May Day Monday

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Silver James

May the Fourth be with you!

Okay, so May Day was last week. And Star Wars Day was yesterday. It’s hard to be creative Monday after Monday. I mean, while boring–I’m pretty sure–I at least have a theme for the other days of the week. Monday is just out there–hanging around each week, expecting me to have done stuff and be in a position to cleverly report about that stuff. Oddly enough, looking at my stats, Monday is a big day for blog visits. I’m not quite sure why.

And now it’s time to make the donuts. Or make stuff up, as the case may be. We’ll start with weather. After massive splooshes and flooding in parts of the state, the weekend and today are all kinds of awesome spring weather. Perfect tiemps around 70. Low humidity. Light breeze. Tomorrow, the rain might come back but today is perfect. Also, my honeysuckle is blooming. It smells so sweet coming through the open window. I also saw a new bird in the feeder this weekend–a red-breasted grosbeak. And his mate. I tried to take a picture but my phone didn’t want to cooperate. I also had to refill the hummingbird feeder. Haven’t seen any, but something besides ants have been noshing there. Also, all the rain incentivized my peony to suddenly grow and it has a bud on it. Yay.

In writing news, I actually produced some new words–beyond the Thursday Threads challenge, which you’ll read Wednesday. Thursday Threads, not the other words. The good news is, I have the start for Ariel’s book. So…yay!

In reading news, I’m still in the Kristen Ashley crazy train and enjoying it. I haven’t listened to the books in her Dream Man series in almost 5 years. I’m currently on LAW MAN, which is #3. I didn’t put it together until this “session” that the Dream Man books are set concurrently with the Rock Chick books–or slightly after the RC books in the “universe” timeline. After LAW MAN comes MOTORCYCLE MAN and that is the lead-in for the Chaos MC series and yeah, I’ll probably dive into them next as it’s been awhile for them too.

There was soccer, softball, and 3 levels of baseball this past weekend. Soccer was win some, lose some, but Stormy played very well. My Cowgirls got hot and did a bunch of winning, including a series sweep against Utah to close out the regular season. They head into the Big 12 championships this next week. They will most likely make the NCAA tournament but if they take the Big 12 (currently 4 seed), they might get a Regional. Sadly, they likely won’t get a Super Regional but that’s okay. They do well on the road. Baseball Boy’s team got knocked out of regionals in the championship game. OSU Cowboys always had many wins over the weekend, and my Cardinals are having a rough year but they had some wins too.

That pretty much sums up my life last week and weekend. It was First Saturday but due to schedules, there was siren test (I didn’t accompany LG) but no family lunch (soccer game). I stayed home and actually got some editing done on a different project. I need to do more of that today. On that note, Pete wants out, I need more coffee, and it’s time to get really started on the day. Hope y’all have a great weekend!

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Friday Sinema: Shopping

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Silver James

I had to go to Wallyworld yesterday. Therefore, today’s “sinema” is most apropos! And yes, I ran into every blessed one of these types. I should write the producers and urge them to add the “Cute Dog” folks. Jake and I could be in and out in half the time. Be honest, do you resemble one of these types? Hope y’all have a great weekend!

Eight Types of People at the Grocery Store

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Thursday Thoughts: Keep Reading

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Silver James

My dad used to read to me. Then he taught me how to read. One of my favoirtes was “The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings.” The book was red leatherette with black lettering and an illustration of a rabbit with wings on the cover. I still have my copy. I read the story to Only and to Stormy. A love of reading is the greatest gift you can give or receive. The Universe agrees with me. Mostly.

Silver, would a loving parent ever give a child a story to read that didn’t have a wonderfully happy ending?

No. Never.

But they might add, “Whatever you do, don’t stop reading at the scary parts!”

My life-advice exactly,
The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. It’s the same for living a lifetime, Silver… not that there’s really an ending.

