Wednesday, April 6, 2016

How Animals Can Inspire You... (IWSG)

...to laugh. Okay, so one of these isn't per say an "animal," but it's pretty amazing.

Brought to you by Maggid
WEEEE!


Beware the Kung Fu master!


And you thought fishing was safe.


Can't you just hear him laughing as he runs? Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, suckers!


Yoink!
(Beware, Elephants are smarter than they seem.)

I'm still kind of on break, drafting like a maniac, but I wanted to pop in and say, I hope you've laughed today. If not, find a good reason. It's when we get too serious about ourselves or life that reality crushes us. Don't be crushed. Be like the first elephant. Jump for joy.





A quick heads up, I'm participating at the Parallels Anthology blog for the A-Z Challenge, posting for C, H, and O. Pop in and say hi! I'll be back to posting weekly in May.



Now it's giveaway time!

Last month Sarah Ahiers shared with us ASSASINS HEART, along with two truths and a lie. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a paperback.

The Game:



1. I came in second place in my middle school’s spelling bee when I was in 6th grade
2. I played the violin for ten years.

3. I have had a myriad of pets, including: dogs, goldfish, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, squirrels, horse, anoles, tree frogs, & cockatiels.

The lie: #1. Sarah has never actually entered a spelling bee.

Way to guess everyone! And the winner is:

...DRUM ROLL...


Congrats, Kai!

And now for the next few posts I'll be doing something different. I'm so excited to be in the first ever IWSG Anthology contest that I'm going to introduce you to ALL the other authors, one week (or month) at a time. But of course they'll be giving stuff away. And playing the game.

The first one is:

Dani Finklemeier has decided to write a self-help book about how to take over the world, but she’s not sure where to start. After all, she’s only seventeen and looking for a better way to make money than babysitting. She buys a self-help book that promises to teach her how to write a self-help book in the hope of getting the job done.

Not that it’ll be easy to get any work done this holiday season. Her family is staying at the house for Christmas, and fights break out almost immediately. Dani also has to deal with the fallout from an unexpected kiss with her best friend Seth and the feelings that go along with it. On edge around her family and unsure how to interact with the one person she’s trusted with everything in the past, she can only take what inspiration she can from the crazy circumstances surrounding her and see what happens.

One way or another, it should be an interesting holiday.

Get your copy HERE.

Ready to meet the author?

L.G. Keltner has been trying to write novels since she was six years old. She’s wanted to be many things over the years, but the dream that survived into adulthood was that of being a writer. She graduated from Drake University in 2008, but she’s still learning every day. L.G. lives in Iowa with her husband and children.

You might run across L.G. munching Pepper Jack cheese while kicking trash over a game of Monopoly.

Find her online HERE!

L.G. gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for the chance to an the ENTIRE series (not yet released) in eBook of SELF-HELP 101! (5 installments between now and February 2017.)

You have until Tuesday, May 3, at 2 p.m. EDT to guess. Be sure to come back for the answers on May 4, 8 a.m EDT.
TRUTH OR LIE

1. When I was 17, I got a chance to travel in Europe for three weeks.  The day before I left, I got up early to run errands.  Then I was too excited to fall asleep that night.  Combine that with an inability to fall asleep on airplanes, landing in Rome at 10a.m., and having an entire day of activities ahead, I was awake for approximately 60 consecutive hours.
2. When I was about 12, I was playing basketball at school.  I decided to make a half-court shot.  Not only that, I decided to do it while facing the opposite basket.  After all, I thought I stood no chance of making it either way.  So I took the shot and . . . I made it.  I turned just in time to see it go in.  I’m sure I could never under any circumstances pull it off again.
3. In college, Jamie Kennedy (Randy from Scream, comedian, etc.) did a stand-up routine at my school. On a dare, I asked him to marry me, and he asked me how much money I had.

So sleuths, which is the lie? Have you laughed today? What did you find funny recently? Do you like funny books? Have you met L.G Keltner before?

118 comments:

  1. Wow, no idea on the lie. Let's go with the first one.
    The elephant ate her phone. Well done! One less person who texts while driving...
    Keep drafting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad I could make things challenging. Thanks for your guess!

