Stephen Burckhardt's Blog: My Blog Ramblings, page 56
June 24, 2020
Wednesday Whatever: Self-Care Matters!
Hello Posse!
I hope everyone is having a great week and is happy and healthy. I don't know about you, but I am exhausted. I am having a difficult time focusing lately, I'm not sleeping, and honestly, I'm kinda b*tchy. My husband seems to think it is from the stress of trying to get everything set for the book release. I do stress a lot when a book first comes out, that is true.
I pay a professional editor, I edit the book, and my mother does too. You would think with this many eyes on it, we would catch everything but once in a while something still slips through. Some readers are quick to point out mistakes they find. Now, I do not mind that at all, I take that information as helpful, but I wish they would also tell me what they think of the story along with the editing critique.
I think the release along with the continuing CoVid19 saga the world is facing and having to go out in public next week for the first time in 3 months just as towns in our state here in Germany are being locked down again, all adds to my stress. Not to mention my dad (who is the face of Stephen) is in the hospital right now for tests and I'm on the other side of the planet. Because of all of this, I thought now would be a good time to do another self-care blog for anyone who might need to de-stress as much as I do.
I want to share with you
1. Consider doing less
This one is a hard one for me. My husband often tries to do things like vacuum the apartment and dust so that I can keep working on writing blogs and designing ads but being OCD it is very difficult for me to relinquish that control. Luckily he has a degree in emotional therapy and understands my struggle and helps me let some things go. It is okay if things doe not get done how you want 100% of the time. Sometimes it is better to "not sweat the small stuff".
2. Make time for reflection
It is easy to get negative with the ongoing pandemic. I am here in Germany and all of my family and lifelong friends are in the US. When I find myself focusing too much on what I am missing, I have to take time to notice and appreciate everything I do have in my life. I have an incredible, supportive, loving husband. I have a dog who instinctively works as a therapy dog for me. I have parents who still cheer my accomplishments even though we are so far apart and they have so much going on in their own lives. It can be easy to over look things like this sometimes, but they are really so very important.
3. Take a vacation
Actually going somewhere will have to be on hold for a while longer, but that does't mean you can't take time off work and relax at home. My husband and I are going to take some time soon and just enjoy being able to not work. I see lots of movie marathons, BBQs, and Fortnite squad battles in our future!
4. Commit to regular exercise
My husband has been doing so good at this since the stay at home orders came. He is down about 50 pounds (or more) since it started. He has a serious walking regime and works in other exercise with it. He has even found he kind of likes yoga. I'm starting to walk more, but I hyper extended my knee when the lockdown started and have been trying not to go to the doctor. So my workouts are going much, much slower.
5. Soak up the sun
Vitamin D! Getting some sun time is very important to mood and overall health. This is how our body creates vitamin D. Just 15 minutes a day can do a lot to improve your overall well-being. Just don't over do it. If you wear sunscreen, be sure to wait for at least 10-15 minutes after you have been in the sun before you put it on. Otherwise, the sunblock will prevent the rays needed to produce vitamin D from doing their work.
6. Practice meditation
I have been doing this more and more lately when I am starting to feel stress take hold. It is amazing what a little positive visualization and focused breathing can do for you. I have even been looking as buying a Tibetan singing bowl. I have found certain tones have an incredible effect on my constant headache. It really is interesting.
I hope you will give a few of these things a try and be sure to go to
Below, I am sharing a video on self-care for men. Too often men are expected to be the perfect, soldier who is never bothered by anything. As if somehow being human and having stress makes them less masculine. Nothing could be further from the truth. Men need self-care too! I hope you will check it out and share it with the men in your life. Heck, please share it with everyone.
Peace be with you!
Diannehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGkGP4B47k
June 22, 2020
Monday Movie Madness: The Over The Hill Gang
Hello Posse!
I hope you all had a great Father's Day yesterday and got to spend some time with your loved ones. With my father living so far away, I was not able to be with him but I had breakfast delivered to the house for him and mom and got to chat with him on video.
