I thought I'd share a bit from the book Kelley Benson and I are working on. Tell me what you think.
Excerpt from Debt Free At Last! 50 Ways to Win Your Financial Freedom
Do you have a saving account? If not, why not? We don’t think there’s any good reason not to have one. You can start one with as little as $20. This is a priority. You must have a saving account as soon as possible.
And you must start saving some money immediately. It doesn’t matter that you’re not socking away hundreds of dollars. It only matters that you have a savings plan that you can handle and control.
You might notice we didn’t say anything about looking at interest rates on a savings account. Do look around for the best rate you can find, but the sad truth is savings accounts rarely pay as much interest as what inflation is taking from you. That doesn’t matter. You want your savings account for other reasons; making money is not its primary purpose.
Its primary purpose is to protect you and your family from financial emergencies. Before you invest in CDs or any other financial products, you should have an emergency fund first. We recommend at least three months salary; more is better, but get some money put away as soon as you can.
What is the emergency fund for? It’s not to buy clothes or birthday presents or designer purses. It’s for real emergencies. Here’s a list of emergencies and non-emergencies:
Paying the deductible on your car insurance so you can get your car repaired after an accident – Emergency.
Getting a tattoo – Non-emergency.
Paying your bills after you’ve been laid off – Emergency.
Buying a new flat screen TV – Non-emergency.
Paying unexpected medical expenses – Emergency.
Repairing your car so you can get to work or job search – Emergency.
Purchasing the latest video game – Non-emergency.
Repairing your home heater after it quits working – Emergency.
Taking a vacation – Non-emergency.
Replacing your prescription eyeglasses – Emergency.
Buying designer frames for your eyeglasses – Non-emergency.
You could possibly turn some of those emergencies into non-emergencies if you’re able to work out payment plans and can tap other resources. For instance, some car body shops will waive your deductible or let you pay that amount out since they’re getting the majority from your insurance company. And medical providers usually have some type of payment plan. Investigate your options before depleting your fund. You don’t want to tap your emergency fund unless you have to. It’s there behind you, protecting you and your family from the insecurities of life. If you protect it, it will protect you.
The second purpose of a savings account is to get you used to the idea of saving money. Many people do not have this habit. Money burns a hole in their lives. They have nothing and will never have anything – unless they win the lottery -- because they save nothing. (And if that millions-to-one chance happens and they do win the lottery, you can be assured they will be broke again soon enough.)
You’re not one of those people. You understand the importance of the habit of savings. You take care of your home, car, and your relationships because you want them all to last as long as possible. You’re smart, aren’t you?
The third – and perhaps most important – purpose of an emergency fund is to give you and your family a sense of security. In this insecure world in which stock markets crash and jobs are here this morning and gone this afternoon, you are planning for the future. You are going to see to it – to the best of your ability – that you and your family don’t have to do without clothing, food, or shelter. You’re who stands between them and the problems of financial ruin. They are fortunate they have you because you’re going to take care of them.
Remember this: it doesn’t matter how much you save at the beginning as long as you save some. Five or 10 dollars a week is fine if that’s what you can manage. As long as you consistently save money, you will soon see your savings increase. And that little bit of interest you receive is the cherry on top.
Look at your budget. (We just made one, remember?) See how much you can put into an emergency fund savings account this month, this week, now. Is it more important to have all those premium channels on your TV or to secure you and your family’s financial future? It’s an easy decision to make when you take the long view. And you’re a smart person so the long view is easy for you.
Start a savings account now. Someday – maybe sooner than we hope - you and your family will be glad you did.
Copyright 2009 by Stephen B. Bagley & Kelley Benson. All rights reserved.
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Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Excerpt & other things
Excerpt from Dragons In Flight
I was well on my way to a serious drunk in the Tavern of the Silver Stag when Manjarous finally found me. He walked over to me. I kicked the nearest bench back.
"Sit down," I drawled. "Have a couple. On me. You can catch up."
He shook his head and remained standing. "You can drown in regret if you're not careful," Manjarous said. He looked at me steadily. "Don't do it, Stefan. Don't waste your life like this."
"How should I waste it?" I mocked him.
"You would have saved her if you had been able," he said softly. "It's not your fault Maladora passed on."
"Murdered," I said. "She didn't pass away. She didn't die in her bed. She didn't close her eyes and peacefully go beyond. She was murdered. She died in pain. She died wanting me ... to save her." For a moment, I felt her shuddering body again in my arms and I heard my voice pleading with her to stay with me. I would have worshiped any god who had saved her, but the gods are deaf. And cruel. They gave me magic at the same time they took away my love.
"You couldn't save her," Manjarous said.
"I could have sent her away," I said. "If I hadn't loved her so much ..." I fought for control of my voice. "I should have sent her away. She would be alive if I had."
"Stefan, you don't know that," he said. "Gal'karn would not have given --"
I waved off his words. "It's my fault." I raised my mug and drained the remaining ale. "I'm going to get drunk now. Either join me or leave me alone." I held up the mug so that the barmaid would see I needed a refill.
Manjarous frowned and shook his head. "Stubborn fool." He sighed. "Try to get back before dawn. Even you need sleep." He walked away and left me with my regrets.
-- Excerpt from Dragons In Flight, Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley
*** Dragons In Flight is the sequel to Dragons Gather. Yeah, I know it's weird to be jotting down notes and scenes for the sequel to an unfinished book, but I'd rather get that information down where I can find it later.
*** A long day at work. Having a lot of trouble with my stomach. I think I'm reacting to the Plaquenil. Going to talk to the doctor about it. Maybe reduce the dose or find something else.
*** I'm going to be off work tomorrow afternoon and Friday. Taking some "me" time. I'm going to work on finishing 75 Dates for $25 or Less! I'm ready to have it finished. I need to add another -- Lord help me -- thousand words to it for it to be length we need. Gail has done the majority of the work on the book so it's only fair that I finish it up. We have big plans for the book, but we can't start them until we get it finished. And that's what I'm working on.
*** Have you stopped by the new Murder by the Acre site? I'm quite proud how it turned out. I'm going to add a few more items, but it's worth looking at, particularly if you haven't read the book yet. I have the complete first chapter there for folks to read. Go here and see what you think.
*** I've been watching UFO Hunters lately. Although I don't believe UFOs exist -- not the sense that aliens are among us -- I still find it fascinating. I wonder what the truth really is and why so many people say they've seen aliens or UFOs. Why don't I believe in UFOs? Because stellar distances are simply too vast, and physics is simply too unforgiving. I wish hyperspace, warp drive, etc., could exist, but such things are simply not possible. I hope I'm wrong, but I suspect I'm not.
*** Going to call it a night now. Hope the night is good to you and that tomorrow is even better. Talk to you soon!
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I was well on my way to a serious drunk in the Tavern of the Silver Stag when Manjarous finally found me. He walked over to me. I kicked the nearest bench back.
"Sit down," I drawled. "Have a couple. On me. You can catch up."
He shook his head and remained standing. "You can drown in regret if you're not careful," Manjarous said. He looked at me steadily. "Don't do it, Stefan. Don't waste your life like this."
"How should I waste it?" I mocked him.
"You would have saved her if you had been able," he said softly. "It's not your fault Maladora passed on."
"Murdered," I said. "She didn't pass away. She didn't die in her bed. She didn't close her eyes and peacefully go beyond. She was murdered. She died in pain. She died wanting me ... to save her." For a moment, I felt her shuddering body again in my arms and I heard my voice pleading with her to stay with me. I would have worshiped any god who had saved her, but the gods are deaf. And cruel. They gave me magic at the same time they took away my love.
"You couldn't save her," Manjarous said.
"I could have sent her away," I said. "If I hadn't loved her so much ..." I fought for control of my voice. "I should have sent her away. She would be alive if I had."
"Stefan, you don't know that," he said. "Gal'karn would not have given --"
I waved off his words. "It's my fault." I raised my mug and drained the remaining ale. "I'm going to get drunk now. Either join me or leave me alone." I held up the mug so that the barmaid would see I needed a refill.
Manjarous frowned and shook his head. "Stubborn fool." He sighed. "Try to get back before dawn. Even you need sleep." He walked away and left me with my regrets.
-- Excerpt from Dragons In Flight, Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley
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Order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Help! Chivalry has fallen and it can't get up ...
I intended to post something tonight. Something pithy and funny. Instead I find myself barely able to stay awake. So talk among yourselves. I'll be back tomorrow. But to keep you entertained, here's a look at chivalry:
Before I go on another date, I want to know the answer to a important question that can mean the difference between a good relationship and one that shows up on Jerry Springer: Am I expected to open doors for her or not? You wouldn't think that would be much of a mystery. You'd be wrong.
Let me explain by first taking a brief look at chivalry. Many people think chivalry is dead. Many people also watch reality television. You can't trust many people.
Anyway, chivalry started in the days of the knights. It was easy to be chivalrous then. The ladies were dressed in heavy, billowing gowns, and the men were dressed in heavy, shiny armor. Since it typically took both men and women two hours to get dressed, neither sex was all that excited about taking anything off. Not to mention that the weight of their clothes and armor tended to put a strain on the back and thus the ardor. So ladies and knights went around sighing with unspoken love and swooning with passion or sometimes sunstroke.
Ever so often, a lady would give her knight an article of her clothing -- usually a perfumed handkerchief. The knight would then place it in his gauntlet and sniff it now and then. (This was, of course, before the invention of hair-spray and glue, two products that would sweep the sniffing market by storm in the 15th century.)
He sniffed for two reasons: one, to remind him of his lady-love, and two, they didn't have deodorant then. After a hard day knighting in that hot armor, a knight smelled pretty rank. (Their odor explains why some knights could kill several men with one blow. The knights had to lift their arms to swing their swords. With a good wind behind them, they could wipe out armies.)
All that sighing, swooning, knighting and sniffing left little time for loving. As a result, the knights and their ladies died out. Fortunately, enough commoners and serfs existed to keep humanity going.
As you can tell, chivalry was easy then. All the ladies had to do was be beautiful and lay in a large supply of handkerchiefs, and all the men had to do was kill a few dragons and bully some serfs. What could be simpler?
Times have changed since then. For one thing, it's practically impossible to find a serf, even for Republicans. For another, women have struggled to win an equal place in society, and some of them feel that chivalry is just a way to keep women downtrodden.
A couple of weeks back, I took a woman to dinner. At the restaurant, I jumped out of my car and went over to her side to open the door. She reached for her purse and opened her door at the same time. The door struck me directly on my knees, pinning me against the truck parked beside us.
Still not looking up, she decided the door was caught on something (she thought it might have been her seatbelt, she told me later) and pushed harder. I would have yelled but couldn't draw in enough air to breathe. She even closed the door and opened it a couple more times, baffled by its refusal to swing wide. Less you think I was enjoying becoming a decal on the truck, I must explain that I couldn't walk and would have fallen except for the truck's mirror, which luckily was buried in my kidneys and holding me up.
She finally got out of the car and asked, "What were you doing?"
"I was opening the door for you," I said through teeth gritted with pain.
"Why?" she asked.
"It's how a man shows a woman he's dating that he respects her," I said.
"It sounds like you think women are weaklings that need to be taken care of and kept in the kitchen," she said. "I can open my own doors, thank you very much, and I can make my way in the world without a man to guide me!"
"So does that mean that you want to pick up the check or should we just share it?" I asked.
"Does that mean you don’t want to kiss me goodnight?" she snapped.
