tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62496643216945458342024-03-07T18:27:45.045-06:00A View of the WorldExploring our fantastic world through the lens of it's authors, creators and explorers.Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-42813636123306947532024-02-10T19:02:00.004-06:002024-02-10T19:08:02.697-06:00Less talk and more chalk! <p> OK. I'll admit it. It's been a challenge to push 'The Ballad of Bejus Fine' forward for the last few weeks. I had a week long stent in the hospital, suffering from a gall stone and its effect. Dark yellow jaundice skin and eyes and an infection in my 'common bile duct'. Yuck.</p><p>I'm doing OK now, but I have to get my gallbladder removed next week along with the removal of the stent they put in to dilate the tubes. Another yuck.</p><p>As I'm sure you know, especially if you're over 50, being in the hospital is both amazing and horrible. I didn't sleep for 8 days. Every 4 hours they had to draw blood to check my enzymes, etc. They ended up having to use the pediatric needles to draw sample from the back of hands! My veins rebelled after a while. Not fun.</p><p>I have nothing but praise and appreciation for the Nurses, Doctors and staff at the hospital. They had protocols to follow and tried their best to keep me comfortable and safe. The morphine helped a little... ;-)</p><p>So, I'm going to try to get past this bout as soon as possible and get back to my WIP, but I have a few more days of doctors, operations and stuff.</p><p>I've been keeping my thoughts about the story as an outline in the document so I haven't completely stalled.</p><p>Stay safe everyone. I'll be back to writing ASAP!</p><p>(credit Bill Watterson for summing up my status with a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiO4fkf5OSmXuNrjcrDuC5smAbXlIHzR8yqTBfO0DLDLiVqqJtMlscvBw5ffoysRtYPAUdktiQ5JtMsg7YcXegjaHTQ1qd1mmd0qNwvPTN6kY8m6K0YIbCbIG1fC2YVAAPlWPpbEy91SIXQ6BUmAud8QE5gwUsupj7cEAgvKNB2TR_7HYV1QtgopsHgzu/s564/AttitudeIsEverything.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiO4fkf5OSmXuNrjcrDuC5smAbXlIHzR8yqTBfO0DLDLiVqqJtMlscvBw5ffoysRtYPAUdktiQ5JtMsg7YcXegjaHTQ1qd1mmd0qNwvPTN6kY8m6K0YIbCbIG1fC2YVAAPlWPpbEy91SIXQ6BUmAud8QE5gwUsupj7cEAgvKNB2TR_7HYV1QtgopsHgzu/s320/AttitudeIsEverything.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-18975481421701897172023-10-30T13:00:00.002-05:002023-10-30T13:00:50.691-05:00<p> 'The Ballad of Bejus Fine' is progressing well, if a little slower than I usually write.</p><p>I'm taking my time. Trying to add interesting content, atmosphere, and emotion into the story. The characters are much more complex than my usual fast paced SciFi stories. </p><p>I find myself writing for a while, then stepping back and reading, writing, repeat. It is helping me 'understand' my characters more. I'm letting my imagination brew and percolate the story and the people living the story.</p><p>Lots more research on the 'Dust Bowl' era of the Panhandle of Texas. I was born and grew up in Levelland, Texas, about 30 miles west of Lubbock. Smack in the middle of that period where the lush prairies were devastated in a matter of a few years due to drought and poor soil conservation.</p><p>Families and animals starved. Whole towns were deserted. People had a truly 'hard scrabble' existence. Or they moved away to escape the dismals times. By some counts 2.5 million people moved away from the Plains states by 1940! It was the biggest mass exodus from an area in American history.</p><p>The dust storms would last for days, burying crops and homes and killing livestock. The skies were black with dust and debris. The Sun was blocked for days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iRI4lmtoGaUIydWjYD0WSehWn0BVF81PEkfW1cui-UldY3BDJpq9yEDKWTxNqlRH1wm3MgfPIkv_Kl1k3Q2EWukDfP5_ZTptzzJR9Q6Jw_aEq6sXGYbpSZOSEN03DdmVWDUnTQ12uA3SpSQLCynwwNblC2oGnOIeK4FIHzUpdscXJvPWjMucpr5vMu4W/s158/DustBowl2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="158" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iRI4lmtoGaUIydWjYD0WSehWn0BVF81PEkfW1cui-UldY3BDJpq9yEDKWTxNqlRH1wm3MgfPIkv_Kl1k3Q2EWukDfP5_ZTptzzJR9Q6Jw_aEq6sXGYbpSZOSEN03DdmVWDUnTQ12uA3SpSQLCynwwNblC2oGnOIeK4FIHzUpdscXJvPWjMucpr5vMu4W/s1600/DustBowl2.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XzrmR0sEsf9-7lxhvwVNGqTp6USNTTWxVjk2w91ZejdVbB34gdMnUIJMKiOcvIY2OzUbZhL8VnZ3PplOftdOImu3_eB504P2qosGAcXe_lXU12Fo3xGXMi1mJ0Q8Umwc6iwW90XDa985kHW30_XJ47wAI7OEh_M4TqBPO1ioNmcOBGDgnOikFauLE9EP/s196/DustBowl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="196" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XzrmR0sEsf9-7lxhvwVNGqTp6USNTTWxVjk2w91ZejdVbB34gdMnUIJMKiOcvIY2OzUbZhL8VnZ3PplOftdOImu3_eB504P2qosGAcXe_lXU12Fo3xGXMi1mJ0Q8Umwc6iwW90XDa985kHW30_XJ47wAI7OEh_M4TqBPO1ioNmcOBGDgnOikFauLE9EP/s1600/DustBowl1.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I can remember, in the early '60s', looking across the cotton field behind our house and seeing a brownish-black cloud on the horizon. And that was decades AFTER the Dust Bowl 'ended'! I remember eating baloney, mustard and onion sandwiches on white bread and getting a mouthful of grit from the dust that was EVERYWHERE after a storm. ;-)</p><p>I hope all my writer friends are busy working on their stories and enjoying life.</p><p>There is only now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9739Epx5zavyZI7vZ3pDLkuVoengx_8TihXPwcC1rz0YRPVbgTZf9ogV75GxRJSVLejuw1gK5y4nnAos48idOSdYiqKeC9LMXd3uhVM9QvwDVLh2U3ZkJVkrv-rhlt3H9eKxEX4TZqzaqwNf52ZsVFrArXwPDLMvdogDDYauRNl2UUIoqpHIKmdfrJycY/s4320/CafeWriting10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="4320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9739Epx5zavyZI7vZ3pDLkuVoengx_8TihXPwcC1rz0YRPVbgTZf9ogV75GxRJSVLejuw1gK5y4nnAos48idOSdYiqKeC9LMXd3uhVM9QvwDVLh2U3ZkJVkrv-rhlt3H9eKxEX4TZqzaqwNf52ZsVFrArXwPDLMvdogDDYauRNl2UUIoqpHIKmdfrJycY/s320/CafeWriting10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-77582297628634384962023-07-31T11:42:00.002-05:002023-07-31T11:42:51.988-05:00'The Ballad of Bejus Fine' is in progress<p> After multiple medical interruptions, and just plain life issues that we all have to deal with, I'm back to my next WIP.</p><p>'The Ballad of Bejus Fine'.</p><p>It's not a SciFi or ghost story or paranormal romance. It's a plain ole literary fiction, based in the Panhandle of Texas where I was born and grew up.</p><p>I chose to write this one because I need to stretch a little and improve my 'world building' beyond space ships and evil, ugly, alien invaders. ;-) I need to write a story that has real human drama. I need to to show myself that I can. And, of course, to show you that I can. </p><p>I love my books, all of them. The 'buddy' SciFi spoof series , 'Arlo and Jake', has been an absolute gas to write. My readers have been awesome with their reviews and comments. I'll be writing more in that series as my Muse releases more cool story ideas. But I need to add some depth to my writing. Some human depth.</p><p>So. What do you do when you need to 'switch gears' for awhile?</p><p>Do you switch genres? Take a sabbatical? Pour two fingers of White Horse and ponder the Universe?</p><p>I'll keep you posted on my progress.</p><p>Be cool, everyone.</p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-34202026882034566682023-06-14T19:01:00.006-05:002023-07-09T09:36:55.289-05:00<p> First, please check out my book tabs on the right. That's where I pimp my books! </p><p>I've been writing and publishing since 2006. My first book was 'Genome', a biotech thriller with a paranormal backstory. That's right, I mixed genres and it WORKS! ;-)</p><p>Next, I'm back!! My 'medical event' was a stroke and then a 'carotid endarterectomy' to clean out some plaque that blocked the blood flow by 75%! The Spice must Flow! ('Dune' lovers out there?) I look like Frankenstein's Monster on the left side. Didn't really affect my handsome looks that much. I think it adds a bit of charm, actually. Nothing like a 7 inch scar to add a little pizzaz to your face! ;-)</p><p>For the not faint of heart, go google that procedure on YouTube. It's unbelievable what medicine can do these days! I'm not a faint-at-the-sight-of-blood kinda guy, so I find these things fascinating. We've come such a long way from the discovery in the 19th century that tagged germs as something that affects illnesses. We knew about germs themselves in the 17th century.