Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Wind

Positive feedback. I wonder if any of us are aware how rare that is these days. Recently I made the mistake of posting the first line of Murder by the Mile on Facebook. I wanted my readers to know I was finally writing again. I thought -- not that I thought about it much before posting -- that I'd generate some excitement and maybe some encouragement. Instead it turned into the discussion of the merits of my first line ... a line just written and certainly not edited and not a terrible first line, either. The responses frustrated and irritated me, more because I let them take the wind out of my writing sails than anything else.

Of course, I kept writing. Frankly, I have a large enough ego that I can take some criticism and not fall down. But I wonder how many tender plantings have died from a barrage of perhaps well-meaning but damaging comments. Ideas are fragile things. It's easy to step on them. I've seen it happen; God forgive me, I've even stepped on a few myself. I meant well, but an idea needs time to grow, to put down roots, raise a few leaves to the sun. We rarely give them time.

I have only a handful of what I call my Positives. My Positives like me, like my writing, like my ideas. They don't immediately attempt to point out shortcomings, they don't try to make anything better, they just support. And they are precious to me. Very precious. I'm willing to put up with a lot from them because of that rare stream of encouragement they provide.

I have critics. I carry within me the worse critic. The critic inside would have me curl up and die. He's unrelenting. Nothing I ever do is good enough. I've learned to live with him, to slip books past him, and to ignore when I have to. He's always there, so I've got criticism covered.

But that support, that wind for my sails ... now, that's a treasure. One I hope I always have.

I hope you have a strong wind for your sails, too. How is life treating you? Well, I hope. Talk to you later.


Sunday, August 29, 2010

A bit of news on Sunday

Still having computer problems here, but minor ones that take time to fix. The system itself -- good, old Windows XP -- seems stable enough. I keep having to re-install programs I need, but I have most of them back on the computer now, so the worse is behind me, I hope.

Today I'm printing the July family newsletter. Woohoo! Of course, that only leave me with two days to do August's, but hey, if I get it out the first week in September, that will be fine. Then I will only have to do September's. I'll be caught up for the first time in months. Oops. Just remembered I need to write another article for it. I guess I'll go do that now.

Hope things are going well for you! Talk to you tomorrow.

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Barnes&Noble.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by the Acre at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Barnes & Noble.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in softcover at Lulu.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy, MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Review

Gloria Williams at Wry Words reviewed Floozy and Other Stories. Thank you, Gloria!

Here's the review:

Being of a fan of Stephen Bagley’s mysteries and his thoughtful, funny, and occasionally inspiring website, I eagerly waited for Floozy and Other Stories, his collection of humor columns from various media.

I wasn’t disappointed. From the introduction on, Bagley shows his dazzling ability with wordplay and humorous images. I’ve read the book twice now and discovered a new sly joke each time. Bagley winks at us while inviting us into the joke. The clever codes hidden on the back cover and in at least one chapter were delightful surprises, particularly since they’re not advertised but hidden like Easter eggs. Maddeningly, he refuses to discuss the codes. That’s okay. I like looking!

Several stories in the book stood out. ‘Sex and the Single Novelist’ made me actually spit coffee! I laughed so hard at ‘American History 101’ and ‘Mansquito’ that I nearly busted something. And his twisted looks at the Twilight movies and at the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving deserve to be classics. I kept calling my sister to read parts of the book to her until she finally drove over and demanded to borrow my copy. (I bought another one so we could both have a copy of our own.)

I also really enjoyed ‘Tanning My Hide,’ ‘A Hard Day Knighting,’ and many, many others. I don’t think you can find a page that doesn’t have a laugh on it. I expect each reader will have his or his favorites.

A note on the look of the book itself: it’s sharp and attractive. The illustrations (from Dover Publications, Inc.) are funny in their own right and fit the stories as if they were drawn for the book. It’s a good looking volume that will brighten any bookshelf.

All in all, Floozy and Other Stories is a wild and funny ride, one that I’m glad he invited me along.

Gosh, Gloria, you'll turn my head with that! Thank you again.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Howdy!

Did you think I forgot ya? No, I've been wrestling with my computer and fighting a cold and having company for the weekend, and basically I was just plumb worn out. I wanted to stop by briefly and let you know I'm still here, still unemployed, still chugging along, still selling books, still putting out my monthly family newsletter (I'm caught up to July) and so on.

Very busy today with errands, housework, newsletter, and (shh, don't tell anyone) writing. It's been a while since I've devoted a lot of time of putting my butt in the chair and leting the words flow. Well, they're not really flowing right now, but they will. They will if they know what's good for them ...

