What's going on.

November edition.

As I continue to work (sporadically) on a few articles, I realize it’s been a while since I’ve actually posted something here. I figured a small recap on what’s been going on in my life would help bridge the gap just a little bit.

Writing:

A promo collage I created for Instagram

I wish things were going as well on this front as they were in my last installment of WGO, but they’re not. In fact, my writing has dwindled down to a trickle and I’m strangely o.k. with it. I know I go on and on about not wanting to take breaks because I’m concerned about not getting back into the groove, but I think I’ve proved to myself more than once that a little break can be o.k. so, in this case, I’m not going to count it as a negative thing. I’m filing it under “Recharging Batteries” and not beating myself up about it.

I guess it goes without saying that my plans for attempting NaNoWriMo this year were a bust, but that’s o.k. as there’s always next year. Best wishes to those of you trudging through and I hope you make the finish line.

Speaking of writing, indulge me in a bit of shameless self-promotion for my new subscribers while I point you toward where you can find some of my stuff.

“The T.E.M.P Agency”: Time-traveling androids, talking cats, and ‘mystery men’ in the 1930s.

“The Beacon: Light of Justice”: The world’s first superhero disappears and the only one with a clue as to where he might be is his 105-year-old “best gal”. Will she be able to tell her story to her grandson before it’s too late?

“Interesting Times”: When a small-time private detective gets cursed it means big-time trouble as he’s forced to live in ‘interesting times’.

Also on the writing front, I’m still working on journaling and it is going a bit better than in my last installment. I’ll probably be working on it as a larger 2023 goal, as well.

Old journal on the left, incoming replacement 2023 on the right

Entertainment:

A show my wife and I came to love, Doc Martin, has come to a conclusion. As I mentioned last month, it’s a great show and well worth looking up if only for the amazing Cornwall scenery in which it’s set. The fun characters, great writing, amazing scenery, and well-written scripts will all be missed. Thank God for streaming services and DVDs.

Along the way, we did discover a new show (of sorts). The Signed, Sealed and Delivered series on The Hallmark Channel. Originally, we saw the Christmas movie (yes, we’ve been watching Christmas movies since October) and came to find it’s a series of 12 films that started back in 2014, and before that, it was a 10-episode series that began in 2013. Featuring an eccentric group of characters (they call themselves “The Postables”) who work as ‘postal detectives’ for Denver’s dead letter office, it’s everything you’d expect from a Hallmark show. Sappy, a bit corny, predictable but uplifting, and as someone who could use a bit of uplifting, we found it at just the right time.

Life:

The last time I did one of these types of articles I was talking about Hurricane Ian which decimated the West Coast of Florida and barely missed us. This time, it’s Hurricane Nicole that not only hit us, but made landfall right here in Vero Beach. Thankfully, we were spared the destruction Ian brought as Nicole was only a Category One (while Ian was a 4 or 5 depending on who you ask). Even though Ian barely grazed us, our power went out almost immediately and it was 2 days before it was restored. Of course, the West Coast was prioritized and that’s understandable. This time we didn’t lose power until the hurricane had passed over us and it was only out for maybe 8-9 hours. Again, I’m thankful that if we had to take a direct hit from a storm, it was only a Category One.

I think God for watching out for us.

Of course, like a drunk prom date, Nicole had to come knocking at 3 a.m. and it was easy to spot the hurricane veterans from the novices. Once again, we were staying with my wife’s brother (he has a new, cinderblock home) just in case, and he, his wife, and my wife were all sound asleep. Of course, I was up so I figured I would snap a picture for posterity. At one point, the weatherman said we were in the eye of the hurricane and, if we were careful, could go out and see the stars before the backend arrived. I wasn’t feeling that brave, so I stayed in. In twelve years since moving down here, this was my first landfall hurricane. Not that I’d want to go through it again, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. No damage to our home or any property that I could see. Some of the tree limbs that survived Ian fell, but that was about it.

WPTV’s finest, Sandra Shaw and Cris Martinez, sticking with us all the way through.

How about you? What’s going on? Any fun holiday plans? Watching any holiday movies or are you just wanting the season to be over with and start a new year?

Let me know down below!

Until next time—