Today’s article is not one I anticipated on writing. I’m sitting on a patio listening to the rain and watching the winds from Tropical Storm Barry blow down limbs and trees. It’s sad to say how numbing it’s become after so many hours of persistence. And yes, I’m thankful that it isn’t worse. Hurricane Karina taught many Southerners humility. Say what one will about southern history and the ugly past, but when Katrina hit, from my point of view, there was no discrimination and no hate.

Everyone reached out and helped each other because each other is all that we had. Complete cities washed into the ocean. No power for weeks, and for some people months. City-wide barbecues and grocery stories giving away free food occurred daily. The news broadcasts covered the looting and fraud. But very little was said about the outpouring of neighborly love. And it is times like these that I reflect on things that I’m thankful for and that make me happy. It’s also a time for me to do some of the things that I procrastinate doing.

One of the things that makes me happy is playing with makeup. And one of the things I put off doing is cleaning out my makeup case. Now, I’m no critic or reviewer, but there are lessons in just about everything. And there’s nothing like a tropical storm teach a lesson. So, that’s my topic for today—what I was reminded of from Barry.

DISCLAIMER: Barry was nowhere close to Katrina; so, please do not think that I’m making a comparison between the two. I would never diminish the horrors left in the path of Katrina. The comparison of this post is not to make light of the serious of natural disasters. It is simply to show that overall principles are similar.

Tropical storms are to be taken seriously. For one thing, they can cause a lot of damage, but they can quickly can grow into hurricanes. They also are just as unpredictable—changing course and speeds. They are a guessing game, and once the alert goes out, everyone must be prepared. The materials and items gathered are the ones that are most essential and valuable—whether sentimental or financially. Choice must be made. Very few people are able to pack and take everything. In for storms, one packs important papers, photos, cash, medications, batteries, food, clothing, and diapers. And you want to store these items in a container that is secure and sturdy.

For years, I stored my makeup in pouches or cases. For many people, this is ideal, but for someone like me, not so much. First, in a pouch it was very difficult for me to keep anything organized. When I needed something, I usually had to remove nearly every item. It was so tightly packed that often the lids would pop open or fall off, and I’d ended up with spilled makeup. I also tended to drop my pouches, which lead to breakage, and often the pouch didn’t fit into my purse. Now anyone who knows me, knows I’m somewhat of a cheapskate, and I didn’t want to spend money on a makeup case. I purchased an inexpensive plastic one, which I ended up cracking.

Plastic cases are fine. The issue wasn’t the case as much as it was the owner. I simply handled it too roughly. I travel quiet a bit, so I was constantly storing it with other heavy luggage in a trunk. It got banged around a lot, and therefore, wasn’t much protection. I needed a storage unit of substance, and that meant investment. I suppose in all; it was money well spent since I do invest in cosmetics that are semi-expensive. Your girl isn’t going to go full-scale bouche and purchase exclusive makeup. However, the products I do have cost enough to make me want to not have to repurchase until I absolutely have to do so. For that reason, I purchased I metal makeup case.

Now, I’m sure a just as good and less expensive case can be purchase. I do think I overspent for two reason. First, I purchased at a brick and mortar store—an exclusive cosmetics store. I purchased from there because I needed a case in hurry and did not have time to wait for shipping. I shopped around at other department stores, but I could not find one that had both the space and was sturdy enough. Once I realized that I was going to have to pay more than twenty bucks, I decided I might as well buy one that I thought was pretty. It comes with two keys to lock it—not that I require or use that—but I thought it a nifty feature.

Second, with a hurricane preparation, you need to select the items that are essential and make sure that you have enough supplies to last for the duration of the storm (and after). The real tragedy of Katrina is that many people did not think it would be as severe as it was and only packed enough supplies for one to three days. But after the storm, cities were completely demolished or too unsafe for return. People either did not have what they needed or did not have enough. And most did not have those items that mattered most—the sentimental items.

When cleaning my beauty storage case, I had to ask myself what all that junk was inside. I’m guilty of having purchased products I didn’t need because of beauty influencers or advertisements. One item that I’m one hundred percent certain that I waisted my hard-earned money on is brushes. I have several brush sets; and although they are not expensive, they still are a waste of money and space. I’m not a cosmetologist or beauty expert, but here is what I know—most people have favorites and use what they are most comfortable with using. Regardless of brand, I tend to use the same type brushes from each set. And that number is small. I prefer brushes with short, tightly-packed bristles. These brushes allow me to control both placement and application. Rarely do I use large, fluffy brushes, with the exception to dust off powder. I only need about three types of brushes. The rest are pretty adornment for my dresser.

This leads me to the next point. Functionality is more important than beauty. It is super easy to become distracted by looks instead of function. In preparing for hurricanes, people need items that work. It does not matter how aesthetically appealing a product is if it does not get the job done. That is why it is crucial that items are checked. Be sure that lanterns aren’t corroded on the inside and the bulbs aren’t blow. Have extra batteries and LED lights.

I have some brushes with really pretty handles or brush heads. But the truth of the matter is the brush heads become stained after a while, and some of the handles cause the brushes to be difficult to use. Some colored heads look so pretty but shed. Pulling brush hairs from pallet pans, clothing, and face may be cumbersome and irritating. Furthermore, they have to be replaced quicker than other brushes, which costs one to spend more coins. That does not mean that all inexpensive brushes are poorly made. I have some very affordable, synthetic brushes.

When going on an extended trip, or even out for a long evening, the cosmetics packed should be the ones that you know you will need. For example, I normally do not reapply mascara. Therefore, that is an item I can omit if I’m pressed for space. However, if I’m going on vacation, I want to take my most favorite, least problematic mascara. See, I wear contacts, and some mascara may irritate my eyes. Therefore, I do not try new brands when I’ll going on a trip. I also tend to pack waterproof in case of rain or wanting to get into pool or hot tub.

Eye shadow pallets are nice to have, but unless you’re a makeup artist, I do not think many people use the majority of the shades in the pallet. For me, it’s more cost-efficient to purchase either, mini pallets (not mini in size but in colors) or singles. A great trick for singles is to buy the empty magnet pallet cases and create your own pallet. It saves money to invest in the colors that you use the most.

Foundation is a tricky item. I tend to take more than one with me when I travel. The way some foundations hold may be dependent of weather conditions and how long they must remain packed. I had one foundation that turned to the consistency of water due to getting to hot in the transport areas. Sometimes, I need to mix foundations to find the correct shade. These also react differently to primers. For that reason, with the multiple foundations, I pack multiple primers.

During storms, flexibility is important as well. Having a battery powered radio is an excellent way to keep abreast of changing weather conditions. But people also need multiple ways to communicate to loved ones. Cellphones batteries die. If you have a cellphone with a removable battery, it is wise to have a charged spare as well as portable charges. If you must travel in inclement weather, has a backup USB cord. They can fail or short. And also, be sure that it is of one of quality. Over time, the covering of my USB cord wore away to expose the wire, which caused a poor connection. On one trip, it finally went out and I stopped at a local dollar store and picked up one. Several months later, I noticed that my phone did not hold and took longer to charge. I took it in the cellphone company who swore it was my battery, and that it would cost anywhere from $70.00 to $125.00 to repair. (The battery was not removable.) Being stubborn, I went to a cellphone company in a different town. Not only did they inform me it could be the cord, but they gave me a cord for FREE. The problem has been solved. So, ensure that you have the proper products on hand.

Another product that I think I was sucked into purchasing was a highlighter/bronzing pallet. Honestly, more times than not I can’t tell the difference when a bronzer has been used. And most highlighters look the same to me. I don’t especially like the look of highlighters on me anyway. It makes me look like I’ve been punched and that’s the shine of the bruise. If highlight and bronzing is your thing, then go for it. These just do not land on my essential items list.

Finally, simplicity is golden. In storms, often it is necessary to travel as light as possible, especially if multiple people will be traveling. Space in cars and hotel rooms may be limited. Items that can serve multiple purposes are ideal. For makeup, that translate to a single cosmetic being used in more than one way. An example would be a liquid lip that is eye-safe and can be used as an eyeliner or shadow. This may be a bronzer that may also double as a blush or a contour.

Another way to simplify is to use a setting spray to help makeup last longer. For the longest time, I did not use this, and I promise I did one day and fell in instant love. That stuff works. In the humid south where make rolls off in globs, I’m able to apply makeup once and have it last throughout the evening—unless

I do something crazy to my face such as rubbing it. Using a setting spray saves me both time and money plus space in my purse. A word to the wise though. Not all setting sprays are created equal. I purchased one that squirts. Although it works well, it is like an assault to my face in application. The mist is much gentler, but some contain alcohol. Be sure to shut your eyes. Others contain thick fragrances; so, be sure to test it before purchasing.

