Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

New Year

Be Kind To Yourself

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In the midst of holiday chaos, gloomy weather, and a never-ending pace of challenges for us earthlings, I find it best to focus on what I can control. Which is not that much these days, luckily, so that works with my limited ability to concentrate. I’ve been thinking about what I’m grateful for at the end of this year.

Here is my starting list.

  • My HVAC was fixed and I have heat again. After eleven days. REALLY like that.
  • When I showed up for my free flu shot, I got the booster too. Bonus!
  • My favorite new gadget is a manual can opener which replaced the ancient, rusty one. I’m smitten. It actually cuts metal and has a large cushy handle. Be still my heart.
  • I’m able to keep the birdies, squirrels, and chipmunk’s fed in my backyard. Barely. But I may need to get a dump truck load of seed. Impressive appetites.
  • My family and friends are relatively stable after this crazy year.
  • There are still health care workers, delivery drivers, grocery clerks, police officers, restaurant workers, teachers, banking clerks, tech workers, airline pilots, postal workers, military members, and city, county, and state workers who keep showing up to support us all.  

I’d be happy with three things on my list, so six is golden.

Today we celebrate the Winter Solstice and getting one more minute of daylight. I’ll take it! At my former day job, we used to celebrate this day with Hawaiian shirts, Macadamia Shortbread cookies from the islands, and Jimmy Buffet music. It always perked me up.

I’ve had Beach Boys music playing in my car this entire year. When things get a little dicey, I bring in the big guns and head straight to disco. Never underestimate the power of music.

And being kind to others.

Animals show us how to stay in the moment and enjoy life. We need to be kind to them too.

This year has been challenging for everyone.

Take time to be kind to yourself during these winter days.

Happy Holiday Hugs for you and your furry or feathered friends. Like the ones below at the Oregon Zoo.

I plan to have fun in 2022.

Who’s with me?

 

 

Happy Middle Of January?

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Double Delight rose, a top favorite.

So much for organization. Ended up in sick bay during the holidays and clawing out of it now. Many people I know did the same thing. Seems like the germs see you slowing down a bit and then jump onboard. Very bad actor germs.

But it does give one pause to take the time and reflect on the joys of good health, when you don’t have it. Then there are the people who seem to get hit with everything; including the kitchen sink, the garbage can and the dumpster down the road. Send comfort, support and hugs whenever you come across these people. They are disease warriors.

I filled my time by cleaning out my clothes closet, watching football, cleaning out Spec Ops Cat’s bathroom, watching playoff football, and spying on the construction workers across the street. One needs a hobby when recuperating.

I’ve also watched a complete ton of YouTube videos on everything from writing to marketing to cats, comedians and some things I’m still not sure why I watched. Then I played solitaire on my tablet. There are so many ways to kill time in this modern age.

But in the grand scheme of things I am doing great and so is my family. Last year was catastrophic for so many folks, that I am truly blessed with all I have. One of those lifelong dreams is indie publishing my military romance books this year. Still on track, but delayed a little. Life isn’t linear it seems.

Here’s hoping you all have made it into the New Year in good shape and are looking forward to Spring. My favorite season. To remind us all of the coming outside festivities, here are some of my backyard photo memories to perk us all up.

The bulbs will rise again!  

 

This is the Peace rose. Another of my backyard favorites. The color of the sun.

 

Resolutions Already Toast?

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by Kimberly A. Cook

Gave up making resolutions years ago. I work with goals and try to fool myself. For those of us who did make resolutions and they are broken, blame it on the cat.

Check out how Simon’s cat is helping with resolutions.

Happy Quirky Friday everybody! Have a great, safe, long weekend.

Happy Wolf Moon Transition

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by Kimberly A. Cook

The 2018 brand new clean slate is here. It’s like putting on a new dress for the first time, all expectations and perfect fit. To top off the start of the new year, we had a full Wolf Moon last night and we get another one the end of this month, an official Blue Moon. A two-fer!

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Last night’s super Wolf Moon from my backyard. Since moons have transitions too, think Mother Nature is trying to tell us something with the moon, the seasons and our lives – we’re all related! 

The daylight is getting longer by a whopping seven minutes and I couldn’t be happier. Dreams of Fairy Rock Garden plans and lawn swing lazy days are just around the corner. Even for Pennsylvania. The daffodils will rise again. The crocuses are peaking their pointy heads out right now. At least in Oregon.

