Rudolph's #Reads #Holiday #Giveaway! $120 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holiday season!  Please take a moment to check out Rudolph's Reads Holiday Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 100 prizes, and the grand prize is $120 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

How #Important Is The #Truth?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's something I've been debating bringing up here for a couple weeks now, and I've decided it's important enough to mention. If you follow my blog at all, you know that I almost never post about fundraisers, but this is something that I think will become more and more important as we move forward with a Trump presidency.

If you follow my Something Worth Watching? posts, you may have noticed several of them have centered around reports from Jordan Chariton with TYT Politics.  He has covered the ongoing situation at Standing Rock and the criminal misconduct of the oil police along with the unjust persecution of the water protectors through our injustice system, I believe, more than anyone else. Some of the footage he has captured and shared has proved just how easily and often our government lies to us.

He has also reported on the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan and a lead pollution crisis in Indiana. In addition, he did an amazing series on the Disappearing Middle Class in America and conducted a number of fantastic and enlightening interviews with people in the rust belt who are struggling. People that other regular American citizens, like you and me, can easily identify with. And he broke several stories about the Wikileaks emails.  Hats off to Mr. Chariton, he's one of the very few remaining real journalists in this country and seems to be one of the only people interested in the actual issues that the American people are dealing with.

Jordan Chariton is an employee of The Young Turks Network, and all of his outstanding work has been funded by them.  Now, The Young Turks Network is running a fundraiser because they want to hire more investigative journalists to cover more of these critical issues that the mainstream media has been ignoring. Standing Rock isn't the only community fighting for their lives with Big Oil, there are several other pipelines under construction that will endanger the people in the surrounding areas, and TYT wants to cover those stories.

Also, for all you people who might be a little concerned about the lunatics that Trump is surrounding himself with, TYT wants to hire journalists so they can investigate those people and report the truth about them. And also to keep us informed about what's going on in DC. For those who are concerned about the DNC's apparent inability to learn from its crushing defeat in this election, The Young Turks have said they want to monitor the campaign for the next DNC chair and what the DNC does to gear up for the 2018 midterm elections, and who is bought and paid for and who might actually represent us.

All of this is important for us to know, but none of it happens without people to go out there and find the information. Because, obviously, none of the people who need to be investigated will provide the information voluntarily. And the only way for TYT to stay honest is for them to stay independent. Which means it's up to us, the public, to see that they have what they need to get us the information we need to make informed choices and get this country back on track.

Because, let's face it, travel costs money, equipment costs money, and talent costs money too. It isn't everyone who has the wherewithal to corner the likes of Donna Brazille at a Presidential debate and demand that she account for her actions to the American people, but that's just what Jordan Chariton did. And he deserves to be paid for his work, just like everyone else.

I'm posting the link for the fundraiser below, and I hope you'll consider donating if you're able. And, yes, before you ask, I've donated and will continue to donate as much as I'm able for the duration of the fundraiser, which will continue until Inauguration Day. I'll also embed a couple of videos, one by Jordan Chariton and one by Cenk Uygar, the founder of The Young Turks, where they talk about what they hope to accomplish and how they intend to go about it.

You don't need a lot of money to help out; you can donate as little as $1. But even if you can't afford to donate, it's the holiday season and funds are tight for everyone, please take a couple of minutes to watch the videos and at least click the subscribe buttons on The Young Turks and TYT Politics YouTube channels. That is free and will only take a little of your time.

Donate to the TYT Fundraiser for More Journalists

Thank you all for stopping by, I hope you found this post enlightening and you see why I think it's so important. And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next edition of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#APC #Spotlight: The #Hunter And The #Witch By Rachel Chanticleer!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Rachel Chanticleer in my APC spotlight, today!  Rachel is an active and supportive member of  the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her urban fantasy romance novel, The Hunter And The Witch, looks pretty hot! Here's the description:

A lethal stranger hunted Bethany Hayes down and nearly killed her. But without uttering a single word, he spared her life and vanished, turning her world upside down. Left with newfound abilities and visions of her attacker, Beth tried to make the most of this second chance.
Lucius Sempronius Asper learned to kill in the amphitheaters of ancient Rome. Enslaved and bound by the dark magic of a powerful witch, he spent centuries eradicating innocent witches at her command. Though made immortal by her enchantment, he was as good as dead inside.
All Lucius knew, what he thought he’d become, changed with Bethany. His one impulsive act of salvation linked them in ways they never could have imagined.

Will Beth be strong enough to free him, or will the hunter become the hunted?

