Jude Stringfellow's Blog, page 17

Home Gym - - No Steroids!

 So, Laura and I were members of the YMCA right across the street from our apartment, but they closed. Since then, I have told myself that I'll walk the hood, the parking lots, etc., but then summer hit, and yeah, those 100+ temps (even the 90+ temps) kept me from doing that. I've grown a bit stiff, to say the least. I realized how bad it was recently, and though I know myself and know I won't drive to a gym and work out, I can go to Sam's and walk. I've done that a number of times. Laura and I got a little more serious about the situation, and here's what we did.

    First of all, we moved to a place that had more room. We each have our own bedrooms, but we also have another room for our individual offices. We bought gym equipment and stored it in various places around the house - it is truly a home gym! In my office, I have the mini-treadmill and the mini-vibration plate, but I also just bought a 40" round indoor trampoline with the "U" handle, so I don't accidentally fall over when I'm bouncing - - that wouldn't be too pretty; not at all. 

    Laura bought a workout bench, weights, and a power tower! We have those set up in what would have been the dining room, but neither of us really wanted to sit at the table and chat while we ate, so yeah, the table and chairs were given away, and we invited the power tower and the bench to take their place. She has the larger vibration plate in that room as well.  She also has a workout mat with smaller weights in her room; I have a smaller set, but I'm old, and she's bulking. I'm trying to stay fit and toned.

    I have a really cool thing that you use to strengthen your core and arms. It's a stick with a heavy-duty spring; we also have battle ropes outside. The entire thing, all of it, was about the same cost as our one-year membership at the YMCA! I'm not kidding. And we can keep these things here—we don't have the use of their other equipment, which we miss, but we can make due. When the weather cools down, which it's beginning to do, we'll walk more, use the ropes more, and find ourselves walking the hood to say hi to our old friends who live so very very far away - about a city block - - nearly a city block.

    We're both pretty excited about the new equipment. I have to be honest and say that I'm not good at it yet, but when I pass by the power tower, I get up on it, do a few leg lifts, and consider myself in training for the next time I try to outdo what I just did. Soon, maybe not too far down the road, I'll do 10-15 in a row instead of 3. I'll get there. I'll get there!! It will happen, and I'm sure I'll do the dance when it does.  I'll do another type of dance when the trampoline comes in this week. I will be honest; I'm much more of a mover than a lifter. I'd rather bounce and walk than lift - but I do see the benefits of both.

    We're not fancy - but we have fun, and we reward ourselves with compliments and encouragement. Like I said, she's bulking and going for a different body shape than I am. I want healthy, strong, good bones and a fit frame with the right amount of flesh to keep me healthy, and yeah, I want to feel like I've done something for myself. None of what we are trying to achieve is for anyone other than ourselves. We're not trying to compete or show off -- just be happy, fit, have fun, and know that our investment has paid off.  I think we've achieved all that.

Photo Credit: me

Meet Mervin! (The Perfect Pet)

 My daughter Laura had just returned her newest bearded dragon to PetCo because it wasn't doing well. She had adopted it about three weeks ago, and over that time, we took the little thing back twice for an obvious respiratory issue.  I told her, and others have, too, that pet store chains such as PetSmart and PetCo don't usually have better animals; there are rumors about some of their vendors. I know I've had a couple of leopard geckos I've had to take back, and recently I returned a ball python, but not for illness. I just realized I wouldn't give her the attention she needed.

    When Laura took the dragon back, I knew she'd want to go to the more respectable pet and reptile store here in Oklahoma City with an excellent reputation; Exotic Pets on May Ave. They have a better track record of knowing exactly where their animals come from, and though it's not perfect, they try harder, and they have better-looking, healthier, and usually more vibrant animals to choose from. We went there - - Laura went through about ten different bearded dragons before choosing the leather-back lighter colored one; I was hoping she'd go for the brighter yellow and orange one that gave me the eye the entire time we were in the store.

    So, there I was, in the middle of the reptile store, a place I could stay in for a very long time. Something caught my eye and I immediately grabbed it -- I took it into my hands and decided right then, and right there, that no matter what it cost (I knew it wouldn't be too expensive)  I was going to take that puppy home with me - - it wasn't a puppy. I just call things puppies when they aren't actually puppies.  I saw a green, fully-grown Komodo dragon! MINE! That's right....I picked it up with one hand, knowing he would go home with me.

