I was Tagged, Here is the Result!

Anything at Anytime --- Yeah, that is me.  Never know exactly what I am going to put up here next until the moment, urge, or desire strikes my fancy.

Before I get into today's post I would like to Thank Everyone that Stopped in and Commented (or tried to) on my daughter's Birthday Post.  Third time I have done that and each time has gotten several comments from all corners of the Globe.  Maybe one day I can get it to where we have a comment from every country?  Something to work towards for next July for the next Birthday Post.

Anyway, on to today's Post.

The other day I was tagged on FB (Facebook) and asked to come up with my 15 most influential authors.  I was to have 15 minutes and put them up.  I Didn't do it!
I got to thinking about it/them and I thought it would make a good Post.  Not 15 authors mind you but a few that I TRULY Enjoy.

Authors are like colors --- Many different variations to choose from and find what fits Your desires, fantasies, needs, the list goes on and on - just as the various shades of colors - to many for the eye to really behold.  We all have different tastes.  We all like things from mild to wild, vanilla to banana split, light to dark and all in between.

My FAVORITE Author of all time is Robert Jordan (R.I.P.)
     Author of many books but has become the most well known for his The Wheel of Time series.  He passed away before finishing it (such a true shame, It would have been a wonderful thing to see how he Finished HIS EPIC).  Lucky for us he left plenty of notes and with his wife found someone to finish it based upon his notes.

I have been reading The Wheel of Time series since it first came out in 1990 and have anxiously awaited the next new release, all the while re-reading what was written before.  No matter how many times I read the series I always find something NEW.  A twist I didn't see, a hint of character that makes you rethink what you had previously understood about that character.

He, Robert Jordan, has done such a job with his character building you don't find yourself just interested in the main Character, you can easily find yourself getting drawn into one of the side Characters and their story.  His writing is, in my opinion, on par with if not Surpassing that of J.R.R. Tolkien - Master and Inspirer of Fantasy Creativity (Title of my Research Paper on Tolkien).  Ten years ago I would have (and did in the Paper) placed Robert Jordan as a student on Par of Tolkien's.  Now, years later and on the verge of the End of The Wheel of Time series, I would have to say that the Student has Far Surpassed the Teacher!

I could go on and on about Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series.  A True Fantasy Epic that will draw you into a World all of its own.

**************Writer's Warning!!!!!!   HEED!!!!**************

If you haven't read this series and decide to try it be prepared to keep going - You Will get Sucked into one of the Characters: Rand, Perrin (one of my favorites), Matt (another favorite), Egwene, Elayne (which my youngest is named after and a favorite), or many many others.
The Story/Epic does not revolve specifically around One Character but Several.  I have lost track of all of the different story lines going on.

Again, as you can see, I can go on and on with this Author and Series so will stop here with him, Robert Jordan.

Needless to say Robert Jordan is my Favorite Author for his style and deftness of articulate skill.

How do I continue about other Authors after that?

I do not want to do a disservice to them as they are all good, great Authors, on their own.

The Next Author on my List would be J.R.R. Tolkien -- So much so that I wrote my College Research Paper about him and Risked it all knowing that my Professor was/is a Tolkien fan and that prior to writing the paper was *WARNED*!
I got an "A" on the paper and she tried to help me get it published.  (That was interesting and a story for another day.)

Fantasy existed before Tolkien but he gave Fantasy a New Face and brought in a new fold of readers.  Tolkien created his own languages for some of the "Races" and built a world for young and old to fall in love with.  If you haven't read the books you have probably seen the movies, And to think it all started out as a Bed Time story for his Kids.

J.R.R. Tolkien put forth a new form of Fantasy writing and inspired many to write, draw, program, and even Teach (Rice University has or had a class on Tolkien).  Many, many Authors of Fantasy today draw on the inspiration and the blue prints J.R.R. Tolkien put forth in his The Lord of the Rings series.

Tolkien's format for success and depth of story created Sci-Fi as we know it today.  What a Legacy he left us all with The Lord of the Rings!

OK, I am at two out of 15.  Hmmmmmmmm?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?  Do I go on or stop here and continue this another time?  I have several more to go but would not make a complete list of 15.  Off of the Top of my head I can think of Six more Authors that you all may find interesting.



Now that is something that could be interesting to explain on a Death Certificate or in a Court of Law.
- Yes, your Honor, We found her there sitting at the computer slack jawed and drooling and when the doctors got there they said she was brain dead from the Dribble on the Screen!