Hey, a big thank you to my friend Gail! I used a gift card that she sent me for my birthday yesterday evening at Wal-Mart and purchased a couple of items. Nothing fun, but very useful items. So thanks, Gail!

Anyway, more later. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and rooting for you. Somehow or another, we're all going to be okay.

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Barnes&Noble.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by the Acre at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Barnes & Noble.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in softcover at Lulu.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy, MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Book signings!

Ada Public Library, 124 South Rennie, Ada, Oklahoma, Friday, September 10, 4-6 p.m.

Chisholm Trail Book Festival, Simmons Center, 800 Chisholm Trail Parkway, Duncan, Oklahoma, Saturday, September 18, 10-4 p.m.

Muldrow Public Library, 711 W Shawntel Smith Blvd, Muldrow, Oklahoma, Saturday, September 25, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Purchase your signed copy of 'Floozy and Other Stories' and my other books. Get your book signed if you purchased it online. Come by and register to win $250 in books and merchandise. Giveaways to first 20 people who purchase a copy of 'Floozy and Other Stories,' 'Murder by the Acre' or 'Murder by Dewey Decimal.' Or just come by and say hi. I'd love to see you there. Please invite your friends!

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com



Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Floozy story in local paper

Ada Evening News

August 9, 2010
Local author to sign copies of new book


Ada — Local author Stephen B. Bagley will sign copies of his new book "Floozy and Other Stories" Friday, Sept. 10, from 4-6 p.m. at Ada Public Library, 124 S. Rennie.

"Floozy and Other Stories" collects more than 80 humorous articles that Bagley wrote for various newspapers, magazines, newsletters and websites.

"Over the years, I was asked to collect the humor articles in a book, particularly the ones published on the Web," he said. "I finally started work on what would become 'Floozy' late last year, and it was published this July."

Read the rest of story here.

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com



Monday, August 16, 2010

Back on the wagon again

Today I went back on the blood sugar control wagon. I did fairly well.

For breakfast, a cup of regular Cheerios, 1/2 cup of low fat milk, and 1/2 cup of blueberries.

For lunch, a bowl of clam chowder flavored with tumeric and red pepper flacks with a glass of iced green tea.

For supper, my roomie and I went to Delicias Mexican Restaurant where I was doubly good in that I took a coupon and got 10 percent off our meal (good for my budget) and had the fajita salad with salsa as the dressing (good for blood sugar and waistline). What was not so good was the 20 or so chips I ate while waiting for the meal. Oh, well. I'll get that under control, too.

As my nighttime snack, I had two slices of wheat toast with olive oil butter and a large handful of carrot sticks. The only real cheating I did was I ate three Twizzlers.

Yes, I was hungry, hungry, hungry. But that's a lie my appetite is telling me. I'm not starving. My body is just accustomed to a higher blood sugar, and it wants to stay that way. After a week or so, that beast will go away. Or at least be more controllable.

Being unemployed has made it harder, of course. I'm at home most of the day where there are good things to eat! I've always done worse on weekends and holidays than when I was at the office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tomorrow I need to go to Apple Mark and pick up some low-carb healthy snacks -- carrots, brocculi, etc. -- to tide me over the rough parts. Also, buy a carton of eggs. Eggs are a wonderfully filling, no carb food. Great for breakfast or lunch with the right veggies in them.

It's late so I'm going to try to get some sleep. I hope your night is going well. Talk to you tomorrow.


Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Barnes&Noble.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by the Acre at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Barnes & Noble.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Lulu.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in HARDCOVER at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy, MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Sunday, August 15, 2010

No such thing as comfort food

My blood sugar is too dang high. Well, enough of that. Tomorrow we will be back on the straight and narrow. I may be down, but that is NO reason to not take care of myself. I've been using high carb food to comfort myself.

Here, I'll tell on myself. Today I had five tacos for lunch, three glasses of cherry limeade, three glasses of milk, a bowl of Cheerios with blueberries for breakfast, a A1 steak burger from Burger King, small fries from Burger King, a 16 oz Dr Pepper, three Little Debbie oatmeal cookies ... That's all I can think of, but that's enough, and there's probably something I forgot. Well, enough of that. No wonder I've felt tired the past few days. I've let my blood sugar get out of control again.

Truly I'm no different from an alcoholic, but my addiction is a bit more socially acceptable. I'm addicted to carbs and sugar. Time to change that. Food is NOT comfort. The last thing I need now is more health problems.

So tomorrow I start taking back my life. And how are you? I miss the blogging we all used to do. Sometimes I wish Facebook would just go away, but I'd bet everyone wouldn't return. We got out of the habit of writing anything beyond burbs. Wish I could change that.

Talk to you tomorrow. No, really I will. Promise. See you then.

