Saturday, August 29, 2020

#SneakPeakSunday - Taming Rachel

 Imagine you went to the same college as your brother and he held a strict bro code of not ever letting his friends near his sister. Imagine if one of them broke that code then broke your heart. Imagine seeing him ten years later at a class reunion.

Ten years had passed since their college graduation. Tired of the typical class reunion socializing, Rachel stepped into the shadows to sip her wine. To most people, being in a room containing several ex-lovers could be a bit of a downer, but enough time had passed and everyone greeted each other like old friends. The evening consisted of meeting spouses, seeing photos of children, and hearing about various occupational paths. Of course, gossip of divorces topped the conversations.

Some were using the opportunity to network for their careers. The school district she worked for had made some drastic cuts, leaving her jobless. All her belongings were in storage, and she lived out of a suitcase while job hunting. Surely there had to be districts looking for an innovative art teacher. A couple of classmates who held positions as principals offered their business cards with the promise to accept her resume.

A loud shout drew her attention. Members of the championship football team were honored guests at her class reunion. Gazing across one of the finest rooms in the Vegas Castillo Hotel, she watched her twin brother, Bill, ham it up with old friends. He wore a permanent smile as he laughed with his long-lost, but not forgotten, teammates. She suspected after being blessed with fatherhood and a job as a corporate lawyer, he didn’t see much of his college buddies. With animated gestures, they were talking about the season of fame. One fellow gently tossed the championship football with the players’ signatures to a couple of guys. What a rough and burly bunch they still were.

She loved her brother but often wondered if she’d made a mistake going to the same college as him. During their four years, she enjoyed the popularity that went along with being the star quarterback’s sister. She’d tolerated the overbearing nature of her twin who criticized her choice of men, even if she dated one of his close friends. Any man he pushed her toward never seemed to satisfy her and became one more in a string of onenight stands.

Lucky for her, he stayed out of her love life after his wedding. Most of the men she knew had married and settled into neat, scheduled lives. So much had changed over time; once lean, vigorous bodies had given in to the softness of sedimentary lifestyles revolving around their budding families.

One man managed to still have his muscular physique and remain as hot as ever; Dustin “Dusty” Stiles, the legendary linebacker who’d led the team in tackles. Back in the day, the girls on campus considered him the epitome of tall, dark, and hunky. From the stares he received as he walked past them, they still deemed him so. He wore his black tie loosened around the open collar of the white dress shirt tapering down to his narrow waist. Black pants covered the world’s perfect butt and thighs. Polished Durango boots with silver tips reflected his cowboy side.

Rachel had managed to dodge him all night. She’d evaded everything regarding him for years. After college, she left Michigan and her family to move to a small town in New York. She didn’t see much of her brother and always avoided discussing news of his friends, especially after what happened with Dusty after Bill’s wedding.

However, any thoughts of him usually accompanied a self-induced orgasm. No other man she’d dated could compare to him. He pushed her to sexual heights not reached since. She loved what he did to her and hated how he used her. Memories of how she gave in to him time and time again still generated pain in her heart. She missed his friendship, his dominant qualities, and his magical touch. He haunted her.

Time had passed. According to the talk of the night, he’d moved to Wyoming for work as an engineer on the wind turbines but ended up making a fortune when oil was discovered on the property he bought. They were different people now, but what if they still had that volatile magnetism between them? 

***********************************

Blurb

Rachel Willis signed up for a 1Night Stand with hopes of finding something that is missing in her life. Is it a coincidence her date is scheduled during a class reunion? And why did the one person she’s avoided for years have to show up?

Dusty Stiles never recovered from the one that got away. Madame Eve is his last hope to get her back.

Will one night be enough to erase the pain of the past and rekindle the passion they once shared?



BUY NOW

Friday, August 28, 2020

Can A Dead Artist Come Back To Life?

 My life as an artist died when I could no longer hold a brush, a pencil or a pen.

