Sandra Cox's Blog, page 90
November 5, 2020
November 4, 2020
Did You Know
Did you know that when John Adams took the oath of office, none of his family were present, not even his beloved Abigail?
The nation at that time consisted of sixteen states.
AND
November 3, 2020
IWSG Wednesday
The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.
Thanks, as always, to Alex Cavanaugh, founder and Ninja Captain extraordinaire and our awesome co-hosts.
The IWSG monthly question can be found under the IWSG Sign-up tab on the Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog. Remember it’s optional.
November 4 question – Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I rite to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?
Per usual, another great question. I’m afraid my answer isn’t as grandiose as Camus or O’Conner. I grew up on Westerns and it seems to be what my readers respond to. Though, it took me many years and genre hops to figure that out.
AND…
October/November Reviews in no particular order.
SAM, A Shaggy Dog Story by Sally Cronin This is a very sweet story told from the dog’s point of view. Sam, a gorgeous collie, tells about his time spent in both Ireland and Spain. There are some bittersweet moments when Sam loses some of his animal friends, but overall it’s a happy, feel good read.
It’s obvious that Sam is both loved and cared for and that his owners are animal lovers. All animal people will enjoy this dog’s tale. I know I did.
FLIP MY HEART by Elizabeth Seckman A taut romance leavened with feel-good humor.
Rodanthe Luna Lawry, who goes by Danni, returns home to North Carolina to attend her aunt’s funeral and runs into her childhood sweetheart Fisher. Who is the reason she left home in the first place. Fisher has a volatile temper that frequently trips him up in his pursuit of Danni. She also gets reacquainted with Tori, a nasty vindictive piece of work, who claims to be her friend. Toss into the mix a rundown hotel that needs remodeled, a young girl who needs adopting and you have an intriguing romance. The ending makes it a most satisfying HEA.
SLEEPS WITH THE FISHES by Suzanne Marie Knight This cozy has it all, romance, mystery-murder and humor. Sedona West has moved to the small town of Cozy Haven, Montana to recover from a nasty divorce and finds herself smackdab in the middle of a murder--her ex-husband. And wouldn't ya know, just when she's sworn off men she's garnered the interest of two hunky males.
The author did a wonderful job of world and character building, helping the reader to dive right into the story. I found it to be a very enjoyable read. A book to be appreciated by cozy murder mystery fans and readers who just want a few hours of escapism.
MAGICAL WHISPERS by Balroop Singh
I loved this book of verse. So many of the poems are filled with the joy that can only be found in nature. Others concentrate on magic and sprinkle a little fairy dust on the child in all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it to be an inspiring read
Trad
MEMORY MAN, THE LAST MILE, THE FIX, THE FALLEN, REDEMPTION and WALK THE WIRE by David Baldacci This is a riveting series that the HH got me hooked on.
Amos Decker is a newly-pro football player who plays his first game and take a head hit so hard that he dies twice on the field before he’s carried off never to play football again. The hit scrambles his brain and leaves him with hyperthymesia, a condition that doesn’t let him forget anything, including the murder of his family, and synthesia were he sees things in color. Death is always blue.
After the violent loss of his family, he goes from being a cop to homeless on the streets then claws his way back.
AND...
November 2, 2020
It's Tuesday
If you haven't voted...today's the day.
A shout out on the home front. My sister was a finalist in the global CIO Awards for Nestle.
AND
The saga continues.
As you probably remember fridge #1 was dropped in the driveway. This is our second. It's an upgrade and is exactly the style we wanted. Pretty innit. Unfortunately, one of the cooler drawers fills with water, the ice maker doesn't work properly and it gets frost spots. FYI: It's a Samsung.
.
Update: Sooo...they brought us a new one, then decided the current one, fridge #2, hadn't been properly set up, made some adjustments to #2 and took the new one away instead of leaving it.We came home from grocery shopping Monday and the drawer had filled with water. Again. We are getting a different refrigerator, #3, that's a different brand (GE), Wednesday. Ya can't make this stuff up.Have you voted? Bought any new appliances?
October 29, 2020
October 28, 2020
Did You Know
Did you know, as Washington left office he warned against "the baneful effects of the spirit of the party."
OR that a fourteen year old may have found the cure for COVID?
October 27, 2020
October 26, 2020
It's Tuesday
Greetings Blogger Buds,
It's turned chilly and wet here, and the leaves have started tumbling down. What's it like there?