I am very thankful to the people at DoorDash in Wichita. They make it possible for me to send food to my folks on special occasions and they have been great about making the deliveries contactless since both folks are high risk. The delivery people have even given mom and dad personal messages for me when they deliver the food. If you want to have a meal delivered, give them a try. (I am not bing paid for that endorsement, just my sincere feelings.)
But for now . . . on with the movie!
Today's flick is another made for TV movie put out by ABC in 1969, The Over the Hill Gang. This western comedy centers around a band of aging Texas Rangers and stars
Texas Ranger, Oren Hayes (
When this movie premiered in October of 1969, it was the top rated program that week. This was quite an achievement, as a made for TV movie had never earned that status before. The success of this movie led to a sequel, The Over the Hill Gang Rides Again, which I will feature next week. These movies were used as pilots for a proposed TV series but ABC eventually passed on the proposal. They did spawn a semi-remake in 1988 titled Once Upon a Texas Train featuring country music legend, Willie Nelson, as the leader of an outlaw gang. I will feature this movie in a later blog.
Don't forget to check out
Don't forget to share this blog with your friends and groups and share the love of western movies! Now, go get your snacks and settle in, it's movie time!
,Full Movie on YouTube
https://youtu.be/R9LsqE6S99QJust a note: I will be switching my blogs around next week. Since more people have time to watch movies on the weekends, I was thinking of making Friday's "Friday Flicks" or "Friday Feature Films" and making Monday's "Manic Monday" or just k, Kris Nelson,Ricky Nelson, and e jokes then to help people start their week of with a laugh, or at least a smile. Feel free to let me know what you think. I love feedback!
,#blog #bloggers #MondayMorning #MondayMood #Monday #writing #writers #book #BookBuzz #reading #author #mustread #movies #westerns #westernmovies
June 19, 2020
Friday Funnies: Father's Day Edition
Hello Posse!
I hope you all had a great week and this blog finds you happy and healthy! This will be short and sweet as it is about 1:30 Am here ad honestly, I'm falling asleep. But I did not want to miss reminding you that Into the West Sharon Springs is on sale right now on Amazon and part four Into the West: Most Wanted is almost here!!! Just one more day so go to Amazon and order your book now, If you prefer paperback you can go to Barnes and Noble and order your paperback version there. Paperback will be coming to Amazon but it will just take a few days.
I am losing my battle to stay awake so on to the jokes!!!
In honor of Father's Day, here come the dad jokes . . .
,,Q: Why don't eggs tell jokes?
,,A: Because they'd crack up.
,,Q: What do you call a person with no body and no nose?
,,A: Nobody knows.
,,Q: Is this graveyard overcrowded?
,,A: Yes, I heard people are dying to get in.
,,Q: What concert costs only 45 cents?
,,A: 50 Cent with opening act, Nickelback!
,,Q: Did you hear about the man who invented knock-knock jokes?
,,A: He won a 'no-bell' prize.
,,Q: If you see a crime at an Apple Store, does that make you an iWitness?
,,Q: Is it inappropriate to make a 'dad joke' if you're not a dad?
,,A: Yes, it is quite the faux pa.
,,Q: Why are elevator jokes classically funny?
,,A: Because they work on so many levels.
and last but not least . . .Q: When does a joke become a "dad" joke?
A: When it becomes apparent.
Have a great weekend and to all you Father's out there, Happy Father's Day!!
Stay Safe,
Stephen
June 17, 2020
Whatever Wednesday: Part 5, Family Ties
Hello Posse,
I hope everyone is safe and healthy. I was working all day then the new season of Fortnight (yes, I am one of those geeks) dropped and my husband Pedro bought me the battle bundle to play this season. I took a break and was just going to play a few games but then I got a party invite from my friend Kairy, and well . . . I was distracted by squad rumbles in the creative area.
