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.

Another Eye Roll Moment

I have a friend who is married to a LEGAL hardworking man from the Carribean (I don't remember his heritage...he's a sweet guy and VERY supportive of his wife!).

Today she posted they had decided to cancel a VERY IMPORTANT and long-dreamed for cruise, because now they were worried about border crossing.

A) HE"S LEGAL!

B) If you give into fear, then you're letting FEAR dictate your actions, not FAITH. (oh wait....I don't think they're believers??? Silly me....)

C) From what I understand when my son had booked a cruise, passports were not required, since they were on a registered cruise line, not a yacht.

D) See B.

She also is a major complainer about the price of food; granted, she's battling pre-diabetes and has changed her diet drastically to organic (which costs 3xs as much!) and specialty foods from his native lands that he likes.

She is also a major complainer about her income, and recently was in a panic over having to pay THOUSANDS in taxes....my question was who the hell does her taxes?  Granted, I probably pay out less for promo, but if you add in my trips, they probably come fairly close to hers, unless I'm waaaaay off.  The only reason we had to pay the past 2 years was a) we lost the child income credit (last baby turned 18); b) we lost $12K in income, due to him falling off SSI; and c) we paid off several thousands in credit card debt with a consolidation loan, not knowing it would count as 'income'.  WTF???

***Side Note:  This is why I'm trying to keep my CC paid down.  They raised me to $800 last year, and I stupidly used it at the Christmas Show, instead of paying down my medical, like I'd planned to do when it was only $500.  Trying desperately NOT to use it this summer, to get it back down.  I planned to use it in Branson, but canceled my trip to Superman to avoid using it for the hotel and travel expense.  There's an Italian resteraunt in that town that I love, but it will have to wait until next year!  Same with Imaginarium; I'm looking to share with Sandy again, so I only have to pay her $120 for two nights in the room.  Or $180, if I can swing staying until Monday....***

Anyway.....D keeps telling me to unfriend her if she drives me crazy.  I enjoy her books; we have fun when we're together.  And she DID end the rant with the fact that last night was the first time she'd slept through the night w/o a sleep aid.  So instead of bypassing her post, I comm Anxiented to 'always trust your gut'.  

Anxiety over a decision or event is NEVER a good sign. While I never lost any sleep over the 'to-go-or-cancel', I was immediately at peace once I sent the email. It will be there next year, and now I've used the funds to restock my display.

Now if my cover artist would just get with the program and send me a cover I love.....

Interesting Timing???

 Three things came out this past weekend:

1) Book claiming Fmr Pres JB's mental capacities were 'limited', due to dementia (hey, we already knew that!)

2) Previous interview (unfiltered, not the one 'doctored') which showed his obvious confusion

3) Fmr Pres JB has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer.

First and foremost, as I've watched beloved family and friends battle various forms of cancer, I'm deeply sorry.

But you have to admit, the timing of this is fishy.

1) Yes, it is embarrassing for the Fmr 1st family to see truths they've tried so hard to keep hidden come to light, not only in book form, but a whole media tour and the tapes aired across all platforms for everyone to hear.

2) The cancer diagnosis lends an air of 'yes, this happened, but now he's got a potentially terminal illness, so can't you just let it go and give the family some peace in his final months?'

So what is it; has he had the diagnosis for a while, or did the genuinely just now get the news?

100 Day Recap

 Friends have been b**ching about everything the President has done: Overturning EVERYTHING the previous administration put in place, and now the Dems are trying to Impeach him.  FOR WHAT???

-Deporting criminals and illegal aliens

-Closing the border

-New trade deals

-Treaty with Ukrain over Rare Earth Minerals

-Finding Gov't waste and putting an end to it.

But they're still b**ching about the price of eggs, the tarrifs causing things to be more costly or even disappearing from shelves.....here's my response:

"I have lived through Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. In my lifetime have I never seen or heard of a President being scrutinized over every word he speaks, humiliated by the public to the point of wanting to hurt someone, slandered, ridiculed, insulted, and lied to. I have never heard their wives or children threatened, insulted, and humiliated. I am truly ashamed of the behavior of people in this country. I am ashamed of the ruthless, hating, cruel Trump haters who have no morals, and news reporters who feel they have the right to purposely lie and chastise the president. Every past President was left to run the country after they were elected and had taken the oath of office. They weren’t on the news 24/7 being drawn and quartered, every word and sentence dissected, constantly pressured to do this or that without an ounce of moral support.

ENOUGH is ENOUGH! LEAVE THE MAN ALONE. LET HIM DO HIS JOB!"