I actually received this meme on Facebook, but I'm doing it over here. So there, all you Facebook fanatics!
A - Age? 40 something.
B - Bed Size? Full. I'd like a king size because I'm king size myself, but my bedroom is too small.
C - Chore You Hate? Dusting and doing dishes.
D - Dog Name? Haven't owned one since my beloved Tai Ling passed away. She was a large part of my life, and I haven't wanted to get another one.
E - Essential Start Your Day Item? Taking my blood sugar.
F - Favorite Color? Dark green or blue.
G - Gold Or Silver? Silver.
H - Height? Around 5'10" if I'd stand up straight.
I - Instruments You Play? The computer with a tiny bit of piano and a bit of trumpet.
J - Job Title? Office Manager.
K - Kid(s)? None of my own that I know of, but I claim several and I have awesome nieces and a fantastic nephew and a totally cool grandniece.
L - Living Arrangements? House. Three small bedrooms. One living room. Combined kitchen and dining area. One bathroom. I like my little house, but wish I had enough space to carve out another bathroom.
M - Mom's Name? Annamay. And I miss her.
N - Nicknames? None. At least none that anyone dares to say to my face.
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth? Yes. Twice, I think. Hope I never have another one.
P - Pet Peeve? I like most animals, but cannot understand why people buy animals and then ignore and neglect them.
Q - Quote From A Movie? "I'm a match for anything. Aren't you?" Henry from The Lion in Winter as played by Peter O'Toole.
R - Right Or Left Handed? Right.
S - Sibling? Two sisters and one brother.
T - Time You Wake Up? 6-7.
U - Underwear- what type? Cotton. And really, why are asking? A bit personal, that.
V - Vegetable You Dislike? Cabbage.
W - Ways You Run Late? Hate being late and would rather not go if I'm going to be late.
X - X-Rays You've Had? Many. I'm surprised I don't glow in the dark.
Y - Yummy Food You Make? I have this great chicken dish that I can make. It's got garlic, tomatoes, brown rice, chicken breasts, chives, mushrooms, etc. Delicious!
Z - Favorite Zoo animal? I don't really like zoos. I feel sorry for the animals. I do enjoy the OKC Zoo, though. I think they do a good job in providing a decent habitat for the animals.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
What I've been doing or other news of nothing
Well, I must post something. I’m assuming someone drops by this poor neglected blog sometimes, and they should be rewarded for their diligence. Not much to tell you, which is why I haven’t been posting as often as I should. Life is as it was: doctors, work, sleep, WoW, Chuck, etc. I do have another CT scan scheduled this Friday morning at Holdenville. Checking for tumors in my sinuses, facial structures, and neck. Whee. I don’t think anyone thinks we’ll actually find any. No, the doctors just want to look and be sure because, hey, I’m still coughing blood and they don’t know why, but they’re willing to spend every last cent I can beg and borrow to find out why. I’d kinda like to know that, too, you know.
What other news? Gail Claunts and I have finished 75 Dates for $25 or Less! and are now proofing it. It should be available from Lulu.com in early May, both as a book and as an e-book, and then from Amazon in June as a book and from Kindle in July. I hope.
Been questioned about 75 Dates a few times. With the bad economy, no one has money to throw around, unless, of course, they’re receiving bailout funds. Gail came up with the idea of writing a book that helped people figure out how to date within a budget. Yes, yes, yes, everyone has already pointed out the cheap date joke. Ha ha. Moving on. Gail wrote most of the book, and I provided some additional material and book formatting. We hope it will be useful and informative. Don’t let the lack of cash hinder ruin romance in your life.
Hey, this is good news: I met Jean of Rantings and Ravings! She was driving up north to spend time with family so she stopped in my small town to meet me. She, my roomie, my friend Kyra, and I all had dinner together at a local Mexican restaurant. She’s as charming, funny, and smart as she is on her blog, and we had a great time. I signed both Murder by the Acre and Murder by Dewey Decimal for her. I hope we can meet again. Now if I could just figure out how to get Frenzied Feline out here to Oklahoma …
Anyway, it's late and I'm tired. Have a great night and tomorrow. Talk to you then.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
What other news? Gail Claunts and I have finished 75 Dates for $25 or Less! and are now proofing it. It should be available from Lulu.com in early May, both as a book and as an e-book, and then from Amazon in June as a book and from Kindle in July. I hope.