I was a professional artist for almost 20 years. I had a one-woman show. I schmoozed with all the artsy fartsy folk and loved it. Then my fingers, hands, wrists, and other parts hurt. Holding tools became more and more difficult. Fibromyalgia came and took up residence in my body. Over the last ten years, art has been delegated to football posters and locker decorations. I created a new image for our school mascot. But even then, I could only do so much.

Last year, I started Lyrica. Since January I've been participating in NOOM a weight-loss program designed to tackle issues scientifically and psychologically. I've been developing healthier habits including yoga, meditation, walks, good food.

Through this covid crap, I've been following my friend, Virginia Nelson on Facebook as she posts her latest paintings and projects. She inspired me.

When I was on vacation with the family at Lake 27, I attempted to draw. I managed a couple little illustrations. I must say, I felt really good afterwards. Maybe all is not lost. 


Sitting on the end of the dock, I played with a marker and paper.


Perhaps the artist within me will rise again to draw and paint. We shall hope and take small steps.



What do you inspire to do?
What's stopping you?

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Freaky Fibro Friday - Ever Have One of Those Days?

 With the disease comes the fog, forgetfulness and funnies.

Yep... with Fibromyalgia, comes the Fibro Fog. Fibromyalgia affects thinking ability and memory. I'm only 53 so I really can't blame it on old age. Over time, my family and I have learned to laugh at some of the crazy stuff that results from the fog.

Take for instance, just the other day. After dinner, I decided I wanted  little scoop of vanilla ice cream (smothered) with chocolate syrup.  I pulled the pail of frozen goodness from the freezer and was greeted with a surprise. I had left the ice cream scoop inside from the last time I made myself a sundae.

Oh, Lordy, Lordy.

Hubby say, "It's okay, honey. We'll take care of you."


Do you every do crazy stuff?

Do you every have one of those days?


Wednesday, August 26, 2020

#Thursday13 - #GirlsNightOut - Wine and Cheese Party

Thursday Night during Blueberry Festival is the Annual Wine & Beer Tasting events sponsored by our local grocery store, Riverside Market. Half of the Coffee Club works the event while the other half does the tasting. Oh, trust me... those that work get plenty of tasting as well.

Because this year's festival was cancelled due to the Covid crap, Coffee Club held their own Wine and Cheese party. Debbie hosted the event in her backyard and her decorations were super cute! Each Coffee Club "member" brought two bottle of wine to share and a unique cheese. We took turns presenting our wines with flare. 

These are a few of my favorite photos taken. 

1. 
Debbie, our gracious hostess.

2. 
Most Michigan wine was presented, but several came from other states with fun stories of how they were obtained. (Kendra - getting the wine from a gas station while picking up piglets from North Carolina, they one getting carsick and running loose at a welcome center.)


3. 
Leslie found this bag and thought it fit our group.
We've decided to start a book club so we can all have bags like this,
and have an excuse to read books & drink wine.

4.
Beautiful pic one of the gals took.

5. 
Deb finds the most unique items.

6. 
One of my favorite photos of the night.
 

6. 
My favorite wine of the night. Amy found it at small batch winery in Northern Michigan.

7. 

8. 
Me & my bestie with her daughter.

9.
An attentive group of ladies, ready for some serious wine tasting.



10. 
Kendra & Peggy



11. 
Kendra & Tammie


12. 
Kendra & Deb

13. 
The entire party. Sorry it's a bit blurry. No, it wasn't the wine.



Bonus pic and my ultimate favorite, perhaps of all the Coffee Club photos over the years.
We're just missing a few gals.



Is there something you do with close friends, whether it be weekly, occasionally or yearly?
Isn't it awesome having friends to share this journey of life with?
What special things do you & your pals do?

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Destination North Peak Brewing Co

 A stop at North Peak Brewing Company is a must on every trip to Northern Michigan.

Flyboy Jr moved into a new apartment so of course the entire family helped. Actually, we use any excuse to head to Traverse City. Minion #2 is following his father's footsteps in attending Northwestern Michigan Community College aviation school, living and working in TC. 

