Steven Helmer Publications

My dad, Art Helmer, passed away on June 6. We held off on memorial services until the end of the month (he was cremated) to allow people to make travel arrangements if needed and because he insisted we not cancel any of our plans we had already set (this included my wife flying out east to see her family and my brother attending a music festival). Considering we have already been coping with his death for about three weeks, I wasn't really expecting the funeral to be as emotional as it wound up being (I blame the song "Amazing Grace"). But, between the service at the funeral home and the military service at the gravesite, it wound up being an emotionally exhausting day. I was out cold the second I got to bed last night. Today, of course, is now a start of a new chapter in all our lives without him and making an effort to fill the void he left behind. My oldest daughter and I already have made plans to help out with the Badger Honor Flight this fall as a way of honorin...

Synopsis : When bookstore owner Claire Mallory's English professor husband was killed in a car accident, the fact he was having an affair with one of his students was kept under wraps. But, when a local romance writer publishes a new book that is essentially a tell-all about the faculty at a local college, her husband's secret, along with others, is revealed. When the author is murdered shortly after this discovery, Claire and her teenage daughter are potential suspects. Review: When I was at our local library a couple weeks ago, I once again decided to pick a book out at random and, this time around, I quite literally made the choice by judging the book by its cover. Unfortunately, this one turned out to be a disappointment for me. I'm not saying there weren't things I didn't like about this book. In particular, I thought the interaction between Claire and her daughter was both funny and realistic. It's just there were way too many other things I di...

A couple years ago, I stopped by one of our local stores a couple days after Easter and came across some unwanted Easter lilies. The flowers were wilted and falling off so I was able to purchase them for just $1.50. I ended up planting them next to the house and, every year since, they have popped back up and bloomed. There is a lesson to be learned from this - sometimes we get caught up on present beauty or remember past beauty and forget about the hidden beauty that can still emerge with understanding and nurturing.

Synopsis: A corrupt small town sheriff is disposing of a body when two runaway boys decide to take his squad car for a joy ride. Realizing the trouble that could cause him, he does everything he can to get the car back before anyone finds out it has been stolen. Who's in it? The movie stars Kevin Bacon , James Freedson-Jackson , Hays Wellford , Shea Whigham and Camryn Manheim . Review: I decided to scroll through Netflix movies while my wife was taking a shower yesterday evening and, after looking at a few, decided on this one because she is a big Kevin Bacon fan. Unfortunately, the film just did not live up to expectations. When we started watching this movie, I expected it to be a thriller (like it was advertised). After watching it, I would probably classify it more as a dark comedy. There really wasn't anything about this movie I would consider even remotely intense. In fact, I think the only thing that made me cringe at all was all the swear words coming out o...

Synopsis: Still traumatized from a mistake that led to one of her callers being kidnapped and murdered, Jordan Turner now teaches new Los Angeles 9-1-1 operators rather than field the calls herself. That changes when a teenager is kidnapped from a mall and Jordan's experience and ingenuity is needed to track down the victim. Who's in it? The movie stars Halle Berry , Abigail Breslin , Michael Eklund , Morris Chestnut and Roma Maffia . Review: I came across this movie a couple days ago and decided to record it so my wife and I could watch it when we had time. We finally got around to doing that last night and I can honestly say I was glad I made this choice. There were a few things that really stood out for me when it came to this movie. One of the main ones is I liked how it gave a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what life must be like for people working in a 9-1-1 call center. While it manages to portray the people working there as heroes, it also made sure to show u...

