tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78368408988528311002024-03-18T19:17:00.580-04:00Riding & Writing...Gina McKnight, Monday Creek Publishing Author, Freelance Writer, Equestrian, Blogger, and Poet! Welcome to my international blog about horses, writers, authors, books, cowboys, equestrians, photographers, artists, poets, poems, and more horses.
As seen in #FloridaEquineAthlete, #ArabianFinishLine, #HorseGirlTV, #LivingRuralTV, #AmericanHorsePublications, #trueCOWBOYmagazine, #HayNetUK, and #GirlGab.com...Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.comBlogger2290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-35648720911703610542024-03-18T04:00:00.000-04:002024-03-18T08:29:23.437-04:00Milliron Monday: Letters Home Oct 10 1960<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/s3481/L%20Home.jpg" style="color: #990000; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3481" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/w640-h510/L%20Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.2px;"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome</i> to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">Pete is studying and working hard as per usual plus spending all his "free" time including Saturday morning in the vet clinic, barns, laboratories, etc. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></b></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">― Jody Smith</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Route 1</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fort Collins, Colorado</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Monday, October 10, 1960</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Dear Mom, Dad, and Jessie,</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span> Sorry I've been so negligent in my writing.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span> We're all just fine, hope you're the same. Jess, I hope your cold is better. Jessica is her sweet little self as per usual, she's really a good little baby now - rarely a peep out of her except for her laughs and coos. Pete is studying and working hard as per usual plus spending all his "free" time including Saturday morning in the vet clinic, barns, laboratories, etc. Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and occasionally after school on weekdays he has to work for Birky's, so, needless to say, it's rather difficult for him to find enough time to get all his studies done - but so far so good.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span> Daddy - we're still waiting anxiously to hear from you - what days will you be here? Where can we meet you? etc. We've already gotten permission from Mr. Curry for you to hunt deer on his ranch so don't forget to bring your gun or, if need be, perhaps Pete can borrow a gun for you somewhere. I think deer season in this area is from Oct. 22 to Nov. 6, but I can check for sure. Les and Pete both say they'll guarantee you a deer so the prospects sound pretty good.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span> Thank you very much, Mom, for the nightgowns and robes. They surely feel wonderful, soft and warm when I get up at 5:30 or 6 a.m. every morning. No matter what time I feed Jessica she's hungry by 6 a.m. She'll sleep straight through from 9 in the evening to 6 in the morning, or if I get her up at 10 or 11 or so in the night and feed her, she still wakes up at 6 a.m. Actually this is quite convenient since I have to have Pete's breakfast ready by 7:15 a.m.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span> Pete's Dad was here this weekend, Saturday evening and part of Sunday. Simmy and one of her friends, Sally Giggy, also stopped in so we had a houseful yesterday.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> Thanks also, Mom, for the envelope of clippings, magazines, etc., which arrived awhile ago, also am enjoying the sink spray very much.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Thank you again for the money in the account - our little house is quite well set up now. We bought Field's stove, our refrigerator is the one from the apartment and then we bought an older model for the apartment. We bought a washer from Don Wall (guy you went to see, Mom). Less and Hope lent us a nice knotty-pine end table, bookcase, and two matching chairs which really look nice in the living room. Sally Giggy commented on how nice the kitchen curtains matched the room and said she thought you had "excellent taste", Mom. So that's quite a compliment coming from a home economist!</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Can't remember if I told you that I canned about 7 quarts of bread and butter pickles. They turned out real well - luckily. Mrs. Birky was canning them and ran out of time so she gave me a whole bunch of cucumbers and most of the spices I needed, it certainly was nice of her.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> We've been dragging out of bed in the wee hours of the morning chasing loose horses rather frequently. Three of the times these darn little kids have left the pasture gates wide open. Needles to say, after the last 5:30 a.m. jaunt, we told the youngsters to either shut the gates or stay home!</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> The last two Sundays we've started leaving Jessica in the church nursery while we attend services. Both times she's just laid in the crib and watched all the confusion around her.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Guess I'd best quit for now, will make a valiant attempt to write a little oftener.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Hope we'll be seeing you soon, Dad.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;">Love to you all, </i></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Jody</i></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Previous Letters Home:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-1959-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Sept 15, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-16-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 16, 1959</span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-26-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 26, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/letters-home-nov-22-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">N0v 22, 1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 2, </a><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-13-1959.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 13, 1959</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-17-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 17, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-23-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 23, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-31-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 31, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-5-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 5, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-12-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 12, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-5.html" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 5, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-march-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-21.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 21, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-24.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 24, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-april-7.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 7, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-10-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-18-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 18, 1960</a></span></div></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-24-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-30-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 30, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-1-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 1, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-may-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-28-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 28, 1960</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-4-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 4, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-june-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-24.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">July 6, 1960 </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-14.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 14, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-15.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 15, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-16.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-20.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 20, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-sept-10.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sept 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/03/milliron-monday-letters-home-sept-19.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sept 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/03/milliron-monday-letters-home-sept-27.html" target="_blank">Sept 27, 1960</a></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-4199332578650069082024-03-17T19:48:00.007-04:002024-03-17T23:08:08.106-04:00Sherry's Quarter Notes - Celebrating an Icon of Irish Music History: Tenor Michael Kelly <p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.sherrydavis.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8nvH-Cv-TZgOCkL-QmaACphM_3dVLrTAYxM3WJD0Qn8-8pWCmNRn4Dj_eEoZltlISpYoMsmOm-OYPusjpPTtXAMZdfJEcMGeyzXwhtfc5sknc98tG6MYlTiLLfjQzc-yy1G1N44d8l4ZGsyi0rjdTzXVji52gHpFyzDFQJ4krFwjUCM3PN0tpqLq7qw/w640-h360/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail.png" width="640" /></a></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: yellow; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.sherrydavis.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="640" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1Ndm9zWY3R1qXV8mU_53VTcYmGvdPDNDBF1RWwEAwk0NF1JVpwqxOZXrwmRPlK6udUJsoDFEl1AGzpDPUw-C7RB82tR6h1S6A95u4E0AWGcq_k7sMD5CkyeI_cpKRq0vPVIDif4Fx5JVSpVWsLme5mjPYxzZuy0KtsPP4s1PdqgfucOt_Jidev649xo/w640-h496/Reminiscences%20of%20Michael%20Kelly%201826.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Happy St.
Patrick’s Day! No other day of the year presents a more significant platform
through which to honor Irish culture than the annual holiday. Worldwide
celebrations abound for revelers with and without Irish ancestry. For on this
day, everyone is considered to be a part of the Emerald Isle and welcomed to
partake in the festivities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Besides the
coveted pints of Guinness, music is also a central part of the observance. A
soundtrack featuring traditional Irish music with tin whistles, fiddles and
flutes can be heard everywhere in conjunction with contemporary sounds. Even the
most ardent non-dancers are motivated to twirl about and cut a rug! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CisMrlijSGo" width="320" youtube-src-id="CisMrlijSGo"></iframe></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Evidence of
music in Ireland dates back to the Iron Age around 500 BC. Traditional Irish
music is rich and diverse. There’s more to the genre than the stereotypical
jig. There’s also more to Irish artists than the music of their homeland. So, I’ll
embrace the opportunity to introduce you to an extraordinary Irish artist whose
name escapes most curricula, programs and publications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Tenor
Michael Kelly was born in Dublin on Christmas Day 1762 and rose to prominence
as a teenager in his native city, which was at that time a renowned musical
capital. News of his ability reached visiting Italian artists who recommended
further opportunities for his study and performance in Italy, where he became
the first Irishman to appear on stage. His popularity in Italy led to his
employment in Vienna, where he eventually met Mozart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.sherrydavis.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="483" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRh94yn9TFSPT-inQ0LKPmTIIrSR_dPnL0O18jq7DWiCXFgFN7gLthQz-hA1SXsKA5Ml-C4t5vmjcNsbrJM-HEePuB216-qw_K1CK_ITUFHdXE5Bo5Dpv8Zy4r0sg9NN2pt9llLgAcMF0D1yvnyIDRewVh2UOvkbKLgz-yWS4q-j6d3mO2aAmCiLIyQc/w516-h640/Michael%20Kelly%20portrait%20by%20Ad%C3%A8le%20Romany%20between%201802%20and%201814.jpg" width="516" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.sherrydavis.org/" target="_blank">Michael Kelly</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">In his 1826 memoir,
<i>Reminiscences</i>, Kelly gifted posterity with some of the most descriptive
first-hand accounts of the composer. He described Mozart as “a remarkably small
man, very thin and pale, with a profusion of fine fair hair, of which he was
rather vain. He gave me a cordial welcome to his home and I spent a great deal
of time there. He always received me with kindness and hospitality. He was fond
of billiards and many a game have I played with him, but I always came off
second best.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Kelly received
one of the greatest honors of his career when he was cast in the premiere of
Mozart’s opera, <i>Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) </i>where he performed
not one, but two tenor roles: Don Curzio (judge) and Don Basilio (music
teacher). While working on the opera, Mozart introduced him to a duet he was composing
entitled “Crudel! Perchè finora” and they sang it together with Mozart at the
keyboard. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s amusing
given that this particular duet represents a scene where Count Almaviva is
trying to seduce his wife’s maid Susanna! I wonder who sang which part? If I
had to guess, I’d say Mozart sang the role of Susanna. Constanze Mozart wrote
of her husband’s voice that it was “a tenor, rather soft in oratory and
delicate in singing…” With both Kelly and Mozart being tenors and men of the
theater, I can only imagine the beauty of their harmonic and emotive exchange!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Kelly
described it in his memoir: “A more delicious morceau never was penned by man;
and it has often been a source of pleasure to me, to have been the first who
heard it, and to have sung it with its greatly-gifted composer.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J8nrJ8LelBA" width="320" youtube-src-id="J8nrJ8LelBA"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Kelly was a
celebrity in his own right and became particularly famous as a singer and
theater manager in Great Britain and Ireland, but what I glean from passages in
his memoir is that no other accomplishment seems to have compared to his encounter
with Mozart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">"I
remember that at the first rehearsal of the full band Mozart was on the stage,
with his crimson pelisse and his gold-banded cocked hat, giving the time of the
music to the orchestra. I shall never forget the little animated countenance
when lighted up with the glowing rays of genius. It is as impossible to
describe it as it would be to paint sunbeams."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Explore <i>Reminiscences</i>
via the University of Pittsburgh’s Digital Collections at: <a href="https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735056285756">https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735056285756</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.sherrydavis.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="5109" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtqKLaNFO0speTCymkJmP4J8MTR5nkFnavKWSUGRRjWxCrtyf1O_bXzusn74KG6rkZiJX0K5osRxtxrBElrSdy_z_845LS2j_lJMVNGBQxzZMN5cuQvWNMP7u5oHPf5s_IvyJwwCkjtBZad97LeLykpAhQ7kyk6V_g4caH05gnaP9s_7VbdmsvEMkpwc/w640-h146/Sherry%20Davisaa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-57959121122834740782024-03-12T20:18:00.008-04:002024-03-12T20:23:12.016-04:00Feeding the Birds: A Short Story by Gary Flory<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPN6cDZwOOqwDjsiZ1ofuewn65vICjmcUnAlZ7pMlUtfH5i7HDtF81AQE3xLD_84NUnD9hSh6RN8t5xH1gxH5VQsWCldYy2V_mkXGtkGnHVUiowj64Fq6zhq8-JcZlz7HFXqfwIPyjDCasiJdM7bS1bG19ue45KpWOLNlNg59yYF5fa0uKNK4oyB18hA/s1280/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPN6cDZwOOqwDjsiZ1ofuewn65vICjmcUnAlZ7pMlUtfH5i7HDtF81AQE3xLD_84NUnD9hSh6RN8t5xH1gxH5VQsWCldYy2V_mkXGtkGnHVUiowj64Fq6zhq8-JcZlz7HFXqfwIPyjDCasiJdM7bS1bG19ue45KpWOLNlNg59yYF5fa0uKNK4oyB18hA/w640-h360/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail.png" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the Spring of '63, I was sitting on the porch in the
swing drinking a freshly brewed cup of coffee. My neighbor, John, was across
the road working up a patch to plant his garden. We had been neighbors for over
twenty years and I always admired the man. My job didn’t require me to be at
work until 9 am, so spending a half hour in the swing in the morning allowed me
to organize my thoughts. Many times I would see John and his dog heading to the
barn to feed his few head of cattle. The chickens usually followed close behind
waiting their turn.</span></p><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">John had lost his wife a few years back. He said her heart
was just worn out. His dog Jake, kinda took her place in keeping him going. As
he was hoeing up the weeds, I noticed he stopped, and just leaned on his hoe,
like he was thinking about something. I decided I better go over and check to
see if he was ok. I put some ice in a glass and filled it with water and went
across the road. By then, he was sitting on the ground, next to his garden.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Hi John, thought you could use a cold drink.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“I believe I’ll take you up on that. Thanks.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Are you feeling ok?”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He looked down but didn’t say anything right away. Then he
looked up and said, “I’m tired.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Well just sit here awhile and rest.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Then he looked down again and said, “No, that’s not what I
meant. I’m tired of living.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I said, “What are
you, 82-83?”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">He said, “I’ll be 84 next month. Most of my friends
are already gone.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I sent up a quick prayer to God, asking, <i>how do I
respond to that?</i> I watched as Jake came over and laid on John’s lap. “Jake
would be very sad to lose his best friend.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">John nodded, “I guess he would.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“If God asked you to feed the birds, would you do it?”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">John looked at me with a puzzled look. “I guess I would,”
he replied. “Why did you ask me that?”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“John, I’ve watched you over the years do everything that
needed to be done to keep your farm going. Plowing, planting, and bringing in
the crops. Many times I saw you give a bag of vegetables to different families
after church. When you would butcher, you would make sure the widow down the
road would get some hamburger. You see John, you have been feeding the birds
for years.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">John was still looking down, but I could see a smile on his
face. Then I reached over and took the hoe out of his hand. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“I got a few minutes, I’ll give you a hand. Those weeds
aren’t going to pull themselves.”</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">John patted Jake on the head and said, “Come on Jake, we
got some birds to feed.”</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><a href=" " title="Isaiah 40:31"><span style="color: #800180; font-size: x-small;">Isaiah
40:31</span></a></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> - <i>But they that
wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not
faint.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
<br /></p><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-87056555395308463842024-03-11T04:00:00.002-04:002024-03-11T04:46:07.341-04:00Milliron Monday: Letters Home Sept 27 1960<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/s3481/L%20Home.jpg" style="color: #990000; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3481" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/w640-h510/L%20Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.2px;"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome</i> to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">These 'rough, tough' westerners have been known to drive down the road and shoot a couple of deer without leaving the pickup...</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></b></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">― Jody Smith</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Route 1</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fort Collins, Colorado</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Tuesday, September 27, 1960</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Dear Mom, Dad, and Jessie,</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> It was nice to talk to you the other evening - glad to hear that Aggie and Gary have a little girl too.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Jessica visited Dr. Rumley today. She weighs 10 lbs. 14 oz. and is 24 1/2 inches long. Poor little baby - she had her first immunization which, needless to say, she didn't like. She had diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus all combined in one shot. Fortunately, she has since forgiven her Mommy for subjecting her to such cruel tortures and was cooing and laughing (she laughed all of three times now!) this afternoon. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> It'll certainly be great to see you next month, Dad. We haven't had a chance to check on deer season for sure but I hope it will coincide with your visit. There are literally hundreds of deer on Mr. Curry's ranch (where Les and Hope Rivers work) and since he (Mr. Curry) doesn't allow open hunting (saves it just for himself, his friends and his hired man) there should be some deer left even at the end of hunting season. These "rough, tough" westerners have been known to drive down the road and shoot a couple of deer without leaving the pickup, so don't worry about having to ride horseback or walk all day just to get a deer. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Love, </i></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Jody</i></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Previous Letters Home:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-1959-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Sept 15, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-16-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 16, 1959</span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-26-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 26, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/letters-home-nov-22-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">N0v 22, 1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 2, </a><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-13-1959.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 13, 1959</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-17-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 17, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-23-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 23, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-31-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 31, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-5-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 5, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-12-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 12, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-5.html" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 5, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-march-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-21.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 21, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-24.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 24, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-april-7.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 7, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-10-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-18-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 18, 1960</a></span></div></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-24-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-30-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 30, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-1-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 1, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-may-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-28-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 28, 1960</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-4-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 4, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-june-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-24.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">July 6, 1960 </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-14.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 14, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-15.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 15, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-16.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-20.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 20, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-sept-10.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Sept 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/03/milliron-monday-letters-home-sept-19.html" target="_blank">Sept 19, 1960</a></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-90200812833221524892024-03-08T04:00:00.023-05:002024-03-08T16:16:23.597-05:00An Interview with Ohio Author Pam Croft<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Give-Little-Bit-When-Coming/dp/1643145088/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3K8VRL7TWGFDD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M5N4yEdzs3T1tSPL-I-JkqmgzuhZedMjaHBWaOuryNVLQFBT2bnjeejaNZVCdBNQ3Qn6SW3PF4AXGSri8dxNWH5WE5lZc5esT0P_JqFKxq_m7ZU0jjeo2Hm3NyX-0HquqzuzBJdHLkkfkE_7v5valmChshtQB8I5JOE4ngwYVZ0AYRRLn2h99zOhjpr3W-A7.d5w9thL82rtP-1tNaIfxl6zd9oJgDd5xX2qHAf1Yik8&dib_tag=se&keywords=pam+croft&qid=1709597488&s=books&sprefix=pam+crfot%2Cstripbooks%2C130&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="951" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Bf55Uu8iHergTbTzUjYKaNiTrkPwkF5hvVg5Lx5VNt_hHetNwrPgm24J4oBLgK9K8KGD4tH2XcYiuSiCl_vo97q4TeJMWt-mBoPus3cF_Ni7BU_T8YCdeTBk6vNHjuGGiHikncFnmYUiNbygSfLxlvOBttj2HGgPmrBJekBK15vuk0FLceAPO-9QsAk/w400-h366/Picture2aae.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">From Lancaster, Ohio,
welcome author Pam Croft. Pam is the author of <i>Give a Little Bit: When Are
You Coming Back? </i>a story about Mr. Fred Hillman, the founder of <a href="https://columbusjewishhistory.org/histories/history-jewish-community-lancaster-surrounding/" target="_blank">Lancaster Sales</a>.
