Oh, My Cod Countdown – week 14

cape cod media center

Oh! My Cod Countdown – Week 14

Where has the summer gone? One more week and The Cape of Cod will be itself once more, although there are always the late visitors and the tourists that prefer the Cape in its Late Summer Splendor.

As a long-time resident, this is the season I do prefer. This morning the temperature was a balmy 57 degrees. I did dig out my sweats. This is my kind of temperature, cool, crisp, and definitely top-down weather. YAHOO!

Travelling from Harwich to Hyannis is easier now, as the traffic weeds down because some schools have already started, and the college students are back in their dorms. It will surge again, as tourists and visitors cram the Cape one more time to bid farewell to summer next weekend. Even though I am sometimes frustrated with this influx of visitors, they do bring with them a certain energy that livens things up, the pace does change.

On an unusual note, I am taking classes at the Cape Cod Media Center. So far, I have done classes in Basic Studio Production, and learned how to run a huge camera (like the ones you see on studio talk shows). Then more work in the control room on how to actually produce your own show (Yikes!) which entails how to work the lighting which is a large board with lots of controls, how to fine tune the audio, and finally the main control board which allows you to direct the floor cameras as to which shots go live. PHEW!!!

It all came alive for me when I got to run camera 3 during an hour long live streaming jazz show, which will air live on channel 99 (our local channel) sometime. The name of the show is LIVE FROM CENTER STAGE. This show spotlights local talent. The four-piece jazz group I was involved with was from Brooklyn, New York, here doing a few gigs on Cape.

Of note: this was my final class in Basic Studio, which was a fabulous experience for me. My next class, Monday, is in Audio Post Production, and Monday night, my final class in basic editing. Starting September 1, 2017 and September 8th, for two Fridays, I will be learning Basic Field Production. Which means I get to run around with a small, hand held camera and film subjects.(?) Any volunteers???

FYI – all this is offered free to members, and membership is $30.00 per year.

Here is their link.

www.capemedia.org

Lastly, my sister in San Antonio has had rain and wind, but no severe damage from Harvey, for which I am very grateful. I did offer to send her a 2-seater kayak for her and Myron, but she declined. Now I have no idea what to send her for Christmas.

Happy Writing

Sharon

Here is the link for the pod-cast.

The New Moon and Solar Eclipse

August 20, 2017

Several items to cover in this blog:

  1. Solar eclipse on August 21
  2. Oh, My Cod Weather
  3. Basic Studio Training and thrown into the deep end
  4. The Seven Qualities of the Human Soul

Actually, there are four separate blogs here, let’s begin with #1.

New Moon & Solar Eclipse

Monday, August 21st, 2017

Amazing that this is happening exactly as we glide from Summer into Late Summer, (The Fifth Season from my last blog) — the meridians of Stomach and Spleen, and the element of Earth. (Anyone having any digestive upsets lately? Stomach meridian)

So many astrologers and the medias (social and other) are running tapes and interpretations for this occurrence. I would suggest anyone interested in following this event, link into the NASA site for the complete coverage.

https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive-info     https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov

Much safer for your eyes.

New moons happen monthly (what woman doesn’t resonate to that? What man, either, if he should live with her as she goes through this cycle?).

New Moons are the time for new beginnings. Any new moon is an opportunity for new projects, new visions, new relationships, dreams and focusing on your life purpose.

Eclipses happen often all over the world, solar and lunar, offering us (Humans) the opportunity for introspection, and transformation.

This one is A DOUBLE WHAMMY, LOADED WITH POSSIBILITIES. WE GET TO PLAY WITH BOTH.

We get to start something new (if we want to) and we can do some introspection.

such as:

(Are we following our life purpose?) This one is always difficult to fathom.

(Are we giving service where it is needed?) Perhaps this should read, are we spreading ourselves too thin?

(Does your body need healing?) Would someone PLEASE direct me to the new body parts store?

