Stripping

It seems that there are times in life when "things" are stripped away.  I haven't lost anyone in my family to death, thank God -- I mention this because one of my posts on another blog was about my father having a diabetic seizure, and he's fine now -- I've just lost a little thing in my life when it comes to my writing and reviewing routine.  I haven't been reading new novels on my Kindle, because it's been destroyed.

Very strange, how it happened.  I knew I saw it on the table last, and I thought for several days that I had lost it.  So I pulled a little family joke on my roommate.  I said, "Whenever someone loses something in my family, we know the sure way to find it again is to accuse someone of stealing it.  So ...  Why in the world did you steal my Kindle, Danny?"

We both laughed, and sure enough it worked, but in a weird way.  The next day, she walked out the door and found my Kindle outside on the concrete.

Someone actually HAD stolen it.  It was beaten up and frozen, so they returned it, useless.  How nice.

So, although I CAN read the novels I download on my computer, it's really just not as comfortable, so I just haven't been doing it.  My reviewer ranking is suffering, although once I quit reviewing for several months and my ranking went UP several thousand ranks.  Who knew?

I didn't want this post to be too depressing, but since it's about accepting loss, even though I was only talking about material loss, which is trivial, I have to add a prayer for a friend who made her transition last week.  Yes, I didn't lose a family member, but I did say goodbye to a sister in Christ. Rest In Peace, Patty.  You lived like the little sign on the bar wall that goes something like this: "Life isn't about making it to the grave in a nice, well-kept, shiny body. It's about skidding in sideways, totally worn-out, whooping, "Yeah!  What a ride!"

And for those of you out there who are disappointed that this blog isn't actually about doing strip-tease, well, here, I'll give you a little feather boa tickle.  Surprise!  I used to be a stripper in my 20's -- you missed it!  It was a classy place, kind of like the good place in "Flashdance," and I didn't do sleaze.  It actually had some spiritual value for me.

But no more, that part of my life has long since been stripped away, and the Spirit remains.  I'm looking forward to the next surprise Life has in store, and remembering fondly friends who have left us behind, to sneak behind the veil ...

Kindle Lover!

Some of my friends are die-hard book lovers, but others have fallen in love with e-book readers, as I have.  There's nothing like having an entire library at my fingertips at the push of a button.  I have the old style Kindle, not the Kindle Fire, which is backlit. I have to read with a light on and I fall asleep that way sometimes, so really I think I'd love to get a Kindle Fire someday.

This is what I have:



And this is what I have on my Wish List!



So, yes, I am actively trying to convert my paper book addicted friends to Kindle.  Hey, I grew up downwind from a paper mill -- not a pleasant experience!  I'd say "let's save trees," but I'm aware that's not really what happens. Reducing the need for virgin timber just means tree farm owners go out of business and sell their land to developers, unless you allow the government to step in and usher the sale over to a conservatory group.

But, I digress ...

 In spite of the fact that it doesn't really save trees the way things are now, I still think cutting down the need for stinky paper mills is a winner, don't you?

Some of my friends are waiting for me to print out my manuscript before they will read it, or go into print with CreateSpace.  I'm planning to go with the second plan, as it is actually much cheaper to print a book on CreateSpace than it is to go to Staples and print out my manuscript in loose leaf, but I'd still like to see my friends get Kindles.  I've been an e-book reader fan since the Bookman had its inglorious debut and death. So, c'mon!  Get with it!  Light a fire under your ... um... well, I mean, get a Kindle!