We'll close the curtain on that date other than to mention that she really knew how to fight and I was lucky to get away with most of my hair. Anyway, my point -- at least I think it was my point -- is that chivalry isn't dead; it just has fallen and can't get up.
Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
Order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Before I go on another date, I want to know the answer to a important question that can mean the difference between a good relationship and one that shows up on Jerry Springer: Am I expected to open doors for her or not? You wouldn't think that would be much of a mystery. You'd be wrong.
Let me explain by first taking a brief look at chivalry. Many people think chivalry is dead. Many people also watch reality television. You can't trust many people.
Anyway, chivalry started in the days of the knights. It was easy to be chivalrous then. The ladies were dressed in heavy, billowing gowns, and the men were dressed in heavy, shiny armor. Since it typically took both men and women two hours to get dressed, neither sex was all that excited about taking anything off. Not to mention that the weight of their clothes and armor tended to put a strain on the back and thus the ardor. So ladies and knights went around sighing with unspoken love and swooning with passion or sometimes sunstroke.
Ever so often, a lady would give her knight an article of her clothing -- usually a perfumed handkerchief. The knight would then place it in his gauntlet and sniff it now and then. (This was, of course, before the invention of hair-spray and glue, two products that would sweep the sniffing market by storm in the 15th century.)
He sniffed for two reasons: one, to remind him of his lady-love, and two, they didn't have deodorant then. After a hard day knighting in that hot armor, a knight smelled pretty rank. (Their odor explains why some knights could kill several men with one blow. The knights had to lift their arms to swing their swords. With a good wind behind them, they could wipe out armies.)
All that sighing, swooning, knighting and sniffing left little time for loving. As a result, the knights and their ladies died out. Fortunately, enough commoners and serfs existed to keep humanity going.
As you can tell, chivalry was easy then. All the ladies had to do was be beautiful and lay in a large supply of handkerchiefs, and all the men had to do was kill a few dragons and bully some serfs. What could be simpler?
Times have changed since then. For one thing, it's practically impossible to find a serf, even for Republicans. For another, women have struggled to win an equal place in society, and some of them feel that chivalry is just a way to keep women downtrodden.
A couple of weeks back, I took a woman to dinner. At the restaurant, I jumped out of my car and went over to her side to open the door. She reached for her purse and opened her door at the same time. The door struck me directly on my knees, pinning me against the truck parked beside us.
Still not looking up, she decided the door was caught on something (she thought it might have been her seatbelt, she told me later) and pushed harder. I would have yelled but couldn't draw in enough air to breathe. She even closed the door and opened it a couple more times, baffled by its refusal to swing wide. Less you think I was enjoying becoming a decal on the truck, I must explain that I couldn't walk and would have fallen except for the truck's mirror, which luckily was buried in my kidneys and holding me up.
She finally got out of the car and asked, "What were you doing?"
"I was opening the door for you," I said through teeth gritted with pain.
"Why?" she asked.
"It's how a man shows a woman he's dating that he respects her," I said.
"It sounds like you think women are weaklings that need to be taken care of and kept in the kitchen," she said. "I can open my own doors, thank you very much, and I can make my way in the world without a man to guide me!"
"So does that mean that you want to pick up the check or should we just share it?" I asked.
"Does that mean you don’t want to kiss me goodnight?" she snapped.
We'll close the curtain on that date other than to mention that she really knew how to fight and I was lucky to get away with most of my hair. Anyway, my point -- at least I think it was my point -- is that chivalry isn't dead; it just has fallen and can't get up.
Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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Monday, March 23, 2009
This and that
Murder by the Acre now has its own website. There you can read the complete first chapter of the book. I've been intending to make one for it for some time, but hadn't done so. Murder by Dewey Decimal also has its own site; I haven't posted its first chapter yet, but I will over the next few days. Here are the sites: Murder by the Acre and Murder by Dewey Decimal.
I haven't felt well all day. Not sure exactly what's going on. Maybe spring fever ... except I didn't think it actually meant you had a fever! I spent most of the evening working on 75 Dates for $25 or Less!, the dating tip book by Gail Claunts and myself. The book will also include one free date in each of the fifty states as a bonus as well as 15 Frugal Dating Tips.
And my other co-author, Kelley Benson, brought by some material for our book Debt Free At Last! 50 Ways to Win Financial Freedom. I'll be devoting more and more time to that book as the 75for25 book gets nearer to completion. I'd like for both to come out in early summer.
Anyway, it's late, and I need to be in bed. I hope things are going well for you. Talk to you tomorrow.
Order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
I haven't felt well all day. Not sure exactly what's going on. Maybe spring fever ... except I didn't think it actually meant you had a fever! I spent most of the evening working on 75 Dates for $25 or Less!, the dating tip book by Gail Claunts and myself. The book will also include one free date in each of the fifty states as a bonus as well as 15 Frugal Dating Tips.
And my other co-author, Kelley Benson, brought by some material for our book Debt Free At Last! 50 Ways to Win Financial Freedom. I'll be devoting more and more time to that book as the 75for25 book gets nearer to completion. I'd like for both to come out in early summer.
Anyway, it's late, and I need to be in bed. I hope things are going well for you. Talk to you tomorrow.
Order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Barnes & Noble.com
Order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Order Murder by the Acre in hardcover only at from Lulu.com.
Order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Friday, March 20, 2009
Battlestar Earth
Watched the finale of Battlestar Galactica tonight. Kinda disappointing, actually. They left many questions unanswered and basically used a vague mysticism to explain other questions, but it wasn’t terrible and had many good moments. And if I’m disappointed in some of the answers they provided, it was, after all, their story, and they could end as they choose.
As I considered their choices for the ending, I thought about how popular writing is a walk between what your reading public wants and what you want for the story. It’s good when both of those coincide. It’s good when a writer wants to please his/her audience. I have actually thrown books across the room when the writers, trying to be clever or perhaps even disliking the reader, writing an ending that had no basis. I see this a lot in so-called dark fantasy, where – after a great adventure – the whole cast dies or ends up miserable and broken.
I’ve never liked unhappy endings. I’ve seen enough senseless misery and pointless tragedy in real life that I have no interest in reading about it. I don’t require totally happy endings, but I want hopeful ones. I want the hero’s sacrifice to mean something. Once an author has burned me with a pointless story -– or one in which the message is that life is pointless and meaningless –- I won’t read them again. Won’t buy their books and will recommend other people not buy them. They wasted my money.
Of course, I know a lot of writers out there are young so they could possibly be forgiven for liking darkness. After all, they think they’re being shocking and mature. They have no idea that a million, better writers have already walked the avenues of despair. I guess each generation has to drink from that bitter cup themselves. But what a waste of time.
We humans are like that. We read history, say we know history, but go out and make the same cruel, bloody mistakes. One of the themes of Battlestar Galactica was: “This has happened before. It will happen again.” Although in the last episode, the writers gave us a bit of hope -- that maybe a complex system, repeated enough times, could eventually learn and choose something different. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Could we choose to grow beyond what we are now?
I don't know, but I hope so. I hope so.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
As I considered their choices for the ending, I thought about how popular writing is a walk between what your reading public wants and what you want for the story. It’s good when both of those coincide. It’s good when a writer wants to please his/her audience. I have actually thrown books across the room when the writers, trying to be clever or perhaps even disliking the reader, writing an ending that had no basis. I see this a lot in so-called dark fantasy, where – after a great adventure – the whole cast dies or ends up miserable and broken.
I’ve never liked unhappy endings. I’ve seen enough senseless misery and pointless tragedy in real life that I have no interest in reading about it. I don’t require totally happy endings, but I want hopeful ones. I want the hero’s sacrifice to mean something. Once an author has burned me with a pointless story -– or one in which the message is that life is pointless and meaningless –- I won’t read them again. Won’t buy their books and will recommend other people not buy them. They wasted my money.
Of course, I know a lot of writers out there are young so they could possibly be forgiven for liking darkness. After all, they think they’re being shocking and mature. They have no idea that a million, better writers have already walked the avenues of despair. I guess each generation has to drink from that bitter cup themselves. But what a waste of time.
We humans are like that. We read history, say we know history, but go out and make the same cruel, bloody mistakes. One of the themes of Battlestar Galactica was: “This has happened before. It will happen again.” Although in the last episode, the writers gave us a bit of hope -- that maybe a complex system, repeated enough times, could eventually learn and choose something different. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Could we choose to grow beyond what we are now?
I don't know, but I hope so. I hope so.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A good night
Had a good night last night despite Mikey having to go to his dad's. He likes being with us, but he has his brothers to play with at his dad's and he likes that. Next time he comes down, I hope to be able to get off work so that I can spend more time with him.
And last night, the Black Dog finally lifted somewhat. I didn't do much -- played World of Warcraft, worked on the 75 Dates book and the family newsletter, and did some laundry -- but it all felt productive, and I slept better. So maybe this black bout is over, and my mental outlook will improve. Hope so.
I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday about "value given." One of the most important things I attempt in my writing is to give the reader their money's worth. I want them to feel that the money they spent on my books was well-spent. That's important to me, particularly during this downturn in the national economy and my personal downturn. I don't want to waste anyone's money if I can help it. And I don't want anyone to waste mine. That's not too much to ask of any author. Or a government for that matter.
It's raining here today, thank the good Lord. We need several inches of rain. Of course, I'd rather we didn't it all in one day. Picky, ain't I? We did the flood thing back in June of 2007 here. We'd rather not do it again.
And now I'll close and let y'all -- all two of you -- read this. Talk to you later. I may even come by your house. So y'all put on clothes!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
And last night, the Black Dog finally lifted somewhat. I didn't do much -- played World of Warcraft, worked on the 75 Dates book and the family newsletter, and did some laundry -- but it all felt productive, and I slept better. So maybe this black bout is over, and my mental outlook will improve. Hope so.
I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday about "value given." One of the most important things I attempt in my writing is to give the reader their money's worth. I want them to feel that the money they spent on my books was well-spent. That's important to me, particularly during this downturn in the national economy and my personal downturn. I don't want to waste anyone's money if I can help it. And I don't want anyone to waste mine. That's not too much to ask of any author. Or a government for that matter.
It's raining here today, thank the good Lord. We need several inches of rain. Of course, I'd rather we didn't it all in one day. Picky, ain't I? We did the flood thing back in June of 2007 here. We'd rather not do it again.
And now I'll close and let y'all -- all two of you -- read this. Talk to you later. I may even come by your house. So y'all put on clothes!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Black Dog
Truthfully I don’t know why I share my constant battle with the Black Dog. It’s a forever war with me, and while there are times it helps to sit at a table and share war stories with other combatants, ultimately each of us have to go it alone, and that’s all there is to it.
Not that news of other people’s victories isn’t helpful, and sometimes the advice works: “Talking about it with the doctor helps.” “Prayer is my lifeline.” “I couldn’t make it without my meds.” “I sweat the depression out with cardio.” All of that is good advice, and it helps. But there are those other times when words aren’t enough, Heaven is empty, the meds taste like poison to your self-esteem and respect, and you can’t outrun the Black Dog who lopes alongside you, its ember eyes focused on its prey. In those times your victories are all hollow and your defeats always crushing, and how you get out of bed in the morning is a tribute to sheer stubbornness.
Don’t know what to tell you about that, other than to mutter inanely something about how nothing lasts forever, not even the Black Dog, and eventually if you hang on, it will find other easier prey for a time. That’s what I do. Just survive until it lifts, take a deep breath of the morning air, and give thanks for the ceasefire.