Been questioned about 75 Dates a few times. With the bad economy, no one has money to throw around, unless, of course, they’re receiving bailout funds. Gail came up with the idea of writing a book that helped people figure out how to date within a budget. Yes, yes, yes, everyone has already pointed out the cheap date joke. Ha ha. Moving on. Gail wrote most of the book, and I provided some additional material and book formatting. We hope it will be useful and informative. Don’t let the lack of cash hinder ruin romance in your life.
Hey, this is good news: I met Jean of Rantings and Ravings! She was driving up north to spend time with family so she stopped in my small town to meet me. She, my roomie, my friend Kyra, and I all had dinner together at a local Mexican restaurant. She’s as charming, funny, and smart as she is on her blog, and we had a great time. I signed both Murder by the Acre and Murder by Dewey Decimal for her. I hope we can meet again. Now if I could just figure out how to get Frenzied Feline out here to Oklahoma …
Anyway, it's late and I'm tired. Have a great night and tomorrow. Talk to you then.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Dirt Day!
Welcome to Earth Day. A day meant to make you feel guilty because -- let's be honest -- you're an untidy, unclean, energy wasting, stinkin' slob and it's time you faced up to it. And yes, I do mean you. Turn off a few lights, walk around the neighborhood, pick up trash, choose paper over plastic, recycle something! Or you will be doomed to spend eternity listening to Al Gore drone on and on and on and on and on and on ... Seriously, has anyone checked that man's pulse lately? I think his pacemaker needs to be revved up.
However, Al's not as boring as Biden. Biden has actually killed with people with boredom. Sure, some of them commit suicide, but Biden drove them to it. I think that's why the VP likes to throw out those outrageous comments when he speaks: to keep people awake. He'll be talking: "We need to look at the gross output of the nation so that we accustomize ourselves to the need to increase such output in a productive fashion blah blah blah (Let's bomb Texas and wear flashy high heels!) to offset non-useful activities ..."
Of course, I'm Baptist, and we're used to sitting still and not moving for long periods of time. My pastor likes to ask for "amens" when he's preaching, and it's not so much that he needs encouragement as he wants to make sure we're still breathing.
Anyway, the point of Earth Day is that we -- and by "we," I mean you -- are using too many valuable resources that should be preserved so that they can be used by me. No, no, no, just kidding. We're preserving those resources so that they can be used by our children and their children's children, even though we know they aren't going to come see us in the nursing home. Rotten kids with their video games and Twitter. Why don't I just Twitter my cane upside your head? What do you think of that, you punk!
I seem to have wandered off my point. I wonder where I am. Maybe we should call the nurse. No, wait, here I am. My point is that today is Earth Day, and we should all work to preserve the environment so that our children and their children and even their children won't blame us for turning this green earth into a dry cinder that looks like Sarah Palin's been in charge.
Here are a few quick tips:
1. Choose paper over plastic, except for breast implants. Most plastic bags are made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. I refuse to use anything that will outlast me.
2. Breathe shallowly so you won't put out so much CO2. In fact, give up exercise completely as that makes you breathe hard. (I'm going to see if my diabetes doctor buys this. I'll get back to you.) Conversely, you could plant a tree.
3. Enjoy sitting in the the dark. Or you could replace one light bulb with a compact fluorescent. CFs use 60% less energy and save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide per year per bulb. I don't know what CFs are saving the carbon dioxide for, but I'm sure it's really cool.
4. Turn your thermostat up two degrees in the summer and sweat a bit. Or if you're a woman, glow a bit. If you're confused, I was told once -- by a woman -- that men sweat, women glow. At my fitness center, some women glow so much you can smell them from 40 paces away.
5. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reduce waste, reuse waste, recycle waste. Waste not, want not. Wasting away again in Margaritaville looking for my lost shaker of salt.