(Does your Soul need a new battery?) That last one was rather veiled, but I think you understand my meaning.

I think you can take it from here.

This New Moon and Solar Eclipse are naturally occurring cycles of nature, it is the TIMING of them that is of interest.

Whoever created this one (I know who, do you?) has a perfectly logical reason, which we will no doubt find out in time.

Here is a link for more information:

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-who-what-where-when-and-how

Meanwhile,

Happy Writing

Sharon

Here is the podcast file if you want to do the audio:

If you are not already on my mailing list and would like to be, please fill in the contact form below and I will add you to the list. Thanks for thinking of me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News from The Cape of Cod Week 11

News from the Cape of Cod – Week 11

Our Cosmic Connection

Here we are more than half-way through the summer, and it has been a memorable one for weather. Today is sunny, warm (77 degrees) and low humidity. (sigh of contentment) Actually, that was yesterday. Today is cloudy and cool.

Frank, one of the realtors at Raveis Realty in Osterville, sent my daughter this picture of the Cape Cod Canal from a plane. Beautiful!

The traffic, my favorite subject, is heavy, but moving surprisingly with courtesy and patience. That includes the out-of-state-drivers as well as the residents. It is congested, but only because most of our roads are two lanes, and not built for speed. Probably by the end of summer, I will wish I really did have a jet pack broom, like Grannie Goodwitch, or at least I was more versed in Astral Travel.

The Writers Studio is coming along famously. Last Friday, everyone brought their devices (lap-tops, mostly) and without much ado, the members paired off and worked together helping each other. It was a very productive meeting.

Something Bloody is completely written, and in edit by me. I am working on the graphics, and chapter headings. It is already cut and pasted into the book size. My sister, Donna, in San Antonio, (bless her) is helping me edit this one and hopefully, the other members of the writers’ studio will do some Beta Reading for me.

I was shocked when I wrote the last chapter. I fully expected to write some more, but it was DONE I was told by my whoever they are. As they really wrote it (who else can I blame?) they had the rights and privileges to say it was complete and not to do another thing to the story.

That catches you up on that end of the spectrum.

For this blog, I want to touch on the Fifth Season – Late Summer which will begin August 22nd through October 21st. This season, in the Zodiac, falls from Sagittarius into Libra. And the accompanying Meridians are the Spleen and Stomach. According to TCM, these are the Earth Elements.

There are 12 signs in the Zodiac, and 12 major organs in the body, six are yin and six are yang

In TCM there are five elements that are talked about, I reasoned there had to be six, because of the major organs. The one element not included in some of the readings I have done in TCM was the element of Spirit. I included that in the Early Spring season, which is the awakening of nature and bridges from winter into spring. I will most probably be taken to task for this.

These two organ systems are the Three Heater and Circulation Sex, sometimes named The Triple Burner or Three Heater, and encompasses ENERGY and is used as a diagnostic tool in Chinese Herbal Medicine. The Pericardium, or Circulation Sex function is to protect the heart, both physically and emotionally, and to help us energetically connect sexuality with love.

As far as earthly elements, water, wood, metal, fire and earth or dirt, these are all elements that are seen and felt. Spirit is the energetic force.

My apologies to Luc Besson, there really are Six elements… I reference his film (and one of my favorites) The Fifth Element

Now, without further ado, or as my friend Monty would say, “And now for something completely different.”

The Six Seasons are:

  1. Winter – Water Element, begins December 22 to February 21st. Meridians are Kidney and Bladder. The Zodiac signs are Capricorn and Aquarius
  2. Early Spring – Spirit Element – February 22nd to April 21st. (The Spring Equinox) The Meridians are the Three Burner, and the Pericardium (Sex meridian) the Zodiac Signs are Pisces and Aires
  3. Spring – Wood Element – begins April 22nd, to June 21st (Summer Solstice) The Meridians are the Liver and Gall Bladder, and the Zodiac Signs are Taurus and Gemini.
  4. Summer – Fire Element – begins June 22nd to August 21st. The Meridians are the Heart and Small Intestine, and the Zodiac Signs are Cancer and Leo.
  5. Late Summer – Earth Element – begins August 22nd to October 21st (Fall Equinox September 21st) The meridians are the Spleen and Stomach, and the Zodiac Signs are Virgo and Libra.
  6. – Fall – Metal Element – begins October 22nd to December 21st (Winter Solstice) The Meridians are the Lungs and Large Intestine. And the Zodiac Signs are Scorpio and Sagittarius.

