#This&That&TheOtherThing – #BlogBreaks – #UpcomingPosts – #DarkPlaceMinions

/ Marcia Meara

Happy Tewe’s Day, everybody. Hope all is going well in your corner of the world. Just wanted to give you a quick update this afternoon, so here goes:

THIS

Had a lot of fun Saturday at the Meet the Author tea, met some brand new readers, and enjoyed seeing some old friends again. If you’ve never done something like this, I can tell you it’s well worth a go. It’s fun. You make new readers. And you have a chance to sell a few books, too. (Plus the food is usually wonderful!) I think you’d enjoy it!

THAT

My special guest for tomorrow’s #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe post will be Teri Polen. Teri’s a great friend and a supporter of her fellow writers and bloggers, and I’m delighted to have her visit us. You won’t want to miss her post, I guarantee, so hope to see you tomorrow!

THE OTHER THING

For those of you who might be wondering, the effects of my run-in with those Minions of the Dark Place (fire ants) are gradually improving day by day. Today marks Day #10 since the little bastages hurled themselves at my feet and ankles, and left me with a total of 48 nasty bites. (I’ll spare you the foot photos today! 😁) They should be mostly gone in another week to ten days, and I will have lived to tell the tale. Again. In fact, I’m thinking fire ants will likely make a brief appearance if and when I return to my 4th Riverbend tale. Haven’t decided whether to finish that one or not, but if I do … expect  Minions. 

And that’s it for now! As you were, folks, and I hope to see you here tomorrow
and Friday. (Taking my Blog Break on Thursday this week.)
Until then, have a great rest of your day!

52 thoughts on “#This&That&TheOtherThing – #BlogBreaks – #UpcomingPosts – #DarkPlaceMinions”

    • Thanks, Jeanne! And while right now, I’m not focused on finishing that book, but if I do, yeah, I think someone’s gonna have to step in a fire ant bed. 😄 Thanks for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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  2. I’m glad to hear the fire ant bites are disappearing, even though slowly. As I was reading I thought, she should put those little critters in a book. And then, you said you just might. I included stinging jellyfish in the Malta book after my neighbour had a run-in with one. Have a great rest of the week, my friend.

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    • Thanks for the encouragement, Darlene. If I get back to that 4th novel–or even decide to do a spinoff novella or two–I’m definitely leaning toward including them. It could be fun, especially if the victim is someone perhaps not so nice. 😁 Thanks for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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  3. This and that sound wonderful, Marcia. But the fire ants, not so much, but I’m glad you’re improving. And isn’t it funny how every experience is fodder for the writer’s imagination? I wonder who’s going to have a run in with the ants in book 4? Happy Writing!

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    • I’m not sure I could bring myself to do this to any character I actually like, Diana. I mean, I can’t imagine Willow, who’s the gardener of the series and thus more vulnerable, being bitten up by fire ants! OMG!! I suspect if I decide to use this somewhere, it’s going to have to involve someone unpleasant, at the very least. 😆

      Right now, I’d just like to get caught up enough around here to have time to write anything at all. It’s truly hectic these days, with all the projects (inside and out) we have going. I will say, though … so far, the new hedge is looking good (knock wood) and if it survives, I’ll feel like the bites were worth it. Almost. Okay, totally NOT! But at least I won’t have suffered for nothing. 😂

      Thanks for stopping by today, and hope the rest of yours goes well! 😀 ❤

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        • I haven’t worked outside the home in many years, but I’ve never been busier than I am now. Partly because my husband would like to retire one of these days, and we have a lot of projects we want to finish while he still has a full paycheck every month. So he’s been taking 2 PTO days a month so we have some 3-day weekends thrown into the mix to help us catch up. But one of these days, though I’ll still keep busy I’m sure, it will be doing things I want to do, instead of those I need to do. I hope! 😀 ❤

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            • We’ve been in our house 18 years this month, and believe me, everything needs refurbishing, repainting, or replacement. Ripping out old carpeting and replacing with new flooring is what we’re in the middle of right now. Got one more room to go, and then everything will look fresh and new, and I hope we can keep it that way, so when and IF we need to put the house on the market, it will be ready after just a fairly quick clean-up.

              Mark’s the chief engineer for a big firm in downtown Orlando, and I’ve always said “If Mark can’t fix it, it ain’t broke.” 😂 He’s done everything from replacing the condenser in our a/c unit to replumbing the shower, to screening the back porch and laying brick pathways throughout our yard. It’s GREAT to have his expertise when things go wonky.

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                • Thanks, Diana. Mark is great at what he does. It’s my job to remind him. And remind him. And remind him. (At some point, doing the actual work is easier than listening to me, so my system does work. 😂) And once he gets started, he’ll “get ‘er done” in record time.

                  We actually don’t want to sell this house, and are hoping to stay here until they carry us out. But at our age, anything can happen, so we’re doing what we can to be prepared. We still have painting and other things to do, but compared to laying new floors, it’s easy-peasy stuff … except for the rest of the yard work still to be done after hurricane damage. Breaks my heart to see my beautiful backyard garden just gone! *sigh* But we’ll get that done, too, though I can’t work out there until the weather cools back down again.

                  This was all so much easier twenty years ago, when I was looking SIXTY in the eye instead of EIGHTY! Gleep! 😮

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  4. Oh my goodness, Marcia. I was gone for the week and missed the ant invasion and attack. I’m glad you are on the mend. Horrifying! On a happier topic, I’m looking forward to Teri’s Ten Things. Big hugs 💗🤗💗

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    • I’m kinda glad you missed it, Gwen. It was UGLY. They aren’t like regular ants, and they make horrible sores with blisters on top that stay, and stay, and stay. And ITCH, and HURT, and ITCH! But they are healing. (Slowly, but healing.) And I can now think about things other than schemes to blast the little devils back to whatever Dark Place they came from.

