Recumbent Bike - Yes, Please.

     I don't know about you, but I have been somewhat reluctant to go to the doctor and tell them everything about myself, only to have them pass me off to a P.A. I pay, or the insurance company pays, for a doctor. The code they use to charge my insurance is for a licensed physician, so I get a little peeved when I'm told my need or condition can be dealt with by the P.A. OK, fine - but don't charge me the same rate, and don't write on my permanent record that I was seen by a doctor! It's fraud. 

    Again, I don't know how you handle it, but I get a little vocal about it, and I also get vocal if I set an appointment for 9:15 a.m. and I'm not seen until 9:45 or later, and then, only by a P.A. It makes me wonder why I'm not being seen -- is the P.A. too busy? Maybe the doctor could step in to help? Maybe medical offices can stop overbooking. Wouldn't that be a hoot? I complain, but since my complaints hit the wall and never go anywhere, nothing ever happens, until now.

    I have AI mode on my computer, just like anyone else does, right? So, after deciding for myself that I shouldn't have to wait an hour, I shouldn't have to be shamed when I step on a scale - I decided to talk to ChatGPT.  It's a good decision.  I shouldn't have to wait to be seen. I shouldn't be talked down to if I am truly being honest with someone about what I feel is the problem that I'm experiencing. My computer doesn't do those things. I get right in without making an appointment, without waiting in a room with The View blasting all around me. I don't have to go up to a window and ask when I'll be seen. I don't have to drive!

    I have learned that using the best prompts is the best way to communicate with ChatGPT. What you do is simple; you type out the following: "You're a professional physician whose focus is on women's health for women over 60." You tell the AI what point of view it has, so it will search the correct fundamental and practical sources. You tell it exactly what you want. I wanted to find out why my belly fat wasn't coming off if I'm doing everything I'm supposed to, and it told me the truth.

    When the "doctor" asked me about my exercise program, I was honest. I told the AI that I'm only able to walk about one mile a day now, because my hips hurt if I go any longer. It's only been happening for the last 36 months, but it's real. It's a real problem, and I felt that without cardio, I couldn't lose the weight. I was honest about my calorie intake, when I eat, what I eat, and about my sleep habits. It asked me about my intake of drugs, Rx, alcohol, smoking, vaping, and even my coffee intake. 

    Then the thing told me how proud it was of my non-use of anything remotely resembling alcohol, drugs, weed, vape, etc, and congratulated me on giving up coffee 8 months ago. It felt great to see the words and to read just how much the thing was listening to me. I'm not asking it to heal me from cancer or to write me a prescription for pain. I'm seeking medical advice about a stubborn gut that simply will not go away. I wasn't the least bit surprised to see that my main issues are hormonal and that pushing through the pain to try and get another mile on the treadmill was actually causing me to stay fat! That surprised me.

    Apparently, when you get old, your insides change, and part of that change is the level of cortisol, estrogen, and other hormones that, after menopause, can really mess a woman up. I gained weight, most of it in the middle. Most of us look like I do, and it really bothered me. I didn't want that for myself. But if I can't exercise and make it go away, what can I do? It's a very good question. One that can be answered by AI, and it was.

    I can't walk - but I can ride. I can do a recumbent bike, and I can lift weights when I do, dumbbells. I can sit back, resist, pedal, pull up a resistance strap on either side of me, or I can lift dumbbells while I pedal. I only need to do it 2x a day for 10-15 minutes, and after taking in all of the information I gave it, the thing encouraged me to cut back my calories as well. OK, I can do that. I know I've been loose with the snacks, and when I'm honest with myself, as I was today, I know I don't need it. I just do it - which has to stop.

    I decided to not play the cheap card with my health. I saved about $200 today by not going to the doctor. I weighed myself, and I was honest. I have a scale that tells me what my BMI is and a few other things, so I told the "doctor" the truth. I took my blood pressure and used the heart monitor on my watch to give ChatGPT the same numbers my P.A. would have written down in my file if he or she had wrapped the cuff around my arm. Why pay them? Why wait? Why be embarrassed? Why be put off? Why drive? No, thank you.

    I bought a middle-of-the-road bike around $400 that had over 8.3K five-star ratings on Amazon. It will arrive Saturday, and I'll have my live-in handy-woman put it together for me. I knew I gave birth for a reason! She's the best! I wouldn't trade her for another! She's a keeper. I think she's excited about the recumbent bike, too. It's better than the treadmill for a few reasons. One, it won't hurt my hips! Although it's a Nordictrac with a great wide belt, it just hurts. She uses it, but I can't. I'm really hoping this will be the beginning of a good thing - better habits make better living. I believe that.