6. Walk, walk, walk. Don't drive that car. Walk everywhere! Or bicycle. I'll wave as I drive by. No, seriously, I would wave.
7. Don't buy bottled water. Or refill the bottle and use it more than once. Plastic bottles make up 3.6 billion pounds -- yes, I said billion -- each year in our landfills. I don't know who's counting them, but I wouldn't want that job.
And in conclusion on this glorious Earth Day, we need to recycle more and look at the gross output of the nation so that we accustomize ourselves to the need to increase such output in a productive enviromentally friendly fashion blah blah blah (Let's TP Ohio while dressed as our favorite character from the Buffyverse; I pick Giles!) to offset non-useful activities ..."
Happy Earth Day!
Copyright 2009 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
However, Al's not as boring as Biden. Biden has actually killed with people with boredom. Sure, some of them commit suicide, but Biden drove them to it. I think that's why the VP likes to throw out those outrageous comments when he speaks: to keep people awake. He'll be talking: "We need to look at the gross output of the nation so that we accustomize ourselves to the need to increase such output in a productive fashion blah blah blah (Let's bomb Texas and wear flashy high heels!) to offset non-useful activities ..."
Of course, I'm Baptist, and we're used to sitting still and not moving for long periods of time. My pastor likes to ask for "amens" when he's preaching, and it's not so much that he needs encouragement as he wants to make sure we're still breathing.
Anyway, the point of Earth Day is that we -- and by "we," I mean you -- are using too many valuable resources that should be preserved so that they can be used by me. No, no, no, just kidding. We're preserving those resources so that they can be used by our children and their children's children, even though we know they aren't going to come see us in the nursing home. Rotten kids with their video games and Twitter. Why don't I just Twitter my cane upside your head? What do you think of that, you punk!
I seem to have wandered off my point. I wonder where I am. Maybe we should call the nurse. No, wait, here I am. My point is that today is Earth Day, and we should all work to preserve the environment so that our children and their children and even their children won't blame us for turning this green earth into a dry cinder that looks like Sarah Palin's been in charge.
Here are a few quick tips:
1. Choose paper over plastic, except for breast implants. Most plastic bags are made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. I refuse to use anything that will outlast me.
2. Breathe shallowly so you won't put out so much CO2. In fact, give up exercise completely as that makes you breathe hard. (I'm going to see if my diabetes doctor buys this. I'll get back to you.) Conversely, you could plant a tree.
3. Enjoy sitting in the the dark. Or you could replace one light bulb with a compact fluorescent. CFs use 60% less energy and save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide per year per bulb. I don't know what CFs are saving the carbon dioxide for, but I'm sure it's really cool.
4. Turn your thermostat up two degrees in the summer and sweat a bit. Or if you're a woman, glow a bit. If you're confused, I was told once -- by a woman -- that men sweat, women glow. At my fitness center, some women glow so much you can smell them from 40 paces away.
5. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reduce waste, reuse waste, recycle waste. Waste not, want not. Wasting away again in Margaritaville looking for my lost shaker of salt.
6. Walk, walk, walk. Don't drive that car. Walk everywhere! Or bicycle. I'll wave as I drive by. No, seriously, I would wave.
7. Don't buy bottled water. Or refill the bottle and use it more than once. Plastic bottles make up 3.6 billion pounds -- yes, I said billion -- each year in our landfills. I don't know who's counting them, but I wouldn't want that job.
And in conclusion on this glorious Earth Day, we need to recycle more and look at the gross output of the nation so that we accustomize ourselves to the need to increase such output in a productive enviromentally friendly fashion blah blah blah (Let's TP Ohio while dressed as our favorite character from the Buffyverse; I pick Giles!) to offset non-useful activities ..."
Happy Earth Day!
Copyright 2009 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Monday, April 20, 2009
I don't know. Yet.
So basically I don't know. That's going to be my answer for a while. For any question, I'm going to answer: I don't know.
I don't know how to fix the economy, but we should. Why are we going to make our children and their children pay our debt?
I don't know how to fix the environment, but we should. Why are we going to make our children and their children clean up our mess?
