Because I'm Extra. Firemen it is!

     I had to call into work today and say I would be a couple of hours late. I actually let one of the managers know last night, but followed up with the hard, cold facts of it all this morning. When you're throwing a party and invite three of Oklahoma City's bravest to your home to check out your AC before it erupts into a full-blown fire hazard, you just don't have the strength or energy to show up to work on time - even if you work from home. It's just a fact.

    I was sleeping at 10:43 p.m., which is what I do at that time, when my daughter came into my room to tell me that the hallway ceiling was leaking. Earlier in the day, we didn't know that the water we saw on the floor in the hall was coming from the ceiling, and I spanked the dog, my dog, for peeing in the house. You can now tell me just how terrible I am. I know, and she knows, and she got the biggest apology for it, and I gave her ice cream. She's good. We're good.

    The ceiling in the hall was bulging and threatening to pop. Just like you see in the movies! I decided to NOT pop it, because you know the mess that would have been all over my floors. I, instead, called the Oklahoma City Fire department non-emergency line (which is the police line, and they transfer you) so they could come check it out and make sure we weren't asking for trouble. 

    So, around 11:05 p.m., three really handsome men, all built like the burliest of burls you've ever seen (two bald, one not the least bit bald) came pulling around the corner with sirens and lights - I didn't know they did that for non-emergencies. They came in and got straight to work. Turns out neither Laura nor I knew where the breaker box is in our house - we found it, and no, it's not in a normal place. Yes, these men laughed, but they were looking too!!

    They turned off the AC breaker and the unit, and then crawled into the attic access, which, by the way, is located in the main bathroom. See, I live in an extra house too! They crawled up there and found that the original unit, a 3-year-old unit, had not been installed properly. It was just a little off, and over time, with vibration and such, it moved a little from where the drain hole was and was collecting in the platform above the bathroom and hall. So nice.

    They wanted to know if I had a pie pan or some strong aluminum to bend into a makeshift drain assist, something that would hold until the AC guy could come to fix it permanently. I did. I had one, but I had to dump the pie into another pan. I asked, but they're not allowed (or supposed) to take food from people they don't know -- their parents would be proud. They said the pie looked amazing and appreciated the aroma of baby back ribs I had been cooking overnight in the crockpot. One of the men took a look!

    They fixed the problem, loved on the dogs, said their goodbyes, and I went to sleep with the AC being temporarily repaired. I hadn't really noticed that during the day, it had gone from 69 to 74 in the house, I should have noticed that.  They fixed it, and I slept well. The AC guy came by today too, but I'm not gonna lie, he couldn't hold a candle to any of the firemen...nope. He's a nice guy, but he's old enough to be my dad, I think. He was pretty old -- but very good at his job. 

    So, I sent photos to my boss of the firefighters at my house and the blaring red and blue lights outside my house. I told him I'll be sleeping in and not to expect me until 9:30 this morning. I will say, my dreams were rather nice -- rather nice indeed!  I love a good-looking cop, but give me a firefighter every time. 

Photo Credit: Me!!

    

Goodbye Big Lots - Hello Ollie's!

     If you have hung out with me for any time whatsoever, you'll know I love a good bargain. The only thing about bargains that I love more than shopping for them, is shopping for them in a big wonderfully open and spacious store that is literally all about the price of whatever it is you may be hunkering to buy that you would have bought at Big Lots, with the possible exception of clothes. However, they may not have a clothes section, but Ollie's does have a book section! I was forever in that today.

    I drove to Yukon, Oklahoma, a place I have been to at least a million times. It's on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, and if you drive just over the big metal bridge at Overholser, you can be in Canadian County, which then takes you straight into Yukon. It's accessible from the north, the west, and the south from Oklahoma City.

    My favorite way to get to Yukon, has always been on 39th Expressway, because you go through Bethany first. I'm from Bethany, so that makes me smile a little. I wish I could live in Bethany now, but the area has taken a beating in the past 50 years or so, and even with the commerce and the great (2) colleges that are situated in Bethany, Oklahoma, it's still not that safe in terms of walking the streets. Not like it used to be. That's where I literally walked from 2212 N. Mueller to 3500 N. Mueller from the age of 4 to about my 18th year when I got a car.

