja Capt :) Love Terry Brooks; and through your posts, love your wife also. I like seeing marriages that work.
ReplyDeleteYes; Jaws scared me too. But I like movies/books that scare me. Its why we love fiction, right? I'll have to check out Rush; I'm sure I've heard their music, but I don't mind a trip to U-tube for any reason.
Thanks for hosting this fun blogfest.
........dhole
Jaws totally terrified me. I still won't swim in the ocean. I told my 15-year-old about it so he watched it. He thought it was cheesy and not scary at all! Dang. I think he's so used to the modern movie scene. Gah.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Mr. Best-Seller!
ReplyDeleteThey projected that movie onto the wall at my old university's pool once. To this day, I wonder whose crazy idea that was. :)
Thanks for hosting such a fun blogfest!
You've created an incredible community. Thanks for this blogfest. Jaws still gives me nightmares. I remember the 1st time I watched it in my cousin's basement and then went swimming at the lake-scary!
ReplyDeleteI too love that your first love was your wife!
ReplyDeleteImogen, it does!
ReplyDeleteHey Karen! Yes, I am one lucky man.
Jessica, you rock!
Donna, Terry Brooks is great. And when you hear Rush, you'll remember.
Julie, that's disappointing.
Carrie, that is just insane.
Thank you, everyone! Yes, my wife really was my first love. Glad everyone enjoyed this blogfest.
Yes, the first peÃcula Shark was terrifying.
ReplyDeleteMy brother is obsessed with Rush, has been for years. So I have a bit of a special place for them in my heart, even if I do think Geddy Lee sounds like a woman. ;-) Love Spirit of the Radio.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the blogfest!
Sorry, Alex, I couldn't make it. I had a really bad week. :(
ReplyDeleteMan, I'm a day late and I wasn't well enough to participate in the First Loves Blogfest. So sad. Great pics for yours, though.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great group. I'm amazed at how many you can get together. I'm so split between blogging and social media I lose track. Awesome job.
ReplyDeleteTobi, it helps him to hit the high notes!
ReplyDeleteGeorge, that's all right. Next time!
Joshua, hope you're feeling better.
Bryan, the turnout for this blogfest surprised even me! And blogging is social media for me.
What a BRILLIANT blogfest... I'm having SO much fun reading a bunch of these participants.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm still laughing at the you inserting memories bit! Too precious! ;)
I love that your first love was your wife! I wonder if my husband is upset to find out he wasn't mine... LOL
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sentiments about your wife, Alex.
ReplyDeleteMorgan, I do it all the time!
ReplyDeleteDana, just don't let him know.
Thanks, Kittie!
Jaws. Enough said, man. :)
ReplyDeleteI smiled at your memories of Jaws. I went with a friend I was living with that summer. When we got home she made me sleep on the floor of her room that night...afraid a shark would climb the dry-land stairs and get her. I was clear that wasn't going to happen...but note, I did sleep on her floor!
ReplyDeleteI just watched Hugo for the first time this week. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI kind of wish I'd done the First Loves blogfest even though I really didn't have any time to squeeze it in. Reading the posts of many of the participants has brought back some lovely book, movie, and music memories.
Congratulations on CassaFire being an Amazon Best Seller!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLoved Hugo also! Can't wait to see the Avengers! Thank you for all of your splendid reviews! I've nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award ~ You are always so encouraging. Come by and get it at http://sherilswift.blogspot.com/2012/05/beautiful-blogger-award.html
ReplyDeleteI love The Sword of Shannara! I've read it more than three times. It's been awhile, though. I might have to re-read it again this summer!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a turn out for your blogfest. I've seen so many great posts.
ReplyDeleteDavid, you got that right!
ReplyDeleteLiza, those land sharks are deadly.
Patricia, at least you got all of the benefits!
Thanks, Jenn!
Sheri, thank you.
Laura, that make you really cool.
Marjorie - I know! I was a bit overwhelmed.
Wow! Congrats on Cassa success :-)) and diving into the blogfest arena again!
ReplyDeleteI really wish my first love were my hubby... I was soo old when I met him. :/ alas... I was 28. oh well... he is my Great Love..and that is special. ;)
ReplyDeletefirst movie: Benji The Hunted, first book: The Box Car Children series, first band: Ricky Nelson, first love: Charlie Sheen *unrequited of course* don't judge me cuz RED DAWN!!! WOLVERINES!! LOL;P
I'm having a BLAST hoppin' around this blogfest. Thumbs way up. I grew up at the beach so Jaws ended my body surfing career real quick.
ReplyDeleteLisa, it has been awhile!
ReplyDeleteCasey, I remember that movie. You do know they are remaking it? And without Charlie Sheen.
Leslie, oh no! Glad you enjoyed the blogfest. It was a lot of fun for everyone.
Haha, I saw Jaws for the first time the night before a trip to the beach, and I actually got chased by a shark while there...twice. Given, it was a baby nurse shark and it was just trying to flee the fishermen, but I screamed my fool head off (I was in elementary school). I wish I had film footage...
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse, road tripping through the #atozchallenge participants!
I'll have to check out "Rush." :D
ReplyDeleteThat is so sweet about your wife. ^_^
I missed this blogfest, but it's been cool to see other people's firsts! :D
First loves!!! Man I was a Pauly Shore movies and Milli Vanilli fan.... as my first loves... Ya I had extreme bad taste at an early age!
ReplyDeleteI didn't catch Jaws until later on, so at least I wasn't terrified of swimming pools as a kid!
ReplyDeleteMy first love was my wife, too. Soppy, aren't we? :P
The fact you ended up with your first love is amazing! Congratulations on that! Almost like a fairy tale...
ReplyDeleteShannon, that is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteSteve, didn't we all?
Nick, yeah, but oh well.
Pat, I guess it is!
What a wonderful idea this was, it's almost like Back to The Future now....All those long forgotten songs and bands back in my head again!
ReplyDeleteThank you Alex!
168 blogs in 3 days, not bad... I have no idea how you do it so quickly!??
Sharing the Love!
English Speaking Zone
Great picks. My lil sis is really into Jaws at the mo, it's creeping me out a lil, she is 7, but gets excited when I try to scare her with horrific shark attack stories!
ReplyDeleteP.S: Catching up on my blog reading that's why you are getting lots of crazy stalker comments! :)