“Okay, Little One it’s Friday. Time to ruckus.” “You make the first move, Lucy. Then I’ll pulverize ya.”
Another fast Friday for me. Seems these weeks are flying. It becomes hard to remember just what went on for the week. I do know we received two area rugs which were welcome additions to the house.
We were pleased to get a permit and final approval for the fence. The company will start building about the 15th of May. They were totally booked by the time the details were worked out.
We had about one and a half inches of rain last weekend which pointed out the need for gutters at key points of the house. The rain came off the roof in torrents, and it was hard to get out the door without being drenched. We need to find a gutter and downspout contractor.
Our landscaping plan includes a deck which will require a permit. So we are also in the hunt for a deck builder.
Like most things connected with a move there becomes a seemingly endless list of items.
Today’s JohnKu talks about how lists seem to grow on their own. I hope you all have a glorious weekend.
“Where you going Little One?” “I was coming to get you. It’s Friday and time to celebrate.”
Another Friday and the week has not slowed down at all. We did have a visit from the lot clearing service. We had a bunch of what we call in Texas, cedars ( The rest of the world calls them junipers) on our lot. They were in sorry shape, and we had them removed. We also need to trim the neighbors and bushes to make room for the fence that we are going to put in. The fence has been approved, and permits paid, so we are just waiting for the contractors to submit their bids. Of course, the contractors are all worth a billion dollars and could care less about new work, so we wait.
Once the fence is in, we will proceed with the landscaping plan. The yard is about three times the size of Port Aransas, so some planning will be necessary.
Our dining room table arrived (big surprise), and the chairs are two to three weeks away. We are looking forward to having a meal there.
Since I don’t have the skill to build a fence, I am at the mercy of those who do. Today’s JohnKu talks about wishing. I hope you have a great weekend.
“It is a beautiful Friday morning, Little One.” “What should we do today, Lucy?” “The sky’s the limit, Little Potato. The absolute limit.”
Another Friday and just have to say time flies. This seems to be the big lament. I’m happy to report the washer, dryer, and refrigerator arrived and are installed. I’m pleased to say we will not have to eat salted game and fish anymore. Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little. We do have a fridge in the garage that has met our needs quite well. It just seems that everything you need is out there and everything you don’t need is in here. I think you get the picture. Also stumbling over two cars to get to a quart of milk is a little inconvenient.
We seem to be getting closer to more of the things we need. Once you have clean clothes and ice, there isn’t much else. Well, we still need a dining room table. Ours arrived with two broken legs. That meant going back and getting a new one. We are still not sure when it will come. The dining room chairs are a way off as well. We are fortunate to have a kitchen island where we can sit and eat. The island stools were some of the first things to arrive so we lucked out.
All in all, things are coming along. This week’s JohnKu talks about patience which is one thing we have learned to embrace. I hope you have a rewarding weekend.
“Friday Little Potato. Put down the stick and live a little.”
Friday already? Someone needs to slow this spaceship down. We have had a busy week in the non-writing department. The fence guy checked in. The remove the brush from the lot guy checked in. The sofas were delivered. The refrigerator, washer, and dryer are scheduled for delivery next week. The utilities are going to mark their underground lines before the fence guy arrives. All in all a productive week.
A little later today, I will be hosting D. L. Finn who is introducing a new book. Today’s JohnKu talks about how we authors need to help one another. I hope your weekend is the best.
Another Friday and a very busy week. After several days of concerted activity, all the boxes have been unpacked and homes found for the contents. Maybe the homes won’t be permanent but at least the stuff is stashed somewhere. I am very happy to have both cars in the garage. Now, don’t ask me where to find something?
Moving is up there with the big life changes that are stressful. We seem to be over the worst part. There’s still the refrigerator, Washer, dryer, living room, dining room, office, and three bedrooms to be delivered. The good news is we are no longer on an air mattress. The box springs and mattress are on the floor. The actual bed looks about six weeks off.
Still and all it feels like home. Today’s JohnKu talks about what makes a home. I hope you have a beautiful weekend
Such an interesting week. We closed on the house in Port Aransas and will be closing on the house in the Austin area today. In between, we loaded up a truck which we rented and moved. The estimates for a move did not make any sense. The prices were way too high. The primary factor was not the labor but the milage from Port Aransas to Austin. By renting a truck, we had unlimited mileage, and the cost was under $300. We did have to gas up the vehicle which was another $60.00. We hired two able-bodied men in Port Aransas to load the truck and were willing to pay $50.00 each for about an hour and a half. Unfortunately, they did not show up (island time and all that), and we were fortunate our neighbors helped load.
When we got to Austin, we had hired a group named Bell Hops, and they were there on time and had the truck unloaded in an hour. So, all in all, it worked out and at a price significantly less than the lowest quote. Today’s JohnKu talks about being ready to take care of yourself. I hope you all have a great weekend.
