Ed Robinson's Blog, page 17
March 17, 2014
Life Explored With Old Doc Ford (and the gang at Cabbage Key)
That’s a song lyric from my favorite singer/songwriter Jim Morris. Jim is a longtime friend of Randy Wayne White, my favorite Florida novelist. Since moving to Florida Jim and I have become friends. Jim knew Randy before he became a famous, successful writer. They used to fish and drink together when Randy was a fishing guide. I’m honored to call Jim Morris my friend, though I’ve yet to actually meet Randy. I have to settle for good food and drinks at one of his restaurants, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar (Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island).
The series of Doc Ford books by Randy W. White are set in southwest Florida. Doc lives in a converted fishing shack in Dinkin’s Bay on Sanibel Island. In real life that beautiful body of water is called Tarpon Bay. We’ve visited there a few times, both by land and sea. Doc’s shack is located in/near a marina, which makes for an interesting cast of characters.
Doc had a shadowy past as some sort of deep, dark agent of the government. His skills come in handy from time to time as he encounters bad guys of all types. His life now is as a marine biologist, but that doesn’t prevent him from finding trouble in his travels. Curiously, even though Doc is a serious and straight-laced man, his best friend is a dope smoking, hippie guru. The scenes, the characters and the plots are all very original and unique.
There are 21 Doc Ford novels in print now, with the most recent being Bone Deep. The NY Times calls it a stunning new thriller.
All these have been highly successful, New York Times Bestsellers. Any are good as a stand alone read, but I’ve found a link that arranges them in chronological order if you wish to read them in order.
If you haven’t yet discovered the Doc Ford books, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.
March 14, 2014
“Coming Out” For Medical Marijuana
First let me say this; I have never been a dope smoker. Like many, I gave it a try when I was young but it just wasn’t my thing. My wife Kim was the same. Seeing the latest push for legalization across the country in the news didn’t really grab my attention. I’m no activitist, especially for something I cared little about.
I’m a Live and Let Live kind of person. You want to smoke pot? I don’t care. I guess you could say I’m a Libertarian about such issues. In the meantime, something happened that did have a direct effect on my life. Kim was diagnosed with a rare pain disorder that modern medicine seemed unable to relieve. The narcotics prescribed came with many nasty side effects. She developed severe nausea. She lost a lot of weight she couldn’t afford to lose.
Eventually she was prescribed a synthetic marijuana in pill form called Marinol. It gave a small amount of relief, but didn’t really do the trick. I thought maybe the real thing would work better. To make a long story short, marijuana in it’s natural form worked wonders for Kim’s condition. Not only did her pain decrease, but the nausea lessened and her appetite returned. Over a course of time, she was able to wean herself off all the prescription meds and begin to heal.
There is absolutely no doubt that smoking pot was the one of best things for her on her road to recovery. I saw it with my own two eyes. I know there are tens of thousands of others out there with a similar story, but I felt the need to add my two cents as a recent convert to the legalization effort. As a successful writer I have somewhat of a platform. Here’s to doing my part to spread the word.
My upcoming book is titled The Untold Story of Kim.
Bestselling non-fiction author Ed Robinson brings you a powerful true story of one woman’s triumph over pain. It will lead you to hate doctors, lawyers, and insurance companies. By the time you finish, you’ll have fallen in love with Kim.
This deeply inspiring tale is destined to become the most important book ever written about chronic pain and pain management in today’s healthcare environment.
There were other factors involved in Kim’s eventual recovery, I just wanted to let you know that marijuana was a critical one. Look for the book around April 1 at Amazon.com.
Follow me on Facebook for news on the release date.
https://www.facebook.com/quityourjobandliveonaboat
March 11, 2014
First Look: Cover Reveal for The Untold Story of Kim
Should be available in a few weeks. Going through final edits now then on to a professional formatter. Kim and I are both anxious for publication day.
March 6, 2014
Top 5 Facebook Pages for Alternative Health and Wellness
In my upcoming book, The Untold Story of Kim, I detail how we stumbled onto an alternative view of healing. The story describes a process that does not include drugs or chemicals. In fact in condemns those very solutions in favor of a natural approach.
I don’t want to spoil the story by giving away all the details here, so consider yourself teased. Meanwhile, the whole ordeal has made me curious about alternative methods of healing and wellness. As I spend a lot of time there, I turned to Facebook and found some excellent resources.
