I have been plagued since childhood with bad ears. Seems my eardrums don’t seal properly and I get terrible sinus/ear infections. I am suffering through another occurrence right now, but with the help of modern anti-biotics I know I will be much better soon. My first occurrence I remember is when I was about eight years old, traveling with my family and suddenly my fever shot up to 105 and I went into delirium. Both my Eustachian tubes had collapsed. Those are the passages that equalize pressure from your throat to your middle ear. It was like in the movies where you have the sweaty sick person babbling incoherently. After a bottle of Ampicillin it was like nothing had happened. Six broken ear drums and two ear surgeries later, I find myself still slurping up the penicillin derivatives. It’s funny if you think about it. Pre-1940 I would have died at age 8.
Monthly Archives: November 2011
Monday Night Football and Writing Ideas
Tonight’s NFL football match-up will decide whether or not I go to 5-4 or 6-3 in my fantasy football league. I know fantasy football is not a widely accepted past-time but to adherents such as myself, it serves as a fun incentive to watch the games and track the stats. All of the people in my league are friends and family which makes the bragging rights all the more important. Rubbing it in to strangers does not bring the same satisfaction as watching your best friend or child lose to your imaginary team. So, I will be cheering tonight for Jay Cutler, upon whose stats my own destiny depends. I will also be working quite a bit tonight on Blood Bank, The Travelers’ Club and The Wild West (the second in that series) and a bit of finishing up on the Second Civil War. Monday nights are always a good time in my writing cycle; though I am not sure why.
Filed under Humor and Observations, Writing
West Valley Writers’ Workshop
We had a great meeting out in Avondale. Lots of fellow authors and aspiring writers sharing and learning with each other. Writing can be a very isolating vocation and you spend a lot of time by yourself at a keyboard with your own thoughts. Meeting with others with the same passion, or curse, is very uplifting.
Upsetting Drive
I was going along loop 101 to attend the West Valley Writers’ Workshop when I say a small furry animal by the side of the road. It appeared to be a small dog that had wondered from home and been hit by a passing car and killed. I know some think it unmanly to cry or to be moved, but I love dogs in a deep and abiding way. To see a little creature killed like that really stirred up my emotions. I thought of the poor innocent animal wanting to explore and not knowing about traffic. I thought of some young child putting up missing dog posters for a loved family member that would not be coming home. I really wish such things did not happen. I have three rescue dogs myself and I wish I could take in every needy dog in the world, but three are quite the work on their own. Friends, especially on Facebook, seem to email me every day with pictures of dogs that need rescuing. Just like the poor dog on the side of the road, I try not to think about the ones I can’t help, and focus on three I can.
Filed under Uncategorized
Mother Nature Can Be Cruel
The book signing Friday night was a story unto itself. We set up outside under a small trestle and laid out our wares to the constant blow of a dust storm. In Arizona we call it a Monsoon though most would reserve such terms for Southeast Asia. The dust and wind died down and people came out anyway. We probably had around 100 people arrive and a jazz band set up and started playing. The mood was good and things were going well for about twenty minutes. Then – the rain came down and it all ended. Even in Arizona where we have over 300 days of sunny weather each year, count on the one day you have books outside for it to rain.
Filed under Uncategorized
Thanks to Bob and the folks at Hob Nobs Cafe and Spirits!
I will be at Hob Nobs tonight for a book signing, and joining me will be my friend and artist Jared McGonigle and his lovely bride Rebecca. Also joining me will be fellow author and all around good guy Colin James and his lovely bride Robyn. My lovely bride of 27 years, Rebecca, will also be on hand to greet everyone. This is part of the First Friday Art Walk in Phoenix and I am looking forward to participating as an author for the first time.
Filed under Uncategorized
The Travelers’ Club and The Ghost Ship – Printed Version is Here!
The first edition printing of The Travelers’ Club and The Ghost Ship is here. Retail price is $14.95 and it was completed through Snowfall Press. Thank you to my great friend Sue Bushmaker at Mountain Graphics and Design for all the hard work on the conversions and the cover art. Also, a big thanks to Jacob Shaver for the editing and to all the others who gave me so much help and encouragment. If you wish to purchase a printed version, please see the details under the Store tab. I am pretty excited to have the printed copy in my hands. Nothing like that first tangible proof you are under way in your new life.
Filed under Uncategorized
Michael Bradley - Time Traveler 