</p><p>I did some research about the procedure and turns out that the first successful carotid endarterectomies were performed in the early '50s! I'm so lucky to have been born in '52.</p><p>A personal note to everyone out there to pay attention to your body! Talk to your doctor about symptoms of stroke, heart attack, vascular issues, etc! Your doctor can only help you IF you talk to them about changes in your day-to-day feelings.</p><p>And eat a Mediterranean-style 'diet' for crying out loud! It's plenty delicious and varied and it WILL help keep you healthy with a little exercise on your part. Burgers and steaks are great occasionally. I enjoy a platter of Red Robbin's Cajun Clucks and Fries once in a while, too.</p><p>Writing has been spotty, considering I was in and out of the ER and then the hospital for the surgery. I'm working on Episode 9 of my new Amazon 'Vella story, 'Auntie Renita's Martian Motel'. I need to move that story to conclusion in the coming months. PLEASE go check out my 2 stories on 'Vella, I need to see some feedback on that new platform. The first few Episodes are FREE!!!</p><p>******************************</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/episode/B0BT8LGMF3" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Auntie Renita's Martian Motel</span></a><br /></p><p>******************************</p><p>After I finish 'Auntie Renita's, I'm going to pickup on a couple of stories I put on the back burner a while back.</p><p>Keep writing, my Friends!!</p><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-12133670871473123262023-05-18T11:16:00.000-05:002023-05-18T11:16:07.189-05:00OK. That was different...I've been 'away' for a few weeks, so the blog has suffered a bit.<div><br /></div><div>I had a medical event that has put a short pause to my writing. It was one of those scary things that most of us Old Farts of 70 years dread, but know is looming out there in the Universe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, the prognosis is good. I'm going to see a specialist soon and see what he can do to clear up my aging body's ailments. I'm not the first to be in this position so he has lots of experience. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe someday we'll be able to look back and say 'I can't believe people had to suffer with this!' </div><div><br /></div><div>The way medicine is progressing these days, I have high hopes for this. I am constantly amazed by the health care advancements we make, seemingly on a daily basis. If you really stop and think about it, we live in incredible times.</div><div><br /></div><div>In just the last 10 years, here are some advances I found:</div><div>- Human Genome discoveries that spot diseases with 'marker', early in life</div><div>- Vast improvements in Doc/Patient IT, allowing information storage online</div><div>- Anti-Smoking laws reduce smoking</div><div>- Heart disease deaths drop by 40 percent!!</div><div>- Stem Cell research is ramping up with high hopes to cure terrible diseases</div><div>- New cancer treatments</div><div>- Vaccine research that helped us mitigate and stop the COVID-19 pandemic!</div><div><br /></div><div>There are many, many more. Spend a few minutes online and you'll be amazed. Every aspect of our health is being addressed by professionals around the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>All this to say I'm so thankful for everyone who dedicates their lives and daily efforts to that noblest of pursuits, helping their fellow man.</div><div><br /></div><div>THANK YOU!</div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-77515120267736412002023-03-27T15:15:00.000-05:002023-03-27T15:15:53.821-05:00<p> I just pub'd 'Scattered Visions Volume 1' on Amazon!</p><p>Five short stories that have been percolating on the back burner, some for years! Rather than trying to pub each one, I've bundled them as a collection.</p><p>You can read each story at your leisure or plow through them at one sitting. I like to savor short stories, reading one and enjoying the taste for a little while before grabbing another. But that's just me.</p><p>Here's the synopsis:</p><p>COMPANION</p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">This tale explores some near future
possibilities in the field of Artificial Intelligence, AI, and medical
enhancements. How will we use these amazing concepts to benefit Mankind? We’ve
only scratched the surface of the myriad opportunities so far. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">I suggest a first step…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">FINAL ANALYSIS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">This is a fun, and I hope thought
provoking, vision of one of the oldest questions known to Mankind, the search
for other life and most importantly how we might find them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Is this how we search…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE WORKSHOP</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Grandpa’s shack, in this tale of
‘contact’, is based on a real place from my childhood. My grandfather was a
renaissance man who built and fixed radios, built his own prairie sod home, and
rode a mule in North Texas as a circuit riding Baptist preacher.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Ever wonder why we haven’t been
contacted…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TOURISTS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Remembering the Texas State Fair
Merry-Go-Round brought this story to life in a single sitting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Just for fun…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TRANSLATION</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">The Universe is a dangerous place. We’re
only now beginning to realize that we don’t even know what we don’t know. Will
Mankind exist long enough to learn how to live among the stars?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Maybe we’ll get help…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p>Grab a copy today and leave me any comments you have, and THANKS for the support!</p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3z2htig" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Scattered Visions</span></b></a> (click here <-)<br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-80068563297638364142023-01-23T13:14:00.006-06:002023-01-23T13:18:23.251-06:00Wrap up the Old and bring in the New!!<p> The new year has started with a BANG and 2022 was a great year.</p><p>I launched a new book, '<a href="https://amzn.to/3HmKvhV">Invasion of the Aquanoids</a>' on <span style="font-family: times;">Amazon </span>and on Barnes and Noble '<a href="https://bit.ly/3AuoJ7I">Invasion of the Aquanoids</a> '. The cover art was redone by a new friend on Twitter,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: #333333;">Victor Pflug ( @modredcastleton</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: #333333;">)</span></span>, who develops great Point and Click games. Check out his work on Steam. Look for games from <a href="http://www.wormwoodstudios.com/" target="_blank">Wormwood Studios</a>.</p><p>I made some awesome new writing contacts and started new books for this year.</p><p>I started on a new med, 'Entresto' for my low ejection heart issues. I also started using a sleep apnea CPAP machine. I'm feeling a 'bit' better these days. When I put the mask system on I look like something from a SciFi/Horror movie, but I do get better sleep and far fewer 'episodes' where I stop breathing. During my testing I had 600 episodes in 1 hour. Now I have 1-2 all night! I don't like wearing the mask, but I'm getting used to it.</p><p>I had cataracts removed from both eyes and corrective lenses inserted. The world is suddenly much brighter and more colorful! AND I only need reading glasses for things like paperback books, newspaper, etc.