      Delete
  2. I don't like spiders. :) Ha! What Alex said...one less person...I agree!! Have fun in your planning stages.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I imagine that elephant saying, "Dance for me, human, dance!"

    Funny videos, all.

    I don't know which one the lie is, either, but I think I'll go with #1.

    Happy drafting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My goal was to make guessing tricky, and it appears that I've succeeded. Thanks for submitting your guess!

      Delete
  4. Thanks for featuring me today! This is so cool!

    I absolutely love elephants. They're such fascinating creatures.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That elephant jumping on a trampoline makes my heart happy. Why can't everything on the internet be real?! ;) And fish-slapped! Lol!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hehehe! Thanks for the laugh. :) And yay for L.G.! I guess the lie is #3 even though it is really funny.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, and thanks for submitting your guess!

      Delete
  7. Bye bye cell phone hahaha! Love the elephant, but fun fact elephants are the only animal that cannot jump. Unless they have a trampoline.

    I’m exploring different types of dreams and their meanings.
    E is for Epic Dreams
    Stephen Tremp’s Breakthrough Blogs

    ReplyDelete
  8. Haha! Thanks for the laughs. That baby one is the BEST.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't know why exactly but that baby one totally cracked me up. Thanks for the reminder to laugh. I think I'll go see what the tortoises are up to.... :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. LOL! What a sneaky little raccoon.

    My guess - #3.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your guess! Only time will sort fact from fiction. :)

      Delete
  11. Love your sweet Kung Fu Master and your other fun pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ha, those are all great. No selfie for you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. The fish slapping the guy across the face cracks me up every time!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good laughs! The elephant has it right, be in the moment, not looking at a camera. Enjoy the drafting!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Enjoy the drafting stage. You get to dream up all those ideas, but without having to concern yourself with putting them down on paper in a coherent fashion for anyone else to understand. The raccoon was great!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Those weasely raccoons... yuck. I will never forget them stealing trash from my family's outside garbage bins as a kid. My dad had a war with them, placing bricks on top of the garbage lids, and somehow the raccoons would still knock them off!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for the laugh. This was just super.
    Hugs,
    JB

    ReplyDelete
  18. That baby one is so funny. And I think that was the fishes payback. Muahahaha!

    I hope your break is productive! Good luck with drafting!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yes, I've laughed today. Good luck with your break and writing!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This made me laugh today for sure! I love elephants so much! Good luck with writing!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've laughed now! These were awesome! Can't pick my favourite. Best of luck with writing, Crystal. And thanks for the funnies. They are precious.

    ReplyDelete
  22. So now you've brightened my E day on the #atozChallenge. I'm going to see that elephant on the trampoline all day long.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That baby cracked my up! Thanks for the giggles Crystal. :) X

    shahwharton.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Good to see you! Hope your time has been productive. With the help of cheese, hopefully. :) Thanks for the laughs and the info.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I haven't laughed out loud, but I'm at work today, so someone's sure to do something...

    Lie...#2...

    ReplyDelete
  26. I can't stop laughing at the Kung Fu master. LOL I admit I watched it repeatedly. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great videos, Crystal. I needed a good laugh today. Thanks for that.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Those videos are hysterical. It definitely put a smile on my face. Best of luck to L.G. Keltner.

    http://baerbookspress.com/blog/

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love those mini-videos. Who would think the elephant could grab the phone! And, technically, they are all animals. But who cares about 'technical' today?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh my goodness! I needed that laugh. Thank you. My son and daughter keep things pretty interesting in my house. There interpretations of just about anything help make life so much fun. And the lie...I am going with 1 since the other two are way are incredible...lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for taking the time to guess! I'm glad to hear you thought that 2 and 3 were incredible. :)

      Delete
  31. That raccoon... I think it inspired a character. No joke.

    Thanks for the laughs!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Animals are awesome. They have such a healing quality, either with humor or compassion. Love the elephant on the trampoline!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Back in the day when I smoked I spent sometime outdoors. My backyard touched a greenbelt and I had quail, raccoons, stellar jays, mourning doves, cats, snakes, dogs and more. Each of them told me a story. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete
  34. coons are such an endless source of delight :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks, Crystal, you did make me laugh today and I did need it.

