
Painting by me, CD-W
Green – the color of magic.

Yesterday, when speaking with a friend of mine about the 1960’s, he showed me this famous photo. “And to think,” he said, “that when Jim Lovell took this amazing photo of earth, we were there.” That thought was powerful for me. If you were born after December 4, 1968, perhaps your soul was still forming in the universe until ready for this magical sphere.
“You have to really kind of think about our own existence here in the universe. You realize that people often say, ‘I hope to go to heaven when I die,'” he said. “In reality, if you think about it, you go to heaven when you’re born.” – Jim Lovell
Read more here.
I don’t often show my body parts to the cyber world. Today, I am. Yesterday, I went to the eye doctor. He took pictures of my optic nerves. How cool is this?!!

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In 2013, I attended a writer’s conference in San Francisco. Guess who was the guest speaker! Yep, Mr. Goosebumps himself, R.L. Stine!
During his keynote Q and A, I stood and thanked him for his books. I told him how my son had grown up reading the Goosebumps series and how, because of them, turned into an avid reader.
Mr. Stine thanked me and went on with his comical keynote. (Yes, he was hysterical and left the audience in stitches. Who would have thunk it?)
(I still have the video but don’t know how to put it here)
Anyway, Mr. Stine said, “Well thank you. That’s nice. Well, my son’s claim to fame was that he never read one. <laughter> No really. He was the right age and everything. And it used to make me nuts. He used to sell parts to his friends. <laughter> He used to come home and say, ‘ Dad you have to put Will in the next book and Jay… I think they paid him 10 bucks to be in Goosebumps.’ <laughter> Of course, I always did.”
What a great writer, speaker and, apparently, a dad.
Here is me and Mr. Stine at the book signing.
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He shifted his eyes left and right, watching, and dared anyone to come near him with a chainsaw. He wasn’t finished growing.

Unfortunately, due to traveling, I was unable to be part of this glory. I am so proud of my city’s turnout, including my daughter and granddaughter. Over 50,000 showed up and made their voices heard.It makes my heart swell! A Successful march, indeed!
I am also proud of the one million-plus who showed their support from around the world. Thank you!




all the above photos are from Mike Holp http://holpphotograhpy.com
And, no, Mr. Trump, I have no need, nor a desire to purchase your coin. Please stop sending me your emails. I’d rather have LOVE instead.

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Me in the 1970’s. I think I was 16. I still have this guitar!
Music ‘tis the calm for the soul
its lingering presence of tone
So sweet the sound, to which I’m bound
Doth keep me from being alone.
Refrain! I beg the timbered tone
Do not renounce these ears!
For with it not, the peace once sought
Is severed when once sincere.
-CDW
This Path in Lake Tahoe …
led me to beauty, and then ….
solitude. More solitude than I expected. I got lost on my way back. Then I mustered up a little stamina and determination that got me home.
I blogged many years back and stopped. Maybe I didn’t understand it or maybe I just didn’t care. But I came back into “your” fold this past August because I was on a mission. I had a goal and I haven’t done such a good job achieving it.
But, as I like to say, “there goes that universes again” — because blogging has taught me things I didn’t expect.
I have to tell you. A few people in my life, including an attorney friend of mine, worries that “exposing” myself to the cyber world could be unsafe. That “many of those bloggers are not true to who they really are.”
If that’s the case with any of you, back up, Jack, and hit the unfollow button.
(But I think I “know” you.)
Unless I’m traveling, my world is a bit of a bubble. You know, routines and such. Not that I’m complaining. For the most part, I like my sac of familiar air.
But now I have cyber friends like you, who come from all over the world, who tell me through words or photographs about their life, and interests. Many of you share the same thoughts and ideals as me. And the ones who differ, teach me.
You are writers, strugglers, rebels, photographers, dancers, chefs, visionaries, travelers, poets, doctors, animal lovers, readers, humorists. You are mothers, fathers, new adults, aging adults, “in-between” adults.
And, here is the common thread: You are all thinkers who ponder and share the world as you know it.
So what’s not to like?
It’s not you. It’s me. I’m not so good at promoting my novels to make a “difference” in sales while sitting at this particular table.
But I like this wooden table. There is plenty of room for everyone.
And it’s round.
(And yes, it’s an electronic cigarette)