‘Tis Strange But True

Hello blog friends. Because I know how much each and every one of you enjoys wasting spending a few minutes each Monday here at the Edge of Eternity, today I bring to you another installment of weird facts. You’re welcome. Now grab your coffee, Mountain Dew, iced tea, bottled water, wine, or whatever beverage you prefer, sit back, put your feet up and enjoy the silliness.

Read Full Post »

It’s All Real Funny – Until the Lights Go Out.

Last Sunday was one of the most challenging days we’ve had here at Casa Baer. We’ve been very, very busy, which is a good thing. Saturday night we had a full house; someone in every room. That means fourteen for breakfast Sunday morning. The table was set, the casserole was ready to pop in the oven, the coffee was ready to perk. Everything set for the perfect morning at the inn.

Read Full Post »

“I Love A Rainy Night”

Does anybody remember that Eddie Rabbitt song? As I compose this post I’m listening to the pitter patter of raindrops on my front porch. Well, actually, it’s more like a torrential downpour, but pitter patter of raindrops is so much more poetic.

I’m usually not a fan of rain, but I realize that it’s a necessary part of life. I’m especially fond of rain when it blows in in the dead of night and by morning has moved on. The world is sparkling with raindrops and everything is fresh and new under the sun’s warmth. That’s when I really like rain.

But days like today don’t bother me so much. Yeah, it’s raining, but I’m inside where it’s dry and warm so let it rain.

However, I am not a fan of thunder and lightning – by day or by night. I see a lot of cool pictures of lighting doing its thing in a cloud-drenched sky and I think, “wow.” But to witness it first-hand, noooottt so much. Especially if I’m driving. I have a tendency to close my eyes when lightning flashes. Not good if you’re behind the wheel.

And my poor dog shivers something awful when thunder shakes the house. Yeah, he’s a wimp. I feel bad for him when he cowers at my feet shivering like a dead leaf on a tree branch. He won’t even be coaxed into having a treat during those times of terror. Poor, poor, dog. (What can I say? He’s my fur baby and I love him.)

How about your readers? Do you love a rainy night? Do you like thunder storms? Do you have a fraidy-cat pet? Inquiring minds want to know.

Word of the Day: Abaca

Fun fact about me: Unless I’m swimming or showering, I don’t like to be wet.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, February 2016. Photos courtesy Google Images.

 

Read Full Post »

You can’t hide from Mother Nature

If you’re similar in age to me, first of all, I’m sorry, but in keeping with my thought here, you probably remember a commercial that ended with “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature.” I don’t remember what the ad was selling but I remember that catch phrase.

Photo courtesy Google Images

Mother Nature is not one to be messed with and you cannot hide from her. She’s everywhere and she has a temper. No matter where you live you are susceptible to some sort of natural disaster or another. There are earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, volcanos, tsunamis, severe heat in the summer in Southern Arizona, extreme cold in the winter in Northern Minnesota, horrendous humidity in the deep south. Come on, you all know what I’m talking about.

Photo courtesy Google Images

Where I live, the worst natural disaster fear is wildfire, the kind that comes from dry lightning strikes in the mountains. Or – the absolute worst kind – the kind experienced from some rat bastard, ass wipe arsonist. That my dear readers is what I came home to from my 12-day absolutely divine Alaskan adventure (more about that later).

Photo courtesy Google Images

The fire started just a few miles from my house. While my property was never truly in jeopardy, but for the grace of God, the winds moved the quickly spreading flames away from the most densely populated areas. Had Mother Nature decided to “blow the other way,” so to speak, I might have come home to cinders. I am ever thankful to Mother Nature in this instance and again this past weekend for sending the generous amounts of rain that helped extinguish this monster of a blaze.

Photo courtesy Google Images

The beauty in all of this is the camaraderie of like-minded, and similar-situated people living in my little hometown. The community pulled together with assistance for displaced humans and animals for the thousands forced to evacuate. And an amazing display of gratitude continues to decorate our overpasses, city streets and even a small portion of the US Highway 50 corridor that runs through the heart of gold country.

Photo courtesy Google Images

These signs were erected on fence posts along the freeway and hung from overpasses for a stretch of several miles. Let me add my sincerest thank you to everyone involved in helping to put this fire out; most especially Mother Nature.

Photo courtesy Google Images

How does Mother Nature find you where you live? How has Mother Nature most surprised you? I’m anxious to know what natural disaster you’re willing to face to live where you live. But more importantly, what sort of punishment do you think the rat bastard, ass wipe arsonist should have to endure?

Word of the Day: Fatuity

Fun fact about me: I have a great deal of respect for Mother Nature.

Original post by Jansen Schmidt September 2014. Photos courtesy Google Images.

Read Full Post »

Sometimes You Just Have To Kill ‘Em

Recently Northern California has received some much needed rain. Along with the rain came some pretty serious thunder and lightning. I’m not a huge fan of these kinds of storms, lightning in particular.

Photo courtesy Google Images

One night last week, as thunder rumbled closer and closer, lightning decided to zap us with a thrilling zing of electricity. Our satellite receiver was fried, but fortunately the tv was spared. We did lose a lot of recorded tv shows and movies, much to our dismay.

During the brief – and quiet – period of time between satellite receivers, the hubs and I spent a lot of time reading. A couple of nights ago, he finished a new book by one of his favorite authors and upon completion, he snapped the book shut and said, “I can’t believe it. He killed him off!”

Photo courtesy Google Images

Being a writer, this comes as no surprise to me, so I respond with a casual, “Well, sometimes you have to do that.”

“No you don’t,” replied my husband. “He was a main character. Now the series is over. I liked Cody.”

I looked up from my book with a shrug. “Sometimes you have to make a sacrifice for the greater good.”

I went on to explain that sometimes in an author’s made up world, if a character has already served his or her purpose you have to get rid of them somehow. You can’t just stop writing about them; readers will wonder where they’ve wandered off to.

He frowned then said, “You don’t kill off your characters.”

‘Yes, I do,” I said. “You just don’t know because you don’t read my stories.”

He stomped off in a huff to find another book to read.

Photo courtesy Google Images

As fiction authors we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. Sometimes our characters just don’t talk to us, or sometimes they go a different direction that we see them going. It happens. And if a character is screaming to be killed, well, as a good and proper author, we must make it happen. It’s our way of saving the world one story at a time.

So how about you – do you kill off your characters? Do you hate it when your favorite author takes an unexpected turn with their characters? Inquiring minds, and my husband, want to know.

Oh, and if for some unexpected, yet delightfully surprising reason CJ Box happens to read this post, please stop killing your characters. It makes my husband really grumpy.

Word of the day:  Cozenage

Fun fact about me: I just learned (thanks to Jenny Hansen) that I am neither predominately left or right handed. I have what is known as mixed-handedness. Check out Jenny’s post here: http://jennyhansenauthor.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/lefty-or-righty-are-you-the-hand-you-think-you-are/

Original post by Jansen Schmidt, March 2014. Photos courtesy Google Images.

Read Full Post »