Susie Duncan Sexton's Blog, page 6

Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

But say a prayer to pray for the other ones.
At Christmas time, it's hard but while you're having fun,
There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear
Where a kiss of love can kill you, and there's death in every tear,
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom.
Well, tonight, thank God it's them instead of you.
- "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band-Aid

I am not surviving. I am at my wit's end...or half of it!

I am so depressed by the election and by hypocrisy? And those poor souls in Syria. The world is a horror...starting with the frightening, clueless politicians. Namely the ones represented by an elephant symbol. What did elephants do to deserve THAT indignity? And why are we all just waiting around for the next surprise?



Some days I feel like the world hasn't evolved one itty bit. I hated every second of public school. My mom always was negative with me; too many people chronically lack the ability to offer a kind word in the most obvious of moments. Yep, my mom had a very odd way of even issuing the occasional compliment. I did not realize it at the time; I thought she was wonderful...until I didn't? Smart alecks pretty much turn me off...way off. In that way, I am like my dad. Absolutely. So, now I just stay away from the snide types...or go to sleep ... or watch TV...or adore my pets even more. (Except when the cat jumps into the toilet which happened for the second time this week. She thinks the lid is down, and she cannot get out...arghhhhh!)

Occasionally, these days, I get a vote of confidence from someone somewhere, maybe they are nearby, but more often they live far away in a big city. It's a comfort, but it also reminds me about how isolated I too often feel. I hope I can hang on to what is left of my sanity. I have been crying daily; today my eyes are even swollen. And my computer is in a room as cold as a meat locker. Have a great holiday season...mine already sucks.



Wow, how I wish I could impart my thoughts to somebody other than my cat. So, I'll just soldier on and ache inside as usual. No wonder I look so damned old. Probably just as well that I shut up now. No wonder I write. I have absolutely nobody to talk to or listen to - the art of conversation is totally dead and has been for some long time now.

Love you readers; THANKS for making me feel normal. It is rare that I do...and even rarer that somebody makes me feel so.

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid.
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade.
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy.
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time.
- "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band-Aid

Thanks for these kind words...

Kim Elizabeth Johnson: "I agree, Susie! It's so hard waking up every day right now - glad to be alive until the reality kicks in...it's like living in some sci-fi world where everything and everybody has lost their minds. Thanks for sharing with us...that's your gift to give! Hang in there - we need you!"

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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Latest Old Type Writer: "Christmas Time! Christmas Time!"

Latest Old Type Writer column - titled "Christmas Gift! Christmas Gift!" - is here!

Talk of the Town publishing editor Jennifer Zartman Romano writes in her intro, "Soon, the Historic Blue Bell Lofts, a senior housing facility, will be completed in Columbia City. In the meantime, columnist Susie Duncan Sexton reflects on her memories of the Blue Bell factory."

Here is an excerpt from the piece: "Observing that impressive restoration feat from afar thrills my very soul. I look forward to grabbing a hard hat and touring the completed facility sooner rather than later. I have driven by the Whitley Street location multiple times. The lump in my throat and the beating of my heart transform into a beaming smile on my old wrinkled, liver-spotted face. Blue Bell, Incorporated has been my life since birth! Happy to have been a part of this metamorphosis!"

Read the rest here: http://talkofthetownwc.com/oldtypewri...

And look for shout outs to Terry Tatum, Ralph Bailey, Laurie LaRue Bills, Jerrie Hammond-Begue, Julie Shawver-Sisco, Carole Craft, Chad Langohr, and Bill Wilder, among others.

Happy Holidays!



Thank you for this lovely feedback!

Susan Tunstall Hinton: "Miss Minerva!! Mom used to read that to us all the time as kids."

Betty Bob Buckley: "Susie Sexton sure has a fine way with words."

Jerrie Hammond-Begue: "I'm so hoping they have an open house so I can go. I'll have to take some pictures so I can send them to Mom & Dad. I was so thrilled to see they're finally going to do something with the building. I was so afraid they planned on tearing it down. I told Mom they were doing this and she was happy. She worked there and loved it and the people too. Roy & Edna Duncan were such great people...loved them, and miss them too. ... Growing up next door to Mr & Mrs. Duncan they always took the time to talk with me and even some of their friends. I was 10 when we moved in. Every time we drive past our old house I remember all the good times we shared growing up in it. I still love the old house and have many times wish I could buy it. I'd enjoy living next door to you and Don. Merry Christmas to you and to your family."

Beth Kennedy: "This is one fine piece of work. I love the history/stories of this place, and Susie is just the one to document it all. There is so much love and so much work that goes into this, and it takes someone who really cares to tell the story. I'm so glad they are using the building."

