Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A. Cook

What Do Alpacas And William Shatner Have In Common?

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Spent a few days last week in wonderful Hood River, Oregon. Always a great getaway to enjoy food and shopping. This trip I stumbled upon another fabulous treasure – Foothills Yarn & Cascade Alpacas, a true treat.

Happened upon their listing on the www.hoodriver.org shopping site while doing my normal pre-shopping recon the day before I left. Through the magic of their website I learned I could drive 10 minutes South of Hood River and find not only alpaca yarn, but alpacas too!

How cute are these guys? Best yarn shop visit ever.
How cute are these guys? Best yarn shop visit ever.

Imagine my joy when there were baby alpacas. Toured the shop and bought some alpaca yarn and socks, then went outside to feed the alpacas and take photos. Also learned about resident cats Knit and Purl. Think I met Purl.

It was a great visit and a gorgeous view from the alpaca paddock or whatever you call that enclosure. On their web site I learned about the William Shatner connection. Seems one owner flew to Los Angeles this past summer to be interviewed by William Shatner for a book he is writing entitled, “Hire Yourself.” The book is for people beyond age 55 who are out of work.

The Foothills Yarn and Cascade Alpaca husband and wife team decided to start the business after 50. It is an amazing place. So while the alpacas might look like really big fluffy tribbles, they are real. Can’t wait to read Shatner’s book and see what all is in his interview.

As writers we hire ourselves every time we write. Maybe if we looked at our craft that way, we might have a better feeling about our “writer job.” One of the fabulous things about writing is you can do it for as long as you can make the computer keys move or talk into a digital recorder or computer software program.

Even if you are knitting with alpaca yarn!

www.foothillsyarn.com

See a video about the farm here:

http://youtu.be/8a6u5N5QAAg

Sir Stuffington A Handsome Pirate!

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

So I got off track with all the America’s Cup revelry when Oracle Team USA won on Wednesday and overlooked my Quirky Friday Post. Bad blogger! So today it turns out is Quirky Sunday instead of Quirky Friday. What better way to top off the winning sailing week than with a cute new pirate taking Portland by storm.

Check out Sir Stuffington in all his pirate regalia which is earning him fans around the world on his Facebook page. Those pirates are always breaking hearts and he’s no different. Have a great soggy and windy weekend here in the monsoon Pacific Northwest. Enjoy!

America’s Cup Or Bust!

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Late post today. I’ve been distracted by the America’s Cup. Began watching it when the Louis Vuitton Cup started it off in San Francisco. Decided to tune in for fun and expected to see the old sailing sloops with all the canvas. Holy Cow Cakes hold onto your hat Mabel! Saw these new fangled speed racing catamarans with steel sails and the crew looked like extras from the movie “Tron.” I was hooked again.

Long story short, this America’s Cup has turned into a comeback story of epic proportions. After being down 8 races to 1 to the Kiwis (New Zealand) today Team USA tied the series with 10 wins (only 8 count) to 8. New Zealand and Team USA go for the cup tomorrow, Sept. 25 at 1:15 p.m. Pacific, winner tomorrow takes all.

From a writer’s standpoint, this is history, character arcs, racing, water, danger and a hero’s journey all rolled into one. If you wrote this as a fiction book no one would believe it could happen. They’ve been showing the America’s Cup live on NBC Sports Channel, which I’ve recorded then watched after the day job. You can also catch up on their channel, www.youtube.com/americascup

I got hooked on the America’s Cup years ago when Dennis Conner was racing and those burly men grinding away with killer biceps didn’t hurt. It’s poetry in motion to watch the best do their jobs. Several years ago on Maui I got to sail on a former America’s Cup boat, America II, and it was a blast.

So, to watch a gunfight with catamarans which are screaming at up to 50 mph on the bay in San Francisco, tomorrow it is all up for grabs. Take a break and check it out. I will be!

Back story here:

Use The Treadmill Before Or After Fall Goodies?

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Heading into some cool, rainy fall weather this weekend and my thoughts turn to holiday baking and the calories that go with treats. Been on my treadmill walking regime since April and that is helping body areas, including my butt which I am trying to not have resemble the stern of an aircraft carrier.

Saw a clip about Buddha getting fit doing the same thing, but he’s using an underwater treadmill. Seems he needs to get in fighting shape before he can be adopted, so he is in the gym. Since a recent statistic I saw said 15 percent of all items on the Internet are linked to cats, I imagine this is just the first in a growing trend of feline fitness facilities.

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Check out his progress on The Cat Shoppe Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/CatShoppe

P.S. For Buddha’s back story, so to speak, check here:  http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2013/08/09/fat-cat-buddha-is-rescued-and-gets-help/

Why Can’t We Use Our Ruby Red Slippers?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Met with my writer support group on Saturday. Wonderful bunch of folks. We don’t critique, we talk about our works in progress and writing challenges. This time everyone had personal issues which were messing up our writing lives. Or the other way around.

My very own ruby red slippers. Dreams do come true.
My very own ruby red slippers. Dreams do come true.

Afterwards it dawned on me that no matter what happens in anyone’s life, mine included, we still have to do the work. Writers have to write. The elves are not writing for us and no one else can perform a Vulcan mind meld to get it out of my gray matter.

Since I am currently on knitting sabbatical, it reminded me that sometime no matter how much you want to write your muse is tired or fried and it’s just not time. We have to acknowledge that we are mere mortals and sometimes we need to pace ourselves and rest.

Which made me think about my ruby red slippers. Many years ago when I was at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., I made a point of seeing Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers from the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” Yes, the same movie that is being re-released in 3D in theaters Friday for one week and on a 75th Anniversary collectors DVD edition Oct. 1; how’s that for story staying power?

I told a friend many years later that one day I wanted to have my very own ruby red slippers. When you ask the universe……be careful. Several months later she gave me a bag. Inside were my ruby red slippers, complete with sequins, and in my size. OMG.

She found them at Goodwill for $5. They were the only ruby red slippers in the store. Now, I had no idea that’s where you buy ruby red slippers, but I love them. Not the same as Judy’s, but close enough for me. Tried them on last night just to make sure they still fit. They do. Clicked my heels together to see if they would write for me. Nope.

Writing might be easier if that had worked but the journey is part of the creative process, even when you wish magic would do your work for you. If we build the words, the magic will come; to borrow loosely from “The Field of Dreams” movie.

I know my writing time is getting closer, I can feel my muse flexing its muscles ready to spill out again. And that is how the ruby red slippers came to be in the first place, from the imagination of an author who made them silver to a movie costume designer who changed them to ruby red. All the artists did their work and we ended up with ruby red slippers.

Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers are one of the most asked about items the Smithsonian has in its collection.  But of course! Do you have ruby red slippers?

Read more about the slippers here: http://americanhistory.si.edu/press/fact-sheets/ruby-slippers

We’ve Had Kittens! Er, Cubs!

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by Kimberly A. Cook        (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

The Oregon Zoo is at it again, we’ve got babies! This time three adorable lion cubs born last Saturday night to Neka. A first time Mom, she’s doing a good job so far of taking care of the kids. We won’t see them for six to eight weeks, so in the meantime, the zoo hooked up the Cub Cam.

See Neka check out the camera, very up close and personal with a lioness nose, and then watch the newborns. There is even a day two follow-up with one cub making a break for it from his den. Here’s hoping all goes well with the kidlets. Happy Quirky Friday!