Tuesday Tidbits: A Little O’this, a Little O’that

Once again, I’m sans a recipe. I’ve got a few tucked back but I’m just not inspired. Which sucks, especially since it’s spilling over into my writing. As a friend often says, I really need to get over myself and just write the damn thing.

So, tidbits. Here are some things that pop into my head from time to time. Answers. In search of some.

Is a left-handed compliment a right-handed insult?

The news said that someone was stealing tires from police cars. I bet they are working tirelessly to catch him.

Don’t joke about wine running out. That’s Gallos humor.

What do you call a bird who drinks too much? An owlcoholic.

One more and then I’ll go away. Promise.

Why do dogs float in water? Because they are good buoys.

Thank you. Thank you. There’s a tip jar by the door. We’ll be here all week. Have a great Tuesday!

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Stop the Monday, I Want to Get Off

Well, allrighty then. The world decided to go crazy this weekend. Let’s hope the earth settles back on its axis and things calm down.

The first bit of crazy has been the weather. For the first time since 2019, the drought map in Oklahoma is white. Actually, it should be green because stuff is growin’! We’ve had sooo much rain. I’m not complaining because the alternative is all too frequent. I just wish the storm dragons would settle down. Apparently, this batch is descended from cats because they get the zoomies in the middle of the night. Kept me up most of Saturday night.

Speaking of Saturday, talk about the scary weird on one hand and the amazing on the other. Let’s start with the good. The military parade in DC was all kinds of awesome! I’m familiar with several of the specialty units and I was so proud to see them show out well. I have a new fave mascot–Doc Holliday, the blue heeler attached to the 1st Cavalry. Watching the aircraft, the mech units, the historic showing, and the occasional touch of humor, ie. the tank retriever towing a jeep…the bands. It all made me proud. And then to hear the arrangement of Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” at the end, with the fireworks? Oh yeah. I was cryin’ for sure. The parade and the wave of proud pattriotism was a balm to the truly bad stuff that went down.

I normally don’t get into politics but that’s getting harder to ignore. This whole “no kings” BS? Their rhetoric and violence is borderline criminal. Honestly, I think they’ve stepped over that legal line but I’m not the one in charge. The other thing is the horrible murders and attempted murders in Minnesota. What is wrong with people?!?!!! That whole deal doesn’t pass the sniff test and trust me, I am NOT a conspiracy nut. That deal? I’m starting to feel like Fox and Mulder. The truth is out there but will we ever see it? It’s far deeper than the “peaceful protests.” Anyway… Stay safe out there, y’all.

I listened to Jayne Castle’s PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES this past weekend. I’m currently listening to the new release in her Harmony/Guildboss series, IT TAKES A PSYCHIC. If you haven’t indulged, give the series a try. Yes, there are a STACK of books because the roots of the series go back to her Amanda Quick persona writing historicals. Then there are Jayne Ann Krentz books set in the present, both writing about the Arcane Society. Members of the Society head into space and help colonize Harmony. It’s a fun world.

I did write. Sort of. A little. I don’t know what this book is kicking my @$$ so hard. If another book was talking to me, I’d shelve Ariel and write something else but it’s like everyone has gone to the lake for the summer and didn’t invite me. Which is fine. I’m not fond of lake life so whatever. I swear it’s something in the air.

No soccer lately–just camps and practice. My Cards have been hot and cold. Ah well.

And on that note, I’m out of anything even remotely interesting to talk about. What about y’all? What’s up with y’all? Any thoughts or comments on the world? Read any good books? Movies? Inquiring minds want to know.

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Friday Sinema: Recruiting Film

Okay. Quantas Airlines used to have some great ads. Now the New Zealand National Police have released an ad of their own. Watch ALL the way through. Trust me, the outtakes are laugh out loud. By the way, since it’s Friday the 13th, it would be bad luck not to watch. 😉 Have a great weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Showing Up

Today’s message hits the nail on the head. I see questions from folks wanting to write a book all the time. “How do you get started?” “What do you do?” “What’s your actual process?” (That one is rather like a bowl of spaghetti. Or making sausage. And takes waaay too long to explain.) The answer I usually give comes from a meme of a dog sitting in front of a computer and it says: First rule of Write Club – Sit! Second Rule – Stay! And that’s basically what you do. Then this showed up in my inbox yesterday and yeah. The Universe has it right.

Visualize, show up, happy dance.

Silver, you can do this.

Dip,
The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. It’s all for you, Silver, and you live in a dream world.

