Just in Time for Spring as it Rolls Around Again

The seasons change as they are wanton to do and in any season there are likes and dislikes prevalent throughout.

Take winter for instance, there are quite a few examples of places inundated with many feet of snow. I know what havoc a quarter inch of ice can wreak on an infrastructure. Imagine as much as ten inches of frozen water laying waste to parts of Canada. This actually happened in 1998  as a storm destroyed the large steel wire carriers mangling them into heaps of rubbish on the ground.

Summer shares its bountiful rainfall, many times beginning in the spring. Often times unimaginable amounts of water inundate settlements and cities alike as summer forces its way through.

Small but devastating vortexes, with winds up to three hundred MPH (known as tornadoes) rip man’s puny creations to the earth.

Finally, one of the most powerful weather systems waits until this time of the year to rear its ugly head- “The Hurricane.” This monster can be powered by winds well over one hundred fifty-seven MPH. It can produce a storm surge (i.e., a wall of water) better than twenty feet high and sized larger than three hundred miles in diameter that precedes the winds and often is more deadly than the hurricane force winds. Your safest bet caught within this behemoth, are five words… follow the yellow brick road.

Advertisements

Well, Here it is Again . . . Another Year Older and Not Much Has Changed

I’ve always had a knack for retaining arbitrary knowledge. Most people would refer to this as trivia. I call it, Useless Information. It can be impressive to pull out an obscure piece of data related to whatever you may be conversing about at the time, but it’s still just Useless Information.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have created for ourselves days that equate to Useless Information. Case in point, Valentine’s Day. We have pulled from time an arbitrary day set aside to purchase flowers, candy, balloons, dinner at fine restaurants and whatever else we can think of to celebrate love. Celebrating the affection we have for our spouse or significant other should be done each day.

The next in line to garner an unorthodox amount of time, is a day of comic relief, April Fool’s Day. I know not anything of its origins and perhaps the reason I have not explored this day further, is I just don’t care. To pull an insignificant prank on someone and then scream, “April Fools!” makes no sense to me, so I’ll leave it where it lies and waste no further brain cells on this ill-conceived day.

To properly finish this blog, I will say, “Happy April Fool’s Day!”

We’re Going to Hell in a Hand Basket, Except the Hand Basket Had Enough Sense to Dump its Contents and Head for Higher Ground

I abhor politics. They tend to be  divisive  rather than pull people together. What I’m about to speak on is more about the human condition.

In the United States, we have a real problem when it comes to discussing abortion. Personally, I’ve had it with the disregard for life. It’s tossed about as though it means nothing. Case in point, we are applauding the practice of late term abortions and infanticide.

I cannot for the life of me imagine totally birthing a baby and allowing this precious life to lie on a table until the powers-that-be decide whether or not to severe its spinal cord. In one state, they allow the murder of a full-term baby but have placed a moratorium on the death penalty.

“Dear Father, in heaven, forgive us  . . .” I only wish I could add, “for we know not what we do.” The shame with this scenario is that we know exactly what we are doing, and I, for one, am ashamed at those who would allow this to happen, and even applaud, as it does. In fact, I am ashamed to live in a country where such an atrocity would be considered for legalization.

 

Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Read, Repeat

You must surely have heard the saying, “…things that go bump in the night.” Unknown sounds can conjure up a plethora of subjects to write about, especially in the horror genre.

I must admit that horror is not my favorite genre, but there’s always room for a “scare your pants off” type of story. For instance, even though I tend to write science fiction/fantasy and action/adventure, I can easily make space for a little horror in any one of my usual genres.

I think this is something you will find throughout the writing world, even in the most popular books of all those written in the romance genre.

That’s right; even in the lovey-dovey, smooch-my-face, world of romance, there is room for some good old fashion killing courtesy of the beast-next-door.

On the other hand, it doesn’t have to be the beast or anything else next door. It could just as easily be the paranormal being residing in your attic or the monster tick, tagging along on the mutt out back.

In fact, a chunk of horror can follow any genre and rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times.

Did you see what I’ve done? I have taken one of my least favorite type of books and made it one that will not only stand out in any crowd but also be taken by most in a positive light. Happy reading to all you new horror fans!

The Smaller the Mouth, The Bigger the Bite

It never ceases to amaze me how I am able to look out of my window and see the miracle of God’s creation. With the onset of spring, this miracle will amplify itself into flowering beauty.

Along with the magnificence of spring, come unwanted, but necessary, biting pests. To me, these are the most astonishing of all. It is true they are the most annoying; however, to see a creature that small with a brain, nervous system and the ability to fly, digest, and use food for energy is truly amazing. Even though some of these bodily systems are rudimentary, the word miraculous is still an understatement. In my neck of the woods (Richmond, Va.), we have an insect called a no-see-um, because they are so tiny and extremely hard to see, although the damage they can do to your ankles is anything but hard to see.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have bumblebees and the like (carpenter bees, etc.) So un-aerodynamically designed, they defy physics being able to fly. God has a great sense of humor, so look around, enjoy the laughs and you may just find yourself marveling at those annoying little critters, feasting on your blood before you smash them flat.    

Any Bigger and They’d Be Man-Eaters

I rarely find myself with a lack of material to write–not so, many years ago. When I was a young lad, I spent a large portion of my time fishing in the Chickahominy River/Swamp. What I did back then to catch fish would now be labeled as crazy (e.g., walking down the middle of the river, casting to each bank so as not to miss a spot where a fish might be hanging out.)

The prize species to catch was a Chain Pickerel. We always called them Pike, and if I remember correctly, a four-pound specimen could win you a citation.

What many people do not realize is a Pickerel is prized for its white delicious flesh, considered one of the best in the fresh water world of fishing.

I remember days when I would literally have to fight a snake for a particular fishing ground. Occasionally, this confrontation would take place when I was chest deep in water. It didn’t matter to me. I came to fish!  As far as I was concerned, if need be, one of us was going to die to maintain the right to fish and it wasn’t gonna be me.

Those indeed were the days.  During the summer, I spent almost every day reeling in my share of Chain Pickerel. Not only were they delicious, but they also retained the nickname, “Wolf of the Water.” They would hit like a ton of bricks and fight every inch of the way. If you were unfortunate enough to get your hand in its mouth, well, let’s say a bear attack comes to mind.

I’ll never forget, pulling in the wonderful bounty of sweet delectable flesh, attached to a creature who was not afraid to take you on.

Yes, sir, those were the days.       

Good and Bad Things Happen to Non-Existent People

There are so many wonderful things in the world of writing: creating a world like no other, and building characters never seen before. I find myself so involved in the lives of some of these individuals, it becomes astounding even to me. How does one become so engrossed and care for a person that only exists in his mind?

On the other hand, you allow the good to die and the bad to live, all for the sake the story line. The worlds you create are totally up to you. They can be exactly as you see outside your window or as different as you allow your imagination to limit them. Your world maybe technology advanced, on the cutting edge of every new development, or so primordial that its inhabitants put the “primi” in primitive. The fact is, you are in charge of everything you write, whether it be science fiction or romance. Give your imagination free rein,and it will serve you well.