Today, I was a bad blogger. I thought about blogging several times. I even came up with several topics that would work.  However, I just didn't. Mainly because, it's Sunday, and Sundays are taken up with church and church stuff. And of course, the required afternoon nap. Plus, I've been reading a new book. 

So...as soon as I click post, I'm going back to my book.  Here's the question...

What are you reading.  Share in the comments and be entered to win stuff. You can check under the "contest" category for all the info.

Me, I'm reading A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas.  My oldest daughter got me started on the series. The first one is, A Court of Thorns and Roses. These are so good. I'd sit and read from start to finish if I could.  I wanted to read all night last night but had to be up early today. This is definitely a series you need to start with the first, but I highly, highly recommend them.

​Some of y'all aren't going to like this but...

We need to be supporting our police forces and officers.  These guys and gals are doing a darn tough job that most of us don't want to be doing. They deserve our respect and support.  Yeah, yeah, I know...there are a few bad ones out there.  But you know what...there are a few bad accountants out there. There are a few bad postal workers out there...heck...we even have a phrase for it...going postal. There are a few bad car salesmen, bad doctors, bad lawyers, bad electricians, bad plumbers, and so on. There are bad folk in every job or career.

Here's the thing...  When a cop gets up in the morning and kisses his family goodbye, he doesn't know he'll ever see them again. When a cop pulls over a car with a taillight out and approaches...she doesn't know who or what is waiting in the vehicle. It may be a simple, "I didn't know it was out." kind of thing. Or, it may be a criminal with a gun who has decided he's not going to go to jail.

Not long ago, we rented a car for a roadtrip. We had barely made it out of town when a trooper pulled me over. Come to find out...the rental car had two different plates on it...from out of state. And switching plates is one thing drug runners do.  When he approached us, he didn't know if we were out of state drug runners...we were on a road noted for that...he had no clue he'd meet two authors on the way to a book event with a rental car.  We treated him with respect, answered his questions, cooperated with his instructions, and it all worked out fine. 

Here's where my 2 cents come in...

If you don't want cops to pull you over while driving...obey the law.  Don't speed...make sure you use your turn signals, drive safely, etc.

If a cop does pull you over...don't be a smartass. Treat them with respect. If they ask you to do something, don't give 'em any lip...just do it.  If you think you are in the right...wait and tell the judge. 

If you don't want to be arrested and have to deal with the police...don't break the law. It's that simple.

A couple years back, my daughters and I took a women's safety course. One of the cool things we did was to get to use the FATS...FireArms Training Simulator. This was so cool. What it does is project an image on a big screen and you "role play" the simulation.  For example...approaching someone in a parking lot, or the cute guy standing on the corner, or even the domestic disturbance.  It was an interesting, enlightening, intense experience. Unfortunately, the first scenario...I died. It was a well-dressed, well-groomed gentleman, he wanted to chat so we stood on corner and all of a sudden, he pulled a gun from behind and killed me. Let's just say, I shot first and asked questions later next time.

Cops are doing a tough job. They deserve respect and admiration. They deserve our support and consideration. If not for cops, our cities would be overrun with crime and complete chaos. Let them know you got their back...tell 'em thanks and let them know they are appreciated.

,Another confession...I'm a grazer. I'm not one for sitting at the table for three meals a day. I even raised my kids as grazers. When they were little, I kept a container of peanut butter crackers on the counter and when they needed a snack, they were free to grab a couple.  Until the day I moved couch away from wall and found pile of ritz crackers with no peanut butter. Little heathens. 

I also tend to have something nearby when I do serious writing.  Lately I've become hooked on the "very berry" sour gummy worms. I've even gotten my writer daughter  started on them. :-)

That said, I don't eat bag after bag. Especially since I'm working on getting healthier this year. But...a few, ever so often, with restraint, isn't so bad.

I also like plain m&ms...and those Brookside dark chocolates with the pomegranate  centers. And the Hershey's almond things that come in a bag...

       What's your favorite snackage for writing?  And don't you just love that word...snackage? Mmmm...snackage.  I need more snackage.

I like today's prompt so decided to go with it...

As far back as I can remember, I've had a thing for horses.  I remember reading Black Beauty and all the Black Stallion books over and over and over. If a book had a horse in it, I read it.

I finally managed to talk family into a pony after we moved to the country when I was 9. We had ponies for a couple years, we grew and they didn't so they were re-homed to smaller kids. 

There were a few years when I didn't have a horse but I eventually got one. He wasn't really mine so got sold (long, sad, story) and it wasn't until I settled after basic training that I purchased my own horse. He was a character and I love him still even though with life issues involved in moving so often in the military, I gave him to a family who had a teenage daughter who needed a horse of her own.  

Shortly after we married, my hubby reenlisted and used his bonus to buy me a 6-month-old Thoroughbred colt. His parents were actually real race horses on the Florida track. We we living in Florida at time and I intended to train and race him.  But, the military had other plans and shipped us to Guam for 2 years and I couldn't afford to have him "professionally" trained so he grew up with some friends while I was gone.

But back to childhood dreams.  My plan to was attend a famous "horse school" and learn everything about horses.  How to ride fancy, and not so fancy...all the care stuff, and of course training.  Things didn't work out and I ended up in the military.  And honestly, I don't regret the military decision. I wouldn't be who I am today.

After retiring, more life happened and I just never got another.  I've thought about it many times, but I look at the practical and know for me, right now, horses are just not in the big picture.

That said, one day, when I have a granddaughter...if she wants a horse...you can bet I'll be taking her horse shopping. 

Oh, I also wanted to be a criminal psychologist but then Manson went all Helter Skelter and I realized I'd have to work with beings like him and changed my plans.

