I read a lot. All the time. Everywhere. If I’m not carrying a book with me, it’s either because Kenny didn’t think the drive to be long enough to get any reading done or because I’m really dressed up and want to impress someone. But I more than usually have a book. (And yes, I bring them to church sometimes too. I can’t help it. I grew up being called “Amy Carter, Jr.”)
I’ll read just about anything as long as it’s fiction. However, I have been more and more drawn to mysteries and police dramas. You know the kind. Wounded people, broken dreams, shattered lives.
As you can imagine, I can get pretty cranky on a steady diet of death and mayhem. That is when I pull out Connie Willis’ To Say Nothing of the Dog or Cheaper By the Dozen which is, if you will forgive the cliche, an oldie but goodie.
There is one more character who consistantly makes me smile. Her name is Stephanie Plum and she is from The Burg in New Jersey. Stephanie works for her cousin Vinnie, the sleezeball, as a bail bondsperson. She hauls bail jumpers back to jail by any means at her disposal. The fact that she is more lucky than skilled at her job adds to her charm.
 The idea to make the series into a movie has apparently been kicking around Hollywood for a while. Every once in a while, lists will appear on the Web as to who should play whom. Sandra Bullock is favored to play Stephanie, but I don’t like that idea. I don’t know why I don’t like that idea, but I don’t.
So, I got to thinking about whom I would cast and here is my partial list:
I would go with Evangeline Lilly for Stephanie. Maybe Lauren Graham but I’m still mourning Gilmore Girls, so I don’t think so.
Matthew McConaughey has the wrong color hair for Joe, but I’d go with him anyway.
I really didn’t like the suggestion of The Rock for Ranger (I couldn’t see him with long hair, for one thing) until I saw the commercials for Get Smart. Now I’m less on the fence than I used to be.
I’ve been watching a lot of Friends lately and I think that Jane Sibbett (Ross’ ex wife Carol) would make a good Valerie. I could see her being the Virgin Mary type.
I was thinking Kathy Griffin for Joyce, but that may be a bit too over the top.
What do ya’ll think about Caroline Rhea for Connie. It may be an unorthodox choice, but I think it would work. Or how about Amy Pietz?
I decided that Mo’Nique would make a good Lula after seeing her on Ugly Betty.
And oh my gosh Steve Busemi has to play Vinnie. The part is taylor made for him.
As for Grandma Mazur, the woman I want to be when I grow up? I’m thinking Ann Morgan Guilbert. Sure, she was crazy on The Nanny but I’ve seen her on other things and liked her. Now if I can just stop calling her “Millie”.
Â