At least one night during every visit we share a meal at the North Peak Brewing Company. The food is amazing and the service suburb.  A few years back, they accommodated the entire Quast clan as we were there for my sister-in-law's Special Olympics winter competition.

We love the food, hubby and minion #1 enjoy the North Peak brews with names such as Siren and Diabolical. There is a quaint bar downstairs we hang out before dinner during the winter . The North Peak menu has a great selection of Brew Pub fare with a Northern Michigan flavor.

This TC trip was no different. We were pleased North Peak was open during the Covid crap.

Hubby & I enjoyed drinks on the patio while we waited for a table to become available.
A beautiful day helped with the social distancing allowing us to be outside.


They seated us in a wide-open space upstairs.
(One of our favorite locations, btw.) 



We like the view of the vats. My guys are into all this craft brewing stuff.


For a starter, we ordered two bowls of Beer Steamed Muscles.
OMG! TO DIE FOR!!!
 Roasted garlic, Cajun sausage, muscles, and shrimp, in a tomato beer broth that I could drink every day. Even our pickiest eater chowed down on the sausage. The home made bread was perfect for dipping. Nest time I'm shopping, I'm going to stop in for just this dish!

 I wonder if I bring a 5 gallon pail, if they'd fill it for me. Hmmmmm...?

They guys pig out on the BBQ ribs or the monster Cowboy Steak almost every time we visit. I always get the same entree as it's my FAVORITE! 

The Atlantic Salmon with a Cherry Porter BBQ sauce. Smokey meets sweet. If you haven't ever had BBQ sauce on your salmon, you have to try this! But then again, I could put that Cherry Porter BBQ on everything. (Try it on the fries. Delish!)

The building built in 1899 once housed a candy factory, still has that old industrial feel.


The atmosphere was relaxed and our waiter was AMAZING!! He picked up on my guys sense of humor quickly and his whit matched theirs. We've always had a wonderful server every time we've visited. 

While we were there, all the wonderful covid restrictions were practiced. Tables were spaced apart inside and the number of guests inside limited. The normally busy place was still bumping since they utilized the outside. Carryout and Doordash delivery are also options.

We always recommend North Peak Brewing Company to our friends and family. Hubby and I have enjoyed a romantic meal to ourselves at least once and I'm looking forward to another. If you are ever in Northern Michigan swing over to Traverse City to had a drink or a meal at North Peak Brewing Co. Definitely worth the drive!



#SupportSmallBusiness

#SupportLocalBrewPubs

#SupportLocalBusiness

Monday, August 24, 2020

#TastyTuesday - Cherry Smash!

I missed the Traverse City Cherry Festival this year. *sigh* Stupid Covid crap. 
To honor one of the many things that didn't happen this summer, I lift a drink. 
Park your tush on my deck and enjoy a Cherry Smash with me.
Bottoms up to Summer 2020.


This flirty cocktail has only 161 calories and a nice amount of Vitamin C

Ingredients:
1 cup pitted fresh or frozen cherries
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, 4 mint sprigs
8 teaspoons of sugar
6 ounces (3/4 cups) dark rum
1/4 cup lime juice
3 cups cherry-flavored seltzer (plain
seltzer will work too)

Preparation
Using 4 glasses evenly divide the cherries, mint leaves and sugar. Mash the ingredients with a wooden spoon and then stir in the rum and the lime juice, top it off with seltzer. Add mint sprig for color.

******

When we first moved in, I planted two different kinds of mint in my ditch. It's gone a bit wild over the years. I will often pick a few springs in the morning after a walk to place in a vase, add to a dish or feed to Teeko the guinea pig.

Sunday, August 23, 2020

DYI Fancy Wine Glasses

 Fancy wine glasses don't need to be expensive. Purchase some quality inexpensive glassware, wire and glass beads and you have a DIY project.

The house on the lake we rented for summer vacation had the cutest bar ware. My daughter-in-law and I examined the pieces carefully to realize they are crafted.

