Author and traveler

Where did my time go?

Where Did My Time Go?

How does time slip way?

I'm sure we have all stared at the clock and wished for our day to be over. Today, I look at the time and say, "Where did the time go?" I'm busier than I've ever been and don't seem to have enough hours in the day to accomplish all I want. Then again, there are some things I totally avoid as I'm not sure of what I'm doing and/or I find it difficult to do.

Basically, we can find time to get things done we like to do. For me, that means writing, editing and reading. But I can't seem to find the time to do marketing, talk the necessary classes to learn marketing, etc. Why? Well, fear of failure would be at the top of the list. Hey, if you don't market, you can't fail and therefore, you don't have to do other things to success. Right?

It works, only all your hard work sits there vegetating and no one reads it. Time is a hard task master as you have to allow time for a personal life. That means having fun, socializing with family and friends, getting out and seeing the world, and so forth. It means taking time to be you. But you do have to balance that with work when you are your own boss.

For the summer, I've done little outside work. I do read books to write reviews for Uncaged Books. It's a way of forcing myself to relax and read. Some books are ones I'd pick up and read to waste a few hours relaxing. Others are a chore to get through due to multiple issues. I've also gone back in to nursing, but on a part time basis for one particular patient. It's a fun thing and brings in a couple of extra bucks which is nice, but I love working with the patient so much, I'd do it for free.

With the school year starting in four weeks, my schedule is about to become overly busy. I'll be working full time for four days a week, decreasing my hours to be able to work on my writing during those days. I'll still have the weekends, but those will be busy with friends, occasional nurse work and keeping up with my reviews along with my other work.

Montana: He sent an Angel

Are Angels Real?

If angels are real, are they here among us?"

Are angels real? It's a question I have no exacting answer for. If they are real, are they here among us? I'd say yes they are if they are real. Working on that premise and the work which has been done proving we do go somewhere upon death, I had a story slowly grow on me. After hearing stories of my great grandmother who had 'died' and come back to life, this was a story I wanted to write. What if there is a real angel, one we can see, touch and interact with among us? That was how I came up with Montana: He Sent and Angel, my newest book. I'm waiting on the cover to be completed, but I'm excited about this different genre book as it is a Christian Romance. Nothing preachy, but based on the principles of Love, Hope and Caring and faith.

On to Delaware

From North Carolina to Delaware

Leaving New Bern

North Carolina lowlands

Out of North Carolina

I was ready to leave North Carolina after a trip to Roanoke Island and Cape Hateras. I got as far as the visitor's center before having to head back. As a reminder, if you ever get to Englhard NC, find Tom's Marina and stop at the little restaurant there. You will get fresh fish which it excellent.

I followed the coast going north the next day toward Virginia. You have to remember this is all flat land and the roads have been underwater frequently. Part of the trek along the beaches you could see where they water comes up over the road at high tide.

I did go through Kitty Hawk. It didn't take long to figure out why the Wright Brothers used it to test their plane. The wind was so strong, it almost blew me off my bike several times. I could imagine them flying off the large sand dunes along the road....

Virginia, Maryland and Delaware

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Chesapeake Bay Bridge from the other side.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Delaware

I spent the night in Virginia at Newport News. This is a shipyard town and the place where I stayed wasn't exactly in the best area of town but it was cheap and I didn't have to pitch a tent. I was up early to get across the bridge before traffic picked up. With it being a Sunday morning, the traffic was reasonable without a lot of trucks. At $15, I made sure to take my time and to enjoy the trip. I was going to eat while on the bridge, but one look at the prices had me deciding to wait until I was off the bridge.

The bay was rough with a lot wind due to a storm I could see in the distance. I had to stop after the bridge and get as good a picture as I could of the magnificent structure which takes you under the water several times as you cross it. With heading north, you pass through Maryland before getting to Delaware only you don't see signs telling you that along the way.

From the Bridge, I decided to to east to the coast through Ocean City. Like Myrtle Beach, it wasn't my idea of a fun place to stop. On this one day I went from Virginia, to Maryland then into Delaware. I ate lunch in Lewes which was near Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where I got blistered from the sun at age seventeen. (That's another whole tale.)

Birds on island Route 9 in Delaware

Delaware lowlands route 9

Following Route 9 through Delaware was a great decision as I went through the lowlands. Again, you were traveling roads where the tides were over the road during high tide. It was different than the mangrove swamps of Florida. I enjoyed the trip as it was one where there was little traffic and nothing but time to get to the next stop.

I stopped at Middletown for the night as I wanted to go back and see Odessa which had a lot of the older homes then go to New Castle where there were homes of the same period.