Kat Kelly-Heinzelman: "I don't live up in the area, but I love reading Susie's stuff because I learn things about the area and I learn more about Susie too. She puts her feelings into every piece she writes and the article reflects this, and you know that she cares about the area and the people a great deal. It is not just an article to write, but it is how she really thinks about the community as a whole. Thank you, Susie, for always standing up for what you believe and making the rest of us see that too."

Bev Sexton: "I enjoyed reading this. Have a wonderful holiday."

Ralph Bailey: "Great article, Susie, and I too enjoy the construction going on. I have stopped by several times. If I would have my way I would move in and sit back and enjoy the thought of what a great man your dad was. Thanks, Susie."

Marla Rondo: "I love this!! Susie is so awesome!!"

Carole Craft: "Loved this one! Susie did a fantastic job on the article and I loved seeing the pictures of so many who are dear to my heart. ... Susie, I felt honored that you included my comment about Blue Bell in your wonderful article. You just keep on keeping on and I am trying to do the same! ... Susie, Let's just pretend we are still kids! Sounds good to me!"

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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Stop the analysis, we want to get off!

Oh, my...wolves and mountain lions, and polar bears and sad elections...oh, my. Thanks for reading!

Shame on Indiana again. Even North Carolina started the long ride toward becoming sensible and civilized. Tarheels voted for their Democratic candidate for governor. That's a start.

And Indiana's "wildlife harvesting"... "amendment" was positioned over to left hand side of our Hoosier ballots mimicking directions for voting on those wack-ass monitors - as in push a multitude of rubber eraser-like buttons to the right and to the left.

Very cleverly confusing placement, and this horrid concept passed. And we made the NRA proud once again!

This ridiculous amendment idea should have been toward the conclusion of the ballot with "should this judge stay or go" and "should that judge stay or go?" Very deceptive, but then we are the very state that gave the world Mike Pence whom the Koch brothers adore and finance. Sh!t!



Obviously the peaceable kingdom, species besides ourselves, are the true losers in this fiasco, "rigged" election. And will any of us even take a second to mourn for THEM...or to protest? Absolutely convinced of it.

That election map changing like a kid's video game was toooooooo incredible also. And THAT visual made me add the Russian hacking to the mix. This WAS a rigged election. Where is the outrage? Where are the committee hearings?

This is like an absolute nightmare, and folks voting against the "establishment"? Aw, c'mon. Republicans in every nook and cranny? That IS the establishment.



Stop the analysis...start the reversal. Open this up to close examination! Let us do so. Let us care about the environment and all lives. Yes, all lives matter, not only the human RACE! Hateful amendments are NEVER in order.

This just in...newsflash...guns brought onto planes in Indiana in record numbers. Again we must have an A+ rating with the NRA--well, praise the...Lord?

Oh, God...help us now in our hour of need! and Jesus, too....and Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is the pits.



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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Quiet please.

Quiet please, there's a lady on stage
She may not be the latest rage
But she's singing and she means it
And she deserves a little silence

Quiet please, there's a woman up there
And she's been honest through her songs
Long before your consciousness was raised
Now doesn't that deserve a little praise

So put your hands together and help her along
All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
Stand for the ovation
And give her one last celebration - Peter Allen

If Hillary could take all of this foolishness this year and all the years prior, then in the time I have left, I plan to suffer through the hateful treatment myself...and I'll get plenty of chances! Ha!

This is all very old and very tired and very typical. What a sad election. Now, the Democratic party has disappeared? However did THAT happen? A little rigging after all? Truly wondering....but let's all just roll over? Hopefully not! Hopefully not.

"This country is too big for one person to screw up." - Will Rogers



I do wish the rationalizing days-after punditry would stop cold. The pseudo-(self)analysis of why they got it wrong, while excusing their multiple spins this way and that, wastes time with meaningless bloviation yet again?

'Round the clock "news" has devolved into nauseating and shallow and just gabby pablum. Plus, the recently toned-down rhetoric of previously screeching surrogates is cloying, insincere, and a complete "about face" dripping with hypocrisy.

What do pundits and politicians have in common? Let's start with "talking out of both sides of their mouths" - not to mention engaging in way too many ball-playing metaphors!

We not only need serious reforms regarding elections, length of campaigns, money in politics, voting suppression/rigging, but a serious reduction in unfair coverage by news outlets--all 50 bajillion of them whether newspapers, magazines, television, radio, or the social network.



Who among us can ever endure another "news-cycle" as self-indulgent as what we have lived through...none of it informative nor wise and much of it untruthful? Enough already. Not only should term limits be in order but a sweeping subtraction of the vast array of offices to be filled by a host of opportunistic nincompoops. No wonder folks are running through the streets protesting. Perfectly understandable.

Heartbroken. A fabulous opportunity by-passed right in front of our eyes. Wondering HOW the votes got counted…or miscounted? That map of state results was the oddest television graphic ever. Almost like “whoops” this just in: the lady lost this state and that one and that one over there.