Four packs of wine glasses and goblets can be found for a reasonable price at Walmart and Meyer. Wire and glass gem marbles are easy to come by at any craft store. Use glass glue and you're all set. We thought a set would be a lovely gift for a new couple or home.

Self Isolation Sucks

 A couple days ago a close friend tested positive for Covid-19 therefore all of us who had been with her during a certain time are in self isolation for 5 days. I figured this would happen eventually to me.


Currently, it's just me and the youngest at home. I must say, my 15 yr old is pretty freaked out about everything. He's more worried about missing weight lifting and football workouts than being sick. 

Hubby and I discussed a plan early on if one of us would get sick. With his job as a freight pilot traveling around the world, we guessed he had a high chance of contacting the virus. Our bedroom is on one side of the house, has it's own bathroom, is on the first floor and has doors directly to the outside. These are all features first responders say are good to have. Hubby said if it were  him, he'd put a mini fridge in the room (for beer).

So my bedroom has become the "Rona Room" according to the youngest. When I leave the room, I don a mask and sanitize the shit out of my hands.

The first few days were quiet; solitary. I swam more, meditated more, did more yoga, walked the dog more, read more (I'm hooked on Pippa Grant)...you see where I'm going with this. I've cleaned my room, organized my bathroom cupboard and decorated my space with bouquets of wildflowers picked on my walks. 

I've been keeping a little journal to record my activities and thoughts. During this self-imposed quiet time, I'll catch up on blog posts and work on Hawk's Honor. Maybe I'll learn some new book promo tricks. 

The idea of me having the virus scares me - I have asthma, lupus and fibromyalgia. But I will cross the bridge when I come to it on Wednesday with the test. Hubby comes home from his 2-weeks assignment so I'm hoping it's good news.



Thursday, August 20, 2020

Thursday 13 - Ode to Baseball


Baseball...a game to love as a player and a fan.

I live in Michigan and I'm a Tiger's fan who has never been to a live game in Detroit.
Hey... I'd rather watch them on TV. Don't hate me for it.

Friends, Nick & Carol are HUGE Cubs fans. I love how they "go all out" for their team.

Our Police Chief played pro ball "back in the day" and is my son's pitching coach.
The stories he tells could be in Pippa Grant's books.

My middle son has played baseball when he was in school and my youngest since he was a wee one, travel teams and all. 2020 was the year of no baseball for him. I miss the games, the crowds, Twizzlers.

Hats off to the players and teams who are struggling through this messed up season.

 Inspired by those who love the game, today's list is dedicated to all those hard working ball players and those who love to watch them. 

I've taken liberty to borrow some phrases from Ernie Harwell's Definition of Baseball.

1. 

Photo M. Quast

Baseball is the tossing out the first ball of the season.

2. 
Baseball is a scrubby school boy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm.

3.
Photo M. Quast
So is the scout reporting on a sixteen year old pitcher in Cheyenne.



4.
Baseball is a spirited race of man against man, reflex against reflex.


5.
 A game of inches. Every skill is measured. Every heroic, every failing is seen and cheered, or booed. And then becomes a statistic.


6.
Baseball is a rookie.
 His experience no bigger than the lump in his throat as he begins fulfillment of his dream.

7.
(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

It a veteran too, a tired old man of thirty-five hoping that those aching muscles can pull him through another sweltering August and September. 


8. 

Nicknames are baseball, names like Zeke and Pie and Kiki and Home Run and Cracker and Dizzy and Dazzy


9.
 Baseball is the cool, clear eyes...and the flashing spikes.


10.  
Baseball is just a game, as simple as a ball and bat, yet as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes.


11.
GETTY IMAGES

 A sport, a business and sometimes almost even a religion.


12. 
Photo M. Quast

Baseball is a tongue tied kid from Georgia.

13. 

Still a game for America, this baseball! 




CHECK OUT MORE AMAZING AUTHORS
THURSDAY 13 


Listen to Ernie Harwell's "Definition of Baseball", as recited at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony.