Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Need A Break From The Holi-Daze?

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Kimberly A. Cook
Spec Ops Cat offers his holiday advice. Including letting me know it’s time to scram with the camera, so he can nap.

It’s official. The holiday crazies are here. At a time of year when life is normally hectic, between crazy weather and a quick-turn between Thanksgiving and the holidays, coping is required. No matter how I try to slow down the days, get organized, and stay on top of things; life happens.

So here are a few tips for my fellow crazed humans trying to survive this time of the year. Heads up. If you’re visiting Costco from now until New Years, it’s official combat shopping season in that arena. Be prepared, take your patience, and pack protein snacks.

At any point in the day, except while driving snowplows or piloting the space station; sit, stay, breathe, blink, repeat.

This is a hectic time for family pets too. Make sure you give them the required cuddle time to calm their nerves. And yours. A two-fer!

Making memories doesn’t require money. A visit and laugh with a good friend does make the world go round.

Everybody has hard times. Reach out to others you know who could use a boost. Positivity is catching.

Get some rest. I saw a USPS truck being towed away yesterday. Obviously it had given it’s all for the busiest season. Nap like a champ.

It’s okay to buy pre-made cookie dough. I have three rolls in my refrigerator right now.  Remember, Martha Stewart has 300 staff. We don’t.

As long as Christmas/holiday cards are mailed before or after the holiday, they count. Friends understand and are just glad to hear from you.

There are no calories in December. Just know they rollover to January, like a cell phone plan.

Cozy is a good four-letter word. Practice it.

We miss folks we have lost this time of year, so let’s revisit a favorite happy memory to be grateful they were in our lives.

The Winter Solstice arrives this weekend. Shortest day of the year? Done! We get another minute of light! Wear your Hawaiian shirts!

If you missed National Chocolate-Covered Anything day on Monday, feel free to celebrate late. It’s all good.

Need more light this time of year? I switched my light bulbs from soft to daylight in the bathroom and about fried my retinas. I may be seeing things I’d rather not, but my body thinks its Maui in there. Wear sunglasses if necessary. Who needs makeup?

Send good wishes and prayers for all the folks dealing with family and health challenges this time of year. And all the first responders and medical staff working to support them. There are angels amongst us.

Buy yourself a present. There are tons of cool and fun things at Dollar Tree. Like my pink paper clip holder in the shape of a mini to-go coffee cup. Cute, functional, and cheap. Three of my favorite words.

Hugs are power transfers from one person to another. Ask permission first when it comes to strangers.

Greet the bell ringers and wish them happy holidays. Thank them for their volunteer time. Give a buck or two if you can.

Take time for yourself. Even five minutes. Take a walk, watch the sunrise, or refill the hummingbird feeder.

Say a wish of gratitude for all our troops serving around the world and their families who support them, whether they are home or far away.

Keep an eye out for Santa. The North American Aerospace Defense Command is on the job clearing his air space. The NORAD Santa Tracker launches in six days.  Rudolph on point.

Hugs and happiness to all my blog readers. You guys are fabulous and extremely good looking.

Let’s gear up for 2020!

Right after I eat all the cookies and finish the eggnog.

 

“Need A Break From The Holi-Daze?” Copyright © 2019 by Kimberly A. Cook. Image Copyright © 2019 by Kimberly A. Cook.

Happy New Year’s Eve!

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It’s amazing to me how the holidays can roll right over us. Sometimes like a steamroller. So to wind up the year I thought I’d offer a trifecta of Quirky End of the Year videos. Then I plan on getting organized for 2019. Wish me luck!

So first we will have a late Merry Catmas, then a walk through Christmas decorations at a Chateau being refurbished in France, and then wind up with a compilation of 2018 Oregon Zoo babies. All topics I can get behind for the New Year!

Have a great, safe, New Year’s Eve and let’s make 2019 stellar!

 

Harvest Or Hibernate?

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Sky view of Spec Ops Cat new favorite spot; empty paper box in the sun. Nap ahoy!

Huge Harvest Moon last night. Which partly explains my urges to nap or eat. Or eat and nap. With the golden light of Fall turning the leaves red, orange and dead, time to conserve energy.

We are having glorious eighty degree weather right now here in Oregon, so no need to hibernate. But I want to. Is it the pumpkins in the store? The Halloween candy stocked in all the aisles? The sun setting at seven p.m.? Yes.

Then that true sign of winter appeared on tv; Hallmark Christmas movies start on Oct. 26! My intent is to read, write and craft this winter. Seems I went down the rabbit hole this year and started collecting card crafting items. Swore I would not go there, but I did. (Gemini Junior! Diamond Press! Anna Griffin! Stop me now….. )

However, I will not be making my Christmas cards. Really. I send fun cards and I have a ton of those from last year’s clearance sales. I try to be cheap, er thrifty. But notice I did not say never. I’ve eaten that word so many times it’s not funny. So now I avoid it. 

The harvest festivals are starting and the farmer’s markets are closing. Can snow be far behind? Let’s get ahold of ourselves. Stop that. Time to go fondle my craft supplies. Paper therapy.

Spring will come again. Right after I eat myself into a stupor this holiday season. Time to go fire up the treadmill; for Spec Ops Cat.

Might be time to start hoarding cans of Libby’s pumpkin pie mix. Just to be safe…….    

House Cleaning In August?

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There should be a law against cleaning house in the summer. There are too many other fun things to do. But the dirt is relentless. Thought this video was too fun watching Cole and Marmalade adjust to their new house vacuum.

Pretty sure Spec Ops Cat would still be in the next County if I had one of these. It would also need to climb stairs; little tiny crampons and roping skills required. Spec Ops Cat doesn’t mind fireworks, but the vacuum is the devil’s spawn! 

Have a great, safe, summer weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Summertime Crazies?

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Face sleeping. When you know it’s a long holiday weekend.

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!”

Celebrate National Pet Day?

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This is how Spec Ops Cat trained for National Pet Day. This was grueling training on March 31st. Full on nap maneuvers. Very impressive skill level.

by Kimberly A. Cook

I’m behind in my writing duties since I was waiting on Spec Ops Cat hand and paw for yesterday’s National Pet Day. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Part of his present included me spending a long lunch with family having chai tea, chicken cranberry walnut salad on a croissant and a huge cookie.

Such sacrifice on my part. Leaving home so he could nap in silence was really his gift. (I write fiction for a reason.)

He celebrated his special day by waking me up with a 5:20 a.m. hairball. Always providing me with gifts. Such a giver. But he is my roommate, buddy and vice president of security operations, so he earns his keep.

Did you celebrate your pet yesterday? Feel free to do it today and every day. Make sure to ration those treats; no matter how much they beg.

Spec Ops Cat thinks he has a magic food bowl. Since he will chow down his wet gravy food too fast, I give him a tablespoon at a time in the morning to slow his gobbling. Works great.

But he tries to use “bowl patrol” during the rest of the day before dinner. If he stares at the bowl long enough, then looks at me, maybe more food will appear out of the heavens.

Know that feeling when you’re watching tv and you feel target lock? Turn my head into the kitchen and yup, bowl patrol. He’s giving me “the look.” He has plenty of dry food, but he’s a gravy guy.

Hug your pets and treasure them while you can. I’ve had four friends lose their loving buddies in the past five months.  Heart breaking. I’ve informed Spec Ops Cat he is not to go along with that crowd. As usual, he wasn’t listening to me, but napping in a sun spot.

Hug your fur babies today and every day!