D.G. Kaye's Blog, page 53
April 25, 2021
Sunday Book Review – Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart by Gary Roe
Welcome back to my Sunday Book Review. As many of you know, I haven’t been out in blogland much these past few months as I kept my husband home in palliative care so I could look after him. He sadly passed away on April 7th. My grief is unending, and as goes with my busyness and grief, I’ve had no desire to read any books. But I knew in this time that the only books that I felt compelled to read were on grieving. I need some sense of knowing how others survive this journey. I had searched Amazon for a few books to order and this book, Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart by Gary Roe was on my list. And as serendipity would have it, one of my author friends thought this would be a good book for me, so she sent me a copy. Thank you Kathy Steinemann. Blurb: This loss changes everything. The loss of a life partner can be traumatic. Oblivious to our suffering, the world around us speeds on as if nothing happened. Stunned, shocked, sad, confused, and angry, we blink in disbelief. Our hearts are broken. Our souls shake. We look for comfort. Our broken, grieving hearts need it to survive. Multiple award-winning author, hospice chaplain, and grief counselor Gary Roe is a trusted voice who has been helping wounded, grieving hearts find hope and healing for more than three decades. Written with heartfelt compassion, this warm, easy-to-read, and practical book reads like a caring conversation with a friend and will become a comforting companion as you navigate the turbulent waters of grief. Gary’s desire is to meet you in your grief and walk with you there. Composed of brief chapters, Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart is designed to be read one chapter per day, giving you bite-sized bits of comfort, encouragement, and healing over a period of time. You do not have to read it this way, of course. We all grieve differently. Read in the way that is most natural for you. In Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart, you will discover how to… * Process complicated grief emotions (sadness, anger, guilt, confusion, guilt, anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed, etc). * Navigate all the relational changes – feeling alone, misunderstood, isolated, and even rejected by those around you. * Handle the increased stress and uncertainty that this heavy loss can bring. * Deal with physical and mental health issues, illnesses, and new symptoms that often arise. * Take care of yourself through diet, hydration, fitness, and rest. * Deal with a myriad of practical issues (financial challenges, parenting, family activities) * Handle the intense, deep loneliness that often comes with this loss. You will also find hope in how to… * Think through the challenging spiritual and faith questions that frequently surface. * Relate well to the people around you – those who are helpful and those who aren’t. * Overcome the tendency to run from emotional pain with unhealthy habits or compulsive behaviors. * Deal well with triggers and the grief bursts that will come. * Find the support you need for survival, recovery, and healing (safe people, fellow grievers, counseling, etc.). * Develop a simple, realistic plan for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. *Use your grief for good – for yourself, your family, and others. *Allow this loss to give you greater perspective and motivate you to live more effectively than ever before. *Make your life count, one day, one moment at a time. Please don’t grieve alone. Let Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart join you on this arduous, tasking journey. Be kind to yourself. Take your heart seriously. Death has invaded, but it doesn’t have to win. Read on. Comfort awaits you in these pages of this book. My 5 Star Review: I am so happy to have read this book. It’s one of those books that made me feel it was written for me. The author comes across as a compassionate soul who has had his own fair share of grief as he notes in his book. The author has a gentle way of delivering words that are so identifiable with the roller coaster of emotions that persist through the journey of grief. One of many quotes that resonates with me, “Grief alters our world. It changes everything because it changes us. No one is the same after a loss. No one.” Truest words, nobody is unscathed from this seering affliction, no matter if they admit it or not. Love hurts, especially when grief grows insurmountably, which is merely love that no longer has a place to go. This book is written in short, bite-sized chapters that can be read over, or as I felt compelled to do, read the book in two sittings. This book validated that I am normal to be experiencing such internal pain as the author’s own broken heart spills through every line. A compassionate, yet practical telling that while not a cure for an ailing heart, most definitely succinct with every emotion, and leaving us with a feeling of oneness, knowing that there are others who know the pain we suffer. “I feel like a shadow – a phantom flitting silently through everyone else’s world. I function, I go through the motions. I get stuff done, but I’m not all there. Part of me is with you. – thinking about and missing you. When you left, you took a piece of my heart with you – maybe even my whole heart.” Grieving for a beloved spouse is a whole new realm of heartache which nobody can even pretend to know unless they’ve walked in the shoes. Gary Roe has certainly walked in the shoes. ©DGKaye2021
Published on April 25, 2021 05:56
April 24, 2021
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – D. G. Kaye Explores the Realms of Relationships – Forming Healthy Relationships – Rewind – What’s Inside the Box?