    I'll keep you posted on the overall - it will be 60 days before I do a full comparison. I don't want to try to push it. I want to give the entire thing a full 60 days, so on July 26th or so, I'll write about the changes, challenges, and accomplishments of having lessened my calorie intake, and my decision to do at least 30 minutes a day on the bike with dumbbells. Goal? I'll say 30 pounds, but it's more about size, feeling healthy, and getting hormones back in balance. If I need to get on an Rx for that, I'll do it. I just hope I don't need to.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Amazon and My Silliness.

         From time to time, which ends up being nearly every day, I go online to Amazon, and I buy things. I don't always need those things, and believe me when I say I could just as easily get in my car and drive to Walmart or Dollar General to pick up 90% of whatever I'm ordering, but I've done the math. I've done the math on my end; that's not necessarily the same as calculating the manpower, employee time, driving costs, maintenance for those big trucks, or anything else involved in delivering the things I order to me.  It is not the same thing. If Amazon did its math, they'd stop delivering to me so often.

    You talk about a spoiled American, I'm over here working, just thinking about work when Laura will shout out from another room in the house, or text me from the barn to mention that she needs this or that for whatever reason. OK, that's my cue. From that point, I jump online and order whatever it is she needs. I try to get her to tell me if there's anything else she needs, but most of the time she's just thinking of that one item.

    Because I'm a nice person, and I like to be as fair and even-keeled as possible about commerce, I go ahead and check the items that we often buy to see if I could use another one. That way, the Amazon driver isn't just bringing me one thing. Well, that could be equally bad, in that to help out Amazon's math, I could end up buying things I don't need. Then, when they have sales or go on clearance, and I see it -- that's another story altogether. That happened yesterday with toilet paper. Yes, I bought so much of it you'd think it was 2020 again.

    It really wasn't my fault, and I won't accept all the blame. Laura said she needed paper towels. Why? I thought we had a plan as far as that goes. I always put an extra roll in the hidey-hole spot so that when she thinks she's out, I'll have a backup, and we can order more later without being in a pickle. That works until she finds the hidden roll and forgets to tell me she used the last one. No worries. I'll order more. 

    I got online, I ordered paper towels - the same ones I always buy, but that's when I saw an ad from Amazon showing me that I could get 18 rolls for the price of 12, and yes, why would I not do that? I ordered toilet paper too, because I decided that if I'm just ordering paper towels, I may as well also order more toilet paper - we don't want to use other clothes for those purposes, like we can for paper towels. I went to the toilet paper section on Amazon and ordered two of the bundles I usually buy—there you go—done. Until it arrived.

    When all of my paper products arrived, I had 30 rolls of toilet paper. Yes, I did. How in the heck did that happen? Well, it's simple -- the 18 rolls I thought were paper towels were actually not. They were toilet paper, and then I ordered 12 more. So yeah, we have a really big stock now of what used to be considered fluff-gold, but now I need paper towels. I've literally put 9 tea-towels, kitchen towels, and wash clothes into the washer while waiting - I had no idea how many trees I've been killing, but apparently it's a few.

    I don't mind admitting my human flaws - I am a tree killer. I am also a fund-giving patron for the growth of more trees. I give annually to that sort of thing because of how many I end up using - it's a guilt thing, and I'm not even a Catholic. To be honest with you,  I blame myself for not paying attention to what I was ordering. I was working, my mind was more on that than on what I was ordering - but in the end, we can use the 30 rolls of toilet paper, and going back to the 1960s, using my kitchen towels to dry my hands, clean spills, and whatnot wasn't so bad. I don't want to make it a habit, but it wasn't bad. 

    If I had to guess, I'd say Amazon probably has the whole thing worked out. I can't assume they're in it to lose money, so they probably are quite prepared for people like me, and they factor my once-a-day delivery for things I could pick up if I took the time, in with the days I order massive amounts of things that I either need or think I do. Just this past week, I ordered four outdoor chairs, a wheeled garden wagon, potting soil, plants, planting things, chicken feed, a chicken coop, and yes, dog food because I was already spending too much, why not throw in a 40-pound bag of dog food if they're going to drop off everything else -- saves me a 5-minute trip to Tractor Supply.  Some days, math is better than others.

