K.C. Kendricks's Blog, page 6
September 10, 2024
Watching men work
September 10, 2024
WHINE ALERT!!!!!!!!!!
What the hell is that in your backyard, you ask?
It's been a strange year. It was last September (2023) when my husband showed the first little signs that something was going on with him. It was over a year ago we began to contact different companies to drill a new well. I'm fucking tired.
I've needed a new well for quite some time. I have a cistern (Thank God!) and it has served me well for decades. However, with Ron's situation he had become unable to check the water level in the cistern and to take the required actions if we needed to purchase a load of water. If something happened to me, this would definitely be a problem for him. It may become a problem for me as I get older. Who knows for sure? Making life easier is generally a good thing to do.
Soooooooooooo.... the well drillers are here and that orange mess of wet clay is what is coming up out of the hole as they drill.
It's very distracting.
Instead of being about writer-ish things, I've been sitting in my sunroom office with the binoculars watching the guys work. Then again, watching a couple of men work is its own reward.
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KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.htmlSocial media links:Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks
twitter.com/kckendricks facebook.com/kckendricks
KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, LGBTQ gay romance, m/m romance, kindle romance, a writer's life, well drillers, rural living, contemporary gay romance, water for life
September 4, 2024
September Morning - available now
September Morningby KC Kendricks
Contemporary gayromance (stand-alone)
No AI was used inthe creation of this story
$1.99
Jagger Davis, JDto his friends, takes a summer sabbatical at picturesque Sandbridge Beach inVirginia to enjoy some sun, surf, sleep, and solitude. Arriving at a rentedcottage, JD finds sun and surf, but the cottage next-door houses six fun-lovingguys determined to include him in their summer activities. It’s quickly evidentJD won’t have time to feel lonely.
Nate Fischer isone of a group of friends who spend every summer at Sandbridge. An ITspecialist, Nate’s taking a few weeks off before his next assignment sends himout to sea for months. He introduces himself to the new neighbor and invites JDto the first bonfire of the season.
JD fends offadvances from Nate’s roommates as the two men grow close. JD harbors a secretin his past, one he worries Nate won’t accept. When Nate’s job abruptly callshim away, JD realizes his mistake in not giving his summer lover a fair chance.He must convince Nate he’ll be waiting when Nate returns - if Nate still wantshim.
Available at:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E1ZFGGM
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01E1ZFGGM
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01E1ZFGGM
Rakuten/Kobo: http://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/september-morning-3
Universal link to additional online vendors: https://books2read.com/u/38oGrb
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KC Kendricks
My home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html
My home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html
Social media links:
twitter.com/kckendricks
facebook.com/kckendricks
Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier SmokeyDeuce: deucesday.blogspot.com
My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
August 26, 2024
Ebb and flow - it's not steady or predictable
August 26, 2024
I've been neglecting my blog. I think it's all part of the ebb and flow of grieving the loss of my husband. Some things that I thought would get easier seem to be more difficult and vice versa. Suffice it to say this is a strange time for me.
I knew yesterday that today might be a problem. Most of my chores are done and what remains can't be accomplished yet as I'm waiting on other people. I like to stay busy and keep up on my chores. If I fall too far behind, I may never catch up.
Having nothing of consequence to do might seem like heaven to a lot of people, but I'm not geared that way. Having to wait for others makes me restless. These are my chores and projects, and I know they don't attach the same importance to my projects as I do. And so we wait.
"Go write," I tell myself, but I know better than to force the words when I'm so focused on other things. Even writing this blog entry is challenging.
Is it unreasonable to attempt to control the ebb and flow of events in my life? Perhaps I should aim for a 50/50 split between managing and just letting the rivers run.
And maybe I should go plop my ass on the old Husqvarna and make a pass through the woods to keep the briers from taking over. Yeah, that might be the best plan to get me rolling on the day.
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KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys:
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at:
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html
Social media links: twitter.com/kckendricks pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards instagram.com/kc_kendricks facebook.com/kckendricks Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricksLife through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, m/m romance, LGBT contemporary gay romance, a writer's life, widow, ebb and flow, blogging, grief management
August 2, 2024
Stepping back to refocus - new video
August 2, 2024
Guess who managed to do another video? Yep. I got one finished and it's posted. This one is called "Stepping Back," and in it I talk about how sometimes I need to get my hands busy on a project so I can clear my head and refocus on a story. I think I'm going to leave this one up - comments be damned.
I hope you'll check it out!
KC
July 14, 2024
Does it need comment?
July 14, 2024
Yesterday, former president Donald Trump held a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and was nearly assassinated. I learned about it when a girlfriend called. She signed off to watch the news. I was luckier. I went to YouTube because I knew multiple reports with first-hand videos would be posted, and discovered Mike Morgan had just started a live stream. I was a little surprised to learn he actually attended the rally and was there when the shots were fired. I listened to his first-hand account and not what the news media spewed forth. I hope YouTube allows him to leave the video online.