A big shout out to Sally Cronin at the Smorgasbord Invitation (my second home), for keeping my online spirit alive during this difficult time for me. She has kindly been resharing my Relationship Columns I’ve written for my series at her Blog Magazie. Today I’m sharing the recent replay here of Forming Healthy Relationships, as I prepare to publish my next article in the next week or so. Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – D. G. Kaye Explores the Realms of Relationships – Forming Healthy Relationships – Rewind – What’s Inside the Box? As many of you already know that D.G. Kaye’s husband passed away on April 7th and our thoughts are with her during this sad time. Debby is working on her next Realm of Relationship Column but rather than have the pressure of a deadline, we thought we might share the first posts of the series which began in January 2020 every Monday to bring new readers to the blog up to speed. Forming Healthy Relationships – What’s Inside the Box? Welcome back to this month’s edition of Realms of Relationships. In this segment, I’m delving into how we judge and are judged by others – First impressions and Body language and discovering what’s underneath the wrapping. As humans, we are often judged by our outward appearances first. But if we never gave someone a chance to approach us to potentially form a friendship or relationship just because we couldn’t see beyond appearance, our circles would be pretty limited. People come wrapped in all assortments. Who and what we attract or gravitate to stems from the vibe we give off – this vibe consists of a combination of traits we emit with our words, body language, and our physical appearance. All these elements comprised will help to determine who chooses to approach us. Our demeanors and physical appearance send signals to others leading them to form a perception of what we’re all about. But without learning what’s on the inside, and perhaps what’s perceived as a first impression, we may not always adequately represent who we really are. Depending on how we choose to present ourselves on a given day, we’ll undoubtedly be judged by our actions as first impressions, so it’s a good idea not to misrepresent ourselves. Sadly, society does label people based on appearance, and as much as appearances do play a part in determining who we approach and how we’re accepted, appearance alone is not a great indicator of what’s inside our box. Now we all know the old saying – don’t judge a book by its cover, but sadly, it’s human nature that people are judged by their covers. Yes, it’s unfair, but there are shallow thinking people among us. And pity for those who judge because they may just be missing out on opportunity for a satisfying relationship or friendship because they couldn’t see beyond difference. What do we want most from a relationship? Acceptance, love compassion, trust, understanding, communication and reciprocation. These are the most important qualities a relationship should offer, and the qualities that will sustain a solid relationship. These aren’t qualities you can necessarily decipher based on looking at an individual. Yes, it’s easy to make judgement, but until we learn about what’s behind the cover, we aren’t able to make a complete assessment. We are hard-wired for judgement. We all have our own version of what’s acceptable to us and peeves we hold in our mental lists of what we seek out of a relationship. But maybe we need to look beyond those physical peeves and explore personality and values. Please continue reading at Sally’s blog ©DGKaye2021 Source: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – D. G. Kaye Explores the Realms of Relationships – Forming Healthy Relationships – Rewind – What’s Inside the Box? | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
Published on April 24, 2021 06:34
April 20, 2021
Obituary – The Send Off – Love, Loss and Grief
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of an incredible man, a wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Brother. George Joseph Gerald Gies passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 with his loving wife by his side, Deborah Gies (Cub). Things we see and say that stay The hardest part is getting over the visuals of you drifting a little further away from me daily. And looking into your eyes as they wanted to say so much, as pieces of you disappeared daily. I know your beautiful smiling face. I know that face that lights up whenever I’m in your presence. I still knew that face that could no longer speak, but you spoke with your eyes. You know I always knew what you meant, even if you couldn’t articulate it properly to me. I read your pain, I read your sadness, your fear, and your undying love for me remained always in your eyes. When your voice left us, I asked a million questions that you could