    Yukon (and West OKC) have an Ollie's and I am just too delighted! It's a messy Big Lots. Sort of like a better thriftstore than Goodwill, but it's not a donation place. All the merchandise is new, and could have been overstock from another store. It's usually generic or average, but we need so much of it. I'll give you an example of what I bought today. It was my first time in the store, so I had no idea what to expect. I should have videoed.

    I bought a little rug for my cat to sleep on. He sleeps on top of a table in my office so he can keep an eye on the neighbors. He's a creeper, really, but they don't realize he has fantasies about them. They often wave to him! The little "rag" rug has a lot of color and you've seen them everywhere. In Dollar General, they are $6.00, which isn't bad. It's 2' x 3' and really nice. I got it for $2.99 at Ollie's.  I bought an Anchor brand 9x9 cake pan. It was $4.99, whereas online it was $15.  C'mon, I'm just getting started. 

    I bought a great recipe book (with pictures) for people with diabetes. I don't have it, but I don't want it either, so eating healthy makes sense. It lists for $24.99, and it was $4.99 there. It may be older, I don't know, but it's fantastic!  I bought a big silicone spoon and a spatula, both for $2.99. I really needed it, but I just hadn't gone out of my way to get it. I got it. I bought a Martha Stewart heavy-duty loaf pan for $2.99 - no, I'm not kidding. 

    There was one thing I saw, but didn't buy, thinking, "No, I'm not buying that," even though I sort of wanted to. It was ORANGE creampop flavored Cap'n Crunch. That is not a lie; I had to do a double-take. I may post it. It's too crazy. The place has rugs, towels, plates, books, school supplies, Halloween stuff, and so much more. Of course, there are food things, makeup, and toiletries. There is really just about anything you'll find at Big Lots. I saw full-sized sheet sets for $12, and I'll go back for that!

    I'll end up going as often as I went to Big Lots, which was at least two times a week. I'm thinking Yukon now, instead of El Reno, but I haven't ruled either out. I think Yukon could be more beneficial since it's closer for my best friend to drive to see me, and it has more horse boarding opportunities for Laura. For me, it's close to hospitals and food shopping (even though I do my grocery shopping through the Kroger app). I will stop by to pick up something now and again.

    Ollie's, if you have one, is a good thing. I hope you find as much joy in these places as I do. I met a great couple who have grandkids and English Bulldogs. We talked for about five or six minutes while waiting for the cashier; they were nice. That's another thing I love about all of Oklahoma - we are talkers. We don't really care if we don't know you; we'll still chat.  By the way, I'll know you're not from here if you think you can still drive over the big metal bridge. 😆

Bilbo on his new rag rug.  He's a 20-pound cat.

This is some crazy...  I took both photos.

The Little Black Book (In The Dark)

     This is how it starts. I'll be working from home on my computer, rather than in the office, which is located in the same space. When I'm at the home computer, I'm home, and when I'm on the office computer, I'm in the office. The two spaces meet in the middle and form an "L" shape. I have one chair that rolls around on a big, thin rug-mat. I can, and I do, morph from being at home to being in the office within a fraction of a second - several times a day.

    Oftentimes, while at home, I am watching murder shows, thinking about the cases and the responders, the killers, the victims, the villagers, communities, and those who are connected to the event. I sometimes, when I am in the office, decide to move a person who has either annoyed me, or who has refused to do their social and civic duty, from being just a person I must speak with during working hours, to the vats in my brain that contain the upcoming victims and/or "bad actors" in the next novel...or three.

    Sometimes, when I am watching murder shows or parts of crime shows, a particular scene will catch my attention, and I start rewriting it in my head, hoping to predict a different outcome or imagining how my version would unfold on screen. (I watch monitors, not televisions) Sometimes, I find myself writing notes as I watch, fully expecting to write about it later, but I inevitably end up changing key and minor details to create a new story altogether. 

    I did that yesterday. I got so involved in the new story that I stopped watching the one I was watching and decided to write the synopsis for mine. I'm currently writing the 7th installment of the Nick Posh Thriller series, but I'm already preparing to start work on the next book. I expect to finish this one by the end of September or early October. I have the bones of it written and have to flesh it out in my head over the next few weeks. Then, when the time comes, I'll pour myself into it and get it out of my head and into the little notebook I just bought to contain my thoughts.

