Structured Chaos

As I’ve mentioned in a couple of previous posts, my wife and I are in the process of installing a new floor in our house. The on-going mess, constant moving of furniture, and general disarray of the place is a bit annoying but we’re learning to live with it. As for the grandchildren—not so much.

This past weekend, I was told by not one, not two, but three different grandchildren that I really needed to clean my house. One of them in particular was not amused with the bathroom door being removed. And the stacks of boxes of books from the bookshelves, dishes from the hutch, and other knick-knacks are bothersome to kids who are used to having the run of the house when they play—or whatever it is they do—did not impress them.

So, after the several “complaints,” I informed them that I was almost done. I meant with the floor; I’ll still need to put on the baseboards and other trim, put the furniture back in place, and empty all the boxes. Eyeing all of that, one of the grandkids gave me a wide-eyed look and shook his head. “No, you’re not.” he said.

Sadly, he was right. It’ll take another week or more—emphasis on the more—to get everything completed. Longer if I keep taking breaks, like writing blog posts. So, it’s back to work—gotta keep the grandkids happy! ~

 

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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On This Date In 1997

Twenty years ago today, my family and I arrived in our new town—after moving 2000 miles across the country. I can’t believe it’s been that long. But, I double-checked the calendar and it appears it’s so; it has indeed been twenty years. Still, it’s kind of hard to grasp because it seems like just the other day we drove into town in the U-haul. It seems like just yesterday my kids were young, running through the house, playing, laughing—and yelling at the top of their lungs! And now they are all grown. And I have grandkids. How could that be? Where did the time go?

Away, I think—to answer my own rhetorical question. Gone. But not forgotten.

I remember thinking back then how the idea of my kids moving out on their own seemed so far away. That was fine with me because I rather liked my children (still do too). So, while the empty nest thing concerned me, I didn’t really think about it much. I guess I figured there’d be plenty of time to worry about it in the future. Well, the future is now.

Not that the house is empty, really. I’ve made sure to fill it with lots of stuff—junk mostly, according to my wife. Still, it has a certain emptiness. For the most part, I think I deal with it okay. But sometimes. Sometimes, my overactive memory kicks in. My memory that remembers events, facts and figures, along with other useless trivia—and dates. Like today. October 16th. The date we arrived in Oregon. And then, as you can see, I start my trip down Memory Lane. ~

 

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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Sound Of Summer

Anyone remember the ice cream truck? I do, at least when I lived in town, for some reason they didn’t come by my house when we lived five miles out. I was too cheap to buy anything from them usually; I got a lot more for my money at a store. But occasionally, I’d splurge.

In later years, once I had kids, I learned that being cheap was not an option. When the ice cream truck came by, it was a requirement that we buy something EVERY TIME! These days, my grandkids make sure to keep that rule firmly in place. Needless to say, the ice cream truck makes the drive down my street quite often—all summer long.

This past weekend however, there were no grandkids visiting, no one was home except me. I was using the occasion to work on our floor and after several hours of bending over, working on my hands and knees, my bones were complaining that they weren’t as young as they used to be. They seemed to think I should consider a different weekend activity. I ignored them for the most part but every so often, (usually when I stood back up) I thought about how much easier this kind of work was when I was younger. I used to work non-stop all weekend with no ill effects. “I need a time machine,” I told myself.

And that’s when I heard the music. The familiar merry-go-round type music announcing the soon arrival of the ice cream truck! My first thought was that the ice cream man was going to be disappointed since no kids were at my house. But then another thought occurred to me. Maybe the jingly music was the sound of my time machine coming!

In need of a break anyway, I dropped what I was doing and went outside to wait. In just a few a minutes, I was scarfing down my ice cream. The first ice cream I’d bought for myself—from an ice cream truck—in years.

Sadly, I discovered there were no anti-aging effects associated with said ice cream. But it did bring back a few memories of a time long past. So, for a brief moment, I was a kid again.