Does this evil thing, this deliberate attempt to take a life, need comment? Perhaps it does.
It is not "okay" to murder a person simply because you don't care for their opinions. It is not "okay" to murder a person because you don't like the political party to which they espouse. Don't like the color of a person's hair? Don't like the shoes they wear? Shake the sand off your sandals and walk away.
I'm more aligned with the Libertarian point of view than with the Asses and the Elephants. Libertarians feel that personal freedoms and personal responsibilities are important. Mainstream politics not only divide us, but restrain us. We need to break free of that bondage because that's what our obsession with politics is - bondage. Our personal liberties, our freedoms, are paramount.
I'm not a Trump supporter or a Trump hater. The man exists and he's living his life. Fair enough.
I find it astonishing (and maybe I shouldn't be surprised) that so many people believe it would be acceptable to assassinate a former president. Don't they know what that will do? Assassinating this man will elevate him to the status of JKF, RFK, and MLK. Just the attempt elevates him to stand beside Ronald Regan. I doubt that was the intention, but here we are.
The next few months will prove educational. My plan is to observe the people around me and tread carefully. I will not engage in political debate. I fear if I do, I may lose respect for some of those people I have considered friends.
Yes, it's a sad day that it has come to this. Hate has brought us here. I thought we were better than this.
KC Kendricks
July 4, 2024
Independence Day 2024
July 4, 2024
To my late husband and me, Independence Day was a day of family and reflection. Ron enlisted in the Navy as the Vietnam conflict was ramping up. In his day, his father landed on a Normandy beach. His uncles, brothers, and many cousins also served. We didn't go overboard with flying flags and plastering the homestead with red, white, and blue decorations, but instead, we quietly observed the day. It feels different this year with him gone.
What isn't different is me sharing my favorite patriotic Internet guy. What isn't different is me bemoaning the fact that no matter what angle I look at the photo from, I can't see the goods.
Okay. I get it that this isn't exactly in the spirit of the day, but if that photo doesn't make you want to celebrate, you need to lighten up!
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KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys:
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at:
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html
Social media links: twitter.com/kckendricks facebook.com/kckendricks Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricksLife through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, Independence Day, LGBT gay romance, m/m romance, Kindle romance novels, guy with flag, celebrate, my opinion
June 28, 2024
And once again
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June 28, 2024
Life never goes as I plan, or even hope. I've made a little headway on the writing front, but not enough to feel good about it, much less brag. This June now ending has been a whirlwind of activities I didn't see coming down the pike at me. The major heat wave that sent us to scorched earth status did not help either.
Don't get me wrong because I'm not complaining about getting lunch and dinner invites. I'm not complaining about the temps cresting the 100F mark. Deuce had a bit to say about it over at Deuce's Day, but he has black fur and he was not a happy puppy. I think it's very nice of "my" people that they feel the need to check on me and make sure I'm okay. Ron's been gone for three months, and they care. But it's only possible to write if I'm at the computer.
Again - I am not complaining.
I knew getting into a new groove would be difficult, but I looked forward to having some structure back in my day by now. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me to relax and go with the flow instead of putting myself on a schedule. Who knows?
I do know that going with the flow isn't easy for me. There are so many projects up in the air that I think I'm losing my mind! The new well isn't drilled (thanks to a hold up in the county permits office), the Charger hasn't gone in for an oil change (it's not overdue so not critical), the John Deere 1023 hasn't been serviced (simple filter changes), the woodyard is still a mess, and the shed is only halfway reorganized. And there are still items to be completed to finalize Ron's estate. I know it will all get accomplished in due time, but I'm stressing over the mountain all that has created. One step at a time, right?
None of this is insurmountable. I simply need to make a phone call to the garage, stop by the John Deere dealership to purchase the filters, and go to Lowe's or Home Depot for some heavy-duty hooks and brackets for in the shed.
But now I have to go get ready to meet a friend for lunch and some retail therapy. It looks like this blog post may be all I get written today. Go with the flow, right?
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KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.htmlSocial media links:Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KCKendricks
twitter.com/kckendricks facebook.com/kckendricks
KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, LGBT gay, Kindle romance, rural living, life after loss, family, gardening, John Deere, Dodge Charger
June 15, 2024
Video: A Patio Chat
June 15, 2024This week now ending has been full of activity. There have been the usual chores to do as well as a few extras. In preparation for the new well, a local gentleman I've known for years came and doused. He found the same spot his father did many years ago. I do believe there is something to it.
The drill manager came and went twice, taking measurements and such. He brought good news that I hope holds true. They hope to set up the drill rig this coming week. The "handyman" building a new deck for one of the cousins came and looked at the cistern. He'll clean and reseal it after the well is up and running. It may seem senseless to keep the cistern ready to go, but if the new well fails, I need a backup plan in place. Living on a severe water restriction is not any fun.