Please forgive the adverts!  I do not do those in my Posts that often - matter of fact I try and refrain from them as I don't really like them in a post myself.  I put them there so that if you were interested you wouldn't have to go looking and hunting them down.

Oh, and Sorry for the tangent today but as Robert Jordan's next book is out in The Wheel of Time series and I know what I am getting for my Birthday, I just couldn't help myself once I got Tagged.

The "Quill"

Before I start today's post I must say yesterday's post was not a part of my better work but it was needed in order to set up future post so you as my reader(s) can understand where some of these things come from.

Now, as for today's post, honestly I was laying in bed right after my wife woke me and wondering what I was going to write today and saw an ad on TV (don't know what ad triggered this) and this just hit me as something that would be Good to write.


The "Quill"


Today seems to be a busy day.  There have been men scuttling back and forth between rooms with raised voices and yelling at each other and some guy named George.  Really, it has been this way for awhile now.  The Yelling has gotten louder as the days progress one into the next.

Several men have been huddled together muttering and talking in the other room for days writing and scribbling something.  I'm not sure but I think that and this guy named George really has everyone here on edge.  Men keep going over to the group and asking things like "Where are you now?" and "How is it going?" or making statements like "Do not forget when they........", or "Remember when ........". 

All of these men have been here for days debating and discussing what that small group of men is over there writing.  It must be important.  I just wish I knew what they were talking about and doing.  It is hard for me to get into and understand these things as I am just a lowly scribe instrument. 

I have sat here on the shelf with many others like myself and as the days go on more and more of us have been taken off of the shelf and used by these men, us and the bottles of ink below us. 

Today there seems to be a, what did that guy Ben call it.........static, that is it, static in the air.  A feeling of trepidatious giddiness.  A feeling of action and..............

Oh, wait a minute.

They are calling all of the men into the main room.

Someone is approaching the shelves again and they take one of the bottles of ink away from the shelf and turns to go back, ooopp, he forgot something and reaches to our shelf.  

The man picked me off of the shelf!  I finally get to be used for my purpose to write.  Thank You mister for taking me from the shelf. 

The man takes me and places myself and the bottle on a small desk with several papers with a bunch of chicken scratch on them and One Parchment that has orderly writing from top to bottom.  Some large writing up at the top and little writing filling the rest of the page below it except for about the bottom third of the page. 

Here I will read you what I can from my vantage point.

In Congres.........  

How Rude!

Just as I was starting to read it the guy that brought me in here takes the paper away so I can not see it any more.   Well, it looks as if he is going to read it to everyone so hold on for just a moment.

"In Congress, July 4th, 1776               The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events,..............."  Oh, great something about human events.  Now that is something is it not.  He reads on and as he reads there are Great choruses and shouts of "Here, Here!" and things like;  "It is about time!", "We should have done this sooner!", "This will get his Attention!" and many many more that some I may not repeat as those were very ungentlemanly.

He is done reading and places the paper back beside me.  All of the men in the room are lining up at the table and a hand approaches me, picks me up and dips me in the bottle of ink and signs his name.  His name, Button Gwinnett.

Ten times this happens in an orderly neat fashion and then another man comes up and takes me to hand, dipping me into the ink and swirling me around and then in large bold writing puts his name and says something like, "He will not need his glasses to Read That!" (forgive me, it has been a long, long time so I may not have quoted it exactly but if that is not it, it is very near what was said). 

His name I do recall was John Hancock.

The signing goes on and on until the last (a total of 56 men use me to sign), a gentleman by the name of  Matthew Thornton.

As Mr. Thornton rises from the table the room explodes in cheers and clapping.

In the beginning I did not fully comprehend what I was used for but over the decades into centuries........

THIS is what I was used for:

                                                       The Declaration of Independence

So I can say I Truly was used for something GREAT!

An Exercise before "Quasar" the Winner

Ok, so you can understand how "Quasar" became a word to type with Read the "Topic Word" label items.

One of the comments/votes also posed another challenge and I figured I could give that one a GO before getting into the real challenge of writing on Quasar.