</p><p>Modern medical science is amazing!</p><p>Visited the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam as a side trip on our Las Vegas vacation. Vegas was fun for the first couple of days, but we should have only stayed for 2 or 3 days instead of 5. I doubt we'll be back. Best part of the Vegas stay was seeing the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage. Totally worth the terrible air flight to Vegas. Go see it before they tear down the Mirage next year!</p><p>I also started picking up the guitar again. I'm going to start up lessons again. Need to get these old fingers nimble enough to play. ;-)</p><p>I'm really looking forward to diving into new books and hopefully publishing stories in magazines this year. I've had tons of 'not for us at this time' responses, but I keep trying!</p><p>I hope you all had a decent 2022 and are looking forward to a great 2023.</p><p>Here's a little Navy humor to start your day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZr9R0gbLLTr-nlPRa5lZFVBHaJ293a5-1yQYFhvzS8SYvh5YLLrYxJdJwca1ve0tYnbzzcsHPcfY2Oc18ZdxDkShBpZrH0rU45kE8efNvzQ9ep2yDQky9VBE7LnbJfWfkfUZjaCVEcof2LBR43HUa0OQoY63KRg66r6Ixhc5b373d0YeG5-PfZawHQ/s600/SubLife.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZr9R0gbLLTr-nlPRa5lZFVBHaJ293a5-1yQYFhvzS8SYvh5YLLrYxJdJwca1ve0tYnbzzcsHPcfY2Oc18ZdxDkShBpZrH0rU45kE8efNvzQ9ep2yDQky9VBE7LnbJfWfkfUZjaCVEcof2LBR43HUa0OQoY63KRg66r6Ixhc5b373d0YeG5-PfZawHQ/s320/SubLife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-81553094171378223792022-08-16T14:55:00.006-05:002023-01-24T18:04:58.655-06:00'Invasion of the Aquanoids' is out on Amazon!!<p> A year in the making, but it's finally out!</p><p><b>'Invasion of the Aquanoids'</b> is a SciFi spoof with tons of action, unique EUAPs (Evil Ugly Alien Predators) and awe inspiring heroes!</p><p>The 'Squidies' have found Earth, and they want to colonize it. But first they have to irradicate the horrible land 'vermin' that infest the planet! </p><p>That would be us. </p><p>Humans.</p><p>Earth calls upon the WWII diesel submarine forces once more to save the day! </p><p>You'll find out why.</p><p>Can the 'Iron Men and Steel Boats' overcome such incredible odds? </p><p>DBF!!! (Diesel Boats Forever!)</p><p>Grab your copy and ride along with my heroes from yesteryear. </p><p>Review: '<a class="a-size-base a-link-normal review-title a-color-base review-title-content a-text-bold" data-hook="review-title" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1KRM95MYT077N/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B0B7KSXXVZ" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 20px; text-decoration-line: none;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A great science fiction work that really stretches the imagination!</span></a>'</p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3J7iGZL">Link for Kindle readers</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3AuoJ7I">Link for Nook readers</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C4bF4CEvixTi-fETyHzYUL6hdB1eZcyRYZbpwk1Uo0STmlN6hiDYCcMixiM25dZlhMCx4pkZSFqeVEe45Roy_r1Nm4YucqOka2TxByqeCg4t2islSyYP8cVhj_1axCybIFjr0LhmRqxcejL5Q5IZgMFIxI9_KEJLfYUMbnA02Aw2Cv0Iy4TQHWhCrg/s2048/Cover_EBoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0C4bF4CEvixTi-fETyHzYUL6hdB1eZcyRYZbpwk1Uo0STmlN6hiDYCcMixiM25dZlhMCx4pkZSFqeVEe45Roy_r1Nm4YucqOka2TxByqeCg4t2islSyYP8cVhj_1axCybIFjr0LhmRqxcejL5Q5IZgMFIxI9_KEJLfYUMbnA02Aw2Cv0Iy4TQHWhCrg/s320/Cover_EBoot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-58885403048173199262022-04-29T16:17:00.004-05:002022-04-29T16:19:05.924-05:00I've released 'The Ogre's Door' short story on Amazon Kindle (ebook)!!<div><br /></div><div>I added the link to my 'Check out my short stories' list on the right bar, so check it out!</div><div><br /></div><div>I really enjoyed doing a short and I'll be doing many more.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned for more fun!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1FYxsy7Lm-H-y00XxPWpCqvW8SrnLoX5j7Hih0pTmbbvAkcrMRVI1W-XHsfVFrtan-m2ieMq4r_XZLDuIaXTDpW7gRQUb2pnZnyJgVS55FQhpkFP0heCVAeaVp6DvR51N-JNON_wo7vlUGzHhrhmYXoy_srlLCMEB8dOlNw8xcFoQJ9s3s0zy6QDSw/s2016/TheOgre'sDoor%20-%20Org.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1FYxsy7Lm-H-y00XxPWpCqvW8SrnLoX5j7Hih0pTmbbvAkcrMRVI1W-XHsfVFrtan-m2ieMq4r_XZLDuIaXTDpW7gRQUb2pnZnyJgVS55FQhpkFP0heCVAeaVp6DvR51N-JNON_wo7vlUGzHhrhmYXoy_srlLCMEB8dOlNw8xcFoQJ9s3s0zy6QDSw/s320/TheOgre'sDoor%20-%20Org.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://amzn.to/3MGEagU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Ogre's Door</a> (link here)<br /></div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-37209156607584884252022-02-12T20:07:00.002-06:002022-02-12T20:07:49.907-06:00Nectar of the Gods...<p> A pepper-infused Vodka martini with marinated jalapeno slices... yes!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh28u8DKvolfKu7NNySN9jdl3qc-uA9niynxyo8BvFxOB0qlgPnbd03IDcJkrHr5-WBXHLAW2MMyuvV02fv1DUKC5F-dUOGlXpqSEg18GmQGTGFU_607IO97ucdyfcjQoj6KoQC_MoPfg6VHiOyoCF4T6Z-xH6vflBIrJezwSU0CgS0H3rTVYS8XdlnJg=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh28u8DKvolfKu7NNySN9jdl3qc-uA9niynxyo8BvFxOB0qlgPnbd03IDcJkrHr5-WBXHLAW2MMyuvV02fv1DUKC5F-dUOGlXpqSEg18GmQGTGFU_607IO97ucdyfcjQoj6KoQC_MoPfg6VHiOyoCF4T6Z-xH6vflBIrJezwSU0CgS0H3rTVYS8XdlnJg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This is the ultimate nightcap to cap a great day of writing! Smooth, cold, salty with that snap of jalapeno at the end!</p><p>One of our favorite restaurants (now closed!) served these at the bar. We would go get a plate of appetizers or two and order this to end the day. Awesome.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQeE17wKoNP6w_EIoQknRPudU9g3fYpr7SPKRSYEQi1MwTlQsIbKoiVn3PpJ97Dc_TGb48heXUrzUyG7Sfk2y2wAWtn1sK7n9GNzATDBaiRGgaklrL-R6XErT4MHka2lB0DlROQREmGOGL3rUFk6xv3f7crKtPQ7CXvQKDJ5uJaLWXl1Bbs0LhEOzaFg=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="4000" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQeE17wKoNP6w_EIoQknRPudU9g3fYpr7SPKRSYEQi1MwTlQsIbKoiVn3PpJ97Dc_TGb48heXUrzUyG7Sfk2y2wAWtn1sK7n9GNzATDBaiRGgaklrL-R6XErT4MHka2lB0DlROQREmGOGL3rUFk6xv3f7crKtPQ7CXvQKDJ5uJaLWXl1Bbs0LhEOzaFg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> This was the 'Snow-Mageden' from last week. A inch of snow here is like two feet in Colorado. Problem here is really the ice below it, not the snow. 'Black Ice' is a real danger here during any freeze storm. You just don't go out, because they can't seem to get the sanding/melting timing correct. That and drivers in Texas are already, uh, 'challenged', when it comes to any snow driving. ;-)<p></p><p>And finally, this is just too close to home... ;-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTGJk2Rnn13thAE66pb2MhL72hdAbBJEawDuNePf85H_c4U3zjzJmCy6_9HIX5Hg4FTJhMVW3UB0KKEwjCXHKCGHn_-3LZX5eX-fSdzAL_3O8wq23aqWW-wHk2dDmm0CmOnzoCputWRtgI2dtLAtgK5NJy2Rg2VpqmJAvgcED5srqr7EFXAAKUp521wg=s442" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="442" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTGJk2Rnn13thAE66pb2MhL72hdAbBJEawDuNePf85H_c4U3zjzJmCy6_9HIX5Hg4FTJhMVW3UB0KKEwjCXHKCGHn_-3LZX5eX-fSdzAL_3O8wq23aqWW-wHk2dDmm0CmOnzoCputWRtgI2dtLAtgK5NJy2Rg2VpqmJAvgcED5srqr7EFXAAKUp521wg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Make it a great week, everyone!</p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-17920332125402840482022-01-18T19:43:00.005-06:002022-01-18T19:43:57.807-06:00Time to start guitar lessons again...<p> At almost 70, I'm going to get back on the music train. I'm going to start taking guitar lessons again!</p><p>I was taking lessons for a few years before my heart attack in 2016. Loved it! I would put in a 10 hour day at work (software developer) and then scoot off to a local music store to spend an hour with a great instructor. I have to check with him before I say who it was. I'm hoping he will be able to take me in again.