I worked on the writing, too. It feels good to be back at it even in a smaller capacity. When I needed to take a break, I made two video segments - a garden tour and a patio chat. Once I got into editing them, I decided to tack the garden tour onto the end of the patio chat since it's not all that wonderful. Hopefully, I'll shoot a better yard and garden update next week.
The patio chat segment is okay. I'm learning more every time I make a video, so bear with me. I want to keep these videos "real" and not super edited and slick looking. Making videos is not my job. It's merely a hobby. I think it's fine if they look real. Will I get better at it? I hope so, but I don't want to go all slick and professional. Keep it simple and keep it real is the modus operandi for this.
The video is below if you'd like to view it, and if you want to subscribe to my YouTube channel and help the channel grow, I'd appreciate it.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_ KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html
Social media links:Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: KC Kendricks Between the Keys
twitter.com/kckendricks facebook.com/kckendricks
KC Kendricks, Rayne Forrest, Between the Keys, YouTube videos, author chat, country living, m/m romance, time management, black Labrador Retriever, contemporary gay romance, LGBT romance, Kindle romance books, gardening
June 4, 2024
Forward progress!
June 4, 2024
Forward progress was made today! I was determined to accomplish two things and both of them worked out great. I incorporated an idea into one of the WIPs and I fleshed out the premise and character bios for an idea I've been kicking around for a fourth story set in Centerville. I'm calling it a WIN!.
Maybe it was a reflection of the decal I put up above the patio doors this morning. "She believed she could so she did." It was an impulse purchase but it's something I need to remember. I need to set my mind to a task and do it. And maybe blogging yesterday maybe blogging yesterday about my unrest helped bring what I want into better focus.
Since Ron passed, I've been procrastinating on a lot of fronts. I've handled those things that were urgent, but let other things, like the writing, slide. It's been bothering me which is why I'm blogging about it again. I don't like procrastination. I don't like that I fell into that trap. And yet I know I need to allow myself some leeway. The death of a spouse changes everything.
Ron encouraged me to write. He was amazed, and a bit envious, that I could write not one story, but over seventy stories. In the early writing years, he sent me to the computer while he put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher. Times change but the memory of the ways he supported me remain. Now I need to remember his voice saying, "don't you have a book to finish?'
Yes, Ron, I believe I do. It may still take a while, but at least for tonight, I believe I'll actually get it finished.
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KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys: http://kckendricks.blogspot.com Visit my bookshelf at: https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.htmlSocial media links:Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: KC Kendricks Between the Keys
twitter.com/kckendricks facebook.com/kckendricks
KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, romance for Kindle, writers on writing, loss of spouse, procrastination, gaining focus, character bios, LGBT romance
June 3, 2024
I made it to here
June 3, 2024I sat down at the computer this afternoon with every intention of doing something productive.
I broke out in a cold sweat.
Having now stared at the monitor for the last little while, I wonder if it's too soon after Ron's death to entertain the idea of getting back to writing. Then again, I remind myself that grieving for him has no end, and I need to get on with it. I know this because I still grieve for my father, and he passed in 1983.
I want to write again. I have more than a few ideas knocking about in my brain, but sitting down at the computer shoves them into a box and closes the lid. It's very strange.
The past two months have been a whirlwind of completing task after task after task. I've reached the point where there are only a few loose threads to tie off and my beloved husband's life-on-paper will be consigned to a folder in a drawer. Perhaps this knowledge has me unsettled again.
Sometimes introspection can be burdensome. It's good to know yourself but it's also good, at least for me, to be able to set concerns aside and write. I don't want 2024 to be the year I don't complete a book, but if it is, I'll know the reason.
I'm sure some authors would advise me to pour my emotional unrest, my grief, into a book. That's good advice. Summer is here and the afternoons will be too hazy, hot, and humid to be outside doing anything more strenuous than sitting on the patio with a fan blowing on me. My air conditioned office would be a good place to hang out from about eleven o'clock until about six o'clock. But baring my soul when I'm not really in touch with it seems like a bad idea.
But like always, blogging has helped me focus. Blogging is like thinking with my fingers. I think I'm going to wrap this up and go back to one of the manuscripts I have started and see what "clicks" for me. After all, I made it to here so I may as well keep typing.
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KC KendricksMy home on the web- Between the Keys:
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at:
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/bookshelf.html
Social media links: twitter.com/kckendricks pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards instagram.com/kc_kendricks facebook.com/kckendricks Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: KC Kendricks Between the KeysLife through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com
Between the Keys, KC Kendricks, contemporary gay romance, m/m romance, LGBT romance, romance for Kindle, writers on writing, authors, focus, writer's block, time management