Pam writes, “I worked for Mr. Hillman for 23 years. He was a holocaust survivor
and was a very beautiful man, but rough at times. He taught me so much and I
helped take care of him as he aged. In the book, I give insight into what
happened to Mr. Hillman’s stores after he passed away. I truly want people to
know how amazing he was. Writing the book helped me heal after his death.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Welcome, Pam!</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What is the premise
for your book?</span></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: The premise for my
book is trying to let people know that what they believe to be true isn't
always true when it comes to a person or business.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What would you like
readers to take away from your book?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: I would like readers to know that Mr. Fred Hillman was truly an amazing person. I was lucky enough to have him in my life, learn from him and why his stores closed.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: Who is your
favorite author?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: Stephen King. He
can make you feel so calm then <i>WHAM</i>!</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What is your best
advice for new authors?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: Let your heart help
you with this. If you believe and feel a story, then write it. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you
currently writing?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: I have written a
children's book about life and working on the pictures. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you
currently reading?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: Deana Martin’s </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Memories Are Made of
This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter's Eyes</i><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">.</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: List five things
your fans may not know about you...</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">PC: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I'm horrible at math and will panic - thank
goodness for fingers; Hate to dress up; Love bakeries and candy stores; Will eat until I'm sick; I am donating to Ohio State university body donation
program so future doctors can learn; I never run a dishwasher; Love to do
dishes by myself. </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>Connect with Pam…</i></span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Give-Little-Bit-When-Coming/dp/1643145088/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GR05VLTNNJQS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7equ0k2Ye_aA3FB2s1kZeYAwBOQS5QtWSlRjUwRBdOsfm-_Al-L_4mHS7G0lSk8g3Qn6SW3PF4AXGSri8dxNWH5WE5lZc5esT0P_JqFKxq8YlNK4nDNrk8j4in-rzBWi16WDUdq2Ue5jxMq7E_VTqDK9HMnjzcdDY-FCMoBqyz3qHzdt_2xa_ABOir9OAsLEBAkm3ukT-jqlqUI1JoRC-Q.gtKcxhyY-26f1C8bFFnq_3ZeyKOESLCRPTPMHddy5iU&dib_tag=se&keywords=pam+croft&qid=1709931276&sprefix=pam+croft%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Give-Little-Bit-When-Coming/dp/1643145088/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GR05VLTNNJQS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7equ0k2Ye_aA3FB2s1kZeYAwBOQS5QtWSlRjUwRBdOsfm-_Al-L_4mHS7G0lSk8g3Qn6SW3PF4AXGSri8dxNWH5WE5lZc5esT0P_JqFKxq8YlNK4nDNrk8j4in-rzBWi16WDUdq2Ue5jxMq7E_VTqDK9HMnjzcdDY-FCMoBqyz3qHzdt_2xa_ABOir9OAsLEBAkm3ukT-jqlqUI1JoRC-Q.gtKcxhyY-26f1C8bFFnq_3ZeyKOESLCRPTPMHddy5iU&dib_tag=se&keywords=pam+croft&qid=1709931276&sprefix=pam+croft%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="1185" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2sf4Igz8kyU-ROeojUJpZQl6OQEkFLO6aMxGLIbk0FD8_QjeG5vqUtWfRGMAisB7sT7DTdMZjK-w5Le6iXMTB5tYRL5p58OX4wfpmUqVxKISj8jkdk0lUHrcnqxOz5wSzOWSwQtUZdGds56hioM0Dvo1pwufphKSgCakEEE4lsyOEu9rF69AGQMRnvA/w640-h282/Screenshot%202024-03-08%20160436.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-66125429034901315112024-03-05T04:00:00.083-05:002024-03-05T09:12:19.930-05:00The Shining Ball: A Short Story by Gary Flory<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hz4CqPcHZWugtDTBuGGCskVmTWja-V117a-vZokGG0oaDquqQEP_SVt7x3AE0fbFmi69qj3YWhFWcx_ZXBLT81pe3wHpXR8doTNiaMOJp-oJFroey_iAhbSiikszfSVxfhzPtdXn5FMG-i66A0NYAZArrMHMyQ2GmSUTl3GP02PWVm2XtRipUOwCBO8/s1280/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hz4CqPcHZWugtDTBuGGCskVmTWja-V117a-vZokGG0oaDquqQEP_SVt7x3AE0fbFmi69qj3YWhFWcx_ZXBLT81pe3wHpXR8doTNiaMOJp-oJFroey_iAhbSiikszfSVxfhzPtdXn5FMG-i66A0NYAZArrMHMyQ2GmSUTl3GP02PWVm2XtRipUOwCBO8/w640-h360/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>All the kids were back
in school and vacation time was over for most of the families, leaving the
beach empty except for a few retired people. I just put new batteries in my
metal detector and figured this would be a good time to hit the beach. The
weather was nice, so we decided to take the picnic basket and blanket along to
make a day of it. I knew of an isolated section of beach where no one walked and there
weren’t many houses close by. That might be the perfect place to find some
washed-up treasures. We drove up to an old parking lot. Much of it was
covered in sand and wasn’t used much. We grabbed our stuff and started walking
along the beach. Cath had a sack and picked up some nice shells along the shore,
while I found an occasional coin, but no Spanish gold coins.</span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>After walking a couple
of miles, we came upon an old dock. It seemed like a good place to stop and
have a picnic. Laying our blanket on the dock, we sat down and started unpacking
our lunch. Nothing real fancy, smoked turkey sandwiches, macaroni salad and
some barbecue chips, topped off with iced tea. Everything always seems to taste
better when you eat it outside, especially when you can hear the ocean lapping
the shore. We could see a ship about a mile out. It was a great
afternoon to just lay back and feel the ocean breeze against your face - </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">zzzzzzz</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> before we realized it, we were both asleep. For the next hour, the only thing
we got was a tan. A seagull flew by making a squawk, waking us up. I told Cath
that I wanted to check around the dock before we started back. The tide had
gone out, leaving the water less than waist deep.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>I searched along the
side first but found nothing. Just when I started around the end of the dock,
the detector started to light up. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Maybe it’s the buried
treasure you've been looking for,” Cath said. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The tide was starting to turn, and the water was getting
deeper. That’s when I began thinking about sharks. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“If you see anything
swimming, let me know. I can feel something with my foot, but it feels like
wood. I’m going to try and dig it out.” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>So, I sat the detector
on the dock and bent down into the water to search with my hand. Cath happened
to notice a small stick lying there and picked it up. Leaning over the dock,
she rubbed it against my legs, which were underwater. I think I jumped straight
up out of the water; I just knew it was a shark! She was rolling in
laughter. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">DARN YOU!</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> You
scared me to death!”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>She could hardly get
her breath...</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">sorry</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>With the water up to my
chest, I went down to the bottom and started to loosen the small wooden box, came
up for air... almost had it. The second time down I was able to pull it loose and
bring it to the surface, laying it on the dock. The sun was starting to go down
and I wanted to get out of the water, so I said, "L</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">et’s just take it with us
and head back."</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">By the time we reached the car it was almost dark. On the
drive home, we speculated about what could be in the box, if anything. While
Cath was fixing dinner, I sat at the table wiping ocean residue and seaweed off the box. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Look at this, there
was a row of small symbols on the lid.” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“What do they
mean?” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“I don’t know, I’ve
never seen anything like it. There’s no keyhole, not sure how it opens. Maybe
the symbols are the key.”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>We ate dinner and
talked some more about how to get the box open. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Well, let's sleep on
it and see if we can figure it out in the morning.” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>I woke up around 3 am
to go to the bathroom and went back to bed. Once you let your brain start
thinking, it’s almost impossible to go back to sleep. I got up and went
downstairs. The box was still on the kitchen table, so I sat down to take a
second look. What if the symbols were certain sounds, but what sounds? I tried
humming different sounds but that didn’t work. Maybe the sounds had to be in perfect
pitch - like a piano. I picked it up and sat it on the piano bench with me. I tried middle
C.... nothing. Perhaps a black key. When I struck it, the first symbol lit up.
Okay, now we were getting somewhere.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“What are you doing?”
came a voice directly behind me, scarring the heebie-jeebies out of me. Cath
had come downstairs and was standing right behind me. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“I couldn’t sleep
thinking about the box, so I came down to look at it again. Guess what, I found
out what the symbols are for, music. Certain keys will light them up. So far, I
found the first one, watch. It only stays lit for a couple of seconds.”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>It was trial and error
going through the different keys until I found the right combination where all
of them lit at the same time. When that happened the box slowly opened,
emitting a bright yellow orb ball. It was so bright it lit the whole room. We
both stepped back several steps not knowing what to expect. There was also a
low humming tone coming from it. Opening the lid somehow turned on the light.
It was so bright it was hard to look at. Were the light rays harmful in any
way? They didn’t seem to be, we almost felt a heavy peace come over us. What
was it? What was it used for, good or evil? Cath said, “Maybe we should take it
to the scientists in Myrtle Beach, they might know.” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Okay.” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>As I started to close
the lid, my hand slipped off, momentarily touching the orb. Instantly a bolt of
energy surged through my body, knocking me to the floor. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Are you
alright?" </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“I…I think so.”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>I stood up, but I knew
something was different. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Hand me that book on
the table.” </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It was </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Gone with the
Wind</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">. I turned the pages as fast as I could, going through each page until
I reached the end. It took less than three minutes, and I knew every word from
memory. I could tell you the tenth word on page 81. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>Cath said, “What just
happened?” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Hand me another book,
and another one.” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">As quickly as I could
turn the page, I could remember every word. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Can you imagine how
this could change things?” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Well, let’s let the
experts look at it.” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">We drove over to the
science building where some of the top science professors in the country
worked. As they gathered around the box, I used the special tones to open it. I
could tell they were amazed on that point alone. As the lid opened, the bright
yellow light filled the room, and it began to hum. The scientists stepped back,
just like we did. I didn’t tell them what happened when I touched it. You could
tell their minds were racing to try to come up with some kind of explanation of
what it was. They asked if they could test the material. I showed them a piece
of the box that fell out when I opened it for the first time. They took it to their lab and ran many tests. After a couple of hours, they came
back into the room. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Where did you find
this?” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">I wasn’t ready to
answer that question just yet. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“Why, what did you find
out?” </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> "</span>We ran a number of
tests on the small piece, and it is not like any known element on earth. It is
at least twice as hard as a diamond. Our machine couldn’t register any higher.
There is nothing like it. We think the military will be very interested in
this, so we gave them a call and they are on their way over." The scientists walked
back to the lab to do more testing. I whispered to Cath, "G</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">et the car and
have my door open. Leave the car running and have it facing the exit. Call me
when you’re ready</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">." She nodded and headed out the door. Minutes later my
phone rang, and it was her.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>I quickly closed the
box and ran for the door. The security guard wasn’t sure what was going on, but
he yelled for me to stop. I didn’t miss a beat, out the door I ran with the box
and jumped in the car. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>“</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">GO, GO!”</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> and
Cath hit the gas. As we were leaving the parking lot, two black unmarked cars
were pulling in. “Whatever happens, we can’t let this be found. This could
change everything, either for the good or bad. Head for the beach, we’re going
to put it back where we found it.”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>As she pulled into the
parking lot, I grabbed the flashlight and took off running down the beach to
the dock. I quickly hollowed out a place in the sand, placed the box into the
hole, and covered it.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>On the way home Cath asked,
“Do you think they will be waiting for us at home? They don’t even know who we
are, and if they would happen to show up, we would just say, ‘</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">What box?</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">’”</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span>When we got home, no
one was waiting for us. I noticed the books I looked at were still on the
table. Funny, I could no longer remember the tenth word on page 81. I couldn’t
remember any of the pages, only the story in general. The effects must have
worn off, but I know where to find it if I ever feel the need.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, OH 43138, USA39.4334877 -82.548212611.123253863821155 -117.7044626 67.743721536178839 -47.3919626tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-1261389541930599652024-03-04T04:00:00.035-05:002024-03-04T13:10:19.548-05:00Milliron Monday: Letters Home Sept 19 1960<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"> </span></span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/s3481/L%20Home.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3481" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/w640-h510/L%20Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.2px;"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome</i> to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">"</span></i></span><i><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">Jessica attended a horse sale Saturday evening and slept through all the auctioneering, yelling, horses kicking, neighing, etc</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></b></span></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">― Jody Smith</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Route 1</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fort Collins, Colorado</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Monday, September 19, 1960</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Dear Mom, Dad, and Jessie,</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> Thanks so much for sending the pictures. I kept one of each and sent two to the McArthurs' and one to Pete's folks. I surely hope you didn't have them all made up into prints since slides of most of them should be quite sufficient - of course, I very much appreciate the prints of Jessica. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Thanks also for the back supporter and spoons, and for the two sleeping garments. They certainly come in handy - one cold evening we had to make a quick trip up to Les and Hope's to return their pickup, so I bundled Jessica in the little sleeping bag and she was warm and snug the whole way.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Jessica attended a horse sale Saturday evening and slept through all the auctioneering, yelling, horses kicking, neighing, etc. She's now eating squash along with her carrots, cereal, and milk.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Pete, Jessica and I went for a nice cart ride around the experiment farm yesterday afternoon. She stayed awake a little while but then fell asleep as per usual.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> We got a nice anniversary card from Aggie, Gary, and Gary Franklin. Hope she's had her baby by now and that both are all right.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Love, </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Jody</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;">P.S. Haven't received any stationery, yet.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Previous Letters Home:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-1959-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Sept 15, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-16-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 16, 1959</span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-26-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 26, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/letters-home-nov-22-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">N0v 22, 1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 2, </a><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-13-1959.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 13, 1959</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-17-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 17, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-23-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 23, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-31-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 31, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-5-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 5, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-12-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 12, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-5.html" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 5, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-march-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-21.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 21, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-24.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 24, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-april-7.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 7, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-10-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-18-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 18, 1960</a></span></div></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-24-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-30-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 30, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-1-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 1, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-may-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-28-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 28, 1960</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-4-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 4, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-june-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-24.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">July 6, 1960 </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-14.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 14, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-15.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 15, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-16.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-20.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 20, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-sept-10.html" target="_blank">Sept 10, 1960</a></span></span></div></div></div></div><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white;">~ ~ </b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC/" style="clear: right; color: #694b31; float: right; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3f1bsnS4pM/W3saDHVyVAI/AAAAAAAAXHM/uic6dgP36hAZHPUZiUQnaIDr7lL5g2KUQCLcBGAs/s320/afasfdafa.jpg" style="border: 0px none rgb(105, 75, 49); padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="217" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>Connect with Gina...</span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Milliron Facebook Page</a></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B005TU6IL6/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Milliron-Abbott-Smith-D-V-M-Biography/dp/0692892990/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Milliron: The Biography</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.gmcknight.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;">www.gmcknight.com</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 18.66px;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.mondaycreekpublishing.com/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>www.mondaycreekpublishing.com</b></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.</span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0Fort Collins, CO, USA40.5852602 -105.08442313.792446035284357 -140.24067300000002 67.378074364715644 -69.928173tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-90946353593372963992024-03-03T22:12:00.006-05:002024-03-04T07:15:51.839-05:00This Week @ Monday Creek: Local Honey & Soap<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.explorehockinghills.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1639" data-original-width="2887" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoRhdF5CZOaoBKIuUpYWtT11nGLzniA5JmGZrzzSusYUzPY27BtlZqBUlcqFZhOu5vBqN4hjGL1kpVhfu1FeZ0eSovi64fPX-IsqFYZ-UC793CSVe1VFi08gkQZKhiTYr1vf-LEeRjYIS5lT8x3RdGJWwUGCBcrUD1BQtGVi6IpORQGpowcIew3cAatI/w640-h364/20240303_151451.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Salt Creek Honey, Millfield, Ohio; A shout-out to the great people </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>@ <a href="https://www.explorehockinghills.com/" target="_blank">Hocking Hills Tourism</a>; m</span><span>y AQHA pocketknife (needs sharpened)</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04wPEjAbzV7sBqcFu4kmmfRdD8-el8QsLkmfWWtGHxUw5m9apVefLdLvZ4k6-ln8TydlSPip9I7bWJMggYRL_LDixo64cBlfLtNbBbUxvSLm4L-tFR1OsgqYGZm9c5miqPgE4SVBpKBC8O2W3eZKD52oNwNveD6vUYtzUblbu7QrbwQUKC7InJk3_Jc4/s640/dfae213424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="640" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04wPEjAbzV7sBqcFu4kmmfRdD8-el8QsLkmfWWtGHxUw5m9apVefLdLvZ4k6-ln8TydlSPip9I7bWJMggYRL_LDixo64cBlfLtNbBbUxvSLm4L-tFR1OsgqYGZm9c5miqPgE4SVBpKBC8O2W3eZKD52oNwNveD6vUYtzUblbu7QrbwQUKC7InJk3_Jc4/w640-h160/dfae213424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">March greetings!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Are we happy it's March? <i>Yes!</i> Do we like the wild swings in the temperature? <i>No!</i>
Are we ready for daylight savings time? <i>No!</i> But we’re happy it’s March! <i>Yeah!</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">It is fun to showcase
other small businesses in my area. I like trying locally sourced products and sharing
them with you. Recently, I stopped by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/newleafmarketplacenelsonville" target="_blank">New Leaf Market</a> on the Public Square
in Nelsonville. They carry local wares and my favorite, Salt Creek Honey from
Millfield. I purchased a bottle last week and it is already half empty
(!). It is so good and highly recommended.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Last year, my friends
and I went to the annual <i><a href="https://www.giftsthatgivebackevent.com/?fbclid=IwAR3tnFlyBI1fPus12O0y0Yvk7UAfBeO2pNsBTrjl9rrN9safcMJI7zLVaFs" target="_blank">Gifts that Give Back</a></i> (gtgb) annual <a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/this-week-monday-creek-handmade.html" target="_blank">Vendor’s Market</a> at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theposton" target="_blank">Poston Manor and Event Barn</a>. I purchased a box of handmade
soaps from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zioncreekfarm" target="_blank">Zion Creek Farm</a>.