</p><p>We split our time between playing classical spanish guitar music on my Yamaha C-40 and blues on my Gretsch G5120 Electromatic guitars. That's a little practice Fender amp and a Vox amp in the corner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt-e5UJZ6Fme4vQH2sBf6tz2lamSgZoavQUZDxjoOmB3vbwkQ1oJN06crrpQq9Y5d0tKiMTXL0Tvj04XfrHf3Azsjx7B5afknTga-eM_LazDn-FXm2RA8TQmzcPyKsRB4IAJokuvvZaTOmsz1QxkqP40m-RFF8_IriaIjyjSchJISAoBGgd9vDw4jfvQ=s4000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgt-e5UJZ6Fme4vQH2sBf6tz2lamSgZoavQUZDxjoOmB3vbwkQ1oJN06crrpQq9Y5d0tKiMTXL0Tvj04XfrHf3Azsjx7B5afknTga-eM_LazDn-FXm2RA8TQmzcPyKsRB4IAJokuvvZaTOmsz1QxkqP40m-RFF8_IriaIjyjSchJISAoBGgd9vDw4jfvQ=w192-h346" width="192" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I have a bazillion books and sheet music to work with. I'm one of those poor shmucks that can't help buying every new piece of music that I hear and trying to learn it. Then I promptly forget I have it instead of learning it and making it part of my practice. Going to try and fix that flaw this time.<div><br /></div><div>What's different this time? I'm retired now. No work to deal with. I spent over 40 years twiddling bits in the software industry. It was great! I still play around with little s/w projects. BUT... it isn't all consuming like it used to be. I can put that aside and stoke the fires of creating and playing music I love.</div><div><br /></div><div>My current piece to learn is 'Con te partio', which literally is 'I'll leave with you' but is known as 'Time to say Goodbye.' I first heard it sung by Andrea Bocelli on a TV special. It is a heart wrenching, soaring melody that makes me weep. My emotions are always on full display, you just have to deal with it ;-)</div><div><span> </span></div><div>I found the music for guitar and I'm trying to learn it by myself until I can take lessons again. </div><div><br /></div><div>One of the things I've found is that pieces like this sound 'right' on my classical guitar, BUT I really enjoy finding ways to play them on my Gretsch! Being able to release huge tonal swings and effects through my Fender amp turns any piece into a flight of fantasy! Truly 'My guitar gently weeps...'.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll keep you up to date on my musical journey. Maybe I can post a movie of my playing with Jeff (hopefully my teacher) later in the year.</div><div><br /></div><div>For now I'll end with a cartoon that nails my thoughts on life!</div><div><br /></div><div>Be good to yourself and to others.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOQWb9oDtVbKQNXEoZMZvlV04LguPDomtiUbl3hWtCiDtY74e49pAy_wAZqpCoyxlfrHZoOTl0dsqICu4u4rDNxzKvWAYQ5663E3yuuDIza_rL32zJ9TYljh1kpaG4uJl6ybLOHH82sE_vjapM-wxmgNQhjTeLsD4wtoJn9meDJxkRRDVW17X08U5HNQ=s637" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOQWb9oDtVbKQNXEoZMZvlV04LguPDomtiUbl3hWtCiDtY74e49pAy_wAZqpCoyxlfrHZoOTl0dsqICu4u4rDNxzKvWAYQ5663E3yuuDIza_rL32zJ9TYljh1kpaG4uJl6ybLOHH82sE_vjapM-wxmgNQhjTeLsD4wtoJn9meDJxkRRDVW17X08U5HNQ=s320" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><p><br /></p></div></div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-22244525998281585362021-10-20T17:28:00.004-05:002021-10-26T22:02:34.520-05:00Never give up!<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">It's true in every aspect of life that dogged determination will take you further than whining or wishing. Writing is no different.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Talent is great.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Education is wonderful.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">But a stubborn will to do your best, every chance you get, is mandatory for a happy life. It's mandatory if you want your dreams to become reality.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">The world isn't against you. No one is holding you back. It's up to you to live a little better everyday. It's up to you to attempt, to adapt, to stretch, to push and to enjoy the results of your hard work with celebration and joy.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Don't give up.</span></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-29168401189514686772021-10-11T19:10:00.000-05:002021-10-11T19:10:02.757-05:00Is my flying car really here?<p> I've been waiting for my flying car since I watched the first episode of 'The Jetsons' as a kid in '62.</p><p>I was 10 and just discovering Popular Science, Popular Mechanics and Ham Radio magazines. These magazines threw gasoline on the embers of my imagination!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZQd5-FnAt1tQQQMEXaxob9P7tU39g0LXxzYCDWK67oThuF1_rmuBqOBTs-5cWBv5aBCkMIO_M_81aQn2rV-3sESoqeWf7B_TMrj_MmYIm8RFRuRdHgbdmOKjyF_9YpVi2OSUVkBnv7Pf/s2048/car3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZQd5-FnAt1tQQQMEXaxob9P7tU39g0LXxzYCDWK67oThuF1_rmuBqOBTs-5cWBv5aBCkMIO_M_81aQn2rV-3sESoqeWf7B_TMrj_MmYIm8RFRuRdHgbdmOKjyF_9YpVi2OSUVkBnv7Pf/s320/car3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><p>I can't prove it but I'll bet you a dollar to a donut that the Flying Car graced the covers of those rags more than anything else. At least that's the way I remember it.</p><p> My Dad ran Service Stations in the 50's, 60s and 70s. So I grew up tinkering with cars and trucks of all kinds, foreign and domestic. I even had a junk car that Dad parked in the second garage for parts. I spent one summer taking it apart, piece by piece. It's probably still scattered all over the garage floor 50 years later. Things don't move very fast in Levelland, Texas. Trust me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ywuiRnuv-jazbf6u5Ye_rU9qrdZGqnJJ83wGXEhheiZCysyyXOwdjmrxrunFzErsVflsnyJIzn9x6B1oSa_aLTVceDvEVoH6aFEFVviGY9fGMfBt2ozia32-IsysoLjk8PM0wIRSSzZW/s318/car2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ywuiRnuv-jazbf6u5Ye_rU9qrdZGqnJJ83wGXEhheiZCysyyXOwdjmrxrunFzErsVflsnyJIzn9x6B1oSa_aLTVceDvEVoH6aFEFVviGY9fGMfBt2ozia32-IsysoLjk8PM0wIRSSzZW/s0/car2.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /> </div>So when I saw the Sunday Morning episode about flying cars I was a bit disappointed. The pictures above were very close to the Jetson model dream-ships I've been waiting for. <div><br /></div><div>The flying car portrayed on TV was a bit more 'meh'. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGN4D7VTJWMQ4xgjUZ9uP6X_V2s-BinS_bWuIhyLE3ilZc_-mAPgHda39SLbIBvaty_4Lt1RnZoF7Mg3sTB-nq7ijtL-JBYZ20T_aSsMTM1dxeN7XxNEPtBIi6PT4XGI79H9r4VHPlpEo/s310/car1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGN4D7VTJWMQ4xgjUZ9uP6X_V2s-BinS_bWuIhyLE3ilZc_-mAPgHda39SLbIBvaty_4Lt1RnZoF7Mg3sTB-nq7ijtL-JBYZ20T_aSsMTM1dxeN7XxNEPtBIi6PT4XGI79H9r4VHPlpEo/s0/car1.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>It's basically an oversized drone that buzzes like a giant bee. Range is '20 minutes of flying time'.</p><p>Where is my four seater convertible with jet-engine driven ducted-fan impellers, computer stabilizer and GPA self-driving navigation?</p><p>Sigh.</p><p>Well I'll just have to wait patiently another 50 years.</p><p>Wait... I'm 69. </p><p>Hmmm.</p><p>Well, I hope YOU enjoy zipping around in the clouds, wind whipping through your hair.</p><p>More on flying cars later.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p></p></div></div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-79960967007226861562021-09-30T18:27:00.002-05:002021-09-30T19:51:57.615-05:00Exploring the World<p> The world amazes me. All of it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK17rHKtH9axvQBuorBQjs03nbtoM4Nio9pGlYJL_K3dBbTQ8P4N5aC_vg_qjV2PJoZq9VysSGDnNvUe37Gh5cqgfImbHeKxR-1VeoTKQ7UnMe0BR_GB9IlQdIX12fqWpRqi7jLBEgLBCd/s859/Earth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK17rHKtH9axvQBuorBQjs03nbtoM4Nio9pGlYJL_K3dBbTQ8P4N5aC_vg_qjV2PJoZq9VysSGDnNvUe37Gh5cqgfImbHeKxR-1VeoTKQ7UnMe0BR_GB9IlQdIX12fqWpRqi7jLBEgLBCd/s320/Earth.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>So I'm expanding this blog to hopefully find and talk with other explorers, creators, readers, writers and anyone with something they want to study or examine with friends.