Misc

The Great Marketing Scheme of January 2020

The way they reported the coming of the storm, we thought we were in for a major disaster. They said there would be widespread power outages, and it could be days or weeks before power was restored. They said this storm would be a record breaker.

People listened. The stores were full of people buying supplies that they would need to ride out the storm and its aftermath. I was among them. I went to Dollar General and bought food that would keep me fed when I wouldn’t be able to use my stove. I made some preparations around the house. Got out all of my flashlights and candles. I was ready

On Facebook, under a Flint Police Operations post, I saw a woman comment that if her power went out, she would have to leave home, because she had an infant. People responded to her comment, telling her she should leave her home before the storm hit, because she wouldn’t want to be on the road during the storm.

The woman agreed. Her next comment said that she had booked a hotel room and she was leaving her home right away.

Well, the storm hit. It rained ice and I guess it was pretty windy. But Sunday morning, I still had power. My patio chairs had not moved an inch and neither had my outdoor garbage can. I didn’t see any tree branches in the yard.

On Facebook, one of my cousins was disappointed that he didn’t get to use his fancy new generator. A few people reported that their lights had flickered, but I haven’t heard about any actual outages. Someone very accurately said, “Well, that was the Detroit Lions of winter storms.”

I’ve been calling the whole thing a marketing scheme. I went out and spent money that I had not wanted to spend, to purchase supplies that I thought I would need to get through a few days without power. A lot of other people did the same. For nothing.

The storm was pretty weak in comparison to some of the storms I’ve lived through. It sure as hell wasn’t a record breaker. Now what’s going to happen next time they cry wolf?

Misc

Bracing for the Storm

The picture was taken from the Dollar General parking lot. The parking lot of the ice-cream place is a lake. And that’s just the beginning.

The big winter storm is coming. We’re expecting freezing rain, snow, high winds and whatnot. I will probably lose power, for how many days is unknown.

I don’t have a generator, but I can manage without electricity. I could go to my mom and dad’s, where they have a big generator ready to go on as soon as the power goes out, but I’d rather stay home, unless it gets too cold.

I got Armour Vienna Sausage and beef jerky and I plan to boil a dozen eggs and keep them in the refrigerator. Because when the power goes out, I won’t be able to cook, and I need meat. I have plenty of bottled water and pop., and I have snack foods.

My phone will be on the charger until the power goes out. After that, my phone usage will be limited, so I don’t run down the battery.

I’m ready. Bring it on.

Misc

Aunt Barb

This picture was taken just before I left the Suncrest nursing home in November, where we had that little family gathering for Aunt Barb. I’m not sure who took it. I didn’t even know there was a picture until later. All I knew at that moment was I wasn’t leaving without saying goodbye to Aunt Barb.

The celebratory mass will be January 20, 11 AM, at the St Joseph Catholic church in Lake Orion.

Misc, On Writing, Writing

That Book

Every once in a while, Michael Knost posts a question on Facebook about books that we’ve read. For example, his latest question about books was “What was your first book that made an impact on you as a reader?”

I’m often among those who responds. I love books and I appreciate the invitation to share about the books I’ve read. Though, to several different questions that Mike had posted over the years, my answer was “The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton.”

This copy here is the exact same copy that I read when I was 12 or 13. I kept it all these years. It was just lying around the house when I was a kid. I believe it came in a box of used books that our aunt Charlotte gave us.

There is no book that I love more than The Outsiders. I relate to Ponyboy in a lot of ways. This is also the only book that I’ve read more than a few times. I read it several times when I was a teenager, and I read it a few more times when I was in my twenties. I plan to read it again. It’s on my to-read list, I just haven’t gotten to it yet.

The Outsiders influenced my writing. I feel it every time I’m writing a story. The emotions that I try to bring out of my characters and hopefully my readers. I’m always trying to write something that will shatter even the toughest of my readers. But I’ll probably never pull it off the way S.E. Hinton did.

Well, today was productive. I wrote ten new pages into the novel and I edited 10 pages of a short story.

I’m sad that Mike Resnick died. He once explained to me how he was able to write around 15,000 words a day, finishing novels in a few days. Resnick was one of the writers who inspired me to just bang down one story after another.

Misc

Aunt Barb

I just got the text from my dad. Aunt Barb passed away this morning. This feels like “The Queen has died.” and church bells should ring for hundreds of miles. Barb was Catholic and she carried herself with dignity.

Misc

Gray Tides Have come In

The drums of doom sound in my head as deep depression washes over me. I approached 2020 eager to launch a new year. I had hopes of high productivity, successes, and I had planned to get out more and have a social life. I thought 2020 would be a good year for me.

Since day one, 2020 has been a downward spiral. An entry that I had intended to be nothing more than an update about my day started a chain reaction of misconceptions that I cannot set straight. Now I feel like I could never again be in the same room with those involved.

I’m struggling to hold my head above the water. Maybe I’ll make it to shore, but it’s hard when my ankle is tied to a brick. Maybe I’ll make it to shore or maybe I won’t, and I’m not sure I care if I don’t.