From Thornville, Zion Creek has a luxurious soap for everyone! My box contained
the Queen of Hearts (notes of raspberry, blackberry, and fresh strawberries), Lavender
Lux, Perfectly Pear, and Citrus Twist. Queen of Hearts is my favorite, it has a
very-berry scent. Zion Creek has an <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ZionCreekFarm?fbclid=IwAR2qp1mUcfXCvJvKVP-lBp__z02Rkcorgxsof9I6eAbq1ehIjv_JqyCgHfA" target="_blank">Etsy page</a> with all of their delightful
handmade items.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.facebook.com/zioncreekfarm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2941" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM8fTBj10Gj4JDi5MgKOfoEU7EOf-UUkazFBWyJuBQ_8KWHHZFdAVbp3m9kBHsc8y_wiQze3YwgZM4dL2Umzm7FJVV-O90os-YU7DmJqVO81fwN1FfGmVPiUi5hs5SiDdX-j5ml0fp4FglCV37E9w_odkz9LyYTVoicRgdM1G9Tgeq8Tvq7L4ajavL6k/w640-h388/20240303_151957.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Meanwhile at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mondaycreekpublishing/" target="_blank">Monday Creek</a>, we are working on several new titles including <i>Bandit Lost in the West</i>
by J.A. Hall; <i>Achim’s Pocket </i>by Todd Linder; <i>Pudgy Possum in a Pickle</i>
by Kathy S. Elasky; <i>Young Voices from a Small Town</i> edited by Kathy Trace;
and a new title by Mark M. Dean (but I can’t tell you the title because it’s top
secret for now).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">One of my current projects is <i>Garage
Band</i> (working title), a fiction-based-on-fact novel about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.999193851646115&type=3" target="_blank">The Truants</a>, a garage band from Jackson, Ohio. The writing went quickly for several
months, now I am rewriting and terrified that an important chapter was erased due
to an unexpected power outage. I need to find momentum to write the chapter
again (ugh). It is the perils of living in a forested area where high winds race through the valley, creating a wind tunnel, killing powerlines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>All is well.</i> Don't forget to move your clocks forward Sunday, March 10.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-18524181589645984932024-03-01T04:00:00.055-05:002024-03-01T10:09:09.013-05:00The Range Rider: An Interview with Jill Bosich<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD_ZVjpwGKmyIMvvz1ZHTrnaPYf9REGvaRriSLw08RXw25WVd6FMXX2L-LdZVDAZ3GR0w7tw9wxmoIEDDMLTE47O6v8l_qKAg3yv9CO-NlgWke5-tyjM9SXNlazmHs4sVN4_Th57SGbJYuOXFaIe-EzAUyO_Q4xcI39L8hs-43UBDQGOYCMU84iHt6mk/s1820/JillB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="1820" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD_ZVjpwGKmyIMvvz1ZHTrnaPYf9REGvaRriSLw08RXw25WVd6FMXX2L-LdZVDAZ3GR0w7tw9wxmoIEDDMLTE47O6v8l_qKAg3yv9CO-NlgWke5-tyjM9SXNlazmHs4sVN4_Th57SGbJYuOXFaIe-EzAUyO_Q4xcI39L8hs-43UBDQGOYCMU84iHt6mk/w640-h347/JillB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><b><i><a href="https://linktr.ee/jilltherangerider?fbclid=IwAR01X8gzrSQihMcIzf5eI3Ttj7zsmH-BNunRKhDUa0BG3mBdWVSTOr4GCzI" target="_blank">The Range Rider: An Interview with Jill Bosich</a></i></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">by Gina McKnight</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Archived from the February 2024 issue of <a href="http://www.floridaequineathlete.com" target="_blank">Florida Equine Athlete</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">No duplication without permission,</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">A combination of horses, range living, and creative cooking
is all it took to pique my interest in Jill Bosich, better known as </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">The
Range Rider</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">Culinary Cowgirl</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">. From California USA, Jill is an
expert chef and horsewoman. She is also the author of </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">Tamales Unwrapped! A
Comprehensive Guide to Making Tamales from Scratch</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">. A fascinating cowgirl,
welcome Jill!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: What an amazing story you live! So much to talk about, but first, tell us
about Cooper, your horse... is Cooper your first horse? </span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: Thank you so much! It’s a pleasure to be able to
connect with you and your audience! Cooper is my first personal horse and I
feel so absolutely blessed to have him. Although I don’t have another horse
that I’ve ever owned personally to compare him to, I have to say he is
definitely my heart horse. I’ve ridden so many horses over the years and have a
definite favorites for various reasons, but there’s something about having your
own horse and the bond that is forged that is almost hard to put into words.
Cooper is a 15.2 hand quarter horse, he’s a bay and when he is shedding out in
the spring, gets the most beautiful dark brown dapples. Disposition wise, he is
such a hambone! His personality is so animated, he greets me every time he sees
me pull up in my truck to the barn and gives me the biggest whinny! It melts my
heart every time.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: Roping, riding, and spending time
on the range must be magical. What do you enjoy the most about living the
cowgirl lifestyle?</span></p>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: I feel so blessed to be able to have experienced riding
on the open range and working cattle, learning horsemanship, and learning to
appreciate the ranching and farming lifestyle. As a professional chef I have
always had a soft spot in my heart for those who produce and grow our food, so
to be able to work on a cattle ranch for a number of years, it has really been
a full circle experience to understand what it takes to really put food on our
tables. The truth of the matter is, I’m completely a city girl who dove head
first into this lifestyle to fully embrace what it is to raise our food. Part
of that was to learn to rope and believe me I was horrible when I first
started. But to get the technical skill under your belt as part of my
horsemanship has been such a personal challenge and something I feel so
grateful to have learned as a true skill.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: I love your title
"Culinary Cowgirl"! How do horses and living the ranch life inspire
your creativity in the kitchen?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: This is such a great question and I’ve always
endeavored to be able to blend both sides of my life together which is why I
say I wear two hats and ride 2 ranges! For many years I worked as a chef
instructor in several culinary programs at various colleges and universities
nationwide and on my summer breaks would have the chance to slip into the
cowgirl life and switch my chef hat for a cowboy hat. It wasn’t just to be able
to wear the gear, although I love it so much, it’s to really appreciate the
western way of life and to embrace the customs and culture that is so unique to
it. And being a chef, I just felt it was super important to know where our food
comes from, and more than that, make relationships with those who work to
provide what goes on to our tables. I’m so inspired when I have the chance to
visit farmers markets and indulge in the seasonality and my cooking is
completely driven by what is abundant and available that time of year. As far
as proteins go in the winter time, I will choose cuts of meat which require low
and slow methods of cookery, generating beautiful braises and stews out of
secondary cuts which might be tougher and require a longer cooking time. Those
are the sorts of dishes that warm you from the inside on days that are super
cold and you need to break the chill. Conversely in the summer it’s wonderful
to have menus built around foods that can be grilled, cooked outdoors and so
forth to make the most of those long daylight hours.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: As an award-winning working Chef,
how do you combine ranch life with your professional career?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: One of the ways I maintain a connection between both my
chef life and the ranching and farming lifestyle is to really double down into
my social media platforms where I am connecting with consumers on a daily
basis. Use those platforms to bring tons of awareness to perhaps individual
farmers or ranchers, or just things within that agricultural life which help to
inform or educate those who might not be so intrinsically connected to the
people responsible before growing their food and fiber. My website is also full
of a great deal of blog material where I feature stories on farmers and
ranchers in addition to recipes using many of their products and blending that
with my professional chef expertise to create dishes which celebrate not only
flavors of a season but the foods coming from various regional locations around
the United States.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: You share a lot of delectable
recipes on your website. I am not a good cook (my husband calls me a
bottom-chef). Can you recommend a good recipe to impress my family and friends?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: One of the hallmark ideals I tried to embrace when I’m
writing a recipe is to consider the end user, that they might have very minimal
experience yet I’m challenging them to make what could be considered a
complicated dish. I endeavor to write the recipes so they are very
instructional, descriptive and approachable. I would recommend The Runza style
arm roast which features beef from the Robinson Ranch in Nebraska, I had the
chance to work with them and use their beautiful beef to make a crock pot dish which
after cooking for several hours results in the most delicious roast beef that
is fantastic on its own or incredible in the sandwich recipe that I have built
around it. Something like that would be so delicious with a batch of homemade
buttered mashed potatoes.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: You've traveled around the world,
embracing many cultures and have cooked in many kitchens. Where in the world is
your favorite place to be?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: This is such an interesting question about my
professional background because I have had the chance to cook and compete in
kitchens all over the world. From Europe to Central America I have to say after
traveling so much throughout my career, now in my adulthood I truly am so
fascinated by getting to know our own beautiful 50 states. One of my most
favorite places to be is in either Montana or Wyoming, they are both so
gorgeous and rugged it’s hard to take it all in sometimes!</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: What does horsemanship mean to you?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: What does horsemanship mean to me is such an interesting question because I
honestly feel that it’s a mindset and a practice which is constantly evolving
and perfecting. Much like my culinary craft, there is always something to learn
and always someone to teach you another way of doing something so fascinating.
Horsemanship to me is ultimately taking total responsibility for your animal
and doing everything right by your animal to ensure their comfort, safety and wellness.
Honest and honorable practice. I always keep myself in the mindset of a student
where I’m constantly trying to learn and improve my skills to either ride more
correct, or even the smallest hint or tip to provide a wholesome and safe
environment for my horse so he’s feeling good and wants to be his own personal
best. There’s so much to giving respect to the animal and really honoring them
as a partner and working together to achieve incredible progress as a team.
I’ve asked the horses that I’ve ridden over the years to cover some incredible
ground, ride some tough country, and how they take care of me I truly believe
is because of how I take care of them.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">GM: List five things your fans may not
know about you...</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">JB: This is a fun question and I’ll start with probably the
most obvious but you wouldn’t know unless you knew me in person but for
starters I am 6 foot 1 and pretty tall for a woman! Secondly, totally a girly
girl and love all things makeup, Western fashion, and I try to keep my boot
collection at a manageable level! Next even though I’m a professional chef I
don’t really care for things like oysters, rabbit, frogs legs, quail, and other
small animals like that where other people absolutely love to enjoy! So I will
cook them perfectly but serve them promptly to someone else! Fourth, I’m not a
big dessert person and most people think I’m a pastry chef because I own and
operate a small bakery where I ship sweet treats, things like cakes and cookies
all over the country! And lastly, if I could, when I’m not wearing cowboy
boots, I’d probably live in flip flops.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">Connect with Jill on social media</span></i></b><b><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://jilltherangerider.com/">https://jilltherangerider.com/</a> </span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/jilltherangerider?fbclid=IwAR01X8gzrSQihMcIzf5eI3Ttj7zsmH-BNunRKhDUa0BG3mBdWVSTOr4GCzI" target="_blank">Jill's Link Tree</a></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgom7jRaH72uy52ImtOGwn7R-_fJadGNibG205-KqQ-Qcd3e5-voCP-SjSt1l7qDSZLna811VVfscjlnQSID2cJ0H_S_kM36kzIeeE78uVkIl7VBMIKotP7VGZ_LgyLiGlUL09qxVqyZl1oqDzOPCQkWRlBOl8BbYPbLxi3JMZ1iMLPwyqMnkTEYhJnEA/s750/135548149_2910118235892157_9191077607138477517_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="750" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgom7jRaH72uy52ImtOGwn7R-_fJadGNibG205-KqQ-Qcd3e5-voCP-SjSt1l7qDSZLna811VVfscjlnQSID2cJ0H_S_kM36kzIeeE78uVkIl7VBMIKotP7VGZ_LgyLiGlUL09qxVqyZl1oqDzOPCQkWRlBOl8BbYPbLxi3JMZ1iMLPwyqMnkTEYhJnEA/w400-h399/135548149_2910118235892157_9191077607138477517_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn3CEuzPIK7l3CceVbtGCOtZ9NL-NCw7n3p0IR628wcCNBm1fHyGwqw5x4HelSsSoMX3zNrGwLPDTMy__R-SCAG3Nr3J6egCBDFC8oankOUvNNH0HdtizHZMqT3EILa9qfTF7ajYregvg4W-xaAkoTUChSUzzG3cQUp3gO6L1jaBGcnaKqVIkReWABjU/s3564/Black%20Barts%20Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3564" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn3CEuzPIK7l3CceVbtGCOtZ9NL-NCw7n3p0IR628wcCNBm1fHyGwqw5x4HelSsSoMX3zNrGwLPDTMy__R-SCAG3Nr3J6egCBDFC8oankOUvNNH0HdtizHZMqT3EILa9qfTF7ajYregvg4W-xaAkoTUChSUzzG3cQUp3gO6L1jaBGcnaKqVIkReWABjU/w345-h400/Black%20Barts%20Bars.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Black Bart's Bars</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHM5kwYdmofxSQD-RXlTA54W2Z21myptBye2GQ6kpppYzIhN9LXIkOAXKpLlzj8WmfjeDcIwLP9G5iJXds6NwucHe1j_l0TcDwiyZbaOqkZCAKJj3YFHljUA8L598MAEKuWq8x18JVgdH69pfUfFCV2WdNfmcFvlW0BNYTDYmuyp0qDNK55k2tLcH5Sg/s2048/Consulting%20work%20for%20a%20family%20farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHM5kwYdmofxSQD-RXlTA54W2Z21myptBye2GQ6kpppYzIhN9LXIkOAXKpLlzj8WmfjeDcIwLP9G5iJXds6NwucHe1j_l0TcDwiyZbaOqkZCAKJj3YFHljUA8L598MAEKuWq8x18JVgdH69pfUfFCV2WdNfmcFvlW0BNYTDYmuyp0qDNK55k2tLcH5Sg/w480-h640/Consulting%20work%20for%20a%20family%20farm.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jill: Consulting work for a family farm</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Li-nqwG6L9oyn642NFg9w0Q4WV4p8loGgp9fB5aw02vrwRaXIIpmu6R7ZoW_fLME0da1DKEpETkS2y9ixDNjyIEHrFprc2-scwvuWr5XEQZe64Gbfxv2okkixNnfQS_r2rYsSP1l-JNVkLezJIetkjtrU1ON6gZhUNb9gdJYvSMc8WPIVAb4yrKcrcA/s640/Cooper%20saddled%20up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Li-nqwG6L9oyn642NFg9w0Q4WV4p8loGgp9fB5aw02vrwRaXIIpmu6R7ZoW_fLME0da1DKEpETkS2y9ixDNjyIEHrFprc2-scwvuWr5XEQZe64Gbfxv2okkixNnfQS_r2rYsSP1l-JNVkLezJIetkjtrU1ON6gZhUNb9gdJYvSMc8WPIVAb4yrKcrcA/w480-h640/Cooper%20saddled%20up.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copper saddled up</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPU7J9Xzq8vbKd05qDzwTxTIldt6797j2HCSFfhWA8IrP4xTatJ_h4fz4xKezi9oydKZtRI1g4glfY23VpDrx3xNn2OLNo_w8lyhEQVaDIEPWd0jX4eQk5xKV2Uys8fJe4JqFmcieYf65xaB1-3_hgmQFlcI-Gy65Ofu1xU-VAOOMqTT7BC_vQFfFcVk/s960/Cooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPU7J9Xzq8vbKd05qDzwTxTIldt6797j2HCSFfhWA8IrP4xTatJ_h4fz4xKezi9oydKZtRI1g4glfY23VpDrx3xNn2OLNo_w8lyhEQVaDIEPWd0jX4eQk5xKV2Uys8fJe4JqFmcieYf65xaB1-3_hgmQFlcI-Gy65Ofu1xU-VAOOMqTT7BC_vQFfFcVk/w480-h640/Cooper.