    I bought two little black books, which are about the same size as the notebooks I use to write down my thoughts in the Posh books. I purposely chose the color black because the book will be dark. In fact, I'm titling it "In the Dark," and it will be a darker sort of story, not a mystery. It will showcase a few crimes and go through the daily events, routines, and history of a couple of responders, retired police who had to give up their needling cold case only to have it surface again. They come back out of retirement to help the rookie do the best job he can do.

    It's a good book already, and I haven't written it. I like some of the meat of it, though. I like the man in the freezer. I like that he wasn't murdered but kept because he was loved. I like a lot of things about it. No, I'm not worried about someone stealing my story - There are too many to choose from that have very similar beginnings, middles, and ends. No two stories, fiction or true, are alike. They can't be. They have different motives, reasoning, characters, involvement, timelines, spatial differences, and more. 

    Yep, the books are bought. I'm already scribbling in one of them. I won't title the second one just yet, but it will be similar to the first, showcasing the responders, those connected, and the impact of the murder or crime on everyone. It's never been about the crime to me, but the aftermath. That's where the intrigue comes in. Anyone can murder - it's the details that make the story, and depending on what or how you write those details, makes it a good story or not.

Photo Credit: Me.

    

Lesson Learned. No More Silicone in the Kitchen.

     When I was making soap at home, I bought quite a few silicone molds because I found them easier to work with in the kitchen, and they stood up to the heat. I found that Amazon sold them for a wide range of uses, including cupcakes, cakes, loaves, and more. I ditched my Pyrex and metal pans and replaced them with silicone. I regret that.

    Today, because I can, I made a really good hearty meatloaf for dinner, but I cooked it in a silicone loaf pan, and yeah...not going to do that again. It took much longer to cook, and it turned out a lot softer than usual. I will admit, I did mix an 80/20 and a 90/10 hamburger source, with a pound being 90/10 and 1/2 a pound being 80/20. That could have been a factor, but I'm blaming the silicone anyway. I don't like it.

    I had to stop using them when I made cupcakes, too. They never rose above the level of the pan, and they felt different; they were spongy or something. I blamed the brand of my mix, but now I'm thinking no, it's the pans. I'm going back to Pyrex and the standards that have always been my best friends in the kitchen. Goodbye modern menaces! It's back to the basics for me. (AND...the dang thing melted a little on the bottom! It's supposed to withstand heat!)

    The meatloaf turned out well otherwise. It has a really good taste to it, just not as firm as I wanted. I usually let it sit for 10-15 minutes after pulling it out of the pan, but when I tried to pick it up, it fell apart, so I'm not happy. It tasted really good, and I was happy to share it with the dogs (a little bit) along with mashed potatoes and crescent rolls. I should have made gravy, but I was upset about the loaf...see how affected I was? It's a terrible thing to mess with a woman's standards in the kitchen.

    I also bought a silicone colander, but I don't like it either. It's the type that pops out, not one that retains its original shape. This one punches down, folds up, and then you open it, pop it out to use, and put it back. Nah...done. I'm going back to the old-fashioned, cheap white plastic one I had once; I think I'll be visiting Dollar General soon. I tried looking these things up on Amazon and realized I could save at least 40-50% by going to the one store that I can never get out of easily -- it grabs me and forces me to search every single aisle when I go into it.

    I'll be OK. I know what I know, and to be honest, I knew better, but you try things, and you learn things. I hope I don't have to learn that one again - If I had my old Pyrex, the one I had for 30 years, things would be fine. I think it just got the best of me because I couldn't get all the dark stains out of the corners and the little handles. It wasn't pretty anymore. Well, I'd rather have good-tasting and good-looking food than pretty Pyrex...that may just be me, but I somehow doubt it.

    It's raining, or I'd head over to the Dollar General right now. I'll wait. I have enough meatloaf to last two more days anyway. Then again, I can't make the banana bread until I get a new loaf pan. I could make a trip after I do the dishes. You just never know.

    

Photo Credit: Walmart.com

Amicus Curiae! Half-Way There!

     I'm about halfway through the book. I've just written Chapter 17, which is usually the best chapter for some reason. I really like it. I feel as if the meat of the story can happen around the 17th chapter. It's all uphill and full of conflicts from that point, right up to the time I find a way to solve and seal the deals that only I know about. I say that, it's not true. The characters in my book know long before I do what the ending will be, and how I will come to it - they write the book, not me. I just take the credit.

