I Want to Live on the Enterprise

My husband and I have spent some time over the last few months discussing what we'd like to do for our careers. Mine is portable - I can do it from anywhere. His will be down the road - he's ramping it up so he can work from home as well. And as I considered all the options of where to go and what to do, I've decided that I want to live on the Enterprise.

Why, you ask?

1. The food replicators. All you have to do is tell the computer what you'd like to eat, and it materializes right in front of you. Not only that, but it's always the perfect combination of nutrients - the molecules have been altered so that no matter what you order, it's healthy. So no cooking, no cleaning up afterwards, the stuff you want is always available, and it's always healthy? Yeah. Sign me up for that.

2. Awesome education opportunities. We're a homeschool family, so imagine how cool it would be to live on the Enterprise and do school from there. We wouldn't just talk about the galaxies - we'd go look at them. We could meet other life forms face-to-face. We would have access to the ship's computer to learn whatever else we wanted. And with the holodeck, field trips would be amazing.

3. No crime. Everyone on board has been carefully screened, and if anything bad were to happen, you just call Worf and he'll come take care of it. Of course, there are those alien life forms who don't understand the rules and sometimes create some havoc, but that's always resolved within about forty minutes or so.

4. No need for money.  On the Enterprise, all your needs are met. You can replicate anything you need and you don't have to buy it. Interestingly enough, the crew quarters aren't filled up with stuff even though they can create anything they want - they must un-create it when they're done using it. How would that be - everyone has what they need, so there's no greed or jealousy. Possessions are just things, and don't create animosity.

Yes, I've decided. Of all the places I want to live, I choose the Enterprise. And like I said, I can take my business anywhere - I could totally edit in ten forward while sipping a hot chocolate served to me by Guinan, or sitting under a weeping willow on holodeck two while my kids play in a babbling brook. As long as we can keep Q from abducting our daddy and trying to make him become part of the continuum, it would be perfect.

What Are You Doing This Saturday?

This event starts at 2 pm at the Orem City Library. I will be on a panel in the storytelling wing and my daughter, Caryn, will be on a panel in the media auditorium downstairs. Then at 2:30, we'll all join together in the storytelling wing for a book signing. Come hang out with us, meet nine of our awesome author friends, and have fun!

Book Review: The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier

Today I'm quite pleased to review The Reluctant Blogger by Ryan Rapier.

Todd's wife died suddenly, leaving him alone to raise their three children. He's in shock and dealing with grief. He's worried about the emotional well-being of his kids and his ability to be there for them as a father. Most of all, he's angry at God for letting this happen.

Realizing that he needs help but not really knowing how to get it, Todd starts seeing a therapist, Dr. Schenk. He doesn't know how to open up and share what's in his heart, so his sessions are pretty quiet. Frustrated, Dr. Schenk gives Todd an assignment - he is to blog about his thoughts and feelings regarding his wife's death. The blog is private, something only Todd and Dr. Schenk can access, but it could be a valuable tool in helping Todd release his pent-up anguish and give him an outlet as he works through his emotional healing.

The problem is, Todd doesn't want to do it.

Out of ideas, Dr. Schenk gives Todd an ultimatum: write on the blog or stop coming in for therapy. Todd realizes that if he loses Dr. Schenk, he may never get the help he needs, so he begins to blog.

Those blog posts make up the bulk of this book.

I have to say, I enjoyed this read. The characters were refreshingly honest, from Dr. Schenk mentally redecorating his office while waiting for Todd to talk to Todd spilling Kool-Aid all over the place at a singles' dance and then bursting into tears because he realizes he can't tell his wife about it. I felt as though the characters were real, that I could identify with them. I enjoyed the voice of narration and found it very open and conversational. I especially enjoyed going with Todd on his journey as he learned what he needed to learn and began to see possibilities and understand things about himself.

I give two thumbs up to The Reluctant Blogger and recommend it to anyone looking for a unique LDS fiction novel that easily translates to a national market as well.

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