</p><p>I'll still talk about writing and reading in the indie world because I do that everyday. It's a passion, one I enjoy immensely. I'll still tell you how my WIP is going, good and bad. ;-)</p><p>But there is so much more to explore out there! Music, science, history (I love Naval History as you'll see), how governments work and don't work and why, food, health care, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Art and so much more. </p><p>The sand box that is humanity is so vast and interesting. Let's find our childhood plastic buckets and shovels and start making sand castles, one after the other.</p><p>Come along while I mosey from castle to castle, exploring all that is US.</p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-62232924026975119892021-08-26T18:20:00.002-05:002021-08-26T18:20:53.774-05:00Outlining a new book!<p> I'm outlining a book this week.</p><p>I admit I'm an on again, off again outliner. It seems like some stories will flow better if I just start typing and don't stop to think too hard about the plot. It's happened several times before.</p><p>Other times though I find outlining first keeps me focused on the story arc, characters, environment, etc. </p><p>This book has lots of characters, species (yes it's a SciFi story ;-), environments, battles and hopefully a whole lot of fun for the reader! </p><p>Another benefit for the outline is that I get a chance to enjoy the story as well. I get to 'play' with paths and tangents to see if I like them, before I commit to them in the story. It's really hard to back out lots of dialog, characters, etc. in a packed word document. Much easier to do in an outline.</p><p>The story involves some WW 2 submarine characters, boats and action. I have a chance to put all that research I've done to good use!</p><p>I'll keep you posted.</p><p>Do you always outline or always not outline?</p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-62932877567100172782021-06-08T13:29:00.000-05:002021-06-08T13:29:09.243-05:00Back in the writing saddle!<p> I took a short breather after launching 'Arlo and Jake: Special Intel', my 5th book in that series.</p><p>It's been pretty well received, I'm thrilled! You never know how a series release will go. I purposefully keep my novels 'minimal', less than 250/300 pages. I find the massive trilogies difficult to keep focused on, even the really good ones like LOTR and the Jack Reacher books. Love them both but I have to take breaks between books.</p><p>I'm not ready to start up on book 6 of the series, though I do have the beginnings of an outline that I break open now and again.</p><p>So now I'm trying to finalize a couple of short stories that I hope to submit to Analog or Asimov or maybe some other magazine. Wish me luck.</p><p>One of the stories centers around mankind's search for life in the Universe. It's something that I've playing with for months. I'm hoping that my unique take on the quest will spark interest from one of the magazines. Selling a story to a magazine would open me up to a much wider readership! Don't really care about the money (right...), but to be able to see my work in a magazine would also be a huge ego boost right now. ;-)</p><p>I also have short outlines for books that continue the story line I started with 'Genome' the novel. These stories involve the AI 'Pip' I created to help my main characters look for medical cures. The gymnasium sized holo-deck is a great 'enabler' tool I created to help. With it you can walk around and interact with a hologram of molecules and more importantly with human DNA!</p><p>These stories will take off where 'Genome' ended. </p><p>I've also got a YA story based on parts of Genome. I can't decide which to start first. I've never done a YA book, it might be time to try my hand at it!</p><p>Keep writing, my friends, and checkout my book links!!</p><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-5125078678583318122021-04-12T14:05:00.002-05:002021-04-12T14:10:43.791-05:00Book 5 has launched!!<p> 'Arlo and Jake Special Intel' has hit the virtual bookstands of Amazon and Barnes and Noble!!</p><p>I'm really proud of this latest adventure of my apace-faring friends. Lots of new characters, new planets and snarky antics mixed in with the intrigue and action!</p><p>Now would be a good time for you to start with book 1, 'Arlo and Jake Enlist', and follow my heroes through space and time, trying to stop the GHA, the Galactic Houses of Aquinoxous', from aqua-forming terran planets!</p><p>They've faced space mercenaries, giant spiders, rouge Assassin Guilds, evil AIs and space battles to make your hair curl! </p><p>Now they're trying to stop sabotage on the FTG's, the Federation of Thirteen Galaxies', home planet of Mekalon! Jake would rather fight a dozen space battles than try and match wits with Mekalon's Diplomatic Corp dweebs. But he and Arlo have another impossible job to do: save the Galaxies from the Bad Guys!</p><p>Come join the fun and adventure in the latest edition of this saga: 'Arlo and Jake Special Intel'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN6EooAET634q33JXzwba1zgHaNU-TCkM_OYL_ZKyf24dX48M78JJobp6OuBe6ppOn5CZ6FTKqtfjbFdz89v-HU2UJmvEhYdWsDaom34oOc1Tbb0xzauuOe0ZsgAiaM3VLHIvpWuqRMOm/s2048/book5cover_org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN6EooAET634q33JXzwba1zgHaNU-TCkM_OYL_ZKyf24dX48M78JJobp6OuBe6ppOn5CZ6FTKqtfjbFdz89v-HU2UJmvEhYdWsDaom34oOc1Tbb0xzauuOe0ZsgAiaM3VLHIvpWuqRMOm/s320/book5cover_org.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arlo-Jake-Special-Intel-Nice-ebook/dp/B08TV8J9T8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=arlo+and+jake+special&qid=1618254086&sr=8-1"><span style="font-size: large;">Arlo and Jake Special Inte</span></a></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-1947401171964992852021-01-10T17:18:00.001-06:002021-01-10T17:25:30.929-06:002021 Starts off Rocky but...<p>This is a writer's blog so I'll forego talking about 6 Jan. I've tweeted while angry before and regretted my tone and words so I won't fall into that trap here. My prayers go out to the family of Officer Sicknick. And all who lost their lives senselessly.</p><p>I sincerely hope you and your loved ones are doing well in the ongoing Covid pandemic. Don't forget to check on every neighbor in your area. Just leave a note if you don't know them. Deb and baked some pumpkin bread and went door to door. Even a little thing like this makes a big difference in people's lives. </p><p>Writing has been slow. I'm waiting for the final edit of 'Arlo and Jake' book 5 before booting it out the door. Hopefully 'soon'. ;-)</p><p>I've been looking through my 'next' list for some inspiration. I don't know. Short story(ies) to Magazines? A different kind of novel, ie: not SciFi?</p><p>I need to update and clean up this blog too. I've left things pretty stagnant. Like everyone else it's sometimes hard to muster up any enthusiasm. </p><p>On a positive note, I see the light at the end of the tunnel on Covid with the vaccines out. I'm disappointed that the rollout has been so poor, given the months of preparation time they've had. There is blame to go around, but blame won't get it fixed.</p><p>Stay safe. Wear your mask, Social distance, Wash your hands often. We WILL get back to normal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNwNuP0jTSNQGR6rVFIx091xMci_uFYK1hWPoAU76bGfzIp5AhuXQjfI59gEjzPNfM980mBWTrhLp43U5yQsaMmD8HztPvRVrDZSMby8F_VkiywseTZCvSCJCYonwQ9fKHVMKAITgGFDD/s541/WifeJoke1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="398" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNwNuP0jTSNQGR6rVFIx091xMci_uFYK1hWPoAU76bGfzIp5AhuXQjfI59gEjzPNfM980mBWTrhLp43U5yQsaMmD8HztPvRVrDZSMby8F_VkiywseTZCvSCJCYonwQ9fKHVMKAITgGFDD/w289-h394/WifeJoke1.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-28242439538785124522020-11-11T12:54:00.004-06:002020-11-11T12:54:53.467-06:00Veterans, I salute you!<p> Thank you, Veterans, thank you!</p><p>There is no way to express how much your country loves you and appreciates you.</p><p>As a veteran of the Vietnam era, I know how much it matters when someone says 'Thank you for your service.' It's a small gesture, but it means a lot just to hear it.