    Nick has decided to ship himself off to Edinburgh to be with his family. He's really alone without them, but he also has a good enough reason to spend weeks away from his work. He'll need to find a place for Keeper to stay, since he's going to be gone as long as he is. I'll add a mention in the storyline so people don't think my lead character has left his dog at home without anyone to tend to him.

    Good Bill, Bill Wright, at the Garvey House, will be in charge of Keeper, but before he's finished, the little fiesty Jack Russell will find his way into every apartment at 1211 Garvey. He'll have met, been invited to stay with, and slept with everyone in the house. That's something no one else can ever claim to have done. By the time Nick returns, he may have to pry the dog from their hands. I can only imagine -- I can only imagine because it hasn't happened yet. I don't know what I'll write until I write it.

    Going to Scotland makes a lot of sense because Nick will be testifying in a capital murder case in about 5 weeks and he'll need to be protected and kept under wraps until that happens. He's opening up a really big can of whoop ass that can't be sealed once it's been sworn to in court. He is the Amicus Curiae, he is the friend of the court, but not a friend to everyone in the courtroom. 

    What would happen if, maybe, a sheriff's deputy lost control of his firearm the day Nick crosses the street to give his testimony? These things happen. These things have happened in the past, and they could certainly happen again. He'll need to keep his wits and his friends about him. 

    

    Photo Credit: Pinterest (The Kerfoot Hotel in El Reno, Oklahoma)

I Survived Being Stung!

     Yes, yes, it is true, I have survived (so far) being stung by what I have to assume was a hornet. I say that I have to assume, because I didn't see it! I really didn't see the damn thing when it stung me. I don't know how one misses a huge flying monster coming directly toward them, but there I was, not seeing it. I had gone outside to feed the birds - something I do every day. I usually feed the birds, put out the flag, and check my mail, but today it was a different routine.

    I fed the birds, checked my mail, and then decided to make biscuits. I went back outside to put out the flag, when my eye caught a big rooted stem of what Laura and I call "the weed". It's massive, but since she had cut it down at one point sometime this summer, it wasn't as hard to handle. I went back inside the house and retrieved something to cover my hands. I know sometimes that weeds can be sticky, prickly, etc. I grabbed an oven mitt and proceeded to try to uproot the thing.

    It's not in the ground, but in a planter on the porch; a very deep planter, I will add. I'm over there pushing, pulling, twisting, and not getting anywhere because the roots of the thing are probably swirled around the base of the planter. While giving it a good heave, my knee was suddenly attacked! I did not see it! I only felt it. I knew, of course, what it was, but I never saw or heard it. Makes me think of the Americans in their fancy schmancy machines up around the skies somewhere and how they show up out of nowhere and hit their mark.

    I don't mind being warned, I would have run into the house screaming, trying my best to get away. As it was, I ran into the house screaming and knew I'd been hit! I let Laura know immediately, because I needed baking soda rather quickly. I knew she had some in her bathroom, but was hoping I could find a box in the refrigerator being used to soak up smells, or in the cabinet waiting to be used. I was out of luck. I did remember instantly, however, that when the Kroger delivery truck stops by today, I had actually ordered another box. 

    The bathroom box had to work. We use it to help clean toilets, but I put some in my bath as well. It's a wonderful additive; just so you know. I made a paste of the stuff using a little water, and slapped that thing right over the new red hole in my leg - the one starting the rumble, doing its best to change the landscape of my kneecap from its pastey whiteness to the heated red top that I could see forming. 

    When I hobbled back to the kitchen, I asked Laura for the liquid Benedryl, you know, the one I keep around just in case I get stung!  I haven't been stung in over 30 years, but I still keep the stuff around -- and I'm glad I did. I'm sleepy now, but I'll survive that too. It's imperative that you keep an ice pack in the fridge for these purposes; be prepared.

    I sat on the couch with my ice pack, the baking soda paste covering my knee, and every dog and cat in the house wondering what was happening. They were there for moral support, of course, but absolutely in my way mostly. There, on the couch, I rested. I let the dogs know I was in pain, but I also thanked them for their caring gestures. Kiba licked the baking soda that fell to the floor - but he wasn't all that happy about it.