I try to stay busy. Fill my mind up with other things. Ignore the dark beast in the corner with its gaping mouth. Listen to upbeat music. Watch funny movies. Read books that end happily. Write, write, write, my personal ritual against the unrelenting bleakness.
Black Dog. That’s what Winston Churchill called it. But long before I had ever heard of Churchill, I knew what it was. I knew what it looked like from the time I was ten. A large beast, skin like the void between stars, gaping jaws to catch the scent of its prey, large paws to carry it swiftly across the plains of my soul, a howl that could tear the heart out of the sky. When I was older, I knew its name was Ananias.
When I was a teenager, Ananias was even my friend. See, I experienced the Black Dog because I was so creative, it was a sign of genius, it was the burden that I bore with some pride because it made me special. All lies, of course, but I didn’t know better. It wasn’t until I got into college and got some counseling that I finally learned the truth: Ananias wasn’t my friend. It wasn’t a mark of honor. All it ever wanted to do was to kill me, and what’s more, it was just a metaphor for my damaged self-esteem, for my broken faith, for the damning self-judgment that I had called down upon myself. That, ultimately, it was just a disease. A chemical imbalance in my brain. No great monster, no gaping fury. Just me battling depression like so many before me and so many behind me.
There is comfort in that. When it stops being special, when you finally realize that other people’s battles –- while not your particular battle –- are still the same, when you can give up the burden of attempting to redeem your life, well, then you can heal. It’s not so dramatic anymore. You talk to doctors, you pray, you take your meds, you exercise, you get better, you heal.
Of course, you’re never cured. But you get better. You learn the situations to avoid, and the people to avoid. You try to stay away from people who feed the bleakness with their negativity. You don’t listen to the nuts who tell you that you just need to pray, give money to, or serve their particular gods and all will be fine. You learn to stop blaming yourself for being different because no one really knows what causes clinical depression. It’s not your fault. Don’t be so full of yourself.
You survive. And I survive. And it’s a good life for all its problems. It’s what we have, and it’s real. We do our best. I can live with it. It's not like we have a choice.
But listen, there are times late at night when in my mind’s eye I can see a darkening horizon and in the gathering silence a lone beast waits.
Waits for me.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Not that news of other people’s victories isn’t helpful, and sometimes the advice works: “Talking about it with the doctor helps.” “Prayer is my lifeline.” “I couldn’t make it without my meds.” “I sweat the depression out with cardio.” All of that is good advice, and it helps. But there are those other times when words aren’t enough, Heaven is empty, the meds taste like poison to your self-esteem and respect, and you can’t outrun the Black Dog who lopes alongside you, its ember eyes focused on its prey. In those times your victories are all hollow and your defeats always crushing, and how you get out of bed in the morning is a tribute to sheer stubbornness.
Don’t know what to tell you about that, other than to mutter inanely something about how nothing lasts forever, not even the Black Dog, and eventually if you hang on, it will find other easier prey for a time. That’s what I do. Just survive until it lifts, take a deep breath of the morning air, and give thanks for the ceasefire.
I try to stay busy. Fill my mind up with other things. Ignore the dark beast in the corner with its gaping mouth. Listen to upbeat music. Watch funny movies. Read books that end happily. Write, write, write, my personal ritual against the unrelenting bleakness.
Black Dog. That’s what Winston Churchill called it. But long before I had ever heard of Churchill, I knew what it was. I knew what it looked like from the time I was ten. A large beast, skin like the void between stars, gaping jaws to catch the scent of its prey, large paws to carry it swiftly across the plains of my soul, a howl that could tear the heart out of the sky. When I was older, I knew its name was Ananias.
When I was a teenager, Ananias was even my friend. See, I experienced the Black Dog because I was so creative, it was a sign of genius, it was the burden that I bore with some pride because it made me special. All lies, of course, but I didn’t know better. It wasn’t until I got into college and got some counseling that I finally learned the truth: Ananias wasn’t my friend. It wasn’t a mark of honor. All it ever wanted to do was to kill me, and what’s more, it was just a metaphor for my damaged self-esteem, for my broken faith, for the damning self-judgment that I had called down upon myself. That, ultimately, it was just a disease. A chemical imbalance in my brain. No great monster, no gaping fury. Just me battling depression like so many before me and so many behind me.
There is comfort in that. When it stops being special, when you finally realize that other people’s battles –- while not your particular battle –- are still the same, when you can give up the burden of attempting to redeem your life, well, then you can heal. It’s not so dramatic anymore. You talk to doctors, you pray, you take your meds, you exercise, you get better, you heal.
Of course, you’re never cured. But you get better. You learn the situations to avoid, and the people to avoid. You try to stay away from people who feed the bleakness with their negativity. You don’t listen to the nuts who tell you that you just need to pray, give money to, or serve their particular gods and all will be fine. You learn to stop blaming yourself for being different because no one really knows what causes clinical depression. It’s not your fault. Don’t be so full of yourself.
You survive. And I survive. And it’s a good life for all its problems. It’s what we have, and it’s real. We do our best. I can live with it. It's not like we have a choice.
But listen, there are times late at night when in my mind’s eye I can see a darkening horizon and in the gathering silence a lone beast waits.
Waits for me.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Plans and other things
Murder by the Acre is finally available on Barnes and Noble.com. (Click here to buy!) I don't know why it took so long to show up, nearly three months after it went on sale at Amazon.com and Lulu.com. Anyway, it's there for you B&N aficionados.
My next book is 75 Dates for $25 or Less! coming out this May, I hope, on Lulu.com and in June on Amazon and whenever on B&N. Co-authored with my friend Gail Claunts, this book gives some great ideas for inexpensive dates. Romance doesn't have to depend on cash ... Hey, get your minds out of the gutter.
After that, I'll have another co-authored book coming out this summer. This one, tentatively titled Debt Free At Last: 50 Ways to Win Financial Freedom, is co-authored with my friend Kelley Benson. Kelley teaches finance classes at various churches, clubs, colleges, and other civic groups, and has a lot of good easy-to-follow advice on how to tame your raging debt. I hope this one will be out in June on Lulu.com and the others after that.
And finally, it's time for me to get cracking on Murder by the Mile, the third book in the Measurements of Murder(tm) series. Bernard, Lisa, and the chief will be tangling with another murderer, but even worse, they'll have to contend with a wedding, tons of crazy relatives, a murderous marathon, old girlfriends with fiendish plans, old boyfriends just to make things worse ... It should be a fun, exciting book. I'm looking forward to see how it turns out.
That's my writing plans. My health plans include going to the various doctors until I find one who can help me. And then I will drain him dry of every bit of medical knowledge he has and leave his shattered husk by the side of the road and go on to live forever. Ahem.
As for my current health, not much has changed. I continue to cough blood, no worse but no better. I still have problems with the new medicine, but that's getting better. Or I'm getting used to it.
I haven't walked in several days, but intend to start again after Mikey leaves. Speaking of which, we're having a great time with Mikey. I know you get tired of me saying how smart, sweet, and funny he is .. but he's so smart, sweet, and funny!
As for work, I'm slowly conquering the new system. I like several things about it, dislike many things about it, and will have to adapt to it no matter what because that's how they're going to do things now and that's that.
Well, I have to get to work so I'll close. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Barnes & Noble.com
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
My next book is 75 Dates for $25 or Less! coming out this May, I hope, on Lulu.com and in June on Amazon and whenever on B&N. Co-authored with my friend Gail Claunts, this book gives some great ideas for inexpensive dates. Romance doesn't have to depend on cash ... Hey, get your minds out of the gutter.
After that, I'll have another co-authored book coming out this summer. This one, tentatively titled Debt Free At Last: 50 Ways to Win Financial Freedom, is co-authored with my friend Kelley Benson. Kelley teaches finance classes at various churches, clubs, colleges, and other civic groups, and has a lot of good easy-to-follow advice on how to tame your raging debt. I hope this one will be out in June on Lulu.com and the others after that.
And finally, it's time for me to get cracking on Murder by the Mile, the third book in the Measurements of Murder(tm) series. Bernard, Lisa, and the chief will be tangling with another murderer, but even worse, they'll have to contend with a wedding, tons of crazy relatives, a murderous marathon, old girlfriends with fiendish plans, old boyfriends just to make things worse ... It should be a fun, exciting book. I'm looking forward to see how it turns out.
That's my writing plans. My health plans include going to the various doctors until I find one who can help me. And then I will drain him dry of every bit of medical knowledge he has and leave his shattered husk by the side of the road and go on to live forever. Ahem.
As for my current health, not much has changed. I continue to cough blood, no worse but no better. I still have problems with the new medicine, but that's getting better. Or I'm getting used to it.
I haven't walked in several days, but intend to start again after Mikey leaves. Speaking of which, we're having a great time with Mikey. I know you get tired of me saying how smart, sweet, and funny he is .. but he's so smart, sweet, and funny!
As for work, I'm slowly conquering the new system. I like several things about it, dislike many things about it, and will have to adapt to it no matter what because that's how they're going to do things now and that's that.
Well, I have to get to work so I'll close. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Barnes & Noble.com
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Monday, March 16, 2009
Join Facebook! No, really ...
Join Facebook so that you can Friend me and then join the Stephen B. Bagley's Books group. I'm aiming for at least 100 people, and we have 78 so far. Come join us! You'll be glad you did. Well, I'll be glad you did, and making me happy is what's important. I think we're all agreed on that ...
We're having a wonderful time with Mikey. As always, his boundless energy is exhausting us, but it's a joy to have him here. His ability to read amazes me. I complimented him about it and he said matter-of-factly, "Of course. I'm a genius, you know." And I did know that, actually.
Anyway, I got home tonight and went to bed around 8:30 after supper, errands, and getting beat by Mikey on the Wii. I woke up a few minutes ago and decided to post real quick before it's tomorrow. I hope your day went well. Hope your tomorrow does, too. And now, good night!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
We're having a wonderful time with Mikey. As always, his boundless energy is exhausting us, but it's a joy to have him here. His ability to read amazes me. I complimented him about it and he said matter-of-factly, "Of course. I'm a genius, you know." And I did know that, actually.
Anyway, I got home tonight and went to bed around 8:30 after supper, errands, and getting beat by Mikey on the Wii. I woke up a few minutes ago and decided to post real quick before it's tomorrow. I hope your day went well. Hope your tomorrow does, too. And now, good night!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Alexander Justice
My roomie's fourth grandson and fifth grandchild was born Friday, March 13. Alexander Justice was 7.4 pounds and a little less than 19 inches long.
Here are some of his first photos:
Born on Friday the 13th, he will be lucky his whole life.
Held by his Papa Eric
Held by his big sister
Hope you have a great week!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Here are some of his first photos:
Born on Friday the 13th, he will be lucky his whole life.
Held by his Papa Eric
Held by his big sister
Hope you have a great week!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Thursday, March 12, 2009
$$$?
For those interested -- and let's assume that's all of you -- I switched to lemon ginseng flavored green tea today. Much better. Well, drinkable, anyway.
This leads us naturally to discuss the economy. (What? I don't see the link, you say. Well, there isn't one. Are you happy now that you've pointed it out? Sit down and be quiet.) And the economy is bad.
How bad is it?
Stop that, it's not a joke! Well, I guess there is some humor in learning that our number of billionaires have decreased. Apparently many of them are only mega-millionaires now. How will they live? You just know they're not going to be able to use food stamp cards or know the proper etiquette for the soup line. Poor sad millionaires. My heart goes out to them, but not very far.