still nod yes or no to. Until the day you died, when you couldn’t even do that anymore. You couldn’t speak the last week you were here. I still scream and cry when I think about every little part of you God took away from me, a little each day. At first you could no longer walk, the very next day, you could no longer speak. But then I remembered our little hand signal we made up for each other. I still can’t remember how it came to be, but I think it was me who once said – as a joke- that in case something ever happened to you or I and we couldn’t talk, we had our own secret hand signal for ‘I love you’. I pulled that old trick out of the bag and would make that signal to you and you did the same back to me. You see, after all, my silly little games did come in handy. You ate your last meal six days before you died, the day you came home from your last hospital stint, six days before you would die at home in our bed. I know I got lucky one morning after and fed you oatmeal. There was no more after that. I fed you your juice, water, gingerale in short sips, til another day passed and I’d cut the straws to help you sip the liquid your constantly dry mouth yearned for. The next day you blew bubbles in the glass, no longer having the strength to suck up through the straw. But I was well-armed with ideas. The next day I fed you water by teaspoon, like a battered little bird, mama bird did her best to get liquids into you. The next day I was resolved to dipping the sponge sticks in water to get some liquid into you. Eventually, you couldn’t suck on that anymore either. I kept putting Vaseline on your parched lips, intermittent between my kisses. I lost count on how many times a day and night I told you, “I love you Puppy”. I never felt it was enough. I never wanted you to forget. Kind of like one night only two weeks before when we could still converse and even make the odd joke. You stirred in your sleep that night and woke over a dozen times calling me, “Cub, Cub.” I snapped my head up in fear and asked, what’s the matter honey, and you’d reply the same thing each time I asked. “I love you Cub.” Maybe it was two dozen times, I didn’t think then to count, but I’ll always remember that night you felt compelled to tell me you loved me, many times over, as though urgent that I know. But I know. And I knew. I always knew because you never ever let one day pass without kissing me, hugging, and telling me how much you loved me. In my worst and ugliest moments, you had the face to still call me your ‘beauty queen’. I was the luckiest girl in the whole world to be so loved by one man. And now I’m only the loneliest girl in the world. I held your hand in your hour of passing. I shared your pillow and wrapped my arm around you and kissed your ashened, boney face – the face that was once full chipmunk cheeked with an always rosey complexion that had become a mere little boy face. You struggled to breathe as the fluid was drowning your lungs. I knew God was taking you away that morning. I never left your side. The gurgling brook within you stopped, I felt your heart flutter for an instant and your throat appeared as though there was a golf ball in it. And you went silent. Only then did I give you permission to leave. I jumped off the bed and opened the window wide and set your soul free to be taken by the angels. And that was the last moment of US. There are no other words to describe the boulder that resides in my chest now. The boulder that is crushing my heart and making it difficult to breathe so many times a day – and night. Is it any wonder I don’t eat? Who can eat when they’re perpetually full – full of heartache, crushing pain filling me up where the digestion system usually alerts to feeding time. I’m blocked in head and heart. And the pain is unrelenting. I’m so far from acceptance as I still talk to you and hug your pillow anytime I walk into our bedroom. The loss of you will never be filled by anything or anyone else. I love you too much, as I know you loved me. You know I always worried about you, and that doesn’t stop. Or, it won’t stop until I receive a sign or visit from you, so that you can let me know you’re all better and in your new life, and perhaps you could leave little signs that you are around and you will watch over me. Just maybe then I can stop playing those movie reels of your sufferance over and over in my mind if you come back and let me know you are in peace. Maybe then my own hell will begin to ease, and with patient baby steps, I may finally reach that bridge to acceptance that you are really gone. I love you to the moon my Puppy. Your forever Cub. 💕 @DGKaye2021
Published on April 20, 2021 17:48
April 11, 2021
Flying Solo – Goodbye – Announcement