I don't know how to feed the starving children, but we should. Why are we letting children die?
I don't how to heal the sick, but we should. Why are we withholding care when we could ease suffering worldwide and in our own towns?
I don't know how to get us to stop killing each other, but we should. Why do we claim to be better than animals when we live by the law of teeth and claw?
I don't how to get us to tolerate beliefs different from our own, but we should. Why are we so afraid of what we don't know?
I don't know how to we can learn to love each other, but we should. Why is that so hard for us?
I don't know the answers. I'm tired of pretending I do. I'm exhausted from all the fighting and arguing and shouting and planning and recruiting and voting and all the other stuff we do. And I'm sick of all those people with their terribly concrete beliefs who won't be changed by any facts to the contrary because how it is now is how it's going to be because they won't change.
So I don't know. Can't think of how, what, where, who or why. For a while, I'm just going to be.
I'm going sit and not think and not fight and not argue and not shout and not plan and not recruit and not vote and not do all that other stuff.
For a while, I'm going to simply be.
And then I'm going to get up and we'll see what we will see. And if that don't cause a zero in your bones, you're not reading this close enough.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
I don't know how to fix the economy, but we should. Why are we going to make our children and their children pay our debt?
I don't know how to fix the environment, but we should. Why are we going to make our children and their children clean up our mess?
I don't know how to feed the starving children, but we should. Why are we letting children die?
I don't how to heal the sick, but we should. Why are we withholding care when we could ease suffering worldwide and in our own towns?
I don't know how to get us to stop killing each other, but we should. Why do we claim to be better than animals when we live by the law of teeth and claw?
I don't how to get us to tolerate beliefs different from our own, but we should. Why are we so afraid of what we don't know?
I don't know how to we can learn to love each other, but we should. Why is that so hard for us?
I don't know the answers. I'm tired of pretending I do. I'm exhausted from all the fighting and arguing and shouting and planning and recruiting and voting and all the other stuff we do. And I'm sick of all those people with their terribly concrete beliefs who won't be changed by any facts to the contrary because how it is now is how it's going to be because they won't change.
So I don't know. Can't think of how, what, where, who or why. For a while, I'm just going to be.
I'm going sit and not think and not fight and not argue and not shout and not plan and not recruit and not vote and not do all that other stuff.
For a while, I'm going to simply be.
And then I'm going to get up and we'll see what we will see. And if that don't cause a zero in your bones, you're not reading this close enough.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Prelim cover
This is the preliminary cover to this book. Needs some work, particularly the back cover. The book itself should be coming out in May. Woohoo!
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A bit of news
Meant to post another enthralling and exciting adventure for you to read tonight. Instead I came home, ate Chinese food, and fell asleep until a few minutes ago. Sorry. I think this is a definite sign that I’m getting older. Or something like that.
Anyway, I’m hanging in there. I’m doing okay with the new meds, although I have to say that they don’t seem to be doing much yet. I take that back. One med is definitely working, but it’s not the major medication. The major medication isn’t doing what it’s supposed to be doing. At least not so far. Supposedly it takes time for these medicines to work – they start working as soon as your savings account is exhausted …
Sometime this week or the earlier part of next week, I should be ordering a proof of 75 Dates for $25 or Less!, the book written by Gail Claunts and myself. And then sometime next week or the week following, it should go on sale at Lulu.com. A few weeks after than, on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. And a few weeks after than, it will available for the Kindle, Amazon’s e-book reader. You’ll be hearing more about it as we get closer to its publication date.
That’s pretty much all the news tonight. It’s time for bed. You have a good night and good tomorrow. Or else.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Anyway, I’m hanging in there. I’m doing okay with the new meds, although I have to say that they don’t seem to be doing much yet. I take that back. One med is definitely working, but it’s not the major medication. The major medication isn’t doing what it’s supposed to be doing. At least not so far. Supposedly it takes time for these medicines to work – they start working as soon as your savings account is exhausted …
Sometime this week or the earlier part of next week, I should be ordering a proof of 75 Dates for $25 or Less!, the book written by Gail Claunts and myself. And then sometime next week or the week following, it should go on sale at Lulu.com. A few weeks after than, on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. And a few weeks after than, it will available for the Kindle, Amazon’s e-book reader. You’ll be hearing more about it as we get closer to its publication date.
