2013 Summer Splash Blog Hop

Friday, July 26, 2013

It's here!

It's that time of year again when you can enter to win Grand Prizes like a Kindle Fire, a $100 Amazon gift card or a $50 Amazon gift card. Here is the link to the MAIN ENTRY SITE for those prizes.

There are almost FIFTY authors running their own giveaways, you can find their pages HERE.

ME? Here's the list of my prizes:
1. $15 Amazon gift card
2. $10 Amazon gift card
3. Signed paperback copy of "Not a Whisper"  [US residents only]
4. Signed paperback copy of "Home Again"  [US residents only]
5-8. Handmade Vintage Look Thong-style Bookmarks  [US residents only]
9. E-book of "Not a Whisper" (your choice of format)
10. E-book of "Home Again" (your choice of format).


CLICK HERE
to enter my contest
nd please pass the link along to your family and friends!


Quirky is as Quirky does?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Anyone that knows me, knows I love quirky. Some even consider ME quirky. That's okay with me. One thing I have is an affinity for skulls. My favorite is anything from the Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos.

Etsy is one of my favorite hunting grounds, finding such sweet items as these.
Earrings
Tile
Necklace
Today I was browsing my Amazon home page and found these neat items. Just had to share. [giggle] I really love the last shot glass...I might just have to indulge...
      
Click on any image for more information.

Okay, now it's your turn? What's YOUR quirk?

No, we're not missing, I've just been remiss!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Really, I am sorry. I've been remiss in updating our blog. It's been a little hectic here in Tennessee, first we had to prep for our trip to Chattanooga. If you remember, we had a tire blow-out before we went to Ecuador. We left the rig for repairs and came back to nothing being done. Our wonderful agent, Chris Yust, facilitated the parts being sent to Camping World in Chattanooga.

So last Sunday we headed in that direction but not without a last minute change in plans. Sadie was going to stay with our neighbor but a coyote attack on one of their dogs took all their attention and they had to decline. So on Sunday Sadie and I headed to Cookeville in the pickup where she spent the week in doggy camp. Stu headed directly to Camping World and we got there within 15 minutes of each other, even after I made a grocery stop.

Monday morning they brought our rig in and by that night the body work was DONE. The company in Maryland told us they'd need it a week. Yeah, right. Tuesday they tackled the two warranty issues - a leaking ice maker and a non-heating dryer. By Wednesday night both repairs were authorized by our extended warranty company, parts ordered, arrived and installed. WOOT! We can't say enough about the professionalism of the folks there - support staff, service staff and even sales.

Of course, like everyone else, we couldn't resist looking at rigs. With our impending move to Ecuador for five years, we were thinking about downsizing in advance. We did find a nice Winnebago that we really liked but we couldn't come to an agreement. The salesman worked up numbers we could live with but his superiors didn't want to take the truck in trade. Know anyone looking for a nice toy hauler setup? Send 'em our way!

We took time while we were in Chattanooga to catch a couple of movies - same day, double header. The first was Despicable Me 2 which was great. The second was Pacific Rim. It was fantastic. Someone had mentioned that it was better than Transformers and we both agreed.

Stu has spent his spare time last week and since our return, working on odds and ends around the rig. Those little nagging chores and fix-it items that seem to accumulate. Me? I'm busy writing...about half way through the first draft of "Barely a Spark". Ten more days, 3000 words a day to make it by the end of the month. Can I do it? Sure hope so...then 3 weeks to tackle the second draft, edits and proofreading so I can get it published before we leave on Route 66 around the first of September.

Two side items of interest. The first is the sale of certified, refurbished Kindles and Kindle Fires (both sizes) at Amazon. They all come with a one year warranty.  Plus, you can still pick up a Kindle Touch with twice to storage space of the Kindle Paperwhite.

See your choices and check the prices HERE. {Good article to help your make your choice: 3G and WiFi and Kindles}

The second is for all those who have purchased my ebooks. Now I can autograph them for you, well, sort of. You can learn more HERE.

