Sandra Cox's Blog, page 293

Blind Dog Living In Trash Pile Gets Rescued

Saw this and wanted to share. This is heart wrenching, but it has a wonderful ending.

Easter and Muay Thai

Hope everyone had a great Easter and that the Easter Bunny was good to you.
Yes, he did find his way to our house and left the the much anticipated Fannie Mae.

Speak ing of anticipated....my kickboxing class will be testing at the end of the month for armbands in Muay Thai. This particular martial art form uses arm bands instead of belts.
To give you a bit of background: Muay Thai was developed in Thailand as a means of protecting the country against invaders. The warriors of Thailand used the weapons they had: their hands, feet, elbows and knees. For training, they practiced their kicks on banana trees and punched coconuts. Ouch!
There are seven basic punches, three basic kicks, five basic elbows, two knees and the blocks.
Muay Thai is now recognized worldwide.

Easter

Graphics Fairy

Wishing you an Easter blessed with family, friends, happiness and peace.
Oh yeah, and plenty of chocolate:)

Miracles

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein

Hard Drive Overload

Last week the HH lost his credit card. The next day he forgot his wallet.
Today...I can't find my phone.
Senior moment? Maybe. But I'd rather put it down to Hard Drive Overload.

Route 66 and Blog Tours

I asked Karen were she would visit if she were taking a trip on Route 66 and here was here response:

If my husband and I were able to take a Rt. 66 trip, there are a number of places I would want to visit.

My first stop would be at Ted Drew's Frozen Custard Stand outside St. Louis, MO. I was only there once, with my dear friend, who died of cancer, and to whom Twyla's Last Trip is dedicated. I would introduce my husband to the tasty treat and have one in my friend's honor.

My next stop would be the Stubby Stonehenge in Rolla, MO. I was fortunate enough to have visited the actual ancient megalith in England, but I would be interested to see this partial reproduction. I'm sure it's better than the Mini Stonehenge from This is Spinal Tap! J

I would not want to miss The Blue Whale of Catoosa, OK. The giant cement whale's smiling face is irresistible. I would also stop and see the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, TX. No Rt. 66 road trip would be complete without viewing the 10 wildly painted cars planted in the desert.

Although I reside in Arizona, there are several Rt. 66 sites I have yet to see! I would visit the town of Jerome, which in known as America's Most Vertical City because it is set on a mountainside. The town is also known for its unique shop and art galleries. I would also visit the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. I also love lighthouses and Lake Havasu is said to be home to more lighthouses than any other city in the U.S In addition, I would take time to go "off the path" and finally visit the Grand Canyon. (I know it's hard to believe I live in Arizona and have yet to see this natura

In the romantic comedy, One Last Class, thirty-two year old, Zak Spencer, is a washed-up teen idol, who decides to rebuild his life by returning to college in Arizona. Trouble ensues when Zak falls in love with the young professor, Amy Campbell, who teaches the one class he needs to complete his degree.

In the romantic comedy, Twyla's Last Trip, twenty eight-year old, Lucinda Starr is an uptight research psychologist, whose deadline to complete her doctoral dissertation is completely derailed by her estranged mother, Twyla Starr's sudden death. Lucinda must take her mother's ashes on a road trip on Route 66, in order to fulfill the requirements of her will and inherit her fortune. To make matters worse, Lucinda finds herself forced to travel across the country with her mother's easygoing country lawyer, T.J. Yates, who drives her crazy, and his drooling bloodhound, Dakota, who Lucinda finds revolting.

Excerpt from "Twyla's Last Trip:

Lucinda peered intently into her microscope until Bunny's voice blared from the intercom—again. "I'm sorry to bother you, Lucinda, but Mr. Yates is on the phone. He says he won't hang up until he speaks with you personally."

Lucinda took a deep breath, stood and exited the lab. She marched over to the reception desk and ripped the phone from Bunny's grasp.

"Lucinda Starr," she growled into the phone. "How may I help you?"

Thirty-year old T.J. Yates, the epitome of all things country, spoke to Lucinda from his cell phone. "Miss Starr," he said. "I know we've never met but I've been your mom's attorney now for nearly a decade."

"Will you please get to the point?" Lucinda interrupted. "I'm in the middle of an extremely important experiment."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your mom has passed away."

Lucinda flinched slightly but then it was back to business. "And what does this have to do with me?" she asked.

"Well, Miss Starr, you are the sole beneficiary of your mom's estate."

"Estate?" Lucinda snorted. "My mother was a cat lady, who lived in a trailer."

"Miss Starr," T.J. continued. "I don't think you understand."

Before T.J. could finish, Lucinda slammed the phone into the receiver and hurried away.

T.J. looked at his cell phone dumbfounded. People never hung up on him, especially women.

