A healthy pour
Red, a Merlot,
Full-bodied.
I knew the first taste
Before lifting the glass
To waiting lips,
And then
One awkward,
Thoughtless move
Sent the crystal
Lurching,
Slow-motion, yet
Too fast for old
Fingers to find
Purchase,
And wine went
EVERYWHERE:
The floor
Countertop
Inside cupboards
And drawers.
All over my khakis,
The ones with elastic
At the ankles
Harem girl style,
My favorites.
And saddest of all?
There was no wine
Left in the
Bottle.
I write books with a splash of action to them. In my current work in progress, there’s a scene in which police officers converge on a location while my main character, Paula, is on a ride along with a sheriff’s deputy. She witnesses a crime in progress and gleans a key piece of information that could help law enforcement find the perpetrator.
Needless to say, it’s a harrowing experience for Paula, but until this morning I had little idea of just how much such an incident might result in a spike of adrenaline.
I’d been on the phone with my friend, Flo, most of the morning, discussing the above mentioned work in progress. When our call ended, I slapped on some makeup and headed into Tallahassee for lunch at my favorite place. I was running a bit later than usual today, and hoping my lunch destination wasn’t too busy.
Turning into the parking lot, I was startled by the sight of a plain white sedan headed straight for me. Half a second later, I realized the car was an unmarked police cruiser as its discreetly placed lights were activated.
I thought the car needed to get past me to head onto the street I’d just turned off of, but as I moved out of the way, the place was swarmed by additional cars from various law enforcement agencies. I navigated out of their way and back onto the street as smoothly as possible as officers emerged from their vehicles with guns drawn.
Y’all I was shaking.
My first thought was about the employees there who make me feel more like family than a customer. Was the cafe being robbed? Were they hostages?
My second thought was, well, essentially the same as the first.
I drove around the block and kept an eye on the situation from a nearby corner. When the police began dispersing, I got up the nerve to return, and was relieved to find all my “kids” safe and sound.
The details of the reasons behind the incident are still sketchy. I may never know why the officers converged on my favorite eatery, but now, I think I might need to rewrite Paula’s reaction to witnessing the robbery in my book. Her adrenaline levels need to go way, way up.
Peace, people.
Studly Doright was out of town most of this past week and I needed a good program to watch to make the evenings pass more quickly. A friend from my water aerobics class suggested a South Korean film on Netflix—“Extraordinary Attorney Woo.”
Now I’m hooked. The series, about a rookie attorney named Woo Young Woo, is refreshing and clever. There’s no nudity. No blood and guts. Just a young autistic woman with a penchant for whales, struggling to fight for truth, justice, and the South Korean way one case at a time.
So, if you need something completely different to watch, give Woo a chance.
Peace, people!
Dear Readers,
Did you know that Alexa will read a book from your kindle library? Holy cow! Just a few minutes ago I said, “Alexa, read Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort from my kindle library.” And now she’s doing it! 😳
While Alexa doesn’t have a lot of inflection to her voice, it’s not bad! Not bad at all.
I’m blown away–technology just continues to amaze me.
Now pardon me, I need to find out what happens to Paula and Cassie next. Ah, the benefits of a short memory.
Peace, people!
Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort (The Happy Valley Series Book 1), available on Amazon, along with books 2 and 3 in the series. Oh, there’s also a stand alone romance of the sweet, yet spicy variety//The Cowboy and the Executive. Might need to listen to that one tonight. Wink, wink.
It’s 6:54 a.m. and 52° here in Tallahassee, FL.
I’m sitting in my car in the parking lot of Trousdale aquatics center waiting for my water aerobics class to begin and giving myself a pep talk that goes something like “You’re going to freeze to death. Enjoy!”
Oh, and today’s my birthday.
A steady stream of young women, high school age by the look of them, leave the pool area, heading to their cars so they can make it to first period classes on time.
I count a shiny new Jeep and a Lexus among their rides. A far cry from the ‘57 army green Ford Galaxie I drove in high school.
That Galaxie was built like a tank. Ugly as sin, it could withstand just about anything man or beast could throw at it. And one morning, when I was a high schooler myself, racing from band practice at the junior high to the high school for my next class, my friend, Ray’s car didn’t stop quickly enough on the newly graveled street and, bam! He plowed into my Galaxie and a geyser of steam erupted from beneath his hood.
That Galaxie, though, didn’t even flinch.
I hope those high school girls make it safely to their destinations. There wasn’t a single ‘57 Ford Galaxie in the mix. Tsk. Tsk.
Peace, people!
Knowing that Studly Doright and I are motorcyclists, well-meaning friends have often recommended the series, Sons of Anarchy. Until recently we’ve always laughed and said, “We aren’t that kind of bikers.”
Nevertheless, we finally broke down and began watching the show. Now, two seasons in, we’ve got a few observations:
1) Trade the bikes for horses and you’ve basically got Yellowstone.
2) Katie Sagal is awesome as Gemma.
3) Charlie Hunnam is hot. Okay, that’s my observation. Studly wants you to know that he’s not on board with that.
4) It’s a violent show and we’re trying to decide if we’ll continue watching.
5) Charlie Hunnam is still hot, so we (I) probably will watch ‘til the end.
Peace, people.
Water aerobics early this morning meant walking into water that was slightly warmer than the ambient temperature of 66 degrees Fahrenheit. It wasn’t bad as long as I could keep my body submerged. But brrr!
When our beloved T., keeper of the music, turned on the tunes, all became right in the world. First song up? “Do You Love Me,” the song released by the Sonics in 1965 and covered by quite a few artists including David Hasselhoff. (heaven help us.). The movie Dirty Dancing reminded everyone that it was a worthy song. Yes it is.
Pretty soon I forgot about the cold and bopped my way across the pool. Do you love me? You bet I do.
Peace, people!
My birthday’s coming up soon. I’ll be 66. Or as I like to say, Sixty Freaking Six. I’m not complaining. Much.
At the risk of calling some awful punishment down on myself, I have to say I feel really great right now. I’m taking an early morning water aerobics class four times a week, and while I have occasional aches and pains, the time I spend in the water makes me feel like I’m thirty-something. Almost.
In the water I’m gracefully buoyant and beautiful. The second I begin ascending the steps out of the pool, I turn into an ungainly gnome. It’s magic. Dark magic. If only I could live in the pool. Unfortunately, I’m trying to finish book four in the Happy Valley series and the laptop doesn’t like to get wet.
Still, I think I’m making a fairly smooth transition into the second half of my 60’s. I’m just gonna keep on splishing and a’splashing.
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 