Starts With One  is a follower and a friend in the google forums "Coffee Shop" and voted for "Quasar" but threw down another gauntlet by commenting about seeing all 6 words in a viable sentence or paragraph.  Well, Starts , here I go with this one and hope you Like: 

(Disclaimer for my Friends Across the Pond -- This is no Insult to your Monarch)

     I was having a quaint visit with friends in merry ole England and visiting sites and places unseen for years when one afternoon I (lowly, little ole me) received a Royal Invitation from the Queen to attend her at lunch to have a conversation over matters unknown to me.  Well, the appointed hour arrived for my visit with the Queen, I walked before Her with much trepidation not knowing what to expect nor how to act properly in the company of Royalty.  The Queen immediately put me at ease by asking me to sit and join her in a cup of tea  (the Smart Ass I am at times thought "but we can't both fit in a cup of tea", the wise man clamped my lips).  Once seated and enjoying a mellow Orange Peel tea (I imagine She likes a bit of flavor), a queer moment presented itself as the Queen reached down and brought forth a pad of paper and a quill and bottle of ink.  Not sure I was seeing right I asked her if that was a quill and was informed that it was indeed a quill.  It was the "Quill of Quality" passed down to the Ruling Monarch no matter the line of succession so that all Monarchs of the Empire would write Just Laws and also a reminder of times when things were not quite so "simple".  As We (I use the Empirical We as I was in company with Royalty) talked about many things the Queen made queer little marks and notes with the "Quill of Quality" and the conversation stayed quaint until the subject turned to Quasars in space and what my opinion was, for which I had no true answer.  A little later I thanked the Queen for a Quality visit that not many Americans would ever be able to enjoy and I left Her Royal Person and returned to my friends to regale a quaint visit with their Queen.

Starts, Thanks again for a unique challenge and I hope that fits the bill?  I know it was a LONG paragraph but we writers can take a few liberties from time to time.

Now the Topic Word "Quasar" will be a bit later as I need to consult my astronomy books to make sure I get a few things right.  I wouldn't want to pull your legs now would I?

Biscuits-N-Gravy and LOVE

This Post today came about by a discussion in one of the thread chats in a google forum for bloggers to chill and relax and bandy about ideas.  The topic was about the great anti-depressant Chocolate and a Friend of mine, Caffine-A-Holic, made a comment about one of his favorite foods being Biscuits and Gravy. 

My Grandma Wins, God Bless her Soul, had a monstrous brood of 13 grandchildren and was always fixing things for all of us kids.  It didn't matter if it were just a few of us or all of us all together she was fixing everyone their favorite meal of hers every couple of days. 

I was LUCKY, my favorite was a meal I got to have every single morning.

Biscuits and Gravy!        

Now, everyone in my family can tell you I was never the big and brawny type, not small, but always skinny.  Everyone always telling me I needed to put on weight.  My Aunts Mary and Peggy will attest to that and they both still do to this day, tell me I need to put on weight. 

Grandma's Biscuits and Gravy varied from time to time.  Sometimes she would make the Biscuits from scratch and sometimes she would use the cheap ShurFine brand, both were good.  The Gravy was were it just seemed "GOLD".  She would fry up sausage or bacon or both and after all was cooked she used the same pan for the Gravy.  I can not remember everything she put in there but Man oh Man was it some fantastic stuff.  I never could get enough of it!

Sometimes we would all get together and stay at Grandma and Grandpa's house and those were some real stories (for another day); however, it was on one of these get togethers that everyone saw my Love for Grandma's Biscuits and Gravy! 

You have to envision in your mind 10 adults and 13 kids all in a three bedroom house and all trying to get a place at the big table on the first go or wait until a space freed up.  Well, Knowing that the good Gravy normally came towards the end three of us waited until everyone else got their breakfast and then we (Jeff, Brandy, and myself) all sat to the table to get our fill of Grandma's Biscuits and Gravy! 

I don't remember when or how it happened, but it did.  Sometime while the three of us sat at the table it became a competition of who could eat more of Grandma's Biscuits and Gravy!  It started out slow enough and there was quite a bit of Biscuits and a HUGE bowl of Gravy on the table.  We all were well into our third plate of Biscuits and Gravy and Grandma had to start making more because she was not sure when it would end.  Jeff, who was the mid sized guy between my skinny backside and Brandy's health defensive tackle build, bowed out first after 4 plates.  So you know and understand these were not small plates of food, we all HEAPED the stuff on our plates.  So 4 plates was no small task!

Brandy and I continued at it for what seemed forever and everyone wondered where I was putting it all.  There was even a question or two, if I remember correctly, if I was hiding it under the table.  Eventually, we called it a Draw but considering size and desire I think that is the day everyone in the family Knew that Danny was the Biscuits and Gravy Guy.

Grandma knew who was her Biscuits and Gravy guy.  She never failed to have plenty of fixings available to get that "magical meal" to the table.  She Loved cooking and she LOVED cooking for people who LOVED her COOKING. 

Grandma always fixed everyone their special meal when she could or if she, in here Grandma ways, knew you needed it.