Dakota, his two-year old bloodhound, glanced up from her doggie pillow and gave her head a tilt.

"I think this requires a little trip up to Chicago," T.J. said.

Dakota just yawned and plopped her head back down on her bed.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Karen Mueller Bryson is an award-winning screenwriter, produced playwright and published novelist. She has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books! Karen is the creator of Short on Time Books, a series of fast-paced and fun novels for readers on the go. When she's not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Website:

Karen will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Sneaky Easter Bunny

Easter is this Sunday?!? How did that happen? Did it sneak up on anyone besides me?
I just barely started preparations for filling baskets yesterday. I did happen to just glance in the closet (grin) and note that the Easter Bunny had received a Fannie Mae order:)
I'm bound and determined to have all my ingredients this year so I'm not 'hopping' down the road like a mad thing on Easter morning looking for grocery stores that are open.
The menu will remain the same as last year except for topping for the waffles.
Scrambled eggs
Cheddar Hashbrowns
French Waffles with Strawberries
Chocolate Cinnabuns
Whats on your agenda?

~*~

Looking for a freebie? Diet Another Day by Pamela Downs is free at Amazon until Friday.
http://www.amazon. com/Diet- Another-Day- ebook/dp/ B007KPLXU4

Making Maple Syrup and Maple Express Blog Tour

The Process of Making Maple Syrup

The making of maple syrup is a long drawn out process that involves the maple tree. The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada, where the author of "Maple Express" is from. Canada is well known for its maple syrup, but the maple syrup that Sara Maple's family is famous for is from the small town of Mapleton, Vermont.

The process begins when the farmer heads to the maple tree forest and the sap is extracted from the tree. In the old days, a small spout was driven into the tree and a bucket installed. The sap slowly drips out the spout and drops into the bucket. This can take many days to a couple of weeks to get enough in the bucket. "Maple Express" began in the same way. The story began to trickle out in small amounts into the computer bucket through the author's fingertips.

The sap at this stage is a long ways from being clear and pure. It is mostly made of water. When the bucket is filled and the farmer has enough, the sap is then placed in a large pan where it is heated. The sap is brought to a boil. As it boils you need to skim off any foam, removing it and any other particulates that might be on the surface. Remember it takes 10 gallons of sap to create one quart of syrup.

The author of Maple Express had plenty of ideas that filled his brain pan but when the ideas began to boil it became apparent there too many contaminates in the story, so he stopped making it and shelved it for over a year. The maple syrup almost didn`t get made.

With a little prodding from his former neighbors who had been waiting in anticipation for the syrup, the author decided to try making syrup again. This time the syrup began to thicken like it is supposed to. The water began to evaporate and the pure Maple Express showed itself.

This story starts like all stories, a little cool at first with Sara attending school. She wants to skip class and drive to a town nearby but her temper begins to boil over when her best friend says she won't come along. Angry, Sara sneaks out and drives out of town just as a huge thunderstorm erupts all around her.

Sara never makes it to her destination. She wakes up on the floor of a train surrounded by four other people who don`t know where they are going and don`t really care to find out.

Pure maple syrup is a mixture of the sap from many maple trees. Sara and her four new companions must combine their ideas to find a way to the front of the train and off.

When it finally cools, the sugars will settle to the bottom and the syrup can be poured off the top into jars for consuming.

"Maple Express" is a cool story and is ready for human consumption. You can buy a jar of "Maple Express" as an eBook for $1.99 at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/140570.

If you want to learn more about the author please go to http://www.peterabrandt.com and to read his blog go to http://www.simplesimonpublishing.com/blog.

BLURB: Sara Maple has a comfortable life—the only child of a wealthy family—a best friend who does everything she asks—and the admiration of most of her schoolmates. Unfortunately, her temper and "indestructible" attitude quickly place her in a very precarious position.

"The Maple Express" is a powerful novel that captures the author's take on the miracle of the human mind. "The Maple Express" delves into the actions and consequences of a young girl who has never had to take responsibility for her actions before. The story brings the reader into a world where Sara's determination to find her way off the train sends her on an emotional trip that bonds her to her new friends and changes her life forever.

Both young and old readers will love the emotional journey Sara Maple takes them on as she deciphers the obstacles that confront her. Sara's story ends with a surprise twist and leaves the reader with a sense of discovery about his or her own humanity.

Excerpt:

It took Sara a few seconds to comprehend where she was. As best as she could tell, she was staring at an upside down Thomas Cole painting that appeared to be zipping along at a tremendous rate of speed.

The wind in her hair and face made her eyes water and saliva run from the corner of her mouth. Sara closed her mouth and swallowed.