For those of you who haven’t heard, my beloved husband, Puppy, has left his suffering and me behind. He passed with me by his side on Wednesday, April 7th, and I buried him Friday, April 9th. I’d managed to leave him Monday for a short time to run out and purchase our plots – and fulfilled his wish of being buried together one day. Then dashed home quickly, as I knew he was on days – possibly hours. I’ve been living in a fog ever since, just going through the motions, orchestrating the miniscule funeral service of only 15 allowed, thanks to the never-ending Covid that permanently resides in our city. Gratefully, we were allowed up to 50 at the burial service, but that didn’t make it any more comforting. My husband was a great man, not just because I thought so, but because of every single person who knew him will tell you the same. He spent over half a century in the automotive business, and so many knew and respected him. I wish some of the many could have been at the service to speak more about this gentle giant of a man who really only stood 5′ 6″ tall. Again, Covid has taken so much away from his final parting, as it has for so very many people globally. I can’t say a lot more right now, as my heart is scattered in just too many pieces. But I wanted to let you all know, as so many of you have been so loving and supportive through this horrendous journey of loss with me through messages, calls, cards and more. Your support has meant the world to me, so please know that. As with what comes along with my loss, are the many legal issues to be taken care of in this upcoming week – banks, investments, government, insurance, and more. Not to mention, I must complete income taxes. Not a pretty week ahead, then once I get all the paperwork done, I’ll begin cleaning out ‘our life’ accumulations and allow myself to grieve properly because I must continue to be stoic and keep my head in the game, and once I let myself fall apart, who knows when I will begin to rise again. I do hope to be getting back to blogland in another week or so, once the must do’s are done. In the meantime, I’m going to share here what I posted on FB when he passed: My heart is crushed for the passing of my Puppy. Covid restrictions have made this horrendous event even worse with only allowing 15 people at the funeral service that I know would have brought hundreds as he was loved by all who knew him. He was in the car business for over 50 years and respected and known by many in the industry. I will mourn in Shiva til Monday night at home with visitors coming by appointment, instead of the usual open door to any and all who wish to visit. I have requested that any donations please be made to North York General Hospital palliative care unit, the doctors and nurses have been so wonderful to my husband for the past several years. Special mention to Dr. David Baron and his assistant Lisa, who went to bat for us many times over to get my husband into the hospital during Covid regulations, and to enable me to visit my husband every day he was in hospital for a few hours, despite the Covid rules of only 2 hours a week! Thank you to the LHIN health care and VHA provided by wonderful compassionate people with their staff and services. And thank you all for your most heartfelt condolences through messages and emails. And I promise when I catch my breath, I will return calls and reply. Slippers I keep them by your beside – for now. I’m not ready to remove them, just as I was not ready for your removal from my life. ©DGKaye2021
Published on April 11, 2021 10:05
April 3, 2021
A Short Visit and a Variety of Thoughts and Happenings
I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. I thought I could do everything. But I can’t. My first priority is, as has always been my loving “Puppy”, and our time together is growing short. I am his caregiver. I am his wife. And he is the love of my life, so I need not have to elaborate how triply difficult this journey is. Trying to suck it all up 24/7 so I can keep him happy and talk about happy things. I may have done wrong by keeping him optimistic, knowing full well I was lying to myself and him. But I am newly over denial, and reality sucks. I’ve taken this quiet time out to post here for a bit of this and that, and not quite sure when I will get the time to write again as my husband is in end stages, palliative at home, every day is stolen time. This whirlwind mountain of actual what the fuck, had taken me into a tailspin since the horrifying diagnosis and me trying to make like there was hope when there is none. I will also blame goddamned Covid and no doctor visits because I believe if they saw him in the past year, all the tests would have been done then. So yes, I BLAME COVID, like the thousands of people dying of non Covid ailments because of no doctor visits. I won’t even allow myself to think of our good times, as that would just throw me over the edge. I function on autopilot. I do whatever