I snapped a photo of this pretty yellow flower yesterday. It was found growing wild at my favorite Starbucks in Tallahassee. My go-to local flower expert had no idea what it was, so I’m appealing to my blogging friends. Please, someone, tell me what this flower is called.
Until someone provides an answer I’m calling her Arlene.
Peace, people!
What’s the longest amount of time you’ve spent in one session on hold? Until yesterday, my all time record was probably two hours. Then I made a call to make reservations at Disney World. I was on the phone for three hours. Granted, I was only on hold for about two hours, but those two hours were filled with snippets of Disney songs. It was almost like being stuck on the Small World ride, only the songs changed periodically, so I guess it was a step up.
Now, Disney regulars would ask, “Why didn’t you just make reservations on the Disney website?”
That’s a good question. I was tempted to use the website, but I hoped that by talking to an actual human I could figure out a more tailored package to suit my needs. And, as it turned out, I was right. And the Disney representatives were so darned cheerful that I almost forgot about the wait time and the annoying music. Almost. Hence the post.
In the end, the three hours were totally worth it, but dadgum it, now I can’t get the Indiana Jones theme song out of my head.
Peace, people!
For a while now I’ve had a fantasy about buying a camper van and touring the country by myself. I’d go places. I’d drive to see my kids and grandkids in Texas and Illinois. I’d drive to California and see my Aunt Betty. I’d visit the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone and every other National Park I’ve dreamed of seeing my whole life.
I could write from anywhere. Chalk my trips up to research. Maybe I’d visit Hemphill, Texas, where Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort is set, and visit my Aunt Nedra while I’m there. And I’d take some time to drive through Amarillo, the setting for The Cowboy and the Executive, making a side trip to see my mother-in-law, Saint Helen, in Hereford.
Studly Doright could accompany me anytime he chose to, but camping isn’t his thing. Heck, I’m not sure it’s my thing, but I’d like to find out.
I won’t be able to buy a camper—unless of course my book sales take off. Maybe I could print up bumper stickers and sell them: Support a Camper—Buy a Book!
So, it’s all a pie in the sky dream, but who knows? Maybe I can make it happen. Who wants a bumper sticker?
Peace, people!
Yesterday morning I asked Alexa to play upbeat music. She replied with something like, “Here’s a playlist based on songs similar to ones you’ve liked.” Or something like that.
The first song up was La Bamba. “Cool,” I thought. I’m using that song in a scene from Wedding at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort! What a coincidence!
The second song up was Elvis Presley’s I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You. Huh. Another song I used in Wedding. That was weird.
The third song was of no consequence, so I let my guard down, but number four was Tomorrow from the musical Annie. Holy cow! It’s probably the least likely song to appear on my playlist, but again, I’m using it in Wedding.
I’m wondering what else Alexa’s keeping an eye on. A character I have yet to name? My main character’s decision regarding her love interest? Heck, maybe I can get Alexa to finish the sequel! She seems to know it all anyway.
Peace, people!
Later today, I’m getting a lesson on creating a Facebook ad for my books from my friend, author, Lori Roberts Herbst. Lori has, so far, published the first two books in her Callie Cassidy Mystery Series: Suitable for Framing and Double Exposure. (Links below). Both books are a lot of fun with believable, likable characters and plots with enough twists and turns to keep a reader guessing until the very end.
I hope Lori knows what she’s getting into, I’m fairly obtuse when it comes to all things related to technology and marketing. My efforts at marketing my own books have teetered between annoying and really annoying. Hopefully, Lori can guide me into the realm of ‘much less annoying.’
Wish us luck. And consider investing in anti-anxiety meds. Demand may rise exponentially during today’s tutoring session.
Peace, people!
Check out Lori’s books. Both are available from Amazon and on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
Thanks to growing up on the wisdom embodied in Bugs Bunny cartoons, when I cannot sleep I often resort to counting sheep.
I’ll picture a line of sheep backed up for miles, or acres, I suppose. As the next in line approaches the fence he or she gets a running start and usually makes it over the barrier. Sometimes, though, a sheep will stumble or catch a hoof on the top rail, and soon all the other sheep are laughing and pointing and offering advice, often saying, “Baa! Baa!” Which loosely translates to “Ewe should have stopped and asked directions!” Even though the sheep wasn’t lost, just clumsy. Sheep aren’t the smartest animals in the barnyard, after all.
Instead of counting leaping sheep I’m now offering them lessons in compassion. I relate the story of the Good Samaritan, but my words fall on deaf ears and my frustration grows and now I’m more wide awake than when I started the process.
Tonight, though, I had an epiphany—what if the sheep aren’t in a single file line? What if they aren’t jumping a fence? What if they’re all just chomping on grass, scattered about the countryside like so many cotton balls on a blanket? This scenario has possibilities! Now, if I could convince them to stay in one place this might just work.
“Hey, you, get back here! The fence is off limits!” Oh well, it was worth a try. Maybe I should count cotton balls instead.
Peace, people!
A willowy teen
Grown sturdy in my sixties
An oak in training
Peace, people!
Almost every evening some question arises that neither Studly Doright nor I can answer. We’ll bicker back and forth, offering our own answers, but our good friend Google is always called on in the end to settle the matter.
Some nights the question in question revolves around the name of an actor and/or what other roles we’ve seen them in. Studly is much better at this than I am, but we always ask Google in the end.
On Sunday evening as we watched the Travelers Championship golf tournament a commercial played and I turned to Studly. “I believe that’s Bob Dylan singing in this Traveler’s insurance commercial.”
Now Studly pays little to no attention to music. He knows all the words to one song—“Happy Birthday”—but that didn’t keep him from weighing in.
He frowned. “No it’s not Dylan. The voice isn’t gravelly enough.”
We argued for a good ten minutes before I held up my phone. “We’ll see. I’m asking Google.”
Sure enough I was right. Damn, but it feels good to say that. I only wish it happened more often.
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/nlFo/travelers-a-better-tomorrow-song-by-bob-dylan
Peace, people.
On Saturday afternoon I was minding my own business, sitting on the couch, and playing Words with Friends on my phone. It began as a peaceful activity. Then others intruded on my nirvana.
Studly Doright had a golf game going on the television while simultaneously watching a YouTube video on some aspect of a 1956 or ‘57 Cushman scooter he’s working on for a friend. The cat was engaged in an attempt to free a trio of small balls from a toy.
Between the tv, the video, and the racket the cat was making, I had to have a glass of wine. My coping skills might be a little thin, but at least I have good taste.
Peace, people!
A couple of weeks ago I sent my novel, Wedding at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort, off to trusted beta readers. It was an extremely raw version of the novel, and it came as no surprise that my readers discovered the book was chock full of blunders and bewildering plot holes.
So now I’m engaged in righting all the wrongs. It’s a tedious process, but I’m going to confess that there’s something satisfying about solving the problems I put into play in the first place.
Some issues are fairly easy to work through thanks to the Search feature on my computer program. Apparently my characters like to say “roust” way too often and if head ducking was a crime, all of my characters would be in jail by the end of the book.
Other problems are structural in nature and require a delicate touch, so I’m treading lightly. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m taking a sledgehammer to that stuff. Chop, chop baby.
Look for my books on Amazon and on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited!
Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PDRH2Q9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_T8SXRR2G0J32FFXVTR6W
The Cowboy and the Executive: A West Texas Romance https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095BVSF3L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_CJYF0023HS4DEEE6HZXJ
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 