Month: November 2015

John Scalzi Presents!

Hi Friends,

I know that many of my followers and friends are published authors or songwriters. Others are looking for that motivation or big break. It’s difficult to know how to get your work and your name out there. 

Let me introduce you to science fiction author John Scalzi. I’m a big fan of his work. It’s witty, fast-paced, and not so mired in the sciences that a casual reader of scifi will feel lost. I’ve begun following John Scalzi on Facebook and Twitter and strongly suggest that you do as well.

John started as an indie author and has made a big mark in the scifi world. And, he’s a generous guy, it seems. Starting today, he accepts blurbs from folks like us. Each day this week John is seeking posts from authors and other artists with one category featured each day. For instance today he’s accepting submissions from folks who want to promote a book or audiobook they’ve had published through traditional publishing routes.

I could go on and on, but John Scalzi explains it all much more concisely than I on his WordPress site, “Whatever”.

So, here’s the link. Get busy and get some FREE promotion. Best of luck.

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2015/11/30/whatever-holiday-shopping-guide-2015-day-one-traditionally-published-books/

December Morning

A great message for this day. It’s pretty much the opposite of what Trump and his ilk are singing. Check out movingtowardsthelight.com

Poems and Petals

I have woken up to the first of December here on a bright, sunny day in Sydney (blue skies without a hint of cloud), and for the past few days I’ve had one song on my mind. Put a little love in your heart!

 

Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand

Put a little love in your heart
You see, it’s getting late, oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart

And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place for you and me
You just wait and see

Another day goes by, and still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know, we won’t let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart

And the world will be a better place
And the world will…

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Die Gedanken Sind Frei

Amen. From one of my favorite bloggers and a darned good Words With Friends player: aroilinpain.wordpress.com

Aroil in Pain

If you need a case

To demonstrated the wisdom

Of separation

Of religion from the state

Ashraf Fayadh serves quite well.
No one should face death

For daring to speak their mind!

What truth do they fear?
Pete Seger’s Version–
“Die Gedanken Sind Frei”

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Hospice Hearts

I cried in the mall yesterday. Not sweet, cute, softly falling, feminine tears, but eye-reddening, heart wrenching sobs. 

My sole reason for being at the overcrowded Governor’s Square Mall was to purchase my favorite moisturizer at Sephora and get out as quickly as possible. Of course the Great American Cookie Company caught my eye and I had to have an oatmeal raisin walnut cookie. None of which resulted in tears.

After devouring my cookie I noticed a beautifully decorated tree on the edge of the food court. White Art Deco inspired angels accompanied by simple white name tags hung from the branches of the enormous tree. Curious, I approached the evergreen and began reading names. A woman soon joined me and pointed to a tag.

“That’s my daughter,” she said. “She was so beautiful.”

I’m sure I looked confused. You see, I thought the tree was one that had names of underprivileged children for whom one could buy gifts for Christmas. Instead, it was a tree honoring those who’d been in hospice care in the Tallahassee area.

“Tell me about your daughter,” I said, when she pointed out the hospice sign at the base of the tree.

“She was only 30 when she lost her battle with breast cancer. Hospice was there for us.”

Then she broke down in tears. That’s when I started crying. A young woman, a hospice volunteer, came up and offered us tissues. We all hugged. I told them of my personal ties to hospice. Hospice was there as my father neared death, offering support and comfort in our time of grief, and a beloved sister-in-law is a hospice nurse. 

Hospice provides much more than just end of life care for terminally ill patients. The strength, wisdom, and compassion of hospice personnel are like a balm to the soul for the entire family. Many hospice organizations rely on donations from the community to provide their services. So, if you are thinking of worthy causes to donate to during the holiday season, please consider your local hospice facility. 

  
Peace, people.

Leftovers

turkey on wheat bread
cornbread dressing stuffed bacon
cold pie for breakfast

   
   

some foods get better
on the second time around;
leftover heaven

Studly Doright isn’t a big fan of leftovers except when it comes to turkey and dressing and pecan pie. The man loves cornbread dressing and won’t cease eating until he’s scraped the pan clean. It’s embarrasingly endearing.

I can’t say that I’m any better. After having three generous pieces of pecan pie yesterday I might be the first person in history to have overdosed on the gooey dessert. My stomach spoke to me in angry tones all night long in a way that was anything but endearing, yet quite embarrassing.

It seems that leftovers, like everything except possibly hundred dollar bills, are best enjoyed in moderation.

  
Peace, people!

1,003 Posts

A couple of days ago I received a notification from the good folks at WordPress informing me that I’d reached the important 1,000 post milestone. Considering that I’ve been blogging for 506 days, that’s not too bad. 

The stat I’d love to see reach 1,000 is “number of followers,” but that one breaks down like this:

Facebook    411

Twitter          90

Tumblr          40

WordPress  398

Total:            939

A great many of those are overlapping, so I’m still way short of the 1,000 I covet.

What’s a girl got to do? Ride a horse naked through the local village? It worked for Lady Godiva. I hear she had tons of followers. I’d better start growing my hair. This pixie cut isn’t going to come close to covering all of my assets.

  
Peace, people!

Pull the Wings Off Butterflies

Exactly so. Redswrap.wordpress.com

Red's Wrap

If I was Donald Trump’s mother and I witnessed him jerking his arms in the air in mockery of New York Times reporter Serge Koveleski, I would have slapped him across the face. In front of God and everybody.

Never mind that he is running for President which, as his mother, I would know he has no business doing. How his horrible behavior reflected on me would trump, as it were, any other prevailing interests, including his misbegotten notion that he should be the leader of the free world.

I will not countenance a child of mine being a complete and utter asshole. Trust me, this isn’t hypothetical tough talk here.  I’m no travel writer talking  about places I’ve never visited.

What I learned long ago, not quite soon enough but in time, was that my disapproval as a mother is power-packed and toxic like the poison on an arrow piercing through…

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Whose Psalm?

who will speak for justice,
whose conscience won’t be calmed,
who feels the anger justified,
who leans upon the Psalms?

yea, though I walk
through the valley
of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
for thou art with me.

whose spirit recognizes truth
whose words and deeds combine
whose life reflects the Word
who fears not, but loves sublime?

  

Easy Livin’

Our covered, screened-in porch is the perfect place to relax on a mild November evening. There’s a family celebration in full force across the lake, fairy lights and lilting voices twinkling on the calm water.

  
I’m sipping a Shock Top Raspberry Wheat Ale and tapping my toes in time with the guitar music drifting across the pond. Whoever’s playing isn’t very adept at their craft, but they’re quite enthusiastic. I like that in my musicians.

The man I adore, Studly Doright, is inside the house heating leftovers from yesterday’s Thanksgiving Day meal. I’m not a bit hungry, having already eaten two pieces of pecan pie, an avocado, bacon, and cheese omelet, and a ham sandwich today. The ale is my dessert. 

Life is good here at Doright Manor. There’s a black and white cat winding around my ankles and a black cat snuggled down for a nap in the chair next to me. No, it’s not an exciting life, but it is filled with peace and love.

  
Peace, people.

Studly’s Birthday

Studly Doright is a year and almost two months younger than I am, a fact that he never fails to mention at this time of year. Yesterday, in addition to being Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., was also Studly’s 58th birthday. I’ll pause while you sing:

  A month or so before the big day I began asking if he’s considered what he might want and the answer is always the same. 

“I really don’t need anything. I have everything I want. Don’t worry about getting me anything.” 

So I didn’t. Let’s see how that plays out.

Peace, people!

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