Sorry this is so long but...one thing that remained constant throughout my childhood was telling stories. I didn't realize it could be done by "regular" people. I thought writers were special, elite persons.  But here I am, all these years later...writing and telling stories.

Confession time...I'm not one for serious organization. My desk is a prime example of that. Piles and piles of stuff but I know, for the most part, what is in each pile.  And I'm not one for a strict schedule either. I have a "sorta" routine but I'm flexible. I still get things done, and it works for me.

That said, these last two days, I've had no routine. I've not even had a schedule of any sorts. Hubby has been home from work so that means breakfast and lunch for him. Plus he tends to be a distraction. He left for work about 30 minutes ago so I'm in catch-up mode.

Thing is, I've got to get in a more scheduled day. I've got another major distraction coming soon and there must be routine and structure to the day.

Any structure/routine setting tips?  I love the "eat the frog first" analogy, though I don't always take that advice. Share your favorite ideas....please!

I'm not a grammar snob. In fact, you'll notice I tend to use a lot of ellipsis's when I don't really need them. I just like them...they work. And I'm okay with some folks not liking how I use them....  Notice the extra . since it's the end of a sentence. :-)  I also use emojis in blog posts, which is supposed to be a no-no. I use words like puter, cause, (without the ' showing I left off the be.) and sometimes, I forget or ignore the Oxford Comma, especially in blog posts.  I mean, blogs are less formal. I think blogs, for the most part, are a way for people to get to know each other. Sure, there are informative blogs out  there that need to be formal and proper, but this isn't one of them.

That said, using that when you should use who, bothers me.  And the book I'm editing now does that a lot.  I mean, almost all the time.

So, here's the rule. 

If you are speaking of a person or group of people - use who.
If you are speaking of a thing or animal - use that.

Simple. Easy. 

Unless...you are specifically treating a person with disdain, as a non-human, then you can use that.  For example, "Max is the jerk that married Jim's daughter."  Just be deliberate about it. 

What is your grammar peeve?   Share and be entered to win stuff. See contest post for more details.

​Here's a picture of Watson out in the snow. He really liked it and didn't want to come in.

Snow! That's right...cold, frozen, white bits of evil, falling from the sky.  That's what they say is going to happen in our area. Possibly 3 inches of the foul stuff. I'm hoping they are misinformed and we don't get any. In fact, I'm ready for summer and a trip to the beach.

Personally, I like snow. I like it to come, stay a day or two, then go away. And when we get snow here in our part of Texas, that's what it does. 

Here's the problem. Most people in our area have no clue how to handle snow and ice. Just the mention of winter weather sends most everyone to the store  for milk, bread, cereal, poptarts, water, and all sorts of "emergency" rations.  And, that leaves the store shelves bare for at least a week for those of us who don't make the mad rush.

And driving...oh my. I think the drivers become even more dangerous. Look, white stuff on the road, let's see how fast we can go.  It's like they turn crazy. It's already scary driving here but most Texas drivers have no business on the road with snow and ice.

What about you? Are you involved in winter?  Are you enjoying it? 

Oh...the snowman in the above picture was built by my kids about 7 years ago. And yep, in Texas, our snowmen wear cowboy hats. 

It's been one of those days...I took a nap after church instead of blogging so I'm just going to remind you about the contest.

​At the end of this month, I'll be giving away...

An autographed copy of one of my books...winner's choice.
A "Let There Be Light" Zox Imperial Band 
Chocolate...again, winner's choice.

To be entered, all you need to do is comment on  the blog during the month.  Each comment will get you one entry.

If you share, that will get you another entry.

Also, if you'll leave your email address for our quarterly (or less) newsletter, that will get you another entry. 

A random winner will be drawn on February 1st.  

  The world of publishing is a world filled those (I won't call them people.) who only want to take advantage of writers. From editors, publishers, and marketing "experts" there is a scam for ever aspect of publishing. And not only new writers get taken in, not so novice ones do too.

The best place I know to find info on publishing scams is WriterBeware.  There is also a blog to go with them. And a Facebook page.

Spend time there before spending any money on the publishing process. Losing hard-earned money to a slimeball isn't fun.

You can also Google, it's a wonderful way to get info.

I know the drive to get published. It often makes us blind to the scams and not so nice things out there.  Take a deep breath, step back, and study things a bit. Don't get scammed.

​

,Do you have a plan? Or do you just wing it? 

I'm sure you have a general idea of the things you need to accomplish each day, but do you have a plan to get those things done? I mean, without a specific plan, even if it's just a to-do list, things sometimes don't get done that really need to be.

I have to admit, I'm not a big planner. I've been winging it for a long time. I get most things done though occasionally something will slip through the crack of my busy day. And I usually remember just about the time I fall asleep.  Big sigh here. :-)

That said, one thing I'm working on this year is to be more deliberate. To be more organized. I don't mind being organized, it's the "getting" organized I dislike. 

I'm looking at several action planners. Trying to find one that works for me or that I can tweak a bit. I'm a big tweaker. 

Here's some things my daily action planner will include.

Personal enrichment time - If I want to grow as a person, I need to continue to learn. Things like marketing, how to make the best use of social media, and of course, how to improve my writing.

Family time - I need to be deliberate and make time to spend with my family.

Fitness time - I sit at the computer most of the day so I need to be reminded to get up and move.

Me time - This is time to relax, maybe read some for fun or play a quick game on the puter. 

Spiritual time - We all need to do something for our "spirit"  and maybe I'll add in some meditation.

What would you add to the list? 

If you are into planners, check out Productive Flourishing. He has Action Planners, planners for blogging, and several others. Plus, they are free.