Oh, and by the way, at $3.00 for one ice cream, I can still get a lot more for my money at a grocery store. ~

 

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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Off To Work

Several years ago, back when I had a normal job with normal hours, I used to sleep until the last possible minute before getting up for work. This was due, in part, to not wanting to go to work but mostly because I stayed up until two or three in the morning. Once I finally decided to go to bed, I didn’t really want to get up.

As a result, I spent nearly every morning in a rush, a rush to get dressed and then in a rush driving to work. I usually arrived right at eight o’clock—or a few minutes late. But most everybody else arrived a little late as well, including the boss so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Still, every once in a while, I’d try to change my ways and get there early.

One particular Monday morning, I set the alarm a half an hour earlier than my customary wakeup time—and actually got up too! Instead of being in a hurry, I took my time getting ready and then drove to work without speeding. On the way, I noticed there wasn’t as much traffic as I usually dealt with and I remember thinking what a difference a few minutes made.

When I pulled into the drive at my job, I was pleased to see that no one else was there yet. Not even the guy who usually opened the place and he got there about six or so. I had beaten everyone! I sat in the car and waited for the others to arrive. And waited. As the clock approached eight and then the minutes ticked by, I began to wonder why no one else had shown up. It took to about twenty after, before I realized why they weren’t there, and why the traffic had been so light—it was a holiday and we, like a lot of other businesses, were not open.

I drove back home, amused, and a little irritated. For once, I’d been early—and it had all been for nothing. There hadn’t even been anyone there to see it. But what’s worse, I could’ve stayed in bed! ~

 

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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Fantasy Patch Tour – Stephen Geez

Today this Blog is hosting The Fantasy Patch Tour. Our guest is Stephen Geez.

 

Fantasy Patch

A media thriller by Stephen Geez

Snippet featuring Frank dealing

 

“Perfect,” Frank pronounces. I have a small batch of rough sketches already, not bad for fifteen minutes. “Help me grab some stacks.” He’s rummaging through cabinets, gathering artwork, ’stats, story boards. “Make a pile of everything you have on the Aller-Tats.”

We load into his car and hit the road.

“You set out your stacks of work,” Frank says, “the tattoo stuff on top of two piles, the Wooter sketches you just made on top of a third. We’re going to talk about them maybe getting our tattoo biz, but if I steer it toward Wooter, act like whatever story I spin is gospel.”

We meet at Ferman’s hotel suite not far from the agency, per Frank’s request, so their people won’t speculate about what’s going on. He’s a smallish sort, a white guy with short-cropped graying hair and immaculate beard. He looks studious in his wire-rim spectacles, very relaxed, friendly, the kind who touches your arm while shaking hands. We sit on couches in the office area of his suite.

“You and Danté both have tremendous reputations, and have done some remarkable work,” Ferman says good-naturedly―he’s done some fast pre-meeting homework on who we are. “I’m glad to hear you’ve both landed running.” He’s glancing at my three piles, but being very subtle about it.

“But we don’t have the people to handle production and placement. You just bought out one of the best organizations in Chicago.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I know, because I put most of it together.”

Ferman nods.

“I’m planning to come in and dismantle your company,” Frank says matter-of-factly. “Thought you might want to know.”

“I see two of our clients on your piles,” Ferman says off-handedly. We could be chatting about the weather.

“This one’s in the bag,” Frank says, gesturing. “I need twenty of your best people to nationwide, on the shelves in three to five weeks.”

“That’s ambitious in the extreme,” Ferman says.

“Similar timetable,” Frank tosses out, “for a thirty-million-dollar launch about to be announced next week. I’ll need everybody on your top two floors for that.”

Ferman nods. “You would. If you’ve got the scratch to throw around, I can’t stop you from hiring some away, either. We’ll adjust. It’s the nature of our business.”

“Or we could cut a deal,” Frank says.

Yeah, I’m thinking, let’s cut a deal. All this huffery-puffery makes me nervous. We’re so far extended in our commitments and obligations, with such a huge payroll to cover already . . .