</p><p>This is one of the subs I served on in the 70s. I extend to all my shipmates from this boat and the entire Navy my sincere thanks for serving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YpVGD2ByCxPXwHWSKcROM4OLxX1H9Q7z6V_djrDtzFAPLuG0xviSixI2oqSyXy5Uae04hcl_7NU5vNEmx76U7bG1tTK4VC0Rr7CC7P-vbvT2PonUwymyipZHgAJtzWttXsfaxx6cfdJ4/s1022/USS_Bluefish_SSN675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1022" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YpVGD2ByCxPXwHWSKcROM4OLxX1H9Q7z6V_djrDtzFAPLuG0xviSixI2oqSyXy5Uae04hcl_7NU5vNEmx76U7bG1tTK4VC0Rr7CC7P-vbvT2PonUwymyipZHgAJtzWttXsfaxx6cfdJ4/s320/USS_Bluefish_SSN675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A proud and thankful country thanks you!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FdcPtx45qkOPvpKFnyJEdJbXmCYLvy3wgE5OXI5eBrWO0W09Fhv9B6yu1DE3_inGx0-VQdr81VMgT6vOf8r_peOlVroDk_dCh7broFKNSVJDkJ6WG7zhti_TOAJpucWGc9jgs2BVPXAi/s935/VeteransThankYou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="935" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FdcPtx45qkOPvpKFnyJEdJbXmCYLvy3wgE5OXI5eBrWO0W09Fhv9B6yu1DE3_inGx0-VQdr81VMgT6vOf8r_peOlVroDk_dCh7broFKNSVJDkJ6WG7zhti_TOAJpucWGc9jgs2BVPXAi/s320/VeteransThankYou.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-26295369534603070562020-11-11T12:17:00.003-06:002020-11-11T12:22:05.357-06:00November is AWESOME!!!<p> (Sorry for the blog changes/problems. Not sure what I did, but hopefully this theme will allow you to use the links properly.)</p><p>It's hard to believe, but November might actually be the best month of 2020!!!</p><p>The Election is finally over. I'm so looking forward to a lowering of the political temperature and a chance to return to 'normality'. Normal for me would be the ability to talk to my Pinochle club buddies about politics without our feelings getting out of hand. My club has Dems, Republicans and a couple of pure Libs. We almost never agree about political things, BUT we also didn't shout at each other and break out our canes to pummel each other. ;-) </p><p>I want that back. I love these guys and we need each other. </p><p>I fully admit that at times I let my emotions get the better of my judgement. I truly regret hurting anyone's feelings.</p><p>I pledge to do my part to compromise and see the other side and to keep my mouth shut at the appropriate times... ;-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD0167pJrm23me_LOZLNJKV2rct0JB_m998V9Z1D_kCHX9_AAYQn5a2h9K0beMfzJcjB-X_f7n5-WwjHF-kEI1Kd1QvAfsC63rMXNJmUFRXS5uHtwrc6zUKRxSj9iAM-2hLrjJtff6YwY/s960/OldMenJoke4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="682" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD0167pJrm23me_LOZLNJKV2rct0JB_m998V9Z1D_kCHX9_AAYQn5a2h9K0beMfzJcjB-X_f7n5-WwjHF-kEI1Kd1QvAfsC63rMXNJmUFRXS5uHtwrc6zUKRxSj9iAM-2hLrjJtff6YwY/s320/OldMenJoke4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The pandemic may finally have some light at the end of the tunnel!!! Several possible vaccines are in final testing as are some therapeutics! This is absolutely amazing! I'm so happy for all us... I'm doing a little happy dance right now... (you don't want to see it ;-))</p><p>Until it's proven and available PLEASE continue to protect each other by wearing the mask, social distancing, washing your hands and checking on your neighbors.</p><p>The end of this world wide nightmare could be over SOON. </p><p>DON'T let up now!</p><p>THANK YOU!</p><p>SMALL SOAPBOX ON:</p><p>See what mankind can do when the whole World puts it's energy behind a problem??</p><p>Let's NOT let this stop with Covid. </p><p>Let's identify and tackle the next world wide problem. Let's put ALL our minds, our will and our resources towards first steps to fix it!!</p><p>And then the next. And then the next. Rinse and repeat.</p><p>America's place in the World may soon start to heal. We are NOT an isolationist nation. We need other countries as much as they need us. We're NEIGHBORS. We need to get back into the role of leading and helping not ignoring and antagonizing.</p><p>SMALL SOAPBOX OFF:</p><p>Personally I'm doing well with my writing. I've finished book 5 of the 'Arlo and Jake' SciFi series! Editing is in progress and I'm creating a book cover. Hopefully I'll be able to publish it before Christmas. </p><p>The patio has been a great place to write and think. The mild weather this month allows me to sit in my chair for as long as I want, my cup of coffee and snacks to sustain me. There are days when I'm out there for 4 or 5 hours, writing and creating outlines for new stories.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA8JI700foyru7YQi8rmKVXAPU9jsY5OiJzMVbyOKk40HgmSNgBIgHIMp-J5TmyNMc-xtc2UpK15haA8chyphenhyphenK6EyOlgAn78y3x_LW5191f582StVT45x3dgFsEJdhYc8frE9tfSbmlBg2K/s2048/PatioWriting3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcA8JI700foyru7YQi8rmKVXAPU9jsY5OiJzMVbyOKk40HgmSNgBIgHIMp-J5TmyNMc-xtc2UpK15haA8chyphenhyphenK6EyOlgAn78y3x_LW5191f582StVT45x3dgFsEJdhYc8frE9tfSbmlBg2K/s320/PatioWriting3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The roses were amazing this year. We have a long way to go to get the plants spread out and blossoming as much as possible, but we'll get there. They have wilted after the first cold spell here, but I know they'll be back next spring.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0xeTSQs52QdwHL8UurYIkl6oPdBHfY_U7B2X8jV5qGWaLLItob69na64rhyphenhyphenx5Dr_pjPiARioh_NPyBoPH_dic3haTbKLpnW5GvD8qPMS92CjIyDgeTnc5bYst_q2t6aFwtwF5jLsVe5/s960/Roses2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0xeTSQs52QdwHL8UurYIkl6oPdBHfY_U7B2X8jV5qGWaLLItob69na64rhyphenhyphenx5Dr_pjPiARioh_NPyBoPH_dic3haTbKLpnW5GvD8qPMS92CjIyDgeTnc5bYst_q2t6aFwtwF5jLsVe5/s320/Roses2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>As soon as 'Arlo and Jake: Special Intel' is out the door I'm going to concentrate on several short stories I hope to sell to a SciFi/Fantasy magazine like Analog or Asimov's. I have some great ideas percolating on the burner. With any luck I can publish in a magazine and get some more exposure for all my writing.</p><p>Stay safe. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.</p><p>Be happy, my friends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3NBq_JOs3FTMXOvA1MdReDzAHp2DC0A3xLRxJghibtNIlRQlBVtgxEYu0AWi2XJHCQTo08cEo5cZHpqt0LVyX7g8aKS_bDPgsWVRkFzNz0fXYnItm1kaYLJojmfAC9N310rz1iab9Gwc/s960/StarTrekWarrenty.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3NBq_JOs3FTMXOvA1MdReDzAHp2DC0A3xLRxJghibtNIlRQlBVtgxEYu0AWi2XJHCQTo08cEo5cZHpqt0LVyX7g8aKS_bDPgsWVRkFzNz0fXYnItm1kaYLJojmfAC9N310rz1iab9Gwc/s320/StarTrekWarrenty.png" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-11437775978238014782020-10-09T18:27:00.001-05:002020-10-09T18:27:25.680-05:00October 2020! Wow....<p>The weather for writing out on the patio has been wonderful lately!</p><p>A cool breeze floats in from the E/SE, into my backyard and then into my covered patio. I take a cup of matcha tea, some toast and my laptop out there, spending the morning talking to my characters. </p><p>It's pretty quiet and calming. Sometimes my snoring is the only sound you'll hear. ;-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcRlQl67qKl0Zg2ynDsnJHlYvMbGV7WUjbfqnh38w7JM5Xe7BetA4A4AQ1eM0urUTXKe6SPNxIrE0h6mjiz0RSVgj_qSAO8UZ4Rx6cfju87N-AKEsPmLbGfR-sEyCzLaEigD-Lp6-lJlx/s2048/Patio2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcRlQl67qKl0Zg2ynDsnJHlYvMbGV7WUjbfqnh38w7JM5Xe7BetA4A4AQ1eM0urUTXKe6SPNxIrE0h6mjiz0RSVgj_qSAO8UZ4Rx6cfju87N-AKEsPmLbGfR-sEyCzLaEigD-Lp6-lJlx/s320/Patio2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>During this great weather I've been able to 'finish' Book 5 of my 'Arlo and Jake' SciFi series! Finish is in quotes because I'm now in edit/modify/reedit mode which can take a while. With any luck I'll be able to wrap it up next week.</p><p>Then I have to make a book cover picture, upload everything and get it validated for publishing on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. No rest for the writer...</p><p>Next I think I'm going to write a few short stories for magazines. I want to get published in Asimov or Analog or one of the other SciFi/Fantasy mags. I have several stories I've put on the back burner while I try to finish book 5. I'll pick 2 of the best stories and finish them.</p><p>Here's one of my favorite memes. So funny because it is so true!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz17NqscesG9kqtCUPLGIo6iD9t8_dmlO7d6T2TGaocsA5uJUCLmgTxqfmNME1Uu_peVR3SUZTLw5AWmgeAUbF-vBfqQX2et2_PvHQT14Yq62zHkKJdJwK7SXBNC6vLIcSN7fybPM5YZyR/s616/BabyGrandMaPhone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz17NqscesG9kqtCUPLGIo6iD9t8_dmlO7d6T2TGaocsA5uJUCLmgTxqfmNME1Uu_peVR3SUZTLw5AWmgeAUbF-vBfqQX2et2_PvHQT14Yq62zHkKJdJwK7SXBNC6vLIcSN7fybPM5YZyR/s320/BabyGrandMaPhone.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A little humor for my friends who truly do not understand what being a 'submariner' means... ;-)<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUikJWhorJTvJ1TD8a1avmjgkxrPwvn0MQr3gLyW7i7HUajCYbPNqNYPb4fmDvMePAzVTKMH9jL_vE9TTNpYn1i_nJYgmoUnWse72DlSqN8dU997yGVoXN-xRO2SKt0iPHM8WDDp_zXSYM/s600/SubLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUikJWhorJTvJ1TD8a1avmjgkxrPwvn0MQr3gLyW7i7HUajCYbPNqNYPb4fmDvMePAzVTKMH9jL_vE9TTNpYn1i_nJYgmoUnWse72DlSqN8dU997yGVoXN-xRO2SKt0iPHM8WDDp_zXSYM/s320/SubLife.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If you haven't checked out my books, take a look around the blog. You'll find a tab for each current book. There is a blurb about the book and a link to Amazon and Barnes and Noble to pick it up. Thank you for your support!!</p><p>Stay safe everyone and keep reading!!</p></div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-23497793902178569662020-09-06T10:09:00.002-05:002020-09-06T10:09:40.569-05:00September has started off much cooler!<p> August zipped by like a shot! It was so hot most days I couldn't have lasted outside for long even if Covid wasn't forcing me to stay inside! </p><p>We usually take a 1 mile walk in the mornings so we've missed that chance to get the blood flowing and get some fresh air. But in this heat it's not worth it. Walking around the block in the heat and humidity would have done us in for the whole day! ;-)</p><p>The recent rain storms rumbling through our area of North Texas have been so wonderful! I've taken a few pictures and movies to post to show my friends out of state that Texas actually does have that 'water from the sky' stuff occasionally.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9wxveHPZk52H6Q7KdWqWqDQHBFtkvtOz3lRXkoMLzgu3Qt32x3g6sue66fs4tKe5oFpTMF_1Odu7HT1v8NjY11Q1PwrrSxmdzVQPPrvFhZjNUQuUrxTQGmPuK1fPZJTZXI4-fkT7F-FC/s400/DrinkFromHose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9wxveHPZk52H6Q7KdWqWqDQHBFtkvtOz3lRXkoMLzgu3Qt32x3g6sue66fs4tKe5oFpTMF_1Odu7HT1v8NjY11Q1PwrrSxmdzVQPPrvFhZjNUQuUrxTQGmPuK1fPZJTZXI4-fkT7F-FC/s320/DrinkFromHose.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I came across this image somewhere and it brought back so many memories from my childhood in Levelland, Texas, a tiny town 30 miles west of Lubbock. Brought memories of run around all summer long in 105 degree weather.</p><p>Hot, dusty, hot, eye-burning, hot and did I say 'hot'!? We looked like coffee beans by the time summer was over. Tasting the cold well-water coming straight from the hose seemed sweet as honey. After a deep gulp we would drench each other with spray fights. I can feel the goose-bumps rising even now.</p><p>Then it was off to build corn-stalk forts in the field between our house and the house of my only childhood friend, Brett. We lived about a mile outside of town in a line of house on the east side of the highway. The tiny field between our houses was always used by Brett's Dad to grow a little summer corn. After the corn was stripped the stalks were left standing. Brett and I would find a patch where we could cut out walls and a roof and spend weeks playing games.</p><p>We had pop-guns with those curled up strips of tiny powder dots that would explode as you pulled the trigger. I had a Roy Rogers two gun and holster set! God, I wish I had kept that toy. You might notice that I did not turn out to be a gun-toting maniac. ;-)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp_ac4pHm-6u9G2k09TZWQ-FEkJ4LCxanFCWbqXbC5YAaXSgW1znNgQTfHiYPL74VLzGF788-MnuDdsirrX7N856N76dPD8NUdQOv7H7psemXLVLPDwA8fYk2JpFvqrKt41-Niu7UF_5U/s960/BestofShireWorsheshire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp_ac4pHm-6u9G2k09TZWQ-FEkJ4LCxanFCWbqXbC5YAaXSgW1znNgQTfHiYPL74VLzGF788-MnuDdsirrX7N856N76dPD8NUdQOv7H7psemXLVLPDwA8fYk2JpFvqrKt41-Niu7UF_5U/s320/BestofShireWorsheshire.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>One good thing in this isolation is I have plenty of time for writing. I've almost finished book 5 of my SciFi series 'Arlo and Jake' and have written several short stories. Looking forward to hopping on several magazine stories and more short stories to publish.</p><p>Have a great week and stay safe!</p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-48625423453505685882020-08-10T12:50:00.001-05:002020-08-10T12:59:08.821-05:00Is it August already???<p>I CANNOT believe it's the middle of Summer! Where the heck did June and July go?</p><p>I think the Pandemic has triggered a TWC, a Time Warp Conundrum, causing my sense of time and space to fracture and sizzle like an egg dropped on a hot Texas sidewalk!</p><p>I've been doing a lot of writing on the latest book in my 'Arlo and Jake' SciFi series and mulling over other stories that are waiting in the wings. It seems that the closer I get to finishing this story the more 'cool' ideas pop up and try to tear me away. It's like having a room full of puppies yipping around my ankles while I try to walk my dog.</p><p>One of the things I've been doing is collecting pix online related to my US Navy experiences. Some people remember their time in college doing crazy stuff and wondering how they survived. I served on nuclear subs in the 70s so I remember doing crazy stuff and wondering how I survived. ;-)</p><p>Here's a cool pix that gives me 'fond' memories. Before an extended run we would load as much food and coffee as possible. The Navy runs on coffee, trust me. What you see here is one of the crew's quarters lined with food/coffee cans on the deck. As the stuff was consumed we finally got to see/walk on the actual deck! ;-)</p><p>Those curtains hide our 'racks', our beds. Under the thin mattress is a 'bed pan' about 12 inched deep. That's where you store all your clothes, personal items and gedunks you bring with you. Gedunks are things like beef jerky, chocolate and for some guys cigarettes. The racks are stacked 3, 4 and in some places 5 high. Chiefs and Officers have their own areas that are not quite so cramped. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zk5vjU_aXmlGE7sg-4efuCb1PrHn4LZlhmnyHfpyV9lk9uAzsFaVbgz6xL__8tqRg8FiHmLzjfa7GAwn1fETYgWWemvqMSNSWOZUy6VQ174sq34fpWT5P53ORP-tog49PZ_uy10NKYKy/s960/CoffeCans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zk5vjU_aXmlGE7sg-4efuCb1PrHn4LZlhmnyHfpyV9lk9uAzsFaVbgz6xL__8tqRg8FiHmLzjfa7GAwn1fETYgWWemvqMSNSWOZUy6VQ174sq34fpWT5P53ORP-tog49PZ_uy10NKYKy/s640/CoffeCans.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been collecting pix from the early 60/70s, including my high school years in Boulder, Colorado.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a shot of 28th street in Boulder around 1968, looking south. The Volvo is turning in off Walnut Street I think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Texaco on the east (left in the pix) side is my father's station, where I worked during High School at the old Fairview HS on Cherryvale Road.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the west side is a King's restaurant. Great place! You sat down in a booth that had a little music juke box and a telephone on the wall. You 'phoned' in your order. You plopped a quarter into the juke and listen to some music until they called you back to pick up your order at the counter in the back. Grub-Hub before there was Grub-Hub!