Learning Experience

So apparently there were some behind-the-scenes issues with the Peoria Event last month.

MJ, whom I THOUGHT was one of the organizers, sent an email about the misunderstandings and assumptions made about what went on during the planning/execution stage, and long boring story short, she learned what happens when the lines of communication AREN'T CLEAR, texts forgotten to send, and a breakdown of communication which led to her feeling as if the others ghosted her.

MJ has a strong personality, and she has every right to vent to those of us who asked about the kerfuffle.  But what occurred next was not exactly kosher.

Nathan, from whom I received emails pertaining to video interviews and box lunches, posted the following:

We are aware of the email that went out last night and some of the statements in it. While I personally know I can refute 95% of the accusations we don’t intend to turn this into public drama. We will leave it at this. While I’d like to personally thank (MJ) for the hard work she put forth to help make (this event) possible, we no longer feel we have the same vision. We wish her the best in the future and she is always welcome at any event or gathering we hold.

Given that there may be conflict in the name of said event, I feel it would be in bad taste to take that. Please look for an email invite to the new group for upcoming event info. The rsvp page for 2026 will be available shortly.

Thank you.

Then the comments began.

From Lynda:

I don't know whether to laugh at this post or be angry about it. I'm also on McKayla's email list. I read her newsletter. When the idea for this book signing was first floated--long before the Book Nook became involved--there were four people: myself, MJ, TK and another friend spitballing ideas around. Spin this how you want. I was a part of the very first conversations via FB messenger to get the ball rolling for a new author signing event. The name for this event was created in those original conversations. So, keeping the name would not only be in bad taste, it would be taking the creative capital of someone else. As to "pay to play" as mentioned in MJ's newsletter--DUDE! You posted in this very group that you refused to have sponsorships ("pay to play") and when you got pushback on that mentality, you deleted the post. Should I continue? Or do you wish to delete this post, too?

From MJ:

Wow. 95% is lies? Oh boy. The things i could have said, but didnt. Nice.

Post was then deleted; I think if MJ hadn't responded, it would still be up. As I've said before, people should NOT engage in a debate online. Ask yourself if you'd rather be RIGHT no matter the cost, or be HAPPY.

*******

MJ later PM'd me about why I joined the other group and "given you know what happened, WHY?"

I simply responded that a) it sounded as if it was a case of miscommunication and b) it would depend on my budget constraints if I attended next year. She left it at that.

As of last weekend, some more blanks were filled in, to the point I don't even think I'll even attend another event put on by the others. I'm sorry if this event burned a bridge for MJ; she's had signings at their store.

Just take is as a Lesson Learned, and that planning an event for the 1st time can have some hiccups.

Another Senseless Murder

An outspoken champion of common sense was silenced in a brutal murder Wednesday, Sept 12, 2025.

Immediately, a few of my FB friends on the opposite side politically began gleefully posting their approval.  I even learned on other platforms, fellow authors were advocating their approval.

WTH???

There was a time when, no matter what side of the political spectrum, when a public figure was assassinated (Lincoln, JFK, RFK, and MLK), everyone mourned.  If they were secretly happy, they kept it to themselves.  Probably the same in Biblical times.  Rejoiced behind CLOSED DOORS.

The digital age has turned us all into 1st Amendment warriors.  "It's my page!  It's my platform!" (you see how I'm choosing to vent my opinion; here, on a blog no one reads!)

I guarantee, if I were to post ANY of this on FB, I'd lose half my friends.  And there are several I'm seriously considering unfriending.  It's hard to stomach vitriol spewing from someone you like to hang out with.

It's one thing to state your opinion; it's another to start ramming it down everyone's throat.

I have no issue scrolling by and silently eye-rolling a post.  But when that's ALL YOU SEE?

Sometimes enough is enough.

Maybe I won't unfriend them; I'll just block them for a time.

After all, I've been tolerating some of this since 2015.  Do the math; that's 10 years.

****

They have caught the young man responsible.  I saw POTUS DJT on the morning news, and don't agree with his assessment of needing speedy trials.  Okay, yeah, they caught the kid on camera.  Do you honestly think he's going to survive in lock up?  They'll have to keep him in solitary; someone's going to find a way to save the taxpayers $$.  I'm honestly surprised Tim McVeigh wasn't offed, but then again, that was before social media took off, and everyone suddenly became an armchair politician or police.

My sympathies lie with his family.  It's my understanding his father did the right thing and turned him in.  What a heartbreaking discovery/decision to make.  What about the GUILT his parents are feeling? 

"We raised him; we did not raise him to do this."

The lament of every criminal's parent.  It's how I felt when my own son was tossed in jail, due to drugs.  Tough love saved him, as well as finding Jesus again.  We raised him in a faith household; thankfully he eventually returned to his roots.