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

SHIELDED (The Book)

    If you know me, you'll figure out that while I'm writing one book, I usually get ideas for at least one other, and sometimes two or three. I still have a romantic drama in my head that must come out, but it's not at the forefront of my mind, so I really can't do much about it. I have to write what's pressing, and whatever I'm being led to write - it's just the way it is.

    So, I'm in the middle of writing my 22nd book, another Nick Posh thriller titled "The Mother Road", which will be out in mid-June, and all of a sudden, and for very little reason other than I've been watching a lot of cop shows, I decided to write a cop book rather than a romance. When I saw rather than, I mean that usually if I am not writing books with Nick Posh as the central character, a detective from the 1930s, I'm writing a romance book. Not this time. This time, it's another cop or detective story, but he's a little different from Nick.

    To begin with, Axton Cordell isn't married, doesn't want to be married, and will never marry again. He's a widower, and he's not capable of loving or trusting anyone the way he did Karita. Axton is dedicated to the job, to finding and fighting justice. He lacks the ability to put himself first; he's always been that way.  The book is set in the modern day, the current time, in fact. It takes place in Baltimore, a busy, messy city with a rich history and a penchant for hardworking souls who have seen life's grit but haven't been broken by it.

    The new book is a crime book, not a mystery. I don't like mysteries. They tend to have pat answers that come out of nowhere and save the day - a thriller is the way to go for me. This one is not necessarily a nail-biter, but it is interesting, full of facts, and it explores different sides to the city of Baltimore, its people, history, and traditions. It takes you on a journey worth going on; one you'll feel a part of. In the end, you'll have to decide for yourself if the story is over or just beginning.

    Without giving too much away, I will tell you that I'll use a whole lot of cop-show knowledge with this one. There will be terms you'll recognize from just about every popular crime show ever produced. You'll be in the crime lab, in the police precinct, as well as in the courtroom. You'll see the seedy side of a good man's life and the good side of a bad man's life. You'll understand that the lines get blurred when it comes to law, justice, and how we think things should turn out.

    I won't tell you more. I won't tell you why I titled it the way I did, but there is a reason. I hope you like the book. I don't know if there will be a sequel. I haven't decided. If it happens, it happens; if it doesn't, it won't. Either way, Shielded will be a good project for me this summer, and should be out before Labor Day.

Photo Credit: Me.

People Suck. (That is all)

     I didn't think I would spend an hour of my life this afternoon on hold and then talking with the fraud specialists at both my bank and the credit card company, but there I was!  A little after 5:20 p.m. I got an alert on my phone that I had purchased a car seat - I had not purchased a car seat. Then, about a minute later, I was being asked by the VISA verification site if I had purchased a vacuum cleaner - I had not. A minute later, I got another ding - again, asking me if I had purchased dishes at William Sonoma. Nope! This is just crazy. I am so sick, and so tired of would-be thieves.

    The thing is, most of us now have protection services on our credit cards. Our bank covers us on the debit cards, and we're going to find out whether someone has hacked it, tried to use it, or stolen it and then tried to use it. In my case, I have no idea how they got the numbers, but they did. The charges were from all over the United States. I even have 3 addresses to give to the fraud people so they can possibly connect the recipients of the would-be purchases to a fraud ring. Who knows? At least I have something I can give the people investigating the cases.

    The reason I got the credit card and kept the charge limit as low as I did was to protect me from this sort of activity. I use the card nearly exclusively for Amazon purchases, but I have been known to buy food at a fast-food restaurant, too. I pay the card down if it goes above 33% of my overall limit. It's a credit builder. I don't buy much. I just use it, pay it off, and use it again and again, pay it off. I put two or three purchases on it, pay it down, and repeat. You can see the very, very similar pattern when my statement comes in, so anything grossly deviating from it is noticeable.

    Is it a hassle? Yes, it is. I have to cancel the card, have a new one sent to me, and I can't buy anything from Amazon for a week - oh no! I'll survive. Besides, if I simply had to buy something, I have a bank card.  I'm just pissed that I have to go through the trouble of placing the call, waiting on hold, going through the steps to cancel the card, and putting up with all the nonsense that shouldn't happen in the first place. People suck, it's as simple as that. I wake up and get ready for work. I think about paying my bills, feeding myself, and my kid. I don't think about how I can scam someone today! (or any day)

    Here's the truth - and it burns. I know that when I die, my soul is going straight to Heaven. I won't be let in because I'm such a good person, or because I didn't scam anyone. I'm going through those gates because of the sacrifice made on my behalf by the Living Son of the Living God. He made it possible me, and what would not be possible would be for me to be a scamming sick son of a bitch who tried to hurt people, steal, and harm others because just after Jesus assended into Heaven the Holy Spirit came to live wihtin the bodies and hearts of all Believers - He won't let us do things (not easily) that can hurt and dishonor His name. 