That’s pretty much all the news tonight. It’s time for bed. You have a good night and good tomorrow. Or else.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Monday, April 13, 2009
New shoes
I had a traumatic event happen this weekend – my old shoes finally fell apart. I had worn them down to nothing, and I finally noticed the soles on both had cracked across and were revealing their inner linings, like those show girls in old French revues, but with less kicking and shouting. The damage is too extensive; they can’t be repaired. I can’t bring myself to throw them out yet. They’re sitting on a chest in my bedroom. Later this week, I will steel myself and discard them. It may drive me to drink. (Obviously I can’t walk to drink because I have no shoes.)
I had that pair for nearly eight years now. They had been polished many times, but still looked good particularly compared to rags. And they were so comfortable. I wore them every day to work and around town and had a thousand and one adventures in them, some of which I can even share in mixed company and in the hearing of law enforcement.
Now I’m having to wear my church shoes to work. Of course, they’re nice shoes, but they’re not as comfortable as the late and lamented casual pair. Eventually I will work them in, of course, but it will take several months before they lose their piety.
I got on the Internet and tried to find a pair exactly like my old ones, but apparently Earth Spirit isn’t making shoes for men anymore. I found one place that had a pair in the same style, but didn’t have them in my size. Wal-Mart, where I had originally bought shoes, only offer two pair of Earth Spirit shoes now. Both are women’s knee length boots, which truly will go with nothing I own even if they had my size and I was so inclined – which I’m not, despite those photos from the New Year’s Eve party and riot.
And so I’m in uncomfortable shoes facing something I really dread: shopping for a new pair of church shoes. Affordable church shoes. And I really, really, really hate shopping for shoes. I never have on the right socks, can’t find my size, and am unable to try on any shoes without wondering whose feet had been in them before and did they have some fungus that would pierce my socks and attack my body until I end up as a news item on Weird World News. And because I have trouble finding the right shoes, the clerk will get annoyed with me, and I'll feel pressured to buy something to prove that I wasn’t just wasting his time. Finally, whatever I buy will go on sale the next week.
Still, there's no avoiding it. Some day soon -- before Sunday -- I will be standing in front of a local shoe store and gathering my courage to venture within. I should get a medal. Or at least a shoehorn.
Copyright 2009 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
I had that pair for nearly eight years now. They had been polished many times, but still looked good particularly compared to rags. And they were so comfortable. I wore them every day to work and around town and had a thousand and one adventures in them, some of which I can even share in mixed company and in the hearing of law enforcement.
Now I’m having to wear my church shoes to work. Of course, they’re nice shoes, but they’re not as comfortable as the late and lamented casual pair. Eventually I will work them in, of course, but it will take several months before they lose their piety.
I got on the Internet and tried to find a pair exactly like my old ones, but apparently Earth Spirit isn’t making shoes for men anymore. I found one place that had a pair in the same style, but didn’t have them in my size. Wal-Mart, where I had originally bought shoes, only offer two pair of Earth Spirit shoes now. Both are women’s knee length boots, which truly will go with nothing I own even if they had my size and I was so inclined – which I’m not, despite those photos from the New Year’s Eve party and riot.
And so I’m in uncomfortable shoes facing something I really dread: shopping for a new pair of church shoes. Affordable church shoes. And I really, really, really hate shopping for shoes. I never have on the right socks, can’t find my size, and am unable to try on any shoes without wondering whose feet had been in them before and did they have some fungus that would pierce my socks and attack my body until I end up as a news item on Weird World News. And because I have trouble finding the right shoes, the clerk will get annoyed with me, and I'll feel pressured to buy something to prove that I wasn’t just wasting his time. Finally, whatever I buy will go on sale the next week.
Still, there's no avoiding it. Some day soon -- before Sunday -- I will be standing in front of a local shoe store and gathering my courage to venture within. I should get a medal. Or at least a shoehorn.