Here are my top five pages for Alternative Healing and Wellness:
Number 1: Wellness Mama
Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases.
https://www.facebook.com/EndlessWellness/info
Number 2: ButYouDontLookSick.com
ButYouDontLookSick.com magazine is about living life to the fullest with any disability, invisible disease, or chronic pain and features a collection of articles, personal stories, book and product reviews, health resource
https://www.facebook.com/bydls
Number 3: The Institute For Natural Healing
Our free Health Watch newsletter shatters mainstream medical myths and provides you with the world’s most effective natural therapies.
https://www.facebook.com/INHresearch
Number 4: Alternative Health Solutions
“You Can Achieve Optimum Health Through God’s Pharmacy.”
https://www.facebook.com/Alternativehealthsolutions1
Number 5: Wellness Uncovered Health Forum
This page was created to help spread natural health and wellness knowledge on vaccines, GMOs, diet and nutrition to live a blissful co-existence with nature. Facilitating in an awakening of wellness through wisdom.
https://www.facebook.com/wellnessuncovered
Honorable Mention: Florida Natural Health and Alternative Healing
This is a group. Ask to join and once accepted anyone can post in the community. I’m in Florida so I chose this one.
ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED? TIME TO LIVE WELL !
https://www.facebook.com/groups/364905620197398/
Surf your way to natural health and healing on Facebook! Keep on eye out for The Untold Story of Kim, coming soon.
March 5, 2014
Poop, Booze, and Bikinis / One Month Anniversay
Wow, PB&B is still selling well. I continue to be amazed at it’s appeal. It was published on February 5, 2014 and immediately went to number one in Boating. It’s been a Hot New Release at Amazon in six different categories all month long.
As of today, March 5:
#1 in Boating
#1 in Watersports
#2 in Adventure
#4 in Specialty Travel
#16 in Travel
#21 in Sports
Thanks to all who have purchased and read Poop, Booze, and Bikinis. It’s been a great first month.
If you haven’t picked up your copy yet . . . .
March 4, 2014
It’s An Honor To Be Recognized
St. Christophers, a UK based travel site, has named Poop, Booze, and Bikinis a Top Five book for March. Here is what they had to say:
“The first book from this epic author (Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job and Live on a Boat) was a best seller for all the right reasons, showing readers how to live the bye-bye-establishment dream like a pro. As a follow up, Poop, Booze and Bikinis does not disappoint. Written from a nautical perspective, this read encapsulates the lighter side of a boating life. Covering everything from idiots with rental equipment to folk deemed zombies that can’t swim, it’s pretty much a laugh a minute read.”
Can’t recall anyone ever calling me an “epic” anything! Many thanks to the fine folks at St. Christophers.
http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/travel-tips/travel-books/2014/march
Get your copy today at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Poop-Booze-Bikinis-Ed-Robinson-ebook/dp/B00IA7JLFA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1
February 28, 2014
The Untold Story of Kim, Part 2
Recently the need to write the story of my lovely wife Kim has consumed me. See part 1 for the background story. http://quityourjobandliveonaboat.word...
I sat down to start writing and something very odd happened. I slammed out 5000 words in one sitting. I spent an entire day just typing away like a madman. Now this has never been my style. I’d write maybe 500 words at a time. Take a few days to think. Wait for inspiration. Only when I had a clear vision in my mind about what I wanted to say next, would I sit down and actually write.
The very next day I poured out another 5000 words. The entire story was all coming to me at once. I couldn’t stop. On day three I had to tend to the business of being an author. My inboxes were all full. I had several requests for review copies of my last book. I had tons of Facebook messages on my author page: https://www.facebook.com/quityourjoba...
I had to make a trip to the post office and manage some household chores. When I finally sat down to write again, another 5000 words came out. Telling this story has taken over my life. I can’t wait to get it all down. Kim has been reading along, and it’s brought her to tears several times. She started to relive some times she’d purposely forgotten. Don’t worry though, it has a happy ending. For anyone who read Leap of Faith / Quit Your Job And Live On A Boat, this is the back story. Leap of Faith was all about finding happiness. It did not disclose what Kim was going through the entire time. The Untold Story of Kim lays it all out there. It’s an honest account, telling her true story of pain. It will make you hate our current health care system. It will make you hate big insurance companies. It will make you hate lawyers.
It will however, cause you to fall in love with Kim. If you are a sufferer from chronic pain, it will give you hope. It’s also a love story! I can’t write it without trying to convey how much we cared for each other and how it got us through extremely difficult times.
Now I’m going to cut this post short . . . so I can get back to writing The Untold Story of Kim.
In this book I allude to the healing properties of the ocean and the beach. Here’s a shot of Kim on a deserted island beach. She weighed about 110 pounds in this photo. She’s 5′ 11″ tall. I have a shot of her down to 102, but she wouldn’t let me post it. She says it’s ugly.