Grandma is gone now and has been for awhile but I have no doubt in my mind or heart that all of us remember Grandma and her LOVING cooking just for Us.  Those are the Memories of her I will always hold near and dear because she was in her pride and glory when cooking for her rowdy brood of grand kids.

Was there a secret ingredient in Grandma's Biscuits and Gravy for me?  Probably not.  I DO Know there was a TON of LOVE!

Caff.  Thanks for reminding me of Something Special.

Oh, and if my cousins provide input/reactions, Do Not believe them!  This is my Memory.

A Last Grand Adventure of Youth

This is going to be a bit different so I need to set a few things straight before getting into the story.

1.  I Love Dragons - have since my early teens and I have a bunch of them around my part of the house (roughly a 2'X2'X8" shelf/cabinet) (what do you expect the guy always gets the smallest section when in a house full of "Girls"!!!!!)

2.  When I was younger I drank like a fishy sailor (what am I talking about I was a sailor a few months after this happened)

3.  I Love Castles - the old European fortress Kind - of course the ones you always associate with -- you guessed it --- DRAGONS

4.  This all happened 22 years ago come this Sept. so I may not get everything right and all people can have complete denial rights.  There will only be One other name mentioned in here and He will Have complete denial rights with his folks if they read this. 

5.  And if you haven't figured it out yet this little bit is about A Dragon, A Castle and Drinking.

6.  This was inspired by a gentleman in wales that I spoke with yesterday and brought back memories.  Tip a Pint of Welsh Bitters back for me tonight please.




A LAST GRAND ADVENTURE of YOUTH


     It started out in a place called Hessich Olendorf Germany (spelling may be off on the town name) back in 88 (yes for you younger ones that is 1988).  I had just spent the summer with my folks in Germany and was in that no mans land we find ourselves in sometimes in our late teens.  Just Bombed at College and not knowing or having a clue as to what or how I was going to do anything. 

One day out of the blue I got a burr under my saddle and do not remember exactly what triggered it but I went down to the main US base there in Frankfurt and decided to Enlist and of all things in the Navy.  Up to that time in my life I had lived around Army and Air Force and had no clue about the Navy. 

Anyway, when I got back to my folks place up north, I let them know I had enlisted.  Really, still to this day not sure what the reaction was.  Sort of a mix of WTF and Congrats.  During the discussion we had I decided to take the money I had saved and take a vacation (holiday - for my European friends) and visit family friends that are actually family (you know those friends that are not family but once you become true friends they become family). 

Well, I called and set it all up with them, went and got my Euro Pass for the Rails and Commenced my journey. 

Chris Dugdale (who was the oldest in the friend family) met me in London and we had a couple of interesting days in London and I actually stayed in my first Hostel and no it was nothing like those freak movies. 

After a couple of days we boarded the rails and headed for Cricceth in Gwyenned (sp?) Wales.  On the way we stopped at a Family Friend of theirs near Worcester (I think), and had one of the most Fantastic meals, Man this lady could cook and the meat just melted in your mouth.  Then they took us to their local pub so they could "Show off" the American.  No money out of my pocket that night, boy was I toast!!!!

The next day we get on the rails again and go and get several beers, larger, suds whatever you want to call it.  Oh and when I say several I mean Several.  You know those little tables between the seats on trains, can to can to can covering the entire length and width of the table it was nothing but cans.  By the time we got to Cricceth we were goners.

This is where it happens, in Cricceth. 

Cricceth is a quaint little village on the coast of England and has some of the most beautiful scenery around that I can recall.  Not to mention that out on the Point is an OLD CASTLE flying the Welsh flag (white over green with a RED DRAGON overlaying the field).
Ha, you were wondering where the Dragon and Castle were coming in, now how do I work them in? You'll see.

The next day we wander about the village stopping and meeting and being introduced to everyone.  Had a Good day and soon to find out a better and worse night.
Chris and I ran into friends of his and they invited us to join them at one of the local pubs and we had a repeat of the previous night..... again No money out of my Pocket.  While playing billiards (pool for us Americans not educated in the game) and putting down a few pints of bitters, the subject came up that I liked Castles and Dragons.  Well, the discussion got pretty lively about the old tales that the Dragon still lived in that Ole Castle on the point.  An he only came out wot to bugger yanks like me!!!  We all had some good laughs at that and a few more pints and of course a few MORE pints.  By this time I was ready to go show that Ole Dragon what us Yanks was all about.  The bravery of Drink (smirking and remembering). 