We shall see if somebody somewhere investigates? And then meaningfully protests. Somebody call the FBI? No, NOT the FBI…oh, no!



So, I am finally crying from wasting my time on a host of stuff which never leads anywhere and looking at sad faces of protesters to this disaster. And knowing that the movers and shakers will just continue their seeking control and their own goals and never stop until the world blows up. Those at the top are at the top because they are self-centered to a maximum degree which nobody can fathom.

But why do stinkers always figure out how to win at all costs? And seem to count on all of us to just roll over? The clueless among us should attend stinker seminars just to find out how to defy those types? To discover their secrets…yeah, that’s the ticket!

Maybe Al Franken is our only hope?

Quiet please, there's a person up there
Who's singing of the things
That none of us could bear to hear for ourselves
Give her your respect if nothing else

Put your hands together and help her along
All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
Rise to the occasion
Give her one last celebration

Quiet please, there's a lady on stage
Conductor, turn the final page
When it's over we can all go home
She lives on, on the stage alone... - Peter Allen

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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Latest Old Type Writer: Disillusionment -- Pipe Dreams, Puppet Masters & Poppycock

"I now comprehend why the art of politics has taken a nosedive in my hierarchy of fascinations...those seeking office only care about themselves and their own advancement. The challenge presented to the informed voter consists of ignoring what is worst about candidates while also searching feverishly for their best qualities, hopefully discovering their possible, though not probable, concern for others outside themselves. Perhaps such humans may exist. Or did they ever?" Read the rest here: http://talkofthetownwc.com/oldtypewri...

Also, you can read about the latest developments at Columbia City's Blue Bell Lofts (my beloved father Roy Duncan managed the original facility that provided scores of jobs and much security to the citizens of Columbia City) here: https://reelroyreviews.com/2016/11/08...



Finally, the Whitley County Historical Museum will be hosting the Whitley County Author Fair on November 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum followed by a Creative Writer's Workshop at 2:30 p.m. "If you've always wanted to write, but didn't think you could, here's your chance to see firsthand how to go about honing your craft. Some of the authors include local favorites: Jan Coverstone and Susie Duncan Sexton along with authors Gary Buettner, Nathan Marchand, Jon Anderson, and speaker/published author of two novels, Monica Koldyke Miller." More info here - the event is free to the public: http://talkofthetownwc.com/blog/2016/...



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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Personhood

"IN ANY MOMENT OF DECISION, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO is the right thing. The next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing." ~Theodore Roosevelt (American President (1858-1919)

Hillary Clinton reminds me of lots of strong PEOPLE I have known...including sometimes even myself! I value her personhood, her intellect, her flexibility, her incremental approach to serious matters, and her serenity.

"Why people tear the seams of anyone's dream is over my head." - lyrics by Bob Russell, music by Duke Ellington



With apologies to Kander and Ebb, a talented duo who are among my favorite Broadway composers ...

'Lady Peaceful', 'Lady Happy, '
That's what SHE longs to be.
All the odds are in HER favor.
Something's bound to give in.
It's got to happen, happen sometime.
Maybe this time SHE'LL win.

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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

"Be your own person, be independent."

I hate hate hate computers. For nearly a week, this contraption has been behaving in such a nutty fashion I am ready to throw it out the window. And finally file all of the paperwork I have generated for the past decade.

Oh, and this election? Also taxing any patience I have left!

Other than that I am...fine?



Ha! I am grouchy beyond belief! Hillary had better win!

I am very eager for Hillary to be prez, so that swaggering sexist males knock off their crap. I do not approve of it. Never have...

(ONE thing, though, on which "The Donald" and I agree? PAUL RYAN. Naughty me, but that kid is so lame and acts like he is the King of France!)



Take it from here, RUTH BADER GINSBURG:

"My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent."

"The state controlling a woman would mean denying her full autonomy and full equality."

"Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."

I watched Charlie Rose interview Ginsburg the past two nights. She had a great support it seems in her husband. He admired her BRAIN. Now THAT is exceptional. And she made me laugh several times with her very dry wit!

Perhaps there is hope yet ... just not for my computer.



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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Old Type Writer: Escalators, agitators, various heels, villainous reels, ceilings of glass and plenty of sass!

My latest column - "Escalators, agitators, various heels, villainous reels, ceilings of glass and plenty of sass!"

