Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A Cook

Summer Loving, Photography and Grease?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twittter@  WarriorTales)

Some of my best summer kid memories are staying outside late playing when the weather was warm and the air smelled like endless time. Those days seemed to last forever.

Summer sunset in the park with John Travolta singing "Greased Lightning!" Damn!
Summer sunset in the park with John Travolta singing “Greased Lightning!” Priceless!

Even riding in the bed of my Dad’s pickup to go watch the fireworks with family and friends was a big thrill. Yes, current safety concerns aside, many of us boomers did survive the attempt to perhaps thin the herd when we were young; no bike helmets, no air bags and no seat belts for a while. It may also explain a lot about some of us, come to think of it.

This past Friday I joined family and friends and went to see a free movie at the park, “Grease.” I always have my camera with me. After I plopped my butt in my fold up chair, I took a couple of pics of the pink sunset.

Now I didn’t move, mind you, I just clicked away. I like this one the best of the lot, given I was using telephoto to block out fellow movie goers and buildings, the scene might be in a forest. Think fairies and unicorns.

But to prove I am true to my word, here is the rest of the Friday night movie going herd waiting for the fun to begin in the second photo. One of my favorite scenes in another movie “The Wedding Planner,” is when they are watching black and white movies in the park. How romantic! Us real people can actually do these things, especially during the summer.

Used telephoto on this pic too, since we were back in the cheap seats on the hill. This is what America means to me! Outside free summer movies and people watching!
Used telephoto on this pic too, since we were back in the cheap seats on the hill. This is what America means to me! Outside free summer movies and people watching!

So check your parks and library folks and see if there might be a fun free outside movie in your future. In downtown Portland they even show them on top of parking garages. Maybe it’s just us West Coasters who enjoy the outside movies, but I doubt it. Enjoy summer and be a kid again!

Grab your folding chairs, blankies, hoodies, snacks and get outside for movies! Don’t forget your camera too. Magic might happen!

Can You Balance Better Than A Goat?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Goats have been on my mind this past week. At the day job we put some goats on contract to eat vegetation at one of our sites. They’re doing a fine job and I even got to see a photo of them in action. Cutie pies and top rate work too. So besides being paid to eat, I wondered what other skills they might possess and found this fascinating video.

This must be how they start to train goats to surf, is what I’m thinking. Then they could go on to work at the Surfing Goat Dairy on Maui that I love. Practice makes perfect. Do they have Velcro on their hooves? And are those baby goats too cute?

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

Beads, Bling, Coloring And Shell Casings?

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Creativity is everywhere. Opening our eyes and senses is the first requirement to seeing it. Spent a quick visit Saturday at the Gem Faire, one of my favorite things to do. The show only comes twice a year so I can’t do too much damage to my wallet.

I hadn’t been for quite a while so the thrill of exploring energized me. Due to a competing appointment I had 70 minutes to power shop through the show. Did it! Got some pretties I couldn’t live without and saw some items which made my muse happy and curious.

Sounds like a Ginsu knife commercial - but wait there's more! Shell casing earrings and pendants!
Sounds like a Ginsu knife commercial – but wait there’s more! Shell casing earrings and pendants!

Take the shell casing pendants and earrings. Now, I have some leftover shell casings from my Dad’s workshop I’ve kept for a future project like a draft pick; not sure what they will become or accomplish but I’ve got the stuff. Had to take a picture and share with you this creative use of ammo.

Now, I might shine the casings with Brasso, although I thought I got enough of Brasso in the Army, but shiny is in my blood after basic training. Then I might add crystals, sparkly bling, a pink quartz rock and flashier earring findings and that is how I end up with tons of “project stuff.”

Recently a new Ace Hardware opened up in my area and I was beside myself exploring the aisles and all the fun new toys, er tools. They even had a “Hobby” aisle! Can you say more accessories for my Dremel? Yes, I bought the 80-piece accessory pack when I got my Dremel but I’m sure Ace must have more by now.