    I even had a name picked out for the guy—Mervin. I named him after the very patient and helpful (U.S. Army soldier) who helped us with Laura's bearded dragon decision. He told me that the Komodo dragon I held in my hands was the perfect pet—and he is. He was also only $10.99, and though he is 100% hard rubber-plastic, he is exactly what I need to sit on my mousepad to keep me and the wireless mouse company. He is amazing! 

    While I waited for Laura to pull out her credit card and buy Mervin for me, I found my right hand unoccupied. I decided to stick it wrist deep into a big bowl of blue-horned worms at the front of the store to entertain folks and give them something to look at and talk about. I asked permission before I picked them up, but you haven't lived until you let fifty to sixty big fat sticky-footed worms crawl all over your hand while you wait for someone you love to pay for the Komodo dragon in your other hand. That was my day.

    Mervin came home with me, He's now sitting on the mouse pad just giving me the eye like the live lizard did. He's not really hungry, but to make sure, I did offer him a french fry. He declined. He's very quiet, too; in fact, he's not made a sound since I brought him home. I guess he will be one of the best things I've ever let someone else spend money on. Don't think I'm all that bad, OK? I bought Laura's lunch in return for her generosity. It was the least I could do. 

    I wanted to take home a handful of blue-horned worms, but Laura wouldn't let me - - who raised her? I still can't figure out her problem; she's never been interested in millipedes or spiders, either. At least I managed to get her to wrap her mind around reptiles - I have that going for me.

Photo Credit: Me.

Memories: Eighteen Years Ago Today

 On any given day, you could ask me what I was doing 18 years ago, and I would not be able to tell you -- but today, I can.  It was 18 years ago today that my son Reuben called me to ask me to meet him at the MAPS station in OKC to watch him swear into the United States Army. He was 20 years old.  The day is not without another story behind it, and I'll relate it as best I can, but I have also written it down, published it in my first blog book, and when it was happening (the first event) I wrote it in my son's baby book. It was that important.

    On September 21, 1985 - I found myself pregnant with a baby whose sex was not known publicly, but I knew.  I knew I was going to have a boy.  God revealed not only the sex of my child to me on September 21, 1985, but He also told me exactly what my son would become; I just didn't realize it.  It was a miracle in one way because it was a revelation of things to come. Time proved it to be true; so very true.

    I slept, and in my dream, I saw myself at the Oklahoma State Fair, held at this time of year. I was not alone.  I walked through the horse barns and saw where they were keeping the military animals - the word "Cavalry" was written in green on a barn door. I entered the room and called for my son, I used his name, "Reuben".  I found him; he was a grown man, not a baby. He wore jeans, a red flannel shirt, boots, and a baseball cap. He was kneeling in a stall, and he was praying.

    I told him, "Reuben, we have to go," his reply was, "In a second, Mom, I'm praying."  Standing up, he was over six feet tall, strong, and handsome. He stood behind me and guarded me.  When I looked up I saw my son, when others saw him they saw an amazing thing; they saw a black hooded knight with a swinging sword over his head - he was terrifying and they gathered themselves and ran away. I couldn't understand. I said, "Reuben, why are they doing that?" and he replied that his name was "Laurence Gregory."  That's when I woke up.

    I immediately looked up the name in my baby book; I had one. Laurence means "victory" and Gregory means "the protector".  My son was saying he was a Victorious Protector.  I told him his name was Reuben! (Reuben is my father's name, my grandfather's name, and his father's. It means "Behold my son".  My son Reuben Andrew was born on March 22, 1986 -- and on September 21, 2006, he called me to meet him downtown to be with him when he swore into the United States Army to become a Victorious Protector.

    When I arrived at the MAPS station, I walked into a room with a white door with the word "CAVALRY" written in green - - my son was in the corner with his new commanding leaders; they were praying. My son, Reuben, was wearing jeans, a red flannel shirt, and boots, and he held his baseball cap in his hands.  This is the most memorable day of a mother's life - when her son becomes her warrior.  When I was pregnant with Reuben, I watched Reggie White play ball, and I asked God to make my son exactly like that big, boisterous, wonderfully spiritual man, and He did.

