Category Archives: Uncategorized

Okay, I admit the holidays this year were a visit to Grinchville for me. I never quite got into the ‘spirit,’ whatever that might be, and for the most part I’ve stayed home and alone during what are supposed to be gathering together times.

Dang, that last sentence was looooong. Anyway, for the most part I really didn’t mind the isolation. I was working through personal issues (Tom was the Christmas person) as well as just getting by. And I saw no need to inflict my black mood on my friends.

Except.

I had a message from someone who is one of the most caring and wonderful people I have ever met. She is always doing something for someone else. She admitted she was avoiding her friends during this season since she could not afford to buy presents for all of them.

Really? And, WOW. Wait a minute, was that why I’ve been hiding out from humanity? Hmmmm. Was I worried about not being able to afford numerous great gifts, or was I no longer seeing the need to buy friendships that way?

But…no, I don’t really see it as buying friendships. I see it as finding the perfect gift at the perfect time. If not at the perfect time, then finding those gifts when we can, and sharing the find.

I have spent so many Christmases worrying about not doing enough, not giving enough. Worrying myself sick in advance and fretting that it wasn’t enough afterward.

However, I did find the PERFECT gift for someone, based on a casual conversation about a book he’d had as a child. And someone I don’t see near often enough any more walked up my driveway with a dragon journal and pen…because she knew I’d love it.

And I do. Love it. Love her. Love all my friends, wherever they are. Because it’s not about the gifts, it’s about the people.

Blessings of the season, everyone.

Winter Sunset, so soothing

It hasn’t been a wonderful year for many of my friends. They’ve lost family members, jobs, beloved pets, even their own lives. Any problems I might have are in comparison trivial. Still, they are problems. Like the toilet backing up, or needing to haul some water right after a surprise heavy snow. Or choosing what I thought would be the best route to pick up meat for the dogs, only to be the worst.

Trivial issues in the grand scheme but still personal issues. What is normally a pleasant two hour drive became three tense hours. The payoff was wonderful meat scraps for the dogs.

Solving the toilet meant several forays onto the Internet for non chemical solutions, to protect the septic system. The plungers I had weren’t working. Very hot water with dish soap didn’t do much but I had a really clean toilet. After several fruitless attempt I invested in one of those long snake things, and a different sort of plunger. Still no success. Reading the instructions on the snake made some difference. Actually, a lot of difference. I was about ready to head for the baking soda and vinegar, which I had not seen on my first searches when…yep, it drained.

Whoosh.

Then there was the water situation. I made the trek out for water later in the day, and the sun was past setting by the time I was home and parked. The valve was frozen…well, duh, temperatures had just that day climbed out of the twenties,and I was getting so cold. I lost the discussion with myself about letting it go until morning. Warm water over the valve didn’t do much. This situation called for TA DA, the hair dryer solution.

Except, I no longer have a hair dryer in the house since I so rarely use it. A quick search found the small one in the motor home (used to fluff up Saluki ears for a show…hey, I have my priorities!)

Standing holding a hair dryer on a frozen valve when the temperature is dropping isn’t on my list of top twenty fun things to do. Finally, the problem solving part of my brain kicked into gear. A quick search around the garage netted a nice heavy wire basket and a cloth cover. No doubt a slight longer search might bring up dinosaur bones and flinty arrow heads. That garage needs a bit of cleaning out.

Voila, a valve thawing contraption came into being and I soon had a tank of washing water, enough at least to last a week.

Small problems, none of them earth shattering, but solving them myself always brings such a feeling of accomplishment.

Have I been writing in between these minor obstacles/ Why yes I have been. I’m having so much fun learning why Sydney’s sister Lana took Mosby off Stormhaven, all of which led to Sydney meeting Devin and…well, you know, http://www.amazon.com/Question-Honor-Stormhaven-Story-Stories-ebook/dp/B00WHHG8WS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450724751&sr=8-1&keywords=mona+karel A Question of Honor.

Hello, yeah it’s been a while. Not much, how bout you?