    I may not be clever enough to steal from someone, but I doubt that the guy or gal who did steal from me today, or tried to steal from me today, won't wake up in Glory if God decides they've lived their last second -- and that's really very sad. I hope they find Jesus before it's too late. I really do. They can find cash, money, crypto, things, stuff—whatever they think will fill the void—but they won't know peace until they find true redemption. They need Jesus! 

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

The Mother Road (Route 66) Is Half Written!

     The book "The Mother Road" is halfway done! Halfway!! Woo Hoo! I'm at 40,000 words right now, and it will be around 83,000 when all is said and done, but I will only have about 75,000 when I start to fluff and stuff it. So, I can say that it is halfway written and feel pretty good about having said it.  I'm about to start Chapter 20, and I have noticed that my average chapter isn't as long as it was in other books, but that's OK too; there really isn't a rule about that sort of thing. You write until you're done—that's my rule.

    So, the book is shaping up, and I now have enough to go back and reference something that took place earlier. I'm going to go back in at the end and add this or that to this or that chapter and make it fuller. I have the words my friends have given me to put into the book. I have notes to add, both simple and complex. I write out notes before and during the writing, and then, at the end, I go back in and insert those ideas. It does mean rewriting from time to time, but I'm OK with that.

    Right now, one of the characters is dead, but the other characters don't know. What I think is fun to do is have conversations in my head about it, because I know who knows and who doesn't, and they never ask who I am -- which is odd, but it's true. Not once has Nick Posh ever stopped me and said, "Hey, who are you and why are you in my story right now?" I think they know my role.  I think they sneak little tidbits of ideas and suggestions into my thinking when I'm not actually thinking. That's probably how I get the better ideas to begin with.

        I'm not telling Nick or Ralph this, but I didn't write much in this book about their wives or kids because the books aren't about them. The books are about Nick and his experiences. Ralph is part of those experiences, but the books are, in fact, Nick Posh thrillers, not Ralph Ferguson thrillers.  Nick is married to Elaine; they have a 12-year-old son away at Boarding School in London, and newborn twin sons. He's got a full house, but I can't waste time dealing with their needs when the great detective has work to do.

        Likewise, Ralph is married, and he and Stella have a little daughter named Gracie, who is about 2 now. They have to do their thing without much interaction from Ralph, because he's out on the road chasing bad guys with his good friend and military brother, Nick Posh. I did do a good thing early in the book. I sent Eoghan MacRae back to Scotland, where he'll live out the rest of his fictional life helping his fictional friend Chief Montgomery. I'm sure they'll end up in another novel devoted strictly to them - maybe, I don't know. What I do know is that I am halfway finished with my 9th Nick Posh thriller -"The Mother Road".

        I have decided to dedicate the book to Route 66 itself. I know that's a bit odd, but Route 66 turns 100 this year, and it is what it is - a living, breathing, historic road willing and mostly able to take you from the west coast, beginning at Santa Monica Pier, all the way to the great Navy Pier off Lake Michigan in Chicago. It may or may not actually go out to the shore, but it is a wonderful road that can take you on a marvelous and very nostalgic trip of your lifetime. Yes, there are things to see along the way that have, over time, diminished, but the route is still iconic, and you really should, if you can, get your kicks on Route 66.  I double-dog dare you!

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com  Most of my books can be found on Amazon. Print and Kindle. 

Decisions. Decisions.

     Decisions can be a funny thing. They often depend on so many factors, and my decision not to get Adirondack chairs is a good example. I say that, but then I realize it was based solely on one factor: I can't easily get out of the Adirondack chair, so I've decided not to get them for the back porch area. There you have it, I've reached the age where an Adirondack chair is not the best choice - damn. Who knew it would ever come to this?

    We moved to this house in November, and last year, last summer, and most of the summer before that, I lived in a house with a backyard, but not like this one. The one I had before was just that: a backyard. This house has 14 acres of land surrounding it, and it has something the other house doesn't have—peace! The house I lived in before, and chose not to get any outdoor chairs to sit in, had noisy neighbors and random crack heads walking around it. Believe me, we didn't hang out in the yard much - and we certainly didn't have any firepits to draw attention to the fact that we had a fire pit.