    When Reuben joined the military, he went to Ft. Knox to be trained to drive Strykers and other equipment. He spent nearly four years in Alaska, then was stationed in Iraq, where he went to different countries to protect us. He eventually came back and joined the Indiana and then the Oklahoma Army National Guard so he could deploy again, this time to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, he met another American soldier, the woman he would marry.  Today, they have a home in Oklahoma and a baby girl, little Evie. In December, she'll turn one and receive a baby brother for her birthday. His name will be...wait for it...Reuben.

    Eighteen years ago today—39 years ago today—either way, September 21 is a big day in my life. As a side note, the United States Army is also known by its nickname, The Black Knights. Their mascot is exactly what the people saw when they saw my dream son.

Photo Credit: United States Army - 2006

THE Final Revision - Back on Track

 One of the hardest parts of being an author, and by that I could add being a self-service author, such as I am, is the revision work that you do to make your book as perfect as possible. When I do the writing, then the stuffing and the fluffing, the corrections, the once-and-twice overs, and subject the entire book to Grammarly, there's one more VERY important step that has to be done, and it's painful.

    I submit the book- it's up there with the publisher, and they put it all together and asked me to approve it. I have no choice but to do so because I can't read the same book on the computer monitor the way I have done at least 5 or 6 other times before sending it up to be published. It MUST be published in print format so I can order a copy and then review it again. I have to do it that way. If you go through a publishing house, they give you "galleys" to go through and make corrections, but if you're doing it on your own, this is the only way I know to do it; there may be another way. If there is another way, I don't know it yet.

    I sent it up, and it's published, I approved it, and I ordered a copy of it. It was printed and shipped, and I received it. Then, I spent the next two full days reviewing it page by page to find itty-bitty tiny or big fat ugly mistakes. I dog-ear the page, make the corrections in ink, and prepare to make them inside the computer when I finish. It took me a little extra time because the book cover was off- again, you can't see that online. It has to be in book form to see it - - and believe me, I saw it.

    The cover was literally 1/32 of an inch off, but that's too much. It had an odd fit that needed to be adjusted. I adjusted it. I fixed a gutter issue, but when you take part of the gutter out, you add space, which offsets your pages. You have to go back into the book and make changes again. I think the book may have an extra page or two at the end -- if it does, it does. People can use them to take notes! I hate this part because I am always unsure what I need to approve again and if I need to do yet another printout and revision.

    Of course, when it's done, I'll have one copy sent to myself so I can make adjustments if I need to. I may order two because if I don't need any further adjustments, I can send the book to Charlie Garrett, and he'll have one to hold and read; he's one of the stars in the book! I'll actually send him two of the books; that way he can give one to his wife. I just don't want there to have to be another round of revisions. I'm really hoping this is the only one I'll need.

    At the EXTREME end of the corrections, the computer decided to blip on me and opened up two pages instead of the one I was reading and going through. I wasn't sure if it had saved my corrections or not. Believe me when I say I didn't want to go through the whole thing again - I will if I have to, but I'm praying it's all fixed. I'll order two books, and if they're bad, they're bad, but if they're good, they go see Charlie! I'll then order myself a few more just to give out to friends and family, but Charlie is first.

    If I could change anything, it would be the age of the man on the front of the book's cover. It's a free photo, so I really can't complain, but Mat Conner is almost 50; and this guy is in his early 30s I think. Oh well -- I can't have everything! I guess if I wanted to I could redo the front - - but I'm not. Nope, it is what it is -- I like the cover, actually - I only changed the size of the spine - that was the part that was off by 1/32" of an inch. Can you believe it? Talk about details!! UGGGGHHH!

    Well, I'm 99% sure that by tomorrow they'll ask me to approve the book again, and I'll order two, and I'll even pay for them to put a rush on it - so I can get them in 1 week. If they're OK, I'll need to sign them and rush them off to Sarasota, Florida, to be with their new owners. It's worth it to see Charlie and Hideko smile - - both of them are just too precious. Let's pray it all works out - - it has to!!

Photo Credit: Me.

Online Shopping - - I'm Doin' it.

     It's kind of funny, really, because online grocery shopping has been going on for nearly a decade now. I don't remember exactly when it first came out. Still, I do remember all of the Walmarts making these little islands in their parking lots so shoppers could pull up and have their cars loaded by the folks who either did the shopping for them and brought it out to the folks who delivered the goods, or maybe the same people did the shopping and the loading. I really don't know.