Then last Sunday the “Parade” magazine had a great article about coloring for adults. While I admit I buy Disney color books and have a fabulous supply of colored pens, Crayons and pencils to use, now there are big kid coloring books! They even have a couple of pages you can download free from the article.

Here is the link to get to the article and the free coloring pages.

http://parade.com/409702/hdowdle/50-shades-of-happy-the-new-joy-of-coloring/

Life is good! New beads, new bling, recycling shell casings and getting to color? It must be summer!

www.gemfaire.com

Put Down The Tech And Pet Me!

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

I’ve noticed a recent trend with Spec Ops Cat. Every time I try to use my tablet to look something up, he gets right in my face between me and the tablet. Now I’m used to this behavior when it comes to books, magazines and newspapers, but it appears he’s traded up to the new tech too. He knows when I don’t have all my focus on the kitty!

With reports of parents paying more attention to their smartphones than their kids and chiropractors having a new diagnosis of “smartphone neck” perhaps the cats are right. Seems even Nala, that fabulous cat in Norway, agrees. She’s included tv game controls in her intervention program.

So the cats must be saying; unplug and pet me! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

P.S. The Hallmark Channel has one-upped themselves this coming Sunday. The Kitten Bowls were such a hit now we have the Paw Stars game! Seriously, watch out Starbucks, cats are taking over the world!

It’s Time For Minion Shopping!

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Ever since Hollywood missed out on marketing stuff for the film “Top Gun,” it seems each new blockbuster ends up with more “products” than stars in the sky. Some of those items are fun and a bunch don’t make much sense, but obviously they make somebody money. Case in point, the run-up to the opening of the “Minions” movie this Friday.

Don’t get me wrong, these little yellow guys are too cute. Yes, I’ve been haunting www.happymeal.com to see when the new toys were released – yesterday! But I don’t quite understand the other products offered. I’ve seen everything from paper towels to dusters with the Minions on them. Now if I had a battalion of Minions who used dusters at my house, then we’d have something.

I’m a sucker for cartoons and especially “animated movies.” When you add in the fact that these little yellow guys bear a striking resemblance to Twinkies, their allure is unmistakable. I understand there are even Minion cupcakes you can make by slicing a Twinkie in half and plopping it on a cupcake. I bet you can find that on Pinterest! My problem would be making sure I didn’t eat half of the Twinkies in the decorating process.

So with us Oregonians on day 14 of a potential 17 day heat wave above 90 degrees, my mind turns to mush and then to Minions. Since I spent the weekend afternoons indoor rotating between fire watch and viewing Hallmark Christmas Movies – yes they were on tv – it seems anything involving cake and humor is right up my alley these days.

So in case you are among the two people on the planet who do not know the “Minions” movie opens on Friday, I have two pieces of advice.

Get your Happy Meal Minion toys now.

And it’s time to start hoarding Twinkies!

Happy Birthday America!

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

The high temps keep rolling here in Oregon and it’s going to be a firecracker holiday weekend without any pyrotechnics! I’m going the route of watching the official fireworks shows and not lighting a thing with flames or sparks due to our tinder dry conditions. Let’s all help out our firefighters and neighbors by being safe this Fourth of July!

It’s also a time to consider vets and pets. With National Guard, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans back from deployments, firecrackers and loud booms can be unwelcome reminders and triggers of combat. Heck, my first Fourth of July visiting home after basic training a loud firecracker went off to start the fireworks and I was half way to the ground; reflex training.

Pets of all kinds, dogs and cats particularly, get upset by the noises too and can run off. So watch the sponsored shows and keep the noise out of our neighborhoods.

So, if we don’t fire up sparklers at home, what can we do? Eat! Check out the tiny hamster’s BBQ party! These patriotic pets have the perfect recipe for a fun-filled weekend – picnics!

Have a safe and sane Fourth of July and Happy Quirky Friday!