Another Year. Another Birthday. Hell, Yeah!
Ponder this thought for a moment: middle age rocks. I speak of this from experience, as a member of the last generation to have a truly “innocent” childhood and adolescence.
I grew up during the Cold War, learned what GRID/HIV/AIDS was and how it was really transmitted, in middle and high school. I watched the Challenger accident happen live. I remember the launch of MTV, and when the “M” was synonymous with music, like the “US Festival” and “Live Aid.” “Lollapalooza” was a little known festival advertised on college radio that took place in an empty field in Orlando, which now houses another shopping center. Trips to New York City included a stop on the observation deck of the World Trade Center, as well as, dodging drug dealers and prostitutes on Broadway and 42nd Streets.
Some days I feel every bit of my age, as I reach for my bifocals to read menus or an article online. Often, however, I do not. I have been told consistently that I look about ten years younger than I am. I have no desire to pretend to be anything but 46. I earned each grey hair, extra pound and stiff joint and muscle. I have also earned the right to look back upon my life fondly, but choose to look forward with a renewed sense of adventure. I have no desire to be in my twenties, or thirties, again. Did you hear that Madison Avenue?
The best part about being in my mid-forties is the ability to say, “fuck it,” and mean it. I am not going to be an attorney, police officer or super-heroine, as I dreamed about in my youth. I am happy to know it and move on. Age brings wisdom, but also self-reflection and self-care. It is liberating, sexy, peaceful and joyful.
My goal is to help contemporary fiction authors realize they are missing a rich demographic by not writing about middle-aged characters, who are sexy, intelligent, independent, quirky and fully developed. After all, we have more disposable income to purchase books, and will, if we see ourselves reflected back. The beauty of self-publishing is that consumers, not publishing companies, are driving demand. I will be demanding more experienced characters, loudly. I am 46 today, hear me roar!
Skye Warren Blog Tour: Don’t Let Go (Review, Excerpt + #Giveaway)
People who like a dark, criminal minds-like, element to storylines, may enjoy this book.
Lawsuit alleges Claus promotes hostile and unsafe work environment in shelf-elf program
Funny!
FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 17, 2013
DALLAS – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit today against the Keller family and Santa Claus alleging they violated federal civil rights laws by permitting a hostile work environment filled with health and safety violations for Jerry Jingle, a student intern with Claus’s Elf on the Shelf ® program.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently concluded its own investigation on the health and safety claims and levied a $1.2 million fine against the Kellers for violations. Their investigation of Claus is pending because heavily-armed penguins and snowman snipers have refused to allow OSHA to enter to Claus’s North Pole headquarters.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, Claus promoted the program as “fun and playful off-site training” required for all elf underclassmen; however, the EEOC’s investigation indicated that the program was based on systematic and institutionalized humiliation directed toward Jingle and other interns…
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Book Tour: Passionate Addiction by Eden Summers + #Giveaway
Check out Eden Summer’s latest release and giveaway!
MsRomanticReads Christmas Giveaway – 32 authors, 4 bloggers, 60 books!
Ms. Romantic Reads is one of my favorite book review blogs. Check out the amazing giveaway!!
The sides of Paul Walker you may have missed
We lost one of the good guys. Paul Walker was a class act.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 30 Reflection
I give myself a”B” for this challenge, as I did not write a post for each day.
Some days the posts were easy to write, but some required prodding and I looked for suggested topics on Facebook and online. Current events helped generate some thoughts, but I realized that the project was more difficult and deeply personal. I learned to look past the superficial and focus on the important people and things in my life. However, I was not prepared for the emotions that would be stirred up as I wrote each post. I plan to do the challenge again next year, to compare where I am today versus in 2014.
Next week, I shall return to the lighthearted, humorous posts I prefer to write and catch up on my posting my book reviews. But, for now, thank you. Namaste.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 29
“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.” ~ Randy Pausch
I am thankful to have worked in retail while in college. I enjoyed my jobs and have pleasant memories of flexible hours, great customers and fun co-workers. With one glaring exception – Black Friday. I was left so traumatized by the experience, over 25 years ago, that I never shop on Black Friday, and only patronize small, locally-owned or socially-conscious, green businesses.
Black Friday traditionally marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It was the period of the year where retailers would operate “in the black,” or at a profit, versus than “in the red,” or at a loss. For folks employed by retail establishments, it simply meant earning more money in a shorter amount of time.
Sadly, Black Friday has become synonymous with greed. And violence.
I urge you to consider whether or not those items are dire necessities worth dying for today. Or ever.
In the meantime, enjoy the dulcet, acapella tones of Sweet Honey in the Rock’s “Greed.”
30 Days of Thanks – Days 27 and 28 – Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day
Wishing you continued blessings and gratitude for being on the blog journey with me. Please enjoy time with loved ones, as it is precious and entirely too short. Pause for a moment to think about and thank all the people who work on holidays, sacrificing time away from friends and family, to keep us safe, healthy and free. Let us work together to ensure they come home quickly, safely and are fully supported upon their return. Happy Thanksgiving!
30 Days of Thanks – Day 27
I was able to spend the day with Hubby at his job, managing a dog day care. Whew! It was exhausting, but worthwhile work, watching dogs of all ages, sizes and play styles interact with each other. For some reason, I thought working with animals would be easier than working with children. In some respects it was, but in many more, it was not. Dogs cannot tell you if they are hurt or why they may be sad. Two dogs that may be playing happily with each other, may, all of a sudden, become aggressive and the people have to be vigilant for any signs of behavior changes. Hubby has the right instinct for this type of work. I do not. It has been an interesting day and I am ready to see my K9 pack of three.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 26
Today’s post is short. I am thankful for my family’s, friends’ and my health.
Release Day Blog Blitz: Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1) by Laura Kaye (ARC Review + Book Trailer)
Laura Kaye’s new series “Hard Ink” starts today with the release of “Hard as you Can.” Looks like a real scorcher, people.
Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 