There you have it. After referencing three of my books for the correct information, I have finally put the chart together. Boring, I know but someone, somewhere may like it.

Basically what I’ve done here is tied TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and the Zodiac or (Astrology), and the Cosmos (Star signs) together – Our Cosmic Connection.

On a happier note, here is another reason people flock to The Cape of Cod…….

Did you know the Cape of Cod sits on a bed of crystal? No wonder I love it here.

Dowse Beach in Osterville — Photo by Tina Finkbeiner (my daughter)

Happy Summer… (It is almost over.) 15 weeks of tourist season but the rest of the time it becomes ours.

News from the Cape of Cod Week 8

Sandy Neck Beach

Here is the blog in an MP3…

July 18, 2017

NEWS FROM THE CAPE OF COD – WEEK 8

Here we are in the middle of July already and it doesn’t seem possible. The weather has blown hot and cold, cloudy, and sunny, now rainy, and foggy.

The Fourth of July was momentous, as visitors, and tourists flocked here to celebrate and visit with family and friends. I believe I heard there was an 8-mile back-up as they left the Cape, that was for both bridges.

The photo above was taken by my daughter of Sandy Neck Beach as it juts out into Cape Cod Bay. Beautiful, isn’t it? That is the north side of the Cape. The south side is bordered by Nantucket Sound and the Gulf Stream, which keeps us warm well into September and October.

The Mini Cooper has had her top down frequently and my fun meter is very happy. The fun meter is a gauge on my dashboard that measures how long the top has been down. YAHOO!!! The sun roof doesn’t count. This Mini has been mine for a whole year, now.

Figure 1  My Fun Meter

STORY:

When I was with the salesman considering the purchase of this convertible, the salesman was pointing out all the features. He paused and asked me if I had any preferences that he hadn’t covered. My reply was, “But I wanted a sun roof.”

Figure 2 Yahoo!

 

Mini’s are becoming increasingly visible here. When I first purchased mine in 2006, there were only 3 Minis on the entire Cape. Now, I can happily say that number has increased. We blink lights at each other in passing, and if windows are open, a wave.

The Mini sound system is incredible, and I love to tootle around with the top and windows down, with Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass blasting! Oh, yes, I do! So far no one has given me the evil eye!

IN THE WRITING STUDIO,

We welcomed 4 visiting members who are with us until they must return to their other lives. It is refreshing to have 2 poets, which rounds out the group nicely.

I do have plans to start a monthly T. V. broadcast from the Cape Cod Media Center. It will air on Channel 99. Stay tuned.

MY BOOKS:

Preparing for the Cape Cod Writers Conference in August, I updated and revised my WRITING AS A RETAIL BUSINESS, which I intend to sell in the bookstore at the conference. Also, my 2 new books, CREATING A PAPERBACK IN KDP and E-BOOK TO PAPERBACK CREATESPACE EDITION. Both are Self-Publishing with Amazon.

That’s the news for now.

Happy Writing,

Sharon

 

News from The Cape of Cod (Week 4)

6/20/2017

 

News from The Cape of Cod (Week 4)

 

You have heard of the Angry Birds syndrome, well, allow me to acquaint you with the Unhappy Tourist syndrome.

Can’t say as I blame them, the weather has not given them (or us) a decent week with cold, damp, wet, humid, clammy, drizzle, and fog. Perfect weather conditions for geese, ducks, swans, raincoats, ponchos, wet soggy sneakers, and sandy flip-flops. I might include dolphins and whales in that, also.

