Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

Kimberly A Cook

PDX Carpet Selfies And Parade Hijinks!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                 (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

It is definitely catch-up time. So many fun things have been happening! Our favorite airport carpet was featured as the Grand Marshall at the Portland Rose Festival Starlight Parade. “PeeDee” rode in a fabulous red Cadillac and made quite the entrance.

PDX carpet shoe and toe selfie arriving home from Maui!
PDX carpet shoes and toes selfie arriving home from Maui!

Since we are ga-ga over our old teal carpet currently being replaced by new green carpet we haven’t bonded with yet, there is an entire industry of shoes, ties, mugs, you name it with the old carpet pattern. Even the pace truck for Saturday’s Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade was wrapped in the pattern.

SO, of course you can imagine that I had a shoe selfie taken when we arrived back from Maui last month, so here is my photo complete with sparkly toes! This is not considered odd behavior by the way, shoe selfies with the old PDX carpet is the thing to do here while we all race to get pics taken before all the carpet is replaced.

Worthy of a “Portlandia” episode, we love our old carpet and it has risen to great heights; including a limited edition shoe from Trailblazer Damian Lillard. Only in Oregon, I guess. We take Keep Portland Weird to the MAX (Also the name of our lightrail train).

It was a very hot and toasty weekend and yesterday hit 91 degrees, so even though you might think the hot weather explains all the PDX carpet-mania, it doesn’t. I think what it really explains is that I was born in the right city, Quirky Portland, Oregon.  Because if everybody is a little odd, we all fit in!

P.S. I just registered to get in line for some used PDX airport carpet. Keep your fingers crossed!

www.pdxcarpetstore.com

www.twitter.com/pdxcarpet

HGTV For Elephants?

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by Kimberly A. Cook          (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Very big redecorating going on at the Oregon Zoo for years and this past week was move in time! I don’t know if the “Property Brothers” could have even handled these picky clients, but the folks who designed the new elephant habitat gave them all the latest home amenities for our popular pachyderms.

Just in time for a sizzling hot weekend here in Oregon, the elephants get to roam in their new home, complete with large windows, then outside play area, elephant proof gazebo and auto feeders and misters! Nothing but the best for our lovable giants. Check out the action. I couldn’t resist all three videos.

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday! (P.S. Lilly is still SO CUTE!)

 

 

 

 

Are You Ready For Some “Big Magic” This Fall?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Few things get me more excited than word of a new book by a favorite author. Double that when the book is about creativity and I’d only heard rumors about it until recently. So, while I am marking my calendar for September 22nd this year, I wanted to share the info with those of you like-minded creative types. The new book was announced Jan. 12th, but I’ve been oblivious I guess.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book is “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.” I’m figuring out whether to take vacation time from the day job to hit the bookstore first thing that morning and/or pre-order it from her “Two Buttons” store so I can get an autographed copy. I’m thinking both. Why deny myself?

I’ve come to realize I prefer getting a paperback or hard copy of non-fiction books because highlighting on my ereader makes a mess; kidding, but not quite. Physically underlining words on a page reinforces the learning process of the brain and I can use all the education help I can get. Plus, I’m addicted to those Post-It Note Flags.

So for all of us creative types, and that is pretty much everybody on the planet, more book fun to come. Plus the cover is partly pink! Living the dream!

P.S. The Portland Rose Festival is in grand swing now and Fleet Week starts on Wednesday. Check out the link to see which ships are coming for a visit. Too fun! Brings back high school days memories; seeing sexy U.S. and Canadian Navy uniforms. But I can’t swim for beans or chocolate so into the Army and Air Force I went!  http://www.rosefestival.org/event/fleet-week-4-3

Can You Crocodile Rock With The Gnomes?

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by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

It’s been so great to have all the gnomes back on the patio this week I can’t help but go a little nuts. What better way to celebrate the coming weekend and beautiful weather than a Gnomeo and Juliet dance off! Since I know the gnomes run around and have great fun when I’m not looking, it’s nice to be able to catch their antics on film. Check out the moves by the pink flamingoes!

Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

https://youtu.be/uXyT9tlQ9Pc

Back On The Patio Again…..

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

My to do list for this past long weekend was quite optimistic. However, I did accomplish about half of the things so that is a big win in my book. One of the most important items was releasing the yard gnomes from the garage.

Gnomeo is pretty darn happy Juliet managed to get herself together and return to the yard. He's such a flirt!
Gnomeo is pretty darn happy Juliet managed to get herself together and return to the yard. He’s such a flirt!

The poor buggers have been locked up ever since the fence went down in the big blow in early February. Through no fault of their own they had to be rounded up and secured in the garage for their own safety.

While the construction schedule and then actual fence replacing got under way, it was three long months of incarceration. I missed the little tykes.

So with the fence recently completed, this weekend was the big event. This included getting all the gnomes and yard buddies scrubbed up and getting Juliet put back together. Thanks to the miracle of Gorilla Glue, I was able to keep her from falling apart and get her two halves reacquainted. Much to Gnomeo’s delight as you can see in the picture.

Then yesterday there was a release party complete with chips, burgers and strawberry shortcake with a select invited crowd and the celebration began. Capping off the big event included the introduction of a new member to the family, Book Gnome. Life is good. We even got a few peeks of sunlight during the afternoon festivities.

Now it’s time to move on to the next items on the to do list; cutting fence planks and tech issues. Think I’d rather go play with the gnomes……

Armed Forces Day and Elvis

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by Kimberly A. Cook                   (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Since I returned from vacation and posted about Elvis, seems like all things Elvis are popping up. Saw the “Hawaii Five-O” tv show On Demand with the Elvis impersonators. Today’s paper had an article about a local couple who won their dream wedding at the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas with Priscilla Presley as their Matron of Honor. And Graceland has an exhibit of Elvis memorabilia on display in Las Vegas.

Since tomorrow is Armed Forces Day, thought folks might like to hear from Elvis about what it was like to be in the Army. Even Elvis had to pull kitchen police, or KP as we call it. Happy Quirky Friday and have a great weekend!