Copyright 2009 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Chris Tomlin: "Amazing Grace"
Sandi Patty: "Was it a morning like this?"
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Poem: Beyond the Bone
Beyond the Bone
It's not that I doubt your pain now;
I have held you through tears and howls.
It's not that I've stopped loving you;
I love you more than life allows.
It's not that I think you don't try;
God knows how many therapists
and prescriptions you have endured.
It's none of these easy things.
But I have grow weary of pain,
tired to the bone and beyond it.
I can carry you no longer.
If you doubt me, if you believe
my strength will sustain, know this:
when you talk about suicide,
I wonder every now and then
if I would feel grief or relief.
Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved. From the poetry collection EndlesS, available from Amazon.com and Lulu.com.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
It's not that I doubt your pain now;
I have held you through tears and howls.
It's not that I've stopped loving you;
I love you more than life allows.
It's not that I think you don't try;
God knows how many therapists
and prescriptions you have endured.
It's none of these easy things.
But I have grow weary of pain,
tired to the bone and beyond it.
I can carry you no longer.
If you doubt me, if you believe
my strength will sustain, know this:
when you talk about suicide,
I wonder every now and then
if I would feel grief or relief.
Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved. From the poetry collection EndlesS, available from Amazon.com and Lulu.com.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Baby, it's cold inside ...
So I was at the doctor’s office, shivering in a hospital gown so revealing that Britney Spears would be embarrassed to wear it, when I overheard this conversation taking place outside my door.
Female patient: “Doctor B., why is it so cold in here? Surely you can afford heat with what I’m paying you.”
Me, too, I thought. From my wallet alone, you could afford your own nuclear power plant.
Doctor B: “I don’t touch the thermostat. It’s controlled by Debbie.”
Debbie, the office manager: “Yes, I’m sorry, but I have to keep it cold because I’m going through The Change.”
Female patient: “Into what? A polar bear?”
The doctor laughed and laughed. Debbie, however, was not amused.
But that explained why the office was so cold that you could hang meat in it. Of course, I’ve complained about doctors’ offices being cold before, although rarely when I’m there because my spit has frozen my jaws shut, but I’ve started to notice that other places are colder, too. The slogan for our local Wal-Mart this winter was “Lower Temps Every Day.” Restaurants started putting smoking sections back in so that people could huddle around their lighters.
All this thermostat lowering was caused by the high price of natural gas and heating oil this winter. Companies needed to save money, and one way to do that was lower the heating costs. Companies started to call meetings just so employees could huddle together as well as do nose counts in case anyone had succumbed to the cold. A lot of people think Sarah Palin ran for the White House just because she wanted to get warm.
So I’m ready for summer. I’ve mentioned before how much I like heat. It gets 85 degrees, and I’m happy. Ninety degrees, and I’m delighted. I’ve always been that way.
Summer is my favorite season. Summer is long days, sunshine, lemonade, watermelons, swimming pools, kids out of school, vacations, farmers’ markets ... No other season has anything like it. If Christmas was moved out of December, winter would have nothing in it for us to enjoy, and the only good thing you can say about spring is that it means winter is over. And I can’t like fall because it means summer is over. Although fall does have Oklahoma State University football, so I guess I will tolerate it.
If I absolutely have to.
Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Female patient: “Doctor B., why is it so cold in here? Surely you can afford heat with what I’m paying you.”
Me, too, I thought. From my wallet alone, you could afford your own nuclear power plant.
Doctor B: “I don’t touch the thermostat. It’s controlled by Debbie.”
Debbie, the office manager: “Yes, I’m sorry, but I have to keep it cold because I’m going through The Change.”
Female patient: “Into what? A polar bear?”
The doctor laughed and laughed. Debbie, however, was not amused.
But that explained why the office was so cold that you could hang meat in it. Of course, I’ve complained about doctors’ offices being cold before, although rarely when I’m there because my spit has frozen my jaws shut, but I’ve started to notice that other places are colder, too. The slogan for our local Wal-Mart this winter was “Lower Temps Every Day.” Restaurants started putting smoking sections back in so that people could huddle around their lighters.
