Month: July 2015

July 26, 2015

HOME SWEAT HOME!

AIN’T NUTHIN’ SWEET ABOUT THIS TEXAS HEAT, Y’ALL …..  Dang, it’s hot down here in Austin, Texas!  How hot is it?  (I’m glad you asked.)  It’s so hot the fire ants have opened up a Kool Aid stand!  It’s so hot the scorpions are crawling around with canteens!  It’s so hot…  Well, never mind, you get the idea.  Hey, before I forget, there’s an email going around offering Processed Pork, gelatin, and salt in a can.  If you get this email, DO NOT OPEN IT!  (It’s SPAM.)

So what else is new?  (Again, I’m glad you asked.)  Looks like Hillary Clinton is in big trouble because of her private server.  I’m not sure what that is, but I don’t think it’s a waitress.  I think it has something to do with a computer, and I detest those darn things.  Why?  (What’s with all the questions?)  Because somebody recently stole my identity online!  You know the most humiliating part?  The son of a gun returned my identity the next day.  He said that after careful consideration he did NOT want to be me!  Loser.

Check this out…  there’s a novelty store in Houston that’s selling Donald Trump pinatas!  Look on the bright side, something good will finally come out of the guy!

I see that President Obama went to a federal prison.  (Calm down, he was only visiting.)  I think he went there to discuss prison reform….. and spend some time with a bunch of former Congressmen.  Did you know that there are no Jewish people in federal prison?  Why?  Because they eat lox.  (locks?)  All right, that was lame.  I blame the heat.

On a brighter note, I am happy to report that the United States team recently won the International Math Olympics!  Who says American kids can’t compete with those brainy Asians?  Our juveniles are smarter than those dang foreigners!  Congratulations to the American team:  Shyam Narayanan, Yang Liu, Allen Liu, and their coach, Po-Shen Loh.  (I hope those Asian folks learned a lesson!)

Well, as you can see from today’s post, I’ve finally reached the Wonder Years.  (I wonder where my car is parked?  I wonder where I left my cell phone?  I wonder where my glasses are?  I wonder if I’ve used these jokes before?)  Oh well, time marches on, and it’s better to be in the parade than you-know-where.  Incidentally, copies of THE SECOND MOURNING are still selling briskly and the recent awards have really increased sales.  Amazingly, RANSOM ON THE RHONE is still one of the best-selling mysteries in France, so all is good on the literary front.

As some of you may know, we now have over 20,000 blog followers in 140 different countries.  That being the case, some folks overseas have asked if I would post a photograph of my home in America.  (No, they are not with ISIS.)  Well, since I aim to please, and appreciate my blog followers enormously, I am going to attempt to post a recent photo of my private abode.  (Notice I said abode, not commode.)  I might point out that shortly after this picture was taken, I had a reptile dysfunction on my porch.  A rather long, black snake decided to crawl through my legs as I was consuming a cold beer.  I have therefore attached (hopefully) a photo of this particular reptile.  By the way, this fellow was a non-venomous snake.  Very beautiful markings.  Quite tasty.

In closing, let me send my very best wishes to Ann D. in Round Rock.  Ann had a little accident the other day, but she is one tough gal and we know she will be back on her feet in the very near future.  We all wish you a speedy recovery, darling!  I look forward to speaking at your book club in September!  (Try to serve some lobster)

Vaya con dios, amigos y amigettes!  Have a safe and wonderful week…..    Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

 

P.S.  Resident and reptile reproductions attached!

 

 

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July 12, 2015

THE PIRATE’S PATH!

Hey, wait a minute, isn’t that the title of the second “Adam Gold Mystery?” (Actually, that was THE PIRATE PATH.)  Anyway, the reason I used this title in today’s post is because I recently returned from “pirate country” along the Texas coast.  In pursuit of fame and fortune, I ventured down to the charming coastal town of Port Lavaca, anxious to meet and greet some of my loyal fans.  (It was very hot down there, so there were plenty of fans!)  I gave a short discourse (did you folks sign up for “dis course?”) to a group of prominent citizens recently paroled and/or pardoned from the local penal institution.

Just kidding about the penal thing.  (Why does that sound dirty?)  I actually spoke at the Old Main Bookstore in nearby Palacios.  (Which is a Spanish word meaning “palacios.”)  Great cookies and wonderful coffee, and some very nice citizens.  Then it was off for another engagement in Port Lavaca, which has the good fortune of existing beside a lovely inlet on Matagorda Bay.  Aye, matey, it was a good place to discuss my book about pirate treasure, because this is where good old Jean Lafitte buried some of his loot!  (I dug up several flower beds, but alas, to no avail.)  Nevertheless, I got to use some lame pirate jokes and a few gags about “booty.”  (I think the audience was ready to bury me, instead of treasure!)

So what else be new?  Well, if you happen to subscribe to a French newspaper called “Herald de Paris,” (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) then you might have seen the pleasant article written about RANSOM ON THE RHONE.  The reviewer was very kind, and she gave the book 4-stars, which was much appreciated.  (I tried to “purchase” the fifth star, but she wouldn’t budge.  Whoever heard of a French person refusing a bribe?)  Say levee, as they say down in New Orleans.

