Technology!

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Today's Florida Romance Writers' meeting was all about technology...If you know me, you know that technology and I don't mix. However, I learned a lot interspersed with socializing.

For example, Aleka Nakis and Sharon Hartley told me all about 'flash drives' so immediately following the meeting at the Airport Sheraton Hotel I went and purchased one flash drive for my books and one for my photos. While my mind tried to absorb this technological advance, I scoped out Nancy Cohen's gorgeous necklace and Karen Kendall's adorable outfit [loved the sandals!]. As Kathleen Pickering and I both had the good taste to wear pink, we endeavored to get everyone likewise wearing pink to sit at our table.

It's looking like quite a contingency of our members will be attending Heather Graham's Writers workshop in New Orleans over the Labor Day weekend.

When my brain cells had regenerated enough from flash drives, I listened to the program featuring Melanie Heyworth of Listasaurus.com, who spoke about websites; Mary Stella, our resident blog meister; and then Rhonda Pollero and Traci Hall [of the Babesinbookland.com] discussed the latest in book marketing: iPodcasting. Rhonda most effectively demonstrated the use of a USB microphone and patiently explained to me what an iPod is. Of course, she cited to her buddy Cherry Adair as being one author who is always on the edge of technology and writing.

Although exhausted by this influx of information, I rallied long enough to sign up for our Super Saturday [coming in September] that will feature the tremendous word smith Stephanie Bond.

Later, Maddie needs a walk. :) Carol

Road Ranger to the Rescue!!!

Thursday, June 7, 2007

First, I have to acknowledge whatever angel who had me as an assignment today. I was a victim of the infamous debris on I-95. I was on my way to a mediation when I saw a car swerve ahead of me. As I'm fairly conscientious of the traffic around me, I knew I had trucks on either side of me and traffic behind me. In other words, hitting the brakes or changing lanes was not an option. I eased my foot off the gas, held on tight to the steering wheel and prayed.

Kaboom!!!!! The noise reverberated throughout the car. It took me a while to safely pull into the lane to my right and even more distance before I could pull off safely. Whatever was on the road, it ripped the hell out of my rear tire. I called my secretary to let the other side know what had happened and to call me on my cell for the start of the mediation. Then I was a good girl. I got in the trunk, pulled out the donut tire, jack and whatever the tool is for removing the lug nuts. I then pushed, pulled at the lug nuts without them budging a smidge.

So I next called my office's wonderful manager to ask which way I should be turning the lug nuts, and he said he was on his way. Mind you, temperatures were hovering in the high 80's and equal humidity. So with rescue on the way and being mindful of all the news stories of people killed on the roadside by disabled vehicles, I got on the other side of the barricade.

Just as the manager arrived, a tow truck pulled up: it was the Florida Dept. of Transportation's Road Rangers. Since we don't always appreciate what the government does, this is one thing the State of Florida does right. I never had such a more welcomed sight. In less than fifteen minutes the Road Ranger had switched out my damaged tire for the donut and sent me on my way. Get this, it's a free service.

I made my mediation and didn't actually get the aftermath shakes until I was driving home from the mediation. I know how lucky I was today. And the Road Rangers made a bad experience turn positive for me. Here's a link to the service:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/TrafficOperations/Traf_Incident/rrangers/rdranger.htm


:) Carol

The June photo from my calendar

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

I'm braindead from driving to/from Port St. Lucie today for a deposition. For my job I average 200 miles/week in drive time. At times I can work on writing in my head, but not today as the weather was treacherous and drivers were doing all sorts of crazy things on slick roads. So I'll just post the June photo from my calendar. This is a shot of the town of Manchester. :) Carol

It's raining!

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

We're having a second wave of rain post-TS Barry. We really need it, but the storm moved in before I got home from work. The main problem is this is a thunder-boomer and not safe to be out in. I've had to dash out with Maddie 2x now during lulls so she can take care of business. Normally, the first we do when I get home is go for a walk, but so far tonight no walk. I keep monitoring the viper radar on a local TV channel, but I'm not spotting a break. Both Little Darling and Maddie are hanging very close to me--Little Darling on the sofa and Maddie at my feet--as the storm is spooking them. Here's a shot I took of Maddie over the weekend after her beauty appointment. She gets a 'greenie' as a treatment while I'm writing. :) Carol

Little Darling

Monday, June 4, 2007

Within the past month or so, a young neighborhood girl has discovered my love kitty, Little Darling. Her mother does the commendable work of fostering rescued animals and at one point fostered a litter of kittens. Apparently, her daughter developed a real affinity. The kids play basketball on the street, and on occasion my cat goes out to watch, and that's how they met.

Now on occasion my doorbell rings and I find the girl on the doorstep, asking if the cat is around. In other words, asking if Little Darling can come out and play. I then locate the cat and hand her over, telling both of them to have a good time. At times the girl will return Little Darling all wrapped up in a small blanket. You should see the look of ecstacy on the cat's face. The girl also has a box of playthings in it, and she'll sit and play with the cat while the basketball game goes on.

It's absolutely precious to watch them together. And here's a shot of my Little Darling. :) Carol

2007 Season in full swing

Sunday, June 3, 2007

June 1st began the 2007 Hurricane season, and the second named storm had already formed...TS Barry. Fortunately the storm was a blessing, bringing much needed rain to our parched state. Of course, the 6-7 inches we had was only a drop in the bucket. After all, Lake Okeechobee is ~9' below normal. But what rain we had may stave off imposition of Phase 4 restrictions where we're only allowed to water once a week for an hour.

One puzzlement was the news coverage of gallons of fresh water being released to the ocean rather than being retained. The water management district said it had to release the water through the levies to avoid flooding, but one would think that there could have been a way to redirect the water to save it. If nothing else this drought has shown is Southern Florida has become overdeveloped beyond the available water capacity. It's time to think outside the box so we don't have another repeat of this year's water shortage.

The hurricane sales tax-free period began on Friday and will run until June 12th. I already bought the one item I wanted for this season: a weather radio. I also bought more batteries to replace ones used over the past year. Otherwise, I'm pretty well set. I need to drag out the generator and test run it plus start stocking up on gas. I don't want to keep much around, but I want at least a 2-day supply. Going through the gas lines right after a hurricane hits is way too stressful. Gas stations along the evacuation routes are supposed to have generator hook-up's now, but I still rather avoid the initial mayhem.

So Andrea and Barry are already here and gone; next name up will be Chantal.

Carol

Our Second Anniversary

Friday, June 1, 2007

Maddie here. Believe it or not, today is Carol's and my second anniversary together.

For those who don't know our story, I was left in my dog carrier case at a fire station [I have totally wiped away any memory of my former life. Everything is now "AC"...After Carol!]. A paramedic's wife took me in and then went around the building where she worked, looking for a good home for me. Carol's friend knew she was dog hungry so shot her an email. Fate was smiling brightly on us for Carol came to see me. When she stood on the other side of the door from me, I knew she was the human destined for me. I went home with her and now we're a team.

To celebrate, Carol took me to Wendy's tonight. She ordered my favorite meal - a double cheeseburger of which she gives me one pattie. Yum! She promised to keep me an extra-special brushing tonight. Then tomorrow is my beauty day at PetSmart grooming. I made a good choice in humans, don't you think? Later, I have to go sit by her feet and look adoringly at her. Maddie