I can, and if it means a few weeks of no sleeping, so be it. I’m 24/7. My always strong, smiling, loving husband is like my child now and I continue to fight for him, and I am thrilled at the most amazing doctors and palliative teams of nurses and personal support workers, and our country’s health system. I’m getting a bird’s eye view of what goes on when you’re actually living the experience. This is the hardest job I’ve ever had in my life. And it’s something you can’t begin to explain. One who has walked the shoes only knows how affecting it is to be an eye witness. I’m an empath. These are the parts in books and movies I squint my eyes at, or fast forward. I feel the pain and the sorrow of others, and it’s cutting. And I’m smack in the middle of it. I cannot allow myself the time to grieve as I’m living it and because I must soldier on. I cannot allow my brain to wander over to the ‘after’ part and all that comes – and leaves, with it. So I don’t focus on it, I just keep to what’s in front of me one day at a time. So much is going on daily here with nurses and support workers and phone calls and and medical supply deliveries, and I had to call 911 for the last time last Sunday again to try and save him one more time. He came home Thursday by ambulance to live the time he has left, at home with his Cub. I’ve learned to operate in numb-like mode, on autopilot. I dare not take any thought of what will be when he is no more. He is now bedridden since his last return and won’t eat, only sleeps. I thought I was losing him Thursday night, but my warrior husband is still here. He can’t talk but he can nod his head. We’ve struggled our whole marriage about where we would ‘go’ once we leave this earth, as our religions are different and I never wanted to talk of such things. My bad indeed. But I am grateful to my brother who did the legwork for me, and I have an appointment on Monday to purchase plots ten minutes away from where I live. They have a section for inter-faith marriages – something that was sparse 20 years ago. I’m pretty sure I’ll need a Valium on Monday. Time is very precious at this time, and I’m plum worn to the bone, so I’m not sure when I will post again. But I wanted to update you all here, as I’ve been getting so many emails, texts and messages of love and support from many of my friends and answer only when I get a short minute. I know my very good friend Sally Cronin has been keeping my online presence alive and I’m sorry I can’t like, comment or share, but just know, I will be back after this journey. I most definitely won’t be the same person as I once was, but surely, I will have much to write about. Thank you all for your love and support and keep the love coming as somehow, it does help. ©DGKaye2021 Because life is never guaranteed.
Published on April 03, 2021 12:52
March 25, 2021
#WATWB – We are the World #Blogfest – 52 Good Deeds to Help Heal the World in 2021 – Goodnet
It’s that time of the month again where a group of us writers post something about good things going on in the world to deflect from the negative for the #WATWB – We are the World Blogfest. Today I chose to share a great article I came across about #Kindness, the only task is to do one good thing a week that could make a difference in somebody’s life – 52 Good Deeds to Help Heal the World in 2021. You can help heal the world by doing good acts, large and small. Since kindness is contagious, your good deeds can spur others to do the same. and since research shows that volunteering and helping others can lead to better health and more happiness, you will be helping yourself too. Don’t know where to start? Here’s a list of good deeds that you can do even in a socially distanced world: 1. Skype or call a friend to see how they are doing 2. Donate your stimulus check 3. Give an old winter coat to Goodwill 4. Walk your neighbor’s dog 5. Shovel snow (or mow the grass) for an elderly neighbor 6. Donate canned goods to a food pantry 7. Say thank you to an essential worker 8. Ask for donations in your name instead of birthday gifts 9. Bring groceries to an elderly person 10. Use a search engine that supports a cause 11. Donate blood 12. Teach someone a skill they can use 13. Wear a mask and keep socially distant 14. Leave positive comments on social media 15. Apologize Please continue reading more wonderful suggestions at the original post on Goodnet. If you’d like to take part in posting the last Friday of every month and sharing your link in our WATWB Facebook Group, anyone is welcome. Hosts this month are: Sylvia McGrath, Roshan Radhakrishnan Shilpa Garg, Eric Lahti, and Belinda Witzenhausen. Source: 52 Good Deeds to Help Heal the World in 2021 – Goodnet ©DGKaye2021
Published on March 25, 2021 22:00
March 24, 2021
Writer’s Tips – #NovelWriting, #Blogs to #Podcast, Making #Videos with #Canva and More!