The next day, I visited both cities then went into New Jersey to Cape May which was a quaint town where I spent most of the afternoon. The rest of the area was like Myrtle Beach and Ocean City, not a place where I wanted to stay. I ended up staying north of Wildwood for the night is a motel which was acceptable but not great. I would get to see how the interior of the state looked tomorrow.

Pictures of Odessa and New Castle historic districts

Odessa Historic distric

Owens Thomas house garden in Odessa

Odessa historic downtown

New Castle old houses cobblestond street 3

Cobblestone street in New Castle historic district

New Castle Bed and Breakfast from 1790s

Sensitivity Readers: Should We Allow This?

What are Sensitivity Readers?

Why do we even need sensitivity readers?

A sensitivity reader is someone who reviews your work to ensure it doesn't offend any one and you are treating your characters and situations with respect to those who are like your character of have experienced the type of situation you have portrayed.

Whew! That is a mouthful. But what does that mean? Well, in short, it means someone it censoring your work. They are telling you what to write and how to write it to avoid offending any one.

Beauty and Happiness

There are as many styles of beauty as there are visions of happiness. Stendhal (1)

Quote Graphic

Beauty and Happiness

Which comes first?

I know everyone has heard the adage "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." But what is beauty? Does beauty bring happiness? These are questions we need to explore.

One of the things my Grandfather told me was how a beautiful women is one who has the beauty embodied within her. That is what makes the outside beautiful. I can see where it was true.

Grandmother

My Grandmother wasn't physically beautiful, but she was one of the happiest and most beautiful people I've ever seen. The light on her face and her peace with herself and her life gave her a beauty you don't see much of today. I can remember the love and caring she had for all of us.

Operation Hail Storm

Operation Hail Storm by Brett Arquette

This is a book which I found totally interesting. It takes place in the not so distant future. The name comes from the CIA which ends up getting involved when Marshall Hail assassinates the North Korean minister who contracted with a Russian mercenary to get ICBM parts. He does this by using drones of different sizes and a team of very young pilots on a ship.

He requests the bounty on the assassination and offers to help them get rid of their list of most wanted terrorists. His offer is agreed to with a stipulation, he has to destroy the parts to the missiles and accept having a CIA agent there when he does it.

The rest of the book is taken up with the relationship between him and the beautiful Kara and the mission. I'll not give any spoilers here as the book it one you must read. Now if you aren't into tech things, you might not like the book, but I did. I got a great understanding of how everything worked all the why of what he was doing.

This is a book I give five stars to and highly recommend even if you aren't into the slow thriller with romantic overtones. There are so many twists and turns and an ending you won't expect. I now have to get the second book and read it.

You can find this book on Amazon.

Amazon

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and New Bern, North Carolina

Myrtle Beach, SC Kabni

Myrtle Beach, SC

I spent the last day in Savannah watching the rain. By the time it cleared up, it was too late to do anything, so I sat on the porch of the Kabin and watched the ducks and swans before packing to leave in the morning.

August 30, 2015, I left for Myrtle Beach, SC. The day started out decent but by the afternoon I had to put on my rain suit. Now imagine who have paid $150 for rain suit. You would think it would keep you dry. Nope. The front of my shirt was soaking wet along with my pants. I would have been just as dry leaving it off.

Perspective on Life

Life's not about...

Perspectives on Life

What is life really about?

When I read the above quote, I had to question if he was truly correct in that life isn't about expecting, hoping and wishing. Think about it. How much of your life has been spent in expecting things, hoping for things and wishing for things? I will admit to spending a lot of time hoping and wishing for things.

Key West to Savannah, GA

Getting to where you are going is half the fun of traveling.

Key West to home.

After leaving Key West, I needed to stop at home in Sunrise, FL. I needed to do some things to my bike. A lowered windshield, new grips, and road pegs. I also needed to get it registered. To do the latter, I needed to obtain the paperwork from Black Hills Harley Davidson which would take 30 days. That I wasn't going to wait on. I left a Power of Attorney for my daughter to get my tags and left as soon as my bike was completed.

Home to Daytona

My first stop was Daytona for the night. It wasn't my plan but Hurricane Erica was making her presence known with rain. It slowed me down and I needed to be off the road by dark. Rain and nighttime on a motorcycle, even a trike, isn't my idea of fun. My revised plan to was make Savannah the next day. I took US A1A through West Palm Beach. At that point it joins US 1. I had planned on getting back on A1A but the rain made me change my plans.

The hotel where I stayed was one where many of the bikers who are having repairs on their bikes done stay. I went to a bar where I was told I could get good food. I had a wonderful meal and ended up spending some time with a group of bikers who were a lot of fun. I left early as I wanted to be on the road early in the morning.

Key West A Great Place To Start A Trip

The Southern Most Point to Zero Miles on US-1