    We waited the requisite 30 minutes to an hour before saying that I had survived; but I did read one article that says I'm not out of the woods just yet. Apparently, some of the symptoms can show up a day later; diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are the most common. I know why my head is swimming a bit right now, but that was self-inflicted. I gulped down a good swig of Benedryl! (well, CVS brand, but still) Laura and I know a lady who, after being bitten by some exotic bug her body wasn't immune to, died! This isn't that. The thing is probably very native to my home state.

    After being bitten by killer insects as a kid, I still remember the baking soda and ice pack thing. I wasn't stung that many times, but I remember one or two of those times, and the old remedy still works. I'll keep an eye out for anything other than the redness, puffiness around the sting area, and so forth. I've removed the ice pack and as my knee returns to its normal temperature, I am feeling little tingling in the red spot, but nothing too intense.

    AAHHHH...I guess I can garner a lot of little lessons from this. (a) keep baking soda handy at all times (b) keep an anti-allergy drug in liquid form (c) don't pull up roots that you haven't Googled for things that may call them home, and of course, how very grateful I am for my daughter and animals who immediately jumped into action to assist. I am blessed.

    If I do see one of those flying beasts, I'm taking my revenge.

Photo Credit: Oklahoma Magazine.

El Reno, a Hidden Memory.

     My mom is 90 years old. I remember when my grandpa was 90 and when my grandma was 90 - she lived to be 99, actually, and I hope Mom does as well. My mom lives in a city not too far from me, but circumstances keep us from seeing each other in person. I won't go into that, but I do have a chance to call her. She calls me too, and we try to have good talks. She enjoys it when I ask her questions about things, which makes her recall specific stories. 

    Today, I called her to ask her about where all of our animals came from because I knew a lot of them were in our house, because I brought them home, but before I started doing that, around the age of 9 or 10, we had a few dogs, so I asked her where they came from. To my surprise, and I really mean that, one of my dogs, a big, beautiful, full-blooded German Shepherd whom we called Lady Wayne, came from the same adoption center where I bought one of my dogs after I grew up! That was really cool. The center wasn't the town pound, it was an adoption place then, in 1970!

    Well, she liked talking about the old stuff, so I asked her if she had been out to El Reno much, because I love that city. I have a deep love for it, and she said, "Well, I think I know why." Tell me! She said that twice, when I was a kid, really young, under the age of 6 or 7, she and my dad took us kids out to the lake in that city, and once she and I went to the city itself to get groceries to take to the lake. She said I loved the city streets, the brick streets, the old buildings, and that I wanted to live there.

    I don't for the life of me remember the day itself. All of our lake stories seem to blend into one another. We swam in the same lakes we fished in, and we ate what we caught. I remember opening my eyes under water, and yes, it was red, dirty, muddy water, but I didn't care. One of my swimsuits, I recall, changed from pink to a red-brick color after a few trips to one or the other lakes. Lakes were free to swim in, and my parents couldn't afford to send all four of us to the public pools.

    We went to all the lakes and bigger ponds all over the central and southern parts of Oklahoma, and into Arkansas, where my daddy's family was from.  You really can't do that sort of thing now, not with all the pollution and craziness surrounding the lakes. Homeless camps have sprung up around them, and rangers can't always force people to obey the rules. There were transient people in the 60s and 70s, sure, but they weren't like they are now. It was a completely different time.

    I bet you anything that my mind drifts back to El Reno and Lake El Reno, and I remember more than I remember that I know. I can see that being the case, because when I sold insurance out that way years ago, it was as if I knew the downtown area, the streets, and the landmarks. I never knew how I knew, but now I do know. I had been there before. There was an old corner burger joint that we used to go to, and the one thing I remember was that it was down the street from where an old train depot was; I loved listening to the trains coming and going. We could hear them whistle at the lake, but we could see them in town.

    I don't believe there were any passengers riding the trains in my youth because if there had been, my mom would have found a way to take us on the train now and again. She loved trains. I remember that, and have no memory of her actually riding one. She and my sister were able to do it when we got older, but it was to Watonga, because I remember they got off the train and bought Watonga cheese! How fun. 

    So, it stands to reason, and it all makes sense, that my love for the city I may (hopefully) end up in came from a time when I was forming my life memories. Mom told me today that she and Dad considered moving us there, but they were concerned that the school system lacked a well-developed program for students with special needs, particularly for one of my siblings. That's another interesting thing; we never knew they considered it. As kids, we didn't know, so we never talked about it later. It was a parent thing - and since we didn't move, we didn't talk about it. When I mentioned El Reno today, and that I am looking at homes there, it clicked! 