Remember that song? It was ‘our’ song, playing when Tom asked me to stay with him for what would be the rest of his life. It’s also one of the most popular mondegrens…misunderstood song lyrics.

I’ve composed a plethora of blogs posts, starting back with Columbus Day and on up until now. Not always the most upbeats posts, but how could you know since they stayed in my head, not on the page. I had a talk with myself about that, and told myself I was gearing up for NaNo. I had a super fun dog event on NOV 1 then I’d be all NaNo all the time. This was going to be such a fantastic book, a sequel to my favorite book, another in the Stormhaven Love Story series. I’ve been working on copious character studies, plot turns, reasons why.

I sit down at the computer. I stand up at the computer. And I get

I did manage to open and name the file: A Question of Trust. And there it sat. Mocking me.

I know the story. Honest, I do. It’s about Ty Randolph’s ex-wife, Lana, who took his horse and truck when she left him. He sure missed that horse! A Question of Honor starts with Sydney Castleton, Lana’s sister, picking up Devin Starke at the Long Beach airport since Devin is going to help her move the horse back to Stormhaven.

The next book, which I sent to Black Opal Books just in time to start this one, is A Question of Faith. I’ll be sharing more about that story soon…honest!

Fortunately the mocking ceased after a couple of days, while I drove around wondering how I was going to redeem Lana, who so far was kind of one dimensional. Why did she leave Ty? Even more important WHY did she marry him. I’d like to say the answers came in a rush of inspiration but I can’t lie that much even if I am a writer. It’s been a slow trip on a bumpy road but we’re getting there.

And it’s not just me, I’d like to say. A fellow Blog Challenge author is giving us the same lament! I’m Pouring My Art Out very funny guy with a really funny blog.

And it’s raining here….guess I won’t be going out with the dogs. Guess I’ll be staying home, swilling coffee, and writing.

Have a great Sunday, and remember beauty is everywhere, we just have to open our eyes and see it.

Today, I’m hosting Tina Gayle. She is very excited about the last book in her Executive Wives’ Club series. To get readers interested in the series, she is offer the first book “Marketing Exec’s Widow” #free from Oct. 3 – 7. CEO’s Widow comes out Oct. 8, but can be picked up now on pre-order.

Executives’ Wives’ Club series

Genre: Contemporary Romance with strong women fiction elements
Four women…
One fatal car wreck…
Everyone’s lives changed…
Marketing Exec’s Widow

Jennifer Larson, having lost her husband, friends and the perfect life she’d had plan, now faces the biggest challenge of her life, moving into an unplanned future. While the rest of the Executive Wife Club is still wallowing in the past, Jen is tempted into the future by a sexy chiropractor, Hagan Chaney.

But does he really love her or is he only after her money?

CEO’s Widow
Facing the possibility of having breast cancer, Marianne must decide if she wants to give love another chance and build a future with whatever time she may have left.
Blurb:
After surviving the grief from her husband’s death, Marianne Clark has built a new life with the help of the other Executive Wives. She plans to enjoy grandchildren and friends until her doctor tells her he found a lump in her breast. Her world turned upside down. She re-evaluates her priorities and decides she grab hold of life with both hands.
Knox Turner lost is first wife to cancer. He’s determined not to let Marianne face this challenge alone.
Can this couple face the trials ahead and build a future together?

Excerpt
Incapable of resisting, Marianne set a hand on his chest and absorbed the pleasure of being in this man’s arms again. Too bad the bliss couldn’t last longer. He needed to get back to work. She had errands to run. “Knox, you’re making it harder and harder to resist you.”
“Then don’t. We’ve both had more than enough time to know what we want. Jack and Betty both died almost two years ago. We needed to move on.” He caressed a hand along her back, easing her body even closer to the hard line of his.
Marianne smiled. She’d known him for years as her husband’s boss and respected for all he’d accomplished in the business world. Her hang-up over their age difference grew less and less important as more time passed. “Shouldn’t we at least date a few other people first? Test the water. Make sure we’re not making a mistake by latching onto the first person we’re attracted to.”
“Good, so you admit you find me attractive?” He lowered his head and nuzzled the side of her neck, playfully nipping at her ear.
She sighed. His tantalizing touch and the deep rumble of his voice tempted her into sliding her hand along the back of his neck. Her fingers slid through his silky hair, and she marveled at sensual thrill of being so close to him. For months now, she’d convinced herself her life was full enough with just her kids and grandkids.
Could she be wrong?