So, basically, that is what I was reminded by the tropical storm as I cleaned out my makeup case. I hope that some of these tips are useful. Be sure to comment to tell me your tips, and if you’ve had any learning experiences from two events that are seemingly unrelated.

That’s it for this list. Well, not really. There are several more items that were frequently mentioned, but I arbitrarily decided to stop at fifteen. If you would like a part two of this list, let me know in the comment, and I will be happy to oblige.

*~*~*

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Copies of all my books and stories are available in paper, eBook, and audio on Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. The links are listed in my Writing Projects page (http://bit.ly/2iDYRxU) along with descriptions of each of my novels or stories.

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Authors love to put a character through trial and tribulations and push their limits. Delilah’s really good at it, isn’t she? It’s fun reading about people forced to grow and change. But doing it ourselves can be pretty painful, unless we find the right challenge to encourage the proper kind of growth. I found the right one for me—I auditioned for my local community theater, the Hamilton Players production of Disaster! A 70s Disaster Movie… Musical!

I sing regularly in my church choir, but I haven’t acted or danced since my community college days in the early 80’s, and I wasn’t particularly great then. When I heard about this particular musical, I thought it was the perfect vehicle to push a few of my limits. The music is familiar—it’s all 70’s hits—and I wasn’t trying for a lead role, just a position in the ensemble.

The audition itself was rather nerve-wracking. The singing was no problem, and the light improvisation wasn’t too bad, but the dancing? Yikes. Just the few steps we learned that night were really hard for me. I’m physically fit for my age, but I’m pretty klutzy, and hip swings and pelvic thrusts aren’t part of my normal workout routine! So, I did my best and laughed off my flubs. When they asked us for our best 70’s free dance, I decided to dance like I just didn’t care and went full-on Saturday Night Fever. Pretty sure I looked ridiculous, but hey, at least I gave it my best shot.

The cast list went up just two days later and to my great shock, I was on it as part of the ensemble. We started rehearsals the next week, getting scripts and doing a full read-through. During the read-through, I was assigned the part of Victim 1—by all the suns, I have lines!—and eventually, I ended up in a ‘named’ part as The Blind Woman. We started on choreography that week as well. Initially, I was disappointed to not be in all of the ensemble pieces, but it wasn’t long before I was grateful. Dancing is a huge challenge for me, especially synchronized dancing.

Not only was I working hard at every rehearsal—four nights a week plus Sunday afternoons—but doing extra dance practices and an hour or so at home most days. Learning even the simplest steps was hard and every muscle surrounding my hips was screaming at me for a couple of weeks. But I persevered and while I’ll never be a natural or great dancer, I got good enough to not totally disgrace our lovely choreographers, Michelle Post and Natalie Naidl.

The singing, speaking and blocking (how you move on the stage while speaking) was easy in comparison. Our director, Denise Rose, and musical director, Emily Athman, handed out critiques, praise and a few blunt expressions of disappointment, pushing all of us to our best performances. I learned a lot from both of them and really enjoyed the whole process, even when it was slightly painful for me personally.

After our final week of dress rehearsals, I was too tired to be terribly nervous before the first performance. Once the performances started, I had so much fun! Sure, there were a few blunders, forgotten lines and missed entrances, but overall, it was smooth and over too quickly. By the second week, we were firmly in the groove, a tight-knit team. We had a great time on stage and off. Those of us with minor roles had a backstage ‘dance party’ during one of the big solo numbers on stage. One of the lead players wrote a lip-synching script for all of us to a medley of ABBA songs which she filmed before performances. Many nights the cast went out after the performance too. I was thrilled, excited and happy to be a part of the amazing whole.

After nine performances, we took our final bows with standing ovations and calls for extending the run. After our final show, we broke down the set and had a cast party. It was definitely a bittersweet day. I’m happy to have all the time back, but I’m really sad I won’t be hanging out with all these fantastic people every day.

Overall, it was a great way to push my limits a little and force a little growth. I highly recommend community theater to anyone. If you’re not into performing, there are many ways to contribute: on house staff, fund-raising, set building and technical crew are just a few. Check out your local theater!

