Tags & Such
Yesterday I was grateful for the brother’s help. We made a semi-complicated dinner and made two batches of different cookies at the same time. I couldn’t have done it on my own, that’s for sure!
Today I was thankful for hearing from Teresa. I have been worried about her, and in fact was just thinking about her last night, and she popped up in my PMs today! So here’s hoping she continues to get better.
As far as what I’ve been doing…not much that’s worth sharing. Cooking. Cleaning. I did get some tags made the other day and I guess I should share them just because.
(If you wanna check it out – this one is kinda funy)
(if you wanna check it out – this one is kinda sad)
(if you wanna check it out – this one is twice the length of the other two.)
(If you wanna check it out – this one is seriously modeled off of a Hallmark Christmas special – but with vampires! WARNING: unlike the others it is pubbed direct through Amazon who half time won;t set it to free but it is ALWAYS free on Smashwords)
(If you wanna check it out – it’s got unrequited love)
And now I need to go work on the TTC page for the week.
Have a happy tag kinda day!
Jo 🙂
Blogophilia 22.10 – Dismas Part 1
I made it back from Missouri. I know. I quit blogging. But I didn’t do anything that exciting to really blog about, so you didn’t miss much. I mean, I enjoyed it a lot because I like low key things that there’s not much to say anything about, but it was just “we watched movies and ate something”. And though I could tell you my opinion of the movies and TV ( Trolls – not good; Moana – cute; Inception – had seen it before and love it; The Blair Witch (new one) – ergh; Chips – better than I expected; Kong Skull Island – can we say Godzilla Crossover? Whoo-hoo! I have chills!; Split – OOoooo. I hope there’s a follow up with the Unbreakable guy; more Big Brother – why not?, Ice Fantasy – I have added this Chinese drama to my watch list now) there’s not much else to say. Oh, we did play Cards Against Humanity and I won for the first time in my life! That was something.
Anyway, it’s time for Blogophilia, the fun blog group where Martien gives participants prompts to use in their blog. This week’s prompts are:
We finished Daniel up the other week, so now it’s Dismas’ turn. This story takes place in 1893, more than 100 years after Daniel’s. Funnily enough, though, Kateesha is still in it!
*****
Dismas leaned back against the rough wall and listened. A mortal’s ears would have heard only silence, but to the ears of the vampire there was a symphony of sound. Crickets chirped. Leaves rustled. Things scuttled through the shadows. The world teamed with night life.
Like us, he mused, though no humor followed the statement. It was a fact, like so many others – like the fact that they would soon be dead.
He glanced toward the low doorway, the way securely shut against intruders. Intruders. It was an idea they’d have once laughed at, just as posting a guard would have been unnecessary, but that was before they revolted.
He ran his hand through his tight, curly hair and closed his eyes. He pictured the citadel in Iowa. Though not completed, what was done was fantastic; an underground castle meant to house the vampire government, their servants and slaves, and those who worked with them. It had taken Dismas thirty years to work his way from lesser guard to greater guard, a promotion that meant higher wages, more respect, and a direct working relationship with the Executioners, the enforcers of immortal law. Though he’d always admired the dark skinned Tormentor, as Kateesha was known, it was the change in status that led him to where he was.
Kateesha was a controversial figure among. She’d come back to the Guild twenty-three years ago, looking both contrite and amused. Though she’d run for her life, and been sentenced to death the last time anyone saw her, upon return she was made head of the Executioners. It was an office that suited her, though it wasn’t just her skill that had earned her the position. Being the daughter in blood of the Guild’s head had helped.
Dismas knew the stories; knew she’d been excommunicated last time for disobeying orders, for killing and reveling when she was supposed to be doing something else. He also knew that her partner had died for the sins, while she escaped. Rumor said an ex-lover was tasked with the job, and so let her go. But, if what he’d witnessed himself was any indication, there was a chance she’d simply talked her way out of it.
Her honeyed words were the reason he was there instead of tucked safely in his quarters at the citadel. He remembered the last meeting in crystal clarity. Kateesha stood before them, clothed in a fashionable scarlet dress, her bosom barely constrained by a low-cut bodice, her dark eyes shining with the passion of a thousand suns. Her voice was low, sweet, suggestive. “Ask yourselves, are you truly happy here? With this way of life? With rules, dictates, paydays? Have we not left such tiresome thigs behind with the mortal coil? When we escaped death did we not succumb to our darker sides? What room is there is a life of blood and night for the niceties of society? For bowing and scraping, for calling sir and madam, for taking orders and accepting our coins? Should we not embrace what we are to the fullest? Should we not explore our newfound power – exploit it even – or at the least put it to some use beyond that our masters deem needful? We fight and follow orders so that those in power can keep their power. If they wish for control, should they not keep it themselves?”
