Military Romance Author
by Kimberly A. Cook
Been a busy week but I know I’ve accomplished a lot. From getting stuff out of the house and donated to attacking technology challenges, progress feels liberating. The projects continue, but I’m pretty proud of myself.
Learning new things is always good and this baby mountain goat at the Oregon Zoo is no exception. Climbing rocks is a new sport for him too. His celebration at the end of the video sums up my week. Rock on!
Have a great safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook
Bagged the bird! For those of you who thought I’d lost my mind last week, my poultry paparazzi patrol paid off. Did a quick recon before leaving for my fiction critique group last Saturday to see if the violin playing chicken was in attendance. No fowl. Dang it.
Got in the car and headed for my meeting. Ready to make a left turn and looking right, chicken ahoy! I ignored my left turn signal, and the car behind me, and turned right to get a quick chicken pic. Using my vast stealth abilities from the military, I parked a block away and then went chicken stalking. Got two pics. Here is the best one.
Now this fowl encounter has become a quest. I want to know the chicken’s back story. My journalistic roots are tingling. When did the chicken take violin lessons? Why here? Why now? Why the outfit? Does the chicken have a website? Do all chickens wear Birkenstocks? Or flip-flops? (I’d say thongs, but I don’t want to confuse people and I really don’t want to go there with this chicken.)
Saturday is the big Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade so we all know what that means, rain. Not sure the chicken will show if it doesn’t like to get wet. But I’m intent on getting an interview.
When writing fiction, the author always needs to know the back story of each character. Where do they come from? What happened to them to make them do what they do now? What is their biggest goal? Worst fear? In my fiction books I’m writing, there are quirky animals too. Of course. And like their human counterparts, they all have back stories which explain their motivations.
In “real” life and fiction, everybody’s story is important. We all matter. Our stories matter. What better life long pursuit than to fight for our own happy endings?
How do we do that? We find out each other’s back story. Don’t judge a book by its cover or a chicken by its violin.
Every chicken has a back story!
by Kimberly A. Cook
What could go wrong? The folks at the Oregon Zoo have been taking the kids for walks, goat kids, to get their exercise. One recent foray was to see the porcupine. The kids were very impressed. Stopped stock still for once.
The baby goat is Ruth, named for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and is definitely the more adventuresome of the pair, following in the footsteps of her namesake. Sonia is getting used to her long legs for rock climbing.
Have a great safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook
Its been a weird week. Since I’m not watching the news, can’t blame it on that. Mother Nature is acting up all over the place, but it seems odder, like dragons are waiting in the wings. Or I need more chocolate. Or both.
Saturday morning decided to wander over to the Farmer’s Market to get some asparagus. On my way down the sidewalk an apparition appeared at the market driveway. An adult-sized chicken was playing the violin. Doing a rather nice job of it too.
Of course, the one time I didn’t have a camera on me. We’ll see if he/she shows up Saturday. I’ll be poultry paparazzi. Maybe it was the holiday weekend nutties.
Did bag the asparagus and bonus strawberries, their first appearance. Go fruit!
Decided to work like a maniac on the house and yard on Saturday and Sunday, not sure why. Then went out for lunch with family on Memorial Day. Filled up on pasta and bread sticks and that shot the rest of the day. Carb overload.
Tuesday I ventured out for an appointment and to run errands. In quick succession this is what happened; someone cancelled my appointment – not me – so they worked me in. Driving to the store some brat threw mud or something at my car and a shopping cart had attacked Subie when I came out of the store. I drove home and my driveway was blocked by the roofer’s trucks.
All minor things, but I was pretty sure I needed to hide under the bed. Went into my home office and found Spec Ops Cat sleeping on his face. Obviously, the cat had the best idea all along.
I did watch the Las Vegas Golden Knights kick butt on Monday night at the Stanley Cup playoffs, so all ended well. We will not talk about last night’s game. Ate way too many “Goobers” trying to help the team score. They look like pucks! Kinda. (Dollar Tree store. One dollar a box.)
All of this is probably a way to admit I’m procrastinating working on my big tech project; moving and consolidating the web site and blog and redesigning it all. I’ve even been writing to avoid doing it.
If the blog suddenly goes missing, don’t blame me; it’s the dragons.
To quote the plaque on my desk;
“I have flying monkeys and I’m not afraid to use them!”
by Kimberly A. Cook
Freedom isn’t free. Those words are powerful if we take the time to really think about the cost in lives. This three-day weekend is in honor of those who have died during military service, whether during war or peace. Men, women, and military animals have given their lives to protect us all.
On this coming Monday, please take a few moments to thank and honor the sacrifice of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free. Remember the cost to their fellow veterans, families and friends and their untimely deaths.
Because we don’t see the numbers, I wanted to list all the military lives lost to defend our country. I also want to honor the military members who stand guard today around the world.
America’s Wars from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
American Revolution
4,435 Battle Deaths
War of 1812
2,260 Battle Deaths
Indian Wars
1,000 Battle Deaths (VA estimate)
Mexican War
1,733 Battle Deaths
11,550 Other Deaths (In Theater)
Civil War
140,414 Union Battle Deaths
224,097 Union Deaths (In Theater)
74,524 Confederate Battle Deaths (Incomplete returns)
59,297 Confederate Deaths (In Theater) (Not including 26,000 to 31,000 who died in Union prisons.)
Spanish-America War
385 Battle Deaths
2,061 Other Deaths in Service
World War I
53,402 Battle Deaths
63,114 Other Deaths in Service
World War II
291,557 Battle Deaths
113,842 Other Deaths in Service
Korean War
33,739 Battle Deaths
2,835 Other Deaths (In Theater)
17,672 Other Deaths in Service
Vietnam War
47,434 Battle Deaths
10,786 Other Deaths (In Theater)
32,000 Other Deaths in Service
Desert Shield/Desert Storm
148 Battle Deaths
235 Other Deaths (In Theater)
1,565 Other Deaths in Service
Global War On Terror (Oct. 2001 – Present)
4,541 Battle Deaths Iraq per www.icasualties.org
2,411 Battle Deaths Afghanistan per www.icasualties.org
These numbers don’t account for the heavy toll of suicide on our troops since this nation was born. Reach out if you know a veteran who needs help.
Veterans Crisis Line 1.800.273.8255
http://www.VeteransCrisisLine.net
Veterans Crisis Line Text 838255
Freedom isn’t free.
Have a great, safe, Memorial Day weekend.
by Kimberly A. Cook
This week I decided to take a break from the tv news. I still have the newspaper and online, but I wanted a mind recess. Seems like Takoda might have been thinking the same thing when he took off up a tree at the Oregon Zoo.
Actually, he’s after tasty snacks. I can relate. But fifty feet up a tree? I’m not built for that. So if life gets crazier than it already is, go climb a tree! But pack your own goodies.
Have a great, safe weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
P.S. Hugs to all the folks on the Big Island and Kauai.
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