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com



Friday, August 13, 2010

Take That - Greatest Day

Another really cool song that I enjoy. Hope you do, too.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Boyzone - Love You Anyway

Once again, just because I like the song and video. Although ... I'm not sure white boys should dance ... or can ...

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Maybe

Just because I like this song ... makes me happier ... Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Offer ends

The Free Summer Shipping at Lulu.com for orders over $19.95 ends AUGUST 23RD! So now's the time to get your Floozy!

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Monday, August 09, 2010

Blah

Blah blah blah. Buy Floozy. Blah blah blah. Job search not going well. Blah blah blah, and blah BLAH blah.


Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Saturday, August 07, 2010

Full week

I survived my first full week of unemployment. I didn't handle it as well as I thought I would. I experienced panic, depression, despair, anger, fury, self-pity, self-condemnation, etc. Basically I was a twitching, stuttering, shuddering mess from Friday last week until Wednesday this week. But on Wednesday, I started to to regain my equilibrium. I had a minor setback when I realized I wasn't depositing a paycheck on Friday afternoon, but I recovered. I had a good day today, although it was mostly non-productive. I just hung around the house, watched TV, did some shopping and errands, floated in my pool, and napped.

Until this happened, I hadn't realized how much of my identity was wrapped up in that job. If someone asked me what I did, I did insurance. That was my job; that was me. That was who I was. Surprise, surprise, surprise, I have an existence outside insurance. An existence I have sadly neglected at the expense of my peace and spiritual growth.

I'm not the only one thrown by the ending of my job. Several of my friends have reacted strongly to it. Many of them have talked about their own job insecurity and how much it frightened them to think that they could lose their jobs as easily as I did mine. Others have drawn away from me, as if unemployment was something you could catch. To the credit of most of these, they eventually rallied around me.

And the customers of my former office have taken my leaving badly. After all, I had been there nearly 18 years. For many of them, I was the face of that office, the person they called for help when they needed it. Several have called me; others have approached me at the library or on the street.

I have no doubt the office will do fine without me. Perhaps not as efficiently ... well, maybe even that. None of us are irreplaceable in our jobs. Maybe that is the lesson I'm supposed to learn from this. I'm too close to this right now to process any deeper meaning. Maybe later as the first week gives way to the second or third or God forbid the 10th.

Really, I'm writing this to tell you that I'm still here. I'm still moving forward as best as I can. I may be splashing around a bit, but I'm not drowning. Eventually, with God's help, I'll remember how to swim again and make my way to solid ground. I still have faith.

So how are you doing? Is life treating you okay? Let me know. And if you're splashing around too, swim my way. We'll hold each other up as we swim toward shore.


Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Book signing at local library set

(This is the story the local library will be sending to the newspaper about my book signing there. You'll be hearing more about the signing as we get closer to it.)

AUTHOR TO SIGN NEW RELEASE AT ADA PUBLIC LIBRARY

ADA - Local author Stephen B. Bagley will sign copies of his new bookFloozy and Other Stories Friday, September 10, 4-6 p.m. at the Ada Public Library, 124 S. Rennie.

Floozy and Other Stories collects more than 80 humorous articles that Bagley wrote for various newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and websites. “Over the years, I was asked to collect the humor articles in a book, particularly the ones published on the Web,” he said. “I finally started work on what would become ‘Floozy’ late last year, and it was published this July.”

The book will be available for purchase at the signing. The soft cover version is $17.95, and the hard cover $25. The book can also be ordered from Lulu.com.

Bagley said compiling the book was harder than he expected. “At first, it was great fun picking out the articles. I hadn’t realized how many I had written, and some I had even forgotten, so that was enjoyable. But picking the last few articles to put in the book was hard. I had to decide which of my ‘babies’ would make the cut. Eventually I just chose my current favorites. I also wrote five new articles for the book.”

The title of the book has attracted a lot of attention, Bagley said. “It’s been funny the number of ladies who, when they hear the title, immediately claim I wrote the book about them. But they don’t find it quite so funny if their husbands or boyfriends say that!”

As for who is the Floozy in the title, Bagley won’t say. “You have to read the book,” he said. “It surprises most people when they find out.

Bagley previously published the mystery novels Murder by Dewey Decimal and Murder by the Acre. He also wrote the full-length plays “Murder at the Witch's Cottage” and “Two Writers in the Hands of an Angry God” and co-wrote “Turnabout.” His poetry has been published in Byline Magazine, Prairie Songs, Free Star, and other publications. He co-authored two one-act plays – “Hogwild” and “There’s A Body In The Closet” – that were published by Dramatic Publishing Co. His articles and humorous essays have been published in Nautilus Magazine, OKMagazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, Your Country Music Magazine, various newspapers, and other publications.