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Copper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyypHKSLE5bQcqBPoMkr9RcfeSB9uHeYnVAPG6KgjUNlatNAWj6lWJ85MnrATPo2YUmNCBeGABCeGEiMZ3BD_lVCa4fHC0BW7tQkNGoP2-SShj-CGwhNQTsR9FCEU9Bkvh3-51MbrWll55NkrH9i7xFVNJ-5kkooDY7634cPgc_QlEQEs0SemDKEcLK4/s640/Jill%20barrel%20racing%20on%20Cooper.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyypHKSLE5bQcqBPoMkr9RcfeSB9uHeYnVAPG6KgjUNlatNAWj6lWJ85MnrATPo2YUmNCBeGABCeGEiMZ3BD_lVCa4fHC0BW7tQkNGoP2-SShj-CGwhNQTsR9FCEU9Bkvh3-51MbrWll55NkrH9i7xFVNJ-5kkooDY7634cPgc_QlEQEs0SemDKEcLK4/w360-h640/Jill%20barrel%20racing%20on%20Cooper.PNG" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jill barrel racing on Copper</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDC_HGAhb-8nAW-qdjmq_3TMI4pcs82ER6JNWjziwyxy4LwW2hRrfve7KiCoovwzZFs4v_W_83mEJFdz06I5H7FqgKvBlcLbPDIL7wmN7JM8s_NMJJjEuN7lyarGWGUBcuq0VuGDqid3k6oclXiKjdUuWYcmOnAb9pL-i_1PFBG7ySxtWTNeQBySz3EU/s480/Jill%20in%20the%20saddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDC_HGAhb-8nAW-qdjmq_3TMI4pcs82ER6JNWjziwyxy4LwW2hRrfve7KiCoovwzZFs4v_W_83mEJFdz06I5H7FqgKvBlcLbPDIL7wmN7JM8s_NMJJjEuN7lyarGWGUBcuq0VuGDqid3k6oclXiKjdUuWYcmOnAb9pL-i_1PFBG7ySxtWTNeQBySz3EU/w512-h640/Jill%20in%20the%20saddle.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jill in the saddle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hiJ95fkfkejxCip5S1NR3z7rJvixISfZhVs_9mkAcZOw8LQ-tcz1zxM_CE2R1z6wanGl45r4jTEGKTKiOFhCW29I2QNXj-iLJ4svrUnp6C1-aBk0bwM6fN2L6JjzI8ioz1XUchdIa5Rh8ejZJ8cZH99p5pRg7eaz-Gvw2GXBklrL3mY_-H0wqI4CKZE/s640/Judging%20a%20Competition%20with%20a%20competitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hiJ95fkfkejxCip5S1NR3z7rJvixISfZhVs_9mkAcZOw8LQ-tcz1zxM_CE2R1z6wanGl45r4jTEGKTKiOFhCW29I2QNXj-iLJ4svrUnp6C1-aBk0bwM6fN2L6JjzI8ioz1XUchdIa5Rh8ejZJ8cZH99p5pRg7eaz-Gvw2GXBklrL3mY_-H0wqI4CKZE/w640-h480/Judging%20a%20Competition%20with%20a%20competitor.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Judging a competition with a competitor</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9N18tj8B28zRithf4sF9AOE-wXsLX-zWSbTPG9da9cFt_O_u0hMxqz8yAFvm1xaP8fpe4QOILA5MlzTLZrNz3BBJjWKQ6mt5q5Z11kgEohVYoZw-uMo8sqHgZ9KrC4eq0B3iOFbyfSwaBedWnCk90qI8XLzjLJ0u1sH7Qf0lBVoUJZRmXA4ojKF-HNo/s480/Waiting%20at%20the%20corral%20to%20go%20work%20cattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9N18tj8B28zRithf4sF9AOE-wXsLX-zWSbTPG9da9cFt_O_u0hMxqz8yAFvm1xaP8fpe4QOILA5MlzTLZrNz3BBJjWKQ6mt5q5Z11kgEohVYoZw-uMo8sqHgZ9KrC4eq0B3iOFbyfSwaBedWnCk90qI8XLzjLJ0u1sH7Qf0lBVoUJZRmXA4ojKF-HNo/w640-h640/Waiting%20at%20the%20corral%20to%20go%20work%20cattle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Waiting at the corral to go work cattle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-88021236320552102112024-02-27T20:48:00.005-05:002024-02-27T20:54:53.692-05:00An Interview with Comic Book Artist/Author Sandy Plunkett<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IeFmR7mk7eVhnZgUS-XnHCPS1Q2PaWYQg-_bNN4GD2aeXLCyZf708CM_wNSth3awA0xzqtV6SIqWaOC9gdUWw0TlBSVE89YXni1JVuPIvVSx1zXnrQeRneO6CD8nMc2E3EIB8e9XJm3G7Fsqt1Ldy6RmL5oM2pDDt8cSbIFaecTsOo7Zh9-DPNCCsgs/s917/43543tretgf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="917" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IeFmR7mk7eVhnZgUS-XnHCPS1Q2PaWYQg-_bNN4GD2aeXLCyZf708CM_wNSth3awA0xzqtV6SIqWaOC9gdUWw0TlBSVE89YXni1JVuPIvVSx1zXnrQeRneO6CD8nMc2E3EIB8e9XJm3G7Fsqt1Ldy6RmL5oM2pDDt8cSbIFaecTsOo7Zh9-DPNCCsgs/w400-h385/43543tretgf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">An
Interview with Comic Book Artist/Author Sandy Plunkett<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Originally from New York
City, Sandy Plunkett is a wizard with a pencil. A long-time resident of Athens, Ohio, Sandy is an icon in southeastern Ohio. Beginning his career drawing
for DC and Marvel Comics, he creates scenarios and characters that engage
and amaze; fantastical creatures, superheroes and heroines, magical beasts, and so much more. </span></p>
<p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Welcome,
Sandy!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: How in the world did
you land in Athens, Ohio from New York City? </span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: Yeah, I've
gotten asked that a lot since landing in Athens. The simple part of the answer
is that I was in a relationship with a woman in NYC who had friends here. She'd
visit every spring for an annual dance party hosted by John Thorndike. One year
she convinced me to tag along (I'm not wild about dance parties in really) we
stayed the weekend, mostly at a community near Amesville called, at the time,
The Helpless Far. I was taken with what I saw and the people I met, the kind of
lives they'd carved out for themselves. Eventually I started coming to Athens
on my own, visiting folks I'd me, exploring the area.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">At the same time, I found
myself dealing with bouts of depression back in New York. I think there might
have been a number of reasons for this, but a big factor were the changes the
city was going through in the 80s. It was rapidly becoming gentrified, its PR
machine having convinced half the world that Manhattan was the coolest place on
the planet to live. This meant wonderfully grizzled old ethnic neighborhoods
disappearing overnight and rents going through the roof. The tone on the
streets changed- everyone seemed to be on display, 24/7. The working class was
just forced out and with it, a lot of the city's true character. So, around
1990 I decided I'd had had enough and flew the coop.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What do you find most
likeable about the Athens culture and environment? Where in Athens is your
favorite place for creative inspiration?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: I've been in Athens
over 30 years now and, as you would suspect, the town has changed a lot in that
time. And a lot of what first attracted me has disappeared. It's hard to put a
word to the quality the town had back then. It felt very much like the small,
Appalachian college town it was but the influence of a somewhat anarchistic,
back-to-the-land community added a sense of</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">possibility and unity I hadn't experienced elsewhere. There seemed to be
endless invention in how people were shaping their lives. I'm still impressed
by how positive many Athenians are about constructing a better world, for
themselves and others, but OU has grown so dominant, the real estate market has
grown so prohibitive, that it's made Athens seem like a more serious, money-orient
environment, stifling that sense of freedom.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My favorite place for
creative inspiration? Well, that to has changed over the years, but once the
students have cleared the bricks for the summer, I love to take a sketch book
uptown and sit outside the <a href="https://donkeycoffee.com/" target="_blank">Donkey </a></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><a href="https://donkeycoffee.com/" target="_blank">Café</a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, watching the light fade in the evening,
just absorbing the atmosphere.</span></span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Your creative
portfolio is extensive; </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Spider-Man, Batman, Daredevil, Dc Comics</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">, </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Marvel
Comics</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">, etc. Who is your favorite character to create?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: Well, when I have
worked on a copyrighted character like the ones you mentioned, I'm not actually
“creating” a character- I'm just trying to add something to a preexisting
“property” while still sticking to the core of what makes that hero work. It's
an interesting and enjoyable challenge- seeking out possibilities no other
writer or artist might have found yet. Alan Moore did this brilliantly with
DC's Swamp Thing. When working at Marvel regularly, I'd seek out their lesser
known characters to work on, mostly because they weren't quite so closely
scrutinized by the marketing people who were always very concerned about
writers going “off message”. You'd have a little more latitude, creatively,
doing the more low profile heroes. I enjoyed working on Ant Man and the Black
Panther for that reason. Hardly obscure figures now, but back in the 80's, they
were definitely considered second-stringers. Also, they had simple costumes-
easier to draw than, say, Galactus.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: How did your childhood
play a role in developing your artistic abilities? Are you a natural? Formal
training? Are/were your parents supportive?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: My childhood shaped my
artistic development tremendously, but not necessarily the way your question
implies. I actually avoided most art classes in school because the assigned
projects always seemed boring. My memories of drawing start at around age 5,
when I was plunked down in front of a TV for the first time. I immediately fell
in love with the old Tarzan movies, Flash Gordon serials and the Superman TV
show, all of which being endlessly replayed on local stations. All this stuff,
including Marvel Comics (which I discovered a couple years later) helped spark
a desire to create my own fantasy worlds on paper. But I stopped drawing at the
beginning of junior high because I kept being told I'd reached an age where I'd
outgrown those sort of childish things and that it was time to start reading
the newspaper and follow events in Israel or Viet Nam. Without the inspiration
of comics and jungle movies and heroic spaceman, the world seemed like a much
duller place and the inspiration to draw- and create comics of my own-
withered. Fortunately, I managed to come back to my senses sometime near the
end of tenth grade and started buying comics again. It was something of a
watershed event. Buying comics was definitely not considered cool back then and
so this was something of an existential decision for</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">me. And once I was back in the fold, I began
drawing again.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you currently
creating? </span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: By the time anyone
reads this, I'm pretty sure I'll already have moved on to other commissions.
But right now, I'm doing a t-shirt design for the Southeast Ohio History
Center, finishing up a large Justice Society of America drawing for a private
collector and starting</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">work on a poster
for Rural Action.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Who is your favorite
all-time artist?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: Well, there's no way I
could ever isolate one artists from the dozens (hundreds?) of artists whose
work I love. And even a list of top ten given right now would probably change
if you asked again in a year. As far as the fine artists go I'd put Rembrandt
at the top. And as for comic book artists and illustrators, I'd say Frank
Frazetta, Carlos Nine, J C Coll, Herge, Jeffrey Catherine Jones and many, many
others.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Describe your studio
and where you work... do you have a muse, listen to music, special lighting, or
something else to spur creativity when you work?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: How would I describe
my work space? Rustic, bordering on primitive. (See drawing at end).</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">Not inspired by music so
much anymore. I get excited (and inspired) when I discover artists that are new
to me, whether they be architects or photographers or print makers. Even
better, when a faded interest in some art movement or genre is rekindled. Recently
I picked up a beautiful book of early movie posters, many of them lithograph
prints, that made me swoon. Both consciously and I'm sure unconsciously, I
start to incorporated design elements or approaches to composition or color
schemes from those artists into my own work.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What is your best
advice for young artists finding their way in the comic book industry?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: Learn to live
frugally.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: List some things that
your fans may not know about you...</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: What fans don't know
about me would probably best remain unknown. But, listing a few of the less
embarrassing ones. I’m a hopeless romantic, a believer in magical thinking,
always fantasized about being a night janitor.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What's for lunch?</span></p><p class="Standard" style="mso-pagination: widow-orphan;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">SP: Whatever I can
scrounge from the fridge. If not, a peanut butter and jam sandwich- always a
great fallback.</span></p><p class="Standard" style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTjWL6JmSlx9fX34S1tlxn2DVl63KUrjVfadP-ZcBZcTc9znH_xzJURhhwTXdKZeOBFKP7sF59IklDqp_T6eFQIFSeVzXVQDeCMQSVsg-QLqR5uO1gNFOSqPXWegOZ9cS-o9OkythyphenhyphenF9Zq4fwFZkeUVLslJX0o9_OTluA6qHEUkjnWiuCvVD4Ei2ELUg/s665/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="665" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTjWL6JmSlx9fX34S1tlxn2DVl63KUrjVfadP-ZcBZcTc9znH_xzJURhhwTXdKZeOBFKP7sF59IklDqp_T6eFQIFSeVzXVQDeCMQSVsg-QLqR5uO1gNFOSqPXWegOZ9cS-o9OkythyphenhyphenF9Zq4fwFZkeUVLslJX0o9_OTluA6qHEUkjnWiuCvVD4Ei2ELUg/w640-h466/Picture1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandy's studio (c) Illustration by Sandy Plunkett</td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #50164a; font-size: 14pt; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #50164A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent5; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Connect with Sandy:</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.ohioswallow.com/9780804011242/" target="_blank">The World of a Wayward ComicBook Artist: The Private Sketchbooks of S. Plunkett</a></span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> (Ohio University/Swallow
Press)</span></div>
<p class="Standard"><a href="https://www.plunkettcomicart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">https://www.plunkettcomicart.com/</a></p>
<p class="Standard"><a href="https://southeastohiohistory.org/exhibit/the-cartoon-art-of-sandy-plunkett-a-brush-with-history/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Southeast Ohio History Museum</a></p>
<p class="Standard"><a href="https://www.comicartfans.com/comic-artists/sandy_plunkett.asp" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">https://www.comicartfans.com/comic-artists/sandy_plunkett.asp</a></p>
<p class="Standard"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/3733/sandy_plunkett" target="_blank">https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/3733/sandy_plunkett</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><a href="https://woub.org/2023/11/06/regional-cartoon-artist-sandy-plunkett-to-speak-on-the-origins-of-the-comic-book-thursday/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">WOUB Interview</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> (November 2023)</span></p>
<p class="Standard"><a href="https://youtu.be/3B5QWET-PLM?feature=shared" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Meet the Artist Sandy Plunkett</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">
(WOUB/PBS)</span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.athensnews.com/culture/arts_and_entertainment/local-comic-artist-gets-kennedy-showcase/article_97ed909d-b52c-520f-9f3c-cf5ba16aea09.html" target="_blank">Athens Glimpses of Home: Local toon artist colors outside the lines</a></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">(The
Athens News 2009)</span></div>
<p class="Standard"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Plunkett" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Wiki</a></p><p class="Standard">
<span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Blogger’s
Note:</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> It
was December 2023 when I first met Sandy Plunkett. As the sponsor of a first-time
book fair at <a href="https://dairybarn.org/" target="_blank">The Dairy Barn,</a> my planning was off and I overbooked authors.