I’ll definitely try out for another show, but probably not for a while—I have another book to write! And speaking of, I’ve just released my fifth in the Folding Space Series, Lightwave: Circini Search. If you like adventure and battles in space with a little romance, like Firefly or Star Wars, I think you’ll like my books.

If you sign up for my newsletter on amscottwrites.com, you’ll get a free novella, Lightwave: Nexus Station. Check it out! Have a wonderful summer and check back with the talented and generous Delilah Devlin daily!

June’s calendar, when I first laid it out, was a work of art. All my big goals had been chopped up into bite-sized pieces. I was determined that, this month, I’d have some “me” time to float in the pool or play with beads.

Ha! Can I say that again? Ha! Ha! Ha!

Okay, so it’s nearly ten at night and my ass is sore from sitting so long today. I’m trying to catch up on my goals that floated down the toilet from nearly Day One. The issues?

1. A terrible case of Don’t-Wanna-Do-it. Can you blame me? The sun’s out. The pool’s finally lost it’s green tinge. All I wanna do is have some fun (I’m channeling Sheryl Crow now).
2. My body’s rhythm feels off. Okay, I know that sounds like woo-woo horse shit. And it is. If I don’t get it done in the morning, or at least started in the morning, I give up for the rest of the day because I’m ready for a nap by two. I think it’s because school is out, and I’m not up with the kids at O-dark-thirty anymore.
3. My dd suddenly had to leave town this week to go help a relative who needs some help, which leaves Guess Who in charge of the lovely little ones (who really are little demons with angels’ faces!)? Yup, me. The one with sucker written all over her face.

It’s my own damn fault. I let things slide, and now I have to power down to get my highest priority things out the door. Don’t cry for me… (And now I have Evita on the brain…)

That’s what I need—a soundtrack that kicks ass. Any suggestions for what tunes should be on it?

UPDATE: The winner is…Tamara!
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I had a lightbulb moment tonight as I turned to face my lovely bed and began to pull away some of the pillows to make room for myself. I never pull away all the pillows. In fact, I leave the heaviest ones lined up beside me. I only take up 1/3 of my queen-size mattress, so why bother? I realized that other than the fact I’m too lazy to clear all the pillows before I climb under the covers, I also save a lot of energy remaking the bed in the morning, because…the heavier pillows hold down the coverlet, saving me from having to climb over the bed to complete pulling everything straight.

So, that’s my lazy housekeeping hack. For a chance to win a free short story, let me know yours!

BTW—that’s not my bed, although I LOVE the wood!

When I’m stressed out, the family knows exactly what helps me find a little sanity—a treasure hunt!

Yes, my dd took me to the thrift store again. I’ve been working on two sets of edits that are both due tomorrow. My eyeballs are bloodshot, and I tend to stare into space when I’m in the middle of conversations. Those two clues gave away my sorry state. My dd dragged me out the door. Really, she had to.

Which means, I also can’t spare the brain matter to think of a lively topic for today’s blog, so I told my dd to snap a pic of my finds…

My daughter looked dubious when I had her try to arrange them all into something presentable. She doesn’t get it. Maybe you will.

Let’s move in a circular pattern, clockwise from the upper left corner. The orange box is a treasure trove of out-of-date road maps! She shook her head. “Who needs maps, mom? We have apps.” Huh. I know that. However, maps are very useful in mixed media art. I can make paper beads, decoupage, use them for collaging, etc. She had the nerve to roll her eyes after I finished my defense of the map box.

See that thing in the background that reads “pony beads”? Well, it’s a large plastic bag crammed with art supplies, from foam glue sticks to paint sticks, to sequins, pom-poms, pony beads, ribbon, and on and on. I bugged my eyeballs at her. “You have kids underfoot all summer. Don’t you think some arts and craft activities will be helpful? Now, you don’t have to raid my stash!”

Two sewing patterns. Yes, I know. I can only sew straight lines. The patterns aren’t to help me sew a dang thing. I want them for some mixed media art and collaging. No boos and hisses from all you sewing-persons out there.

The packs of scrapbook papers and paper doilies? Self-explanatory, I think. Mixed media and Gelli prints. Duh.

The blue doily? My mom loves doilies, and I’m just not that wonderful a daughter to want to crochet one for her…

Lastly, the To Do pad. Because I had to have it. It’s paper. It says “To Do”. Nuff said.