All this thermostat lowering was caused by the high price of natural gas and heating oil this winter. Companies needed to save money, and one way to do that was lower the heating costs. Companies started to call meetings just so employees could huddle together as well as do nose counts in case anyone had succumbed to the cold. A lot of people think Sarah Palin ran for the White House just because she wanted to get warm.
So I’m ready for summer. I’ve mentioned before how much I like heat. It gets 85 degrees, and I’m happy. Ninety degrees, and I’m delighted. I’ve always been that way.
Summer is my favorite season. Summer is long days, sunshine, lemonade, watermelons, swimming pools, kids out of school, vacations, farmers’ markets ... No other season has anything like it. If Christmas was moved out of December, winter would have nothing in it for us to enjoy, and the only good thing you can say about spring is that it means winter is over. And I can’t like fall because it means summer is over. Although fall does have Oklahoma State University football, so I guess I will tolerate it.
If I absolutely have to.
Copyright 2009 Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Monday, April 06, 2009
Black Dog run
Really, not much else more to say. Saw the doctor today. More tests. Two new drugs. Conflicting results on the tests I’ve already had so that’s what prompted more tests. He’s sending me to another specialist – an ear, throat and nose surgeon to see if a gland on the left side of my face needs to be removed.
Arm is bruised because the lab people couldn’t find a view so they had to keep sticking me. Spirit bruised because I took off work, spent money I didn’t have at the doctor, spent hours in the car, and basically don’t know more than when I started, other than there will be more visits, more drugs, more doctors.
I don’t know how seriously ill people do it. I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I don’t even know if I’m seriously ill. Conflicting reports, you know.
But I’m still coughing blood. Every morning I hope it’s clear, but it’s not. So there’s something wrong, and it needs to be fixed. I just don’t understand why it’s being so hard to find out what’s wrong.
Anyway, the Black Dog is running beside me. I must be easy prey these days. Gonna have to work on that.
Hope things are doing well for you. Have a great week. I’ll be praying for ya. You do the same for me. We’ll make it.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Arm is bruised because the lab people couldn’t find a view so they had to keep sticking me. Spirit bruised because I took off work, spent money I didn’t have at the doctor, spent hours in the car, and basically don’t know more than when I started, other than there will be more visits, more drugs, more doctors.
I don’t know how seriously ill people do it. I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I don’t even know if I’m seriously ill. Conflicting reports, you know.
But I’m still coughing blood. Every morning I hope it’s clear, but it’s not. So there’s something wrong, and it needs to be fixed. I just don’t understand why it’s being so hard to find out what’s wrong.
Anyway, the Black Dog is running beside me. I must be easy prey these days. Gonna have to work on that.
Hope things are doing well for you. Have a great week. I’ll be praying for ya. You do the same for me. We’ll make it.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Once again blessing
Once again, God has reminded me that He’s watching out for me.
A good friend – my brother in spirit – and his lovely wife gave me money today to put toward my medical bills. I’m not supposed to talk about it, but I am so very grateful. It was an unexpected blessing, and I am humbled by this gift. It’s my prayer that God will bless them and their children in a great and wonderful way.
I know God doesn't want me to be sick, but I have been amazed about how much He has shown me during this time. I've always had a dark view of life; mistrust comes easy to me. When other people would talk about miracles in their lives, I was always pleased for them, but inside a part of me stood off and thought of alternative explanations. But now I have watched events unfold in my own life, and I find myself thinking, Well, Stephen, you've been wrong all these years. And I am filled with awe and hope, as unsophisticated as that sounds in these cynical times.
Yes, the world is dark -- I can't deny my eyes -- and the skies are blacker than midnight, but the light keeps breaking through with no regard to how I thought the world was or how I believed things would go. I've been told before that the beginning of wisdom is to realize how much you don't know. Well, I have begun.
Once again, let me thank my friends who made my week, uplifted my spirit, and filled my heart with gratitude.