I do know where most of them have gravitated to, though. (They are working through their frustrations IN GROCERY STORES AND RESTAURANTS.)

Residents are advised to not frequent these places until the sun comes out.

The SEASON usually runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day Weekend, a total of 15 weeks by my count. This is the time of the CRANKY RESIDENTS SYNDROME.

Tourists should be advised not to upset any residents because their tempers are running for the C3, and have been known to give faulty directions, and Cape Codfish stares when spoken to.

traffic between bridges on Cape 

This is the traffic going from one bridge to the other depending on how they want to exit off the Cape. Sagamore Bridge to Boston, Bourne Bridge to New York.

traffic waiting to board ferry

Then there is the traffic going to the Islands…

This is the ferry for Nantucket

No matter where we turn, there is traffic.

In my last blog, I mentioned the motorcycle police in Harwich Port. Now, can you understand why?

BUT

Despite all this traffic and inclement weather, our beaches are still beautiful and enticing. Therefore we have tourists.

IMG_2092

 

On the writing scene:

My focus has been on finding the right key words for a few of my books and doing a lot of reading and research. Key words are what the search engines use to connect readers to books. When a reader is looking for something to read, he/she types in a few words and the search engine goes out and locates a few choices for the reader to choose from. The author/publisher’s responsibility is to get the right key words for their books so readers can find them to read. Two books that go into depth are by Michael Alvear “Make a Killing on Kindle, and How to Sell Fiction on Kindle.”

The second book in the Something Series is Something Bloody. It is all about Count Dracula. I decided to go to the original story by Bram Stoker, written in 1897. I downloaded it onto my kindle. WOW!!! Don’t read it on a dark and stormy night. Vivid descriptions. Reminds me of Edgar Allen Poe.

I have also watched Love at First Bite, DVD with George Hamilton and Dead and Loving It, DVD with Leslie Neilson. The latter was written by Mel Brooks and crew and was tongue in cheek funny. George Hamilton’s portrayal of Dracula was much smoother and his lines were delivered better. (my opinion) I did not realize how many times Dracula has been made into films, both here and in Europe, and how many famous actors had the leads.

That’s all for today.

6/21/2017

Goot Morning – although it really isn’t. Another cloudy, breezy (debatable), the flag is out straight, overcast, humid, bleary, some rain forecast, day here. I have had my Mini Cooper Convertible for a year and I do need to get a new sticker, which means venturing out (Pirates Arrgh!)

It has come into my thoughts that we just might be the new location for the Rain Forest.

Never the less, I have found the perfect place to spend the rest of the day after I gas up and get my sticker. I think my laptop will fit.

owl in drain pipe

Happy Writing

Sharon

 

 

News from The Cape of Cod

News from The Cape of Cod

Good morning Friends and Fellow Writers:

Blogging time again.

Techie trouble. 😢 Microsoft did a huge update and that affected my network adapter, so that my internet connection was vague at best. You know how that makes for a very unsettled life, especially for a self-publisher. (Pirates Aaargh)

Options? Bring it (my Lenovo desktop all-in-one) to Best Buy, (can I even lift it?) or send for the Geek Squad. (Cost: $100.00 and counting)

My daughter, Tina, came to the rescue. She runs a William Raevis Real Estate office in Osterville with over 40 agents who all have laptops and constant techie snags, which she fixes. Where I ever got these technically advanced children is always a miracle to me. My son, Steve, is a computer guru, who worked on the Dragon Speech enabled program. Go figure.

Long story short, Tina did her magic and now I am back, and she did it all for a bowl of burnt popcorn.