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbmkeWNrOkZQ3Mt8SGO3muXUPw4-MwNchKp2nfW1uNYKRd52_6mJCc_bDMqKNAE6OtQXVWuRYi5v6TGJWbCbwcnox83ItCfbs73TdkovUMfpm3VjTHCEiekcpUFebIkmMJ7SW9quz1z4n/s960/28thStreet1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbmkeWNrOkZQ3Mt8SGO3muXUPw4-MwNchKp2nfW1uNYKRd52_6mJCc_bDMqKNAE6OtQXVWuRYi5v6TGJWbCbwcnox83ItCfbs73TdkovUMfpm3VjTHCEiekcpUFebIkmMJ7SW9quz1z4n/s640/28thStreet1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is what a coke machine looked like in the 50/60s, except that the first one I remember at my Dad's station cost 5 cents not 10 cents. Everyone was appalled when the price of a coke went up to 25 cents! Outrageous! ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You dropped in your coin and pushed down on the handle. That rotated the big vertical drum inside and lined up one of the bottles so you could pull it out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Best tasting Cokes on the planet. Really cold and of course the original recipe made your throat burn as it went down. On a hot Texas Panhandle day it was liquid heaven!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIxxN4M-xU8C8d6nsFDk6L8Ih6hrfJgqhNH-SYtFeY7AkyI8yyURanL8eMy66LoADafGllKWk86E0jg1q8_YXhyj2LuCeKgsDLqSnzzB6tx6t2ZWLgOJFpMGBh9n6sxpTennAxlCdyVQU/s1364/1955_Coke_Machine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIxxN4M-xU8C8d6nsFDk6L8Ih6hrfJgqhNH-SYtFeY7AkyI8yyURanL8eMy66LoADafGllKWk86E0jg1q8_YXhyj2LuCeKgsDLqSnzzB6tx6t2ZWLgOJFpMGBh9n6sxpTennAxlCdyVQU/s640/1955_Coke_Machine.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamx1bffBbr3jzMAwVtlVD_AacP18LNuRJ0fdlad4R6bHOrZixfBqh5uiyhzYjw40N6RWWPFKJOiE_NglxKN6TwcJ_4g1q7fuQCtkrWLTEBJpZlEFVRANcnRfZpq53fMYDUEIjF4LXP0T2/s1600/1955_Coke_Inside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamx1bffBbr3jzMAwVtlVD_AacP18LNuRJ0fdlad4R6bHOrZixfBqh5uiyhzYjw40N6RWWPFKJOiE_NglxKN6TwcJ_4g1q7fuQCtkrWLTEBJpZlEFVRANcnRfZpq53fMYDUEIjF4LXP0T2/s640/1955_Coke_Inside.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Stay safe and wear the mask, friends. </p><p>When the pandemic is over we can a huge party to celebrate!</p><p><br /></p>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-91411843808057881282020-07-09T18:34:00.000-05:002020-07-09T18:34:05.723-05:00Writing in isolation<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_n_MhWfIg2Ga8wZN1pQ88STUpopUWjB_MA0tWY_2N67RWelhoSHh7K3T02N0NLl6krKzUAicPeZOpOs6kNUZwovSS8KvnbmO-cuqA43Dsw2F17OTZysr2aQcdDLl5_vLJm6RLrfhtQiX/s2048/Desk_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_n_MhWfIg2Ga8wZN1pQ88STUpopUWjB_MA0tWY_2N67RWelhoSHh7K3T02N0NLl6krKzUAicPeZOpOs6kNUZwovSS8KvnbmO-cuqA43Dsw2F17OTZysr2aQcdDLl5_vLJm6RLrfhtQiX/s320/Desk_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm fortunate to have a 'man cave' den in my house, where I can read, write and just think. This desk is over 25 years old, something I bought in Longmont, CO WAY back when I was just starting to play round with writing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can close the door to my den, tell Alexa to play some smooth jazz and lose myself in my writing. Or lean back in my chair and get lost in Naval History books (just finished Samuel Eliot Morison's 'The Two Ocean war'), sipping a tumbler of bourbon and snacking on some cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can't tell from the picture, but I also collect SciFi and Fantasy Art books like the 'Spectrum' series. Some days I just scan through the amazing artwork and let my imagination take a trip. I get ideas from stories sometimes as I lose myself in the images.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I AM a lucky Dude and I know it. But it wasn't always like this. I've 'worked' on software projects, hardware projects, balsa models and writing inside spare closets, on the couch and the kitchen table. It doesn't really matter, as I'm sure my fellow writers know. Once you dive into a story the world seems to reconfigure around you, your characters and environment swirl around you, blocking out the real world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've found my writing has blossomed in this imposed isolation. I put my head down in the story line and then hours later look up, amazed at how fast time has flow. With fewer commitments there is more time to play with my heroes and villains.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you've had good luck with your writing as well. I'm looking forward to hearing from my current writing friends and some new authors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep writing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6249664321694545834.post-58697901545596658422020-04-23T14:11:00.002-05:002020-04-23T14:11:38.773-05:00Finishing a story...<br />This is from a post I did on a friends writing blog back in 2016.<br /><br />I hope it motivates you to ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
Finish</div>
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This post is about finishing. Finishing is harder, by far, than starting. Yeah, it seems like an obvious statement up front, but please don’t leave me yet! ;-)<br />Starting is hard, sure, and I don't minimize its place in any endeavor. To start writing, be it a poem, a short story or an epic novel series, takes guts and confidence. I think you’re lucky if you’re one of those writers that can just ignore your doubts and go for it, mindfully dismissing your fears. Yeah, that’s so not me.<br />If you’ve finished a project it’s easier, because you know you can do it. You know what’s ahead. You’re ready to begin a new adventure. You can look forward to stretching the boundaries of your imagination. It’s damn exciting to look at a blank sheet of paper, envision your dreams sketched upon it and KNOW that you’ve done this before.<br />In contrast, to finish a story takes stern will and dogged determination. It takes sacrifices of time, energy and soul.<br />I don’t like missing out on my nachos or leisure time. I look forward to patio time all day during the Texas spring, summer and fall. Winter evenings are best spent indoors, in front of the fireplace, with a nice big mug of hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps. Hmm. But, I digress.<br />When you want to watch a movie or just chill out on the patio with a glass of Texas Red and some nachos, you’ll have to force yourself to write a chapter first. Moreover, by the time you’ve written that chapter, it will probably be too late for the treats.<br />Finishing means that you care more about this story and these characters than you do your personal life. You will spend endless hours exploring plot arc possibilities. You’ll consider when and how to introduce new characters. Is this the right place to bring in a sidekick? Maybe I should do some foreshadowing earlier, let the reader get a taste of what’s to come. Does this paragraph push the story forward or is it just sparkling fluff?<br />‘Finishing’ is everything that happens after the euphoria of the opening moments of your piece ebbs. After the moment when you realize this story is going to be very, very hard to get right. Sigh. ‘Honey, could you make me another hot chocolate?’<br />Finishing means a daily grind of rewrite, rewrite and more rewrite. Then your paranoid Muse pipes up, whispering questions in your ear, fueling self-doubt. “Am I rewriting too much? Should I leave this passage alone? Did I give the hero a good enough reason to go on this quest? Will the reader understand what I mean here or is it too esoteric? Will I ever finish this chapter?” Shut up, you soulless, nagging harpy!<br />‘Finishing’ means more than anything else, not giving up. It’s not looking for an excuse to stop here and ‘put it aside for awhile’. It’s grabbing a bagel and a cup of coffee and sitting your butt back in the chair, instead of hitting the ‘close’ key for the night.<br />If you have more than a couple of ‘to be continued’ stories on your hard drive, you know how difficult it can be to finish. I have a few myself, and I’m working overtime to get them off the bit-box and into a publisher. They do no one any good sitting there rotting away, bit by bit.<br />‘Finishing’ is what makes you a writer, an honest to God ‘author’.<br /><br />Go finish that story.<br />Gary Alan Hensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09577930724039661640noreply@blogger.com0