Well, it was getting about closing time for the pub and we all went up and bought a couple extras, they all knew him and he was kind to the Yank and let us take them out with us on the honor of not driving.  We did not drive.  But we Ran like hell to the Gates of the Castle!!!!

You can figure where the conversation was with us at the gate of the Castle.  I am pretty sure at that time that we all KNEW there was no DRAGON but then again We were all Certain the Dragon was there. 
We got one guy up and over the fence, and then another and then another until I was the only one left on the other side.  Here was my dilemma, I am an American in England about to "Invade a British Castle" to find a Dragon,  what kind of punishment would I face if caught???????
In my state of Drunken Bravery I said to hell with it the Yanks is a coming and was up on top of that fence before you could blink.  The getting down was the problem...... it was a crazy drunken state of 20ft (in reality all of maybe 8ft) but drunk and up there man it was HIGH.  I jumped and about halfway down I knew I was in trouble....  my balance shifted and I landed funny and to catch myself when my feet hit I pushed and boy did I push.  Like a defensive lineman in American football or those guys in a proper Scrum in rugby I Launched myself........ straight into a ROCK WALL.  The Rock Wall WON hands down.

Talk about sobering up a crowd.  In an instant we all knew the Hunt was over, I had a gash in the top of my head and it was bleeding profusely.  We finally got me over the wall and back to Chris' mom and dad's house.  She was up!  Saw the bleeding and was all over us like you know what.  We had it figured out I jumped out of the way of a car because I forgot that the English drive on the other side of the road and I fell and hit my head on a Rock Wall.  See almost all Truth.  Just fudged where and why about the jump.  She patched me up and to this day I still have that scar. 

And even though I never got to see my Dragon that will always be a fond memory of A Last Grand Adventure of Youth.

Maybe, just maybe someday I will be able to take my wife and daughters to the place I hunted Dragons and had a Blast.

The Perfect Cup of Coffee

The Perfect Cup of Coffee


How does one go about making the perfect cup of Coffee?

Well there are several steps in the process:

1. You must have coffee beans or ground coffee of a flavor you like.

2. You must put these grounds in a filter in the coffee pot. -- Do not forget the filter or you will get a ton of grounds in the coffee --

3. Water - now that should be self explanatory but don't overfill the coffee pot -

4. Turn on the Coffee Pot. 

5.  Flavor to taste when done with a multitude of things:  sugar, milk, flavored creamers, actual cinnamon or vanilla.  Just a few ideas there

Mine is sugar (lots I have a sweet tooth), and milk.

Now here is where it is the Perfect Cup of Coffee
When I worked (note past tense) I would come home and sit down to talk to my wife and kids (if they were still up) to see how the day went for them and magically without ever having to go to the Kitchen to get my Coffee Lo and Behold there was a Cup of Coffee right there by my chair waiting for me.  Fresh Steaming and made just for me.  

Now a days with me being home all the time I do my Best to try and Follow her example: 

Boy, I hope she thinks I make her a Perfect Cup of Coffee?!?!?

The devouring of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Today has been spent making comments in the Discussion board, drinking coffee, reading a few blogs, making a few comments and trying to think about what I would write about today. 

Well, first and foremost I have a couple new followers and have had a few visits to add a new flag or two to my flag counter.  So welcome to the new followers and hopefully I keep you all entertained a little. 

Now, I am going to try something here, something a little different. 

First thing this is not, repeat NOT and advertisement but it they want to pay me for this they can.  LOL



The devouring of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Unwrapping the individual Reese's PBC brings the aroma of a nice chocolate and my taste buds are already starting to buzz. 
Have not even gotten it into my mouth for the first bite and I can already taste the chocolate and peanut butter contrast.  MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm

Taking off that little black wrapper, that is like a mini mini cupcake holder, little bits of chocolate escape or fall off of the Reese's PBC.
Can't let those go to waste have to saviour each one as the chocolate melts in the mouth.  MMMmmmm
Almost like a movie preview but better, better because in a movie preview you get most of the action there and the rest of the movie is filler,  but this is better Oh SO MUCH BETTER because you know that the experience you just had with those little bits of chocolate are just the beginning of tasteful bliss.......MMMMmmmmmmm

OHHHHhhhhhh Now comes the first bite that first true bite into Chocolate Peanut Butter heaven.  The difference between the two as you taste them, experience them exploding flavor all over your mouth.  MmmmMMmmmm

Then the next bite you feel it all again, and Again, and AGAin, and AGAIN!!!!!!!!!   MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Oh No!!!!!!!!!!!

Its all gone!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know where I am stopping on the way home tomorrow.