Publisher Jennifer Romano writes, "Esteemed columnist Susie Duncan Sexton returns this evening with her latest installment of Old Type Writer." This piece is a funny and free-wheeling affair about cowboys and politics, closet-cleaning and animal advocacy. Here's an excerpt:

"Yes, I recently tackled autumnal closet clutter: an accumulation of pretty, pretty ingénue girl crap and tons of stiletto heels; Mary Janes; wedges; gladiator sandals; platform atrocities; clogs ... I bagged up all this unsuitable, impractical, and often unworn footwear for the Whitley County Humane Society's latest fund-raising effort, shoes shipped to barefooted denizens of Third-World countries. This was one of the happiest moments of my entire life, where two of my passions (slipper collecting and animal advocacy) at long last complemented one another instead of colliding."

Read the column here: http://talkofthetownwc.com/oldtypewri...



And congratulations to Jennifer on her new role as Executive Director of the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce - what a well-deserved recognition of all her work in the community! You can read more here: http://talkofthetownwc.com/blog/2016/...

Finally, curious as to The Penny Seats' 2017 season offerings? Find out more here: http://talkofthetownwc.com/blog/2016/...



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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

I wish I could have graduated high school early ... at age 6!

What a lovely note and photo I received this week from my buddy Jan Morsches ... always nice to get surprises like this!



Bobby Morsches is the "date" and my mom made the dress! We were at the American Legion building at the 1952 prom.

I must have been 6 on my way to other girls being jealous until my graduation from high school. He must have been 8; he is two years older.

Those little booklets were the programs, as I remember, with little pencils hanging off with teensy cords. I wish I could have foregone any more years of school, and graduated early with that class…at age 6! YES!



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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't

Color me honored! My selfie with Mr. Alan Cumming

Color me honored! I am one of the rare folks with whom Mr. Cumming has chosen to take a selfie.

He has exacting standards, y'know: “I love a selfie, and I do take selfies with people a lot, but sometimes I don’t want to,” said Cumming. “I think it’s an interesting thing: We all have to de-condition ourselves to assuming that everyone, every time and anywhere in the world can just do a selfie. It’s just becoming ridiculous.”

From: https://www.yahoo.com/katiecouric/ala...

I love Alan! So super and talented. I bet he took this selfie because of all the character LINES etched upon my ancient face! Yep! But I was beyond thrilled; that stunned look is infatuation to the max! He was the voice of Black Beauty, and I had just gushed, prior to the photo being taken, that he was therefore tops in my book. He also was rushing to get back to The Good Wife set by morning and wanted me probably to leave him alone! Thus, the selfie! A hug! And adieu adieu!



In that same article, in which Alan also shares an adorable anecdote about Liz Taylor and Carrie Fisher (I'm in fine company, eh?), he says this smart stuff about my girl Hillary … “I just feel that as a former secretary of state, having had access to all this intelligence for so long, she’s a much more informed, and much better and a much calmer person to take on the responsibility of trying to liaise with all these other countries, and trying to work out how to stop it,” said Cumming. Amen!

Why ever did Ted Turner invent round the clock news? Media monsters have reached a new low: insipid, gossipy, mean-spirited, irresponsible blabbing. The true culprits of this nutty campaign/election cycle...bar none. Politicians are a very close second; however, the Clintons are so far above the fray. Betting they might be tickled to lose, so good luck, America. If we don't finally, fully embrace these two, we shall have lost a fabulous opportunity to move forward. Sad, sad, sad.



We are an accident of fickle fate. I apologize to the so-called founding "fathers," BUT the "patriarchal "society was never meant to work out. Back to the drawing BORED! Pardon the pun! SLAPSTICK...powdered wigs, duels, quills, knee breeches and whiskers not withstanding.



(What is "Federalism" anyway. Just looked it up...and wow? The definition wafts back and forth. Maybe I do not care. It's just a pompous word. RHUBARB RHUBARB YAKETY YAK. BTW, TOMMY JEFFERSON GETS SHORTER and less wonderful as the centuries crawl by, at least according to Bill O'Reilly and Kevin Spacey and Paul Giamatti, my resident experts. The myth-balloon is nearly pricked at this point! As are nearly all of our poofed up icons! Just asking ...)

Sorry to have to state the obvious, but have we always been this reactionary and short-sighted? Maybe so...

Anyway, thanks, Alan Cumming, for being such a delightful pixie - DUAL citizenship, by the way, Scottish AND American - and for being such a kind and open-minded soul! That's my kind of patriotism.


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Read about movies and nostalgia, animal issues and sociopolitical concerns all discussed in my book Secrets of an Old Typewriter and its follow-up Misunderstood Gargoyles and Overrated Angels - print and ebook versions of both are available on Amazon (click the title).

The books are also carried by these fine retailers: Ann Arbor's Bookbound and Common Language; Columbia City's Whitley County Historical Museum; and Fort Wayne's The Bookmark.

And you can download from iTunes.

Meet other like-minded souls at my facebook fan page

Visit my author website at www.susieduncansexton.com

Join a great group of animal advocates Squawk Back: Helping animals when others can't ... Or Won't