Resolutions are not my thing, I make goals. So when I transferred to my 2018 calendar I laughed when I noticed my 2017 goals would be my 2018 goals too. Not sure if that is efficient or unrealistic. Big goals? Get healthy, write and play. Then I have four smaller goals for the three big goals.

I worked on the smaller goals in 2017, but did not complete any. No matter what plans we make, life happens. So recycling 2017 goals is not a bad thing; it keeps me moving forward.

Reading the book “Transitions – Making Sense of Life’s Changes (Second Edition)” by William Bridges right now, recommended by a friend. Really enjoying it. Bridges talks about the three phases of transition:

  1. “an ending, followed by
  2. “a period of confusion and distress, leading to
  3. “a new beginning, for those who had come that far.”

I’ve always found that phase two confusion and distress period annoying. I liken it to that time right before I make a big decision; it feels like I’ve thrown chum into shark infested waters and I can’t figure out what to do while swimming with the frenzied sharks – very stressful.

Two questions Bridges asks at the end of Chapter Four really have me thinking.

  1. “What is it time to let go of in my own life right now?”
  2. “What is standing backstage, in the wings of my life, waiting to make an entrance?”

Great questions right? This book has been out for years and you can find it in the library, but I like to have my own reference copy. Pink highlighter is a way of life for me and they frown on that in library books.

So looking ahead to 2018, how will you answer questions one and two above? I like them because while we may not have figured out where we’re going, we can consider what to shed and what might be sitting next to us as options.

So when we feel like we’re floating around with feeding sharks, it’s nice to know other folks are out their bobbing along with us. Nobody has this all figured out.

Life evolves, whether we choose the transition or not. So, here’s to a great 2018 for all of us. Transitions Ho!

Holiday Observations And Blessings?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                      (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

This week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is always a time for me to think about what the past year taught me and what I might learn in the New Year. Part of that is because between all the cookies, cashews, pie and turkey I’ve eaten, I can’t move from my LaZBoy coma of watching Hallmark holiday movies with football thrown in for variety.

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Spec Ops Cat is a Zen Master at relaxing and enjoying the moment. Watch and learn. 

 

I’ve convinced myself that thinking about exercise counts, but my jeans do not agree. The treadmill is waiting patiently for me to return, but it knows I will not be as nimble and light as the last time I jumped on it. Cookie weight. Hope it’s ready for 2017. May need to get a roll bar for it. Plus a Wide Load strap.

Family and friends are worth more than their weight in gold; up that to diamonds and platinum. The folks who put up with me each year should be getting Starbucks stock for their challenging duty. Thank you all for the support. Cuts the cost of therapy.

Dreams are for all of us. Especially when we think they are not. I’ve had more fun starting my Fairy Rock Garden in the backyard. Playing in the dirt can be the best idea. We all need time to play and dream and create. Fill up your creative well. Take time to be.

There are a lot of things that can be cured by a purring kitty snuggle or a doggie lick. Our four-footed friends are much better at living in the moment than we are. They also don’t carry smartphones and calendars. That must be a big part of their secret to relaxing.

This is a time for renewal. We get a new calendar! A time to start over and give it another shot. Life has bumps, dumps and sinkholes, but it also comes with joy, fun and laughter. I try to lean toward the fun side if at all possible. Being a cranky pants ends up annoying even me, besides others. I’ve always found the best antidote is to MOVE. Do something.

If I’m really upset, I clean. Not only does it accomplish something positive, it also poops me out and gets out some of that bad juju. I can’t keep that stuff inside, it will constipate me in too many ways. Medicinal dark chocolate is a good reward after cleaning too. Just saying.

Here’s wishing you new dreams and adventures in 2017. In the meantime go find a pet to cuddle, a person or a cookie. I’ve got my chips and dips for the holiday weekend. Let the parties begin!

 

 

Happy Baby Bunny New Year!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                  (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Happy 2016! Starting a New Year always gets me excited about possibilities. One favorite ritual is putting up all my new calendars. I have a set group I buy every year from Garfield to Tea Pot Collections and 365 Cats to Greek Isles and Islands. Love the photos.

So on this first Friday of the New Year, what better way to start than to enjoy some snoozing baby bunnies. None of these baby bunnies were harmed at all by sitting in the wine glasses and most of them are napping. Pretty hard. Especially the second bun.

So regardless of what you’re doing and where, maybe following the baby bunnies is a great example for the New Year. Let’s slow down and smell the naps! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

P.S. Thanks to my sister for showing me the Baby Bunnies!