Good night.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
A good friend – my brother in spirit – and his lovely wife gave me money today to put toward my medical bills. I’m not supposed to talk about it, but I am so very grateful. It was an unexpected blessing, and I am humbled by this gift. It’s my prayer that God will bless them and their children in a great and wonderful way.
I know God doesn't want me to be sick, but I have been amazed about how much He has shown me during this time. I've always had a dark view of life; mistrust comes easy to me. When other people would talk about miracles in their lives, I was always pleased for them, but inside a part of me stood off and thought of alternative explanations. But now I have watched events unfold in my own life, and I find myself thinking, Well, Stephen, you've been wrong all these years. And I am filled with awe and hope, as unsophisticated as that sounds in these cynical times.
Yes, the world is dark -- I can't deny my eyes -- and the skies are blacker than midnight, but the light keeps breaking through with no regard to how I thought the world was or how I believed things would go. I've been told before that the beginning of wisdom is to realize how much you don't know. Well, I have begun.
Once again, let me thank my friends who made my week, uplifted my spirit, and filled my heart with gratitude.
Good night.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Maybe harsh
I keep thinking writer's block is just another name for laziness. I know that's harsh, but it seems I know so many people who want to write a book, scribble a few lines, talk about the book unceasingly, but when it comes to actually putting words on paper, they never do it. Writing a book is work. Hard work. And would-bes don't like applying their butts to the chair and their fingers to the keyboard. Especially when there's so many other exciting things to do in the world. They can take writing courses and talk in chat on writers' sites and blog and generally do anything other than actually write. Which is okay if it makes them happy, but it sure doesn't get a book written.
Or maybe what I perceive as laziness is actually the result of a block. Maybe they have a fear of success. Some people do. Or perhaps their vision of the book in their mind is so clear that, when they have to use lowly words to tell about it, they can't handle the difference between their clear shining vision and how their words portray it. I know I've felt that way. Action that seemed to vigorous in my mind often just lies there on the paper. Of course, that's what rewriting is for.
I do know that, for me, writing courses, chatting on writers' sites, etc., doesn't get anything done, however much I may enjoy them. I don't know any other way to write other than to actually write. It's a dogged, determined pursuit. I don't know any other way to write than to simply write. It's like all things: easier in the telling than in the doing.
And why am I thinking that? Well, today at work, someone dropped by and saw my display about my books and proceeded to tell me she would love to write a book, she had a great idea, and she'd let me write it if I wanted to.
She said, "The idea is the thing, I know."
I told her that I had too many books started and would have to pass.
She said, "Oh, you'll hate yourself when I find someone to write it. It's a best seller."
And maybe I will.
But I doubt it.
Have a great night. Talk to you later.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Or maybe what I perceive as laziness is actually the result of a block. Maybe they have a fear of success. Some people do. Or perhaps their vision of the book in their mind is so clear that, when they have to use lowly words to tell about it, they can't handle the difference between their clear shining vision and how their words portray it. I know I've felt that way. Action that seemed to vigorous in my mind often just lies there on the paper. Of course, that's what rewriting is for.
I do know that, for me, writing courses, chatting on writers' sites, etc., doesn't get anything done, however much I may enjoy them. I don't know any other way to write other than to actually write. It's a dogged, determined pursuit. I don't know any other way to write than to simply write. It's like all things: easier in the telling than in the doing.
And why am I thinking that? Well, today at work, someone dropped by and saw my display about my books and proceeded to tell me she would love to write a book, she had a great idea, and she'd let me write it if I wanted to.
She said, "The idea is the thing, I know."
I told her that I had too many books started and would have to pass.
She said, "Oh, you'll hate yourself when I find someone to write it. It's a best seller."
And maybe I will.
But I doubt it.
Have a great night. Talk to you later.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Progress
Three or four more hours on 75 Dates for $25 or Less! and it will be finished, barring unforeseen difficulties. That's what I've worked on all evening, and thus that's all I have to say!
I hope you have a great week. Talk to you soon.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
I hope you have a great week. Talk to you soon.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Excerpt from "Debt Free At Last!"
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.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
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.
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 MBTA & MBDD items and more at Oakleaf
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!
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)