Top Ten Ways to Get Un-friended on Facebook

 It took something like Facebook to show us that some of our friends simply don’t have a sense of humor. Have you ever been un-friended?

I have and it hurts.

 First of all, I visit Facebook to: 

1. Communicate with friends 2. Talk about writing 3. Entertainment purposes only. 

There are a myriad of other places available to find pain and agony. If someone is spewing hatred, violence or anything that turns my stomach, I don’t necessarily un-friend but I might block that kind of post from my news-feed. 

Anyway, here are my lighthearted suggestions for things you should steer clear of on FB.

And admittedly, I'm guilty of a few....

Top Ten Ways to Get Un-friended on Facebook-

or as Dirty Harry would say, "A man's got to know his limitations."

1.       Be honest about politics.

2.       Be honest about religion.

3.       Over promote your novel.

4.       Promote your friend’s books.

5.       Share one too many dog videos.

6.       “Like” the embarrassing family photo.

7.       Admit you eat things with Gluten.

8.       Be critical of everything and have a low tolerance for the opinion of others.

9.       Spell like a caveman.

10.   Use profanity freely. (There are kids on FB.)

Are you on Facebook? Did anyone un-friend you? Did I miss anything? 

Breaking News! It's Spring!!

It’s spring and the Earth lined up with the sun 

and the moon just to tell us about it.

It’s spring and the ice floes are melting, 

except in Brooklyn.

It’s spring and Easter is around the corner 

reminding me to forgive scumbags and liars.

It’s spring and morning glories are popping out of the ground—

angel-wing shaped leaves reach for the sun.

It’s spring and that means the excuse called winter is chimney ash.

 Sober green rivers have returned to blue and clouds dissipate as I sit to write.

Where will this season take us? 

Reading and Reviewing: Something for Everyone!

When not writing or chasing chihuahuas around the backyard, I'm usually reading. Here are the best from the last few months. Check out all my reviews on Amazon.com