    Leaving that part of our lives behind feels so good. It has literally been six months since I've even driven to that part of the world - it's a good 27 miles away, and I feel no need to make it a part of my life anymore. My best friend still lives there, but she comes out to visit me, so there you have it. I'm not going to head back if I don't have to, and that's a decision that didn't need too much time to make. It is, however, a decision based on a number of negative factors; factors I knew existed but was not at liberty to do much about.

    When I say I thank God every day for my job, I really mean it. It has been so very wonderful to earn enough to get out from under the burdens, the circumstances, and the forces that we were surrounded by. Now, today, we're surrounded by quiet, peacefulness that just goes on and on. Our nearest neighbors are farther away than most, and they never (or rarely) leave their homes or hang outside, let alone make any noise. They don't. I can hang out in my backyard and whip up a nice little fire in the new firepit, while not sitting in Adirondack chairs, and really enjoy myself. 

    Laura has decided to raise chickens and vegetables, so she's having a great time doing it, while I'm just listening to cicadas, birds, the occasional car passing by, and the dogs barking at leaves that decide to blow across the front lawn. Dogs are dogs, you know, and we no longer have to keep shock collars on them, bring them into the house when they begin to bark, or try to stop them from barking. Nine times out of ten, when we lived at the other house, the neighbors were the ones causing the dogs to bark and calling the police to say our dogs were barking. Geez!

    Now...well, they're dogs. We have four of them, and they are all perfectly content to stand outside, inside, wherever, and just bark their fool heads off. One of them is a Dachshund, so it is what it is. The others are just normal, average, basic dogs, and they will bark because dogs like doing the dog thing. Again, I thank God every single day - five or six times a day, and He smiles.  He's smiling, we're smiling, the dogs are smiling, and if our old neighbors are also smiling, I would have no idea. Furthermore, I really don't care.

    I'm taking off tomorrow, it's a Monday. I'm taking off so I can write a little bit in my book. I'll end up writing today, too, but I haven't been writing as much as I thought I would, so I took a break to get back into it. I'm off next Monday because it's a holiday, but maybe it can be a thing. Then, I'm taking off the 29th as well, for a fun and fabulous time of a floating holiday. I'm using it for cultural purposes because again, my company allows for such wonders. I am so grateful. I'll end up writing that day as well -- so, it looks like decisions are being made both left and right! 

    Enjoy your time wherever you are, and if you dream of getting out from under something - keep the dream. We knew, and we prayed, but it took a long time. It really did. I only earned enough to make it, and now I'm doing a bit better. I've learned to save, to buy better, to work better, to use more of what I already have, and to buy less of what I don't need. It's all worked its way up and down the ladder of decision-making, and I can honestly say, I'm both content and happy. I love my life.

    

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

The Dachshund in a Nutshell.

    The Dachshund is a majestic sausage on four legs that refuses to acknowledge its own ridiculous proportions - it doesn't realize it's a smaller dog. No one was ever brave enough to tell them so.  Originally engineered (not just bred)  by German breeders to flush badgers out of tight underground burrows, these dogs were designed with long bodies and short legs for maximum excavation efficiency. What that means is that you, the new Dachshund owner, or someone who loves their look and was hoping to buy one, will no longer have a pristine yard if you get one. 

    Essentially, they are furry, sentient torpedoes designed for subterranean combat. Their ancestral makeup, their blueprint, means your living room sofa cushion is treated like a tactical military operation, and your laundry pile is just another tunnel waiting to be cleared of imaginary forest monsters. Those chew toys for aggressive chewers can help - but in the mind of the Dachshund, what is his is his, what is yours is his, and everything you thought may be off limits is also his. (or hers if your dog is a girl) 

    Despite weighing a little more than a standard bag of flour, a Dachshund possesses the acoustic volume of a jet engine; have you really ever heard one? They bark excessively because their original job required them to alert hunters from deep inside dark earth holes. The dog would go into the hole, lose himself looking for a badger, and sometimes he'd get stuck - the owners had to find them somehow. To achieve this, God blessed them with a barrel-shaped chest that acts as a massive acoustic amplifier. 

    When a Dachshund barks at a leaf blowing across the yard, it does not sound like a small lapdog yapping, nor is it because he (or she) is bored; it's because he sees it as the enemy -- everything is potentially the enemy, and the dog will bark. It sounds like a deeply offended, bass-heavy hound echoing through a canyon, leaving neighbors to wonder where you are hiding the invisible Great Dane. Little do they know that the Great Dane would most likely be a whole lot nicer to them than the sausage dog! 