Synopsis: Eccentric ex-detective Nick Trayne is offered $25,000 to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a wealthy banker. The case becomes more challenging when the banker returns to his house in a zombie-like state and, a short time later, the banker’s brother-in-law is found murdered in the garden. It’s up to Nick to figure out which of the banker’s uncooperative relatives is behind all of it. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-the-living-ghost-1942/

I am a long-time Mountain Dew addict and, despite numerous attempts to kick it or at least try to cut back, have failed miserably to break that addiction. At nearly $6 per 12-pack (except for when I can find a decent sale), it is becoming an expensive habit to support. And, as a result of that, I've been making an effort to find a much-cheaper "generic" alternative. I wound up finding Our Family Mountain Drop soda at one of our local grocery stores this morning and, after seeing it for just $2.99 for a 12-pack, decided to give it a try. So far, I am happy with this purchase. At first, I wasn't really sure if this would be the case. This isn't the first time I've tried to save money with similar cheap brands and the previous attempts resulted in me getting a soft drink that just tasted a bit "off" when compared to the brand name. However, the Our Family brand actually turned out to be pretty decent. I'm not sure if the flavor is exactly...

Synopsis : Already a little depressed about spending Christmas alone in a community that doesn't openly celebrate the holiday, Constable Hamish Macbeth reluctantly helps an unfriendly recluse find her missing cat while trying to locate Christmas decorations that were stolen from a neighboring village. Review:  Normally, I wouldn't even consider checking out a Christmas-themed book in the middle of June (especially when the weather already hasn't been summer-like). But, it was the next book in the Hamish Macbeth series and, not wanting to read it out of order, I made an exception. Unfortunately, after finishing the book last night, I kind of wish I would have just left it on the shelf. Let me start out by saying I didn't hate the book. It's just, when I read a series like this one, I do have some certain expectations. In this particular case for example, since Macbeth is known for solving murder mysteries, I was sort of expecting him to be solving one this ti...

My wife and I both had places we needed to be yesterday evening and, since neither of us thought to get dinner started in advance, decided to have frozen pizza . She had seen this particular one when out grocery shopping a few days ago and mentioned it to me. So, when I stopped at the same store yesterday evening, I wound up buying it. Overall, I was happy with the purchase. We wound up making this on our pizza oven when I got home from the store and I found it exceeded my expectations. The stuffed crust probably could have used a little more bacon (it was mostly cheese). But, it still ended up being enjoyable and, at minimum, was good as some of the stuffed crust pizzas we've purchased from local restaurants for much more money. It also proved to be much more filling than I was expecting it to be. Normally, a pizza like this would barely be enough for two of us. But, I was getting full after just two slices and needed to wait a while before having more. And, as far as tast...

Synopsis: In mourning for her dead father and upset with a recent move, a teenager, Kilee, discovers a Voodoo doll hanging in the shed and decides to use it. At first, its magical powers seem like a great thing, helping her get revenge against a bully and gain attention from a teacher she has a crush on. But, as the doll begins to get stronger and her wishes backfire, she realizes she has to find a way to stop it before it is too late. Who's in it? The movie stars Kristy Swanson , Brec Bassinger , Madison Lawlor , Chris Prascus and Ashlee Fuss . Review: I came across this film yesterday morning and, thinking it sounded somewhat interesting, decided to record it so my wife and I could watch it yesterday evening. We wound up doing just that and, unfortunately, it wasn't quite as good as I was hoping it would be. The best way I can think of to describe this film is it is a bit like a combination of The Monkey's Paw and Child's Play . Personally, I think it wor...

Synopsis : When the United States is forced to surrender five Appalachian states to an unknown group calling themselves the Conquerors, a British scientist and two companions travel into the newly-abandoned region in search of answers. Review: I ended up checking out this book as part of a pairing with another book, Ten to the Stars . I wasn't really sure what to expect from this one but, mostly because I enjoyed the latter, I was optimistic. Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would. I actually liked the first part of this book, mostly because I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the mysterious Conquerors. I wasn't sure if they were aliens or something else but was curious why they seemed so interested in that region of the country. I also found myself wondering if maybe they were bluffing, especially since they were small in stature and seemed to want to avoid a violent confrontation. As a result of that, I did wonder what the eventual ...