    Susan Says

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love funny books! I think Erma Bombeck single handedly got me through the first months of motherhood. Thank you for the smiles today. :) I'm glad to hear you're getting so much done!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Kung Fu Baby is the best!
    I've read LG's book...it's a charming story.
    Writer In Transit

    ReplyDelete
  38. The elephant on the trampoline looks to be having a great time. And the dude getting smacked by the fish made me spit my water.

    Congrats to Kai and to LG. I'll guess #1 is the lie.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thanks for the smile, Crystal! I needed one today.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love the raccoon one--now I know what's happening to all that cat food.

    ReplyDelete
  41. You post the best gifs!! ^_^ Happy Drafting!!

    I'm going with #2 for the lie. I hope #3 is true! That is too awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by and trying to discern fact from fiction!

      Delete
  42. That raccoon is a hoot.
    Waving to L.G.
    Have a good one, Crystal.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Omg! Hilarious! Just what I needed. I've kind of been on away too. Just focusing on work and life. Miss reading your blog! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great gifs! Thanks for the smiles. I am fortunate enough to have met LG at a bloghop. And my guess is #3 is false.

    Best to both of you,
    Nilanjana
    Madly-in-Verse

    ReplyDelete
  45. Haha! I love animals, they can always make me laugh. Thanks, Crystal :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. Congratulations to LG!

    Funny funny...especially the jumping elephant and the flying fish.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Thank you for making me laugh. I needed that. Good-luck with the rest of your editing.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Thank you so much for the laugh and the reminder! I always seem to take everything so seriously that I forget to enjoy life.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Loved the gifs. Thanks for the laugh! Congrats to Kai!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Love the bouncing elephant and the karate master! :)
    We definitely need joy!

    And congrats to L.G. - Love that book!!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hahaha I've seen that raccoon stealing food before and it always cracks me up. Thanks for the laughs!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Your gifs are so funny. I needed that dose of laughter. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Bouncing elephant!

    No idea which is the lie, but I'll guess #1.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love your gifs, especially the elephant/trampoline and the sneaky raccoon. I'm drafting also. Good luck to us both! :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great Pictures!!!! Thanks for the chuckle!!!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hi, Crystal...

    Loved the pics... sooo funny. Thanks for the laughs...


    Thanks for featuring L.G. today. What a fun story! I should be a very entertaining read.

    As for the lie.... I'd say #2

    My new condo is right off 535 and Vineland. Next to the Premium Outlet stores, but closer to Landry's restaurant. So COOL! We must get together for a coffee or something. It would be awesome to meet you in person!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I hope people find it to be an entertaining read, anyway.

      Delete
  57. Totally channeling my inner-joy elephant today *and thank you for the cheese, it paired well with the wine:) L.G. is such an imaginative and convincing writer, I've no idea which of the three is a stretch, but I'll wage #2 is a bit of fiction. Congrats on Self-Help 101--looks hilarious!

    The AtoZ of EOS
    #TeamDamyanti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words! They mean a lot! I made it a goal to make the two truths and a lie as convincing and entertaining as possible. It seems I might have succeeded. Thanks for guessing!

      Delete
  58. I won! I won! I really won!!! Thanks so much Crystal and Sarah. I can NOT wait to read this book. Yay.

    ReplyDelete
  59. The Kung Fu master is adorable, so is the elephant.

    Rachna Chhabria
    Co-host IWSG
    Rachna's Scriptorium

    ReplyDelete
  60. Those videos made me smile. Thanks for sharing.

    Hope your draft is going well. My guess for the lie is #2.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Elephants stole the show in the end but Kung Fu Baby has a strong second place. I can imagine the elephant saying "No photos!". Also the raccoon going "I need some food man."

    ReplyDelete
  62. The Kung Fu Master baby is my favorite. I watched it a lot. Like a lot. Glad to hear you're writing! Enjoy your break and see you in May!

    ReplyDelete
  63. Ha! Ha! The elephant got her cell phone. The real funny here is how she jumps up and down, trying to get it back. That phone is GONE, lady!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Ha! Love the gifs. Thank you for sharing. And please send that last elephant to my house to take away my kids' iPads. They need to read more.