So bad economy. It's certainly touched my town. Money is tight, tight, tight. People are being laid off. Businesses are closing. Dogs and cats are living together without the benefit of clergy. Will this nightmare ever end?
Probably not, particularly since the best our leaders have been able to come up with is for us to spend more money. That's right. We consumers need to consume more. We have an economy that requires the majority of people participating in it to spend more. How did that happen? How did we let it happen?
A little simple math would tell us that an economy couldn't grow forever. Not without careful planning. And one thing we Americans have been shown repeatedly is that our government apparently cannot plan.
I'll be coming back to this over the next few months and offering more thoughts on our economy and what we can do to weather these lean times. But for now, it's late and I need sleep!
Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
This leads us naturally to discuss the economy. (What? I don't see the link, you say. Well, there isn't one. Are you happy now that you've pointed it out? Sit down and be quiet.) And the economy is bad.
How bad is it?
Stop that, it's not a joke! Well, I guess there is some humor in learning that our number of billionaires have decreased. Apparently many of them are only mega-millionaires now. How will they live? You just know they're not going to be able to use food stamp cards or know the proper etiquette for the soup line. Poor sad millionaires. My heart goes out to them, but not very far.
So bad economy. It's certainly touched my town. Money is tight, tight, tight. People are being laid off. Businesses are closing. Dogs and cats are living together without the benefit of clergy. Will this nightmare ever end?
Probably not, particularly since the best our leaders have been able to come up with is for us to spend more money. That's right. We consumers need to consume more. We have an economy that requires the majority of people participating in it to spend more. How did that happen? How did we let it happen?
A little simple math would tell us that an economy couldn't grow forever. Not without careful planning. And one thing we Americans have been shown repeatedly is that our government apparently cannot plan.
I'll be coming back to this over the next few months and offering more thoughts on our economy and what we can do to weather these lean times. But for now, it's late and I need sleep!
Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Green Tea Blues
So I was drinking my new green tea this morning and kept smelling the scent of freshly mown grass and thinking of spring and flowers and then realized that the smell was coming from my cup and that it truly tasted like it smelled. I had been drinking citrus green tea, but couldn’t find it last time at Wal-Mart so I decided to move up to the harder stuff. Just green tea with no flavor enhancers, nothing to keep my tastebuds from experiencing the unvarnished taste of that noble herb.
I’ve been drinking green tea every morning and at noon for some time now. I can’t say it’s changed my life, but the health benefits of GT are well documented now. It’s a fantastic anti-inflammatory and anticancer drink. Four cups of it a day load you up with antioxidants, eager to sweep those nasty cancer-causing free radicals from your body. Here’s a link to tell you more about its benefits than you wanted to know: More than you wanted to know about green tea's health benefits.
Thus I have added it to my daily diet. But this new stuff … wow … After a couple of more gulps and gags, I decided to add a bit of sweetener to it. I usually drink it straight, going on the assumption that the pure form is best. I don’t need no stinkin’ sweetness, I’d say to myself. This taste, however, was defeating me completely.
So I added one level teaspoon of sweetener to it and stirred well. Then I took a sip. I hadn’t thought I could make it worse. I was wrong, of course. Now I was drinking sweet, hot mown grass extract. Whee. I made a face and drained the glass, much like the way I’d take medicine. Then I shuddered so hard I shook the floor while my entire digestive tract attempted to leave my body for someone else who wouldn’t do that to it.
I’m sure the flavor will grow on me. That which does not kill us makes us stronger and really, really cranky. You were warned.
How are you today?
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
I’ve been drinking green tea every morning and at noon for some time now. I can’t say it’s changed my life, but the health benefits of GT are well documented now. It’s a fantastic anti-inflammatory and anticancer drink. Four cups of it a day load you up with antioxidants, eager to sweep those nasty cancer-causing free radicals from your body. Here’s a link to tell you more about its benefits than you wanted to know: More than you wanted to know about green tea's health benefits.
Thus I have added it to my daily diet. But this new stuff … wow … After a couple of more gulps and gags, I decided to add a bit of sweetener to it. I usually drink it straight, going on the assumption that the pure form is best. I don’t need no stinkin’ sweetness, I’d say to myself. This taste, however, was defeating me completely.
So I added one level teaspoon of sweetener to it and stirred well. Then I took a sip. I hadn’t thought I could make it worse. I was wrong, of course. Now I was drinking sweet, hot mown grass extract. Whee. I made a face and drained the glass, much like the way I’d take medicine. Then I shuddered so hard I shook the floor while my entire digestive tract attempted to leave my body for someone else who wouldn’t do that to it.
I’m sure the flavor will grow on me. That which does not kill us makes us stronger and really, really cranky. You were warned.
How are you today?
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Doctor's report
Here's what I learned from the OKC doctor I saw Friday.
1. He believes I have Sjögren's ("SHOW-grins") Syndrome. Sjögren's is a chronic disease in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. Learn more here: The Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation.
2. Besides Sjögren's, he believes I also have a secondary autoimmune disease. The tests Friday were to find out what it is. We'll have the results from them later this month.
3. He started me on the drug Plaquenil aka hydroxychloroquine. After a month as we find out how I tolerate Plaquenil, he will add a second drug or third, depending on what the secondary autoimmune disease turns out to be.
4. He also believes that I do not have lung cancer. Instead, he believes I have "chronic pneumonia" caused by ongoing inflammation in my lungs.
5. Whatever is going on with me, is serious and life-threatening, but he believes we can control it and perhaps over time even reverse some of the damage done to my organs.
6. Speaking of organs, my liver has taken "much damage." With the drugs controlling my raging immune system and if I lose weight, my liver should recover. If not, I will be looking for a liver transplant within "five to 10 years."
7. Autoimmune disorders are "not curable, but they are controllable."
8. The costs for this treatment are ... unpleasant. Friday alone cost me nearly $1,500, with the visit and the tests. Thank the Good Lord for credit cards. And now I must go and rob a bank.
9. I return to him Monday, April 6th. We get test results, take more tests, and add more drugs to my treatment regime if things go well.
And that's about it. I feel somewhat encouraged by the visit. He seemed to think he could really help me, and I'm ready to not feel as bad as I do. So I'm hopeful this is the beginning of the healing.
I appreciate your prayers and support. You all have been a great blessing to me. Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
1. He believes I have Sjögren's ("SHOW-grins") Syndrome. Sjögren's is a chronic disease in which white blood cells attack the moisture-producing glands. Learn more here: The Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation.
2. Besides Sjögren's, he believes I also have a secondary autoimmune disease. The tests Friday were to find out what it is. We'll have the results from them later this month.
3. He started me on the drug Plaquenil aka hydroxychloroquine. After a month as we find out how I tolerate Plaquenil, he will add a second drug or third, depending on what the secondary autoimmune disease turns out to be.
4. He also believes that I do not have lung cancer. Instead, he believes I have "chronic pneumonia" caused by ongoing inflammation in my lungs.
5. Whatever is going on with me, is serious and life-threatening, but he believes we can control it and perhaps over time even reverse some of the damage done to my organs.
6. Speaking of organs, my liver has taken "much damage." With the drugs controlling my raging immune system and if I lose weight, my liver should recover. If not, I will be looking for a liver transplant within "five to 10 years."
7. Autoimmune disorders are "not curable, but they are controllable."
8. The costs for this treatment are ... unpleasant. Friday alone cost me nearly $1,500, with the visit and the tests. Thank the Good Lord for credit cards. And now I must go and rob a bank.
9. I return to him Monday, April 6th. We get test results, take more tests, and add more drugs to my treatment regime if things go well.
And that's about it. I feel somewhat encouraged by the visit. He seemed to think he could really help me, and I'm ready to not feel as bad as I do. So I'm hopeful this is the beginning of the healing.
I appreciate your prayers and support. You all have been a great blessing to me. Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Making up
I know I’ve been gone for a few days. I’ll try to make up for it with an extra-long entry today covering all sorts of things. How’s that? I knew that would excite you. Let’s get started.
Health
Nothing new here. I’ll go to a new doctor in OKC tomorrow morning. I hope I finally start getting answers there. I’m also hoping that we start treating the problem rather than just doing more tests. I’m ready to start spending money I don’t have on treatments.
I’m still walking at the fitness center almost every evening. It’s slowly getting easier, but I’m sure not where I should be by a long shot. Still, I’m proud that I’ve hung in there this long. A few more months and I bet I’ll see a huge improvement. Overall, I think I have more endurance and stamina.
I haven’t lost any weight, however. I’m not really that disappointed about that. I’m walking to improve my health. Besides, if the odds go against me and I turn out to have cancer in some form, having a reserve is a good thing. I well remember how thin my father got as he fought his cancer.
My good friend Kyra and my roomie walk with me almost every time. My roomie always does, but sometimes we miss Kyra. They both take good care of me. I’ve only had one low blood sugar incident there, which means, I think, that my body is adjusting to the exercise. I’m sure not setting any speed records, but slowly and surely I’m getting better.
Oakleaf Harbor
I haven’t been working on my Cafepress store much lately. No sales at all discouraged me a bit, but also I just haven’t had the energy. I’m pretty wiped out after going to the fitness center, but that’s improving. This weekend I plan to add more people’s names to the Jesus Loves … section. In the pipeline are: Beverly, Michelle, Grace, Glory, Richard, Dolores, Todd, Morgan, Mikayla, Zackary, Samantha, Joey, Michael, and Jordan. I hope to get all those done this weekend. I’m going to be using a new flowered background for the ladies. I hope they like it.
Facebook
Yes, I’m Facebooking now. If you’re Facebooking, Friend me! If you’re not Facebooking, start and then friend me. And if you do, I’ll send you an invite to the Stephen B. Bagley Books group page on FB.
So far, I’ve mostly found FB to be a lot of fun. However, FB is going to make some major changes next week, supposedly to make it more like Twitter. I am not a Twitter fan. So we’ll see. I will be trying to hang here at this blog more.
Writing
Not much is going on. My health and fatigue issues have consumed me. If I sit still long, I sleep! But I haven’t given up on Murder by the Mile and still plan for it to come out this year.
I am, however, co-authoring a book with my friend Gail Claunts. It should be out in May on Lulu and in July or August on Amazon. More details on this as the project comes together. The title is 75 Dates for $25 or Less!
And that's all for today. More tomorrow I hope!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Health
Nothing new here. I’ll go to a new doctor in OKC tomorrow morning. I hope I finally start getting answers there. I’m also hoping that we start treating the problem rather than just doing more tests. I’m ready to start spending money I don’t have on treatments.
I’m still walking at the fitness center almost every evening. It’s slowly getting easier, but I’m sure not where I should be by a long shot. Still, I’m proud that I’ve hung in there this long. A few more months and I bet I’ll see a huge improvement. Overall, I think I have more endurance and stamina.
I haven’t lost any weight, however. I’m not really that disappointed about that. I’m walking to improve my health. Besides, if the odds go against me and I turn out to have cancer in some form, having a reserve is a good thing. I well remember how thin my father got as he fought his cancer.
My good friend Kyra and my roomie walk with me almost every time. My roomie always does, but sometimes we miss Kyra. They both take good care of me. I’ve only had one low blood sugar incident there, which means, I think, that my body is adjusting to the exercise. I’m sure not setting any speed records, but slowly and surely I’m getting better.