“Whew, you have me winded.” “Aw Lucy. It’s Friday. Time to blow off steam.” “Let me catch my breath before I try the steam thing.”
Another Friday has rolled around, and it has been hectic for the last two weeks. The producer and I have sold our house here at the beach and bought another in Austin Texas. Yes, I know. The question comes up, “Why on Earth would you do that?”
It is a good thing that there are excellent reasons for doing so.
Our youngest daughter lives in Austin, and we would like to see her more.
The health care facilities are more accessible for a septuagenarian. (Me. The Producer is still a kid.)
We love Austin. (It has an element of weird more like us )
We think the last 10 years at the beach are enough and want some city life for a while. (theater, opera, symphony, and exercise facilities)
On Sunday we will be leaving for our new home. I intend to post one last View of the neighborhood which will be where we have lived.
Today’s JohnKu talks about change. I hope you have a great weekend. Oh yes. I do have a personal hot spot but will not have internet at the new house until March 5th. Please bear with me if anything should go wrong and my posts don’t appear.
“It is Friday Lucy.” “Yup Little Potato it is.” “Let’s party.” “Okay. You get the water bowl, and I’ll get the kibble.”
Here’s Friday. Seems like it was just Friday yesterday. Well, that’s how it goes when busy. What came to my mind this week other than the crappy weather was the subject of newsletters. I guess we all know that one way to boost book sales is to have regular contact with a core fan base. Hence the birth of the newsletter.
The newsletter is supposed to give the subscriber an inside track on giveaways, new launch news, and importantly (to most pushing newsletters) a closer and intimate relationship with your favorite author.
I keep hearing how some authors have amassed thousands of followers on their newsletter. In fact, they have such a good system in gaining followers they are willing to sell you the secret for oh, $250 bucks. Now that $250 also gets you an inside track to Hollywood, an agent, and publishers. Still not convinced? Try it free for 30 days. If you don’t increase your subscriptions and land a Hollywood deal, you can get your money back.
Okay so maybe I exaggerate. I have about 1100 newsletter followers and guess what? During the time I sent entertaining, erudite newsletters I don’t think one of them purchased a book. I could give away books until the cows come home yet I see no reviews. So what am I doing wrong? I guess plenty. I stopped communicating regularly since it was a lot of hard work for very little return.
Much like Amazon advertising, I am in the dark on how to have an energetic newsletter program. I do know that if I signed up for every newsletter offered, I would get over 350 in a month. Can you imagine? Most are about 1200 words. That would be like reading an extra five books a month. No wonder my letter doesn’t get traction. I’ll bet my average subscriber gets quite a few each day and can only skim them at best. I gotta think this through. Today’s JohnKu talks about beating on reader’s doors to get them to buy our books.
Also, I am happy to say that The Contract by Gwen Plano and I has been selected as a semifinalist in the Global Thriller Book Awards for 2018. We are among thirteen semi-finalists. This is a juried award and not one that can be decided by reader votes.
Here is the list.
Richard Garis –Magenta is Missing
Randall Krzak – Dangerous Alliance
Timothy S. Johnston – The War Beneath
R. Barber Anderson – The Sunken Forest
John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano – The Contract Between Heaven and Earth
E.M. Kelly – Addiction & Pestilence
Rachael Sparks – Resistant
Michael Pronko – The Moving Blade
Randall Krzak – The Kurdish Connection
Lawrence Verigin – Beyond Control
Harvey A. Schwartz – Never Again
Elena Mikalsen – All the Silent Voices
Paul McHugh – The Blind Pool
We will find out in April if we have been selected as the first place winner
“Come on, Lucy it’s Friday. let’s jump up and down on the couch” “You go ahead. I’ll keep an eye out.”
Another week has gone by the wayside. Is it me or does time fly? I guess it could be a combination of both. I have had one of those weeks where I had to sit back and try to figure out what I accomplished. It was kind of strange to receive a notice from Grammarly on Tuesday that since 2015 they have checked 4,570,914 words with 17,000 last week alone. I guess this would indicate I’m doing something. Wouldn’t it? *crickets*
Not to belabor the fact that time is flying by I decided to let this week’s JohnKu speak for how I feel. I hope you have a great weekend.
“Hey, Lucy. It’s Friday. Let’s kick out” “You must be the smallest horse on the planet Little Potato.”
Another Friday has rolled around. The winter vortex is in full force. I’ve been getting reports from the North on terrifying stories about getting stranded in the cold. Reminds us all to take warm outerwear whenever we venture out. It is way too easy to be caught in the elements and then be made to suffer the effects of the cold.
Here in South Texas, we don’t have the kind of cold that is capable of taking life. We start to complain at 70 degrees and whine at 40 but don’t have to worry about a life-threatening situation. I hope everyone stays safe and remembers to toss in some heavy outdoor wear even if you are only going to the store.
Today’s JohnKu discusses the cold. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.