Health Insurance Is A Joke If You're Part-Time

 2019:  I didn't know I qualified for part-time health insurance until nearly the last minute, so signed up.

2020:  Pandemic was in full swing, and only used my insurance when I had my right leg examined, resulting in a compression wrap.

2021:  I not only broke my left arm but had to have emergency gall bladder surgery. IU Arnett wrote it off; GSH sent me a bill for $51K.  They also informed me that had I NOT had health insurance, the billing office could get me a larger discount.  Since I'd already signed up for 2022, that was that.

2022:  Applied for assistance, and was afforded a whopping 25% discount, which dropped my gall bladder surgery down to $49K.  I still can't afford that.  It's more than we paid for our truck!

2023:  I had dropped the insurance, and the following month, fell down while at the Indy Christmas Show.

2024:  Knee was still swollen, so went to the ortho doc. Since I was now self-pay, I had x-rays and an MRI, which resulted in I just needed more time to heal.  Fortunately, I was able to make payments AND move some of it over to my zero-interest medical financing. I also discovered that since I'd dropped my health insurance, I could no longer get the VISUAL testing I needed, since they run it through MEDICAL, something I'd investigated before dropping it, only to be told the wrong info. In October, I signed up again.

2025:  All was fine until August (last month!) when another wound opened on the back of my right leg, as a result of my scratching an itch. I went back on the compression.  Three weeks later (Aug 22nd), I noticed mild pain in that foot, and attributed it to maybe my new shoes were the issue, and switched back to the old ones.  More comfy, though I did notice a rash developing where the pain was.  Three days later, that rash became a wound, so I made an appointment with the podiatrist.  Over the next week, the pain would get worse, and on Aug 29th, was mock-begging my boss to cut my foot off.  Had the next day off, then Sunday the 31st, asked if I could work while wearing one of my house slippers, and Keri told me to wear both of them, which I did, only due to no arch support, my LEFT calf was in agony.  Decided to wear one shoe, and one slipper, only I wore my newer shoe, NOT the old one.  BUT, I was in so much pain, I was nearly in tears at the end of a 6 hour shift.  Sept 2nd, I called in, due to the pain (I had begun taking Tylenol Arthritis 660 mgs every 6 hours, which was hardly touching the pain). After some research, I discovered Aleve or Advil was more advisable for Achilles Tendon pain, so took 4 Aleve at 2pm on Wed Sept 3rd, and by the time I had choir practice, I could walk normally again.

Had my appt on the 4th, and cultures of the wounds were taken, plus tests set up.  I managed to make it through my 5 hour shift on Sunday Sept 7th, then was very gratefull to have the 8th off. I also got a phone call from the Wound Care center, saying my precertification for that appt was denied.  I could only get PREVENTATIVE appointment, not something possible coded for surgery, of which I had zero knowledge.  I was also informed that if I have the tests done on Friday (blood flow assessment and vein echo), I would be responsible for the entire bills; insurance would pay zilch.

SO WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, FOR OTHER THAN MY EYES????

Makes NO sense!  United Health Care for PART TIMERS SUCKS!

And no, I don't qualify for Medicare for 5 more years, and we make too much $$ for me to go on HIP.  So my choices are to keep working part time; give up my other job to go full-time (which at the moment won't work due to my foot); quit and piss off the spouse by having to pay my $1000 every month expenses (bill pay $610, credit card $200; credit card $100; streaming services $17; cover art $200/50 until paid; Patreon $5); keep my job and divorce my spouse (at least on paper!) and qualify for HIP, and continue paying my own expenses.

Or win the damn lottery......

Totally Disgusting Behavoir

 Two weeks ago, our Prez decided to go radio quiet for 2 days.

Dems began speculating he'd passed on.....then VICTORY CRIED over it.

WTH????

You realize if he does unexpectedly pass on, JD VANCE takes over??

Idiots....

*****

In unrelated news, another disgusting development has occurred.

A Ukranian teen was brutally murdered in NC on a subway, train, or bus by a guy who's been caught/released 14 times.

Some IDIOT Dems have created a GoFundMe page for....wait for it....

NOT the family of the murdered teen...

THE DAMN FELON WHO KILLED him/her!

WTH?

Since when do we set up bail $$ for people CAUGHT ON CAMERA committing a crime???

Some people have their priorities upside down.

Is that collider to blame?  Are we all living in an alternate universe now, where the bad guys are the protected species? (Yes, I watched an episode of Bones where people were worried about the collider destroying the world.  Given the fact people are doing everything to undermine the other half of voting people, alternate universe (see above).

Here We Go Again.....

Yesterday, the US helped Israel bomb the sh*t out of Iran's uranium mines/resourses/whatever-the-hell-was-going-on.