Not all books have happy endings. Some books just have the scary parts and end there. Yeah…nope. I think that’s why I’ve always been drawn to romance and the various subgenres of romance. I KNOW I’m going to have that HEA at the end of the book. And it’s boing to make me happy. Don’t get me wrong, I like the scary parts. And the angry parts. And the sad parts. But ONLY if the book ends on the HAPPY. And yes, I want my life to be the same. 

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Wednesday Words: Dirty Jobs

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Silver James

It’s time once again for Wednesday Words. I was the judge last week for Thursday Threads so no exciting news about how impressive my words were. That said, I did use the prompt and since I was under no word constraints, rather than the 250 required by the flash fiction challenge, I ripped out almost 400. Yay. The prompt was: *”There were always jobs to do.”*

Today’s snippet takes a little detour. Rather than visiting with Ariel, this scene is all about Sade and her marching orders. While the book might be about Ari and Aisling, the series is more or less about Sade so of course, she has to get involved at some point. The conterxt should mostly be obviousl

****
The intercom on Sade’s desk buzzed. She ignored it. Sixty seconds later it buzzed again. She waved her hand as if flicking at an irritating fly but her focus remained on the file she’d opened on her computer. The information there wasn’t making sense, despite the fact she’d read the damn thing three times. When the intercom sounded once more, she growled.

Third time being the charm, she had to answer it.

“What!”

“Don’t get snippy with me, missy.”

Sade closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, reaching for patience she’d never had. “I’m in the middle here, Alice. What’s up?”

“The director would like to see you.”

And she’d like to see her way through this mishmash of a case. As if reading her mind—and with Alice, one never knew, the Director’s admin spoke before Sade could muster an excuse.

“It is important, Agent Marquis.”

Well, crap. When Alice got formal, shit got real. “I’ll be right up.”

She took a moment to save the document on her monitor then headed up to the directors office. Alice met her at the door, a cup of steaming coffee in her hand. The small woman handed it to Sade.

“Here, dear. You’ll need this. Go right in. He’s expecting you.”

George Bailey leaned back in a desk chair built to handle his bulk. He’d been a hellava field agent once. Now the dark skin of his face sagged a bit, pointing an accusatory finger at the stress that came with his job.

Sade started to sit but stopped when he said, “Don’t bother. I want you on the next flight to Rochester.”

“What about—”

“Take those files with you. You can work on them in your spare time.”

Happy she hadn’t taken a sip of the coffee, she snorted. “What about your one case at a time rule?”

“There’s something going on up there. You need to find out what it is.”

“Can’t someone—”

“No. This needs your particular brand of…” He trailed off, searching for a word. He finally found it. “Finesse.” He waved his hand, dismissing her.

Alice handed her a thin file and a plane ticket. “Take your umbrella, dear,” the woman said. “It rains a lot in Rochester.”

Sade just nodded. No one ever argued with Alice Cooper. And, there were always jobs to do when you ran the FBI’s MAGIC Unit.
****

There it is. Yes, it’s rough and needs work but hey, it’s a new scene in the book. Writers, if the prompt moves you, move with it and build a scene. Readers, do you agree that there are always jobs to do? Just nod. I know y’all are busy. 😉

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Tuesday Tidbits: Random Edition

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Silver James

It’s Tuesday. How did that happen?

Don’t answer that, it’s a rhetorical questions.

While I’m out of my mind, I’ll mention that this is on the fly because the small part of my brain still functioning forgot that I hadn’t set up the blog and I was too close to bedtime to worry about figuring out a recipe, a book, and a pic to go with it, much less scrambling for links. Marketing. It is soooo not my forte.

We had storms last night. This is going to be one of those mornings when there’s not enough coffee in the world.

I need to go to Wallyworld. Tomorrow. I’ll go tomorrow.

Do you ever type a word, look at, decide it doesn’t look right so you look it up only to discover that it’s just fine? Yeah, me too.

Did I mention random?