February 24, 2014
The Untold Story Of The Lovely Miss Kim
Before our Job Quitting Boat Living journey began, our lives were changed forever by a simple accident. My lovely wife Kim suffered a minor injury while on the job. She was in some pain, but there was nothing that would make anyone think the long term consequences would be bad.
Time passed and the pain got worse. Doctors scratched their heads. More tests! More doctors, X-rays, MRIs, EMGs, etc. The pain grew steadily worse. Eventually, it was discovered that Kim was suffering from RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). The key to curing RSD is to diagnose and treat it very early. We missed out on that window. The long term prognosis for late stage treatment is not good. Essentially, the nerves are still passing along a pain signal to the brain, even though the original injury has healed. The pathway of pain is stuck in the ON position.
We were introduced to the world of pain management. Narcotics, among other drugs, were prescribed heavily. Kim’s quality of life plummeted. Her pain multipied many times over. She exhibited all the so called classic symptoms of RSD.
Continuous burning or throbbing pain, usually in your arm, leg, hand or foot
Sensitivity to touch or cold
Swelling of the painful area
Changes in skin temperature — at times your skin may be sweaty; at other times it may be cold
Changes in skin color, which can range from white and mottled to red or blue
Changes in skin texture, which may become tender, thin or shiny in the affected area
Changes in hair and nail growth
Joint stiffness, swelling and damage
Muscle spasms, weakness and loss (atrophy)
Decreased ability to move the affected body part
My lovely wife was now a helpless crippled shell of her former self. To shorten this tale tremendously, She’s doing better now. After 5 years of unbearable pain, some near death experiences and scores of doctors, tests, treatments, drugs, spinal injections, epidurals . . . She has finally started to lead a normal life. Guess what? The doctors didn’t fix her. Nope, they didn’t do anything to make her well.
It became a case of not what they were doing for her, but rather what they were doing to her. I’ve decided to write a book, in honor of the lovely MIss Kim and all those who’ve suffered with RSD or similar chronic pain syndromes. I want to show how modern medicine was killing my wife.
How did we get off the drug merry-go-round and start down the path to actual healing? I’m saving that for the book., but you may be surprised as to how Kim cured herself with NO doctor’s input. I can’t wait to start putting her story into words. As her caregiver for those difficult years, I’m the only one who knows exactly the depth of her pain, her fears and frustrations. I’m also the only one who knows just how brave and determined she really is.
I love my wife. After you read her story, you’ll love her too.
February 20, 2014
Paperback Version of Poop, Booze, and Bikinis is Now Available
That’s right, Amazon was very quick to publish once I approved the files. Sometime last night the paperback version became available.
As of this afternoon it is already at number 10 in Boating. The Kindle version is still at number 1. On the Hot New Releases list, the Kindle version in number 1 and the paperback is number 3.
I don’t even have any copies myself yet, but you can get yours at Amazon. The opening price was 8.88, but it’s already gone up to 8.99.
For those of you who would rather hold a real book in your hands, here it is:
February 19, 2014
Happier Than A Billionaire:
Happier Than A Billionaire shares one couple’s celebration of risking it all for the dream of living a happier life.
In this humorous and witty account, Nadine Pisani shares what it is like to follow her dream of quitting her job and starting a new life under the sunny skies of Costa Rica. Along the way, she finds reliable utilities are not that reliable, quirky neighbors are unavoidable, and tackling red tape takes the strength of a linebacker.
But with all its challenges, you’ll learn why Costa Rica is ranked as one of the happiest places on earth–and you too may want to taste the Pura Vida lifestyle.
Amazon listed this gem in my recommendations and I’m glad they did. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Nadine’s writing style is like sitting with a friend and having a casual conversation. Here is a person who knows how to laugh at life’s roadblocks, and at herself.
She is very honest about the obstacles they faced during their transition, and about her doubts and fears. She even admits to occassional bouts of homesickness. Her and her husband manage to face down their fears, shrug off the difficulties and find true happiness. Throughout the narrative you can’t help but take a new accounting of your own life. Why aren’t you happy?
Do you really need all that stuff? Do you ever just stop to enjoy the moment, watch the hummingbirds, enjoy a sunset? The author leads us through her journey from stressed out, unhappy professional, to laid back, devil-may-care adventurer. It’s a well told tale that will grab you right from the beginning, and cause you to chuckle throughout.
Happier Than A Billionaire is currently a number 1 Bestseller at Amazon for Central American Travel. It has well over 300 Five Star reviews.
Get our copy here:
You can also keep up with the happy couple’s adventures here:
http://www.happierthanabillionaire.com/
Or connect on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/happierthanabillionaire
Again, I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone dreaming about exiting the rat race.
My next read will be the sequel,
