May Showers & IWSG

IWSG

 Okay today is what I will term a b***h session. I am officially done with Microsoft. I have used Word (Microsoft365) for over 20 years, subscribing after having bought it back when you still could. I love Word. I loved the whole package, and my husband uses excel all the time in his work. So, up until now this has been a win-win situation. Now I am locked out of my account AND there is no way to get back in. Before you ask if I’ve done this or that or whatever, yes, I have. I have tried changing passwords. I have filled out the recovery forms. I have gone on the community boards to no avail. I have called every single number for help that Microsoft has. I have gone to a computer store where they told me they don’t bother calling Microsoft because they can’t talk to a real person either. There is NO way to talk to a real person to get my account unlocked.  I won’t even go into my thoughts on their use if AI on the phone or chats. I can’t even get in to stop paying for my subscription. I will have to contact my credit card to have them refuse payment because I’m not paying for something I can’t use anymore. So, what is a writer to do when her favorite writing program is no longer available?

If any of you have suggestions, I am happy to hear them. The guy at the computer store said there are free use programs like Libreoffice. I am currently researching my options. In the meantime I am so very frustrated and angry with Microsoft. I feel let down and taken advantage of. They’ll take my $$ but not give me any help. Now my rant is over. Not my frustration, just the rant. 

On to honoring our IWSG co-hosts for May! Please visit their sites and thank them for their efforts today!

Feather Stone, Janet Alcorn, Rebecca Douglass, Jemima Pett,and Pat Garcia!

I'm not going to answer the question of the month this time, as I feel I've already spent enough time moaning on this post! I will say that I'm glad spring has finally arrived, and along with it the showers April didn't give us. I have also spent a lot of time in my garden which has given me moments of touching, feeling, smelling earth, and, as does happen sometimes, scenes. Scenes leading me back into my story. Happy May. 

From my springing garden...

 

April Is Upon Us IWSG

 

IWSG

Good Day to you all. Today this post will be very short. Hope you all have a wonderful spring-filled April with lots of flowers and good rain...

A little Madness in the Spring  

by Emily Dickinson

A little Madness in the Spring

Is wholesome even for the King,

But God be with the Clown -- 

Who ponders this tremendous scene --

This whole Experiment of Green --

As if it were his own!

Please go and visit our amazing co-hosts this month and thank them for their support...

Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, Natalie Aguirre!

In Come The Ides of March IWSG

The Ides of March is the Roman calendar date of March 15, 

which is associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE

The term "Ides" comes from the Latin word iduare, which means "to divide

Interesting that Ides comes from Iduare, to divide. 

We are in such a state of flux right now, I find no surprise in this timing.

Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky

And now on to another subject! I've been "binge reading" a series called "The Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Have any of you read it? There are a few spin offs as well about wolves and such. Meant for children (published by Scholastic) it makes me think of Harry Potter in how it was written for children/youth, but adults loved it too. If you like owls, these are the books for you. The author Kathryn Laske, is a wonderful world builder. She creates such an interesting and full place that sometimes I feel I'm flying right along with the owls. I'm learning as well, from reading all of these novels together. I've only binged with a few other authors. Anne McCaffrey is one, Ray Bradbury another, C.S. Lewis and of course Tolkien. Also C.S. Harris and her St. Cyr Mysteries and our own Alex Cavanaugh's Cassa series. Well... I guess I have binged quite a few! I don't know if I could ever write a series, but maybe one day I'll give it a try.

Now, on to the IWSG portion of this post today! 

The question of the day is "If you could be anyone or anything in the world, what would it be?

There are so many things to be, so many people who inspire, yet, I think I would still choose to be me. "The grass is greener..." analogy works best for my reasoning. Too many unknowns to being something or someone else. I'll just be here and continue learning to love me, warts and all, lol.

Please go by our co-hosts this month and thank them for being who they are!

Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

Now for the necessary photos this month... Photos (large size for the details) in February and the COOOOLLLDDD! These are all in Hocking Hills, The Old Man's Cave section, southeast Ohio.

February 2025 Already IWSG

 

IWSG

Conflict. Every story must have this at some point or no one will read it. This is a truth we all know and have come to live with. This year however, for me, is about more than dealing with conflict in my stories. It is how to deal with conflict in my life, in my country, and in my future. I know some people are happy with where our country is and where it seems to be going. I will admit here and now I am not. I am afraid. I have never felt this way about my country before. I still have hope in humanity and the good in people, however I'm not sure right now that that is enough. I won't say anymore because I'm too emotional about this. All I can do is pray and send as much love and light as I can throughout this country that I love, and the world and hope for the best. I wish you all well...

Please go and visit our co-hosts this month and thank them for being there for all of us.

Joylene Nowell Butler, Louise Barbour,  and Tyrean Martinson!

February 5 question - Is there a story or book you've written you want to/wish you could go back and change?

Yes! The one I can't seem to finish right now! Maybe this year when I get home...?

Some photos of our current trip in France. I look at them a lot as they help me remember the good things, and people, in my life...

Co-grandparents! Geoffrey, Bob, Christine and Lisa!

New friends we met in Laguiole, Annie and Jean-Claude from Bozouls!

Looking for a special knife in Laguiole (No! You don't pronounce the g!)

A friend paragliding

Bozouls

Joan of Arc

"Le Trou de Bozouls" The Canyon of Bozouls, very worth visiting

January 2025 IWSG First Post Of The Year, And From France!

IWSG WEBSITE

Bonne Annee as they say here in France, but with an accent on the first "e" in annee. It looks funny without it. Happy New Year, as we say in the States! We've been traveling since December 5th, 2024, so I missed December's post. Can't say I'm sorry because, yes, traveling! I'm sitting in the Pyrenees mountains in a "gite", like an AirBNB and it's quiet and beautiful, serene and a good place to start out the new year. I miss my children, yet know they are doing well and are happy in their lives. I miss wanting to write and have decided to talk to my doctor about some meds I've been taking to see if what I am suspecting is true. Since I started taking them I have no desire to use my imagination. It's disheartening. So, that is what I plan to do after my return to the States. 

Meanwhile, the question for this new month in this new year for the IWSG group is:

Describe someone you admired when you were a child. Did your opinion of that person change when you grew up?

My Dad. I admired him greatly. He was strong, handsome, loved my mom, and seemed a good role model. He was my Dad. As an adult my opinion did change, but not in a cut-and-dried sort of way. He was still my Dad. I loved him greatly and respected his force of character. Yet, as an adult I could also see less positive traits and I became aware of how his anger had played a real part in my growing personality. So, I saw him as a man, a human who had failings as well as strengths. I think perhaps we all go through this with our parent, and also idols along the way in life. People are, after all, perfectly imperfect. 

Please go and visit the websites of our wonderful and brave co-hosts this month and thank them for being here for us all:

Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles

To begin this new phase of life, here are a few photos of the trip so far. I hope you enjoy them. Here's to wishing you every good thing this year...

The cathedral in St Bertrand de Comminges 

My husband in the Pyrenees, his heart place.

The Pyrenees...

Engres & Bourdelle Museum in Montauban

A Bourdelle sculpture in the museum 

Us in Toulouse

One of the many light figures at the Village de Noel!

Projected on the side of an historic building

My husband and me

With our friends Titou and Gilles in Perpignan, in the JOB mansion

My favorite meal: Confit de Canard!

On the Mediterranean...