    This combination of hunting heritage and acoustic power breeding is absolute in the Dachshund. You, too, will believe you have a Great Dane-sized dog living with you when you try sleeping with the little guy -- somehow, he/she will learn how to command more space than they need, and you may end up begging for your blanket sometime in the middle of the night as well. In a Dachshund’s mind, they are not a foot-tall wiener dog; they are a twelve-foot-tall apex predator capable of taking down a grizzly bear. They will look a snarling Mastiff directly in the eye and confidently decide they could win that fight - and they actually start that fight; so be on your toes, ready to scoop them up. 

    They are stubborn, fiercely loyal, and utterly convinced that they own the house, the yard, and the concept of time itself. To live with a Dachshund is to accept that you are merely a chauffeur to a small but powerfully over-confident, loud king (or queen) who walks like a slinky but commands the room from his or her first side-eye! (Did I mention how stubborn they are?)

    I laugh when anyone tells me they've just bought or adopted a Dachshund. Immediately, I smile because I know the struggles are real - and I wonder why exactly someone would put themselves through the torture. I have been a Dachshund friend and/or person since my birth. I don't have an excuse. I was literally born into a family that was literally that crazy, that dramatic, that silly, and that ambitious. 

    I have loved them, shared my life with them, and would never trade them - ever; but still, I laugh.  I always ask if they have Dachshund experience. I ask because it's not the same as being a dog owner; far from it. I laugh because the level of faithfulness, loyalty, and devoted lovingness that you'll experience with a Dachshund outshines and surpasses any type of experience you'll ever have with any other canine - bar none.

    So, if you've never had one, think about it. Read the book "Dachshunds for Dummies" and don't focus on just how darn cute and adorable they are. If you value your time, space, or ears, you'll choose another breed. You can't simply tell a Dachshund to stop barking or to pee outside if it rains. Don't try to tell it that picking a fight with bigger dogs is inappropriate; you'll only look silly doing so. They weren't bred to be lapdogs. That's a newer trait for the breed - they were built and bred to rule the world, and they're doing a really good job at it so far.

Photo Credit: Me (This is Neo, he's 10 weeks old) 

The German and the Swede!

     I should have taken their picture, but I didn't. I can tell you what happened, though, and you'll think it's fun. If you're from America, you'll understand, and if you're from the South, you'll really understand. If you're from Europe or the UK, you'll probably find something about the story that resonates with you too. I'll tell you how it started, and how it went, and you'll know that the moment you step foot in America, and find yourself in the South (or the Southwest) you'll be greeted by some crazy woman, just like me - it will happen. Prepare yourself.

    So, I live in El Reno, Oklahoma, which is one of the must-see cities on Historic Route 66. Route 66 is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, so naturally, we have a lot more guests coming through town than we usually do, and it puts a big smile on our faces to see all the folks from around the country and the world. The couple I met today was no exception. He was from Germany, she was from Sweden. They were in town for only one day, but I talked them into staying the night at a decently priced motel just off HWY 81 and I-40 -- tomorrow they will attend church, go to an open BBQ, and be on their way.

    I went downtown to take photos, to see my friends who own S&S Downtown Bargains, and to get my steps in. I have been trying to walk a mile a day, which may not seem like much to you, but my hip has been really bad for a while, so one mile is good for me. I take it slowly, and I do it right. I walked the streets of El Reno, met people, and pointed them in the right direction to give them a great Southwestern experience. His name, believe it or not, is Hans. Her name is Deidre.  He goes by John most of the time, though, since his father is also a Hans. We shook hands at the big white Route 66 sign in the middle of town.

    I helped the couple by taking their picture. Both had reservations about giving me their phone. I gave them mine to hold, and they agreed. We talked about their trip, and I noticed Deidre couldn't stop looking at my T-shirt. It was blue, and in white lettering it reads "Ya'll need Jesus". She smiled and said, "You'd be asked to turn the shirt inside out in our countries. It could offend someone." I laughed. "Well, it should offend. Jesus didn't come to earth, die for our sins, and resurrect Himself to show off - it was to fight Satan and take souls to Heaven; offended souls who like their sin."  Yes, that's what I told them. They smiled.

    Hans told me they were believers, too, and loved the strong personalities they were finding in America. They flew into Chicago, rented a car, and are driving Route 66 all the way to Santa Monica, and they'll fly back to Germany from L.A.  Great trip. I asked them if they found folks to be a little different in the South than they are up in Chicago - they laughed and said, "Are you kidding? No one talked to us there, unless they were serving us or it was their job. Here, people come up to us, realize we are newcomers, and shake our hands, tell us where to go, give us tips, and offer advice. It's wonderful."

