Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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How Do You Keep Cool In August?

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by Kimberly A. Cook            (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

This has been one wacky and weird weather year around the globe. While folks are dealing with all kinds of storm challenges, we are in the middle of a two-week heat wave that was supposed to be only one week-long. Obviously we have an overachieving weather pattern.

Since us Oregonians freak when the big round sun thing comes out and really freak when the humidity thing shows up, it’s a good bet everybody is inside; except for the young folks floating the rivers. So this is how our Oregon Zoo animals are keeping cool. Happy Quirky Friday everybody!

Have Any Keeper Cards?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

In last week’s post about requesting military records I showed a picture of letters we discovered which my Dad wrote home during World War II. My author/editor buddy Cindy Hiday made a very astute comment, she always does, but this one got me to thinking. She wondered how we would be remembered when we are using email or blogs instead of hard copy physical paper.

This is how the "keeper cards" addiction started......
This is how the “keeper cards” addiction started……

So this is where I confess to my stash of keeper cards. Think I can blame this on my Mom who gave me a School Days memory book to store my school pictures and odds and ends like report cards and the occasional greeting card. Over the years I have kept special cards which catch my fancy or mean something to me. (I’ve had to move up to plastic shoe boxes)

In today’s digital publishing world with fiction books heading steadily in the exclusive ebook direction and textbooks ending up as ebooks, is there still a place for paper?

Yes. I think greeting cards are coming back. I know crafters and teenagers alike are buying typewriters, yes you read correctly, to make words standout on jewelry pieces and to have typing contests. Seems the fact you can’t get an instant message or text on a typewriter is a plus for concentration these kids say.

Some of the fun things I have in my home office are quotes on plaques; words displayed with art. Wonderful combination. Like greeting cards.

I’ve only had time to look at a few envelopes in the stack of war letters my Dad wrote, but I did find one very interesting card. It was a Christmas card mailed from relatives in Gold Hill, Oregon in 1930. It was addressed to the Cook family in Troutdale, Oregon. Period. That was the entire address. My Dad would have been seven-years-old. It was special to him and he kept it. Words on real paper still rock!

Do you have any keeper cards?

 

Happy Birthday Beatrix Potter!

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by Kimberly A. Cook             (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

In honor of Beatrix Potter’s birthday on Monday, July 28th, I thought it only fitting to highlight a talented rabbit. Her little bunny book “Peter Rabbit,” as she called it, made it possible for her to save hundreds of acres of English land for the National Trust. One impressive bunny accomplishment!

I own a copy in French, “Pierre Lapin,” which sits on my desk.

Check out how talented this little bunny is getting his treats. Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

 

 

Know How To Request Military Records?

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by Kimberly A. Cook              (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Sent off my snail mail request on Saturday to get copies of my Dad’s military and medical records. Have been meaning to do it for a couple months now, but finally made it happen. It’s a pretty simple process, but most folks won’t realize they need to deal with the National Archives, not the military branches.

New treasure! My Mom and sister discovered this bunch of letters my Dad wrote to his Mom during World War II tucked away in his dresser. More projects for me!
New treasure! My Mom and sister discovered this bunch of letters my Dad wrote to his Mom during World War II tucked away in his dresser. More projects for me!

Couple of things to know:

  • If the veteran is living, they have to request their own records.
  • If the veteran is deceased, only next of kin can request the records. Next of kin is limited to unremarried surviving spouse, father, mother, son, daughter, sister or brother.

Proof of death must be provided by a death certificate or obituary or death notice, coroner’s report of death, funeral director’s signed statement of death, or verdict of a coroner’s jury.

If you want to request military records for service completed before World War I, National Archives Trust Fund forms must be used to request those records. You can get the forms by email.

While there is a way to file electronically for the records if you’re next of kin, I went with old-fashioned snail mail. Filled out the pretty simple one page form, then figured out based on Dad’s service time where to mail it.

So that envelope is on its way to the National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, MO. They receive between 4,000 and 5,000 record requests a day, so they say not to even ask about status until 90 days have gone by. I will let you know what happens!

Link to National Archives veteran service records – http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

Link to SF180 Request Form – http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html

 

 

Do You Have A Horse Goat Sitter?

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by Kimberly A. Cook         (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

My friends have the most fun hobbies; up to and including raising a baby goat. When I saw this video it reminded me of baby goat ‘Star,” who loves his bottle and to crawl up into my friend’s lap afterwards for a snuggle. (He does not burp afterwards, he farts.) Star’s snuggle has become more of a challenge these days since he is a bigger boy, but he insists on his lap cuddle. I need to warn her about raising bison.

These young goats have found the same kind of fun guy in this babysitter who lets them play King of the Horse with much patience. Have a Happy Quirky Friday!

http://youtu.be/X8dhgIhw9cA

Is A Lazy Weekend Good For Your Creative Muse?

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by Kimberly A. Cook           (Twitter@ WarriorTales)

Interesting weather weekend. Heat, humidity, thunderstorms, rain, lightning, wind, clouds. Sometimes all at the same time. Sunday morning I realized I had the heating pad on for a sore muscle, the air conditioning going and it was raining outside. Welcome to wacky weather.

Before planting, all but four of these guys got in the ground. Yes, I'm a yard art slut and that is Gnomeo and Juliet.
Before planting, all but four of these guys got in the ground. Yes, I’m a yard art slut and that is Gnomeo and Juliet.

Part of what did not happen this past weekend was me cleaning up more of my office. Seems I wanted to play and working on de-cluttering didn’t feel like fun.

The tune “Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer,” kept running through my mind.

By Sunday I had the lazy part down pat while I watched men run around at the World Cup with a lot more energy than I had.

Sometimes we need to park ourselves and sit. Just sit. Take time to think and dream and imagine. Daydreaming is an official requirement for writers, especially fiction writers. It also gives me time to scan the stack of magazines I buy and then barely have time to read.

Perfect Sunday. Weird weather means staying home is not only allowed, but recommended. Spec Ops Cat also requires a certain amount of lap time and he felt his quota was abysmal this past week. He got caught up.

There were two petunia and two fuchsia plants leftover from my garden planting weekend to go into the ground. I knew I should get them in the dirt but the rain and lightning convinced me they were on their own for another couple of days.

Sometimes the best thing to do on a summer Sunday is to putter, rest and snuggle with magazines and a cat. The office is not going to clean itself,  the clean up elves have a better union and don’t work on Sundays. It will all wait. September sounds good.

Taking time to refresh ourselves is important. Because even our creative muse mind needs a lazy summer day. Plus you don’t want to deal with a cranky pet, spouse, kids or friends. Enjoy some lazy summer days!