Bagley graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. For more information about Bagley’s publications, visit his website 51313 Harbor Street at www.51313.blogspot.com.

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com



Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Gumball God

Where does God go when your prayers aren't answered? The easy, careless answer is to say that perhaps He said 'no.' Or to say that your prayer was unrighteous. Perhaps you were praying for personal gain or to harm another person. Those prayers, it is obvious, will not be answered.

But what about the prayers of the righteous? Are they heard? Are they answered? We pray for peace, we pray for relief from suffering, we pray for hope. Are we supposed to cling to our faith as a drowning man clings to a piece of ship wreckage?

What do we do when our hopes are ashes, when we lack the words, when we are defeated? Did we not pray enough? Is our suffering the sacrifice He demands?

Some people believe that God created us and waits for us after death, but He is strictly hands-off in regard to the world. He's the ultimate absentee landlord in their eyes. He's not going to fix the plumbing, the wars, the diseases, etc. It's all up to us, His stumbling tenants. Several of the Founding Fathers -- particularly Thomas Jefferson -- held this view. It's a rational view. It requires little faith.

In fact, the Deist view is only one step away from not believing there is a God at all. Why should we believe in Him? If He doesn't help us -- if we can't put prayers in the slot and get a blessing like He's a theological gumball machine -- what's the point of worshipping Him?

The flaw in this is our supposition that God cares about the things we care about. We want a cool car, a good job, a nice house, and a thousand and one other material things. God doesn't much care about material things. He cares about spiritual things. This is not to say He doesn't want us to have nice things -- after all, He loves us and wants us to be happy, but it concerns Him when material things are what makes us happy. Especially since He knows -- and we should know by now -- material things cannot last.

The hardest thing about this is realizing that our needs -- the ones that we think are so pressing, so important -- may not be very important in the scheme of things at all. God is more interested in our eternity than our now.

Does this mean that He doesn't answer our prayers because they concern things of no consequence? No. Remember, God loves us. He's very indulgent of us. We're like wayward toddlers at a spiritual superstore, wailing for the toys when the Bread of Life is what we need to grow into strong healthy people. But sometimes He gives us those toys because, hey, He would like us to pray about something else for a change.

As I've gone through the turmoil in my personal life these past few days, I've done a lot of praying. Well, a lot of complaining, too. God always has a ready ear when I need to rant and rave. And obviously I will be doing more because my adventure is apparently just beginning. But through it all, when I've prayed, I've been conscious of this one amazing fact: God loves me and will continue to love me. He's going to stay here beside me. I may not get the things I want, but I will get the things I need.

So maybe prayer is really supposed to be an expression of our faith, our belief that God loves us and will never leave us. Maybe prayer was never meant to be another quarter in the slot of a gumball machine god.

Anyway, that's what I'm thinking about today. What are you thinking about?


Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Barnes&Noble.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by the Acre at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Barnes & Noble.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Lulu.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in HARDCOVER at Lulu.com

Buy Floozy, MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Day Two

Day Two of My Unemployment

Was productive. Didn't spend the whole day in my pajamas. Got the direct deposit papers faxed to the employment commission. Made a bank deposit. Worked on an accounting of all my book sales. Kinda depressing that, but at least I know what I need to do now.

I need to sell 100 Floozies. One hundred of Floozy and Other Stories. In the next two months. Can I do it? We'll see.

Have you bought your Floozy yet? She's waiting for you. She wants to make you happy. Make her happy. Do it now. And if you like her, do it again. Because once is never enough.

Night!

Buy Floozy and Other Stories in paperback at Lulu.com
Buy Floozy and Other Stories in hardcover at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Amazon.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Barnes&Noble.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by Dewey Decimal at Lulu.com

Buy Murder by the Acre at Amazon.com.
Buy Murder by the Acre at Barnes & Noble.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at BooksAMillion.com
Buy Murder by the Acre at Lulu.com
Buy Murder by the Acre in HARDCOVER at Lulu.com.

Buy Floozy, MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf Harbor

Monday, August 02, 2010

Day One

I thought I'd have plenty to say today, my first unemployed day in nearly 18 years. Instead I find myself curiously still. Empty. Not depressed. Not happy. Just empty. Shock maybe. Don't know. Did some productive things, though, so that's good.

Today I did laundry, filed my unemployment online, continued to find places for the items from my former office, dusted the living room, etc. So that's good? Well, it's movement, and physical therapists like to say that movement is life. So I'm still alive.

Tomorrow, I'm going to finish the unemployment filing, mop my kitchen and bathroom floors, more laundry, go to the library to set up another book signing, pay bills, make a deposit, maybe float in my pool.

Anyway, what's going on with you?