Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Pink Blooms, Summer and Penguins!

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

My saxifrage decided to pop open their pink blooms on Valentine’s Day morning. They were promptly hailed on that night. February can go either way when it comes to weather.  Read a headline today that the worse snow storms happen in February. Oh joy!

So for this Quirky Friday, let’s dream of tropical nights, warm water, sand between our toes and penguins. Yes, penguins. My favorite feathered commandos will once again be on deck this summer for Madagascar 3. It’s these little signs of fun and summer that gets us through these winter days. Happy Quirky Friday and party like a penguin!

Will Machines Rule The World?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

We writers watch trends and keep our ears open to what is happening around us, but we follow our own stars. Most of the time. A couple of years ago I watched a fascinating tv show profiling a science researcher. He was asked if scientific research drives the business world.

“No,” he replied. “Business drives scientific research. I read the Wall Street Journal every day.” Blew my mind at the time, but it makes sense. Even researchers have to follow the money at some point. So where does this lead us with machines and specialization?

Would love to see the business research on this product. Are kids getting their own microwaves now?

A New York Times article on Feb. 18 by Nick Wingfield opened a glimpse into the vending world future. Wingfield reported how Coinstar, those folks whose machines count your coins at grocery stores for a fee and proud owners of Redbox movie vending, are branching out. 

Coinstar is moving into coffee vending machines. Seems old school, but these are not just any machines; these mechanical baristas grind the beans, brew a fresh cuppa for one dollar and take your credit card. The cup of Joe tastes close to coffee shop liquid, according to Wingfield. So, besides grinding beans, what is Coinstar up to next?

Wingfield reported Redbox sees the writing on the box with online movie watching replacing movie discs, so they have “banded together with Verizon Communications to form a service that combines DVD and streaming movie options.”

With mobile phones, Nook Tablet, Kindle Fire and the iPad2 today, maybe our favorite drink will drop from one of those Coinstar coffee vending machines when we walk past. Our beverage may be followed by a new movie release, the latest e-version Wall Street Journal and our fav author’s latest ebook delivered to our “devices” without lifting a finger. Two out of four of those things are happening today.

Make mine hot cocoa and a romantic comedy to go! Machines rule! But the movies and ereaders still need content providers; or as we’re called by our old school name, writers.

Where’s R2D2 When You Really Need Him?

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

We writers face many obstacles in our careers, but none are more terrifying than the computer upgrade. This week I embarked on a seven point plan to increase my RAM (Random Access Memory), add a killer 2TB (terabyte) external hard drive, (I have Carbonite for perpetual backup, but I’m paranoid) upgrade to the Windows 7 operating system and then add a wireless router. After that, world peace should be a cinch.

Really, most of us would rather go into combat with a sharp spoon than face an upgrade. But with five pounds of after Valentine’s Day sale Peanut M&Ms, I advanced on my objective. With operational strategy and a strong support team, I expect this to be completed by Christmas; 2013. So in the spirit of upgrade wars, I present this Quirky Friday video to honor all those who have ventured into the valley of tech. May the chocolate be with you!   

We All Need Happily Ever After

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Romance reading and writing are two of my loves; next to family, friends, cats and chocolate. And books and Maui and shoes and beads; you get the picture. The happily ever after ending in a romance novel is a worthwhile and valiant goal for us humans. We want to believe in sharing life with another person who gets us; whether we are weird, quirky, fun, odd or all of the above.

Veterans' Honor Rose in my backyard on July 4, 2010

Warriors since time began yearned for the “home-coming” to family, friends and loved ones. Last week in a CNN article, hospice chaplain Kerry Egan wrote about what people talk to her about before they die. Egan said they tell stories about their families and loved ones; not religion, God or dying, but family, friends and love. The moments of life. It’s a pretty darn important goal for all of us to have those stories and experiences.

So on the day dedicated to love and romance, what do we do if we don’t have a partner? We need to think long and hard about who we do have as our “partners” in life. Our writer friends and mentors, our co-workers who support us on a daily basis, our pets who are always there, and welcoming home troops from the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. It’s a great start.

With all that is going on in our world today, we need all the love we can get. So surprise one person today who has supported you and maybe doesn’t get thanked. See what happens when an act of kindness drops unexpected into someone’s day. We all get a surprise happily ever after.

And that, writers and readers alike, is what all of us warriors put it on the line for; our buddies, families, friends, pets and country. Happily ever after is a very good goal.  It can heal our world. Love is a very powerful and splendid thing; pass it on. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Purr More, Meow Less

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

On this Quirky Friday Valentine’s Day coming soon eve, what better role models for all of us than these YouTube sensation kitties. When thoughts turn to love and romance, who better exemplifies the close-knit love bond than these two talkative felines.

As President Abraham Lincoln once observed about marriage; “No matter how much cats fight there always seem to be plenty of kittens.“ Here’s to encouraging all kinds of love on this very happy Quirky Friday!

Got Stories? Use Tech To Preserve Them

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Last Friday I spoke at the Veterans Coffee Club at The Wings of Freedom Showcase about the importance of saving veteran’s stories.  Since this group is also restoring the B-17 bomber, it all fit together quite well. The Bomber is a longtime landmark on McLoughlin Blvd. A dedicated group of volunteers and The Bomber Restaurant family are making sure this B-17G beauty gets a fabulous facelift. Her nose is restored to a gleaming shine and sits protected in the Wings of Freedom Showcase just beyond the bomber.

B-17 Bomber above the former gas station pumps, in front of the Bomber Restaurant and the Wings of Freedom Showcase

While we writers think nothing of jotting down a story, not everyone wants to do that, but we all have stories. That’s why using today’s technology is so important to help keep the stories alive.

One of my favorite tools is The Flip video camera. A small easy to operate device with a red stop and go button, it couldn’t be simpler. It plugs right into your computer and downloads not only the video, but the software to make movies too. Its small tripod is also very effective for filming. Check it out at www.theflip.com (I saw Anderson Cooper on CNN using it in the  Middle East, so you know it works.) Available at Target and Amazon.com

Or use a digital voice recorder; my small one is from Sony. Bought at Radio Shack, it lets me record everything from frog sounds in my backyard to interviews, then plug it into the computer to download the sound files. Not everyone can write, but everyone can push a button or two. This would be a great project for grandkids and retired boomers alike. Capture these important stories, historians need all of them. 

A special thank you to Terry and The Bomber Veterans Coffee Club for hosting me. Check out their wonderful work on the B-17 at www.thebomber.com or call 503.342.3597 and press 2 # to learn more about the Bomber’s history. It’s a great story! They have big plans to better preserve the B-17G, so keep your eye on them.