Oakleaf Harbor
I haven’t been working on my Cafepress store much lately. No sales at all discouraged me a bit, but also I just haven’t had the energy. I’m pretty wiped out after going to the fitness center, but that’s improving. This weekend I plan to add more people’s names to the Jesus Loves … section. In the pipeline are: Beverly, Michelle, Grace, Glory, Richard, Dolores, Todd, Morgan, Mikayla, Zackary, Samantha, Joey, Michael, and Jordan. I hope to get all those done this weekend. I’m going to be using a new flowered background for the ladies. I hope they like it.
Yes, I’m Facebooking now. If you’re Facebooking, Friend me! If you’re not Facebooking, start and then friend me. And if you do, I’ll send you an invite to the Stephen B. Bagley Books group page on FB.
So far, I’ve mostly found FB to be a lot of fun. However, FB is going to make some major changes next week, supposedly to make it more like Twitter. I am not a Twitter fan. So we’ll see. I will be trying to hang here at this blog more.
Writing
Not much is going on. My health and fatigue issues have consumed me. If I sit still long, I sleep! But I haven’t given up on Murder by the Mile and still plan for it to come out this year.
I am, however, co-authoring a book with my friend Gail Claunts. It should be out in May on Lulu and in July or August on Amazon. More details on this as the project comes together. The title is 75 Dates for $25 or Less!
And that's all for today. More tomorrow I hope!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Thursday, February 26, 2009
What the doctor told me Tuesday
More of my test results are back now and here’s what the doctor told me yesterday:
1. My lower body scan was clean showing no signs of cancer or tumors.
2. The clean scan lowers my chances of having lung cancer to about “10 percent or less,” to quote him. “Cancer may still come back to bite you in your ass, but I think it’s very unlikely,” he said.
3. The scan revealed inflammations on my major organs.
4. The inflammations lead him to believe I am suffering from an autoimmune disease (such as lupus) that is attacking the major organs of my body.
5. He consulted with a rheumatologist who looked over my results and told my doctor that what was happening to me was “very serious” and could kill me in “six months to a year if I didn’t get it taken care as soon as possible.” (Like I would ignore the coughing of blood. Doctors are weird sometimes.)
6. I see a rheumatologist next Friday morning in Oklahoma City. And we will go from there. Probably more tests, but I’m hopeful we finally start treating whatever this is.
Overall this is encouraging news. I’m pleased that cancer is mostly off the table and wish someone would remove it completely. I’m not so pleased that I have some sort of serious autoimmune disorder, but I knew the doctors would find something. After all, I’m coughing blood each morning. That’s not normal.
Many autoimmune disorders are very treatable. I’m believing and praying mine will turn out to be so. I will let you know more when I know more.
I feel okay. I’m tired a lot, but that’s more of a sleep problem than anything else, I think. My appetite is good -- too good. Still battling the black dog, but I think that goes with everything else that’s going on.
And that’s the news such as it is. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts, and I will do the same for you. Talk to you later.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
1. My lower body scan was clean showing no signs of cancer or tumors.
2. The clean scan lowers my chances of having lung cancer to about “10 percent or less,” to quote him. “Cancer may still come back to bite you in your ass, but I think it’s very unlikely,” he said.
3. The scan revealed inflammations on my major organs.
4. The inflammations lead him to believe I am suffering from an autoimmune disease (such as lupus) that is attacking the major organs of my body.
5. He consulted with a rheumatologist who looked over my results and told my doctor that what was happening to me was “very serious” and could kill me in “six months to a year if I didn’t get it taken care as soon as possible.” (Like I would ignore the coughing of blood. Doctors are weird sometimes.)
6. I see a rheumatologist next Friday morning in Oklahoma City. And we will go from there. Probably more tests, but I’m hopeful we finally start treating whatever this is.
Overall this is encouraging news. I’m pleased that cancer is mostly off the table and wish someone would remove it completely. I’m not so pleased that I have some sort of serious autoimmune disorder, but I knew the doctors would find something. After all, I’m coughing blood each morning. That’s not normal.
Many autoimmune disorders are very treatable. I’m believing and praying mine will turn out to be so. I will let you know more when I know more.
I feel okay. I’m tired a lot, but that’s more of a sleep problem than anything else, I think. My appetite is good -- too good. Still battling the black dog, but I think that goes with everything else that’s going on.
And that’s the news such as it is. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts, and I will do the same for you. Talk to you later.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Crass?
A friend asked about the Jesus Loves... section on Oakleaf Harbor. The basic thrust of the questioning was that I was being disrespectful by putting Jesus's name on merchandise to sell. Let me tell you the story behind the section and see what you think.When my current health crisis started, I decided to get out a Bible that my parents gave me. I keep it in a box to protect it. It has my name printed on the cover, and it's quite nice. (I have a "regular" everyday Bible.) Anyway, that Bible makes me feel close to my parents, and I decided to get it out. When I did, a small blue plaque fell out of the box. I don't know where it came from -- I think maybe one of my nieces gave it to me, but no one remembers it so I don't really know. The little blue plaque says: Jesus loves Stephen. It gave my spirits a lift, and so now I have it where I can see it each morning when I get up and each evening when I go to bed. It's a small thing, but it has given me comfort.
Well, I got to thinking about how nice that was for me so I decided to create the same as best as I could on Oakleaf Harbor, particularly for my friends and family who have unusual or uncommon names (Bethia, Weston, Ria, Woody, Jolene, etc.) and might not be able to find personalized items anywhere. So that's why I created the "Jesus loves..." section.
For what it's worth, no one has purchased a single item for the section. And that's okay. I like going to it and seeing all the names of my family and friends with the reminder that Jesus loves them. I'm slowly adding more names each day. It takes me a while to create the artwork for each name and then I upload it and place it on the particular items, but I'm trying to add five names each day. If your name isn't there yet, it will be. And if you have any names you'd like added, email me, and I'll add them.
I certainly didn't mean any disrespect and don't feel like I'm "cashing" in on Jesus. I'm fine with people just looking at the section or downloading the picture of their items or whatever they like. But maybe it's being crass. What do you think?
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Oakleaf Merchandise
Thought I would show you some of the items at Oakleaf Harbor. I'm very proud of how they turned out, particularly the rose items. I've just added the Humor section and will have more items in this week.
Not much else to tell you. I should be talking to the OKC doctor sometime this week. I'll let you know what's going on when I know.
Catch you after the items.
Roses Keepsake Box
Murder by the Acre Tote Bag
Yellow Mums Large Mug
Murder by Dewey Decimal Women's T-Shirt
EndlesS Long Sleeve T-Shirt
I'm hoping to get going on Murder by the Mile this week. I'm going to be working on the outline. I need to set the story firmly in my mind. If you don't know where you're going, you won't get anywhere.
Going to call it a night now. Have a great week. Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Not much else to tell you. I should be talking to the OKC doctor sometime this week. I'll let you know what's going on when I know.
Catch you after the items.
Roses Keepsake Box
Murder by the Acre Tote Bag
Yellow Mums Large Mug
Murder by Dewey Decimal Women's T-Shirt
EndlesS Long Sleeve T-Shirt
I'm hoping to get going on Murder by the Mile this week. I'm going to be working on the outline. I need to set the story firmly in my mind. If you don't know where you're going, you won't get anywhere.
Going to call it a night now. Have a great week. Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order merchandise designed by Stephen B. Bagley
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Cup on display!
Adam, who won the Murder by the Acre coffee cup giveaway a few days back, has the cup on display at his work. He sent me a photo of it. Very cool!
Not much else to tell you. I'm spending a lot of time on Oakleaf Harbor. I'm adding six new items daily. I'd appreciate your input if you'd like to stop by.
Have a great day!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre, Murder by Dewey Decimal, and EndlesS merchandise.
Not much else to tell you. I'm spending a lot of time on Oakleaf Harbor. I'm adding six new items daily. I'd appreciate your input if you'd like to stop by.
Have a great day!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre, Murder by Dewey Decimal, and EndlesS merchandise.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Q&A and Oakleaf Harbor
Well, we have a lot to cover so I thought we'd use the Q&A format to catch everyone up.
Q: What did you find out Friday when you went to the Holdenville Hospital for your CT scan?
A: Not much yet. The doctor will look at the scan this coming week or the next, and I'll have an appointment with him and get the results and go from there. I suspect we'll have the lung biopsy after that -- probably in March -- but I'm still hopeful the scan or the blood tests will show that I don't have to have one. We'll see. The Holdenville Hospital, by the way, is first class. Very nice facility, first rate equipment, and friendly personnel. I would recommend it to everyone in our area who needs a CT scan.
Q: How are you feeling?
A: Pretty good. In a strange quirk, I've felt better the past couple of months than I have for a long time. If I didn't cough blood in the mornings, I'd think I was the picture of health. I've continued to exercise at the fitness center, and I'm gaining strength and endurance weekly. I've also been working on controlling my blood sugar, and I've been doing much better on that. (I've mostly stopped drinking soft drinks and given up sweets. It's amazing how hard that is, but I'm doing it.)
Q: Do you think you have cancer?
A: No. I have no symptoms of lung cancer other than the coughing blood. No shortness of breath, no unexplained and rapid weight loss, no overwhelming fatigue. The first CT scan showed my lungs filled with whatever it was. If it's cancer, I should not be feeling as well as I do. Or at least, according to the research I've been doing. I also have never smoked or been around anyone who did smoke. I also didn't work at any job where I would was exposed to hazardous chemicals or dust. I'm also young for lung cancer to develop. However, there are people who get lung cancer and are outside the normal parameters. Let us hope and pray that this time I DON'T beat the odds and have it.
Q: How are you feeling emotionally?
A: I won't lie. It's hard. I'm on a roller-coaster. I'd like to get off, but I have to ride this one until the end. Hopefully that end will be a good report on my health.
Q: You haven't been blogging.
A: Sorry about that. I do check on everyone's blogs, and of course, I'm on Facebook daily, but no blogging. Haven't felt much like doing so. I'll try to do better.
Q: So what have you been doing?
A: Praying, reading, walking, talking and praying with friends, housework, etc. Nothing that exciting other than the next thing I'm going to tell you.
Q: So tell us already!
A: I've opened a new Cafepress store! It's called Oakleaf Harbor, and it combines all the Murder by Dewey Decimal and Murder by the Acre merchandise as well as new items for EndlesS. I don't have much in the EndlesS section yet, but there will be more. And there will be an Inspirational section and a Humor section. I have big plans for the store and hope to implement them over the next couple of weeks. Here's the link: Oakleaf Harbor.
Q: What all are you going to be offering there?
A: T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, mugs, bags, clocks, cards, calendars, magnets, buttons, journals, boxes, etc. Quite a lot of different merchandise. I'm particularly excited by the plans I have for the Humor and Inspirational sections. I'm be updating you as I offer more and more merchandise over the next few weeks.
Q: How goes the writing?
A: Not well. All this emotional turmoil has stalled Murder by the Mile. I'm hoping I will get writing again soon. I do think about the book a lot. I haven't given up on it and will get it written eventually, I hope this year.
Q: Anything else?
A: Just that I greatly appreciate the support, friendship, prayers, and concern I've been shown over the past couple of weeks. You have lifted me up. I thank you, thank you, thank you. Please continue to remember me in your prayers as I remember you. Have a great week and God bless you.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre and Murder by Dewey Decimal merchandise.
Q: What did you find out Friday when you went to the Holdenville Hospital for your CT scan?