But I am here now and back to work. I have been designing the new cover for part 5, Into the West: Family Ties (you can see a very rough mock up of it to the left here). We wanted something to show that Elizabeth and Conner are still close even though they live in separate homes at the moment. I have been searching our photo databases and could not find anything that worked. I finally found a photo of two boys that looked good and with a bit of photoshop, I turned one boy into a girl, as you can see in the photo above.
I'm also working on contests. I have been trying to come up with something fun instead of the usual drawing a name for a signed advanced reader paperback giveaway of Into the West: Most Wanted. I have tried a trivia contest before with just three questions and we only got a few entries and no one got all three questions correct.
I am considering a scavenger hunt on Stephen's website. I would give you three questions that you can easily find the answers to on the different web pages. What do you think? What would be fun for you? Would you rather just enter to win? Let me know. We want these things to be fun for all of you.
During my break between parts four and five, I plan to be creating a few more fun things for the Members Only page. I am going to have a recipe section with recipe links I have shared in blogs but I am also going to start sharing recipes I mention in the books from the time period of the Into the West Saga Serial. I will have recipes I have mentioned in the books like Johnny Cakes and Cast Iron Skillet Biscuits plus I will include some Native recipes too. I just learned how to make Cherokee Fry Bread so you know that will have to be in there.
Plus, we want to add a games section with crossword puzzles, word seek, and other games based on the information from the serials and this period in American History. So if you haven't joined the Members Only page, now is the time to do it. It is free to join and you can quit at any time. You control your membership!
Don't forget Part Three Into the West: Sharon Springs eBook is on a countdown sale right now. Saving start at 67% off the regular price. That is a saving of $2. Hurry and download your copy today. The price starts going back up tomorrow!
Have a great night!
Dianne#books #serial #westerns #recipes #cooking #NativeAmericans #AmericanHistory
June 15, 2020
Monday Movie Madness: The Frisco Kid!
Hello Posse!
Look what I remembered to do! However, I am afraid this will be another short and sweet blog. I have been spending every waking moment (and many moments I should be sleeping) working on getting Part Four, Into the West: Most Wanted ready to go out to you this Father's Day June 21st. (BTW it is on pre-sale now!
Many people think you write a book and edit it and you're done. Not so for an indie author. I have to format my work for every different platform I want to make it available to, I design the covers, the website, the advertising, I manage, design, and produce all of the social media, marketing, and merchandise. It takes just about ever spare minute I can find.
Now, do not get me wrong, I'm not complaining about that! I love what I am doing but sometimes I have to choose where to spend my time. This week it needs to be on promotions to let people know the fourth book is FINALLY ready. A week or so after the release, I plan to take a break from most of the writing tasks before I start on Part Five, Into the west: Family Ties. My blogs will be more in depth again then.
But for now, on with the show!
The Frisco Kid is an American comedy western. It stars Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford, fresh off his Star Wars fame. Wilder plays a Polish rabbi, Avram Belinski, who is traveling to San Francisco with a Torah scroll where will be the new rabbi at a synagogue. Belinski is trusting and very naive. He meets up with a group of con men who trick him into paying for supplies for them all to head west together. Unfortunately, the men rob him and just leave a few of his personal belongings littered along the trail.
Despite his misfortune, Belinski is still determined to make it to San Francisco. With luck, he meets a few kind and helpful people on his travels. As he makes his way west, Belinski meets tommy Lillard (Ford), a kind-hearted bank robber who befriends him.
Through many trials and tribulations (and laughs) the pair form a great friendship as they face off once more with the conmen who took advantage of Belinski. They manage to get his belongings back but when the men cross paths again, not all will walk away. Belinski has a crisis of faith as he is forced to deal with realities in the Wild West. Lillard comes to his friends aid once more to help him find his way back to his faith.
In the end, Belinski finds a home in San Francisco and settles down in the community there with a new bride and his friend Lillard by his side.
