Updates

Well, Amazing the Things You Learn Around Here!

/ Marcia / 47 Comments

After more than a week of trying my best to figure out how to be able to access everything on my own blog again, without having to sign in via a comment somewhere, I discovered that everything works fine with Chrome. GAH.

Now I know it’s slower and possibly clunkier, but I prefer Internet Explorer. It might even be because that’s what I learned on. So I’ve resisted all the calls to change to Chrome–even  though there are a couple of websites I like that won’t work without it–but now I’m going to have to use it to post and comment on my own blog. Like it or not, I guess I’d better get used to it. 

Chrome, huh? 😦

 

Update#2 on My Family – #HurricaneFlorence

/ Marcia / 23 Comments

Now THIS is the way to ride out a hurricane! First you find a place where the beaches are calm and sunny, and you can stay in a condo with a gorgeous pool. Of course, it must be well out of the dreaded Cone of Uncertainty predicted for any hurricane that happens to be threatening a given area.

Then you take your boogie board to the beach in the morning, before the temperatures reach brain-baking levels, and later, head back to your air-conditioned quarters until it cools off enough for a lazy afternoon dip in the pool.

When the all clear sounds, you return to your home with your fingers crossed that your neighbor (who chose not to leave) has been truthful when she said there are no ugly surprises awaiting you.

Yep. The evacuation orders for Charleston have been lifted, and as far as we know, all is well with my daughter’s house. This isn’t the way they prefer to plan a vacation, but they made the best of it, enjoyed the infamous Emerald Coast of the Florida panhandle for a few days, and will soon be home again.

I can now breathe easy knowing I have fulfilled my sacred duty as a mom to issue hour-by-hour updates and warnings throughout the entire ordeal. 😀

On a serious note, as rivers continue to rise, especially throughout a wide swath of North Carolina (where many people no longer have homes to return to), the danger of record-breaking floods is still a huge problem. Please keep those good folks in your thoughts and prayers. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your thoughts and prayers for Erin, Myres, Kaelen, and Reya. It meant a great deal to me to know so many people were thinking of them throughout this ordeal. THANKS! 🙂 ❤

A New Meme & Catching Up

/ Marcia / 18 Comments

Wow, the last week has gone by in a blur of electricians, stucco men, and dental appointments. The good news is, my dentist said everything is healing just as it should, but will continue to be painful for a while yet. I can live with that, as long as nothing’s wrong.

The other good news is that MUCH progress on our home repairs is being made, but we have some time to go yet, even though it has been THREE months (and five days, but who’s counting?) since Hurricane Irma came calling. The roofing won’t even begin until after Christmas, so it’s bound to be 2018 before it gets finished up. And just think. Many, many people were left far worse off than we were. So in the spirit of being grateful for what we have, I’m reminding myself how lucky we were.

Today is the first day since the storm I’ve actually been able to start back to work on my 4th Wake-Robin Ridge book. We are waiting on inspections, so there was no hammering and drilling and sawing going on. Yay! I hope to pick up speed on this one as repairs get completed and my jaw stops throbbing.

Last, I’m sharing a meme I made some time ago for a sale. I changed the bottom wording so I can use it at will, and thought I’d use it as another example of a simple graphic made from a portion of my book cover, with a quote from the story added. Hope you guys are giving serious thought to using more images with your books. It’s eye-catching and fun, so give it a try!

Have a great weekend, everyone, in case I’m not around much. Mark and I are still tearing out plants killed by the storm, and doing some long overdue work inside, as well. This ol’ place is getting quite a facelift. When the new roof and new paintjob are done, it’s going to look brand new, just like it did in 1978, when it was built. (Wish I could say the same for me! 😀 )

I’ll be checking in as I can, and I hope you are ALL getting caught up in the magic of Christmas!

Bob the Skull says, “Ho, ho, ho? Has anyone seen that
Dresden guy in the last 3 years?”

