FIRST WEEKEND EVENTS
I enjoyed a great weekend of CARD GAME events. Friday night (and well into Saturday morning) was spent with a couple dozen neighbors at the home of our friends, Kevin and Denise Brady. A lot of CARD GAME was talked and a lot of bourbon was tasted.
Julie and I spent Sunday under blue skies at the Kensington Day of The Book, talking to many friends who came to visit as well as several new friends and fans of the book.
We are looking forward to this Thursday’s book signing with the Norbeck Grove Book Club in Olney, MD!
HOT SHOPPES v BIG BOY
Back in the 70’s and long before there were calorie counts on restaurant menus, my buddies and me had a regular debate. One that continues to rage, decades later.
Which joint was better? Hot Shoppes or Big Boy?
Hot Shoppes had the Mighty Mo; Bob’s, “The Big Boy”. The Mighty Mo had “special dressing”, The Big Boy, “special relish”. Bob’s sided the Big Boy up with some oversized and crispy fried onion rings. Oh, wait, so did Hot Shoppes. Both had a now extinct hot fudge cake, but Hot Shoppes dropped its vanilla ice cream between two slabs of yellow cake, while Bob’s went with chocolate cake. Hot Shoppes did have offspring, the “Hot Shoppes, Jr.”, while Bob went childless. Of course Bob had that portly little “Big Boy” holding a burger up high. Hot Shoppes had just a sign.
Coincidentally, both make their way onto the pages of CARD GAME.
So, which booth do you sit in? Hot Shoppes or Big Boy?
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
WHY I RIDE
A few years back, just before cracking 50, I decided that the time had come. Suffering through the usual midweek sleeplessness, I watched John Travolta in “Wild Hogs” for about the sixth time and promised myself I was going to learn how to ride a motorcycle. My wife, concerned in equal parts for both my safety and mental health, went along with it, so long as I just got the license, not the bike. I got both.
Particularly in this miserable winter weather, I don’t get out as much as I would like but it’s easy to put your finger on a few great reasons to ride:
1. Excellent excuse to pick up a pair of badass boots.
2. Even better excuse to buy a badass leather jacket.
3. No one talks when I’m on my bike.
4. 600 pounds of muscle between my legs.
5. “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty, I am free at last.”
EARLY REVIEWS COMING IN – CARD GAME IS A WINNER
THANKS TO FOLKS WHO HAVE SHARED SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT CARD GAME
“I have never read a book quite like this one. It was enchanting. I cried, laughed, and got really caught up in the characters’ lives. This book was fantastic and brought back so many memories since I grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and knew most of the places talked about in this book. But you don’t need to live in Maryland to enjoy this book, I loved it and cannot wait to read more by David Bulitt.”
“I finished reading your book at 1:00 am this morning. Then I could not sleep. This book brought back so many memories of my growing up in Silver Spring… The memories just kept flooding in my mind after reading the book. I loved it. The ending was perfect as JB finally was able to tell Tom things he could not when Tom was alive. I shed a few tears I will tell you… You sure wrote a wonderful book. Thanks so much.”
“I just finished Card Game and loved it. It’s got a little Diner mixed with The Big Chill vibe. Easy to become invested in the characters and the story line. For a first time author, David Bulitt managed to deal a great hand!”