Looks like Greece is heading for bankruptcy.  Hard to believe that the country that invented the philosophy major could go bankrupt.  Their prime minister is still optimistic.  I heard him say that the country will bounce back. (They were just having a rough 2,000 years.)

What else happened recently?  Oh yes, same-sex marriage was approved by the Supreme Court.  (I don’t use the term “gay marriage,” because ALL marriage will make you miserable!  Or bankrupt!)  Jeez, I hope my wife doesn’t read this blog.  (She hasn’t read any of them yet!)  Anyway, in my view the main difference between gay marriage and straight marriage is that in the former nobody complains when you leave the toilet seat up!  Just saying, dear.

Hey, isn’t Bernie Sanders too old to become President?  A reporter asked him if he was on Instagram, and he said that he’s sticking with telegrams!  I’ve heard that he’s so old that his Homeowner Insurance covers fire, theft, and Indian raids!  Now that’s old.  (So are these jokes!)  I see that Chris Christie gave a 20-minute speech in his high school’s gymnasium.  (Probably the longest amount of time he’s ever spent inside a gym!)  He was no doubt surrounded by dumb bells.  (Hey, I used to live in New York, so I’m allowed to make jokes about New Jersey!)

Since I’m being “crabby,” let me remind you of a great seafood restaurant down in Port Lavaca…  The place is called Art’s Fish House.  (A fellow named Art owns the place and they serve fish.)  That being said, order something called the “Big Pot.”  (No, this is not a Chris Christie joke.)  The dinner is a superb combo of shrimp, blue crab, and crawfish.  Yummy yummy.  (You can add something called “Dungeon crab,” or “Dungeness crab” for a few dollars extra.)

Well, my dear friends, I must leave you to your own devices.  Tonight is the semi-annual “Princess of Portugal Paella Party.”  I, being a world class bartender, am responsible for bringing several gallons of my famous “Faux Festival Sangria,” so I must be on my way to the taxidermy shop.  (I have a secret ingredient that they supply….  eye of newt extract!)  When you toast with my sangria, you’re supposed to say….  “Here’s looking at you, kid!”

I can’t “envision” a better way to end this blog, so I’m gone…..

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

 

 

RansomOnTheRhoneCover

July 4, 2015

CELEBRATION NATION!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!  Shall we begin with a trivia question?  All right, here we go…   Do they have a fourth of July in England?  (Keep in mind that we won our independence from the British.)  The answer?  Yes, they do!  In fact, they also have a July first, second, and third!  (Like everyone else.)  Since that was sort of a trick question, I will give you another…  Who was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence?  (Answer:  Benny Franklin)  By the way, not to brag, but the first person to sign was John Hancock.  (The famous insurance salesman.)   Some folks think that it was Adam Gold!

If I was still living in New York, I’d be going to the hot dog eating contest sponsored by Nathan’s.  I’m kind of hungry this morning, but I don’t think I could beat the existing consumption record…..  68 hot dogs (plus the buns) in 10 minutes!  That may sound “hard to swallow,” but it’s true.  By the way, did you know that 1/3 of all the hot dogs in the U.S. come from Iowa?  I thought you might “relish” this information…

Speaking of hot dogs, did I mention that I won the Silver Medal in this year’s INDIEFAB Book of the Year Contest?  I am very grateful for the award, which represents one of the largest and most prestigious literary awards in the country.  THE SECOND MOURNING has now won 4 major literary awards in six months!  Without bribing any of the judges!  (Not that I didn’t try!)  Anyway, I was quite pleased and honored.  I don’t know what’s holding up that dang Pulitzer.

Hey, for all of you folks that may live in Austin or the surrounding area, there is a new boutique (for the ladies) opening up on Congress Avenue today.  It’s called THE COVE, and it features the most stunning outfits you will ever see, all at reasonable prices.  (It will also feature all of my mystery novels!)  The temporary location (they are building a brand new store on Congress Avenue) is at 108 Gibson Street, in the church behind Hotel San Jose.  Today is the summer “pop-up shop” opening, from 12 noon to 7 p.m.  Be there or be nowhere!  (I’ll be signing books from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

For those of you anxiously awaiting news about the next “Adam Gold Mystery,” you might be thrilled to learn that book number five has been finished and is now in the hands of my most capable editor.  (Blind Lemon Lefkowitz.)  The book is titled, A RUN FOR THE MONEY.  As the name suggests, it has something to do with equine insurance.  If you love horses or horse racing, then you will really enjoy this book.  The proposed date of publication is January, 2016.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:  If you have a short fuse, do not play with fireworks.

Here’s a little fact that you will get a “bang” out of…..   Did you know that 99% of fireworks sold in the U.S. come from China?  (When they’re not making suits for Donald Trump.)  How the heck did we lose the firecracker market to those people?  I demand an investigation!  Never mind, the hot dogs are ready…..

Here’s hoping you and yours have a safe and happy 4th of July.  On a serious note, take a moment to think about our military, those serving and those who have served.  It is because of these folks, and their enormous sense of patriotism, that we remain the land of the free.  God bless them all!

And good tidings to the rest of you rascals…..   Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

 

P.S.  Lovely Caribbean photo attached!

 

 

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