Steven Helmer Publications

I usually try to avoid discussing politics. I have my political beliefs but choose to them to myself. So, my decision to post this should speak volumes. For the record, I consider myself an independent who, for the most part, leans a bit to the right. In fact, I have cast a ballot in all seven presidential elections since my 18th birthday and only voted Democrat once. In comparison, I voted for the third-party Libertarian candidate in two of the elections.  The thing is, I don’t really dislike the Democrats. On paper, I support most things they support. It’s just when they talk about taxing the rich, I always somehow seem to be lumped into that category even though I’m living paycheck to paycheck like most people.  That’s why I am as surprised as anyone that I plan on voting for Kamala Harris in November. Image courtesy of Pixabay I don’t agree with everything Harris talks about in her platform. I’m also not completely convinced the excitement over her isn’t anything more tha...

Synopsis: Grace McMahon's life isn't going the way she hoped. The book she wrote has been rejected by publishers while her office temp jobs are both unreliable and don't pay the bills. Her only solace is her dreams, which have been featuring Michael Roy, a person she doesn't know but yet seems so familiar to her. However, even that is about to be taken away from her because there was a mix-up at Dream Central and she's actually been experiencing his dreams, something the dream weavers in charge want to correct by erasing him from her memories, even as she locates Michael in real life, and they fall in love. Who's in it? The movie stars Skyler Samuels ,  Kapil Talwalkar , Cecilia Lee , David Rosser and Erica Deutschman. Review: Our daughters were attending a community theater musical yesterday afternoon and since we both needed a break from our weekend projects, my wife and I decided to watch a movie together. It had been a while since we watched a Hallmark fi...

I've managed to get out for a walk with my camera a couple of times this week, despite some rain a few days ago. The trails are a little muddy but walkable and there seems to be a large brood of dragonflies buzzing around (I'll take those over mosquitoes any day). Anyway, I didn't get an opportunity to share these yesterday so here are some photos.

Synopsis: Dudley Do-Right is living his life-long dream of being a member of the Canadian Mounties and lives his life by a strict code of honor and never breaks the rules. However, when his arch nemesis, Snidely Whiplash gains control of his hometown, steals his girl and causes him to lose his job, Dudley must take a different approach in an effort to defeat the villain. Who's in it? The movie stars  Brendan Fraser ,   Sarah Jessica Parker ,   Alfred Molina ,   Eric Idle ,   Alex Rocco   and   Robert Prosky . You can read my review of Dudley Do-Right here:  Movie Review: Dudley Do-Right (1999) (wizzley.com)

My youngest daughter attended her friend's graduation party this afternoon in Waupun, WI. Since she only planned on being there about an hour (she ended up staying 2) my wife and I decided to just hang out around town until she was done and ended up visiting both Harris Mill Park and Shaler Memorial Park (which are connected via a bridge) before having lunch at Don Ramon Mexican restaurant, located about a half mile away. I had my camera along because I had originally planned on visiting Horicon Marsh (we decided against it both because of the distance and it was too hot to walk the trails). So, I took some photos while we were there.

Synopsis: A group of National Guard deserters, looking to escape the zombie apocalypse, steal a ferry boat and travel to Plum Island. There, they end up in the middle of a blood feud between two family heads. One wants to kill all the zombies while the other believes humans can live in relative harmony with the undead if the latter can be taught to eat something other than human flesh. The movie stars  Alan van Sprang ,  Kenneth Welsh ,  Kathleen Munroe ,  Richard Fitzpatrick ,  Athena Karkanis  and  Eric Woolfe . You can read my review of Survival of the Dead here:  Movie Review: Survival of the Dead (2009) (wizzley.com)

It was wet after a lot of rain yesterday and somewhat humid, but I managed to slip in a walk with my camera at lunch today, trying not to step on frogs throughout most of it. Here are some of the photos I took.