Category: Uncategorized

By: Donna Hale Chandler

My husband and I were excited to finally retire and move to our little condo in Port St. Lucie.  We had no qualms about leaving Michigan weather behind and were looking forward to sunny winters.  Our trip south to our new home began Labor Day week-end, 2004.

We were floating on clouds as we pulled into the condominium community where my mother had lived happily for several years.  It had been a long drive and we had lots of boxes to unload and unpack.  Our bodies may have been tired but our minds were still traveling a mile a minute as we saw a new future on our horizon.

As soon as word reached my mother that we had arrived, she was at our door, spitting orders about hurricane supplies that must be gathered right away.  I must admit that I was rather annoyed with her.  After all we had serious boxes of ‘stuff’ to put away before thinking about batteries and water.  She seemed determined to dampen our good mood with lists and more lists of what needed to be stocked.

At last, we relented and ventured out to the stores for water, batteries, canned food – you know, Hurricane Supplies.  We were sure that we were wasting our time but it made my mother happy so how could we refuse.

During the night of September 5, Hurricane Francis came screaming ashore.  As power was the first thing we lost we could only listen to the howling wind and pounding rain.  The next morning, it appeared we made moved to hell.  It was hotter than hot.  Helicopters were in the sky watching for looters.  As we moved slowly from day to day, we began to wonder if we’d made a wise decision moving to No Electricity Land.

We learned a lot as we suffered through the aftermath of Frances.  Not only did we learn how important those Hurricane Supplies were, we learned that you cannot make a cup of instant coffee over a candle, we learned that MRE’s taste like the Food of the Gods when you’re hungry and of course we learned the importance of water – cold water was in small supply.

About the time the lights came back on and the a/c began to cool our upstairs condo, Hurricane Jeanne came barreling through, throwing us once again into the darkness and the heat.  Again, we were lining up for ice and water from volunteers with the Red Cross and other organizations.  Again, we were checking on neighbors that we’d barely met and instantly bonded with over a cup of coffee boiled on an outdoor grill.

Years later I can look back and laugh at the fact that my mother had to drive me to the water/ice lines as I had no proof of residency.  It became quite a joke that I finally was old enough to retire but not old enough to go out after dark without my mama.  As I look back on these memories both my husband and my mother have passed away but back in 2004, we were quite the team as we stood together again Frances and Jeanne.   

It’s been years since my sweetie and I first met and I’m sure I’ve forgotten a lot more than I remember about those early days of our relationship.  One of the things I do remember, however is that we were constantly having moments when we were both thinking the same thing at the same time.  I might say something and she’d say, I was just about to say that, or I was just thinking the same thing.  Lots of times we’d both start to talk at the same time and it would be about the same thing.  I’m sure lots of other couples have those same things occur, but it just seemed like it happened a lot, for us.  We started to call those moments GEMA’s.  That’s our abbreviation for GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE. 

Over the years, we’ve continued to have those GEMA moments and it still surprises us how often it happens.  One evening, during those early years one of us brought up the fact that we had been saving all sorts of little household hints that we had been clipping out of the newspaper or magazine articles.  GEMA!!!!   Me too, came the response.

As we discussed it, we found that we both had a file, (mine was a manila folder, hers was a shoebox) with dozens of those little tips randomly stored in it.  As we continued to discuss it, we both complained about the fact that saving them was almost useless, because you could never find the hint you were looking for when you wanted it.  That, plus the fact that most of the time you couldn’t even remember that you had a tip that would be useful for whatever your need might be at that particular moment, frustrated the both of us.  At that point, one of us asked, “Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a book or a computer program that would allow you to access exactly the hint or tip that you wanted, when you wanted it?” That question led us to the conclusion that we should do something about it.

After lengthy discussions, we decided to attempt to categorize them and alphabetize them so that we’d be able to find any tip on a moments notice.  After working on that for a few weeks, we come to realize that there are lots more tips and hints out there, if you take the time to look for them.  So, we did. 

After we’d spent a lot of hours researching, categorizing, alphabetizing and typing them into our computers, we found that we had around 1700 of them and we finally had them set up in a useful format.  We then decided that we had something that others might find useful too. Of course, by that time, each of us had already written several books, so we turned them into our first collaborative effort and published a book titled THE HINTS BOOK ALMANAC.  Shortly after we published that book, Sweetie discovered more hints stashed away somewhere in her files.  A lot more.  And we started thinking that there might be even more of them out there someplace.  Eventually we came up with roughly 1000 more of them that we hadn’t included in that first book.  More categorizing, alphabetizing and typing ensued, eventually leading to our second hints book publication, titled: THE HINTS BOOK ALMANAC II

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please consider checking out the Amazon pages of the authors of this site, by going to the addresses’ shown below.   Kindle versions of their books are available at only 99 cents.

http://www.amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/
Amazon.com: Donna Hale Chandler: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #244

“Friendships & secrets
ain’t never been compatible.”