    Well, do what you need to do, and what you want to do. Remember to love one another, and to ask questions. The old folks won't be with us forever -- but while they're here, squeeze all the love out of them that you can.

Photo Credit: Linda McKinney (my sister) - Mom, Becky Stringfellow, born in Thrift, Texas, but raised in OKC.

Amicus Curiae - 1/3 Done.

     It is just after 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 4th, and I am one-third, roughly, about 32% done with the book "Amicus Curiae". I took off work today to write three more chapters. I knew I needed to. I had the action in my head and needed to get it out onto the white screen of the Word document. It's really starting to take shape. I've written what I wanted to write, I've done what I set out to do - and now, I drink water. I've been working too hard today and realized about 10 minutes ago that yeah, I need to hydrate.

    Nick's family is in Scotland, as is his friend and business partner Eoghan MacRae. 

Photo Credit: Adobe Firefly: This is what Eoghan MacRae looks like.  Close enough.

Pink Salt Diet - Bunk (in my opinion)

     Five years ago today, I weighed exactly what I weigh today, and that's not a good thing. I weighed so much, on August 3, 2020, that when I rolled out of bed, I felt so badly about myself that I took it upon myself to be the warrior I needed to be, and I forced myself to do something about the fat I hated, and I wasn't nice about it. I told myself I was heavy, too heavy, and I would eat correctly, drink the water I needed to drink, exercise, and I would make my body do what science said it would do. Let me say this: it worked.

    Two months after I began, I had lost enough weight, enough pounds, that I continued my fight against fat, and I didn't let up. If anything, I doubled down. I made more time for walking, less time for eating, and I put myself on a very strict diet of what I felt was healthy and nutritious. I did not, did not, did not, starve myself. I didn't give up sugar; I just reduced it. I didn't give up carbs; I just reduced them. I didn't give up drinking alcohol because I didn't drink it to begin with.  I never have really.  

    Today, being the same weight I was, I had to think back on the past five years and show myself what it was that happened, and where it was that I went off track - it happened. I'm right back to where I was. Naturally, to avoid yo-yoing back and forth, I began exploring the various ways people choose to lose weight today, as opposed to 2020. I see too many advertisements for Ozempic and other drugs. I see all the AI-generated celebrity commercials touting the pink salt diet, and I know enough to know that putting a bunch of salt into your system is stupid. Do not do it!

    Why spend $$$ on a drug that hasn't been tested long enough? Didn't we find out that the COVID-19 vaccine was useless, and in fact harmful? It wasn't tested very long, and they were rolling it out, begging us, even paying us to take it. You have to wonder about anything the government is forcing people to use or take without testing and without first knowing the results or effects of it.

     The same can be said for all the superfast remedies they're claiming to be effective. A woman on the air claimed to have lost 28 pounds in just two weeks. Honey, if you can say that, you're both a liar and a fool. Taking anything into your body that could cause such a dramatic change is foolish - and probably dangerous. (Besides, i hate it when I click on  a link to learn about a product and 30 minutes later they're still giving their personal backstory about how they found the miracle cure.)

    Having surgery to remove fat would be fast and effective, but the aftermath, including the healing process and the routine you'd need to keep up, isn't quick. That's expensive, life-altering, and very few people can do it. So, where did I go wrong? How did I end up right back where I am today? I can tell you the exact day it started. It was July 15, 2024. I was literally quite healthy, happy, and trim right up until that time, and for a while longer, but over the next year, from the time I first hurt myself, I grew larger and larger, and not being able to exercise didn't help. I should have seen it. If I can't exercise, I don't need to eat as much as I did. The portions were growing, and so was I.

     On July 15, 2024, my daughter and I moved from an upstairs apartment to a house. We did most of the move ourselves, and that's where things went wonky. I should never have believed that saving a few hundred dollars was worth the stress and strain I put on my knees, back, shoulders, and neck. My entire body paid for that mistake, and it will never have to go through that again. I can assure you that.

