UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
*~*~*

Yesterday was Chemo Day—the third round. It’s funny; I almost looked forward to it—or at least I wasn’t filled with dread or fear. I know it’s the beginning of a miserable week, but I don’t even dread that. Not yet. I’ll probably rethink it on Wednesday or Thursday when the deep muscle and joint aches begin—but I have some good drugs to help with that. 🙂

Anyway, I came home from chemo, which ended at 3 PM, and headed straight to bed. Other than getting up for dinner or walks to the bathroom, I slept all the way until 3 AM this morning, and I’ve been up since, on a roll. I puttered picking up things, and even dusted my desktop (a huge chore given all the crap I have on the surface).

Then, I turned my attention to what to do with my blog today—since I def feel up to it.

I love quirky, obscure holidays, and today is an important obscure one. It’s Ada Lovelace Day!

Who is Ada? From the website Time and Date:  “Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician who worked with Charles Babbage on his calculating engine, called the Analytical Engine. Her plan to calculate Bernoulli numbers using the engine is now widely considered as the world’s first computer program. In 1980, the United States Department of Defense created a programming language and named it Ada in honor of Ada Lovelace’s contribution to the world of computing.”

I remember when the ADA programming language was a thing back in the day. I remember, too, the state of computers back when I was new to the Army. In fact, during my summer ROTC training before I graduated from college, I was selected to be part of a team that went to an Army base to evaluate an exercise the active duty units there were undergoing. Our job was to shadow and assist the active Army observers. We were the ones entrusted to gather their observations and put them together into a single, extensive report. We were given access to a computer to write up the report—beginning after duty hours so we didn’t disrupt the people who worked there during the day. I was assigned the job of typing up all those reports, editing, then printing out the report (my first editing job, y’all). The computer sent the book to a printer that spit out hundreds of punch cards that looked like the picture above. The others had to take that stack and walk it to another device that read the cards then produced the written report. All those cards had to be kept in order so two people carried it, one holding the cards from the ends and the other supporting it so it didn’t fall to the floor. If you had one card out of order, you had to reprint the entire thing. If they (the active duty folks) decided to make changes to the report you had to repeat the entire process again.

Still, I thought how cool was it that we were able to type up a report, making changes along the way, and we didn’t have to retype the entire thing. It did save labor on that end. LOL

A few years later, I was assigned to work on the general’s staff at Fort Gordon (now, Fort Eisenhower), Georgia and we actually had an internal email system that connected the staff to all the heads of different organizations on the post. So much progress in so few years. Shortly after that, I bought my first computer, a Radio Shack TRS-80, and I was the first on my block to own a personal computer. I had to learn a smattering of code to work it, but that was just part of the adventure!

Today? We all take for granted the innovations. Back then, we felt like we would soon be living in the Jetson’s future.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Have fun with the puzzle. Solve the puzzle then tell me about any computer innovation that amazed you for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

For the first time ever, this eBook is free!

I have a long To-do list today filled with things I need to complete before tomorrow’s date with the chemo chair. I even woke up in the middle of the night and downloaded a movie, My Spy (I know, it doesn’t have the best ratings, but I want something mindless and filled with action), and the series Reacher, so I have choices. I will be in the chair for six hours, and the initial Benadryl they hit me with to keep me from an allergic reaction will only help me nap for so long. So, I have to pre-post a blog for tomorrow morning (if I get it from my guest author in time), charge up my headphones, and pack my backpack with a jacket and wipes. I’ll have to pack my lunch bag first thing in the morning, but I’ll leave it sitting on top of my backpack as a reminder.

I just updated my weekly work plan. In the last two go-rounds, I completely blocked out chemo week, but this time I added some light tasks to each day, so I have something to prod me into doing something other than sleeping. I need to move around as much as my tired, achy body will let me.  I am determined to accept chemo week as part of my new “normal.”

Anyway, I have things to do, so let me move on. I hope you all have a happy, productive week. I wish you good health. Find little and big ways to find your joy.