In our house, there is usually some kind of music playing from the time we get up. That usually continues until late afternoon when our TV viewing time rolls around.  We have Alexa and recently we’ve begun to ask it to play whatever music that days choice may be.  Before that, we’d play music from one of the 30 or 40 channels on our TV that play music.

Rock, Pop, Country, Christian, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, you name it we have a channel for it.  We generally alternate between the TV stations, Alexa and our CD player which holds 50 CD’s.  Course we haven’t purchased a new CD in quite a few years, but we have some pretty good music that we purchased back in the day.  Suffice it to say, we have a pretty good variety of music to choose from.  

This poem is the result of a night on the patio, listening to tunes on my stereo and enjoying a glass of wine. (or, perhaps several glasses)

HE’S A FAN
©By: R.L.King – From the book Memories & Time ©2017

He’s a fan of country music, he’s a fan of Rock-n-roll,
…. he’s a fan of island sounds, as well Blues, and Southern Soul.

Music takes him all the places his mind allows him to go,
yet wherever that might be, is rarely under his control.

Oh, he’s in charge of the remote, what he hears is his decision,
but whatever enchanted mood he’s in, has total control of his vision.

Music lights his pathway, it helps to make him whole,
it brings him to the edge, as it soothes his troubled soul.

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #282

About: Friendship

“Giving generously of yourself
usually offers the best
return on your investment.”

********

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Please check us out at:

http://www.amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/
Amazon.com: Donna Hale Chandler: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Kindle versions of most of our books are available at only 99 cents. You can purchase our entire CROW’S LAKE series in two 4-book groupings at only 99 cents each. That’s over 2000 pages of reading for only $1.98. What a bargain.

My wife passed away over 35 years ago and I was single for a long time.  During most of those years, I wasn’t really looking to get attached to anyone, but sometimes I’d get to thinking that this gal or that gal, just might be the one.   This is a poem I wrote years ago about just such an occasion.

ON THE PROWL
©By: R.L.King From the book Memories & Time ©2017

He’s a master of the cue stick, loves the game of pool,
but sometimes he’ll drink too much and occasionally act a fool.

First, he’s hot, then he’s cold or somewhere in between.
Can’t miss a shot, can’t make a shot, if ya know what I mean.

She walks in, the lights are low, he’s been there, in his dreams.
She turns him on, then turns him down, then she leaves the scene.

Dead-end streets & U-turns, his love life to a tee,
on his one-way path to Hell, where all his friends will be.

********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #536

About: Optimism
“Helpless and hopeless,
but harmless.”

********

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Please check us out at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/ OR
Amazon.com: Donna Hale Chandler: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Kindle versions of most of our books are available at only 99 cents.

This is an article that I wrote a number of years ago, but over the last year or so, it’s become even more pertinent.  Prices of everything seem to have skyrocketed and it’s affecting everybody’s pocketbook.

LOUSY TIPPERS STAY HOME

Each fall in South Florida all the bars and restaurants begin to fill up as we are invaded by thousands of “Snowbirds.”   I’m not complaining, that’s a good thing, since our economy relies heavily upon the tourist trade.  Unfortunately, many people seem to think that leaving a decent tip is beneath them.   I’m not privy to their logic, but it seems as though they think, “I’m only going to be here for a few months, let the locals do the tipping.”  Or, perhaps they figure there are so many restaurants, for the short time that I’ll be here, “I’ll probably only eat in this one a couple times and likely I’ll have a different waitress, no need to leave a decent tip, she’ll never see me again.” 

Whatever the logic, it’s obvious that many people are lousy tippers and “snowbirds”  seem to lead the pack.  I’ve never worked in the service industry, so I’m speaking only from what I’ve witnessed, or have been told by waitress and bartending friends who do. It seems that many people are still living in the dark ages and believe that a 10% tip is respectable, when in fact in this day and age 15% to 20% is far more appropriate.  And for those of you who use a coupon, it’s proper to tip based upon the regular price, not the discounted price.

It seems that the slow economy has exaggerated this miserliness.  Many people seem to think that our wait staff are immune to the downturn, when in fact it is they who are most affected by it.  Perhaps they are unaware of the fact that here in Florida, nearly all waiters, waitresses and bartenders get paid well below the “normal” minimum wage and rely heavily upon tips to make a decent living.  No matter what the tipping customs are in the area you came from, here in paradise tipping less than 10% is insulting to your waiter.  If you received good service a proper tip should be closer to 20%.  

Folks, if you can still afford to winter in Paradise and go out to eat, you certainly should be able to afford to leave a decent tip.  Don’t insult our wait staff by leaving a lousy one.  

Let me be a little clearer on that. If you can’t afford to tip properly,,,, STAY HOME!!!  Save up until you can, or go to the fast-food places where a proper tip is not expected. Don’t take up the time or our hardworking waiters, waitresses and bartenders if you’re not willing to compensate them properly.  The time they waste taking care of non-tippers is time they could be spending on people more deserving of their attention.  Just because you’re traveling and won’t be eating here again, don’t be a jerk. Leave a proper tip.

*********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #240

About: Gossip

“Jist cause ‘they’ say it,
I don’t reckon that makes it so.”