    I woke up today. I recalled the date from five years back, and I knew something must be done. I have almost recovered from my injuries, but the year-old comforting and overeating to make myself feel better was another huge mistake. It has cost me, and I have to set down the laws again, not only with myself, but with the truth. I'm not 58, I'm 63. I'm not young, I'm not healthy, I'm not as mobile as I was, and with my sciatica ramping up the way it does because of my injury (I missteped a stair and really did myself in) I have less opportunties to walk; to do what I did before to lose the 57 pounds I had lost before.

    You see famous people touting the pink salt thing. You hear how they lost weight, how they kept it off, and so forth. It's not true.  Your body (ask your doctor) wasn't made to take in that much sodium. Baking soda has zero nutritional value and will not kickstart your metabolism. Read! Google it! Study, don't listen to some washed-up talk show host who has the money to get the surgeries. Do your own homework! Cheyenne pepper is great for seasoning, but can burn a hole in your gut if you overuse it. Don't overuse it. Ginger is strong too, as is apple cider vinegar; the acids are what these people are banking on to drive out stubborn fat. It just doesn't work that way.

    The older we get, the harder it gets. If the goal is to be svelte and look like you did when you were 22, that's not a good goal. It's not realistic, and when you fail, it can only hurt you. Instead, be realistic. Be truthful, thoughtful, and honest with yourself. Become aware of the foods that help and the foods that hurt. You may have developed an allergy to some foods over time, and your body could be pre-diabetic. Talk to your doctor before doing anything crazy. Let them know what you want, and work together to make it happen. You deserve it; you're the only you you'll ever be.

    So, long story short: I'm pitching the empty calories, which will save me 400-600 calories a day at least. I'm not drinking anything caffeinated (a little green tea) and I'm adding more water, more protein, more good carbs, fish, and veggies to the mix. I love carrot juice, so that will have to satisfy the sweet tooth in my head. Grapes are great too, but they are apt to get in the way of my overall goals. I want to lose the weight, but not to model a bikini; nothing so dramatic. I want to get out of bed...not roll out of it. Believe me, there is a difference.

    Be kind to yourself, you are the best friend you have.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com 

Amicus Curiae -The Characters.

     It is kinda weird to think that this time last week the book hadn't been started and now, I'm down six chapters. I could have written more, but I don't want to rush it. I have the whole book lined out already, and I know what's going to happen, but I don't want to rush it. I enjoy getting there - going down those streets, through the alleys, and breaking through the doors I need to break through to get to the meat of the matter. I can't help myself, I truly love writing these Posh books. 

    I have been using AI for a few things over the past couple of years, and one of those things is to come up with picturesque concepts of what the characters of my books look like. I use Adobe Firefly. I love all things Adobe. I love creating, using, watching, and just learning. It's a wonderful format and/or place to hang out. I could use it to make the covers of my books, but I know how to use Canva for that, so there you -- my true nature. I'm a stubborn old coot.

    So, I went to Adobe Firefly, did the expected tasks, and put information into the generator, asking it to come up with images of this or that person. I tried to be as specific as possible; the more information you provide, the better the image will be, or the chances of it being great are increased.  I could NOT be more satisfied with Nick Posh! I'll post him here for you. I'm still working on Ralph Ferguson, Ama, and Elaine, but I have Eoghan MacRae down pretty good. He's a lot like the images I find for my mysterious and fictional husband from the 13th Century; of course, Craig Allen Mackenzie wears his kilt differently...if he wears one at all!

    I love the stuffings out of Adobe Firefly, but there was a moment when I wondered if I'd like it. However, after it did what it did...I like it even more.  I asked AI to make Alistair, the Posh's young son. I wanted to see what the computer thought he would look like. To my surprise, it wouldn't allow me to make a child. Oh...well, OK, that makes sense really. I hadn't thought about what other people would ask AI to do -- I'm over here being cool, but some people have sick minds doing really sick things. I am not one of those people. Good job, Adobe!

    After completing the 6th chapter of my 19th book today, I sat back and looked at my characters again. I like some of the ones I've created, and I'll work on the others. I'll see if I can add them to the books to give people a hint of what they should or would look like, but then again, I don't want to force someone's imagination to do what it should do. Freedom!! I just love the fact that I can play with my mind and never be alone. First, I have these people in my head talking to me. Now, I can print them out and talk to them if I need to. They could be printed out, or halograms...yes, the world is a really wonderful and often scary place.

    Writing is the best job and/or activity ever.

Nick Posh - or a close facsimile.  Photo Credit: Adobe Firefly.