Sandy, who had called prior to let me know, was running late to the book
fair. In a room full of round tables (not configured for author book signings),
zealous authors, and stacks of books, everyone scrambled for space. In the
frenzy, I forgot to hold a table for Sandy (the most prolific artist/author in southeastern
Ohio). When Sandy arrived, I was humbled by his kindness. My offering was a
small desk in the middle of the room. Sandy was fine with the space and the
event went well. My son was thrilled to receive an autographed copy of Sandy's book. We will be sponsoring the book fair at The Dairy Barn in 2024 with rectangle
tables. Sandy, I hope you will headline the event!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-68968108090486873202024-02-26T05:50:00.005-05:002024-02-26T05:59:09.070-05:00Milliron Monday: Letters Home Sept 10 1960<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"> </span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/s3481/L%20Home.jpg" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3481" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/w640-h510/L%20Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.2px;"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome</i> to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #800180; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">Pete and I went for a beautiful ride up into the foothills the morning of our anniversary</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></b></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">― Jody Smith</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. After Jody passed away, I remember seeing "two very nice bound (blank pages) books." The pages are still blank.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Route 1</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fort Collins, Colorado</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Saturday, August 20, 1960</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;">Hi,</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Sorry I haven't written for so long but things are awfully busy around here what with Jessica, remodeling the apartment, and getting ours and the Field's furniture switched around.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Jessica is now eating carrots as well as her cereal. Tuesday, September 6, she weighed 9 lbs. 12 1/2 oz. and was 23 1/2 inches long. She's also been doing "pushups" lately. She raises her head clear off the bed and supports herself on her hands.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Steve Field</span> stopped a week or so ago and the first thing he said was, "You've painted the door. Makes the whole place look better," so I guess your work hasn't gone unnoticed, Mom. That meatgrinder has been a real timesaver. Sure makes great hash and we really are using the stepladder after all, painting the apartment.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> I didn't forget your birthday, Dad, but I never seem to get time to write, so Happy Birthday, a bit late.</span><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span><span> I keep saying I'll write every night before I go to bed but I'm always too tired, so this is being written at 6 a.m.!</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span> Pete and I went for a beautiful ride up into the foothills the morning of our anniversary. We borrowed Saha - Birky's half-Arab and Pete and Mary Lou Matthews took care of Jessica for us.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span><span> Pete's folks sent us two very nice bound (blank pages) books for our "paper anniversary." Hope we get time to write in them.</span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span><span><span> Thanks for the anniversary card, Jess.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span>Bye for now.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Love, </i></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Jody</i></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Previous Letters Home:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-1959-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Sept 15, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-16-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 16, 1959</span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-26-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 26, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/letters-home-nov-22-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">N0v 22, 1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 2, </a><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-13-1959.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 13, 1959</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-17-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 17, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-23-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 23, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-31-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 31, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-5-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 5, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-12-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 12, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-5.html" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 5, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-march-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-21.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 21, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-24.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 24, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-april-7.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 7, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-10-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-18-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 18, 1960</a></span></div></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-24-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-30-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 30, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-1-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 1, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-may-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-28-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 28, 1960</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-4-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 4, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-june-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-24.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">July 6, 1960 </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-14.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 14, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-15.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 15, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-16.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-20.html" target="_blank">August 20, 1960</a></span></span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white;">~ ~ </b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span> </span></div></div><div><div style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC/" style="clear: right; color: #694b31; float: right; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3f1bsnS4pM/W3saDHVyVAI/AAAAAAAAXHM/uic6dgP36hAZHPUZiUQnaIDr7lL5g2KUQCLcBGAs/s320/afasfdafa.jpg" style="border: 0px none rgb(105, 75, 49); padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="217" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>Connect with Gina...</span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Milliron Facebook Page</a></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B005TU6IL6/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Milliron-Abbott-Smith-D-V-M-Biography/dp/0692892990/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Milliron: The Biography</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.gmcknight.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;">www.gmcknight.com</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 18.66px;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.mondaycreekpublishing.com/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>www.mondaycreekpublishing.com</b></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.</span></div></span></div></div></div></div><p><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0Fort Collins, CO, USA40.5852602 -105.08442312.275026363821155 -140.24067300000002 68.895494036178846 -69.928173tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-5615292378646995752024-02-24T10:54:00.002-05:002024-02-24T10:54:41.643-05:00Hocking Hills Chamber of Commerce: Submit your poetry to be reviewed for publication! <p style="text-align: center;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PBKgrM9MOIcCx4qitrGUCvVKYqDpewmBqBy_zFqrd4wwUYBvpEAE3owF-pDVrF88k2WmPTFDHZlgyv8kz3aUMZ4_QIFxkBuMgerGPIUauvM8GNFKpQODTOC02_bhEYMFGYJZujxh0mrI-17FnXzvJzWpQyHIUYOtzTYbeIA04T5nqEsmzr0P8qIAWCc/s1710/Scan_20240224%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1710" data-original-width="1432" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PBKgrM9MOIcCx4qitrGUCvVKYqDpewmBqBy_zFqrd4wwUYBvpEAE3owF-pDVrF88k2WmPTFDHZlgyv8kz3aUMZ4_QIFxkBuMgerGPIUauvM8GNFKpQODTOC02_bhEYMFGYJZujxh0mrI-17FnXzvJzWpQyHIUYOtzTYbeIA04T5nqEsmzr0P8qIAWCc/w536-h640/Scan_20240224%20(2).jpg" width="536" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Source: The Logan Daily News, Tuesday, December 20, 2024</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" http://hockinghillschamber.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="220" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIYXRco9P5n6WqjKYnlX_zFxipMHHWL6jqtYyk78a6KYjkGJ1Yfpx3qlRIo13S21-RZz9DGJzTY9iEq1J145sLUzP9C4g3YeH-tyq1t5m3JiI6bTHV_bFr2-0bEnX6BP5-T7qz_EhcsXk2e5VUdaLBLZKLNdVlUUJFSlyE1Dw803cV6mLA-YHaMwtg3w/s1600/th.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-2286840426886560262024-02-21T04:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T06:21:25.469-05:00Monday Creek Publishing Award-Winning Titles: The Golden Wizard Book Prize 2024<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.facebook.com/mondaycreekpublishing/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="6912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeg8oTGi6wCqe9bFRnKN1cPShv2dyOZPgzZRkRK-pgAREami-9mzHAZgVfIq40-5axw4l6hC-8MN6RgMubo1x1bsgLO1ePZ7MgmtTWW7wJmMneVi-1pHNC-gvV6IpOcLPecPrdADfJBUYGxuZ7FY2PvFiFGg7B0Z64mWZQxWaNlyY0pgZN8LdZDCk6ELU/w640-h320/Orange%20Aesthetic%20Travel%20Banner%20(Landscape).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAl6LoC-rATV87v6nBOjaNsMBsLZcnYGA9hPpe7pz6lyF398XAbDm3H_0eNX3bzFi8AAIcdzVCAH0fAl-F-T_eJ5ozlq5eQl6CTNAAszlk84sqxm5xlzlrVb9sohnAwyxl5VUpzfnCERcvLbMsHe6qh1Xe2ALyr-J2n9HyNQZGwV7rzfJzz_JwA5CWJQ/s1080/GOLDEN%20WIZARD%20SEAL%202024%20-%20TRANSPARENT%20BACKGROUND.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAl6LoC-rATV87v6nBOjaNsMBsLZcnYGA9hPpe7pz6lyF398XAbDm3H_0eNX3bzFi8AAIcdzVCAH0fAl-F-T_eJ5ozlq5eQl6CTNAAszlk84sqxm5xlzlrVb9sohnAwyxl5VUpzfnCERcvLbMsHe6qh1Xe2ALyr-J2n9HyNQZGwV7rzfJzz_JwA5CWJQ/s320/GOLDEN%20WIZARD%20SEAL%202024%20-%20TRANSPARENT%20BACKGROUND.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bandit-Finds-Home-J-Hall/dp/0578632470/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9OPYDSHFMF8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.V_EZTqRJGIyXR96_Ai_rXpAOjCqhDlQDk_P3lVa4fbhaCpmr3ykm1SgcbkamiqzMk-68DfYL8GKhOCW89iPLsf8ynqfLaMC66cn9q2NzIdRW6fL3gWNsWNxQBdzYB2AY0hUrmvM9vSQJ_9J70U3dJVOySWhDGWo0z6tIyqFkLsU2b9ZNFBNXc0F3kJWhSuGKseaza2gSUlPQapjjw19RYx6gINhgqPIPMFMfFH_7BXI.E4TmE8ExIREIKj3PTpqcaAX5r8u8W_yPOvwR37dqdok&dib_tag=se&keywords=bandit+finds+a+home&qid=1708473183&s=books&sprefix=bandit+finds+a+home%2Cstripbooks%2C159&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>Bandit Finds a Home</i> </a>by J.A. Hall</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Illustrations by Katrine Makartichan</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nawaab-Marwari-Stallion-India-Great/dp/0692191135/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SNTYVKTOLNJH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MfnaQkhyVWbmHL5XcmGjvg.m_SBewC8gHYvd9WP1sLhCp8uFYS9bMRnr_S8eje3CjI&dib_tag=se&keywords=marwari+Stallion+of+india&qid=1708473218&s=books&sprefix=marwari+stallion+of+indi%2Cstripbooks%2C211&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Nawaab: Marwari Stallion of India - The Great Quake</a></i> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by Gina McKnight</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Illustrations by Zork Velickovic</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Sweetbrier-Changed-Horses/dp/069287898X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VclHu9IW9WOP3gH273hnEw.TnW3NNVoA3GIr5SUC4Pmjh1AkOYI-WJsbsO4q3YMRv4&qid=1708473250&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Sweetbrier-Changed-Horses/dp/069287898X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VclHu9IW9WOP3gH273hnEw.TnW3NNVoA3GIr5SUC4Pmjh1AkOYI-WJsbsO4q3YMRv4&qid=1708473250&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>My Life at Sweetbrier: A Life Changed by Horses</i> </span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mondaycreekpublishing.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">www.mondaycreekpublishing.com</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mondaycreekpublishing/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow on Facebook</span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIcae_wjTsQ1Zc7YaEezcT533yUyb4NBNszGJGLPEPl_x34k-jLnlhCx5mbgzh5nuJ87j8g5QkEB2Z1ELUWc5aE8NKKAHlLXmBFLILnQkm6lGZ_w-p4yR1452b8ArUAvhDDCExNMefSgRGsaRJq7rJLJJe8Gg9aVtIiwV__J_NmIs0lX_k8wKWidwWBw/s2400/7TaoB8Xqc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="2400" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIcae_wjTsQ1Zc7YaEezcT533yUyb4NBNszGJGLPEPl_x34k-jLnlhCx5mbgzh5nuJ87j8g5QkEB2Z1ELUWc5aE8NKKAHlLXmBFLILnQkm6lGZ_w-p4yR1452b8ArUAvhDDCExNMefSgRGsaRJq7rJLJJe8Gg9aVtIiwV__J_NmIs0lX_k8wKWidwWBw/s320/7TaoB8Xqc.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-4346048134696768292024-02-20T13:53:00.004-05:002024-02-20T14:02:00.566-05:00An Interview with Ohio Author Tim Bookman<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Homegrown-Tim-Bookman/dp/B0CKDLNT2L/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gRxAhgrXKybVtqD4f1H6dlxe6cotRAs8XqyTb5SgmqWmMO6ahQqrh0hyZR5Sger1Gs2otpcclX4EKcq5Gtg-uIydSxCpB_5Xen6qKPryLYKg_sx-pMcq_zPUsoOq9K8q972TnNrNG_wzOrHUi3pmPQDtFIKh0PGBekvnL42K1alrfAtSTBqlyOuz04SFnFFGSRa6pECUkpzw8dbJyml88OflDF233DvgBVkij_SJON4.nfnOiav37i8onb52Wqx5bJhiiaxtabhuk7bpVRNk1oY&dib_tag=se&keywords=tim+bookman&qid=1708451896&s=books&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1503" data-original-width="2030" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPP7JHNKk14Ji5kJ0Re-pIEvCqxlXL2GmSwtJdhYaluzV1opgcd1MQl1K7wS_hi33wKZOyaS8fCVBor-upIq7JyftjkiFh1MeOjHsEn39ARvKQIeIl3dKK5kJ3U2phaSfwdbOhBapQyozSxZqPIMwdThlckNAf0bulNCFU9FfeYOey1whTEATH2TyGV4/w640-h474/Picture2ssead.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">An Interview with Ohio Author Tim Bookman</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">From SE Ohio USA, Tim Bookman is the author of </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">Homegrown</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">,
a suspense thriller about </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">“a young man who, through bad circumstance after
bad circumstance, is driven to turn on society. Through his high intellect, he
develops a plan that could possibly bring the nation to its knees.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I recently caught with Tim and asked about his new
book and much more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Welcome, Tim!</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What is the premise for your new book </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">Homegrown</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">?</span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">TB: I originally tried to develop the idea of how soft
and fragile we are in the USA. Through Covid, I have seen how divided our
country becomes when anything affects the general population personally. We get
angry when attacked, but feed up when we are affected personally. So, I gathered
facts about our infrastructure and modeled an unfortunate character in the mold
of Ted Kaczynski (Unabomber), then coupled the character with a knowledge of
our infrastructure and the backing of an extremist group. The premise imagines
the effects of their actions and the response of the American population. I use
real-life personalities that are put into situations that cause people’s demeanor
to change, and through that change how their behavior impacts the people they interact
with.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What would you like readers to take away from your
book?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">TB: My book Is intended to move America awake of the
need to better protect our infrastructure, and the access to information that
makes locating it possible. Also, it is meant to raise awareness of our
reliance upon our infrastructure and the need to have alternatives to
compensate it’s interruptions.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: Who is your favorite author?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">TB: </span><a href="https://www.cusslerbooks.com/" style="font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Clive Cussler</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> is my favorite author. The way he uses existing technology to interact
with his stories, then uses that technology to help solve his storyline is
brilliant.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you currently writing?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">TB: I’m writing a short non-fiction on my belief in
forest farming. Taking small tracks of forested properties then, without
destroying the wooded property, transforming it into a property that pays for
itself; self-sustaining forest farming.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you currently reading?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">TB: I am reading articles and literature on the
Hopewell Indian tribe. I am trying to understand the various formations they
built throughout the mid-west.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">GM: List 5 things your fans may not know about you…</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">TB: 1) I didn’t go to college. I started in construction
straight out of high school and have been in the industry for 45 years.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2) My wife and I (of 42 years) have lived in Hocking
County Ohio our entire life. We raised three children and have eight grandchildren
– all reside in Hocking County.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3) I have raised my family to love the outdoors –
hunting, fishing, and hiking. We are excellent morel mushroom hunters and can
identify most species of plants and trees found in Appalachian forests.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4) I love to build. I have been part of building
structures all over northeastern USA, all different styles, including historical,
new builds, factories, churches, and office complexes. I even built the house I
live in.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #501549; font-size: 14pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #501549; font-size: 14pt; mso-themecolor: accent5; mso-themeshade: 128;">Connect with Tim:</span></i></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Homegrown-Tim-Bookman/dp/B0CKDLNT2L/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gRxAhgrXKybVtqD4f1H6dlxe6cotRAs8XqyTb5SgmqWmMO6ahQqrh0hyZR5Sger1Gs2otpcclX4EKcq5Gtg-uIydSxCpB_5Xen6qKPryLYKg_sx-pMcq_zPUsoOq9K8q972TnNrNG_wzOrHUi3pmPQDtFIKh0PGBekvnL42K1alrfAtSTBqlyOuz04SFnFFGSRa6pECUkpzw8dbJyml88OflDF233DvgBVkij_SJON4.nfnOiav37i8onb52Wqx5bJhiiaxtabhuk7bpVRNk1oY&dib_tag=se&keywords=tim+bookman&qid=1708451896&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Homegrown</a></span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> on Amazon</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.logandaily.com/entertainment/local-author-s-novel-depicts-the-ultimate-terrorist-attack/article_99b004c8-8708-11ee-9485-47031eab9d6c.html" style="font-size: 14pt;" target="_blank">Logan Daily News Book Review</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Homegrown-Tim-Bookman/dp/B0CKDLNT2L/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gRxAhgrXKybVtqD4f1H6dlxe6cotRAs8XqyTb5SgmqWmMO6ahQqrh0hyZR5Sger1Gs2otpcclX4EKcq5Gtg-uIydSxCpB_5Xen6qKPryLYKg_sx-pMcq_zPUsoOq9K8q972TnNrNG_wzOrHUi3pmPQDtFIKh0PGBekvnL42K1alrfAtSTBqlyOuz04SFnFFGSRa6pECUkpzw8dbJyml88OflDF233DvgBVkij_SJON4.nfnOiav37i8onb52Wqx5bJhiiaxtabhuk7bpVRNk1oY&dib_tag=se&keywords=tim+bookman&qid=1708451896&s=books&sr=1-1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTseGzp7Bmjg0KnPCYXr2XbofHk_xCikwQAxLb_gIsGtaIWM9WaLD4CF4Zz7U4b8uD3pYuMCwCMfcxCyRZ2wa4J4V7uOQ4RuxUA87aEhfRLZsB1HZLsG8c1URtlwYP9enE8xtOnHUDgZoa0X1szsO_9xmjkMkMmqiWC29B0A2qtdLQ6qYJqQ4SygsmIo/w428-h640/71tSQW1qS8L._SY466_.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-60346000289206954092024-02-19T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-19T02:35:43.256-05:00Milliron Monday: Letters Home August 20 1960<p style="text-align: center;"> <span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/s3481/L%20Home.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3481" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/w640-h510/L%20Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.2px;"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white;">Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome</i> to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">"</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">She still howls nearly all day long but at least that's better than at night</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></b></span></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">― Jody Smith</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. Backstory: Jody is enjoying living in the country with Starboy (her gelding) nearby, but motherhood is paramount and nurturing a new baby takes most of her time. Pete is a senior at Colorado State University. (In 1960, the cost to mail a letter was 4 cents.) </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Route 1</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fort Collins, Colorado</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Saturday, August 20, 1960</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;">Dear Mom, Dad, and Jessie,</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> It was nice to hear your voice, Mom; I'd gotten so spoiled though, being able to talk to you whenever I wanted for a few weeks, it seemed strange for it to be an expensive luxury again. Thank you all very much for putting the money in the account. Pete was quite relieved and pleased and went out that afternoon to pay off the loan. I'm certainly glad that's off his mind before his studies begin.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span> Jessica did an amazing thing last night - she slept from 10:30 pm to 7:30 am! She's getting two feedings of cereal a day and sometimes takes 6 </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">oz.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> of milk, other times three or five. She still howls nearly all day long but at least that's better than at night. The bathinette is certainly a big help. I just cart it into the bathroom and fill it up and give her a bath. I've been rocking her for a while each evening and taking her out for a couple of walks during the day - a practice which she seems to enjoy. I took off her diapers and laid her outside on a blanket in the shade while I hung up the wash this morning.</span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"> </span> I'll try to write a bit longer letter </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">when</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> I get the time and energy.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i style="background-color: white;">Love, </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i style="background-color: white;">Jody</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Previous Letters Home:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-1959-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Sept 15, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-16-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 16, 1959</span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-26-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 26, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/letters-home-nov-22-1959.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">N0v 22, 1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 2, </a><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-13-1959.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 13, 1959</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-17-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 17, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-23-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 23, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-31-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 31, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-5-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 5, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-12-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 12, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-5.html" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 5, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-march-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-21.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 21, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-24.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 24, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-april-7.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 7, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-10-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-18-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 18, 1960</a></span></div></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-24-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-30-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 30, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-1-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 1, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-may-19-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-28-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 28, 1960</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-4-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 4, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-june-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-24.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">July 6, 1960 </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-14.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 14, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-15.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 15, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-16.html" target="_blank">August 16, 1960</a></span></span></div></div></div></div><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white;">~ ~ </b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC/" style="clear: right; color: #694b31; float: right; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3f1bsnS4pM/W3saDHVyVAI/AAAAAAAAXHM/uic6dgP36hAZHPUZiUQnaIDr7lL5g2KUQCLcBGAs/s320/afasfdafa.jpg" style="border: 0px none rgb(105, 75, 49); padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="217" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>Connect with Gina...</span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Milliron Facebook Page</a></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B005TU6IL6/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Milliron-Abbott-Smith-D-V-M-Biography/dp/0692892990/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Milliron: The Biography</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.gmcknight.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;">www.gmcknight.com</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 18.66px;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.mondaycreekpublishing.com/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>www.mondaycreekpublishing.com</b></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.</span></div></span></div></div></div></div><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-31014668112294616662024-02-18T04:00:00.005-05:002024-02-18T18:37:58.869-05:00This Week @ Monday Creek: Time for a pedi...<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078041036997" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="2325" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqumSV_WqOqAY-ss-I8xERvj7XJm3wCna9IJ0aHVJgz859o6-h1zSllUo-FQywrCg8rFL3U7ARsSciGjKfMhDOBkSYnK_nnLcoTLIA1STU214SVgY5xN1VZM_xtopFmXoYDMaPnUsg1Mx425OfVJ2sqlMBrULa8a5c_l1q65_7uUsV-pbvV-Y7IDiOQs/w400-h330/Mandalyn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gmcknight.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="640" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM-P9JwbO88kWKpyMj_LMqeU-RTOJ2O3tTYvcrUFGeS0kwTDkb6MZZOagYWulTOCnrGqgpMQ65mTUHWOh37eJ7Iz7-ZqDMD1tNtmJwASxb7ix1QsRW3wNc-sy2_4_PZ9DpCyIsswVct0yyiVIfNK_wgD_jPP_Iss0Yy2ts5VjcBfjzXsqnwBu-GPse3Y/w640-h160/dfae213424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i>Time for a pedi…</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">February greetings!</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> It
has been a good week – planning the spring garden, managing horse hair as Zubie sheds her winter coat (it can be overwhelming at times and is a sure sign of spring),
working on new titles at Monday Creek Publishing, including <i>Achim’s Pocket</i>
by Todd Linder, and <i>Bandit Lost in the West </i>by J.A. Hall. Both titles are
for middle grade readers and will be released this spring. Besides that, I'm writing a fiction novel based on <i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/truants64" target="_blank">The Truants</a></i>, a 1960s garage band from Jackson, Ohio. Still in its early phases, the first draft is almost
complete, but somewhat still in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">My fun time this week was going for a spa treatment. I would like you to meet
Mandalyn, my manicurist. She’s amazing! Last week was my first gel-pedicure. It was an hour of
pampering in an ergonomic, vibrating chair while my feet soaked in a whirlpool of
lavender water. The pleasant aesthetics of Mandalyn’s spa room was the perfect
Valentine’s Day experience.