Busy - or not?

Sunday, July 7, 2013

We've been busy since Stu got home...honest. It hasn't all been naps, watching recorded TV shows,movie and dinner with friends. No, there's been laundry, house cleaning, unpacking/repacking the motorcycle all interspersed with naps. Today is the first day in what seems like two weeks without rain. It has rained every day since Stu got home.

In case you were wondering, he still hasn't pulled his photos off the camera so they can be uploaded. But soon...honest! This will be another busy week for us. I'm heading to McDonald's daily to work on "Barely a Spark" and Stu has to get us ready to move the rig to Chattanooga next Sunday. Here's hoping the repairs get done in the week they projected! Thursday we'll be meeting some motorcycle friends from TX as they rush through on their way to a gathering in WV. First Cracker Barrel visit in months!

Here's some news for anyone with a Kindle, Kindle Fire or Kindle app (phone/tablet/laptop).
Automatic Book Update
Opt in for automatic book updates to receive new versions of your books when we have confirmed that improvements were made. In order to retain your notes, highlights, bookmarks and furthest reading locations, ensure that all your Kindle devices and reading apps have the "Annotation Back Up" setting turned on.
So how do you turn this on? Easy-peasy. CLICK HERE and then click the Learn More link in the yellow box at the top. You'll be take to a page where you can turn this new option ON. No more coming back and figuring out what books have updates. Now they will be automatically sent to your Kindle.



Stu's Tuesday Travels - he's home!

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Starting the morning off right....

>>Haaaah! Breakfast: blueberry pancakes w/agave syrup, coffee and some OJ on the Trace. — at Jeff Busby Park.

Photo: Haaaah! Breakfast: blueberry pancakes w/agave syrup, coffee and some OJ on the Trace.

Hmmm. A little weight moved from the trailer to the front seat. How the hell did that happen? Hmmm?

Photo: Hmmm. A little weight moved from the trailer to the front seat. How the hell did that happen? Hmmm?

 Two hours later, packed up and hitting the road....

>HTFO I'm DTFR

Another two hours...

>
Visitor center. Rest and a snack. Those damn beanie weenies needed to stay in ole Miss. — at Natchez Trace Parkway.


Lunchtime routing decision made....

>Looked at the map, analyzed the weather, checked my horoscope and called the psychic hotline. Aw screw it, I'm riding to Lynchburg to take a tour of JDs whiskey thingie.feeling excited. Saltillo, MS

Then, his arrival in Tennessee.

>I'm back! Fayetteville, TN
Photo: I'm back
Oh, and see that white cooler? Say goodbye to it...[snicker]

9:00PM - he's HOME!

Stu's Monday Travels - a tribute to the lost Hot Shots (wildfire fighters)

Monday, July 1, 2013

First, our hearts and thoughts go out to the town of Prescott, AZ and the family and friends of the 19 lost wildfire fighters.

Starting out in AR he headed towards Mississippi, avoiding the severe wet weather as much as possible.

First stop of the day...

>Lunch then a few miles more and across the Mississippi — at Kelley's Restaurant., Wynne AR



He had to tease us....

>Peach cobbler with soft ice cream. Something's just can't be passed up!eating ice cream.

Photo: Peach cobbler with soft ice cream. Something's just can't be passed up!

Then hit the road...

>My tank and the MC tanks are filled so HTFO cause I'm DTFR.

Stopped to camp for the night on the Natchez Trace near Eupora, MS

>Come join me for some beanie/weenies and beer. Latitude:33.41807 Longitude:-89.26736
Camped on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi. 


Free campsite, first come, first served. Says it's him and one other camper. Weather is good, mosquitoes are bad. Toilets, no shower he's using the water he's carrying with him.

Tomorrow he'll ride the Trace a bit and based upon weather predictions at his lunch stop, he'll determine his final route home.



Oh, and he announced that he hasn't shaved - chin or head - the entire trip. Sent me his best hairy beast shot...good thing it's dark! Can't really see very well...LOL!



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