Report Card

Last week…

1. I worked on edits for one author. I will complete them today!
2. I had my chemo blood draw on Thursday. My white blood cell count was back up into normal range due to the shot I got the previous week. My red blood cells, platelets, and lymphocytes took a hit. I’m anemic—which is why I feel so fatigued—so I’ve been adding more meat to my diet. I’ve been napping—a lot!
3. I finished my binge of the old Sci-Fi series, Andromeda. The last season was awful, but I persevered. I also finished Evil and hate that it’s over after only four seasons. I loved everything about it—the cast, the story lines, the sets, the way they filmed it, the funny little nun who battled demons—she was my favorite character—and I have mixed feelings that she wound up retired in a silent cloister. Yes, she deserved rest. Maybe she was actually ready for it. And yes, she felt like a real person, so I’ll miss her. 🙂

This next week…

1. I’ll undergo a round of chemo infusions, and I’ll continue to track how I react throughout the days following treatment because I need to consign it to a schedule!
2. I’ll begin another editing project, but I’ll set my expectations for my productivity very, very low.
3. I’ll try working on of the pages I’ve already written for Ignition, just to keep the story in my head so at some point I can commit to writing new pages.
4. I’ll try to force myself to move more than I usually do after treatment. I want to know whether it helps the awfulness pass more quickly!

Open Contests

Be sure to check out these posts and enter to win the prizes that are still up for grabs!

1. What does this mean to you? (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win a FREE book!
2. Anna Taylor Sweringen/Michal Scott: Mary Church Terrell – Lifting As She Climbed (Contest + Excerpt) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. Pretty Scribbles Puzzle and a Question (Contest) — Last day to enter! Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Vintage Board Games — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
5. September into October (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
6. Happy International Coffee Day! (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
7. Word Search: Crafts you might enjoy… (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
8. Gabby Grey: Dedications (Contest) — Win a FREE book!
9. Saturday Puzzle-Contest: Bucket List — Win an Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Mary Ann Dean!
*~*~*

Happy Saturday!

The kids are getting ready to head out for the annual Pumpkin Fest in a neighboring town. There will be vendors, tractor rides, hayrides—that sort of thing. I used to go to it every year, but these days, I avoid crowds as much as possible. Plus, I don’t have the energy to traipse around a field. I’ll stay at home and try to get some work done since today feels like it will be a “good” day for me. I have today and tomorrow to work, and then Monday is Chemo Day. So, next week is toast.

I saw the picture in the puzzle, and it reminded me that I had a bucket list before all this started. I did have a few places left in the world I still wanted to see. My dd and I have always wanted to do a “foodie tour” of India—we love Indian food. I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland, Bali, or Tahiti. I wanted to revisit Ireland, Germany, and France. If the world weren’t so nuts, I would’ve loved to head to Turkey and Egypt. I’m extremely lucky to have traveled extensively when I was younger. So, I’m not bummed about the fact I likely won’t get to tick off any of those destinations.

Right now, I’d be happy with another road trip to New Orleans. That’s doable, I think.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you have a bucket list. Your list doesn’t have to be ambitious or for far-flung places. Have fun with it!

UPDATE: The winner is…Christine!
*~*~*

Hello Delilah!  Thank you for welcoming me back to discuss my new book, Grindstone’s Edge. The book is part of the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series.  My band, Grindstone, attended last year, and readers got guitarist Ed’s story.  This year?  Lead singer Axel gets his happy ending.  I love writing these books and feeling like part of a community of writers.  I especially love cover reveal day.  It’s right up there with release day for each book.  I invite readers to head on over to catch the amazing covers!

So…dedications.  Last year I found out my favorite high school teacher had cancer.  I procrastinated about writing him, always feeling I didn’t have the right words.  So, I finally found the courage to do it, and the letter arrived the week after he died, and his widow had to deal with it.  I don’t know if it brought her comfort or if it was just another burden in a long list of things we have to do when a loved one passes.  She did reach out—very generously—and thanked me for the letter.  I asked her if I could dedicate Grindstone’s Edge to him.  She graciously agreed.  And so, I have.  The book isn’t about my high school teacher exactly, but about the influence people can have in our lives and the impact their coming back into our lives might have.

Dedications are tricky things.  For some authors, the things aren’t necessary.  They thank everyone in the acknowledgments at the end of the book.  For me, from my first story, I’ve treasured dedications as a way to show my gratitude.  Sometimes, I just thank someone for being in my life, and other times, I thank them for the help they provided on a particular book.  I’ve frequently found myself thanking beta readers, proofreaders, editors, and plot whisperers.  Often, it’s the same people over and over.  That might sound like it gets boring.  To me, it never does.  I want to thank my team.  My supporters.  The people without whom there would be no book.

And so, I keep writing.  Thanking.  Being grateful.