That Darkest Place

Good Morning, and a Quick Apology

/ Marcia / 25 Comments

The Little Statue That Could
The tree trunk landed on top of this, and she is wedged
in good and tight.  Her hat is dented on one side, where the
oak is bearing down on her, but she hasn’t succumbed to
the pressure yet. I’d really like to save her, since she seems
to be trying so hard to save US.
~~~

Things sure look brighter after a good night’s sleep. Well, except for where an entire tree is blocking the light from my windows and front door, of course. But that’s all been turned over to the insurance company, and I’m expecting them to send out an engineer to take charge (and get a general contractor on this) soon. We will need a tree removal service, mason/block layers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and roofers. Ack! This will be a slow process, but at least it’s underway. Sort of. And of course, once they have tarps in place and the tree removed, there are sure to be homes more severely damaged that will be a higher priority for a little while. But it’s moving forward, and I can breathe again.

I do want to apologize if I miss responding to any of your lovely, supportive, and encouraging posts, either on the blog or on Facebook. I have received hundreds of emails, too, and while I’m trying to answer everyone, everywhere, I fear some might be missed in the process. Just know how very much I appreciate all your love and support. There’s something strengthening in knowing others care, and I am blessed to have you all for online friends. Continue reading →

Foxy Business and Brief Update

/ Marcia / 6 Comments

In answer to several questions I’ve received, yes, that is a fox in my current header. Why is it way up there in a tree? Because it is a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) as opposed to a red fox (Vulpes vulpes.) Yep, a whole different animal, and one that is very arboreal. In other words, unlike the red fox, it’s an excellent climber, and often naps in the treetops. Both foxes are native to North America, and I’ll be doing a future post on the differences between the two when I’m feeling well enough to get back to blogging again. (Look for it on #NotesFromTheRiver).

Good news: I’m feeling VASTLY better today than yesterday, though still not at 100%. Last night, for the first time in over 2 weeks, I was able to sleep without taking codeine-laced cough syrup. Thankfully! I hate that druggy feeling when I’m on that stuff. Bad news: As I say, I’m still not at 100%. But I finally feel like I’m on the way. I am still resting/napping throughout the day, so I’m not really “back” to my blogging and writing yet, which means a bit more delay in publishing That Darkest Place. But I don’t think it will be too much longer.

Hopefully this will be “out there” soon:


Thanks for all your support and well wishes. It’s lovely to be missed! 🙂 ❤

Touching Base with a Quick Update

/ Marcia / 14 Comments

Just want to let you guys know that my uninvited “bug” is lingering much longer than I had hoped. While I am vastly improved over last week, I’m most definitely not back at 100% and my doctor keeps telling me rest is what I need most right now.

Apparently this is one mean, miserable cold/flu/bronchitis/pneumonia/vicious thingie, and shaking it takes a long time. With that in mind, I’m going to try to behave in a way that will make my doctor proud of me, and stay in bed (or at least bundled up in the comfy chair) for a few more days.

Don’t worry. I’m here, and keeping an eye on things via my iPhone, so if you need help, just give a holler. And those of you who are regular contributors to this blog, please feel free to post anything you’d like to share while I’m away. I’ll be back just as soon as possible, I promise!

Thanks!

#ExcerptWeek Update

/ Marcia / 6 Comments

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Just wanted to say that I’ve decided to extend #ExcerptWeek another two or three days, to accommodate everyone who has asked to be included. Submissions, however, are closed at this time, since I have several waiting to be shared, already.  Don’t worry if you didn’t get one sent in in time. I like to have #ExcerptWeek “events” every couple of months, so you’ll have more opportunities in the future, I promise.

Mark said if I extend things for another whole week, I can call it #ExcerptFortnight, but I think maybe I won’t go quite that far. 🙂 Stay tuned for the next excerpt tomorrow, as I’m taking a bit of a break today. (Yeah, still fighting that little cold/bug/thingie. Nothing big, I’ve been assured, but it is leaving me with about 1/3 of my usual energy, so I think a rest day is in order.) But not to worry. More excerpts are coming!

Thanks for all the sharing and kind words you guys have been offering to our participants. I know they appreciate it! Now. As you were, folks. And have a great Sun’s Day.

 

Update on Self-Publishing Workshop

/ Marcia / 3 Comments

NewsFlash-Thumbnail

*Insert beeping noises, here*

We interrupt your regularly scheduled broadcasting with breaking news! Due to several factors, we have decided to reschedule the April 23 Self-Publishing Workshop at DeBary Hall. The new date will be October 8, from 1:00 until 4:00. The fall is a better time of year for this particular type of event, with fewer folks away on vacations and holiday travels.  If you live in this area and want to learn a bit more about how to self-publish your books, be sure to mark your calendars for October 8, and join us for the discussion. Reminders  will be forthcoming, as the new date approaches. 

And now, we return you to the program in progress.

Oh, and Happy Tewe’s Day! 🙂