Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Ready For Romance?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                     (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

There are many types of romance, but digging out of a historic snowstorm and freezing rain/ice mess topped it for me last Thursday. Finally able to get out for a girl’s lunch at Monticello Antiques and Monti’s Café. Heaven!

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How is this for a fabulous display? I use red accents in my pink kitchen and it works great. White and red are such perfect colors together with a dash of pink.

 

When what to my wondering eyes appeared but red and white decorations telling me Valentine’s Day is near. The main reason I was so happy is because it means Spring is on its way. When even the Weather Channel says Portland is number one on the winter-fatigue scale, being able to shop is romantic.

Wanted to share some of the finds I found in my browsing. It was so fun to be out of the house, snow, ice, arctic cold temps without a snow shovel and my Danner Fort Lewis boots.

I discovered jewelry jars, but after a thorough scan of the contents I decided I didn’t need these; still have a bunch at home.

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Jewelry treasure jars!

 

Thought these buttons were so cute and festive, plus vintage. Can’t we just kick ourselves for all the stuff we got rid of which is vintage now?

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Vintage button bonanza!

 

Found another pink mini-teapot that I managed to not buy. It was a tough decision, but I am out of teapot display space. Completely.

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I’ve got at least three pink mini-teapots. Maybe it’s four. This one had to stay put until I can take inventory.

 

Then this fabulous find would have gone home with me if I had a bigger house. Who doesn’t need a pink couch? Really!

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Spec Ops Cat would love to curl up on this beauty.

 

There is more daylight now. It’s time to buy Valentine candy for all the folks we love, including ourselves. My motto is buy early because by the actual day all the good candy has been sold on clearance. Better put it on your shopping list for Super Bowl party goodies. Just to be safe.

Happy Almost Romantic February!

 

Tech Gadgets: Tools Or The Devil’s Spawn?

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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.

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Galaxy SII meet Card Reader 1. Let’s have a clean fight.

 

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?