    I was, and I can prove it, Oklahoma City's first "girl" sacker. I wasn't called a "female" sacker or just a sacker; I was Oklahoma City's first "girl" sacker, and I was paid $1.35 an hour at the time. I remember being the one girl in a store full of boys, behind the cashiers, sacking, moving from one bay to the next, to pack the groceries into the sacks just so -- and let me tell you, that yes, after this many years, (45 years I think) I am still able to pack a grocery sack correctly, like a fine-0iled Tetris machine. Those sacks are pristine - - perfectly balanced.

    The thing is, I love (LOVE) grocery shopping. When Peapods first came out over ten years ago, you couldn't get a local store to do what they did. There was a subscription; you had to join them, and you shopped online, paid online, and they delivered your groceries. You had to be without a car, older, or something; you couldn't just do it because you wanted to. There were rules. I couldn't even VIEW Peapods without joining, and I couldn't join if I didn't have a Chicago or Chicagoland address, so I faked it - - and I joined. It was free to join.

    I've been shopping online for fake groceries for YEARS, but I never did it for real until today. Why is that? Why did I wait this long?  The simple answer is I love grocery shopping. I like going into the stores and walking the aisles, reading the labels, etc., etc., only now, with all the things I have going on and the way Aldi only has ONE cashier to take care of 15 customers, I've decided to beat them at their own game. 

    There are other stores, obviously, there are other stores, but I'm really stubborn, and I like what I like. I love Aldi.  I go online and buy what I want, and now I do it for real - and I pick it up tomorrow after work. I could have it delivered, but it's less than 1 mile from my house, and they wanted $29 to deliver it. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.  It was supposed to be free; there's a sign about it and everything, but when I did the checkout - there was a $29 surcharge. I'll find out about it and change the status later, but at least I'm stepping into 2024, and I'm NOT standing in a line that strings from one end of the store to the back of it because they can't be bothered to hire enough people!

    Now, in their defense, if I shop at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, I can usually get in and out rather quickly, but I work then. I can only go after 4:00 p.m. or on weekends - not standing in their line! Nope. Not doing it. I'll still go to Sam's for meats, chips, and things I can get in bulk, such as breakfast bars, coffee, and pickles. The dog food is cheaper at Sam's as well. My chocolate is cheaper and better at Sam's. I'm not leaving Sam's. I go there to get my steps in - - and shop, but mostly to get my steps in.

    I'll still have to swing by Winco once a month to get anything I need in bulk - tea, pumpkin seeds, nuts, etc., but Aldi is my go-to store. I spent $144.00 even - couldn't do that again, I bet. I got enough for Laura and I for about two weeks - it's all good. They'll have it ready for me at 4:00 p.m. when I get off work, and I'll swing by and pick it up - - hopefully, nothing goes bad - I'll go as soon after 4:00 p.m. as I can -- maybe arrive at 4:04 p.m. LOL...like I said, it's literally 1 mile from my home. Good news? I love Aldi. Great news? It's still pretty affordable. Even better news? No lines, and I get to see if those jokers can stack and stuff paper sacks like I can. Boo-Yah!

Photo Credit:  Pinterest.com 

My New Christmas Tree.

     I am a member of Sam's Club, and I know I could buy a Christmas tree for less than what I could buy at most places, but when I checked, Sam's was more expensive than Amazon for virtually the same tree. I know you're saying to yourself, "So what, it's a stupid artificial tree; just get the cheap one and move forward," but that's not what I wanted to do. It's not what I did, either.

    I have this thing about blue spruce trees, and I really thought I would just get one of them and think it's a good thing - - and then I looked at the prices of the blue spruce artificial trees vs. the prices of a blue spruce real tree, and I decided that I'll get a real blue spruce and plant it here at my new house! I can do that, and then if I leave the house, It will have a really cool tree, but if I stay, I'll have a really cool tree for as long as I live here. Then, I remembered I was looking for artificial Christmas trees, and I didn't want to spend much money on a fake tree.

    Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Lowe's, and Home Depot all have 6-7 foot Christmas trees for under $100. That's when it hit me...I'm a member of Sam's Club! I'll see what they have - - the cheapest good-looking tree was well over $150.  I'm not going to do that. I'll do $100. I've decided on it, and there's no reason to go higher. I don't have it up all year (I did one year, but it was Reuben's tree, not mine), and I didn't have a good feeling about finding anything that looked good for that price, and I was right...there wasn't one.