AMAZON Buy Link

Newsletter:
If you would like to sign up to be an exclusive member of Tina’s List simple visit:
http://www.tinagayle.net/newsletter.html
You’ll receive a free short story – “My Future StepBrother.” This story leads you right into the story of the CEO’s Widow.

URL to cover: http://www.tinagayle.net//BannerforTinaFreeBook.jpg

Author Bio:
Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books.

After years of working in the business world doing a variety of jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing and hope to incorporate the joy of being a mother into her books.

Currently working on a series about four executive wives, she is excited about combining elements of women fiction with the passion of romance. The first three books have been released and the last one is coming out in 2015.

Married twenty-five years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf. She can’t wait for Mike to retire so they can do more of both.
Read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website.

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home – http://www.tinagayle.net
Blog – http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com
Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Goodread – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Tina-Gayle/214633841921560?ref=hl
Google + – https://plus.google.com
Linkedin – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Tina-Gayle/e/B002BM9GR8

I did not grow up on Leonard Cohen. I mention this since he is apparently 81 today, and many people have indulged themselves in his music for decades. The first time I heard a Cohen song was on West Wing, when Mark Harmon’s Secret Service character is stupidly killed in a convenience story robbery. An incredible song comes up in the background and I’m hooked. What IS that song?

I heard it again during the Canadian Olympics.What WAS that song?

Oh. Hallelujah. And I started listening to that song song by so many artists, in so many iterations. Including by Mr. Cohen himself. And still, I had more to discover. This man is a Romantic in every sense. Forget hard muscled cover models. Just turn down the lights, grab your beverage of choice, and listen to this.

Oh. Oh, my, yes. I’m not quite sure why exactly the horses are there but they work for me.

I had no idea Leonard Cohen was involved with The Scent of a Woman…hey, I was wrapped up in dogs and horses and just plain life. Because of that, look at how much fun I’m having in discovery. This time I watched instead of just listened. Because Al Pacino brought mastery to every detail of his dance. You have no doubt this man is blind as he draws you into the dance. His hand on her back is formally sideways, until the touch becomes more intimate, palm flat on her back. Performing an intimate dance in a public setting.

And just to round out a romantic evening

Hallelujah

If you hang around, you’ll get the Shrek version!

OH NO I’m in an airplane

This last weekend was spent traveling without dogs, to a meeting in New Jersey. Which means, yes, flying. There are very few direct flights from Albuquerque, so I also got to visit a multitude of airports and eat in new restaurants. Expensive, but I have to say airport food has improved immensely in many locations. Too bad I never change planes in Albuquerque since there are some yummy places to eat.

I was on my last leg, Denver to home, after a somewhat rough flight out of Newark. Not a long walk to my gate, although airports do have great opportunities to pile on those steps. What else are we going to do while waiting to line up to board? BTW, it’s 100 steps around the terminal circles in Newark; If you use the outer edge of the circle it’s more like 125.

My thoughts were mainly focused on being home with my ‘lukis when I realized this particular wing of the Denver airport faced west, and the sun was setting.

I backed up to get just the right light and grumbled at myself for not bringing my camera. Because it just got prettier.

Excited by this generous display of nature’s majesty, I showed the picture to the person sitting at the podium.

“That’s pretty,” she said while checking herself in her compact mirror. “Where is it?”

Ummm, well…out THERE???

Beauty is all around us, we just need to open our eyes and our hearts.

Because it’s just so danged beautiful

And this one

Because I’ve been thinking of times past, opportunities missed, and opportunities won. Enjoy