The last thing she remembered was stepping up on the ladder that led to the train engine. When she woke, she was staring at the scenery, dangling upside down, and being held by something that had wrapped itself around her ankle. Her face was mere inches from the ground. She couldn't distinguish any one individual rock — they were all shooting past her too fast to see anything more than a blur.

Sara turned her head to find out where the noise was coming from. She knew the sound of the wind that rattled past her but the throaty metallic rattle that overpowered it was far more excruciating on her ears.

The wind spun her a quarter turn and what she saw caused a scream to erupt from deep inside. Two large train wheels were spinning along steel tracks. The sound she heard was steel hitting steel. The pistons created the swooshing sound as they pounded the wheels around, propelling the train forward.

Sara looked for something to grab onto but there was nothing within her reach. She felt like a side of beef dangling in a butcher's freezer.

Author Info:

It only takes a few minutes of thought before Peter Brandt can devise a scenario that would make a fantastic story, and minutes after that before it begins to fill itself in.

"I have been able to think up stories all my life but it's only been in the last seven years that I realized I was abusing my creative side by not writing them down."

Peter retired from the Air Force and began a new career as a Technical Writer. His writing abilities have allowed him to work in Canada, the United States and even in the Middle East.

But its Peter's love for stories that has brought him into a new realm of writing. His humorous memoir about his life as a soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces and the tragic memoir about his father's life in a Prisoner-of-War camp at the age of 14 allowed him to refine his writing before he began to venture in writing Young Adult fiction.

"I have a very unique way of creating my stories. It begins with a craving, like a recent smoker who just quit cigarettes but still feels the addiction. I can't shake it until I sit down and begin to let my mind wander. Many times I start my quest for a new story by wondering - What If. Soon after I begin to write and can usually get the first draft completed within a few weeks.

Maple Express began as a "what if" question and I'd share it with you but it would give away the storyline."

I always write my stories as I would see them on the movie screen, which is why writing screenplays are also something I do. I am shooting a short film I wrote with a friend of mine within the next couple of weeks with another film shortly after."

Peter has taken formal lessons in acting and has enjoyed some success as an actor in TV and film before his day job as a Lead Technical Writer required him to move out of the country.

"I can honestly say I have landed in the perfect job for me. I love to write...doesn't really matter what I write, creatively or technically, writing is a pleasurable experience. It has allowed me to travel and for that I am grateful."

Peter grew up with the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew hardcover books.

"I loved them. I remember sitting under my blanket after lights out, sweating from the heat and the fear that gripped me as Joe and Frank carried on with another of their adventures."

It is with these wonderful stories in mind that Peter wrote "Holly Alexander and the Mystery of the Courthouse Square." This young adult novel will be released summer / fall 2012.

"I never really grew up. I have tried to write for adults but I find it difficult. I was a small, shy, and bullied kid growing up. I was nothing special. I had terrible grades, no idea what I wanted to do with my life and girls...wow, totally foreign to me. After I joined the Army those years faded quickly and I guess it has caused me to want to get those years back.

That is why I crave writing about young people who feel they are nothing special until I put them in a position where they have no choice but to become someone they never dreamed they could be. It is very uplifting for me to make heroes out of young people who believe they have nothing to contribute. It's an eye opener for me as well as for them when it happens."

Pete continues to write and publish through Simple Simon Publishing, a different type of publisher.

"Simple Simon Publishing is all about turning authors into entrepreneurs. For too long authors have felt dependent on the closed loop publishing industry to discover them and make them successful. Simple Simon's philosophy is you are not just an author but the best person in the world to sell your product...you and your writing."

Peter and his wife Carly have five kids who are all grown and on their own.

Peter has some original prizes he's giving away at the end of his tour. Two winners will win a pint jug of Butternut Mountain Farm Vermont Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Dark Amber, in honor of the main character of The Maple Express, Sara Maple, from the small town of Mapleton, Vermont. One grand prize winner will win an awesome Bachmann Trains Pegasus Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set.

Tour dates can be found: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/02/virtual-book-tour-maple-express-by.html.

Spring Really Is Here

I love spring, especially in the South. The colors are so intense its almost surreal, like an eternal moment before twilight. Winter is pretty when the snow falls but for the most part Mother Earth's colors are brown and gray. I'm just not a brown and gray fan...unless, of course, they're mixed with pastels and jewel tones.

We spent the weekend with the birthday boy. He and his wife are about four hours away, closer to the ocean. Their countryside is different from ours, lots of dense pine. But even if his location had been in the Sierra Desert or Nome Alaska there would have been no place I'd have rather spent the weekend.

Giveaways and Birthdays

I'll be out of town today and tomorrow, helping celebrate the baby boy's birthday.




In the meantime, why not drop by Night Writers and have a go at winning eight downloads.
www.sevennightwriters.blogspot.com