This edition of Writer’s Tips is chock full of great posts from fellow writers on everything related to writing stories. Also included are two fantastic ‘how to’ posts on how to turn our blog posts into podcasts, and how to create videos by using Canva. How to write the best titles for blog posts that attract attention from the SEO machines by Hugh Roberts How To Write The Perfect Titles For All Your Blog Posts #BloggingTips How to make your novel standout in a crowd of books by Deborah Jay How do you make your novel stand out from the crowd? #bookmarketing 7 Easy tips to craft a story – Nicholas Rossis 7 Easy Tips to Craft the Perfect Story How to make a video with Canva, by Harmony Kent at the Story Empire How to Make a Video Using Canva Jan Sykes shared a fabulous, informative post on WordPress’s capability to turn out blogs into podcasts! A New WordPress Discovery! @Anchor #Podcasts Five Common Beginning Writer Storyteller Mistakes by Anne R. Allen Five Common Beginning Writer Storytelling Mistakes ©DGKaye2021
Published on March 24, 2021 06:38
March 20, 2021
Sunday Movie Review – Hacksaw Ridge – WWII Hero
Welcome to my Sunday Movie Review. I thought I’d share this movie because despite the ‘war’ content, which I always cover my eyes when I see violence or blood, like a gag reflex, I loved the message and the compassion of Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield, whom I’ve never heard of, but wow, this guy can steal your empathy in Hacksaw Ridge. He almost reminds me of a young Sean Penn?? I had this review in draft for when I didn’t have a book review to share, and I managed a few stolen moments to edit and post here for your enjoyment. A WWII true story about the unlikeliest hero, Desmond Doss who enlisted to save lives, not kill them. This movie from 2016, was a based on a true story about a man who enlisted himself to join the fight in WWII. He grew up in Virginia under the belt of his abusive father and God-loving mother. But Doss is a compassionate soul who when he had the chance to kill his father after near beating his mother to death, he couldn’t. The story is about a man who wanted to do something for his country but would not participate in violence and only wanted to be a medic – who turned into a hero. Desmond Doss grew up and was known as a ‘conscientious objector‘ who desperately wanted to serve in WWII as a medic. The problem was he refused to carry or even touch a gun. He was abused by the court martial sentence, but he stood his ground. He made clear he wanted to serve his country by saving lives, not killing them. His life in the army was tough as at first he took a lot of teasing for his stance. There’s a beautiful love story in this movie too, despite the fact that much of the movie was war footage in the battle at Okinawa, which of course was the main theme of the story about how Doss came to be a respected medic and eventually receiving a gold medal of honor for saving 75 lives in that gruesome battle. Too be honest, despite the gore and the pain I feel when I see the injured, and despite the fact that the theme was about the ugly war, this guy had me swallowing my heart through his rescues that I had to peel my hands away from my eyes to make sure he lived. Being that it was a true story and all I’d read was he’d received the gold medal for his heroic rescues, I wasn’t sure if he received the medal as a survivor or posthumously. And there, I will leave you hanging to find out for yourselves. Check out this gripping trailer. It pretty much highlights what I highlighted in my review. Lol, maybe I’m in the wrong business? I love reviewing movies, especially the ones that grab my heart and require Kleenex. I always like to look at book reviews for a movie after I’ve watched, to see what people got from the book to discover which was better. Most times, the book is better because, after all, it was good enough to make into a movie but then gets rewritten in script form where time is taken into consideration, so naturally, some things are left out. But I have seen some fine movies in my time that the book somewhat disappointed. I dug around Amazon to look for this book and I saw a few. But I was searching for the original author’s book and I came across this comment in a review for a book version that is an abridged version, “Redemption at Hacksaw Ridge (hardback) is a much expanded, reedited edition of the original The Unlikeliest Hero, which went out of print in 1967. The new edition contains nearly three times as many pictures, a new Foreword, and Epilogue.” I found the book on Amazon: Have any of you seen this movie or read the book? If you like hero stories about survival, standing your ground for your beliefs, you will surely love this movie. ©DGKaye2021
Published on March 20, 2021 22:07
March 19, 2021
Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – #FREE Book Marketing Opportunities 2021 – Making the most of your promotion Sally Cronin | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