Dems:  You did it w/o Congressional approval!  You can't declare war by yourself!

Everyone else with brains in their heads:  Iran basically thumbed their noses/flipped the bird at the US, so it was time to show them how we deal with entitled terrorists.  

While the victory lap is playing out in the media, I'm just over here wondering what happens if and when they retaliate?

Are we about to embark on WW3?

Does the US in fact have sleeper cells that will wake up in retaliation?

Will gas prices skyrocket again?

Will I ever get my cover art?

What does the future have in store for the rest of this year or even my kids and grandkids?

Breathe....God's got this.

They Don't Get It.....

July 14, 2025 has been 'declared' by Dems "No More Kings" Day.

All protests, supposedly peaceful, are to support the following:

Our immigrant neighbors. If you're here LEGALLY, you don't have a problem!

Our sick and disabled neighbors. WTF does THIS have to do with anything? Oh yeah....you're still scared of the whole SS-Elon-having-access thing. All he did was point out the ABUSE!! HE DOESN;T CARE ABOUT YOUR SS #!!!

Our trans neighbors. The only ones I see panicking are the Dem ones. I know of three who aren't.

Our elderly neighbors. We should ALWAYS look out for our elderly neighbors, ESP those on a fixed income.

Our veteran neighbors. Same as above

Our Black and Indigenous neighbors. Again, if you're here LEGALLY, what's the issue???

Our neighbors with businesses affected by tariffs. Calm down; it will work itself out. Besides, what happened to America First back in the 90s?? BEFORE NAFTA???

Our neighbors with children whose schools have been stripped of their federal funding. They shouldn't have bought into the 'woke' ideology in the 1st place! School is for learning, not indoctrination....stick with the 3Rs, plus history, science, and civics!

Our pregnant neighbors who’ve lost reproductive rights. If you're pregnant, then you've not 'lost' your rights. I'll give them this one, since I'm pro-choice.

Our local librarians. WTF???

Our local teachers. Only issues I see with teachers is the stupid 'teach to the test' crap that's been going on. No one actually TEACHES anymore; it's all to get their students to pass the damn ISTEP test. What happened to the 3 Rs, plus History, Science, and Civics??? "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it...."

Our local LGBTQ+ youth. Again, we're putting a lot of FEAR into their heads, not FAITH.

We are standing for and with ALL the people this administration has harmed. We are not just protesting (the current president), we’re showing local people in marginalized communities they’re not alone. *eye roll*

There could only be a small group of us in town today. But just remember, when you see us out there, we’re standing with millions.

*********

Again, if I'm proven to be on the wrong side, I will revisit this and issue an apology.

I FIRMLY believe God allowed the past 4 years as a 'okay, I'll let you have your way, so you can see WHY it won't work."

Repubs reclaimed office because now we have to reverse the damage. I'll admit, at times I think we're swinging a little TOO far to the right (women's reproductive rights issues), but the rest is to clean up our country. Immigration was out of control; Gov't waste was out of control; and minorities are so scared (because they've been TOLD they're in danger!), they've decided to fight back against fake enemies.

LET THE MAN DO HIS JOB!!!!!

I Get It....But It's Frustrating....

 Finally heard back from my cover artist this morning, asking if I picture 'Uncle Charles' in a steampunk hat.

My first, knee-jerk reaction (I'd only been awake maybe 10 mins and hadn't had any coffee yet!) was 'No, no no....what part of TOP HAT don't you understand?"

Then I calmed down and took a 2nd look, and told her the 1st one would work.

Then she asked if I only wanted a top hat....so I replied yes, BUT the 1st one would work if she'd already bought it; it was whimsical enough.

But I really only picture him in a top hat. He's an old-fashioned gentleman.

Then the next text was, she's back from vacation on Wed and will finish up.

*needle scratch*

She went on vacation w/o fulfilling a JOB?  One that she's been working on since APRIL?  And I've been waiting for this for 3 MONTHS now?

I get it; she's only 23. At that age, I would have taken a vacay also.

But it's so frustrating, since I loved everything about the 1st cover EXCEPT THE MODEL!

Wouldn't it have been a simple photoshop remove/replace?  Or am I being too simplistic in my approach to cover art?

She wowed me with the Defending Destiny cover, and when I asked her if she'd do the Playing With Time one, I indicated I wanted to release it in March or April.....and now it will be June tomorrow.  I already cancelled one major trip, due to my hours being cut and either doing the show with no inventory or cancelling and buying inventory.  I opted for inventory.

I guess I'll be showing it off at either Pride or Imaginarium.....

At least Heart Song already HAS a cover....I may go back to Dawne for the Aiden Kross cover and RiKar's story.