The Cape of Cod is flooded with tourists, roads are starting to become a bit congested, and will be for the next 12 weeks. (Pirates Aaargh)

Those of us who have lived here have found excellent back roads and short cuts. It wasn’t surprising to see motorcycle police in Harwich Port last Sunday morning responding to an emergency at White’s Stadium. Watching them maneuver around the traffic was a sight to behold; sirens blasting, blue lights flashing. Our streets are so narrow, 2 lanes, and nowhere to pull over to make way for emergency vehicles. It was comforting to see the motorcycle police.

The Writer’s Studio is dwindling down, as some of the members are dealing with whatever life brings them. The rest of the members are still dedicated and working on their various manuscripts. All the members are such brilliant writers, and extremely interesting people who have incredibly varied backgrounds, creating the perfect atmosphere for writing. I am so blessed to be a part of it.

The sequel to Something Sinister, or next book in the series, Something Bloody, is blossoming. Count Vladimir Rupert, Pietro, Rostislav von Alucard, now fifth in line for the Transylvanian throne (two haf bin assassinated during the last century) is becoming a real, rounded character and ven ve finish vith dis story I vill haf a decided accent apart from my Bostonian curve. 😎

I am slowly introducing the characters from the first book, who will play a major role in this one; Grannie Good Witch, Bart (Bartholomew Bottomsworth), and Prudence Prendergast from the Nosey Snoops Detective Agency. If you read the first one, you will remember them.

On the home front, I was curious to see if there were any orbs here in the property around Pine Oaks Village, so I did a little night photography. The results were rather disappointing until I did some enhancement to the photo. Here is what we have in the woods behind my apartment.  See featured picture.  ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. What do you think?

There you have it! Have a smooth and fabulous week. May your network adapters remain functioning, and your keyboards work flawlessly, I must have hit some button inadvertently, because Now I can’t find my bloody curser. (Pirate Aaargh!)

Happy Writing,

Sharon

Spring has Sprung

Hi Everyone:

Blog time again. What shall we chat about today?

We had a delightful taste of Spring for two days, tank tops, shorts, flip flops, and then a front moved through bringing cooler air, and hooded sweatshirts, sweat pants, sneakers, and socks. (UGH!). The front even brought thunderstorms in some locations.

I really believe that hooded sweatshirts were invented here on Cape Cod. They definitely are a wardrobe staple for both residents and tourists. I have at least 9 of them in my closet, some heavier than others, but there is nothing more comforting than slipping into one in the late afternoon on the beach, when you are slightly crisp from the sun and the breeze kicks up. They are our “blue blankies”. I have even slept in mine.

FYI – Spring, however fleeting, did arrive here.

Here is a view from my bedroom window. The lovely ornamental cherry tree is in full bloom. There are other signs, too. The Mini had her top down for an hour or so. YAHOO!

On the writing front? I am offering a second Sweepstakes Giveaway. This one for Something Sinister – Angels, Witches, and Spells, Oh, MY! It began last week and, runs until May 26th. As of this morning, we already have 355 entrants. Oh, MY indeed!

The last one was for a non-fiction book and had 287 entrants. All ten prizes were claimed.

This is one of my attempts at a marketing strategy. Seems to be working. I will keep you posted.

Here is a link for a Goodreads blog that I found very helpful if you are planning to publish your book in the near future.

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/905-building-a-marketing-timeline-infographic

What am I writing?

Actually, I am currently working on two books simultaneously.

Creating Crystal Grids is being updated and put into print. I have added more crystal description and more grids.

Something Bloody, the second in the series after Something Sinister, is in progress. Yes, you guessed it. Vampires! Not only vampires, but the most feared and notorious of them all! Count Vladimir von Alucard (not a misspelling, just a different arrangement of letters.) Can you guess?

Another thought: He was probably our first legendary serial killer! How gruesome!

Do I dare write this in YA (Young Adult) or for young children? Wait until he meets Grannie Goodwitch, and the rest of the characters that live in the Angelic Realm and the Fossilized Forest.

Ooops! Almost forgot: Here is the link for the sweepstake for Something Sinister.

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/87e7029ab5bf0c35

Well, that’s all for now.

Happy Writing

Sharon