Author: Dart

Masked Conversations

OK, this folks, is a true story. Last Monday I took my car into Meinake for service.  In the same parking lot is a bagel shop where I usually wait. The coffee is much better than at Meinake.

I was working on a short story on my tablet but could not help but overhear the interaction between customers and the restaurant order takers behind the counter. Note this takes place during the Pandemic of 2020, so everyone was wearing face masks.

Customer:      I miffle, mumble,mumble baffled squirrels.
Order Taker:   Whaaaat? Say muffle deer. snot.
Customer:      No. I aunt muffle garbled creamed checkers.
Order Taker:   Mumbled buffy leotard.

I fall off my chair laughing!

True story!!!.

F-15 Strike Eagles & A-10 Thunderbolts

To honor health care workers in the Treasure Valley two F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing and two 124th Fighter Wing A-10 Thunderbolts flew in a tight formation across the valley today, soaring over all of the hospitals one at a time. I found a parking garage that had a top floor open to the air and it was full of medical workers and local residents waving and cheering as the four aircraft flew over. It was heart warming.

I caught a couple of images, one of them here. Click on photo to see larger image.

 

Editing Help

Every writer has their own style. A few people can sit down and write beautiful grammatically correct words from the get go. These people pound out pages and pages of ready to read words daily.

Then there are people like me. A story bursts into my brain in full 3-D color. Then I have to somehow convert it from my brainwaves into words on paper. Then I have to reread it at least twenty times, editing as I go. I then submit it to a closed Facebook Writers Group where my colleagues will rip it to shreds. I then rewrite it. And then edit it. Trust me, this is not a pretty process. But for me, it is effective.

To aid my editing, I use a piece of software called prowritingaid.This is an awesome program that scans your writing and offers corrections as well as improvements. You can find repeated words, sentences that are too long and dozens of more complex grammar scans.

This is just a brief view of some of the options:

 

 

 

I have reviewed several editing programs and have found this to be the best for my writing needs.

If you write as I do, you may want to check this out. Or find a similar program.

Dart

PS:  I do not receive any benefit, certainly not any monetary benefit from any product that I recommend.

 

 

 

A breath of fresh air

People react to a crisis in many ways. Thank God some people react by displaying hope and encouragement. Took a drive yesterday along Harrison Blvd in Boise, near downtown. This is a tree lined street featuring some of the oldest and most beautiful homes in the city. It is also home to the Boise wealthy hippies.(I dislike the term Liberal). This is a peace loving creative loving street.

The city installed yellow ribbons and American flags along the median strip. Tossed in a few Idaho flags too.

 

But the residents joined in with decorations, signs and some American flags.

 

On this warm and beautiful Spring day, the creatives were out too.

 

 

 

 

 

As we approach the peak of the Covid-19 driving or walking along Harrison Blvd is a breath of spiritual Spring air.

Dart

A Crisis Brings Out Five Types of People

I’ve been around a few major crises. I guess my first was the Cuban Missile Crisis. Plenty since then including today’s pandemic. My observations show me that when the S*** hits the fan, people divide into five basic types.

1. The Givers:        Show compassion, and work to aid others in any way possible.
2. The Takers:       Are greedy, trying to make a profit from human suffering.
3. The Frighten:   Fear based, hoarding supplies.
4. The Deniers:    These people deny the crisis is even happening.
5. The Conspiracy Nuts:  ‘Nuff said.

Please, let’s all try at least to be number one.

 

Freaking Earthquake!

I am in Idaho missing my beautiful and quirky Florida. Spring has been delayed and the last week it has been solid gray and cold. Ugh. Oh yeah, there is a freaking pandemic circling the planet. Idaho and all of the planet is on lock down. The President today say be prepared, the worse is coming.

Then late this afternoon Idaho has a stinking earthquake!!! The second strongest in it’s history! A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit southern Idaho around 5:52 p.m. Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reports. The quake, which lasted for 23.5 seconds, hit 19 miles northwest of Stanley — or about 78 miles northeast of Boise, according to USGS.

I was in my office on the computer and my wife was in the bathroom. I hear rumbling, sort of like when clothes in the dryer get out of balance only 17,333 times louder. I see the cats whiz by to hide under the bed. I go running down the hallway trying to figure out what is happening. I have absolutely no experience with earthquakes. Hurricanes yes. Lightning strikes, yes. Twisters, sort of. But earthquakes? Nope.

I see the floor and walls rolling slightly. I see books on shelves dancing and I hear what can only be described as a aching howl from the house itself.

What. The. Fuck?

In about 20 seconds it is over. My wife and I hug and laugh. Me more out of nerves than anything else.

Strangest feeling. The earth itself is not stable. Very emotionally unsettling.

So, what’s next? Locust? Zombies?

Give me a good old fashion hurricane. I know how to handle them.

Hoping for no aftershocks.