Military Romance Author
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
While everyone else is getting ready for Valentine’s Day, hoard the chocolate, the fabulous Oregon Zoo pachyderms were frolicking in their new pool last week. When I saw this video clip I so wanted the Beach Boys song “Surfin USA” playing in the background. Our elephants know how to have a pachyderm splash pool party! Go Lily!
Have a great weekend, Happy Valentine’s Day to everybody, and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
Last Tuesday Velda the hedgehog at the Oregon Zoo predicted an early Spring. Seems Phil the Groundhog said the same thing, but Velda has a better record than Phil, so hedgehogs rock! True to both their predictions, signs of the coming Spring abounded this past weekend.
On my way to my writer group, I stopped at my carpool buddy’s house. She needed to take her dog Amos, a Corgi, for a quick walk before we left. Amos was not too thrilled about the “quick” part of the walk, he wanted to mosey. I couldn’t blame him. So while they were off finding the perfect tree, I wandered in her front yard taking photos.
My carpool buddy is a member of the camellia society and you can see why. I could not resist the pictures. So here are a few of my favorites.
Not to be outdone, these red berry things looked gorgeous too. They felt like the holidays but looked like Spring. How do they do that?
Then the next day on my way back from the grocery store Super Bowl morning, I took a wrong turn but ended up with a perfect view of Mt. Hood. We say “the mountain is out” around here when we can see it, so this gorgeous sunny Sunday was the perfect time to get a picture of her with all her snow.
So have camera will travel! Right around my own neighborhood. Are you ready to take Spring snapshots?
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
Everybody is getting so excited about the big game this Sunday. Got my snacks and dip, chips and chocolate. It only comes once a year, so let’s party. It’s Kitten Bowl III!
Wanted to make sure you got all the inside news, so here are videos from the coach, a look at this year’s stars and a report on-location. Enjoy!
Have a great safe Super Bowl 50 and Kitten Bowl III weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
Know how to blow the mind of a young salesperson? Tell them you don’t want to upgrade your smartphone. Shopping at Target last Saturday I wandered into the electronics section to try and find a gizmo that is supposed to read the card in my smartphone and download the pictures to my computer.
Normally this would not be that big a deal, but my computer is eight-years-old and my Galaxy Skyrocket II is a bit past its prime – they refuse to talk to each other. I happened upon the gadget in the store and tried to figure out if it was the right doohickey. Up walked the salesperson.
“Can I help you find something?”
“Yes,” I replied. “Will this download the pictures from the card in my smartphone to my computer?”
“Are the pictures stored on the SD card?”
“Got me,” I said. “I’ve never put one in it.”
“What kind of phone do you have?”
“Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket II.”
“Do you have your phone with you?”
“Yes.” I promptly handed it over to him.
He proceeded to strip it naked from its pink plastic cover and pop off the back. “It’s an SD card,” he said. “This card reader will work.”
“Great!” I snatched up the gadget.
“You know you can upgrade your phone and get a $200 Target gift card,” he said. “They have the Samsung Galaxy S6 now.”
Obviously the dear boy thought I’d been living under a rock and did not know that. Trust me, I do and I’ve seen the price tag. My little phone is paid for and as long as it works, I’m using it until it drops dead.
It’s one of those math story problems; paid for phone + $200 gift certificate – new phone of $600 = $400 more bucks I have to shell out. Not happening.
But it was fun to watch his staggering disbelief that I didn’t want to upgrade. Sometimes being a downgrade is a very good thing. This is the year of tech for me. Glamorous 2015 involved replacing a fence, buying new car tires and a mattress.
Now I have to deal with my aging computer, swapping out my old DVR for the new DVR and figuring out why I can read emails on my phone but can’t send any. It has to do with some extra security setting I think. Or global warming. Or the presidential elections. Or Gouda cheese. I’ll figure it out. Right after I restock my dark chocolate supply.
I promised myself I’d finally deal with my tech issues in 2016. Yes! Right on! I’m on my way…..
It must be time to go work on my taxes.
Got persnickety tech gadgets?
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
I’m not a big fan of alarm clocks. Think it comes from reveille in the Army and Drill Sergeants screaming at me while in a sound sleep. Peeling myself off the ceiling is not a nice way to start the day. My clock radio with CD player wakes me with Maui music, unless Spec Ops Cat sits on my face first.
So this big, furry, whiny alarm clock would take some getting used to, even if Caera is gorgeous and smart! Who is really training who here?
Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!
by Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
While the East Coast hunkered down for snowstorm Jonas last Friday, those of us on the West Coast felt a little guilty. On my way back from grocery shopping that day I decided to take a detour and check out a park by the river. I drive by the road to the park each work day on my way to and from the day job, but I’d never taken the turn less travelled, so to speak.
I wound through an industrial area and continued around a few curves and then right there, a park! Motoring into the little gem, I found a nice parking lot with bleachers and restrooms, lots of grass and a boat launch. There were quite a few people out unloading fishing gear, vacant boat trailers and some people just watching the river from their vehicles.
Being close to water calms me down. Not necessarily in it, unless it’s a hot tub, but I love a bubbling brook, stream or the crash of the ocean. One of the books on my nightstand right now is “Writing Wild” by Tina Welling. It’s all about getting in touch with nature to increase your creativity.
In these days of hurry, rush, too much traffic, noise and digital everything its the perfect time to reconnect with nature and take a calm break. Now the folks back East got a little too much nature this past weekend, but some hardy souls enjoyed it if they had power and snacks.
Saw people on tv playing in the snow in Central Park and Times Square in New York and sledding down the “Rocky” steps at the art museum in Philadelphia. Definitely a one-of-a-kind urban snow adventure.
Do you have natural places close by you pass and never visit? Do you take them for granted? Maybe it’s time to stop and smell the trees!
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