    Since it was only 10:30 in the morning, the hamburger joints weren't open yet. We have 3 really good onion burger restaurants in El Reno. I pointed them out. They're literally within two blocks of each other. I told them where the S&S store and the feed store were, because that's always fun, and I pointed out the museum.  They promised to go to the museum, so when I left them, I went and paid their entrance fee. When they show up, they'll try to pay, and the good ladies there will tell them it's been paid. I think that will make their day!

    I knew there would be a big community gathering in the park tomorrow, where they would be welcome. I think it's free, but if not, it won't be much. It is a place where people meet to donate things, pick up things they need, and just talk and get along. Hans looked at me. He stared at me and asked if I was serious. I told him I was. They'll stay tonight in a hotel, after going to Walmart (his 1st time, her 2nd), and they'll hit up the casino this evening before going to a really fresh and open service tomorrow at a church that often meets outdoors if the weather is nice. They won't forget El Reno, Oklahoma. If they had come last week, they would have seen the world's largest onion burger! It's a yearly thing we do here.

    If you're from Europe, and you see folks waving for no reason, smiling, and coming at you, you can bet those folks are not only American, they're from the South. Be calm -- they're usually some of the nicest folks you'll ever encounter. I can only imagine what they'll think when they meet Steve. He's a Native Cheyenne-Arapaho man. He's probably 6'3", a little over 300 pounds, and has a big, big smile to go with his big, big personality. I would love to be in the store when he greets them. They will not forget El Reno, Oklahoma!

Photo Credit: Me

Listening to my Body (Finally)

     There was a time when I didn't have to worry about, care about, or think about what I was eating. I could pile in the food, and as long as it wasn't too spicy, I'd survive. I found out rather early in life that I couldn't eat peppers. They flat try to kill me, but I have managed to beat them at their game. I don't touch them, they don't touch me. We have an understanding.  However, it has only been recently, perhaps the past few years, that I've paid close attention to what (and how much) I can eat without having to call the ambulance to haul my carcass to the repair shop.

    About 13 years ago (dang, that's been a minute), I was taken by ambulance to an Indianapolis hospital with acute indigestion, but I thought I was having a heart attack. It felt really, really bad, and you could never have convinced me at the time that it was just indigestion. I think it was also, if I'm honest, a bout of food poisoning as well. I was at an outdoor BBQ and had some potato salad with mayo - do not do that in the heat. DO NOT DO THAT. I also had two burgers - do not do that either! I have zero understanding today as to why I thought I was so hungry. 

    That was the first real scare, and I've had two, three more since, but the real issue is the beef. It's the hamburger meat. I have reached an age and a stage where I can no longer eat it. It could be that Alpha gal syndrome; it could be. I have been bitten by any number of Texas brown ticks throughout my life. It could be a real thing, but what I know is that the last two times this happened, I had eaten a larger burger - just one, but I had it with fries, and I know better. I don't need that in my life.

    Today, and for the past month or so, I've been listening to my body. I eat a couple of Tums before I eat anything greasy, and I don't eat larger portions anymore -nope, when I start to feel as if my body is about to call it quits, I quit. I am not a fan of riding in the back of the big box with lights and sirens. I am not a fan. I do love the EMTs; they are always so, so, so very nice. I do like them, but not enough to call him regularly to take me for a ride. Nope.

    I still eat chicken, pork, and turkey -- and the other day I had a thinly sliced French dip sandwich. I ate it very, very slowly, and as I got to the end, my body said it was done. I didn't eat the last bite. That's why God made dogs. Dogs are there constantly reminding you that you really don't need that last bite. They'll take care of it for you. I have four dogs, so I eat less than what I used to -- and they are pleased. They think I'm making the right choice(s) for my body. They really, really care about me. I can tell. 

    My body was telling me I needed some really cold, unsweetened iced tea from Burger King today, so I listened. Of course, while I was there, I picked up some food for Laura, and since I was there, yes, I picked up a chicken sandwich for myself. The fries were split. I had a few, and the dogs ate the rest. Again, they don't mind if I'm on a health kick. It makes them feel as if they are useful and attentive. I came to the last bit of the sandwich, literally at half of it, and gave the bread to the dogs and took one more bit of the meat before splitting it with the mutts - I say mutts; Neo is a full-blooded Dachshund.