    Home Depot rocked one for $150, same with Lowe's. I think the best I could find at any hobby store was closer to $129, but they weren't thick or sturdy looking. Where are the days of a cheap plastic tree? I could set up the 4-foot tree again - but NO.  I have a nice house, a nice dining area with a nice fat corner, and I'm setting up a nice tree...an inexpensive nice tree.  Amazon.  Yes, there were three or four to choose from, too! I bought one.

    The tree is 6.5 feet tall, so Brandon's height.  It's not a blue spruce, but a regular spruce. It's full, it's fat, it's fluffy, and it was literally $49!!  WHAT? Yes...it is undoubtedly the run-of-the-mill, average, basic, standard, no-thrills, no-bells, and no-whistles type of green tree, but it's sturdy and has great reviews.  I'll get a cute plaid blanket to go under it, and we'll make it as adorable as possible. We have a bunch of ornaments already and tons of little lights. It will be amazing. I bought a nice thick gold tone star to go on top - very standard.

    If I do anything right this year, I have purchased a good solid tree at a good solid price. I have no idea how many years we'll get to use it, but I fully intend to buy a good storage box to put it in so we can at least try to use it for a good 30 more years...that is if Jesus makes us wait 30 more years. It will be a good tree for our good home, and then again, every time I look at it I will say to myself, "You know, you're not a blue spruce, and I get that, but you were really a great value -- so yeah, you're in my house!" (You may not realize it, but I do actually speak to my trees -- it doesn't make them grow; they're plastic, but it makes me feel good.) 

Photo Credit:  Amazon.com

Office Chairs - - The Matrix.

         I am all but convinced that the office chair is the bane of my existence these days. I've gone through three in the past several weeks. It's not as if they disintegrated or anything, not at all. They simply did not work out for me. I moved to my new place in July, and my office chair could have been left in the dumpster, but no, I had to bring it -- don't ask me why. It was several years old, cracking (the seat edges), and it made a funny noise when I lifted or lowered the seat. That's a clear sign that the oil they put in the mechanism is gone! I should listen to my instincts. I should have just left it!

    I should also write down the make and model of the chair because if I like it, I could probably just order another one. I must have liked it; I kept it for four or five years. As time passed and chairs began to crack, this one also started to slope slightly in the front. I didn't notice it until I noticed it; I nearly fell out of it when I bent over to pick up something I had dropped.  That was the deciding factor to get rid of it. I'm not about to end up face-first on the hardwood floor in my office just because I wanted to pick up a Tootsie Pop stick! Nope! I refuse.

    The next day, after I nearly fell on my nose, I went straight to Amazon and bought a new chair. Bam! Done. It arrived, and it was not what I ordered. They had sent me the wrong chair. It was in the correct box; I can say that. The wheels were used as well. The chair was a "refurbished" model, but not the model I had ordered. I ordered another chair because that's how I am. I decided to get one that was armless and wider so I could sit cross-legged...that's exactly what I ordered, too! BUT....I didn't look at the picture well enough. I ordered a chair without wheels. Stupid me, I thought I could just buy a new base to go on it - - they cost as much as a new chair.

    I kept that chair; it is now what my friend sits in when she comes to visit. It is the "Jeannie chair".  I have a "Jeannie plate," too.  It's a big ceramic plate. I don't eat off larger plates, only smaller ones to control my portions. Jeannie likes bigger plates - I got her one. I'm that nice.  But as for the chairs...I had to order a new one. Amazon, again, to the rescue.

    The next chair I ordered was on sale and looked almost exactly like the chair I had kept for so long. When it arrived, I was super happy that it would be my new buddy for many waking hours of every day....until it wasn't. First, I had to put it together, and no, Laura did not help me much at all! She watched! She watched me struggle. I managed, and it was put together. After I turned it over and sat on it, I knew it, too, would be replaced. 

    The stiff plastic arms were not lower than the cushion on the side. My knees hit them when I crossed my legs. I always sit cross-legged on my chair - that won't stop, so yeah, the chair was a no-go. I even bought a 3" cushion to sit on, thinking it would raise me high enough to avoid the rubbing, but nope, it didn't help. I think it lasted a full week. I kept trying over and over again -- finally, I said no. It departed. I didn't have the original box to send it back, so I had to wait for my new chair to arrive so I could use that box.