Thanks so much for inviting me here today, Delilah.  I’d love to give out a prize!

Everyone who leaves a comment has a chance to win an ecopy of my Rocktoberfest 2023 book, Axe to Grind.  Just let me know—if you wrote a book, who might you dedicate it to?  Random will pick the winner. Good luck!

Grindstone’s Edge

Axel

Last year, my band, Grindstone, hit the stage at Rocktoberfest, our big break at last. But in the middle of that triumph, my love life crashed into disaster. I’ve been in love with Hugo Threadgold for years, but he was once my high school music teacher, so I figured he was off-limits. Then, in Black Rock, I discovered he was aware of me too, and for a moment I thought I’d get it all. I came clean about my feelings, but my heart cracked when Hugo turned and walked away. I’m not giving up, though. I’m ready to lose my straight-guy image for him, if only I can make him believe in us.

Hugo

Ten years ago, Axel and his best friend, Ed, were my most promising students. I taught them everything I could about music, and watched them struggle to become the musicians they are today. But boys become men, and last October in Nevada, Axel told me he’d developed romantic feelings for me. I was rattled. I’d never let myself look at him that way. Now that he’s put the idea in my head, I can’t get him out of my mind. The man he’s become is someone strong and talented, determined and attractive. Someone I could fall for. But isn’t it my duty to keep things professional and walk away from the man who tempts me as no one else ever has?

Grindstone’s Edge is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see what antics our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!

Links:
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/Grindstones-Edge-Road-Rocktoberfest-2024-ebook/dp/B0D18BNKQK
Universal Book Link:  https://books2read.com/Grindstone

Link for Original song “A Different Life” by ZebF:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNjHvx1Ij4Q&t=7s

About Gabbi Grey

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile:  https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiGrey

UPDATE: The winner is…Tanya Rae!
*~*~*

Hello there! I’m up bright and early. My dd left to take the girls to school. The house is quiet. The dogs are walked. My cat woke up long enough to yowl a couple of times to remind me to fill her bowl, but now she’s back, lying on the bunched-up blanket I have on my bed just for her. Tessa is around 15 years old and likes her sleepy times.

I’m ready for work. I find if I start early, I can last until noon-ish. So long as I move from one item on my To Do list to the next, I can have a productive day’s work completed by then. So, nose to the grindstone—after the puzzle, that is! 🙂

I’ve been contemplating some craft projects I’d like to tackle. It’s Fall, and my dd wants me to paint a small shelfie-painting for her Halloween decorations. Since I needed a topic for the next Word Search, I thought it would be fun to find out what you like to do.

So, solve the puzzle then let me know in the comments what sorts of crafts you enjoy or would like to try for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card! Enjoy the puzzle!

UPDATE: The winner is…Jackie Wisherd!
*~*~*

It’s not an official holiday, but it’s one I can get behind! I looooove coffee. When I was younger, I drank it all day long. Black. No sugar. All day long. These days, I have to keep it to two cups in the morning or I wreck my ability to fall asleep at night. My mornings, though, are always super-charged by the mighty coffee bean.

I know there are folks who detest the taste. Not something I understand. I drank from a large community urn when I was in the military. You were lucky in the morning to get a fresh, aromatic cup. By late afternoon, it was sludge, but I still poured a cup of ambition.

Coffee is more than a drink. It’s a ritual—for me, anyway. I have my first cup sitting with my daughter as the kids scurry to get ready for school. I carry the second cup to my desk to begin work for the day. I set it on that old cup warmer at the corner of my desk and drink it, one sip at a time, while I check my To Do list, begin my blog—and I’m off. I love this particular cup. The kids gave it to me one Christmas as a joke, a gentle funny dig because…guess what? I’m not so silent about correcting their grammar. I have tons of writerly mugs. Tons of Grandma mugs. They all have meaning and memories. I have cups my dad used for years that I cry over whenever they break or crack. Some I glue back together and use as pen holders because I won’t consign them to the trash. I’m sure you have some of those meaningful/memory-packed cups, too.

Enough about coffee and cups, though. It’s Tuesday. The first day of the month. I have a calendar to update, bills to pay. Pages to edit. It’s time to get to work.

For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, tell me whether you’re a fan of coffee. If you are, how do you like it? Black or doctored? If there’s another beverage you prefer, tell me what it is and how you like it, too! Have a wonderful day, y’all!