Synopsis: Already lying to his wife, Audrey, about not passing his detective's exam, a police sergeant, Nick Spitz, decides to book a spur-of-the-moment European vacation to avoid disappointing her on their 15th wedding anniversary. On the airplane, Audrey befriends the nephew of elderly billionaire Malcolm Quince and secures an invitation to cruise on a yacht and attend a celebration in honor of his uncle's marriage. When Quince is murdered seconds after revealing his intentions to cut everyone except his new bride out of the will, there is a roomful of people with motive. However, the local police consider Audrey and Nick the primary suspects. Who's in it? The movie stars Jennifer Aniston , Adam Sandler , Luke Evans , Terence Stamp and Dany Boon. Review: When I first came across this movie on Netflix last week, I was intrigued. But, since my wife was out of town, I decided to hold off on watching it until she got back. We did that last night and I have to say I wa...

It had been a while since I had an opportunity to take one of my strolls at Edgewater Park so, since the sun was actually out this morning for a change, I decided to do just that before heading into the office this morning. I had to contend with mosquitoes in some of the areas of the park and the marsh grass was considerably higher than it was the last time I was there, blocking my view in some spots. But, I did still manage to get some photos. This pond was covered in a snow-like layer of cotton-like puffs from some of the trees and/or plants.

Synopsis:  When two farmers ( Allan Melvin and Orville Sherman ) scare Barney ( Don Knotts ) away after he tried to get them to stop illegally selling produce, Andy ( Andy Griffith ) tells them a fib about his deputy in an effort to intimidate them and build up Barney's confidence. When this backfires, Barney must finally learn to stand up for himself. Review: I remembered seeing this episode some time back but couldn't remember too much about it when I had a chance to watch it again yesterday morning. At first, I wasn't really sure if I would enjoy it, mostly because the plot sounded a bit too similar to other "Barney needs Andy to save him" plots I've seen on this series before. However, after watching it, I have to admit I enjoyed it. I think the thing that really stands out for me when it comes to this episode is the way both Barney and Andy ultimately learn valuable lessons. Barney gains a new understanding about what it means to wear a badge and ...

Synopsis : Aided by technology that will allow them to travel anywhere in the solar system, a group of 10 brash friends decide to build spaceships and seek their fortunes in space. The endeavor proves fatal to some and has a profound change on the others. Review:  My decision to check out this book a few days ago came from a somewhat unique inspiration. Our downtown area has a bunch of murals painted on the sides of the buildings that provide a snapshot of the city's history. As it so happens, I decided to walk to the library and, as I did this, I happened to pay a little closer attention to the mural paying tribute to Raymond Z. Gallun as an author who was born here in Beaver Dam, WI. I'm actually not a huge science fiction fan, especially when it comes to older books. But, I was intrigued enough to see if the library actually carried any of his books and ultimately ended up checking this one out. I finished it yesterday evening and, after some reflection, I realized I...

Synopsis: Attorney Wayne Fletcher is rumored to be having an affair with his secretary Donna Kincaid. So, when his wife, Vivian, is found murdered, he becomes the primary suspect. However, while he had the most to gain from her death, a suspicious psychic, a stalker and a houseful of eccentric family members complicates the investigation, especially when there are other deaths. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-pillow-of-death-1945/

Synopsis: When a thief manages to steal two cows and Andy ( Andy Griffith ) has no leads, an impatient Mayor Stoner ( Parley Baer ) decides to bring in an investigator from the state capital. The investigator ( Ralph Bell ) is convinced there is a team of thieves stealing the cows. However, Andy forms his own theory and devises a plan to catch the lone thief. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/the-andy-griffith-show-episode-review-the-cow-thief-1962/

Synopsis: A group of teenagers throw a Halloween party at an abandoned funeral parlor and predictably encounter supernatural activity. As the demonic entities begin their rampage, the teenagers realize the creatures can't be stopped on Halloween night and they must, instead, find a way to survive until morning. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-night-of-the-demons-1988/