I highly recommend Mandalyn (and gel polish for every cowgirl – it doesn’t come
off, even at the barn). Mandalyn loves horses and is an artist. We talked
about horses and her creative nail designs. Follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078041036997" target="_blank">Mandalyn on Facebook</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">There is not much happening in the event arena for us in
March, just working on new titles and planning four <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hockinghillsbookfair/" target="_blank">Hocking Hills Book Fairs</a> in
2024! Follow our Facebook page for book fair announcements. However, we are looking
forward to April events! We have tickets to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/401580425782748" target="_blank">Jackson Pro Rodeo</a> and <a href="https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-general-information/tickets/" target="_blank">Equine Affaire Fantasia</a>! Tickets for these two events are almost gone, so get your tickets
now! <i>The Apple City Book Fair</i> hosted by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jacksoncitylibrary" target="_blank">Jackson City Library</a> is Saturday,
April 6<sup>th</sup>, 10 am – 2 pm. I hope to see you there! We will have
several Monday Creek Publishing authors signing books and I will be giving away
free Creative Packs as well as other ways to encourage writing, reading, journaling,
and creativity. In the meantime, I will clean my saddle, keep writing, and dream of spring.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZlyttBOdn4Wmq323W0tYF2RGQCnNmkxKF5_KQpECGEEG6j6a-XJXEqpnW6U3LHIXGj44q58bTr1EkVqNR4xLi520_98wW-TOxN_iJWbnGhCy5ZbjTpxJl9iOTBUTHbqbAQXLgAI8H0ddfxiDKRd8Ar0yq2ckgcxy87f4vi0QdPGTLhXi3S7OfA5xFDU/s2872/20170417_203823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="2872" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZlyttBOdn4Wmq323W0tYF2RGQCnNmkxKF5_KQpECGEEG6j6a-XJXEqpnW6U3LHIXGj44q58bTr1EkVqNR4xLi520_98wW-TOxN_iJWbnGhCy5ZbjTpxJl9iOTBUTHbqbAQXLgAI8H0ddfxiDKRd8Ar0yq2ckgcxy87f4vi0QdPGTLhXi3S7OfA5xFDU/w640-h222/20170417_203823.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Planning for spring @ Monday Creek</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, OH 43138, USA39.4334877 -82.548212611.123253863821155 -117.7044626 67.743721536178839 -47.3919626tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-45401051524361688052024-02-16T04:00:00.029-05:002024-02-16T05:55:22.320-05:00An Interview with Ohio Author Evan Graham<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WXhyphenhyphenVgdbfrOA-ViaEI5iXfg6OoQTI7MXLfbdOljf4Z7hX1GTTeeMXrfLpteBCwPgkcgKyNwpHpfO1gnuy6guhjcG-tSkhuyZDgSthRBjPV-_qybKDUz3lU-dBWTZIud4PX4vxNjI2dcNu7wOJuu-wES7wGlfh6ICk8_qucWFeMqw1qtHcN-mfgaR_bU/s917/55678654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="917" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WXhyphenhyphenVgdbfrOA-ViaEI5iXfg6OoQTI7MXLfbdOljf4Z7hX1GTTeeMXrfLpteBCwPgkcgKyNwpHpfO1gnuy6guhjcG-tSkhuyZDgSthRBjPV-_qybKDUz3lU-dBWTZIud4PX4vxNjI2dcNu7wOJuu-wES7wGlfh6ICk8_qucWFeMqw1qtHcN-mfgaR_bU/w400-h385/55678654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">An Interview with Ohio
Author Evan Grahm<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Science Fiction Author
Evan Graham writes stories to take you to another place – another realm.
Through engaging characters and captivating scenarios, Graham finds a way to drive you into his storytelling, creating an encounter that entices every
reader.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">From Evan’s Bio: “I am,
among many things, a writer, although that word doesn’t fully encapsulate my
experiences with story-crafting. “Junkie” might be a better term. I am
absolutely ravenous for stories, and have been all my life. I love them. I love
hearing them, I love sharing them, and I love the pseudo-life they take on
inside your head, where the seed a story plants in your imagination can bloom
in a hundred unpredictable ways.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Welcome, Evan!</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What is the premise
for your new book?</span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tantalus Depths</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> is a sci-fi horror-thriller story about a woman
fighting for her survival on a mysterious world filled with unfathomable
threats. When Mary's crew arrives on Tantalus 13, they discover quickly that
the planet is not what it seems. In fact, it's not even a planet, but an
ancient megastructure built thousands of years ago by an unknown alien
civilization. Mary and her crewmates take it upon themselves to explore the
vast inner workings of the alien structure to learn its secrets, but the thrill
of discovery is soon tainted with horror as tragedy strikes the mission. To
make matters worse, their AI assistant, SCARAB, seems to know more about this
world than it lets on, and the lengths it's willing to go to pursue its own
agenda could put the lives of the entire crew in deadly peril. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Do you use close
friends and family for developing characters and scenarios?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: I try to avoid
basing any of my characters too heavily on any one real person. I like my
characters to live a life all their own on the page, with personalities and
motivations tailor-made to suit the story they're in. I do take bits and pieces
of inspiration from people I've known throughout my life, but it tends to be on
a case-by case basis. I might meet someone with a conversational quirk I like
and incorporate that into a character's dialogue, or pick up on a particular
nervous fidget someone does and slide that into a character who gives the same
kind of vibe that person gives me.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">In a broader sense, I'd
say most of my strongest heroes and heroines are built on a foundation of all
the people I've most admired in my life. Family, close friends, romantic
partners; the same strengths of character that draw me to form strong bonds with
people in real life are the ones I integrate into the core identities of my
protagonists. General virtues like compassion, perseverance, curiosity,
self-awareness, humility: these are traits I look for in the people I surround
myself with. In my opinion, they're some of the best features humans can
embody, and I try to show them abundantly in characters I want my readers to
respect.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">On the flipside, I have
also definitely taken some inspiration from people I do not respect for
characters as well. Commander Gorrister in </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Tantalus-Depths/dp/B0BDGHWYBG/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.twcNs-U26AyaqcqVi8_7xuh9o6v3ckkczrysrJynEmHXLI8ivR91fB8MMO2XR-dDyWMnMuBgw4b6Z9e-HSjjYz2QH5E5p-TfVy8lMzyvUoS2Oum3TETtIv7u-BcbOnwY1vSBLLeH6TG1Gn_k001EwSgU3D5B9w3Xk_AqfBjKh0-8Q5u3oj2daJN_O9AeLBpfWgbFAwnfza5kiXR5JYqOf-wf148WPGk3r8uSEqCyKUA._l_-7fdQpS3UxOAtxjRSqAgZ1gGFgh62IPiRQmdnDrs&dib_tag=se&keywords=Evan+Graham&qid=1708048195&s=audible&sr=1-1">Tantalus
Depths</a></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">, for instance. He's supposed to be the leader of the mission,
but his leadership skills are abysmal. He doesn't know how to handle a crisis,
he takes himself way too seriously and undervalues the competence of his crew,
he's more beholden to corporate regulations than he is to common sense. He's
the kind of guy who gets into a position of authority because he wants to boss
people around, not because he's a skillful leader, and his by-the-books
leadership style causes serious problems when problems arise outside of the
regulations he wants to follow. I took quite a bit of inspiration for his
character from many of the bosses and managers I've had in various jobs who I
didn't have much respect for. That was a cathartic experience, in
many ways.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: How do you maintain
thoughts and ideas for storylines?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: Storylines come
very naturally to me. Worldbuilding is my biggest writing strength, and the
world of my stories is a constant living entity in my mind. Many of my stories
bud off of each other naturally: I'll create a character or a planet or some other
concept in the course of writing one story, and it'll interest me enough that
it stays at the forefront of my brain long after the story I wrote it for is
done. It's like a grain of sand in an oyster's shell, teasing me with potential
as more ideas start to stick to it until it becomes a pearl big enough to be a
story in its own right. When I started this writing journey, all I had was
Tantalus Depths, but in the course of developing that book I ended up creating
five short stories from little seeds of inspiration that grew from that first
book. I've got a whole anthology series now, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Calling Void</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">, with more
short stories and another whole novel coming soon.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What else have you
written?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: Good segue, I
guess. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Tantalus Depths</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> is my first novel, and I am currently working on
the standalone follow-up novel, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Proteus</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">, set in the same universe but
with a totally new plot. I've written five short stories so far in the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Calling
Void</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> series, published in various anthology collections with Duskbound
Books (formerly Writing Bloc). The newest, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Neurophage</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">, came out in last
year's </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Passageways: Mythos</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> collection. More are on the way!</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you
currently writing?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Proteus</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> is a
really, really ambitious follow-up. Set on a city-sized starship halfway into a
150-year journey across the galaxy, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Proteus </i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">revolves around a crisis
among the crew as mutiny has erupted regarding the fate of the mission and the
thousands of cryonically frozen colonists aboard. One man seeks to resolve this
crisis through any means necessary: Jacob Sicarius: cyborg war hero and
intended future leader of the new colony. The problem? Jacob is a bloodthirsty
tyrant. Now the three women he has most wronged must focus their efforts on
preventing the future of an entire new human civilization from being decided by
a monstrous despot.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">There's a lot going on
in this one. It's a science fiction reinterpretation of Richard III that I've
been plotting for more than 14 years, so I definitely did not pick an easy
project for my second book. I'm really proud of what I've written so far, though,
and I cannot wait for people to get to read it when it's done.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What are you
currently reading?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: At the moment I'm
actually reading an ARC copy of another author's book, but I can't talk about
that one just yet. Outside of that, I most recently started on the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Locked
Tomb</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> series by Tamsyn Muir. It's really good!</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Who is your
favorite author?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: It's hard for me to
pick just one, because I like different things about different authors, but I
think if I had to pick just one it would be Isaac Asimov. His contributions to
the science fiction genre really shaped what it would become over the course of
the 20th century, and I really don't think his influence in the genre can be
understated. Also, his direct influence on my personal writing style, for that
matter. I've never been shy about how much inspiration I've taken from the
greats.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Do you have advice
for novice writers?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: My one big life
hack for being a productive writer is to set aside a section of your home that
is your permanent writing sanctum. Your brain can associate a certain place
with a certain activity, so if you are vigilant about only ever sitting in a certain
chair or corner of the room when you're getting ready to write, your brain will
start associating that space with the act of writing. If you're diligent about
keeping that spot dedicated for writing and writing only, the simple act of
sitting there can start your creative juices flowing. The crucial thing is you
have to keep that space sacred. If you start letting yourself get distracted
and watch videos on your phone while sitting there or some other temptation,
it'll ruin the whole thing.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Authors say that
writing is easy, but marketing takes more momentum. What are your
recommendations for book marketing and promotion?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: Honestly, the
hardest part for me is just balancing writing and promotion. Neither one is
that hard once you get into it: the trickiest thing is balancing your time. I
had a very productive year promoting my book last year, but it came at the cost
of my writing productivity. When you're going to a convention or a book fair
every other weekend, it doesn't leave much time for actually writing the next
book. If you want to be a successful writer, the most important thing you need
to worry about is time management. You can't spend all your attention on
writing, or there's no promotion and no one will see your work. You can't spend
all your time on promoting, or there's no writing and no one will see your
work. Find a balance, where you can manageably spend your time promoting
yourself while saving enough time and mental energy to write a few hundred
words every day. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Also, leave room for a
social life and some me time. You need to keep your own mental health up, or
you'll burnout and burnout hard.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What does
authorship mean to you?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">EG: For me, authorship
is an almost divine imperative to create. I have stories that dwell inside my
brain; people who live and die, nations that rise and fall, whole universes
born and destroyed, all in the confines of my mind. If I don't put those stories
to paper, they never become real to anyone but me, and that's a shame. I feel
an obligation to these narratives: they deserve to be real, and no one can make
them real but me, therefore I must do so. We've all got stories to tell, and no
one can do it but us.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #a02b93; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #a02b93; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent5;">Connect with Evan...</span></i></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.evangraham.org/">https://www.evangraham.org/</a> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=evan+graham&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss" target="_blank">Follow on Amazon</a></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/s?k=evan+graham&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="1494" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF85q8zjmknCfCeK7UcTSbGUbHKoskG7PYru6Z5QlME2BfaI5UkCZyKZ_o-Bleps1ItMHxc2aaxK7f-9PERWuaHtwQWCTbj7pR0o_y4EsyKzSMzavte0BqnrReMzD5wBYFb9zDTq3w95EgelhapUYJb7Gy4a-R-74QFre5yt3zS7q5vprAQwFXQHl0PwM/w640-h150/Screenshot%202024-02-15%20210638.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-27843428704047229182024-02-14T04:00:00.011-05:002024-02-14T04:15:38.627-05:00Happy Valentine's Day 2024<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.facebook.com/mondaycreekpublishing/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqJlm9FSbbezvnddWBbVAklXJJnny7ZQsbfOcKV-BPp_ZEDw0hujQub8PX-c77A-t_BHki0MInrWZxTzI5MutJQkhI5Q8VncekWhaEpPMH2sG-6Y8MzAn2TkttBv49veVllEYo2hPtjfh0E0JVkP8r9faSIORRFnZBnWbplIGUqhG2KQSKSYYlxOy5p4/w640-h640/procrastinate%20less%20write%20more%20read%20more.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"> Follow on Facebook</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">@ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mondaycreekpublishing/" target="_blank">Monday Creek Publishing</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0RqRmq9OIrbvIN3jpMCFl0pAJOserRrdiLIUPTQQkQrU5Suyqn1OB6xoe5Qtdx1y-yiIZ__McygavyODErTMGqBEVpWkG5sCp27-Zf3JfFSyTkMpAheOn99_AuWsDJCHsP99AhcwFx8_c_oSxsA1FM4zXcGh8nWYTAgoOM7bjH8KXzVoze4BdCZi5iA/s385/profile-hearts-dividers-18.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0RqRmq9OIrbvIN3jpMCFl0pAJOserRrdiLIUPTQQkQrU5Suyqn1OB6xoe5Qtdx1y-yiIZ__McygavyODErTMGqBEVpWkG5sCp27-Zf3JfFSyTkMpAheOn99_AuWsDJCHsP99AhcwFx8_c_oSxsA1FM4zXcGh8nWYTAgoOM7bjH8KXzVoze4BdCZi5iA/s16000/profile-hearts-dividers-18.gif" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-35305707707740447292024-02-13T01:00:00.008-05:002024-02-13T08:04:50.847-05:00Hidden From Sight: A Short Story by Gary Flory<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jOAp80YAFi7TqqAoQB87zScgZEYVxdie0XzNekWEemawlBau6ZCwj5eGHCMl568Ylv2NXTKLzvN52A42swevAQDtzDOS4ITx2JoEsT-dAFtGOCoS9p9IZQ3agNJaRIixVwQaQ6C-XAWV5PpK1k_2Ysw_j_RPneLEipzlyLGejEqO_VhUl3ojykEEBQM/s1280/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail%20(3).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jOAp80YAFi7TqqAoQB87zScgZEYVxdie0XzNekWEemawlBau6ZCwj5eGHCMl568Ylv2NXTKLzvN52A42swevAQDtzDOS4ITx2JoEsT-dAFtGOCoS9p9IZQ3agNJaRIixVwQaQ6C-XAWV5PpK1k_2Ysw_j_RPneLEipzlyLGejEqO_VhUl3ojykEEBQM/w640-h360/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail%20(3).png" width="640" /></a></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Sam was no stranger
when it came to fishing. He would pile in the old truck at 5:00 AM with his dad
to get out on the lake before sunrise. That’s when the fish were biting and
when you had the best chance to catch the big ones. His dad kept a 14-footer with
a 20-hp motor tied up to a dock just off one of the inlets. As the sky was just
starting to lighten a little, they finished loading the boat. Once they left
the dock, there was no running back if they forgot anything. His dad would
always check twice that everything was loaded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Sam, did you get the baloney sandwiches and tea?” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Check.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Extra gas can?” </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Right behind you.” </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Ok, push us away from
the dock while I start the motor.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">As the sun was just
peeking over the horizon, they pulled into their favorite fishing hole. Sam
knew his dad was going to say it, because he always did. “Whoever catches the
largest fish doesn’t have to clean any.” </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Sam’s reply was always,
“Fine with me because I plan on the biggest fish ending up in my net.” As he
watched his dad bait his hook, he noticed that he would always put the worm
upside down on the hook. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">“Why do you do it that
way?” </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">His dad had been
waiting for Sam to ask him that and did his best to keep a straight face. “Well
son, putting the worm upside down confuses the fish. He’s not sure if that worm
is trying to back up the line or crawl off the hook. By the time he has it
figured out, I already got him hooked.” He waited till Sam turned back around
before he started grinning from ear to ear.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As time went on, the father
and son fished many years together and enjoyed their time together until the
Spring of 2006 when his dad was rushed to the hospital with chest pains. At 85
his heart was worn out, and he passed peacefully during the night. Sam was
heartbroken to lose his best friend and fishing buddy. The thought of fishing
no longer seemed the same when you had no one to share it with. In fact, that
Spring, Sam didn’t take the boat out once. His heartfelt emptiness and joy
seemed to run from him. It wasn’t till Fall that he was able to even open his
dad’s tackle box. As he looked through the lures, he remembered how his dad
taught him how to tie them to the line, so they would flow smoothly through the
water. On the bottom of the tackle box, under several boxes of lures, he
noticed a white envelope. He could tell it had been in there a long time, as it
was more brown and yellow than white. When he opened it, the first thing he
noticed was a picture of him and his dad holding their fishing poles in one
hand and a fish in the other. It was taken back when Sam was only 10. On the
back, his dad had written, </span><i><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">these</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> are some of the best times of my life. </span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sam
could no longer hold back the tears.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Wiping the tears from
his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, Sam noticed a note still inside the
envelope. He slowly unfolded it and knew right away it was his dad’s
handwriting.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Hi son. I guess if
you’re reading this, it means I’m no longer around. The last thing I want you
to be is sad. Ya, you’re gonna miss me for a while, but someday we’ll be
together again and have forever to talk about fishing. Go ahead son and catch
those big ones, so you can tell me about how the big one didn’t get away. If
you want to really catch the granddaddy, put your worm upside down. Love you
son. Oh, and by the way, I left you something hidden under my seat in the boat.</span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Sam had no idea what
his dad would have left him, but the next day he was going to find out.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">That letter changed
Sam’s emotions completely. Just the thought of him getting to see his dad again
brightened his whole outlook on life. Sam must have checked the clock 4-5 times
during the night, thinking it must be time to get up. Finally, morning came and
Sam was out the door headed for the lake. As he looked at the dock and his
dad’s boat, a lot of memories came rushing back of all the hours they spent
together in that small boat. Sam figured it would only be appropriate to go to
their favorite fishing hole before looking under the seat. This time he was in
no hurry to get there, looking at all the trees that covered the shoreline,
thinking about how many times they had seen their boat pass this way. The blue
heron fishing along the edge of the water paid no attention as Sam idled by
slowly. He could see the old stump sticking out of the water just ahead,
marking their spot. As he slowly drifted up to the stump, he shut off the motor
and lowered the anchor. Whatever his dad left for him was soon to be taken from
its hiding place. He hadn’t even brought a fishing pole with him. Today wasn’t
about fishing, but about what his dad wanted him to have.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The time had come, and
Sam stood up so he could open the seat. Back in the corner was a small old
wooden box. He lifted it out, put the seat back down, and sat it on his lap.