    The new chair - the one I'm sitting in now, was (as you probably guessed) more expensive. Some things just need to cost more to be good for you, and cheating yourself in the world of office chairs is not the way to go. This one is for "Big and Tall" people because I cross my legs and need the 34" seat. This one has arms that raise and lower, independent of the chair's back. If I wanted to, I could go armless, but I'm good since I can raise my arm rests.  This one is a thick black, padded, mesh-backed chair, and I think it will work just fine.

    I'm keeping the 3" tush-cush thing to sit on; why not? It helps a little with the space for my legs, too; I like that. It's a good chair. It better be; it was not cheap. In the end, I should have just said to myself that I needed the best office chair in the first place and did what I did in the last place. I Googled "Best office chair" and got one with a 4.7 rating after 7,000+ reviews.  The chair I replaced had a 4.2 or 4.3 review but only 36 reviews. I should have seen that! At least I know now, and SO DO YOU!! If you go off and buy yourself anything, please check the number of reviews and their rating --it matters.  Comfort really matters.

    I think I'll name my chair. He's a big man - - he's a man because I wouldn't sit in a woman's lap all day....sorry if that offends, but it is the truth. The chair will be named GENTRY.   I like that name. He's rather ordinary in that he's square-backed but also very nice. He's sturdy, works hard, does his best to give me the comfort and security I need. I like Gentry, and I will keep his arms raised as high as they will go so I can use them to relax when I need to. He can keep them around me and make me feel that much more secure from having the feeling that I would or could end up toppled. Gentry is a good chair. I'm glad we met. 

Photo Credit: Amazon.com 

The. (The Book)

 If you know me, you know I'm a little different than most people. I put more emphasis on the odd, the out-there, or the unique than the stuff you run across daily. When I learned as a kid that the libraries and bookstores ignore the word "The," it bothered me. It has always bothered me. The word is too....well, it's essential. You say THE THIS or THE THAT, and it's THE one to mention or be associated with. Try going a day without using THE word THE.

    I decided to write my 15th book and title it "The" because of its content. I knew the content from the beginning. I didn't know how it would end - only that the two main characters would end together. At first, they wouldn't get married, but that changed. There were other changes, too. She was going to be black, he was going to be white, but then I just didn't keep that thought going. They say you should write about your experiences, and I didn't want to fake it or try to pretend.

    Leigh has my middle name, and the other character is Matthew James O'Conner. If I had been born a boy, I would have been Matthew James, but I think Mom would have given me two T's in Matthew. My character only has one. He's odd that way. I like him. He's attractive, fun, out there, and dedicated to being the best he can be, but he's unsure how to make it happen. That's where she comes in.

    She's a little too over the top sometimes. She's an extrovert who doesn't ask for permission or forgiveness. She's tough, but she's fair, and her idea of fun is writing, planning, working, and being busy - she's not someone to sit around and watch the world go by; she's a maker and a doer for sure.  She's from DeQueen, Arkansas, and I have folks over that way. I know enough about it to wing it - and that's what I did.

    Mathew was Jimmy Conner in his previous life, but circumstances forced him to change his name and start completely over from scratch. He was a top-notch chef and had been for years. He was seen on television and well sought out until he wasn't. He has a past, and she has a big heart, full of room to understand him. 

    Together, they work to help others who can't seem to make it on their own; they need help even if they aren't able or willing to ask for it. They are the "the" who are ignored, and Leigh and Mat want to give them the space, time, energy, and confidence they need to be who they can be if given the chance. It's a good book, and I liked writing it. I'm finishing it now and putting the last touches on it before it is submitted for publishing on Monday. 

    Officially, the publishing date will be September 1, but it won't be ready to buy until about September 18, when it is printed, returned to me for final inspection, and resent. I'll keep you posted. It will be in print and epub. The print is 343 pages, 85809 words, and will sell for $19, but the Kindle will be $4.99. Such a deal!

BOOK 15 Has Been Completed.

 I sat down and wrote the titles of the books I've written because I wanted to know how many I have written. I thought it was thirteen, but when I got them all written out nice and neatly using my handy-dandy bullet-point method—the one that has stood the test of time—I realized I have written 15 books.

    The 15th book was completed just today. Mind you, I'm not 100% done with it, but it is done. It is finished as far as the book goes. I have 323 pages and 33 chapters written. At last count, it was 83,887 words, and that's all good - but I do have the fluffing and stuffing to do. I have to be honest; I started the fluffing today. 