Short. Sweet. To the point. Writers, we DO live in a dream world. See the story then ya just gotta show up. Feel free to happy dance along the way and celebrate big time when you finally type, “The End.” It’s kind of a no-brainer when you get right down to. And non-writers? This applies to any situation in life. Think about it…

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Wednesday Words: Ready, Set…

Another Wednesday, more new words. Yay. And another yay because I managed to snag an Honorable Mention in last week’s Thursday Threads. The prompt is: *”I’m here to get you read.”*

Ready for what, you ask. Ariel is asking the same question because he’s now been saddled with an…apprentice? A squire? Cannon fodder? I think Druic has appeared before but I don’t currently remember the context. Here he is again–for the first time in the book, much to Ariel’s frustration.

****
Ariel exited the bedroom of his hotel suite and stopped short at the sight of the man hovering near the outer door. He glowered and the other lowered his eyes but stood frozen, a rabbit cornered by a fox. Exasperated, Ari snarled. “What’s going on, Druic?”

With his gaze still glued to the tips of Ariel’s boots, the younger Fae answered. “I’m here to get you ready.”

“Ready? For what?”

The kid shrugged. “I’ve not a clue, sir. She said go so I went.”

“She?” The panicked look on Druic’s face told the tale. What in the two realms was Titania up to now? “Does he know you’re here?” The boy all but quaked in his boots as he shook his head.

Resisting the urge to slap his palm against his forehead in a gesture of futility, Ari thought for a moment. The queen sent her errand boy to him without Oberon’s knowledge. What game was she playing now? He needed more information.

“What did she say, Druic? Her exact words.” Shuffling his feet, his eyes darting in every direction, the boy mumbled something. “Speak up, lad. I’m not a royal. I won’t throw you in the dungeons for answering my question.”

His head dancing like a bobble-head toy, Druic stuttered an explanation. “She told me to be secret. That you would need me. That I was to get you ready.”

“For what?”

“The one who is coming.”

Ariel sighed, then quoted one of Sade’s favorite expletive. “We are so fucked.”
****

There you have it. Ariel has no clue why he’s where he is, or why Titania would send this untried kid to him. Fun times ahead. Writers, there’s your prompt for the week should you wish to use it. Readers, who’s the one? *bwahaha*

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Tuesday Tidbits: Rabbit Holes

Okay. So I found a recipe yesterday. I even copied it over. Thought about who might make it. And then I got an idea about Ariel’s book. So I started writing. And then I discovered info I thought I’d researched about Aisling’s coming and goings might be wrong so I fell down that hole, which is when I discovered that I had NOT SAVED all the previous research I’d done, including the info on the house Aisling (who was not Aisling at the time but whatever) lived in. Not the whole house. Multi-family. But it was an older house and I remember it being very cool. That meant I had to go looking for the blasted house. Realtor dot com is usually my friend. Nope. No help. Without remembering the name of the street, Google Street view wasn’t going to help either. Did I give up? Nope. I went exploring. Hence the trip down the rabbit hole.

The good news is I found an intersection that was perfect for being near her house. See, Aisling doesn’t drive. She rides the bus downtown to the library. Then rides it home. She also has needs–a coffee shop and a grocery store. And while the houses in the area were the right age, they weren’t…right.

So I fell down another rabbit hole. The good news is that Aisling now has a house/apartment. I have a link address and an actual address. Being a creative writer, I will simply pluck the right house and drop it in the right place. Literary license, don’cha know. 😉

Anyway, no pie today but Ari has made it to Rochester with not a clue as to why he’s there. He’s also soaking wet. Long story. *bwahaha* Here’s the house where Aisling’s apartment is located. What do you think?

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A Monday in June

Well, there was a weekend. Friday started off with storm dragons and interrupted sleep. The dang dragons got stirred up again on Saturday early morning. This included torrential rains, wind, and tornado sirens. We came through fine, just sleep deprived.

Saturday, I woke up to a very cool email from someone I admire. It’s a long story but this particular author and I have exchanged numbers and texted and are developing a friendship. You can’t ever have too many friends and when you have a bit of a fangirl crush to boot, it’s beyond cool.

Due to the weather, First Saturday and lunch was canceled. There was supposed to be more bad stuff moving in Sunday afternoon but it mostly all stayed north and south of us. That does not upset me. As I’m setting this up Sunday evening, I won’t report the actual final weather outcome until I reboot the computer because…lightning and stuff. Don’t need to fry it.