Did anyone watch the documentary on Eleanor Roosevelt? It was fascinating. I had no idea she was such a large figure in civil rights. Did you know at one point the KKK put a bounty on her head? Or that she was our representative when the United Nations was formed? If you haven't seen it and get an opportunity I highly recommend it. I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
AND
The eternal garden is getting straggly, but it's holding on. Below is the last bloom of the Iris for the year. Or so I'm assuming:)
AND
Our pans are so old. One belonged to my grandmother and she's been gone a number of years. So, we recently broke down and bought a new one. It's two and a half quarts and has all kinds of upgrades I didn't realize pans have nowadays. How sad is it to get excited about a pan. I have no life.
It has---drumroll:
A pour spot.
A filter on the lid.
A steam release on the lid.
And marks off the number of cups on the inside.
I nearly didn't get it because of the handle being the same material as the pan and I thought it would be hot. Note the air holes on each end. It keeps the handle cool. Who'd a thought.
It's the little things:)
AND
We almost had a new fridge, but the delivery crew didn't tie it on and it fell off the dolly in the driveway. I watched as in slow motion it toppled onto the cement on its side. Sigh.
AND
On the writerly front. I've finished GWEN SLADE, BOUNTY HUNTER. It's currently being edited. I'm hoping to release it in December.
October 22, 2020
Friday's Great Read
Thank you Sandra for having me – October 23
My pleasure, Balroop.
Book Blurb:
I wait for whispers; they regale my muse. Whispers that can be heard by our heart, whispers that ride on the breeze to dispel darkness and ignite hope. I’m sure you would hear them through these poems if you read slowly.
‘Magical Whispers’ would transport you to an island of serenity; beseech you to tread softly on the velvety carpet of nature to feel the ethereal beauty around you. The jigsaw of life would melt and merge as you dive into the warmth of words.
In this book, my poems focus on whispers of Mother Nature, whispers that are subtle but speak louder than words and breathe a quiet message.
Each day reminds us
It’s the symphony of surroundings
That whisper life into us.
Book Information:
Title: Magical Whispers
Author: Balroop Singh
Genre: Poetry
Available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KJQ6K5D
US UK DE FR ES IT NL JP BR CA MX AU IN
Excerpt:
Colors
The day sun descended
With all his fire
To dilute the heat
Even clouds couldn’t peep.
I watched with a gasp
When an azure pool
Changed its color to gold,
Heat flew like splinters.
Mother earth endured all.
Breathing quiet messages,
Branches stoop to offer shade
Moments of harmony sway.
Now this pool knows magic
As it changes colors
Passion and serenity meet here
When moon lends its silvery glow.
© Balroop Singh
Balroop Singh, a former teacher and an educator always had a passion for writing. She is a poet, a creative non-fiction writer, a relaxed blogger and a doting grandma. She writes about people, emotions and relationships. Her poetry highlights the fact that happiness is not a destination but a chasm to bury agony, anguish, grief, distress and move on! No sea of solitude is so deep that it can drown us. Sometimes aspirations are trampled upon, the boulders of exploitation and discrimination may block your path but those who tread on undeterred are always successful.
When turbulences hit, when shadows of life darken, when they come like unseen robbers, with muffled exterior, when they threaten to shatter your dreams, it is better to break free rather than get sucked by the vortex of emotions.
A self-published author, she is the poet of Sublime Shadows of Life , Emerging From Shadows, Timeless Echoes and Moments We Love– all widely acclaimed poetry books. She has also written When Success Eludes, Emotional Truths Of Relationships Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited and Allow Yourself to be a Better Person.
Balroop Singh has always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling leaves and the sound of waterfalls. The moonlight streaming through her garden, the flowers, the meadows, the butterflies cast a spell on her. She lives in San Ramon, California.
You can visit her blog at: http://balroop2013.wordpress.com
Connecting links: https://twitter.com/BalroopShado
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emotional-Shadows/151387075057971
https://www.pinterest.com/balroops/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7340810.Balroop_Singh
October 21, 2020
Did You Know
Did you know, Thomas Jefferson was fascinated by mastodons and believed they still roamed the country, particularly in the West? He asked Lewis and Clark to bring back samples of bones they found from their famous expedition. (I'm assuming this was any unusual, large bones.)
