November is AWESOME!!!

 (Sorry for the blog changes/problems. Not sure what I did, but hopefully this theme will allow you to use the links properly.)

It's hard to believe, but November might actually be the best month of 2020!!!

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. ;-) 

I want that back. I love these guys and we need each other. 

I fully admit that at times I let my emotions get the better of my judgement. I truly regret hurting anyone's feelings.

I pledge to do my part to compromise and see the other side and to keep my mouth shut at the appropriate times... ;-)

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 ;-))

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.

The end of this world wide nightmare could be over SOON. 

DON'T let up now!

THANK YOU!

SMALL SOAPBOX ON:

See what mankind can do when the whole World puts it's energy behind a problem??

Let's NOT let this stop with Covid. 

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!!

And then the next. And then the next. Rinse and repeat.

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.

SMALL SOAPBOX OFF:

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Stay safe. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Be happy, my friends.

October 2020! Wow....

The weather for writing out on the patio has been wonderful lately!

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. 

It's pretty quiet and calming. Sometimes my snoring is the only sound you'll hear. ;-)

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.

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...

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.

Here's one of my favorite memes. So funny because it is so true!!

A little humor for my friends who truly do not understand what being a 'submariner' means... ;-)

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!!

Stay safe everyone and keep reading!!

September has started off much cooler!

 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! 

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! ;-)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. ;-)

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.

Have a great week and stay safe!