A: Not much yet. The doctor will look at the scan this coming week or the next, and I'll have an appointment with him and get the results and go from there. I suspect we'll have the lung biopsy after that -- probably in March -- but I'm still hopeful the scan or the blood tests will show that I don't have to have one. We'll see. The Holdenville Hospital, by the way, is first class. Very nice facility, first rate equipment, and friendly personnel. I would recommend it to everyone in our area who needs a CT scan.
Q: How are you feeling?
A: Pretty good. In a strange quirk, I've felt better the past couple of months than I have for a long time. If I didn't cough blood in the mornings, I'd think I was the picture of health. I've continued to exercise at the fitness center, and I'm gaining strength and endurance weekly. I've also been working on controlling my blood sugar, and I've been doing much better on that. (I've mostly stopped drinking soft drinks and given up sweets. It's amazing how hard that is, but I'm doing it.)
Q: Do you think you have cancer?
A: No. I have no symptoms of lung cancer other than the coughing blood. No shortness of breath, no unexplained and rapid weight loss, no overwhelming fatigue. The first CT scan showed my lungs filled with whatever it was. If it's cancer, I should not be feeling as well as I do. Or at least, according to the research I've been doing. I also have never smoked or been around anyone who did smoke. I also didn't work at any job where I would was exposed to hazardous chemicals or dust. I'm also young for lung cancer to develop. However, there are people who get lung cancer and are outside the normal parameters. Let us hope and pray that this time I DON'T beat the odds and have it.
Q: How are you feeling emotionally?
A: I won't lie. It's hard. I'm on a roller-coaster. I'd like to get off, but I have to ride this one until the end. Hopefully that end will be a good report on my health.
Q: You haven't been blogging.
A: Sorry about that. I do check on everyone's blogs, and of course, I'm on Facebook daily, but no blogging. Haven't felt much like doing so. I'll try to do better.
Q: So what have you been doing?
A: Praying, reading, walking, talking and praying with friends, housework, etc. Nothing that exciting other than the next thing I'm going to tell you.
Q: So tell us already!
A: I've opened a new Cafepress store! It's called Oakleaf Harbor, and it combines all the Murder by Dewey Decimal and Murder by the Acre merchandise as well as new items for EndlesS. I don't have much in the EndlesS section yet, but there will be more. And there will be an Inspirational section and a Humor section. I have big plans for the store and hope to implement them over the next couple of weeks. Here's the link: Oakleaf Harbor.
Q: What all are you going to be offering there?
A: T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, mugs, bags, clocks, cards, calendars, magnets, buttons, journals, boxes, etc. Quite a lot of different merchandise. I'm particularly excited by the plans I have for the Humor and Inspirational sections. I'm be updating you as I offer more and more merchandise over the next few weeks.
Q: How goes the writing?
A: Not well. All this emotional turmoil has stalled Murder by the Mile. I'm hoping I will get writing again soon. I do think about the book a lot. I haven't given up on it and will get it written eventually, I hope this year.
Q: Anything else?
A: Just that I greatly appreciate the support, friendship, prayers, and concern I've been shown over the past couple of weeks. You have lifted me up. I thank you, thank you, thank you. Please continue to remember me in your prayers as I remember you. Have a great week and God bless you.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre and Murder by Dewey Decimal merchandise.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Walking, reading & thinking
My next CT scan will be this Friday morning at the Holdenville hospital at a substantial savings and with a new, more powerful scanner to boot! Thank you, Adam, who put me in touch with his cousin who helped arrange this with my doctor. It truly is an answer to prayer, and I appreciate Adam for showing his concern for me in this manner.
Otherwise, not much to tell you. I’ve been trying to walk at the fitness center as much as I can. I haven’t been updating the Walking to Jericho blog, but I intend to soon. I’m having a lot of trouble dealing with the stress and depression caused by this health crisis, and that’s keeping me from being as productive as I’d like to me. The walking helps with that. If I could get some good sleep instead of the tossing and turning I’m experiencing now, I’d be doing much better.
I’ve also been doing a lot of reading about cancer and how’s treated and how we can prevent it. There’s a lot of confusing material out there, but slowly I’ve started to put together a view of what cancer is and how to fight it. I figure it’s good info to know, although, of course, I hope and pray I don’t have to use it personally.
So far, what I can share is this: Broccoli and green tea are amazing cancer fighters. (Note: not herbal teas. Green tea. The real stuff.) Study after study have linked those two to cancer prevention and even cancer treatment. And sugar -- in any form, including honey -- is bad for you and helps cancer grow faster. No study that I can find says sugar causes cancer; instead it helps cancer because cancer cells operate at a high metabolic rate and need energy to divide. One study says cancer cells need three to four times the glucose that regular cells do. That’s why so many people lose weight rapidly and feel so tired when they have cancer; the cancer cells are grabbing all the available glucose in the blood. Too much glucose in your blood gives cancer cells plenty of energy to grow. Why help them out?
So I’ve been walking and slowly giving up sweets. I haven’t had a soft drink in several days. I haven’t officially started the Soft Drink Drought, but it’s coming. Whatever the doctors eventually find, I have finally decided to live a healthy life. Step by step I’m moving away from a lifestyle that gave me diabetes, reduced my resistance to disease, and sapped my vitality.
Walking (30 minutes a day), green tea (four cups a day), broccoli (a cup or so a day). And one more thing: turmeric. Yes, that Indian spice. A bunch of current studies are pointing to it as a major cancer fighter. So have those curried veggies. They’re good for you and tasty, too. I’ve been sprinkling turmeric on chicken, hamburger patties, lasagna, salad dressings, etc. One warning: the spice releases its “heat” when cooked. So add it gradually to a dish until you get used to it. Or have lots of water available.
Anyway, that’s what’s going on in my world. What’s happening in yours?
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Otherwise, not much to tell you. I’ve been trying to walk at the fitness center as much as I can. I haven’t been updating the Walking to Jericho blog, but I intend to soon. I’m having a lot of trouble dealing with the stress and depression caused by this health crisis, and that’s keeping me from being as productive as I’d like to me. The walking helps with that. If I could get some good sleep instead of the tossing and turning I’m experiencing now, I’d be doing much better.
I’ve also been doing a lot of reading about cancer and how’s treated and how we can prevent it. There’s a lot of confusing material out there, but slowly I’ve started to put together a view of what cancer is and how to fight it. I figure it’s good info to know, although, of course, I hope and pray I don’t have to use it personally.
So far, what I can share is this: Broccoli and green tea are amazing cancer fighters. (Note: not herbal teas. Green tea. The real stuff.) Study after study have linked those two to cancer prevention and even cancer treatment. And sugar -- in any form, including honey -- is bad for you and helps cancer grow faster. No study that I can find says sugar causes cancer; instead it helps cancer because cancer cells operate at a high metabolic rate and need energy to divide. One study says cancer cells need three to four times the glucose that regular cells do. That’s why so many people lose weight rapidly and feel so tired when they have cancer; the cancer cells are grabbing all the available glucose in the blood. Too much glucose in your blood gives cancer cells plenty of energy to grow. Why help them out?
So I’ve been walking and slowly giving up sweets. I haven’t had a soft drink in several days. I haven’t officially started the Soft Drink Drought, but it’s coming. Whatever the doctors eventually find, I have finally decided to live a healthy life. Step by step I’m moving away from a lifestyle that gave me diabetes, reduced my resistance to disease, and sapped my vitality.
Walking (30 minutes a day), green tea (four cups a day), broccoli (a cup or so a day). And one more thing: turmeric. Yes, that Indian spice. A bunch of current studies are pointing to it as a major cancer fighter. So have those curried veggies. They’re good for you and tasty, too. I’ve been sprinkling turmeric on chicken, hamburger patties, lasagna, salad dressings, etc. One warning: the spice releases its “heat” when cooked. So add it gradually to a dish until you get used to it. Or have lots of water available.
Anyway, that’s what’s going on in my world. What’s happening in yours?
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Friday, February 06, 2009
A Winner & a Meme
Adam won the drawing for the Murder by the Acre coffee cup! (Thought I forgot, didn't you?) There will be another drawing soon. Watch here for details.
Here's a Facebook meme that Jean tagged me with. And it makes a fine post here.
Here are the rules - post this list on your profile replacing my answers with yours. If you feel like tagging people, go ahead, but I'm going to suggest you play if you like and either comment that you have or tag me so I can see what you have to say.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, Stephen, the first Christian martyr mentioned in the Bible.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Lately, I’ve been tearing up a bit. I guess yesterday.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No, I wish it was neater.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham if I can't get shark.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would if I knew what was good for me.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Almost as much as I breathe.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? As far as I know. Would you like to look?
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Well, I like cinnamon oatmeal with blueberries and eat it each morning.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE EM OFF? No. The servants do that.
12. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mother and father who have both passed on. They were wonderful people.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cherry praline vanilla.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The expression on their face, particularly if they've caught me with their daughters.
15. RED OR PINK? Red.
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Health problems.
17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Sure.
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue pants and brown shoes.
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The fan on my electric heater.
20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Forest green.
21. FAVORITE SMELLS? Cinnamon.
22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Kent.
23. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Absolutely. Jean’s smart, funny, and caring, despite living in Texas … :)
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? College football.
25. HAIR COLOR? Reddish-brown
26. EYE COLOR? Midnight blue.
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes.
28. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican.
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Ghost-Breakers. An old Bob Hope movie that stands up very well.
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? What shirt? We were supposed to be wearing clothes?
32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.
33. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on the person giving them, of course.
34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate cheesecake.
35. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Since I’m not tagging anyone, this doesn’t apply.
36. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? See above answer.
37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Last Argument of Kings.
38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? At home I use a track ball. At work, it’s an Oklahoma State University logo mouse pad.
39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? PBS program on brain fitness.
40. FAVORITE SOUND? I haven’t heard this yet, but I think my favorite sound will be my doctor saying that I’m okay.
41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Arizona.
43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Hmm. Maybe writing. Well, telekinesis, of course, but who doesn’t have that? And the whole changing form thing. Nothing that exciting really.
44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Oklahoma. Most of the best people are, you know.
45. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? I like reading these so I hope many people do it.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Here's a Facebook meme that Jean tagged me with. And it makes a fine post here.
Here are the rules - post this list on your profile replacing my answers with yours. If you feel like tagging people, go ahead, but I'm going to suggest you play if you like and either comment that you have or tag me so I can see what you have to say.
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, Stephen, the first Christian martyr mentioned in the Bible.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Lately, I’ve been tearing up a bit. I guess yesterday.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No, I wish it was neater.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham if I can't get shark.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would if I knew what was good for me.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? Almost as much as I breathe.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? As far as I know. Would you like to look?
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Well, I like cinnamon oatmeal with blueberries and eat it each morning.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE EM OFF? No. The servants do that.
12. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mother and father who have both passed on. They were wonderful people.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cherry praline vanilla.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The expression on their face, particularly if they've caught me with their daughters.
15. RED OR PINK? Red.
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Health problems.
17. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Sure.
18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue pants and brown shoes.
19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The fan on my electric heater.
20. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Forest green.
21. FAVORITE SMELLS? Cinnamon.
22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Kent.
23. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Absolutely. Jean’s smart, funny, and caring, despite living in Texas … :)
24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? College football.
25. HAIR COLOR? Reddish-brown
26. EYE COLOR? Midnight blue.
27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes.
28. FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican.
29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings.
30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Ghost-Breakers. An old Bob Hope movie that stands up very well.
31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? What shirt? We were supposed to be wearing clothes?
32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.
33. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on the person giving them, of course.
34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate cheesecake.
35. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Since I’m not tagging anyone, this doesn’t apply.
36. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? See above answer.
37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Last Argument of Kings.
38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? At home I use a track ball. At work, it’s an Oklahoma State University logo mouse pad.
39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? PBS program on brain fitness.
40. FAVORITE SOUND? I haven’t heard this yet, but I think my favorite sound will be my doctor saying that I’m okay.
41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.
42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Arizona.
43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Hmm. Maybe writing. Well, telekinesis, of course, but who doesn’t have that? And the whole changing form thing. Nothing that exciting really.
44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Oklahoma. Most of the best people are, you know.
45. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? I like reading these so I hope many people do it.
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Thursday, February 05, 2009
Blessing
I had something awesome happen last night. Totally unexpected and a confirmation that God hears our prayers and wants to take care of us.
As you know, I have no health insurance. I’ve worried about paying for the bills during this current health crisis of mine, but have managed to scrape things together -- credit card, etc. -- so far.
Yesterday evening, a friend called and said he was going to drop by and see me. Since he’s a prayer buddy, that wasn’t unexpected. I figured we’d have prayer together, and that was a good thing.
But when he came by, he brought me $1,000! He had inherited the money from his grandmother’s estate, and he said that, when his father handed the money to him Monday afternoon, he knew God intended me to have it. I tried to refuse the money, but he said he wasn’t going to take it back. It was never his money, he said. God intended me to have it.
I was overwhelmed. This blessing renewed me, and I needed it because I was floundering. Unknown to him, I had found out that afternoon that my next CT scan was going to cost $2,500 instead of the $1,200 I had budgeted for it. I wasn’t sure where the money was going to come from. My roomie had assured me that he would help me -- and he would because he’s a wonderful friend, too -- and things would work out, but still it was $1,300 more than I had. I felt like I couldn’t win. How could I beat whatever this is when I couldn’t even afford the tests?
And then out of nowhere, I receive this unexpected gift. Never had I asked my friend for money; not that he isn’t a friend, of course, but that’s just not something I do or would expect him to do. Money is tight for everyone these days.
To receive this incredible gift made me cry. Yeah, I don’t do that a lot. But I did. I have a God who loves me, I have friends who love me, I have family who love me. Despite everything that’s going on, I am deeply blessed.
This is a public thank you to my friend Kelley and to my Heavenly Father. I am grateful beyond words for you both.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
As you know, I have no health insurance. I’ve worried about paying for the bills during this current health crisis of mine, but have managed to scrape things together -- credit card, etc. -- so far.
Yesterday evening, a friend called and said he was going to drop by and see me. Since he’s a prayer buddy, that wasn’t unexpected. I figured we’d have prayer together, and that was a good thing.
But when he came by, he brought me $1,000! He had inherited the money from his grandmother’s estate, and he said that, when his father handed the money to him Monday afternoon, he knew God intended me to have it. I tried to refuse the money, but he said he wasn’t going to take it back. It was never his money, he said. God intended me to have it.
I was overwhelmed. This blessing renewed me, and I needed it because I was floundering. Unknown to him, I had found out that afternoon that my next CT scan was going to cost $2,500 instead of the $1,200 I had budgeted for it. I wasn’t sure where the money was going to come from. My roomie had assured me that he would help me -- and he would because he’s a wonderful friend, too -- and things would work out, but still it was $1,300 more than I had. I felt like I couldn’t win. How could I beat whatever this is when I couldn’t even afford the tests?
And then out of nowhere, I receive this unexpected gift. Never had I asked my friend for money; not that he isn’t a friend, of course, but that’s just not something I do or would expect him to do. Money is tight for everyone these days.
To receive this incredible gift made me cry. Yeah, I don’t do that a lot. But I did. I have a God who loves me, I have friends who love me, I have family who love me. Despite everything that’s going on, I am deeply blessed.
This is a public thank you to my friend Kelley and to my Heavenly Father. I am grateful beyond words for you both.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Hand washing
I got the blood tests done yesterday afternoon. Cost $460 for them all. As my friend Kent put it, they stuck me in two ways. The results should be back in three or four days. They will forward the results to the doctor in OKC. Haven’t got my CT scan scheduled yet. Will work on that today.
Otherwise, not much to tell you. I’ve been reading, watching funny stuff on TV, and playing World of Warcraft. Mostly reading, though. Always my first and best escape. I’ve just started Last Argument of Kings, the third book in Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy. I like the first two books (The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged) but the reviews of the third book weren’t that good. I hope he can pull off a satisfying conclusion.
I’ve also been researching the American medical establishment. Or rather its sins. I’ve been horrified to read about how doctors, doctors’ organizations, and drug companies have hounded people who have defied them. Many of these people were, of course, quacks, sometimes dangerous quacks, but a significant percentage of them were simply ahead of their time and paid the cost for it.
Here’s a good example from Wikipedia:
You would think hand washing would be a no-brainer, but even today, many doctors doing their rounds at hospitals do NOT wash their hands between seeing patients, even those with transmittable diseases. A good friend of mine who is an RN has personally seen many doctors forget to wash their hands between patients, despite many programs instituted to remind them to do so. (Note: She has also seen nurses and other health care workers not wash hands.) You have to wonder why they don't.
Not that we regular folks are doing much better at this simple way to prevent illness. According to the American Society of Microbiology:
And on that note, I'll close and get ready for work. Have a wonderful day. Remember me in your prayers; I'm remembering you!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Otherwise, not much to tell you. I’ve been reading, watching funny stuff on TV, and playing World of Warcraft. Mostly reading, though. Always my first and best escape. I’ve just started Last Argument of Kings, the third book in Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy. I like the first two books (The Blade Itself and Before They Are Hanged) but the reviews of the third book weren’t that good. I hope he can pull off a satisfying conclusion.
I’ve also been researching the American medical establishment. Or rather its sins. I’ve been horrified to read about how doctors, doctors’ organizations, and drug companies have hounded people who have defied them. Many of these people were, of course, quacks, sometimes dangerous quacks, but a significant percentage of them were simply ahead of their time and paid the cost for it.
Here’s a good example from Wikipedia:
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (July 1, 1818 - August 13, 1865) was the Hungarian physician who demonstrated that puerperal fever (also known as "childbed fever") was contagious and that its incidence could be drastically reduced by enforcing appropriate hand-washing behavior by medical care-givers. He made this discovery in 1847 while working in the Maternity Department of the Vienna Lying-in Hospital.
Semmelweis realized that the number of cases of puerperal fever was much larger at one of his wards than at the other. After testing a few hypotheses, he found that the number of cases was drastically reduced if the doctors washed their hands carefully before dealing with a pregnant woman. Risk was especially high if they had been in contact with corpses before they treated the women. The germ theory of disease had not yet been developed at the time. Thus, Semelweiss concluded that some unknown "cadaveric material" caused childbed fever.
He lectured publicly about his results in 1850, however, the reception by the medical community was cold, if not hostile. His observations went against the current scientific opinion of the time, which blamed diseases on an imbalance of the basical "humours" in the body. It was also argued that even if his findings were correct, washing one's hands each time before treating a pregnant woman, as Semmelweis advised, would be too much work. Nor were doctors eager to admit that they had caused so many deaths. Semmelweis spent 14 years developing his ideas and lobbying for their acceptance, culminating in a book he wrote in 1861. The book received poor reviews, and he responded with polemic. In 1865, he suffered a nervous breakdown and was committed to an insane asylum where he soon died from blood poisoning.
Only after Dr. Semmelweis's death was the germ theory of disease developed, and he is now recognized as a pioneer of antiseptic policy and prevention of nosocomial disease.
You would think hand washing would be a no-brainer, but even today, many doctors doing their rounds at hospitals do NOT wash their hands between seeing patients, even those with transmittable diseases. A good friend of mine who is an RN has personally seen many doctors forget to wash their hands between patients, despite many programs instituted to remind them to do so. (Note: She has also seen nurses and other health care workers not wash hands.) You have to wonder why they don't.
Not that we regular folks are doing much better at this simple way to prevent illness. According to the American Society of Microbiology:
Although illnesses as deadly as SARS and as troublesome as the common cold or gastric distress can be spread hand-to-hand, the survey sponsored by the American Society of Microbiology (ASM), found that many people passing through major U.S. airports don’t wash their hands after using public facilities. More than 30 percent of people using restrooms in New York airports, 19 percent of those in Miami’s airport, and 27 percent of air travelers in Chicago aren’t stopping to wash their hands. The survey, conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide in August 2003, observed 7,541 people in public washrooms in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami and Toronto.Here’s a link to a brochure on hand washing. Download it. Read it. It may save your life. Seriously.
U.S. airport observations contrast sharply with an August 2003 Wirthlin telephone survey of 1,000 Americans, in which 95 percent said that they wash their hands in public restrooms. The same phone survey – which found only 58 percent of people say they wash their hands after sneezing or coughing and only 77 percent say they wash their hands after changing a diaper – highlights the seriousness of the problem.
And on that note, I'll close and get ready for work. Have a wonderful day. Remember me in your prayers; I'm remembering you!
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Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Hibernation
I've hibernated the past few days. The news from the doctor sort of shut me down. I needed quiet time to process the information and recover my equilibrium. Today I'll go by the doctor's office, and they'll draw blood for six different blood tests (CBC, SED, CMP, ANA, ANCA, and AntiGBM Antibody). And sometime this week or next, I'll have another CT scan (pelvis and abdomen with contrast). We'll get the results back from those, I'll go to the OKC doctor again, and we'll go from there, either a lung biopsy or treatment (if the blood tests reveal a recognizable disease). I have it mapped out in my mind so I'm good to go again.
I have been touched by the support shown by both my online and offline friends more than I can adequately express. You have gathered around me and lifted me up. I appreciate your words, your prayers, your concern, and your love. I'm not sure what's ahead, but I am not alone as long as I have God and all of you. Thank you for holding my hand figuratively and literally.
In good health news, yesterday I got my blood sugar below 100 for the first time in months. It was 97. I did it by limiting food, having only one soft drink, and walking. I'm trying for two days in a row now.
Time for work. I hope you have a great day. Talk to you soon.
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I have been touched by the support shown by both my online and offline friends more than I can adequately express. You have gathered around me and lifted me up. I appreciate your words, your prayers, your concern, and your love. I'm not sure what's ahead, but I am not alone as long as I have God and all of you. Thank you for holding my hand figuratively and literally.
In good health news, yesterday I got my blood sugar below 100 for the first time in months. It was 97. I did it by limiting food, having only one soft drink, and walking. I'm trying for two days in a row now.
Time for work. I hope you have a great day. Talk to you soon.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
What the doctor said
Here it is as concise as I can make it: The CT scan showed several patches of something in both of my lungs. The doctor said that it is either cancer or an inflamatory process. I will be having more extensive blood tests and another CT scan and perhaps an MRI to see, if it is cancer, if it spread from elsewhere in my body. Depending on what the blood test reveal and the next CT scan, I will have a lung biopsy to determine if it's cancer.
I am dismayed and shocked. I didn't expect this. I thought he would say that everything was okay or I just had some sort of infection in my lungs. I'm still reeling.
I'm asking you to please pray that it's not cancer, that it's an inflamatory process caused by my over-active immune system (Remember I do have IBD), and that it's healed. If it's true that the movement of a butterfly's wing can cause a hurricaine across the world, then your prayer and your thoughts can surely move the universe.
Know that I appreciate your support and will give you updates as I get them. I am not done down here yet, and I intend to fight whatever it is as hard as I can as long as I can and then some!
Thank you.
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I am dismayed and shocked. I didn't expect this. I thought he would say that everything was okay or I just had some sort of infection in my lungs. I'm still reeling.
I'm asking you to please pray that it's not cancer, that it's an inflamatory process caused by my over-active immune system (Remember I do have IBD), and that it's healed. If it's true that the movement of a butterfly's wing can cause a hurricaine across the world, then your prayer and your thoughts can surely move the universe.
Know that I appreciate your support and will give you updates as I get them. I am not done down here yet, and I intend to fight whatever it is as hard as I can as long as I can and then some!
Thank you.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
25 Things about MBTA
Needed another post and decided to share 25 things about Murder by the Acre that you might not know or don't know or would surprise you or would fill space.
1. It needs more reviewers on Amazon.com. I have three and would like to have more.
2. The plot for Murder by the Acre changed drastically from the original draft. As first written, it had two murderers who teamed up to off some of the folks in Ryton. But that proved to be too confusing and complicated.
3. Also in that first draft, the first victim had a scene from his viewpoint in which he died. It was cut because it added nothing to the book and slowed down the action.
4. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Lulu.com. Yes, I know you probably already know that, but I thought I'd mention it anyway.
5. The story frequently went places I didn't expect or revealed things I didn't know. An example: The chief and Maggie's son. I didn't know he even existed until I started writing that scene, and there he was.
6. My subconscious must be smarter than me since what I talked about in number 5 often answered questions that I hadn't thought of asking.
7. I originally planned for Murder by the Mile to be second book. Things change.
8. I acknowledged Holly Lisle in both books (along with others) because her constant inspiration, but no, she didn't proof or edit it. In fact, I don't even know if she read either one. (I suspect not due to her horribly busy schedule.) That wasn't the point of the acknowledgments.
9. The book had to be republished because I accidently got the ISBN number wrong on the copyright page. The cover ISBN is correct.
10. MBTA is being recorded for the Oklahoma Library for the Blind, as was Murder by Dewey Decimal. These recordings are free of charge to people who qualify. MBTA and MBTA may be submitted to the National Libary. I should know in the next couple of months.
11. The murderer was one of the victims in the original story.
12. I had two playlists of selected music when I wrote MBTA.
13. One playlist featured slower music while the other had only faster songs. Depending on what I was writing, I would select either slower or faster.
14. I can't bear to listen to either playlist now because I listened to them so much while writing the book.
15. Murder by the Mile will get its own playlists.
16. If you'd like to enter a drawing to win a Murder by the Acre large coffee mug, tell me so in the comments on this post and you'll be entered. One person will win. I will have the drawing next week. I have only two entries (Trixie and Adam) so far so your odds are good.
17. I have nearly 40 titles written down for The Measurements of Murder(tm) series. It's unlikely I will write all of them, but who knows?
18. I've thought of making MBTA and MBDD into plays, but haven't done more than write a few lines.
19. I have been thinking about another murder mystery series featuring different locations and different people. Here are few titles: Murder at the Witch's Cottage, Murder at the Pirate's Palace, Murder at the Hangman's House, Murder at the Maniac's Museum, etc.
20. I wrote a play named Murder at the Witch's Cottage, and I really like the title. However, the book couldn't feature the same people or plot.
21. Jean pointed out something that I didn't notice myself until after she did: the books have no children in them. No mention of them at all. But yes, Ryton does have children in it. They will be at least mentioned in Murder by the Mile.
22. Since the original Murder by the Acre was written nearly 25 years ago, it had no mention of cell phones or the Internet in it. I changed that when I revised it for publication.
23. I use several baby books and phone books to get the names of my characters. I pick names that none of my friends or acquaintences have, unless, of course, they have agreed to let me use them for minor, non-speaking characters.
24. My brother-in-law Phillip Owens is the only real person whose name is featured in both books.
25. I have huge changes planned for both Lisa and Bernard in the next few books. They have to grow and change to keep my interest, and I think they will.
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
25 Random Things
(Frenzied Feline tagged me on Facebook and since I needed a post ...)
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I don't like my middle name.
2. My dad had seven sisters and one brother.
3. I fell and broke my arm in two places backstage before a production of Oklahoma! by the local community theater.
4. I have two laser pointers.
5. I hate washing dishes.
6. I like to cook.
7. I am a fan of The Closer, which I think might be the best show on television.
8. I don't like yellow or pink cars.
9. My first computer was a Tandy 1000. I saved for months to buy it.
10. My character on World of Warcraft is a mage.
11. I used to play Dungeons & Dragons in college. A group of my friends and I still get together and play every year or so.
12. I wrote myself in as a character in both Murder by Dewey Decimal and Murder by the Acre, but no one has ever figured who I am in the book.
13. There is a puzzle hidden in both books that no one has ever found.
14. One of my favorite shows is Last of the Summer Wine on PBS.
15. I also like Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served?.
16. If something gets my attention, it is quite easy for me to become obsessed with it.
17. I think electric cars are the ultimate in cool.
18. I should have got married in college. That relationship was my last real chance.
19. I really think most doctors are only in it for the money. And I detest most of them.
20. I once accidentally dated a married woman. She didn't tell me she was married. I was very upset when I found out.
21. I've always lived in Oklahoma and proud of it.
22. If you'd like to enter a drawing to win a Murder by the Acre large coffee mug, tell me so in the comments on this post and you'll be entered. One person will win. I will have the drawing next week.
23. I have blue eyes.
24. I wear contacts and glasses because my vision is so bad.
25. Barq's root beer should be served in an ice cold mug. I like it that way and have my own mug.
And there is no way I can tag 25 people. If you want to do it, do it and let me know. Otherwise, have a great night and wonderful tomorrow. Night!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
1. I don't like my middle name.
2. My dad had seven sisters and one brother.
3. I fell and broke my arm in two places backstage before a production of Oklahoma! by the local community theater.
4. I have two laser pointers.
5. I hate washing dishes.
6. I like to cook.
7. I am a fan of The Closer, which I think might be the best show on television.
8. I don't like yellow or pink cars.
9. My first computer was a Tandy 1000. I saved for months to buy it.
10. My character on World of Warcraft is a mage.
11. I used to play Dungeons & Dragons in college. A group of my friends and I still get together and play every year or so.
12. I wrote myself in as a character in both Murder by Dewey Decimal and Murder by the Acre, but no one has ever figured who I am in the book.
13. There is a puzzle hidden in both books that no one has ever found.
14. One of my favorite shows is Last of the Summer Wine on PBS.
15. I also like Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served?.
16. If something gets my attention, it is quite easy for me to become obsessed with it.
17. I think electric cars are the ultimate in cool.
18. I should have got married in college. That relationship was my last real chance.
19. I really think most doctors are only in it for the money. And I detest most of them.
20. I once accidentally dated a married woman. She didn't tell me she was married. I was very upset when I found out.
21. I've always lived in Oklahoma and proud of it.
22. If you'd like to enter a drawing to win a Murder by the Acre large coffee mug, tell me so in the comments on this post and you'll be entered. One person will win. I will have the drawing next week.
23. I have blue eyes.
24. I wear contacts and glasses because my vision is so bad.
25. Barq's root beer should be served in an ice cold mug. I like it that way and have my own mug.
And there is no way I can tag 25 people. If you want to do it, do it and let me know. Otherwise, have a great night and wonderful tomorrow. Night!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Proposal
So basically I’ve made just about every wrong financial decision you can make. I make a lot of them when I was younger; I made some of them not that long ago.
I read Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan. It was not necessarily an eye-opener since I had heard some of it before, but it bought into sharp focus this fact: Credit cards are evil. They may be a necessary evil if you want to rent a car or book a hotel room or order something over the Internet, but if you can’t pay off the entire balance as soon as the bill comes, you are living beyond your means.
Let’s repeat that: If you use your credit card and you can’t pay off the whole balance when the bill comes due, you are living beyond your means, and you need to stop.
Do you want to argue with that? If so, argue with Suze. She has completely convinced me of this. If I use my credit card and can’t pay off the whole balance when the bill comes due, I am living beyond my means, and I need to stop.
So, why oh why are I using my credit card? Why is my balance on that credit card increasing?
The answer is this: To pay my medical bills. It’s the only access to credit I have in the amount I need for my medical bills, but I can’t tell you how much I RESENT having to use it for that.
Obama can win my allegiance no matter what scandal eventually hits his administration -- and there will be one -- if he can lead this nation to affordable healthcare. I am willing to pay for health insurance, but I can’t get it. No one will insure diabetics, not unless it’s on a group policy where they have to take me.
And this is a the result of a bad decision that I made years ago. I was healthy and didn’t think I could afford to have a health plan. I thought I’d get one later. What a foolish thing to do. I may have bankrupted my future by that decision. I’d like to be able to go back and hit myself in the mouth every time I attempted to call and cancel my health insurance.
However, I can’t do that. I have to move on from where I am. So I’ve decided to get married. Yes, that’s right. Married. If you’re single and have a health plan that will cover your spouse, I’m your man.
I’m just kidding.
Sort of.
Look, there have been worse reasons to get married. And some of those marriages doubtlessly didn’t end in murder.
I’m not saying I’d actually do it.
But I’m not saying I wouldn’t either.
Have a great day tomorrow. (And check out those health plans.) Night!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
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Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
I read Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan. It was not necessarily an eye-opener since I had heard some of it before, but it bought into sharp focus this fact: Credit cards are evil. They may be a necessary evil if you want to rent a car or book a hotel room or order something over the Internet, but if you can’t pay off the entire balance as soon as the bill comes, you are living beyond your means.
Let’s repeat that: If you use your credit card and you can’t pay off the whole balance when the bill comes due, you are living beyond your means, and you need to stop.
Do you want to argue with that? If so, argue with Suze. She has completely convinced me of this. If I use my credit card and can’t pay off the whole balance when the bill comes due, I am living beyond my means, and I need to stop.
So, why oh why are I using my credit card? Why is my balance on that credit card increasing?
The answer is this: To pay my medical bills. It’s the only access to credit I have in the amount I need for my medical bills, but I can’t tell you how much I RESENT having to use it for that.
Obama can win my allegiance no matter what scandal eventually hits his administration -- and there will be one -- if he can lead this nation to affordable healthcare. I am willing to pay for health insurance, but I can’t get it. No one will insure diabetics, not unless it’s on a group policy where they have to take me.
And this is a the result of a bad decision that I made years ago. I was healthy and didn’t think I could afford to have a health plan. I thought I’d get one later. What a foolish thing to do. I may have bankrupted my future by that decision. I’d like to be able to go back and hit myself in the mouth every time I attempted to call and cancel my health insurance.
However, I can’t do that. I have to move on from where I am. So I’ve decided to get married. Yes, that’s right. Married. If you’re single and have a health plan that will cover your spouse, I’m your man.
I’m just kidding.
Sort of.
Look, there have been worse reasons to get married. And some of those marriages doubtlessly didn’t end in murder.
I’m not saying I’d actually do it.
But I’m not saying I wouldn’t either.
Have a great day tomorrow. (And check out those health plans.) Night!
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Amazon.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in softcover from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre in hardcover, exclusively from Lulu.com.
Click here to order Murder by the Acre merchandise.
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