Speaking of, I bawled yesterday at the end of the book I was listening to. The ending was like a shot to the heart and I sat there listening, tears flowing, nose blowing, and I wanted to punch myself. Not for crying but for not being able to write something that would make people cry. And laugh. And get mad. And all the emotions. In case you’re interested, I was listening to SMOOTH SAILING by Kristen Ashley. It’s part of her Wild West MC series but it technically was all about the Chaos MC, of which she wrote many books. I had the feeling the emotional part was coming so I wasn’t surprised but I was surprised at how hard it hit me. Or not. Given the past two weeks. Anyway. Maybe the release of those tears are just what the doc ordered. We’ll see.

What if slugs are just snails going through a divorce. “Yeah, she got the house…”

If you replace the “W” with “T” in Where, When, and What, you get the answers to those questions.

I’m pretty sure I mentioned random, didn’t I?

Okay, enough tomfoolery. Except. Have you ever wondered who Tom was and why he was fooling around?

This time I mean it. It’s way past time to get more coffee and…you know…actually do something constructive. What’s random in your life today?

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Mondaze

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Silver James

Where did last week and the weekend go? I mean, seriously.

I feel like I haven’t done anything. Except for being a lumpen. I’m good at being a lumpen.

In other news, my Cowgirls did pretty good but they are going to have to hustle to be in the Top 8 so they can get a Super Regional. I’d love to see them back at the Women’s College World Series. The Cowboys also mostly won, as did the Cardinals. No soccer. Called on account of weather.

Speaking of, we’ve had the weather. Several tornados in the state–not close to me. And rain. Lots and lots of rain. We needed it and need more. However, that led to flashflooding and sadly, to some deaths. Spring in Oklahoma.

I wrote a little. I edited a little. I mostly was a lumpen so there were books listened to. I’m currently on a Kristen Ashley kick. She’s not everyone’s cup of tea and her books are flavored with crazysauce gravy but in the right mood? Yeah, they can be catnip. Heck, one time in Denver for a writer’s conference, I ordered a Fat Tire beer because the brand plays a big part in her books. It was okay but I prefer my Harp.

Anyway, as mentioned–at least in my head–the hard part of April is done and I fully intend on climbing out of the hole this time of year always digs in my psyche. I feel lighter already. We’ll see what the week brings. What about y’all? What’s in your future?

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Friday Sinema: Then and Now

Posted on April 25, 2025 by Silver James

Okay. I’m older than these guys but I’ll admit to being a bit of a cougar back in the day. Watching this short made me nostalgic while also causing a bit of “Whoah!” I’ll admit I’m a Keifer gal. Do you have a fave? Have a great weekend!

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Thursday Thoughts: Universal Buttons

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Silver James

It’s Thursday. All day. Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing bad against Thursday other than it’s just…Thursday. No Monday angst, no Tuesday recover-from-Monday-angst, no Hump Day, no TGIF. It’s just plain ol’ Thursday. And that’s okay. Why? Because the Universe has thoughts. There are buttons. Some should be pushed, some should not.

Now, I have to admit that among inventions, the “Undo” button is right up there with the very greatest of all time, yet it’ll never compare to the “Do” button, from which worlds are born.

Silver, this is your chance!

Just do it,
The Universe
©www.tut.com 

P.S. Plus, Silver, while some things seem to be un-doable, you can ALWAYS start anew.

That Undo button comes in most handy during the writing process, and yeah, during editing. But to get to that point, we really need to hit that Do button. Which button will you push today? I definitely need to be pushing DO! With a side order of Do It Now!

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Wednesday Words: Finders Keepers

Posted on April 23, 2025 by Silver James

It’s Wednesday and I have new words. No win, place, or show in last week’s Thursday Threads but that’s okay because I’m happy with the words. The prompt for this week is: *“How did you ever find it?”* I can admit that the story is slowly starting to take shape and to make sense, which is a good thing. I’m sure there will be some surprises along the way. In the meantime, this isn’t exactly a “meet cute” but…well, you’ll get the idea when you read it.

****
She refused to cower, lifting her chin in defiance. She was tired of bullies.

The man’s gaze raked her, automatically dismissing her as no threat. Full of arrogance, he said, “How did you ever find it?”

