What have I been up to?

Well I took a road trip. Why? I turned a simple trip that could have been done in 2 days and turned it into a 3000 + mile road trip. Why?

I decided that using the car and driving I could get more done.

I left my home in NC and headed out for OK. I did have a traveling companion, Philip our kitten.

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Philip had never been on a long road trip before, but he eventually adjusted.

I stopped in OK to see my Dad. The went on to Fort Riley in KS to help another Army wife.

After completing this I stopped in to see Dad once more before leaving OK. Then I headed down to San Antonio TX.

I was headed for the Soldiers Angels warehouse.

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Here I dropped off the extra items we had from the drive for items for the barracks rooms of single soldiers returning from deployment, and picked up the blankets I needed to complete this task.

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Sidetracked note this is just a few of the coins and other items that are proudly shown off at the Soldiers Angels warehouse.

 

With my van reloaded with 75 handmade blankets, I once again took to the road. Next stop Huntsville AL. I was stopping there to meet a soldier I had adopted through a few tours.

The next morning I took off for home, only to be struck by the desire to get my husband some of his favorite bagels. When I realized I would not make it to the bagel shop in time I had to call in the reinforcements.

My in-laws were more than happy to pick up my last minute order and meet me just off the interstate. Now having the bagels, and a few other goodies secured in my van I rolled for home.

I arrived tired but pleased with everything I had accomplished on this trip.

 

Now I need to get back to my Novel. Another chapter awaits, a freshly created one that was not in the original outline.

 

It Finally Came

Today was the day we started making beds and filling the rooms with snacks for the returning soldiers of the 1-7 ADA. I can’t post the exact dates due to operational security, but I will say that the first group returns soon. The rest of the 1-7 ADA will follow shortly.

A group of 3 soldiers and 5 dedicated Army wives took up the task of gathering and readying the supplies the returning soldiers would need. The married soldiers will go home to their families, but what about those single soldiers who will be staying in the barracks?

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This would be their welcome home after a deployment serving your country, if others did not step in. Well none of us want to see these soldiers enter their barracks room late at night with nothing open, and most likely no vehicle handy, having just gotten off a long plane flight and see this.

So action was taken.

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Thanks to donations from many this is what those warriors will find. A bed that is already made, a hand made blanket from the Soldiers Angels Sewing team, towels, toiletries, and all the things they will need for their first days at home. There is a welcome home card or note for each soldier on the bed waiting to remind them that their service has not been forgotten.

Many thanks to all of those who donated.

The day the lights went out

I was happily working on chapter 9 when the doorbell rang. I went to the door to find out that they were installing an electric meter and our power would be out for about 30 minutes. Okay 30 minutes is not that bad. Unfortunately something went wrong.

One on the breakers that controls the power to the house broke and needed to be replaced. The maintenance staff didn’t have the part in stock. They called around and eventually found the part. By this time I was antsy and wanting to back to my dear plot bunnies. This was not to happen until the power was restored. To make matters worse I had gone grocery shopping this very morning.

My new activity became pacing I wanted to write…..

My dear fur babies took the outage in stride, but then lack of electricity is no reason to stop a cat nap.

Finally 5 hours and 30 minutes after the power went out the part arrived. I watched them install it, having been all but abandoned by my dear plot bunnies. So I went about the job of restarting the numerous devices in the house.

Then dinner time arrived. I hope that after I have filled my tummy the dear plot bunnies will return.

The perfect day to write…. NOT

The day started as a promising day to write, especially when the weather turned bad. Yes it snowed here at my home in NC. This is not a common occurrence. Well unfortunately despite wanting nothing more than to settle in at my keyboard and get some writing done, life called.

We are having some friends over for lunch tomorrow. I still needed to shop for some of the food, but…. it was snowing. To say the least going out was the last thing I wanted to do, but… It had to be done.

I did get some comedic relief when I took our kitten Philip out on his leash. Yes our cats are leash trained, they also use the toilet there is no litter box at our house. I made the decision to take Philip out in the snow when he tried to get out of the door three times. So I grabbed his harness and leash and out we went.

I could not resist posting a picture of our dear Mr. Philip in the snow.

Cats don’t like to get wet, but it was snowing, and he was driving me nuts so out we went.
He kept lifting his paws and shaking them, and kept trying to get away from “that cold wet white stuff.”
Shortly after that it was off to the store, now I was the one not wanting to be out in that cold wet stuff. I sucked it up and we got the shopping done fairly quickly.

I think I need a hot cup of tea now.

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He was not impressed

Attention to detail….

Observing many of the people around me I have noticed something. There are many who seem to pay little or no attention to detail. Now none of these people are writers, they are just your average person. 

Perfect example: cashier and cigarettes

Customer: I want a pack of x brand 100’s, in a box.

Cashier: Ok, then walks to the display behind her to get them.

Customer: I asked for the 100’s

Cashier: oh sorry, returns to rack, comes back again

Customer: I wanted brand X 100’s in a box, this is a soft pack

I will said on the third try the cashier did get it correct, but the customer and everyone else behind him was totally frustrated at this point.  What should have been a two minute transaction took almost six minutes. I was the person right behind this customer as all of this was going on.

When writers and others read a book or manuscript what do they love and pick apart when critiquing it?

The details.

Another great example, I volunteer at the local Airborne Museum. There is a real plane suspended from the ceiling. There are lights and sounds coming from the  plane. I watch at least 10 people walk right under it and never notice it every time I am there.

 

One day after a tour a guest said “I thought there’d be more planes.” I responded: “did you see the one on the ceiling?”

“there’s a plane on the ceiling?”

Yes follow me.

I walk them back in and after a few feet point up.

Oh wow I never noticed that. I proceeded to walk with them through the museum pointing out various other items I find interesting and have taken the time to learn about.

At the end of this the guest thanked me and commented: “wow I never noticed half that stuff, I’ll have to come back again.”

All in all I am amazed at how many people go through life just not paying attention. 

If there is one thing I’d like to see is people being more aware of their surroundings.