    L.G. Self-help 101 is a great read.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Ha! Love the gifs. Thank you for sharing. And please send that last elephant to my house to take away my kids' iPads. They need to read more.

    L.G. Self-help 101 is a great read.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Those did make me laugh! Thank you, it made my day.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Those gifs made my day! I think the baby is my favorite! L.G.'s book sounds hilarious! And I think #2 is the lie.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Crystal, those pictures are hilarious... if I get near an elephant, I won't be putting my phone near his/her trunk... lol... that's a bit expensive... xox

    It's nice you checked in <3 (I have problems with good byes when it's sudden with no explanation... those are the toughest... and not when someone passes away, I've learned to deal with those a bit better)

    ReplyDelete
  69. What fun pics. And congrats to LG. Best!

    ReplyDelete
  70. We laugh every day. Sometimes the joke's for us, sometimes the joke's on us. Either way it's a good time. Love the GIFs. Last time I got to interact with an elephant he asked me for a dollar and took it with his trunk (no, really).

    ReplyDelete
  71. Hehehe I love the jumping elephant. Good luck with the drafting. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  72. I also got a kick out of the elephants! LG's book looks like a fun read! I think #1 is the lie, but I'm awful at these things.

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  73. Animals can give us many humorous moments. My cat does some goofy stuff. Thanks for visiting my blog during the challenge!
    Mary at Play off the Page

    ReplyDelete
  74. Loved the funny photos... They always make me giggle:) I think #1 is a lie.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Great videos, they all made me smile, especially the baby. Too cute!
    Good luck with everything, I'll look for your A to Z posts.

    ReplyDelete
  76. YES!!! I have laughed a lot today - and, thanks to your spiffy gifs - I continue

    ReplyDelete
  77. If I had to guess about the lie I'd have to say the first one (60 hours? I couldn't imagine!). And laughter is so good for the soul. My husband and I were watching Taken 3 and I laughed hysterically at parts that I'm sure weren't meant to be funny:)

    ReplyDelete
  78. That jumping elephant was a win for me until I saw the flyby fish. So funny!

    ReplyDelete
  79. I am a total softie for cute animal giffs & photos.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Those are funny! The Kung Fu baby really cracked me up!

    ReplyDelete
  81. I think 3 is the lie.

    I wouldn't want it happening to me, but that elephant taking the phone is hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  82. Hi Crystal! Fun times at your blog. Hope the writing continues strong!

    ReplyDelete
  83. The pictures did make me laugh. I needed them today.
    May # 3 is the lie.

    ReplyDelete
  84. Happy drafting, Crystal!

    Hi, L.G. The lie is... #1?

    ReplyDelete
  85. LOL! That elephant taking her phone and the racoon taking the biscuits! So funny!

    Raindrops of Sapphire

    ReplyDelete
  86. Thanks for the laugh:) Definitely needed it! And I'm guessing you must have gone to Europe. I went when I was 15 with my aunt and it changed my life.

    ReplyDelete
  87. OMG! That elephant took her phone?

    Congrats to Kai!

    ReplyDelete
  88. You deserve a platter of cheese for those pics. They were delightful and made me smile. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  89. LOL I am laughing my ass off at that raccoon!!

    ReplyDelete
  90. That gif of the jumping elephant is so precious. Best of luck with all your drafting!

    ReplyDelete
  91. Those animal gifs are hilarious! Thanks for the laugh. Enjoy your blogging break!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  92. Thank you for the funnies, Crystal! I hope your drafting is going well this month!

    ReplyDelete
  93. Ha, ha, love the elephant on the trampoline. Good luck with your drafting!

    ReplyDelete
  94. I'm always happy to see animals. They never fail to make me smile. Happy weekend :-)

    ReplyDelete
  95. I'm going to say #2 is the lie. Not that it's impossible -- Sigourney Weaver made a backwards basketball shot in Alien 4.

    ReplyDelete
  96. Those are all hilarious, even if I'm ridiculously behind on saying so. ^_^ Hope April's been good for you.

    ReplyDelete
  97. Is that elephant real? That's awesome!

    ReplyDelete

Hit me with your cheese!