Puzzled, she racked her memory but found no helpful frame of reference. “Find what?”

“Don’t pretend innocence.” The stranger seemed to swell in size, looming over her.

Aisling opened her mouth then closed it. She had no words. Her thoughts were too chaotic to make sense. Who was this man? How dare he try to intimidate her. Adrenaline surged inside her as her anger spiked.

“Back off.” Her voice cracked in the middle of that order so she cleared her throat. “Back off!” she repeated, forcefully this time.

He leered until another voice whispered in the darkness.

“You heard the lady.”

Aisling and the stranger both froze. She slowly turned her head. And blinked. The being standing not three feet away all but glowed. He was… She exhaled, knowing it was a sigh of pure feminine appreciation. Then she had a little trouble inhaling because he left her breathless.

“This is no business of yours, mealltóir.”

She got her first clear look at the stranger. He was shadowed darkness to the other’s radiant light. She repeated the odd word. “Malthor? What’s that?”

“His title. The King’s Seducer.” Then the shadow man disappeared. As did the other.

Aisling was alone.

The wind whispered, “Beware the deceiver.”

Totally freaked, she still didn’t know what it was.
****

There it is. Are you humming the “Theme to the Twilight Zone” yet? I was. The question becomes, which one is the deceiver? *bwahaha*

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Tuesday Treats & Titles: Irish Colcannon

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Silver James

Hello, Tuesday. Do you have a treat for us today? And maybe a title? Of course you do. The Boston Marathon was Sunday. None of the Wolves or their ladies participated. But I figured a trip to Boston would be in order for today. This is a traditional Irish side dish that is a great way to hide the green stuff we all need to be healthy but maybe don’t want to eat.

Total Time: 40 Min.
Prep Time: 20 Min.
Cook Time: 20 Min.

10 servings 1/2 cup each

What You Need
1-1/2 lb. baking potatoes (about 5), peeled, quartered
3 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup water
3/4 lb. cabbage, shredded (about 4 cups)
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup milk, warmed

Let’s Make It
1 – Cook potatoes in boiling water in large saucepan 20 min. or until tender.
2 – Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in large skillet on medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Add onions to reserved drippings; cook and stir 2 min. or until crisp-tender. Add water; stir to release browned bits from bottom of skillet. Add cabbage; mix well. Cover; cook 7 min. or until cabbage is tender and water is cooked off, stirring occasionally.
3 – Drain potatoes; return to pan. Add butter. Mash potatoes until creamy, gradually adding milk. Add cabbage mixture and bacon; mix well.

Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – How to Test Potatoes for Doneness: To test for potato doneness, insert a fork deep into the center of the potato. There should be no resistance if the potato is done.

Tip 2 – Nutrition Bonus: The potatoes and cabbage in this deliciously different side dish team up to provide a good source of vitamin C. And as a bonus, you’ll get 1/2 cup of the recommended 2-1/2 cups of vegetables per day in each satisfying serving.

It seems like every Irish family has their own version of this side dish, this one belongs to ER nurse Maggie O’Brien. It’s the recipe she learned to make growing up in her grandmother’s kitchen. It’s simple, tasty and it’s the dish she contributes whenever there’s a pot luck dinner on the block. Quinn Donahue, her mate, might even peel the potatoes but if you tell any of the other Wolves, he’s promised to hunt you down. We all know that the Wolves are basically carnivors. Give them meat and they’re happy. Give them potatoes? Hey, their Irish. 😉 They’ll eat cabbage with corned beef if you insist. But make up a batch of colcannon? They dig in like it’s their favorite. Which it might be. If you haven’t read MOONSTRUCK MAFIA: BOSTON, you really should. It’s a big book full of lots of different storylines. No cliffhangers. Just click on a pic with the cover or the title. You’ll pop over to Books2Read to the book’s landing page where you can find the link to the on-line book seller of your choice. Have you had colcannon? Would you try it? I mean… it DOES have bacon!

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