This movie is another great Gene Wilder classic from this time. He shows off his comedic timing from start to finish. Harris Ford holds his own opposite Wilder and shows his acting talent is just as good on horseback as it is in a starship.
Be sure to check out
,Enjoy!
,Stephen
https://youtu.be/B8o1ZYVPfsY
#MondayMovieMadness #Movies #Snacks #Recipes #Westerns #WildWest #Cowboys #Blog #Monday #Books #Author #WritingCommunity #Reading
June 13, 2020
Friday Funnies (on Saturday): Books!
Hello Posse,
I was very distracted yesterday working on the release of Into the West: Most Wanted and completely forgot I had not written this blog yet. Normally, I write all my weekly blogs and social media posts on Mondays and set them to publish through out the week. This week, I have been working on the book release for part 4 Into the West: Most Wanted and few things have just been lost in the mix.
Now, here is the good news! Do you know someone who has not read my saga, The Into the West Saga Serial yet?
Well, now is the time to introduce them to my award-winning serial!
Check out these freebies and sales!
June 13-14
Download a
FREE
copy of
I
This volume contains both part one, my award winning
Into the West: The Orphan Train
, and part two,
Into the West: A New Home
in one volume.
June 15-20
Part three,
Save $2 off the download price at the
beginning
of the sale.
Over the time of the sale the price moves slowly back up to $2.99 on June 21st.
The sooner you buy it, the more you will save!
June 21 - Father's day!!
Into the West: Most Wanted
,(
,,June 26
I,nto the West: Most Wanted
HOW CAN YOU BEAT THESE DEALS?!
Well, enough self promotion for today. I know you all come here for the funnies not for me to talk about myself all the time.
Now for the jokes!
If you think about it, ,whenever a character congratulates another character in a book for being clever, it's basically just the author congratulating themself for being smart.
I’m reading a book about antigravity. It’s impossible to put down!
,I had plans to begin reading a book about sinkholes, but they fell through.
Q: What do you get when you mix alcohol and literature?
,Expressing how in love you are in your romantic relationship by comparing it to,Romeo and Juliet,, is kind of like ,illustrating how close and well-adjusted your family life is, by comparing it to ,Hamlet.,
Want to hear a joke about a piece of paper? Never mind . . . it’s tearable.
I have written a book on Penguins. In hindsight, paper would have been better.
Today I launched a book aimed at 9-12 year olds . . . and I’m proud to say I actually managed to hit one!
I bought a book about the dangers of deforestation.
The first page says, “You’re not helping!”
Last but not least . . .I just finished this book about Mount Everest. It was a cliff-hanger.
Thanks for following my blog, be sure to share this blog with your friends so they can pick up my free books and maybe buy part 3 on sale and, with luck, like the first three so much they will buy number 4! It's good to have a dream!
Have a great rest of your weekend!
StephenJune 10, 2020
Whatever Wednesday: Iced Tea Day!!
Hello Posse,
The blogs are going to be short and sweet this week as we are pushing like mad to try to get the advertising and promotions ready for a Father's Day release of Into the West: Most Wanted. If we cannot get them done in time, we might have to push things back to Independence Day. But we want to release it ASAP! Lord knows you have all been patiently waiting for it long enough!
We are also going to be dropping the Quarantine Boredom Busters as most places are opening up and people are going out again. We will be adding Family Time Ideas once in a while on Fridays with fun family time entertainment for the weekends.
Today happens to be National Iced Tea Day! I do love me some iced tea! I have always preferred it over soda any chance I can get it. That is one of the things I truly miss about living over here in Germany at the moment. Iced tea is not a thing here unless you go to Starbucks or a few select restaurants but none of them just have plain iced tea like back in Kansas. It all has fruit flavors or Tapioca pearls and not very much ice. It's just not the same!
Now, while I prefer plain iced tea with a tiny bit of Stevia and lots of ice, I know many people prefer something a bit more interesting so I found a few recipes that you might like to try.