      And I think you’ll really enjoy Teri’s Ten Things list tomorrow. See you then! 😀 ❤

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  5. I know you always have fun at the author events, Marcia. It sounds like it was another great one.
    And I’m glad you’re recovering from those nasty fire ants. I still shudder just thinking about them. I’m so allergic to most bug bites, I probably would have been swollen up like the Michelin Man!

    P.S… Looking forward to Teri’s post tomorrow! 🙂

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    • Oh, it would have probably been very bad, Mae. Lots of people have serious reactions that require hospitalizations, and they aren’t always people who normally would be allergic to an ant bite. I’m SO glad you don’t have them around your area. Yet. They are still spreading northward, but at some point, I suspect the cold winters will keep them from becoming very prevalent. Fingers crossed you never run into them.

      And I think you’ll really enjoy Teri’s post tomorrow! See you then! 😀 ❤

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    • I haven’t made it this long without being tough, Harmony. I may whine a lot, but I’m still here, fire ants or no fire ants. Guards or no guards. (Oh, wait. I’m channeling the Cowardly Lion now. Got carried away! Sorry.) 😂 Thanks for the kind remarks and encouragement. Hope you’re doing well, too! 🤗💖

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  7. Glad you had fun, but sorry about the fire ants. I just passed by some yesterday and was lucky to avoid any interaction. Hope your bites heal fast!

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    • Thanks, Denise. It’s been ten days, and they are just now starting to drain and heal. But the red & swollen areas have improved a lot. I figure another week at least before they’re gone, but I’m happy with the progress so far. And in far less discomfort.

      And yep, the tea was fun, as they usually are. So glad I’m able to get back out to my local venues again. I’ve really missed it, and am looking forward to my upcoming wildlife talks once more. Thanks for stopping by! 😀 ❤

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  9. Hi Marcia, I am so sorry to hear about your bad experience with the fire ants. The only other person I know who has been bitten by them is Sally Cronin and she was very ill afterwards. Get better soon. I’ll keep an eye out for the post about Teri.

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    • Thanks, Robbie. Happily, I only had 29 bites on one foot and 19 on the other, which didn’t send me into anaphylactic shock or the like. (I imagine that’s what happened to Sally?) No need for treatment, other than to keep them clean and try not to break the blisters open. (Today, they tell you not to do that, due to risk of infection.) Anyway, I’m well on the way to being done this time, though I really have to be careful. Wearing shoes has not be too comfy! 😁

      And I know you’ll enjoy the Ten Things post from Teri tomorrow. I’ll see you then! Thanks so much for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks, Miriam. Meeting new potential readers is always fun, and they were really a super nice group. And I’m glad these darn bites are beginning to heal, too. Thanks for stopping by! 😀 ❤

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  15. So pleased that the author tea went as well as I thought it would – they do sound like fun events and beneficial to both sides! Also glad to hear that the pain and itching from the fire ants are beginning to abate. You could save them for some kind of karma for a mean person in your next Riverbend novel – I loved Diana’s review of That Darkest place. Looking forward to finding out some things about Teri! 😀 ❤

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    • Oh, the teas are so much fun. Great folks, lots of laughs, good food, and a chance to talk about my books! What could be better? And yep. If I get back to Riverbend, I think someone is going to get a big surprise when the Minions of the Dark Place show up unexpectedly! 😀

      I think you’ll really enjoy Teri’s post, Trish, and I’ll be waiting to hear what you think. Thanks for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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  17. I’m sure you’re already familiar with fire ants, Joan, but I hope you never sink ankle deep in a bed of them. Eeeeek. After ten days, they are definitely healing somewhat, though. Another week or so ought to do it. That and the new rubber hip waders I’m going to buy for doing my yard work in the future! 😄

    The tea was wonderful, and I’m eager to see what you and everyone else has to say about Teri’s Ten Things List tomorrow. I’ll see you then, and thanks for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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    • Hahaha. Love it, Staci! “This” really was great, “That” has arrived today & it’s as much fun as I thought it would be, and “The Other Thing” has improved significantly since yesterday. A sudden leap forward in the healing process! Yay!

      Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a great day! 😀 ❤

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    • I’d attend any of these types of teas in my area, Jan, but this one especially, since I’m the “hostess.” I do a presentation to introduce myself and my books, and it includes a reading and a short Q&A before tea is served. So it’s SUPER beneficial when there are folks attending who haven’t met me yet and may not have read any of my books. I give wildlife talks at DeBary Hall every month (along with one at Enterprise Museum) and both places are wonderful about letting me host a tea/luncheon yearly, too. It’s a Spring Meet the Author Tea at the Hall and an Autumn one at the Museum, and they are just about the most fun things you can imagine. I highly recommend researching to see if there are places in your area that will let you do talks or teas of some kind. It’s great for building a local readership, for sure!

      Thanks for stopping by today, and I’m glad you enjoyed Teri’s post, too. It was a super good one, wasn’t it? 😀 ❤

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    • Not to worry, Sue. I’m way behind on EVERYTHING, from the work we’re trying to get done on the house to my writing to my blog visits. All of it! Ack! I’m glad you enjoyed hearing about the Meet the Author Tea, and the ant bites are still healing more each day. All the blisters have drained now (on their own, as they are supposed to do) and the sore spots are drying up and healing over. So, yay for that, too. And I know you’ll enjoy Teri’s post. It’s a great one!

      Thanks for stopping by, and Happy April Fool’s Day! 😀 ❤

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