My dd and I flew down to New Orleans for a couple of days. Why? Because we needed our NOLA fix! It’s a 7-hour drive, but we did it in two days anyway. It’s all the window of time we had. We took the 15-year-old and the 5-year-old with us. Both are great travelers, and we had a blast!

We stayed in the Bourbon Orleans Hotel—in Room 644—which is haunted! The 15-year-old had an “experience”, but that’s her story to tell. She’s always been surrounded by weirdness like that. Usually, she never notices, but we see it around her—this time… Well, she was a little freaked out…

This is a pic inside our room. My hair!!!! My dd set the rules. No makeup. No hair products. This is what a few hours of intense humidity does to my hair! Had to “dress it up” with Snap Chat!

Scary, right?! 🙂

Most of the trip was about doing our favorite things—eating, shopping, hitting the voodoo stores—get readings in Jackson Square. Here’s the 15-year-old getting her very first.

She also got to roam Bourbon with her mom at night! She loved it! Says she wants to live there someday. She’s soooo my grandaughter!

And did I mention shopping? That was the 5-year-old’s greatest joy. She loved her “mud-bug” beaded necklace, and we had to get her a mask!

Had to say no to the hat, but boy did she look cute!

Now, back to our haunted room…

If you Google Room 644, you’ll find plenty of mentions. James Franco stayed there. Paranormal investigators, too. The hotel was a orphanage run by nuns in its past, and one of the nuns jumped out of this dormer window…

I woke up middle of the night and took some shots with my “ghost camera”. I usually get tons of human shadows and ghostly orbs, and I got some orbs in this room, but he strangest thing was this red pinpoint of glowing light that kept moving across my viewfinder. I can see it when I blow it up on my screen, but trying to show it to you on my grainy blog is another thing. Maybe you can make it out midway down the window here, on the left side panel between the 6th and 7th slats…

It looks like just a tiny spot here, but I stood in the same place and took photos of the window, not moving the camera, and that glowing spot moved left to right. Best I could do, folks. 🙁 The pics aren’t as cool as the ones I’ve taken in the Crescent in Eureka Springs. If you want to check out my ghost photos from there, click on these links: Road Trip — Haunting at the Crescent Inn Hotel, Ghostly Orbs in the Crescent.

Can you believe the month is gone? It’s a little scary how quickly time marches by.

May wasn’t wonderfully productive for me, word-wise. I was very busy with editing projects, very busy with kids’ end of school activities, getting the pool ready for summer (priorities!), and tons of babysitting for my dd while she was busy doing what she does (she’s that mom who always has tons of kids over for sleepovers/special movie nights/trips to the zoo, etc.). So, yeah, I let myself be a bit distracted from THE WORK.

I spent the first part of the month promoting Stranded: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology. Then I edited and re-released, Gilded Cage.

So, if you haven’t picked up your copies, keep this in mind: For now, both are in Kindle Unlimited, where you can pick them up for FREE!

As for what’s happening in June…

I’m wrapping up a story that will release around the 11th, New Orleans Nights, which is part of the SEALs in Paradise series, which you can check out! The authors in the series are releasing a book every two weeks, so be sure to head over to find out what’s out already! And yes, my story’s going to be HAWT!

Wish I had it on pre-order, but as soon as it’s live, I’ll let you know! Mmmm, I just love that cover.

And before I wrap up the story, my dd and I are headed to New Orleans to soak up some atmosphere. We’re speeding down for a two-day trip. That’s all we can manage with the kids out of school. Her policeman hubby will have his hands full, and she knows the longer she’s away, the more chance there will be of some disaster happening. This week we had to deal with gray water pipes backing up. Ugh. Her hubby’s still dealing with couplings and digging up and burying pipes. My dd set a chair in the back yard next to the ditch he excavated so she could “supervise” and admire his, um, hard work. 🙂

As for the rest of June? I’m hoping to keep my head down and write. And swim. Lots of swimming. We put up tiki torches so we can extend our pool hours. Yeah, I’m a Cancer. Love that water. Which reminds me I have a birthday coming up…

I hope you’re enjoying the start of the season. Get outside! Get in the water. Take a trip—even if it’s only for a couple of days. Read somewhere recently that traveling extends your life. Don’t know about that, but it’s sure fun.

So tell me, do you have any big or small summer plans?