The lid had his name carved in it with a pocketknife. He took his finger and ran
it around each letter, <i>Sam</i>. His heart started to beat faster; he almost didn’t
want to know what was inside. What if it was something that would break his
heart even more? He sat the box down on the seat next to him and looked up to
the sky. I sure miss you Dad, as the tears ran down his cheeks. Just then, he
saw an eagle fly over and let out a cry. Of all the times they fished there they had never seen an eagle in that area. Sam felt like that was the assurance
he needed that all was well.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
picked the box up and opened the lid. Inside was something wrapped in wax paper
and a note under it. He carefully unwrapped the paper to reveal two lures. One
was very old, made of wood with most of the paint worn off. The other one was
newer, but the paint had faded. Sam wasn’t sure what he was looking at until he
read the note. <i>Hi son, you’re probably wondering about these lures. Well, the
oldest one was mine. My dad saved it and told me that was the first lure I
caught a fish on. The other lure I saved was the one you caught your first fish on. I
hope it brings you good memories.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">That brought a big
smile to Sam’s face. He couldn’t imagine a better gift his dad could have left
him. Sadness turned to joy and the whole day seemed brighter. Sam felt the
sorrow leaving his body and being replaced with an everlasting peace. He never
saw that eagle again, but once was enough to bring joy back into his life.
Every once in a while, he will put the worm upside down on his hook and just
smile.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #800180;"><i>A new commandment I
give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love
one another.</i> John 13:34 KJV</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Read more stories by <a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/search/label/Gary%20Flory" target="_blank">Gary Flory here</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 20px;"> </span></span></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-60047188017922559052024-02-12T04:00:00.050-05:002024-02-12T06:44:14.882-05:00Milliron Monday: Letters Home August 16 1960<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/s3481/L%20Home.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="3481" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDM7UjdDNlrA0ATotkGPkKAtvCD6mz_RwODM3e0F91lVtMnreSULNjTVT_2RjijUiYc7oCSRfUasUJZeWLHygxQOPhidbtYAbQfMJPWi6-vf2omPXF6zIW4NR-XJONbYt1rmjABuezI7k7rrRx9Gum7vLI8f6u8dN6tBLD7cco64vnWgfnGTuEvZpTzc4/w640-h510/L%20Home.jpg" style="border: none; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 4px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11.2px;"><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: </b></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: white;">Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021</b></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: start;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Welcome</i> to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180;"><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;">"...</span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">a Colorado rarity - a thunder storm - is crashing all about </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: start;">the house.</span></i><i style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></b></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">― Jody Smith</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Jody's letter home to Mansfield, Ohio. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Route 1</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;">Fort Collins, Colorado</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;">Tuesday, August 16, 1960</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;">Hi,</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> Thanks, Mom, for the postcard from Mansfield.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> I got a letter from Linda Christenberry (girl on Wilder tour who attended Brenau Academy). She is married and expecting a baby in December. They were married secretly, or eloped, or something or other. </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"> </span> </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Uncle</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Stick and Aunt Myrt sent Jessica a cute little pair of Levi's and white shirt. They're much too big now, of course, but I expect she'll be riding Starboy in them one of these days. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"> </span> Jessica slept well most of today. She was fussy this evening so I put her on the back bed in her "Nip and Nap" and she watched me iron. She listened to me chat with her and even responded with a couple of coos. She got bored with this after awhile but a bottle of water kept her interested until I finished the shirts. She took her cereal again this evening and seemed to enjoy it. She is presently sound asleep in her crib while a Colorado rarity - a thunder storm - is crashing all about the house. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> I changed our <i>Denver Post</i> </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">subscription</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> from weekdays to just Sunday since neither Peter nor I manage to read it everyday. Jessica's feeding times, however, have enabled me to read about 14 Irish short stories so far.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> Also a <i>Parent's Magazine</i> arrived today. Thank you very much; it seems to have lots of good ideas.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Poor Starboy must feel deserted. He was up to the house three times today - just wandering around the fence by our yard. I managed to sneak out for a </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">minute</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> and give him some peppermint candy and stale toast which he greatly enjoyed.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span> Guess I'd best get to bed before I fall asleep at this desk.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16pt;"> Bye for now.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i style="background-color: white;">Love, </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"><i style="background-color: white;">Me</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Previous Letters Home:</span></span><span style="color: #800180; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-1959-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Sept 15, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/06/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-16-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 16, 1959</span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-oct-26-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Oct 26, 1959 </span></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/letters-home-nov-22-1959.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">N0v 22, 1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 2, </a><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-2-1959.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">1959</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/07/milliron-monday-letters-home-dec-13-1959.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Dec 13, 1959</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-17-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 17, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-23-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 23, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-jan-31-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Jan 31, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/08/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-5-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 5, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-feb-12-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Feb 12, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/09/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-5.html" style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 5, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-march-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-21.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 21, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-march-24.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Mar 24, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-april-7.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 7, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/10/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-10-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 10, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-18-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 18, 1960</a></span></div></span><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-24-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-apr-30-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Apr 30, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/11/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-1-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 1, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-16-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 16, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-may-19-1960.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 19, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2023/12/milliron-monday-letters-home-may-28-1960.html" style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">May 28, 1960</a><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-4-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 4, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-june-19-1960.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 19, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-june-24.html" style="color: #990000; font-size: 21.3333px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">June 24, 1960</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">July 6, 1960 </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/01/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-14.html" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">August 14, 1960</a> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2024/02/milliron-monday-letters-home-august-15.html" target="_blank">August 15, 1960</a></span></span></div></div></div></div><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white;">~ ~ </b></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="clear: both;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC/" style="clear: right; color: #694b31; float: right; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1088" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c3f1bsnS4pM/W3saDHVyVAI/AAAAAAAAXHM/uic6dgP36hAZHPUZiUQnaIDr7lL5g2KUQCLcBGAs/s320/afasfdafa.jpg" style="border: 0px none rgb(105, 75, 49); padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="217" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>Connect with Gina...</span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MILLIRONCLINIC" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Milliron Facebook Page</a></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B005TU6IL6/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Amazon Author Page</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Milliron-Abbott-Smith-D-V-M-Biography/dp/0692892990/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;">Milliron: The Biography</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.gmcknight.com/" style="color: #990000; text-decoration-line: none;">www.gmcknight.com</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 18.66px;"></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"><a href="http://www.mondaycreekpublishing.com/" style="color: #694b31; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>www.mondaycreekpublishing.com</b></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.66px;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px;">Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.</span></div></span></div></div></div></div><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-54656307972075500362024-02-10T04:00:00.026-05:002024-02-10T09:13:41.561-05:00An Interview with World Poetess N.R.Hart<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/stores/n-r-hart/author/B01BMXL1QK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="6912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyPcyDEUhJtLe0utBu0w9KjNSAf7VjGF8l7xGwVuVtGR6gg9XbCvbWkx2LQnXzzDTgES60UMN3SaRRrKeBnXiJyBNvFAtWxTmnsJ8rbmkU8p4vw982slMZBRjdfc9xs6xNX3pEbvHZegNOmAtwdIxJlpZRKwsWReNg93emqgV16P4YXieQQdd4X1YTcA/w640-h320/Orange%20Aesthetic%20Travel%20Banner%20(Landscape).png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><i>An Interview with World Poetess N.R.Hart</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">With the release of her
new poetry collection <i>Twin Flame Love: Romantic Poetry</i>, N.R. Hart shines.
Her sixth book release, Hart engages readers with her insightful words and
captivating scenarios. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">There is an issue with plagiarism into today’s book
market, even poetry. This seems to be an ongoing issue for some poets,
including N.R.Hart. We discourage and caution writers who are copying copyrighted
material; it is illegal. Plagiarism is stealing someone’s intellectual
property.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I caught up with N.R.
to talk about writing, the poetry world, and much more...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Welcome, N.R.!</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What's the premise for your new book?</span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NRH: The premise behind my new book </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><i>Twin Flame
Love</i></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"> is about a powerful bond between two souls where a higher power is
involved like the Universe. There are no accidental meetings between souls.
Some loves are grander than the rest. I think for those who have experienced
this rare bond, they want to give a name to their feelings.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">They want to understand and explore this bond with the
higher consciousness of spirituality and love and how the two are
intertwined with this connection. Twin Flames have the ability to discover
their higher purpose in life, together and apart. It is a love like no other.
These poems make you confront your own soul.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What is your writing process?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NRH: I don't pick a poem or a book title to write about
out-of-the-blue. It doesn't work that way for me. It starts with a </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">feeling</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">.
It starts with </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">passion</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">. It starts with a </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">story</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">I explore that feeling and then a story about it develops
from the experience. I am a storyteller by nature. I write of experiences,
feelings, emotions firsthand, and try my best to describe that feeling
before it passes. Feelings are "fleeting things" we must capture them
while they are upon us! We must escape into that feeling and let the words take
over. I will always write about how I experience life and love with that
vulnerable part of me that I expose to my audience. I write poems that are love
stories. I once wrote "you don't pick the poem, the poem picks you."
And I believe that is real poetry in its purest form.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: How do you decide which topics to write about?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NRH: To be honest, it was never my intent to publish a book
on </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Twin Flames</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">. I felt it to be a heavy responsibility and
a daunting undertaking to publish an entire book on Twin Flames, a topic
so complex, intricate and unexplainable. I needed to get it right for my own
personal accountability. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I have been writing about twin flames since 2012 with my
first book </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Poetry and Pearls</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> and I have included my Twin Flame pieces in
all my books. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Poetry and Pearls</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Poetry and Pearls II</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Love
Poems to No One</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beauty and Her Beast</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Last of the Romantics</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">.
This is my Love Story... the happy, the sad, the beautiful.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">It was a request from many of my fans to publish an entire
“Twin Flame“ book that included all my Twin Flame pieces in one book. I did it
specifically for my fans. I wrote this book for them.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What strategies do you use to stay motivated and
focused on writing?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NRH: Many writers ask me what inspires you or how do you
stay inspired? First off, if you are not inspired, how are you writing? Either
you have an authentic voice inside you that needs to be heard or you don't. You
shouldn't be working that hard to stay inspired or motivated, using ideas from other works for inspiration, otherwise, it comes off as not genuine
writing and I promise you; you can tell the difference between fake writings
and authentic writings. They won't sound believable to the reader. The words
sound "forced". Like everything else you have read. To stay inspired and true
to your art, you must experience it "firsthand".</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">You must be </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">passionate</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> about life and love before
you can write about them! It is the only way I know how to write. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Do you have issues with plagiarism and other
writer's rewriting or using your work without permission?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NRH: I have had plagiarism issues with other writers
copying my work throughout the years, and I do not mind being an inspiration
only to those who have a genuine desire to write authentically and carve a
brand of their own for their unique art. However, recently another writer
plagiarized my new book </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Twin Flame Love</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">. They used the same title, similar
layout, taking many parts, copying and rewording my introduction, ideas, poems
in this book and my other books.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">I think someone who attempts this should have been writing
of Twin Flames all along, otherwise, it’s using another’s work, book titles
and ideas. Anyone can write about Twin Flames, but plagiarism is illegal, and intellectual
property should not be stolen! I have been writing about this topic since the
release of my first book in 2015 Poetry and Pearls. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">You don’t pick the Twin
Flame journey. It picks you. </i></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">This has been reported to my publisher as stolen intellectual
property and copyright infringement. We are hoping to have this issue
resolved. I think we are in an age now where there is little
accountability, ethics, and integrity for other’s authentic works. It is a
violation of self and privacy.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: Your writing appeals to a wide audience. What is your
secret for success?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NHR: Being a romantic poet I believe my writing to be in a
conversational tone as it comes straight from my heart and soul.
Readers can relate to real, authentic, genuine writing. Even though a poem
doesn't exactly describe every detail of how they are feeling, they take
what they need from poetry and apply it to their own lives. It describes
something of what they are feeling and this makes them feel less alone. I also
write about the feelings you have trouble admitting to yourself out loud. All
the words you are afraid to say.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">I will never be one of those poets who writes about what
people "want" to hear. I will write about what people
"need' to hear. I am going to tell you how love "really"
is, not how it should be. I want real feelings, real thoughts, real
emotions. I want my reckless heart to be full of wild poetry!</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes people feel like their feelings aren't valid, or
they are crazy, or they shouldn't be feeling what they are feeling. But,
the truth is feelings are "uncomfortable" things. This is why
people shut down and stop feeling. Poetry makes readers confront
their feelings. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">They find comfort in poetry. It makes them feel less alone.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">GM: What do you believe will be the biggest challenge
facing authors in 2024 and beyond? Do you feel AI will play a role in the
future of poetry?</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt;">NHR: I love the "human" aspect of writing, the
rawness, the imperfect words, the fumbling around to describe emotions, the
"human touch" in writing, art. and poetry. I personally do
not enjoy AI art, I think it takes the humanness out of it. I am old school. I
want my poetry and art drawn by a human hand with human feeling behind
it. I want to experience it - not perfect poetry or perfect art
that AI produces. AI is a shortcut, and I happen to believe poetry and art
should be hard and messy, and struggling, just like human beings are.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">Connect with N.R.Hart…</span></i></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.nrhart.com/" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">www.nrhart.com</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/n-r-hart/author/B01BMXL1QK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/n.r.hart" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nrhartpoetry" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ftCy7wcmaEbsji9HGb1_PMFvLtq1EbZY_6MVj2e6wrMBQ5ODJ_B7ppX5-n2BqGP2_LOOQF4T_Jjt2qMyORF8mHZXYYpZOuISYDk8m5X9EwfdxFvxdSCbrpQE_JKBlDRTL9cDR9vgjDr49qIdFy2x1EY7JV9FuRPARAA3sqBJPialfPprjtiC6JmCkzM/s961/pinkdivider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="961" height="56" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ftCy7wcmaEbsji9HGb1_PMFvLtq1EbZY_6MVj2e6wrMBQ5ODJ_B7ppX5-n2BqGP2_LOOQF4T_Jjt2qMyORF8mHZXYYpZOuISYDk8m5X9EwfdxFvxdSCbrpQE_JKBlDRTL9cDR9vgjDr49qIdFy2x1EY7JV9FuRPARAA3sqBJPialfPprjtiC6JmCkzM/w200-h56/pinkdivider.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-61818244455780382912024-02-09T06:02:00.003-05:002024-02-09T06:02:32.924-05:00An Interview with Ohio Author Manjulika Koshal<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Values-That-Shape-Us-Inspirational/dp/1638673365/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=manjulika+koshal&qid=1707476440&s=books&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1481" data-original-width="1834" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ_VmTt3SSZn5553nzC4Osuq3iW2n5NDwk64eVuMo7yLTGxxWlzsNAMWh1P66PKThiK4E39psOBpQkmZRLv6nV1K3meYrdzegOsDrp8k1VNrKOuTGX43obMEpq1TrCB49gBtB4lng9C42nL8xdeaLMM1B8MuX_FcGR5Os_uC0M0_ROSQMzF2JdSrEMh0/w400-h323/Picture1sds44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Residing in Athens, Ohio, Manjulika Koshal is the author of<i>
<a name="_Hlk158349949">Values that Shapes Us: Inspirational Stories and Quotes</a></i>. Manjulika was a signing author at
the December 2023 Hocking Hills Book Fair. I caught up with her and asked about
her book, writing, and much more…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Welcome, Manjulika!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">GM:
What is the premise for your book <i>Values that Shapes Us: Inspirational Stories
and Quotes</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">MK: I
started the book with the simple hypothesis, do values acquired from one’s
environment help shape one’s thinking and personality? I wanted to test my
hypothesis and therefore started asking many of my friends and colleagues
around and almost everyone replied that the values they acquired from their
elders have helped them shape their thinking, their personalities, and their
philosophy and each had a short story to tell. I then decided to collect the
stories.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hence
the premise of my book is that Values acquired over the course of our lives, do
indeed help shape our personalities and thinking. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">This book is a collection of inspirational stories of motivation woven
around universal human values, norms, and codes of conduct. The
stories are the lightening stars that provide depth and guidance for a new
horizon to the readers. Viewed in this light, the book has a unique
appeal for all. It will serve as an effective tool of encouragement,
inspiration and learning for many.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
second question that naturally arises is what is the book about? The book is
divided into three parts and each part carries the same theme as to how values
have helped shape the lives of the authors. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The
first part is a collection of fifty-two personal and true stories from people
of every walk of life about their experiences and lessons learned of “values”
that inspired them and which they got from their home and other elders and
friends that helped shape their lives. Most of the contributors are known to
me. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Part
II consists of true stories or anecdotes collected in my research and are about
people who are celebrities as well as about the ordinary people. Part III are
quotes on the same themes as Part I and II.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In a
nutshell, the book is about values and how they shape lives. Values help
to set goals and develop a world view that serves as a guide for people to
navigate their lives. These values shape personalities and enable people to
overcome obstacles and challenges by perseverance, hard work, determination and
faith in themselves and others around them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">GM:
What makes the book interesting and unique?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">MK: The
book is unique and interesting as it offers first person stories of people’s
live experiences. Along with this, there are stories as examples of men and
women who have had the courage to change their lives and inspire others,
despite the struggles facing them. To these stories I have added quotes that
have inspired me related to the issue of values. A combination of stories and
quotes is a unique way to show the role of values in our lives. </span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">GM:
What would you like readers to take away from this book?</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">MK: Readers
might realize the importance of values, especially those passed on by their
ancestors, through generations. The stories of individual struggles and values
could inspire readers of all ages to think about their lives and how they could
live more generously and in a large-hearted way.</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Inspirations are the core of human existence. There are many ways that
people get inspired. Sometimes there are certain personalities who inspire us,
sometimes there are various customs and norms and sometimes the wonders of
nature and our planet system provide us inspiration. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">For example, the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">discipline of the sun, moon, and the
solar system - all working together in perfect coordination on exact timings
each day, inspire us to realize the value of doing our duty truthfully and
systematically and in compliance of our moral codes of conduct. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">George Bernard Shaw got inspired by the river and as a result he produced
the famous poem, “Men may come and men may go, But I go on forever.” We
imbibe these values that shape our thinking, our personality, and our
course of life. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes, our value systems, the universal code of conduct
inspire us, and we unconsciously imbibe these values that are later
reflected in our personalities and in our thinking. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Viewed
in this light, the book has a unique appeal for all. It will serve as an
effective tool of encouragement. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">It is
meant to inspire, lift the spirits, and serve as food for reflection. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">GM: Who
will the book appeal to?</span></p><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">MK: I
hope the book will appeal to a wide spectrum of people of all ages. Young
people might like to read stories of values that shaped their parents and
grandparents. Older people might be curious about the experiences of other
elders. And for those who are unwell, distressed, and suffering, I hope it will
be a source of healing, encouragement, and inspiration to live with
faith and hope. </span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">GM:
List five things that you want your fans to know about you…</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">MK:</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have taught for thirty plus years at Ohio university in
the School of Business and in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Japan. My specialization
is Operations Research and International Management. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">However, I have published over 100 articles in various
scholarly journals in a wide variety of areas such as Women in Leadership, the
effect of TV watching on Eight grade children, Economics of Higher Education
and on Environment and Health. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I also served as Director of the International
Administrative Studies program at Ohio University, mentoring, and advising
international students from many countries in the program. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I was also an active member of the American Association of
University Women and served in various capacities on the local chapter along
with on the AAUW Board for awarding the International Scholarships to deserving
Women. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I was active in the Athens community, having raised funds
for the Athens Food Pantry, a service for the needy and homeless. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My hobbies are gardening, reading, writing
cooking, travel and entertaining and socializing with my family and
friends. I have a garden at my home, and I love to watch every morning to
see new flowers blooming from the buds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I have two children, and all are well settled. My
husband also is an Emerita Professor of Economics
at Ohio University. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">About the Author:</span></i></b><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Manjulika
Koshal is a Emerita Professor at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. She taught both
Graduate and undergraduate students at the School of Business for thirty years.
