Are You Memorable? / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-Aug-2023

In the last weekend of July, our small town had a summer festival with all kinds of food trucks, auctions, nightly concerts, and a Saturday morning parade.

One of my daughters was on a float in the parade, and afterward she asked how her competition did--she works for one of two banks in town.  Her bank did something unique.  All of the workers had flower hats and gave out flower seeds, along with the usual assortment of candies.  The other one?  I don't even remember it.  Seriously.  Not at all.

There were other floats in the parade that were . . . unremarkable.  Not memorable.

We have a haunted woods near town, and their float is always memorable.  A few other floats (I recall a kid promoting his dog poop scooping business) were slightly memorable but honestly that's about it.

What are you doing that's memorable?

Concert Etiquette / Happenings In The Outhouse 11-Aug-2023

Okay, I'm going to rant a bit.

Over this past year, I've been going to quite a number of concerts and as well as a sports event, and I've noticed a trend that is a bit disturbing.

Much of this may seem petty to some, and frankly I don't care how it comes across.  If you feel it does, then move along.  This post isn't for you.

Still with me so far?  Here we go . . .

First, these concerts or games, even in the cheaper sections, cost a bit to get into.  Depending on your situation, you may have to book a hotel or Airbnb.  You may have to pay for parking or an Uber/Lyft driver.  You may even have to pay for drinks/food once you're there.  Here's my issue: did you go there to enjoy the event or go there just to socialize and pay absolutely no attention to the event/concert at hand?  For some, this may be the only event they're able to go to this year.  It's special.  Quite possibly a once-in-a lifetime event.

My issue is the many who seem to ruin it all by their rudeness, drunkenness, and downright disregard for public decency.

Think of others for a change.  If you find yourself getting up from your seat every few minutes to grab a drink or something to eat and not even pay attention to what's going on, then why did you even go?  You are simply ruining it for others who DID go to see what's going on.

There.  Rant over.  Who knows, I may expand on this later.

Peace out.  Enjoy life.

If You Schedule It, It Will Get Done / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Aug-2023

Be intentional.

If you mean to do something, put it on the calendar.  For myself, it works wonders if I schedule something on my calendar.  It feels more permanent.

In a way, it's like the old adage from Field of Dreams: "If you build it, he will come."  If you schedule it, it'll get done.

Or, at least, the chances of it getting done are much higher.

It's always better to be intentional than not.

My First MLB Game - Twins Vs. White Sox / Happenings In The Outhouse 28-July-2023

Last week, I attended my first Major League Baseball game.  The Minnesota Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox.  We went as it was Donate Life Day with the Minnesota Twins, as a way of celebrating kidney organ donors and their families and to raise awareness for kidney disease.

I have to say, it was the most fun I have had in a long, long time.  Even not being much of a sports fan at all, it was a lot of fun to be there.  We were seated right off of the third base line, and there were so many home runs, it was hard to keep track of them all.

The Twins defeated the White Sox 9 to 4.  There were 4 home runs for the Twins, and 2 for the Sox.  One standout was Byron Buxton, who hit two of the four homers.

Another standout was one of the stadium ushers.  You see, my mother needed a wheelchair, and this gentleman not only escorted her to the right section (on the other side of the stadium), he picked her up after the fireworks (which were amazing!) and escorted her back to the main entrance.  He got to know all of us, where we were from.  I only wish I caught his name.  You could tell that he absolutely loved his job.

In my recent book Pop Flies And Grounders, the main characters go to a Twins game.  Granted, it was in the mid-80's when Kirby Puckett was the most known player, but it was interesting how close I got some of the details.  Keep note, I did say some.  I did take into account a wide array of creative license with the book.

The cost of the tickets, food, and merchandise was fairly reasonable too.  So if you are in the Twin Cities, check out a Twin game.  It is something we'll do again.

Pop Flies And Grounders Is Published / Happenings In The Outhouse 21-July-2023

Pop Flies And Grounders has now been published!

Here is a synopsis of this middle grade novel:

"Twelve-year-old Cassidy Reed recently lost her father. But when her mother Eve moves away from the hustle and bustle of the Twin Cities to quiet small-town Minnesota, Cassidy feels like her whole world is crumbling. Her greatest pastime is softball. It is then that she discovers that her new neighbor is an ex-MLB player, Max Coleridge, and the two quickly become fast friends as he teaches her new skills.

But there are rumors about Max. Rumors about why he was kicked out of the Major Leagues. So Cassidy sets out to find the truth, and along the way discovers even more secrets about this small town."

Here is the link for the Amazon store. And the Kobo Books store.

Once other stores at up and running, I'll share those as well.

Google Play Store.

Lessons Learned From Bryan Adams and Joan Jett / Happenings In The Outhouse 14-July-2023

On July 3rd, my girlfriend Melissa and I saw Bryan Adams in concert in the Twin Cities.  Joan Jett opened for him.

It was an amazing concert, and Brian Seltzer even made a surprise appearance for a handful of songs.

One thing we noticed with both artists were the fact that they acknowledged their band.  A lot.  They honored them and made note of the bands they played with throughout the show.

Authors do this all the time in books.  They dedicate the work to someone.  Typically a spouse or significant other.  Even though being a creative artist, one still does not do it alone.  That person may not read or listen to your music or see what you've done, but they still support you.  Or, in the case of Bryan Adams and Joan Jett, they are nothing without the band.

Home Stretch on WIP / Happenings In The Outhouse 07-July-2023

Today, I am halfway through the final read-through of my work-in-progress, my Middle Grade novel titled Pop Flies And Grounders.

Here is the cover of it:

Pretty cool, isn't it?