 

~ ~ ~

 

Comment from Stephen Geez

 

Be sure to seize this chance to follow our wondrous host’s blog. Today is Day 5 of my 4 Wills Publishing blog tour to tout Fantasy Patch, my media thriller. Friends know I spent years as a big-agency executive producer for Fortune 100 clients, a role strikingly similar to my main character’s in this novel. Many nudged me knowingly, wanting to admit that Dante was based on me. Well, no, but I do imbue him with similarities to how I handle the creative side of that role. Really, Frank is at least as much like me in how he works the business side. I guess the combo of those two characters might sort of be based on me, or at least that version of me back in the day. I’d like to say they’re not. Let’s see if I say it. Please try to win a copy of the book. Thanks!

~ ~ ~

 

 

 

Stephen Geez is a retired businessman, television producer, and music composer/producer who writes novels, essay collections, all manner of shorts, and industrial scripts. With University of Michigan bachelors and masters degrees including English Language & Literature, he’s a maven of language mechanics and literary styles who argues that any message is more compelling if told like a story.

 

Fantasy Patch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO_BBFVKrgU

Website & readers’ blog: www.StephenGeez.com

Website & authors’ blog: www.GeezWriter.com

Website: www.GeezandWeeks.com

Twitter: @StephenGeez @GeezWriter @FreshInkGroup

 

“This tour sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.”

Not-So-Old Friends

Went to a friend’s birthday party this past weekend—a friend from high school. We have seen each other relatively few times since the days of our indoctrination, I mean, education. Still, there was no awkward strain or lack of conversation. I walked in and immediately we were getting along like—well, like old friends.

I know that people change, or so I’ve heard, and that after a few years have passed they no longer have much in common. But, although it’s been 35 years since we were in school, aside from physical appearance, neither of us has really changed a whole lot. I suppose some would say that not changing means we haven’t grown up and maybe that is the case. And that’s okay with me. Life is better if everything doesn’t change all the time.

We spent a few hours talking, reminiscing and catching up. And telling stories from our teenage years. I’ve heard that’s the sign of true friendship, when you can go for years without seing each other and pick right up where you left off. And that’s the way it seemed. It was almost like no time had passed—at least for a little bit…

There was a younger person at the party who noticed that we still got along like high school friends. She said, “I hope when I’m old I have a friend like that.”

I think that was supposed to be a compliment, but old? We aren’t THAT old! I didn’t take offense though, just nodded in agreement. “I hope I have a friend like that when I’m old too.” ~

 

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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A Few More Miles

Several years ago, I took my pickup to the shop. I usually do repair work myself but I had a minor engine problem that I couldn’t figure out. I thought they would diagnose the problem and give it a quick fix—for a nominal fee. Instead, I was told the engine was shot. They said I could expect it to go at any time. But, they were happy to offer to sell me a rebuilt engine and install it for only $4,000.

At the time, the truck had roughly 100,000 miles on it. I chose to ignore their “advice,” had them put it back together and kept driving it.

A few years later, I again took the pickup to the shop—a different shop—this time for a transmission issue. After taking apart the transmission, they told me it was worn out and I would need to get a new one. Wouldn’t last more than a couple of thousand miles, they said. They quoted me a price of $2,500 to have it replaced.

By this time, the truck had 175,000 miles. Again, I chose to ignore their “advice,” had them put it back together and kept driving it.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I started having more problems. The truck wouldn’t shift right. I tried a few cheap fixes but nothing worked. At first, I was stubborn and chose to keep driving it. Then reluctantly, I admitted it was maybe time for a new pickup. After all, I can’t expect a vehicle to last forever. Still, I wasn’t happy about it.

But then I found the perfect truck, almost a duplicate of my old one but four years newer. So, I bought it and kept the old one for parts—and partly because I just didn’t want to get rid of it. Yeah, I’m still a little saddened that it broke. But I can’t say I wasn’t warned the transmission and engine wouldn’t last. They were right too, I suppose—sort of. Did I mention the pickup now has 317,000 miles? And aside from the annoying shifting issue, it is still going. I’m thinking both places were just trying to rip me off, which is why I prefer to do my own mechanic work. ~

 

Bruce A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey, Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.

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