A native of India, Koshal made Athens her home 54 years ago after she married
her husband Dr. Rajindar Koshal, Emeritus Professor of Economics at OU. They
have two children and six grandchildren. In her retirement, Koshal enjoys
traveling, gardening, reading, socializing, cooking, and spending time with her
happy family.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Values-That-Shape-Us-Inspirational/dp/1638673365/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=manjulika+koshal&qid=1707476440&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Purchase on Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/Values-That-Shape-Us-Inspirational/dp/1638673365/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=manjulika+koshal&qid=1707476440&s=books&sr=1-1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="293" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lHaDxE-PZ-9_5SktuM0ojjS6sfhNc9dDwhu2UY9pLAJs0tOUAK6zlfQfeuqGFpd9wRgzWFFE9uPuF-BBeB55BXg-WvWGJ7gIzIMgvcnbiOAINl-7O0xJnXIH4kvkdjWdXsL-uSResVsTN9nDcsOwsawid9vwqXq_lvsodZGDYhsBmQCF3eRumjq7VRw/w251-h400/71pdCd-iV3L._SY466_.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p></div><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-74804464982231047052024-02-08T04:00:00.103-05:002024-02-08T11:00:58.706-05:00This Week @ Monday Creek: A Day at Fernwood Farm<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjatqw7rhim3Zs3jW3auyY2nImqZYgeWxl_13Huw-10x0t4jHZY0onTNPy_xU-SR3rtmXUm-B9JFXFiUp92sQSI6R7ra7HBvP8BXveRHvVrNQM_IRb0bT8qMKgnW3C2FOaJg6TjwmoE6yOW79Oyr-DDiJ6TP4L1WLBCCo3IpBuLkc9O-SwUFUHd9bdLJc/s3297/adsfaeaf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="3297" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjatqw7rhim3Zs3jW3auyY2nImqZYgeWxl_13Huw-10x0t4jHZY0onTNPy_xU-SR3rtmXUm-B9JFXFiUp92sQSI6R7ra7HBvP8BXveRHvVrNQM_IRb0bT8qMKgnW3C2FOaJg6TjwmoE6yOW79Oyr-DDiJ6TP4L1WLBCCo3IpBuLkc9O-SwUFUHd9bdLJc/w640-h266/adsfaeaf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q1nH7rJzItu32veCaDQ8i_cvEUWUiwCA1apRAl3VP23-aa1DZNZ0gRl0TBy4u7jCOxVDIZQtX4a1N2hANWkXN8PzRi5hH4WaTuCTptN9PQSTtjwjbi4EDNPsch6cOfqrwQIf91D3CZywSaVti4vDhtjc8qvBV9IOy2rG1cJ5XKSRVJuyMZJi7w6PSOk/s640/dfae213424.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="640" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Q1nH7rJzItu32veCaDQ8i_cvEUWUiwCA1apRAl3VP23-aa1DZNZ0gRl0TBy4u7jCOxVDIZQtX4a1N2hANWkXN8PzRi5hH4WaTuCTptN9PQSTtjwjbi4EDNPsch6cOfqrwQIf91D3CZywSaVti4vDhtjc8qvBV9IOy2rG1cJ5XKSRVJuyMZJi7w6PSOk/w640-h160/dfae213424.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>February!</i> Winter is almost over and the
feeling of being released from the freezer is exhilarating. Spring flowers have
popped up in my flowerbeds! The sun has been super bright this week and it permeates
the soul, fauna, and flora.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Today my bestie and I
traveled to Fernwood Farm. Traffic was minimal and we enjoyed catching up on
work events, personal scenarios, and life in general. Arriving at our
destination we met our host, Kelly, at <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7836840898852831100/7480446498223104705">The
Galley</a>,</i> a favorite lunch spot. I adore the quaint, old-world feel
of the dining room with crystal chandeliers encircled in cast iron. But,
most of all, meeting with good friends on a Wednesday is the best. We began
with an appetizer – crispy bacon kissed brussels sprouts. My choice for lunch
was a gourmet candied apple burger (recommended). An engaging meal and three
cups of black coffee later, we all opted for dessert. Mine was a decadent glass
of chocolate mousse with homemade whipped cream.<i> Yum</i>. Lunch time over, we
headed to Kelly’s Fernwood Farm where homesteading rules and love is paramount.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">First, we walked to the
pig barn where everyone lives in luxury with full beds of straw,
Jolly Balls hang intentionally from the rafters for easy play, food bins are secured for safety, water bowls are full, and where belly rubs are required. Like
baby birds, mouths opened automatically for a treat from our luncheon leftovers.
The barn is full of happy pigs. <i>Oink, oink, oink… more treats
please. </i>Charlotte seems to be the barn favorite. She is a bit bigger
than the other pigs and has a certain charm. With bright eyes she oinks, “<i>Welcome
to my barn, thanks for stopping by.”</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Next, we met the five
new, adorable <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7836840898852831100/7480446498223104705">KuneKune</a> pigs.
They live in the front yard, just outside the living room glass doors. “It’s
Pig TV,” Kelly says. And it is! We met KK, NeNe, Sugar, Spice, and Teddy. Sugar
and Spice are sisters; Teddy is the only boar.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Spending time at
Fernwood Farm is always inspiring and uplifting. Both Kelly and her husband,
Mark, are wonderfully creative. Mark, a seasoned carpenter, was on a ladder, busy building a
back porch. It is completely artisan and his own design (why can’t all husbands
be carpenters?). Kelly, a sensational artist who graduated with honors from
Pratt University, New York, has illustrated several books for us. We are crazy
about her talent and amazing designs. She continues to create in her home
studio where pigs inspire and art abounds. We are collaborating on a cute book
about her pigs (stay tuned for release date, etc.).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Finally, it’s time to
say goodbye. Kelly offers us a dozen craft eggs (like craft beer), all natural
and cage-free. She hands me a large bag of extra-fancy apples for Zubie, my paint mare. As we walk to the car, Kelly explains her garden layout and where her vegetables
will grow in ergonomic-designed raised garden beds. Homesteading is hard work,
but Kelly won’t tell you that, she will say that it’s all a labor of love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">A fun day, we reflect
on our time at Fernwood Farm and look forward to visiting again soon. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thank
you, Kelly!</i><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><i> xoxox!</i></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><i><a href="https://www.mondaycreekpublishing.com/featured-artist" target="_blank">Kelly Lincoln: Featured Artist</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><i><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/OhioWriter/mail-from-fernwood-farm/" target="_blank">Mail from Fernwood Farm on Pinterest</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><a href="https://ginamc.blogspot.com/2017/08/working-with-wood-interview-with-mark.html" target="_blank"><i>Working with Wood: An Interview with Mark Rila</i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa-P67qyzRZWoitCxcAjccUwBkrTDB0QTia_uJufV_w_bIsXzagAYknru4Xj0MSatgnjR7o2lWJvjxVlWkCtc53P5XAvKxED_uS6D9Fb6uCTLadMlzo9qPC5fmOS96RhdUPwEE7XlLRnval9SpirzXYsraDVmD7r-PWRtmxBKL8RqhZR5qOuwVfWoD2o/s3290/adsf33232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="3290" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa-P67qyzRZWoitCxcAjccUwBkrTDB0QTia_uJufV_w_bIsXzagAYknru4Xj0MSatgnjR7o2lWJvjxVlWkCtc53P5XAvKxED_uS6D9Fb6uCTLadMlzo9qPC5fmOS96RhdUPwEE7XlLRnval9SpirzXYsraDVmD7r-PWRtmxBKL8RqhZR5qOuwVfWoD2o/w640-h164/adsf33232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-71529899841319016602024-02-07T00:04:00.002-05:002024-02-11T18:13:07.748-05:00Jonah: A Short Story by Ohio Writer Gary Flory<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cziLEZsMwjVpk80VOnYQOYXFHaJUeJAeGhJz7WNU7nddSRXJgyvtkccaAdQxwsUSv2A5yjcNddNVEROL-CaRKSOC2KfRsPcB-Th0NE5zrUJZd1JfHLxxPrBJqshgngjYYf3_YqV60d830tgtphSsT4k5D72KMwuTp9HZq6xEahX02YiVMAESM0RiVIE/s1280/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail%20(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cziLEZsMwjVpk80VOnYQOYXFHaJUeJAeGhJz7WNU7nddSRXJgyvtkccaAdQxwsUSv2A5yjcNddNVEROL-CaRKSOC2KfRsPcB-Th0NE5zrUJZd1JfHLxxPrBJqshgngjYYf3_YqV60d830tgtphSsT4k5D72KMwuTp9HZq6xEahX02YiVMAESM0RiVIE/w640-h360/Yelllow%20and%20Blue%20Modern%20Geometric%20How%20To%20Design%20Youtube%20Thumbnail%20(3).png" width="640" /></a></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The ground had warmed and all chance of frost had passed. The
garden had been plowed and raked, ready to be planted. I had just finished a
row of carrots, and was getting down on my knees placing the peas in a row,
when I heard the screen door slam shut. My grandson, Pete, had just stormed out
of the house and was headed my way. I kept on planting, never looking up. I
could see his shoes standing next to me, but he didn’t say a word. I set a pea
on his shoe, and kept on planting. “GRANDPA”. I could tell he was smiling by
the tone of his voice. He reached down, grabbed the pea, and put it on top of
my head. That’s when I reached out and grabbed him quickly, half scaring him,
but making him laugh out loud. “So, what were you upset about?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“I’m mad at my dad. Some of my friends were riding their
bikes down to the shake shop, and he wouldn’t let me go.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Why not?”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“He told the neighbor that I would rake the leaves out of
his yard.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Is that a big deal?”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“YES!”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“I hate that guy.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That’s when I stopped planting, and looked at Pete with a
serious frown. “Why do you hate your neighbor?”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“He’s old and cranky, and always complaining about
everything.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I stood up, put my arm on Pete’s shoulder and said, “Let’s
take a walk.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We went down the trail, through the woods, to the pond.
There were two Adirondack chairs on the bank overlooking the pond, and I
invited Pete to sit. “Pete, have you ever heard the story of Jonah?” He thought
a little bit, and said, “No, I don’t think so.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“It’s about a guy who was mad at his Father too. It’s been
a while since I read the story, but I remember it well.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Pete sat back in his chair and was watching the dragonfly
that landed on a cattail. “What happened?”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“His name was Jonah, and his Father asked him to go to that
country up north and tell them that if they didn’t stop worshiping false gods,
that their city would be destroyed. Just like you, Jonah hated that country,
and said no, I’m not going to do it.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Good for him,” Pete said. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Before he could say anything else, I said, “But that’s not
the end of the story.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“What happened, did his father whip him?” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“In a way, he kinda did,” I said. “Instead of going toward
the country, he got on a ship, and sailed the opposite direction.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“What did his dad do?” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“He didn’t do anything for a few days, but then He caused a
big storm to come, and the ship was being tossed all over the place. Everyone
thought the ship was going to sink.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Was Jonah scared?” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“He knew that this storm was his fault, that God was upset
with him, and he had to make it stop before the ship sank and everyone would
drown.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“But how could he stop the storm?” By this time, Pete’s
attention was fully on me. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“He told the men that they had to throw him overboard, to
make the storm stop.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“But he would drown, Grandpa.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Yes, that’s what he thought, but better one should die
than all. They didn’t want to do it, but he insisted they had too. So they did.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“That’s a sad ending, Grandpa.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Oh, but that’s not the end. When he hit the water, a huge
fish came and swallowed him.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“You mean a shark ate him?”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“No, it was a special fish that God created. Some people
say it was a whale, but it was more than just any old whale.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Did the stomach acid kill him or did he suffocate?”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Nether, remember, I said this was a special fish. The fish
started swimming back in the direction that they had come from.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Jonah must have thought he was going to die in the fish.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Think about this, Pete, it would have been pitch black in
there. He was soaking wet with salt water, with no way of knowing what time it
was, or how deep underwater they were. If the fish opened its mouth, the
pressure and water would kill him.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“What happened next?” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Well, when he realized God still wanted him to go to that
country, he started praying, asking God to help him. He lived three days in the
belly of this fish, until the fish spit him out close to shore. He was ready to
go and do what his Father had asked him to do.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“When he told that country what was going to happen to
them, what did they do?” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“They listened to him, and God spared the country.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“So, you’re telling me this because I was mad at my dad?” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">About then, a fish jumped up in the middle of the pond. We
looked at each other. “I told you this story because I don’t want to see you in
that fish’s belly,” then started laughing. Pete joined in, “Nor would I.” </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As we walked back to the house, Pete told me to lean down.
When I did, the pea fell out of my hair. “I didn’t want anybody to call you a
pea-brain,” and he started laughing at me. “I’ll pea-brain you,” and started
messing up his hair. He took off running, and I shouted, “Where are you going?”
He kept on going, but I heard him say that he had some raking to do. As I knelt
down to finish planting, I said thank you, Lord, for giving me a teaching
opportunity. Sometimes I do feel like a pea-brain, and let out a chuckle.</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>Read the story of Jonah in the Old Testament, Jonah 1-4</i></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">6 </span><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 0px;">I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O </span><span class="small-caps" style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-indent: 0px;">Lord</span><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 0px;"> my God. (KJV)</span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial;"><b>Are you looking for a Church family? The Nelsonville Wesleyan Church invites you to Sunday morning service at 10 am. Sunday School for youth and adults begins at 9 am. Visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NelsonvilleWesleyanChurch/" target="_blank">Nelsonville Wesleyan Church facebook page </a>for events, special services, and worship times. </b></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 22.5pt;"><br /></div><p></p>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02547155039693124440noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836840898852831100.post-37394829569285491202024-02-06T01:00:00.035-05:002024-02-06T05:53:13.097-05:00Featured Author: N.R.Hart World Poetess<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.amazon.com/stores/n-r-hart/author/B01BMXL1QK?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1545" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiociDzE0u57LGLQnZ_NAO2SQTl5WEWLm1ZK8YxKT9QqAupyCvnSf_t7UjrX87wbAPLFfv-jW3fao68i-vLrll_jqw3MJExRxCrJk-AntFRu64oV9SFR3MCDld3C9CfsPGlK7ZkIhqk2vXdlj72SrBbGssgf7FOXhjfNpgoLjvGIxheudWUv0d-tAJ-X5k/w494-h640/Orange%20and%20Yellow%203d%20Book%20Fair%20Flyer.png" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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