    This was Neo's first time in the lineup, and let me just say, there's a good reason people say Dachshunds are 10-feet tall. That little guy pushed his way through the big dogs, climbing over his Chihuahua brother Kiba, to take the tiny piece of bacon I was offering him. You'd have thought he was capable of breaking through brick - he's a keeper.  The big girls act as if he's annoying them beyond imagination (and he is), but he's their best friend when nap time rolls around.  I am just so happy God decided I needed dogs to remind me when to stop stuffing my face. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

I Sold 6 Books!

     You may or may not know that (a) I am an author and (b) I don't write to sell the books. I write to write. I am published. I have been published for over twenty years, and in that time, I have written twenty-one books. I'm writing the 22nd book now. I have also written dozens of stories, poems, etc, but if I were to describe myself as a writer, I would say I write fiction. Have I written non-fiction? Yes, in fact, my first four books were non-fiction works, but I consider myself a novelist. Some people cook, some paint, and I write.

    Growing up, I wrote as well. My older sister loved to knit, crochet, and do other needlework. My second sister was a master at baking cakes and sewing. My mother is an artist. She can draw and paint, but I write. My brother is a magician when it comes to fixing things; his skills and talents were always hands-on, like my father, who built cabinets and furniture. I think it's really cool to say I come from a talented family, and from one that didn't ever (not once) discourage me from my chosen path of expression. In fact, my mom would put my work right up on the fridge for anyone to read. 

    Just today, I was sitting at my computer desk, minding my own business, because that's what I do; I mind my own business. I received an email from a friend saying she found my bio on a site that had to be at least 15 years old. It mentioned that I had written "Faith Walks," but it also said I was still teaching Composition and Literature, which I had stopped doing in 2006. Well, well, I say now, I must contact this site and at least update the masses. Since 2006, I have written twenty more books! 

    What I laughed about, and still laugh about, is one of the remarks in the bio stating that my books were niche or not well known. OK, but that doesn't mean they aren't any good. I don't write my books to sell them, but so far the reviews have been good. I know a lot of folks say you shouldn't read your reviews, but I haven't read anything bad about my novels yet. I will agree with anyone who says my other books weren't well edited. I even paid good money for that service and got what I got. Changing it now is possible, but I don't know where my original files are. I'd have to type each page over again -not happening.

    In 2026 (and for a couple of years), I edit my own books, and I am quick to add a disclaimer to every book that I will miss a few commas, a few punctuation errors, and even the occasional there, their, or they're. No, I'm not above making mistakes. I do it all the time. I try not to. I try to catch them all. I review the manuscript at least three times, but it happens. Oh well, we're all human, and if I really were writing to sell the books, I may care more. I am super happy when I do sell one or two. I laugh to myself each month when the reviews and sales stats come in. I look forward to it now.

    From April 1, 2026, to April 30, 2026, I sold six (6) books. I am stoked! No, no, don't think I'm kidding, I'm serious. Six people decided to take a gamble and read my books. Who knows where that could lead? It only takes a spark to get that fire going - right? Oh, if I did sell hundreds or thousands, I would love it. I would, but I don't write them with that hope in mind. I write them because they are in my head. If I don't write them, I find myself tweaking the storylines over and over. But if I write them, I can tell my inner voices (characters from the books) that the book is finished. We need to move on to the next.

    When the Ingram Spark people let me know that six books had been sold, I quickly checked the sheet to see which ones. STRANGELY enough, five books of the same title were sold, and then another. The 5 that sold under the same title is the book "The", a modern romance set in Florida. A very talented and burned-out stockbroker moves to Sarasota to chase her own dreams and finds love, albeit with a homeless man who has been shaken to the core a few years back. It's a good book!

    The other book, the single, that sold is titled "Edinburgh" and is another romance, set in Edinburgh, Scotland, and it too is modern. It's about a middle-aged English teacher who gives up everything to move to Scotland and write novels. I can see myself doing that, but I'd have to race back to the States after a year or so. Oklahoma is the place to be - for me. I could do the whole kilted pleasure thing for a year, but then I'd get a hankering for Braum's ice cream and need to fly home. You can't pop off to the nearest ice cream and dairy store in the land of hearth and heather for anything Braum's related, and you can't expect to get yourself decent BBQ either. 

    So, there it is. Me - the published author and seller of good books. I hope you find one or two to your liking, but if you don't, I have them tucked away in my head and heart. They keep me company - I'm never alone. NEVER.

Photo Credit: Amazon - buy my books there. Kindle and in print.