I’m sharing some great information here for authors! Sally Cronin invites you to her Smorgasbord Invitation and Bookshelves with several FREE promotions on the go. Books in all genres. Visit Sally’s blog for full details! Come join the Smorgasbord community of writers. Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – #FREE Book Marketing Opportunities 2021 – Making the most of your promotion Sally Cronin There are a few things going on in the Cafe and Bookstore and I thought this was a good time to have a recap of existing promotions and some new or revised ones coming up in the next few weeks. I am always delighted to welcome new authors to the shelves of the cafe and if you are new to the blog then here is the link that tells you what I need from you to create your first promotion. It also shares some tips on how to get the best from your promotion. Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – New Book on the Shelves 2021 – #Free book promotion For existing authors in the Cafe and you can check Cafe and Bookstore for your entry and if you have changed covers or have a new book recently released that I have missed please email me with the Amazon link to sally.cronin@moyhill.com. Authors in the cafe have reviews that are recent within the last six months or have released a new book... this enable me to keep up with the 130 to 150 who are in the cafe at any particular time. I do move authors into another annex and check regularly for reviews or releases after this six month and return them to the main cafe with new events. If you have a new book being released and have a date for it to be on pre-order or available then please email as soon as possible so I can schedule a new book promotion… sally.cronin@moyhill.com Please visit Sally’s Smorgasbord Invitation Promotional Post to continue reading and visit all promotions, and get your books promoted! Source: Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – #FREE Book Marketing Opportunities 2021 – Making the most of your promotion Sally Cronin | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine ©DGKaye2021
Published on March 19, 2021 22:00
March 17, 2021
Update: Blogging and Health and Wellness
Just a quick post to update. My hubby has just come home from hospital again, and a whirlwind has happened in this last stint. My hubby was drained again and a port was inserted to start having homecare and nurse to come drain him at home as needed, it’s just too tough on him getting in and out of the car. In the middle of madness I got jab one of the Astra Zeneca Covid vax, thanks to another compassionate medical secretary. I’d called my GP’s office for one thing, and got chatting with the secretary about the new opening in my age group for vaccines available in certain pharmacies across my city. Well, I along with countless others were tying up the lines trying to book an appointment, and I gave up fighting the madness. The secretary told me she’d be happy to alleviate the madness and would get me booked. She asked which location I’d prefer, and ten minutes later called to tell me I was booked for the next day! Apparently, they skipped an age group here, as they are still vaccinating the over 80 age group. I asked, what happened to the people in their 70s first, and I was told Astra Zeneca vaccine couldn’t be given to 65 and over and they would expire in April, so here I am, dose one injected and no follow up date yet for #2. I sure hope it’s sooner than later. I had the jab on Saturday and my left arm, shoulder, and up the left side of my neck and back are still sore. I hope that’s the worst of it as I have zero time to be sick. I’ve been reading around where many people say they get sicker after the 2nd jab. Can’t wait! (Sarcasm.) As life is spinning for me at the moment, and until I can get a breath and sorted in new routine, my posts and my visits to other blogs may be limited and random. Gratefully, I do have some posts in draft, but anything newly creative is sleeping at the moment, as my life is in adjustment and denial as too many things sink in. As I’d previously mentioned in my last post, I’m documenting this journey, and once I catch my breath, I’ll begin editing it and posting in a series about how I navigate the hospital system during cancer and Covid. Yes, my husband’s diagnosis is in, confirmed what I already knew in my soul, he has a primary and secondary cancer. Lots to process while working hard to keep his spirits up. And I must tend to his every need, which is my most absolute priority right now. The hospital has arranged nurses and doctors to come to the home. That is a blessing and easier for both of us. Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. They are always most welcome and appreciated. ©DGKaye2021 Don’t forget to find something to smile about everyday. Everyday is a gift.
Published on March 17, 2021 13:52