Monday, October 20, 2014

Hiatus

How are you blogster buds? We were packing fools this weekend and continue to be as the big day draws near. I'm afraid I'm going to have to shutdown shop for a few weeks. In addition to the move, I've been given a month for a rewrite and my muse is cowering under the covers. She and I are both plodders, so we may or may not get to the finish line in a timely manner. On the upside, Tall, Dark and Undead did win the ankh award.
I hope you have a pleasant and productive week, my friends. I'll be chatting with you again around the middle of November.

   

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Senseless and Sad

Hunters came into a cove community. My friend's pet ducks swam straight to the boat and the men shot and killed them. She'd raised them since they were babies. They'd never learned to fly. They were so tame, they'd go up to her back door and quack till she fed them. They pit stopped at the other homes on the cove regularly. I don't get it.I don't understand hunting anyway. The thrill of taking a life from an animal that's defenseless against a gun or bow. How is that sport? But to me, this is like going in someone's backyard and shooting their dog. It's senseless and sad.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Monday Mish Mash at Sandra's

Doing another Mish Mash. If anyone wants to grab the Mish Mash pic for their blog, help yourself.

I am so glad I am no longer dealing with that stomach bug. Knocked me on my butt.On the up side it certainly cut the grocery bill in half since neither the hh or I was inclined to buy much food. grin.

Lo these many seasons I've been getting the flu shot... I thought it was for stomach flu. I had no idea it was only for upper respiratory.  Yikes. Did you know that? 

This is for the 'I don't really care' appraisers out there. grin. Most of them are great. But there are a few.....
Two years ago we had to get an appraisal to refinance. After the appraisal and the refinance we redid floors, added a half bath, added a closet, new roof, new appliances in the kitchen, etc. So I wasn't concerned about this appraisal, figuring it should come back higher. Silly me. It came back fifteen thousand lower than the appraisal prior to remodeling and lower than the contracted selling price. Luckily, we've got a good agent. She went back to the lender and asked for a redo, pointing out what she felt was inconsistencies and low and behold, this time the appraisal came through at nine thousand higher. It was still lower than the appraisal prior to the remodel but higher than the selling price.  It's a head shaker.

We have emergency phone alerts where I work, used for fire alarms,  lock downs, weather etc. They happen to sound a lot like the amber alerts--which by the way are wonderful things. Anyway...my boss's cell had an amber alert bleep. I went racing for our office phone thinking we had an emergency message, before she pointed out it was her cell. At the same time the hh was teaching class when a student's cell bleeped the amber alert. The hh hustled the whole class outside thinking it was a fire alarm. grin.

The bro sent me this one.
Have a pleasant and productive Monday, blogster buds.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

New Book Cover

Lookee, lookee. Vampire Bay has a new cover. What do you think? Or do you like this one better?
Madelene Martin designed them. http://thebookcoverdesigner.com/designers/madelene-martin/
I think she did a wonderful job. The price was reasonable and she was a joy to work with. 

~*~
Sorry I've been AWOL on responses and visiting blogs. The grandson shared the flu with us.


Tuesday, October 7, 2014

One Average-Sized Heart

I ask myself how one average-sized heart had the capacity to care for so many.

The community college where I work lost an employee last week that left the whole campus reeling. Lamont Kinney didn't have a high-powered job that grossed him a large salary. He didn't have a lot of degrees attached to his name. What he did have was a huge heart, one that made him the most loved person on campus. Students, staff and faculty alike turned to Lamont for security, help and friendship. It was as if he derived his energy from taking care of others.

His passing made the front page of the local newspaper. The reporter, Amy Fuhrman, summed it up with her opening: 'The gates of Heaven are surely shining a little brighter, the angels’ welcome must be a little warmer and there are certainly no lost souls left to wander.' If there were, Lamont would find them and guide them home.

At least, one student credits his education to this dear man. When he came on campus for the first time, alone and unsure, with no one to help him, Lamont took him under his wing. The student said later, he would never have gotten his education if it weren't for Lamont. Another student said his dad passed when he was fifteen and Lamont became his father figure. And so it went.

The school president not only attended his funeral but spoke at it.

It both humbles and awes me that this man was capable of sharing himself with so many and doing it with a 'glad heart.' He gave a piece of himself to everyone he came in contact with. And he came in contact with many. Knowing Lamont was both a gift and a responsibility. A gift of friendship. A responsibility to pay it forward. His mantra: 'I'm here to make a difference.'

"Lamont, you succeeded beyond your wildest expectations. Till we meet again."
~*~
Campus Memorial Monday, Oct 6, 2014

Monday, October 6, 2014

Monday Mishmash

Thanks, Kelly, for sharing this picture
1.  Saw the babies this weekend and the little girl recognized me. Awesome:)

2.  Attended the funeral of a very dear man. More to follow.

3. I'm packing...slowly....very slowly.  I have to decide whether each and every object is trash or treasurer. 
Do I pack it, send it to goodwill or put it in the garbage? Decisions. Decisions.

4. Lyrical accepted Ghost For Sale.  YAY.

5.  I've changed some book covers. Blog reveal coming.

6. Love, Lattes and Mutants comes out February 23.

7. Love, Lattes and Danger is now in the hands of my editor.

8. And last but not least, my computer screen is dying.sigh.

What about you, blogster buds, how was your weekend?
~*~
For your viewing pleasure. FYI: Language in first few seconds.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

October 1

Can you believe its October? Better get going on your Christmas shopping because about the time you blink, it'll be here.