I did write this weekend. More than 250 words at a pop, even. I expanded and finished one chapter and wrote another. There’s been a twist. Thanks Titania, for the curve ball. Could you at least explain why? No, no. That would be too easy. 🙄

There really isn’t much else to relate. No reading. Which is a bummer. I have two different books open and all I’ve done is switch between them because neither is holding my attention. Which is sad because both are good books. I’m just in that weird headspace again. Oh! I was productive. I did laundry. Go me! I even put it up instead of leaving it folded in the basket for days. Don’t ask me why I do that. I have no clue. I mean, I fold and hand the clothes as they come out of the dryer. The hanging stuff makes it to the closet but the folded stuff just sits there in stacks, patiently waiting. It’s like I fold the last item, grab the hanging stuff to put up and then never go back to get the folded. What’s up with that?

On that note, I need to check my messages. I mean, I’d hate to miss Monday’s call and all. What did y’all do this weeken?

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Friday Sinema: Let’s Dance

Okay. I admit to falling a little bit deeper in fangirl love of Patrick Swayze while watching “Dirty Dancing.” It remains a favorite movie and one of my all-time favorite finales because…DANCING! Amazing dancing. Fun dancing. And Patrick Swayze. Jennifer Grey wasn’t bad either. 😉 Tomorrow is First Saturday so siren test and family lunch, weather permitting. No storm siren tests if there’s a chance of storms. D’uh. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the dance and let me know what your favorite movie finale and/or dance routine is!

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Thursday Thoughts: I’m Up

I’m still occasionally hacking up a lung, along with strings of sneezes, and piles of tissues but I actually got out yesterday–bird seed and a quick vet visit with Jake for a pedicure. Today, I’m headed to Wallyworld because…well…food. Amazing how the need for sustenance can be so motivational. 😉

Also, I wrote yesterday. Not a lot but some. It’s a touchy scene between Ariel and Oberon. It’s never wise to upset the Fae king. *bwahaha*

I really have no deep thoughts for today. It’s not that the Universe failed me, it’s that I’m currently mostly brain fogged. Between the meds and stuffy head, philosophy and deep thoughts are beyond me. Happy Thursday anyway.

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Wednesday Words: Name Game

Another Wedneday. More words. I am feeling somewhat better. I get some stuff done in the morning and then I poop out by afternoon and end up back in bed, usually napping. I am slowly weaning off the meds, which is good. It’s also good that this week’s words were written last week before the crud attacked and I went all foggy brained. Our Thursday Threads prompt is: *”A name popped into her head.*” What’s in a name you ask? Well, in Ariel’s world, a name holds power.

****
“You should be more careful.”

Aisling could only stare at the man who’d appeared from the shadows moments ago. The man who’d jerked her back from the curb as she was about to step off it in front of that speeding car.

“That car came out of nowhere.” She inhaled deeply to settle her nerves. “Thank you.”

“You need to be aware. There are those who would do you harm.”

Her laughter trilled in the dank air. “I am nobody. Who would care?”

“You’d be surprised.”

A name popped into her head. “Are you speaking of Obermmm…”

Ariel clapped his hand over her mouth so the word was muffled. “Do not speak that name aloud. Better yet, do not even think of him.”

“But—”

“Trust me on this. If you speak of him, he will appear.”

He’d cut her off again and Aisling’s temper rose. She added a scoffing tone to her voice when she said, “That is an old wive’s tale.”

“There is a reason those tales are passed down.”

She tilted her head, squinting at the handsome man. Her eyes teared and his image wavered. She’d swear she saw pointed ears for a moment. “Who are you really?”

“No one special.”

She scoffed again. “Oh, right. I’m not an idiot. Someone like you doesn’t show up in someone like me’s life.”

It was Ariel’s turn to scoff. “Are you truly this clueless? Do you not know what you are?”

“I’m a librarian.”

“And so much more, Aisling Goodnight.”
****

Have any of you watched the TNT show, “The Librarians?” We really enjoyed the original version with Noah Wylie (from ER). Then they did a V2 with Christian Kane (also a fave), among others. If you aren’t familiar, The Library is an autonomous entity charged with safeguarding magical artifacts. The Librarians are just folks who have to go out and secure these artifacts with much adventure involved. There’s now a V3 that just started. I’ve yet to see an episode though we’ve DVRd them and it’s on the list for this week. I admit, I stole the “I’m a librarian” line from the show. And to Aisling, she’s just a librarian. Boy is she going to be surprised. 🤣

So that’s my entry for this week. Writers, go forth and write. Readers, are names important to you? If so, in what way? (And yes, my brain is on cold meds so I do not claim to make sense with this.)

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