The mention of those in power – the reminder of Malick, and the other members of the High Council – had left many of the attendants uncomfortable. Kateesha soothed their concern with a gesture. “Fear. Such is the reaction they wish you to have. They are secure in your belief that they cannot be toppled, that they are too strong, but that is a falsehood. They may be old, they may have power, but what can their small power do against the strength of many? Like the tide sweeps away the shells, so shall we overpower them.”
Josiah, a fellow guard, looked at the assemblage. “I apologize for the interruption, but the number gathered here…I wouldn’t go so far as to call us many.”
“Not yet,” Kateesha said. “But more will come. A great flame follows a little spark. We are that spark. You are that spark. We fight for our rights, for our freedom from those who would dictate who and what we should be. We fight-”
“We fight for the northern star, or might as well.” Josiah shook his head. “I beg pardon, but though I can feel the press of your will, I shall not succumb to it as these others have. I will not betray your intentions, but neither will I follow them.”
A general murmur of “coward” followed him to the door, silenced only when Kateesha held up her hand. “Pray, let him go. We want none to join us whose intentions are not pure, who does not burn with our purpose, for such a soldier would not fight with fierceness, only obligation. If our masters have taught us any lesson, it is that obligation makes for a weak companion.”
Dismas had felt smug as Josiah left their ranks, as the whispers continued, but now he realized that Josiah was the one who should have felt smug; the one who was right.
The one who won’t be massacred by an Executioner for revolting.
****
Yeah, it’s a short piece, so expect a longer one next week to make up for it.
And now for guesses:
Topic: Christopher Mitchell
Picture: Linda Thurman
- party hard 2) party time 3) dance party 4) college time 5) fraternity 6) weekend calls 7) dance, dance revolution 8) footloose 9) dancing in the dark 10) party hardy 11) when the gang gets together 12) summer fun 13) out on the town 14) wooo girl 15) drinking and dancing 16) I came to party 17) dancing to the beat 18) I wanna dance with somebody 19) cheap beer 20) mosh
Lazy Day Three
Wednesday was a lazy day. A couple trips to the store, breakfast for dinner, and TV pretty much wraps it up. Not bad at all.
We did try an aloe drink:
It was mostly grape juice with jelly bits of aloe in it, so not bad tasting. Unlike the chips:
They’re missing something, though Ryhan liked them.
I mentioned TV right?
We watched Annabelle, which was okay, Bye Bye Man, which was pretty dumb, and The Smurfs Lost Village which was cute, and I was subjected to Big Brother, ha ha!
Oh, and my rash is getting better.
More excitement later.
Have a good one!
Jo 🙂
Day Two
I’m using this as my weekly blogophilia post. The prompts are:
Yesterday I was thankful for Dad’s results. The mass is just a fatty cyst, though his prostate is enlarged. However I’m guessing it’s not cancerous as their two treatment options are to “hollow it out” (what????) or bypass it with a catheter between his bladder and kidneys. He has to see a heart doctor to determine if he’s healthy enough and what not.
So while it’s still something it’s better than it could be.
Though I am on vacation, I had to get up at 7 to go to the dentist (long story). The traffic in Springfield was crazy, there were so many cars that we were just a face in the crowd. Seriously, I’d forgotten about it. Though the dentist office has moved to the edge of town and with exits closed we took a scenic route.
Their new office is swanky
Anyway, after the initial appointment I had to come back at 4, so we killed some time with breakfast:
Yes, despite what they told us in Mississippi, the omelette biscuit is still available in Springfield. Whoo hoo!
After that we went to the Super hyvee, which is gigantic, and Chris got his candy bar.
He loves those.
It would have been nice to go to an art museum and see Vampire’s Kiss by Boris Vallejo, but alas we just wandered around until lunch time. The taco truck was in town!!! I love the taco truck!
We did get to visit with Pattie for awhile, so that was awesome.
Anyway, we eventually got back to the dentist and then headed back to Bolivar where amazing pokemon were out.
And my amazing niece made amazing cheesecake.
I could get addicted to this, easily!
We also watched all of the Lemony Snicket episodes, so now to wait for season 2.
And now I must go to Aldi’s. Have a cheesecake kinda day!
Jo 🙂
Day One
We slept in late, I admit, and I had to go to bed early, so it was a kind of short day, but fun.
The bro and I did a bit of pokemoning.
Bolivar is crazy with stops and gyms. There was one raid after another. We spent some time waiting at the Bolivar park.
We finally called it good enough and headed back for food and TV. Eventually we took a walk that paused at Sonic.
And then walked up to Casey’s.
Then, back at the house, after an episode of American Series of Unfortunate events, I had to go to bed to get up at 7 a.m.
Bah for mornings.
Have a sonic strawberry slush kinda day!
Jo 🙂
On the Road Again
On Sunday I was grateful for a safe trip to Bolivar. We arrived with no major incidents, which is always nice.
The leaving selfie:
St. Joe.