    I put the last sentence of the last chapter in at about 3:00 p.m. today, and started in on the fluffing. I'll do an entire day of fluff and stuff tomorrow and I'll get it all lined up with the page numbers in place, as well as the headers. I'll give it my best to do the headers correctly, but I've never gotten the machine to do what I need it to do, so yeah, it isn't perfect. That's OK, I'm not either. I doubt any readers can claim to be; we're good.

    I'll announce the title on Sunday when I send it up for publication. I may send it on Monday, but I'll still announce the title on Sunday. I've waited for September to arrive so I can remember the date; I do that. I like the 1st, and I like the 22nd of every month. I remember those days more often; it's a good plan. The title is worth the wait. You may not think so, but I do. 

    I'll start promoting it as soon as it's printed. I'll even do the EPub book simultaneously so that when I do promote it, I can tell folks to buy it in print or for their devices through Amazon/Kindle. It should be $4.99 I think, that's the going rate for a new book. It could be cheaper, but it's a reasonable price. I may give it away for 60 days, but only if Kindle and Amazon agree - they may not. They need to make something, too.

    Anyway, it feels good to know the lovers are happy; they have a dog and are literally riding off into the sunset together, but not on a horse; you'll have to read the book. It's fun. I do try. I added Aunt Sharon, a feisty 90-year-old, rather than having Leigh carry on with her besties on the phone. I have already done that in a couple of books. It's more realistic to have her get teased by her own family at times; We can relate.

    It's done....done...done..sort of. I'll be really done done in a couple of days, and I'll start the new new book. I can tell you the title of that one now. It's THE GRANGE.  The new new book is another novel, and rather odd, but fun where this one was more serious at times. There was a reason for it; the book deals with serious matters. 

    The Grange is quirky, to say the least, and maybe even creepy at times. The lead character does live in a graveyard in a family crypt that shouldn't have been annexed into the city, but it was. She demands her land back, even if it means squatting there before she dies and is buried there; it's hers, and she's not going to let it go.

    Fun times ahead!! 

Photo Credit: Alumni.ox.ac.uk

LAST Chapter - - ONE MORE to Go!

 If you had asked me before I wrote the book how many chapters it would have, I would have said the standard, maybe 30. I think I do 30 and think it's a good-sized book. If I do 29 or 28, they'll be longer and more detailed chapters. Can you imagine if I wrote a book with only one chapter? OMG...don't get me started. I may do that! That may have to happen.  There are 33 chapters in this book.

    So, I'm finishing the last sentence of the chapter today, and it hits me that this is the next to the last chapter. I have one left. That's it, only one. I need to wrap the book up, skim its entire word base and give off enigmatic time bombs, talk about this or that sort of thing that takes place, and then pull it all together with something that's been threading through it the entire time. I do that.

    I'll do that tomorrow. I'll finish the book tomorrow, right after work. I'm taking off at 12:00 tomorrow, so I'll write the last chapter then and start going through it for places I can fluff and stuff it. I'll fluff and stuff all evening and part of Saturday, then go through it for spacing, size, yada-yada, and then Sunday, I'll read it all the way through, making sure I didn't miss some of the things I wanted to say or needed to say, and I'll go through it that last time for grammar and punctuation issues. 

    I love Grammarly, but it can actually mess me up, too. It writes and speaks a little differently than I do, to say the least. My writing is my writing, and if I'm using the words "own" and "a bit" too often - so be it. I have to go through the book for random words, which I usually say. I have weaned myself off the "really" and "actually" because I know the AI will catch those; it rips me a new one when I do it. I laugh, but then again, I snarl, too.

    I have 30 pages of notes to go through the book with, to put this or that statement, thought, adjective, tale, or nugget into the book to make it just that much more whatever; it's what I do. I don't save the best for last, but I do a lot of spicing up at the end, and I'm always happy when I get through the process. The book will be ready to publish or sent up for publishing on schedule, making September 1 the publishing date. I'll need to do a final version after it's printed and after I go back over it, but the print date and the publishing date are very different. People can buy it on the print date...it's out there in the universe on the publishing date.

    I will announce the title on Sunday when it's been sent up for publishing - - I don't think the title makes me nervous, but I will say that it's a good title; I like it. I really, actually like it. (See what I did there? Ha!  Take that, AI!) 

Photo Credit:Popoptiq.com