Citrus Thyme Iced Tea
by Lipton Lavender Mint Iced Tea
by Home Grown Provisions
Passion Fruit, Iced, Bubble,
by Bubble Tea Supply
And for those who are of legal drinking age, we give you . . .
Long Island Iced
by BBC Good Food
We do not recommend anyone consume alcohol if you are under the legal drinking age. If you are of legal age to drink alcohol, please drink responsibly.
I hope you all have a great week and can enjoy the weekend.
Cheers!
DianneJune 8, 2020
Monday Movie Madness: The Frisco Kid
Hello Posse!
I am afraid I will be postponing this blog until next week. I have been in bed all day with a horrid migraine. On a good note, I have finished the edits for Into the West: Most Wanted and will be working on the cover for the print version tomorrow. I had hoped to do that today but it is just not happening. With luck it will be finished and ready to upload this week!
Thank you for your understanding. I promise to get toThe Frisco Kid next M
onday.
Stephen
June 5, 2020
Friday Funnies: Bug Edition!!!
Hello Posse!
I thought I would keep the bug theme going from Dianne's Wednesday Whatever blog. SO today we will have jokes focused on all the things that crawl, creep, and skittter. Plus some recipes in today's Quarantine Boredom Buster so after you laugh a the bugs, you can eat them too! This will be a great blog to share with the kids!
So now, on to the jokes! Enjoy!
Stephen
Q. When is a baseball player like a spider?
A. When he catches a fly!
Q. Why wouldn’t they let the butterfly into the dance?
A. Because it was a mothball.
,Q. What do you call a fly without wings?
,A. A walk.
,Q. Why did the fly never land on the computer?
,A. He was scared of the world wide web.
,Q. What creature is smarter than a talking parrot?
,A. A spelling bee!
,Q. What kind of place should you never take a dog?
,A. To the Flea Market.
,,Q. What did the bee say when he returned to the hive?
,,A. "Honey, I'm home!"
,,Q. What do you call a snail with no shell?
,,A. Homeless.
,,Q. What kind of bug hates Christmas?
,,A. A humbug.
,,Q. What's an insect's favorite sport?
,,A. Cricket.
,,And last but not least . . .
,,Q. What is worse than finding a worm in your apple?
,,A. Finding half a worm in your apple.
Quarantine Boredom BusterThese bug snacks were just too cute to pass up. It can be difficult to get kids to eat healthy but these insect inspired snacks just might do the trick. Personally I think the apple snail with peanut butter, pretzels, and celery looks yummy! I might have to try that one myself!
For recipes, visit:
https://www.fantasticfunandlearning.com/bug-theme-healthy-snacks-kids.html
,Bon Appétit!
,#FridayVibes #Health #HealthyFood #Natural #blog #Writer #writerslife #COVID19 #COVID #Bugs #jokes #humor #recipe
June 3, 2020
Wednesday Whatever: Natural Bug Repellants
Hello Posse,
I am already seeing a lot of posts from friends who are having a problem with chiggers and other annoying summertime pests. There are so many store bought bugs brands that contain harmful chemicals, I thought I would share a few recipes for homemade bug repellents that will not harm you or the environment.
Wellness Mama: "This article was medically reviewed by
Pet Bug RepellantAre you looking for natural bug repellents for our pets? Check out
They have some great suggestions for keeping your furbab pest free this summer as well as other articles with more information on how to naturally treat numerous aliments that can plague your pet.
Take care, Posse! I hope you have a pest free summer!
DianneQuarantine Boredom Buster
Let's keep the bug theme going with some Bug games for kids! Check out Pest World for Kids' website and you will find all kinds of fun and informative games for kids, not to mention bug crafts, ebooks, and more!
It is always a great time when you can have fun and learn something new!
Keep watching our social media, announcements coming soon!!
#WednesdayWisdom #Natural #blog #Writer #writerslife #COVID19 #COVID