Kansas City
Lunch
Harrisonville
Carthage
We’re there!
Have a getting there kinda day!
Jo 🙂
West Point, Iowa, Cemetery Part 2
Today I was thankful for the 10$ Walmart gift card I got from ebates because I was short on cash ad because of it was able to get the stuff I needed. Worked out well.
Not much else. I helped hubby change the hub in the truck (though its not done) and did some weeding and of course went to walmart as I mentioned. While we were in Shen there was a Snorlax raid at a gym, but even though we recruited one other person, the three of us couldn’t do anything with it. I really need to meet some more pokemoners. This is exactly why I’m in no hurry for legendaries, they’ll just be another thing I can’t do because I don’t live in a city with twenty plus local players near me.
Tomorrow the brother and I head to Missouri for a week. Cross your fingers we make it because his driving…I kid. Okay, maybe not completely. Ha ha!
And now the rest of the West Point photos.
And I think I’ll go to bed early tonight. I have been fighting with a teaser but I don’t like anything I do with it… I dunno.
Have a gift card kinda day!
Jo 🙂
West Point, Iowa Cemetery Part 1
Today I was thankful for making plans for October. Hubby and I have been planning to go see some friends in West Virginia in October, and we have now managed to include the Harveys too, so I will get to see even more of my favorite people! How awesome is that?
Other than that I did some more book covery things and did get some more photos edited (I’m going to start on some teasers for my Executioner stories next). Not much else of excitement except that Burger King f***ed up my order (the strong word is needed there). I’ve been counting calories and balanced everything out so I could have a piece of oreo cheesecake with dinner, then they did NOT give me my cheesecake, which the brother did not discover until he had come all the way home. No one was going to drive twenty-plus miles to go pick it up (I wanted to but got vetoed because, you know, gas costs money) so no oreo cheesecake. Hubby did get me a piece of strawberry swirl from Casey’s, which don’t get me wrong I appreciated, but it wasn’t the same. Boo hoo.
Anyway, on to the West Point photos.
Part 2 may come tomorrow.
Have a getting to see awesome people kinda day!
Jo 🙂
Today I was thankful that my tablet worked on the first try. I haven’t felt well all day, and the added annoyance of the tablet not working would have made it worse. I also got Photoshop Elements to work so I could make PDFs again. I was going to knock Windows back to before the creator’s update (as that was what several online sources said to do) but when I went to do it, Windows informed me that there was another update waiting to finalize, so I let it go and that seems to have fixed things for now, at least. Still, the laptop has been running slower since the update so it may still go. I did uninstall some things, but there are a lot of things running (like cortana and skype??) that I don’t want to run, so I need to go in and disable their processes and see if that helps.
Not much else. Hubby has put in for Monday off, so fingers crossed he gets it. Saturday I have to pack. Um…I went for my nightly pokemon/walk…I had a piece of cheesecake for lunch…Worked on some book covers…Watched Smackdown from a week ago…I really live a boring life.
I do have one more set of photos edited (The West Point cemetery) but I’ll save those for tomorrow, so tonight you get a random photo from the archives. Pick a number between 1 and 237…109? Okay…Let’s see what’s on page 109 of my Flickr.
OoooOOO. August 2010. A few of these are some of my favorite photos. Lucky!
You know, I have enough old photos I could probably do blogs for years of of them. My flickr has 23,619 items in it, and even subtracting for book covers, images for blogs, and things like that, I bet a good 20,000 are photos, and 10,000 are probably even decent. Craziness. (And also the reason I pay for the pro account)
Have a cheesecake kinda day!
Jo 🙂
Salem, Iowa
Yesterday I was thankful for all the prayers and well wishes from my FB friends. Dad went in to the doctor for flu-like symptoms and they did a scan (the name of which I’ve forgotten) to check his kidneys and while they were doing it found a mass “near” his liver. He has to go in Monday for a CT scan on it. He does have a history of benign fatty tumors (he has one on his side, in fact, that they just left) so I am hoping that’s all it is. Unfortunately, on Monday the brother and I will be in Missouri (we’re scheduled to leave Sunday) and we can;t reschedule that because it involves too many people/places. But, hubby has put in to have Monday off and go with him to the appointments. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing and they can go celebrate with lunch out afterwards.
Anyway not much else. The rash is getting better slooooooowly, and I have to draw the TTC page tonight. So, moving on, here are some photos from Salem, Iowa we took while on the east side.
If you’ve never heard of Salem, you’re not alone. It has a population of 383 (so Google says) but it does have a timelord. I swear, there is a gas station there that looks like a shack (I seriously wasn’t sure about bothering to stop because it didn’t look big enough to have a bathroom) but inside it’s huge. And they sell Hunt Brother’s Pizza:
I love that stuff.
And now I a back to a book cover. Have a pizza kinda day!
Jo 🙂
Most of the photos and art on this site, by Joleene Naylor are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
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