Synopsis: A small desert town is terrorized by an indestructible black sedan with no driver. When the local sheriff is killed, Chief Deputy Wade Parent must figure out a way to stop the vehicle, which is apparently possessed by an evil spirit. As the body count rises, he must pull out all stops and put his own life on the line in and effort to end its killing spree. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-the-car-1977/

I was intrigued by the concept and, since my wife and daughters are out of town, decided to check it out. I have to admit, I'm actually pretty impressed. I love how the show manages to pay respect to historical figures like Abraham Lincoln ( Bob Saget ) and Anne Frank ( Rachel Feinstein ), educate the viewer about the people are being roasted (as well as the historical guest roasters) and still manage to slip in a bit of comedy and the occasional inspirational message. Another thing I love about this is the way it doesn't completely ignore the guests' faults. Watching Harriett Tubman ( Yamaneika Saunders ) tear into Lincoln and talk about how he gets all the credit for freeing the slaves when people like her were risking their lives, for example, was pretty awesome and did have me wanting to learn more about her. Even the historical bad guys like Adolf Hitler ( Gilbert Gottfried ) and John Wilkes Booth ( John Stamos ) get a chance to say their piece as roasters, th...

Synopsis: Driving through the desert after a fight with her adulterous husband, wealthy heiress Nancy Archer encounters a spaceship and a 30-foot alien. However, partly because of her history of drinking and mental illness, her report isn't taken seriously. Fearing she will once again be institutionalized, she forces her husband to accompany her in search of the craft. When they find it and the alien once again grabs for her, her husband flees and leaves her for dead. She survives but her exposure to the spaceship causes her to grow to gigantic proportions and, when she wakes up, she uses her new enlarged size to get revenge on her husband. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-attack-of-the-50-foot-woman-1958/

Synopsis: While traveling home by train, a successful amateur tennis player and aspiring politician shares a drink with a man he just met and is offered an opportunity to have his adulterous wife murdered in exchange for killing the other man's father. He chooses not to go along with the plan but, the stranger murders his wife anyway and threatens to frame him if he doesn't follow through with his end of the deal. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-strangers-on-a-train-1951/

I haven't been able to go on as many walks as I would prefer. But, I did manage to get a few photos, here and there, over the past couple of days. Here's a selection of them.

Synopsis: When former drug addict Tommy Jarret is found dead of an apparent overdose, Constable Hamish Macbeth suspects something isn't quite right. However, his superiors believe Tommy is just another dead addict, forcing him to once again use personal time to investigate. This time, however, he eventually finds himself assigned to work undercover to break up a drug smuggling ring, something that will force him to travel abroad for the first time in his life. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/book-review-death-of-an-addict-2001/

Synopsis: While on a romantic New Years Eve camping trip, Ian and Samantha discover an abandoned tent. They become suspicious and, as they are trying to leave to alert the authorities, they find a young child wandering around unattended. A flat tire prevents them from leaving and they soon find their lives in danger from a pair of men who use that location as their "killing ground." You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-killing-ground-2016/

Synopsis: In 1926, railroad heiress Anne Bloodworth disappeared without a trace. An investigation turned up no leads but many of her friends believed she ran away with a lover to avoid an arranged marriage. However, roughly 70 years later, an archaeological dig on the family's property turns up Anne's body. After police determine she was murdered but show limited interest in solving the case, Pulitzer Prize-winning professor Dr. Simon Shaw decides to figure out who her killer was. Unfortunately for him, digging into her past may also put his own life at risk. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/book-review-simon-said-1997/

Synopsis: In 1970, a Zanzibar refugee soon to be known to the world as Freddie Mercury meets drummer Roger Taylor and guitar player Brian May and, along with bassist John Deacon, the men form the band Queen. The group quickly becomes a major success but tensions and Mercury's personal problems threaten to put an end to the legendary band. You can read my review here:  https://wizzley.com/movie-review-bohemian-rhapsody-2018/