				Hocus Pocus  by Kurt Vonnegut		32 used & new from $2.83
Creative Satire!  Vonnegut has created a fictional satire comparing a prison riot to Vietnam.  His main character, Gene Hartke narrates the story with flashbacks from his life as soldier and teacher. With small political jabs but deep introspection about weapons, bombs and ruling the Universe, even a nod to Tralfamadore, his fictional planet from Slaughterhouse Five. The book asks brave questions by using humor to instill humility. Who’s in charge? Who ordered you to follow protocol and would you follow those orders if it meant everyone would die?
				BLACK DIAMOND  (McLean Twins Book 1) by Jennifer Loiske
When Innocence Meets Evil I usually shy away from books about witches and demons but Jennifer Loiske’s book pulled me into her pages, gripping my attention with carefully constructed  descriptions and a fascinating plot. Move over J.K. Rowling, there’s a new wizard in town and it might be this author and her book about Shannon  and her dad. If sleep is important to you, I suggest you don’t read this  before falling asleep because you’ll keep turning pages, wanting to find out what happens next. Fortunately, it’s well written, easy to read and there are magical spells throughout, making sure you’ll enjoy every haunting word!
				GOOD QUEEN BETH by Alan Hardy
Daring Spoils of War! Here’s a book of dark satire combining 50 Shades with the Hunger Games in one supercharged mutiny that will surprise even those who've seen everything. But first, can you handle real,  provocative language that begins in the street and ends up on a sleazy bed? Did I think the author is a misogynist? Yes--but I also think he has great outfit descriptions and lurid sex scenes culminating on a blood-gorged battlefield filled with murder and mayhem. This book about Royals is not for the faint  of heart or those easily offended. Fortunately, you’ll know right up front whether  you'll want to continue. Sorry for using a pun, but Hardy doesn't beat around the  bush and he’ll dare you to decide right up front. Are you voyeuristic enough to turn the pages and find out what happens to Beth and Mandy? Will Jason ever get it... well, you know...up...or does HE want to be Queen? Was everything Sandy’s fault or was she just a pawn in a giant game of chess? More importantly, what about the delusional Prince Farts, his out of touch mother the Queen and that disgusting character the King? Will they have to resort to cleaning up their own messes? Will basic animal instinct bring down the throne or will a  checkmate ensue, proving that power and authority need to rule?  Though well written, I'm sad this book exists and I’m sad that  Camelot was fantasy. Maybe I’ll watch a reality show now....
				Gryffon Master: Curse of the Lich King  (Crystal Sword Chronicles Book 1) Authors: Schuldt, Freed, Shaughnessy, Lemon and White
A Fabulous Yarn This is the most unusual fairy tale I've had the fortune of reading.  First of all, it combines myths and “stories dating back to  the beginnings of recorded history.” Secondly, this remarkable book was written or was magically woven, by several authors, into a smooth, well-executed and exciting tale. Like a tapestry worthy of a royal palace, you’ll marvel at the colors, the creative characters and the sprinkling of darkness twisting around the edges and expected in a fabulous yarn. Ragnar is a man who worships Odin and dreams of Valhalla. Ahmad is  from a desert near Damascus. Once they land in this ‘far distant’ mystical  land full of flying griffons, a frost giant, evil dragons, giant spiders, dwarves and a talking lizard called Calyptro, they get separated and have to keep dodging obstacles of terror around every bend. There seems to be a curse upon both of them but the gryffon  called Rostok, a giant scarab and a crystal sword are working  with all their new-found friends like a wireless system designated to help them escape the Lich King. Will the rugged man from the North and the slim man from the desert make it home? Read this exhilarating book and find out.
				A Suitcase Mystery by Ned Stevens
Big Screen-Style Excitement!  If you like excitement, mystery and adventure  you’ll find all that here and more. If you enjoy intrigue, espionage,  blackmail and murder splashed with something along the lines of the  new film--The Imitation Game-- you’ll love reading A Suitcase Mystery.  The story begins in Latvia with two suitcases and a missing diary.  The war's over but the country is still in turmoil and Ben is only an innocent boy.  The diary is extremely important to the Russians and they want it back.  Spring ahead to the U.S. where a veterinarian is dead and detective  Dokes wants to find out what happened. Of course the FBI is involved and the story swirls deeper and deeper into more plot twisting action than  a six-foot pole dancer auditioning for the circus. Can Ben and his mother  run from their past? Meanwhile, agents Sawyer, Books and John Holt are all over the place trying to solve everything but you’ll keep reading just  to find out what happens with Berg, his fur business and what about that diary? Why did the limo get hit? Will they be able to decipher what they need and what happens when they do?
				Love Poems: Listen to your heart... by Estella Eliot
Amazing Collection It's raining and it's too chilly to write, so I picked a great day to read  these tender poems of the heart. Sitting next to my fireplace, classical  music plays on the stereo and our Christmas tree twinkles, while my  small dogs burrow under this decidedly California-esque, cotton blanket.  Some of the author's poems rhyme and others sound like creative ad copy  for a chocolate factory. Some are simple as in 'don't leave me' and others  are complex. She has experienced love like the pebbles on the beach or  the clouds intertwining. Great alliteration, metaphors and talent, went  into this collection. I'm so glad to have spent this afternoon enjoying these poems. One of my favorites is The Poetry Cocktail but all of them warmed my heart.
				Rhyming Children's Stories,  Poems and More: 2nd series by Peter and Pattimari Sheets Cacciolfi
Beautiful Stories and Poems Funny and sweet words from the heart. I especially enjoyed the poem Morning News. This is a book you can pick up and read out loud when you want to make someone smile. Most Recent Amazon Purchase: Dry Bones by Carole Morden Any of these titles sound good to you? Have you read some of them? Do you buy books from Amazon?

49 Shades of Gray

What do you think of when you hear about shades of gray?

Will the color gray always remind us

 of the famous, erotic book?

Is that called conditioning? Branding? Being brainwashed?

Even though I haven't read it, 

the sound of that title distracts me

from years of newsprint memories,

smudged sleeves  and 

discussions about ink saturation percentages.

 Late night press room dilemmas, deadline dramas 

and a limited spectrum, all based on black  and white.

(News photos were not printed in color until the late 80's.)

Right before a storm, this is my idea of at least 49 shades.

December

Can we return to innocence? 

January

Or is it too late?

February