Sounds pretty good, huh? :-) If you agree, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 435

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Four-Hundred-Thirty-Five:

My hominid-servant has finally redecorated the tree. However, I do not think she has completely forgiven me for my previous predations upon said decorations because she makes a point of shooing me away from the tree anytime she notices me within several paces of it. In honesty, her efforts may not be entirely unwarranted. In spite of my resolve to allow her this bizarre ritual, I find the sparkling, dangling objects to be nearly irresistible. If it weren't for the fact that I'm afraid my hominid-servant might respond with true violence against my person if I were to practice my hunting skills on the decorations, I am not sure I could keep myself away from them.

On another note, my hominid-servant has added a new, inexplicable activity to her repertoire. She has affixed several of the soft foot-coverings she wears under her hard foot-coverings to the wall of my domicile and has filled them with large, meaty seeds and sugary confections. I'm not sure if this is an attempt on her part to ensure adequate food during the time that this part of the planet is furthest from the local star due to the axial tilt of the planet or if she is trying to make amends for not allowing me free rein of the tree by luring some of the local, small arthropods into the domicile for me to study and sample. Either way, it is fascinating to observe this odd quirk in hominid behavior.

I think Agent Thoth is right, hominids can be quite odd at times. ;-)  You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-)  Happy reading, everyone!

Being #Different Is Never Easy...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

With it being the holiday season and everyone focused on doing family stuff, I thought I'd share a little bit of what Petri is learning about her own family. Take a look. :-)

Excerpt from book two of the Petri Dish Chronicles:
"They aren't very…flexible."

"What do you mean?" asked Daji.

"They live a really long time…"

"How long?" he interrupted.

"Thousands of years. And they kind of get stuck in their way of doing things. They have an extremely complex view of the universe and a convoluted way of reasoning. At least, it seems convoluted to me, but they don't really get me either."

"Are you going to live forever, Petri?" asked Sadaka.

Petri grinned at the child and reached out to ruffle her hair. "I'm just trying to make it through the day, right now, kiddo."

Daji looked from Petri to the girl and asked, "What about their young?"

"The Arcanum's?"

He nodded.

"They don't have any right now."

He raised his brows. "None?"

"No." She shook her head. "They don't have kids like we do."

"They can't reproduce?"

"They can, but not like us. They grow copies of themselves."

"Clones?"

"Sort of, but not in a lab. They grow copies of themselves out of their bodies. But not often, and it takes a long time for them to mature."

"They bud?" asked Chessie.

Petri shrugged. "I guess."

Daji laughed. "Extraordinary! I've never heard of such a thing in a sentient species."

Wow!  It's hard not fitting in, especially when those you don't fit in with are your family.  And I don't know about you, but I have a few relatives who have at least as much trouble adjusting to new ideas as the Arcanum do.  Sounds like Petri is having a rough time. I hope all of your holidays have been easier. Thanks for checking in today, and don't forget to stop back tomorrow for the latest in Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!

Today, I'd like to share a video I saw about a study that was done on "magic mushrooms."  I'll let the video speak for itself, it's not long and will explain the findings better than I can. But I'd just like to point out that things like this are exactly why we need to force our government to stop demonizing drugs and start using actual science to evaluate their effects on people, both positive and negative. The government isn't our mother, we don't need it to tell us what we may or may not do with our bodies. But it would be helpful if it could provide us with more information so that we can make more informed choices for ourselves. And that's exactly what I'll be writing to my lawmakers to say.

Christmas Cookies! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Merry Christmas! In honor of the holiday, I'm going to do something that I rarely do, bake. And since I'm going to the trouble of breaking out my measuring cups and spoons, I thought I'd bring you along for the ride. Fortunately, these cookies really are worth the effort.  My Nonna used to make them when I was a kid, and I still remember the way they made the house smell while they were baking. Just like a Christmas present, the best part of these cookies is in the middle. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. :-)

Ingredients for the Dough:
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 egg
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups flour

Ingredients for the Filling:
1 1 lb bag chocolate chips
2 cups sweetened condensed milk
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1 oz squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 tsp butter

Topping:
1 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

Mix together the butter and brown sugar until creamed. Add the milk and the egg to the mixture and beat until combined.  Add the vanilla and almond extract. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder, then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until everything is thoroughly combined and forms a dough

Remove the dough from the bowl and cut it in half. Roll each half of the dough between two sheets of waxed paper. Take the waxed paper off the bottom of one of the layers and place it in a greased 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Use your fingers to press the dough into the corners of the pan and trim any pieces that come over the sides. Peel the waxed paper off of the other side.

Mix all the filling ingredients together in a bowl. Pour the filling on top of the first layer in the pan and use a spoon to spread it evenly. Take the waxed paper off of one side of the remaining dough and lay the dough over the filling. Smooth the dough with your fingers and then take the waxed paper off of the other side of the dough. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Turn the cookie square onto a rack and let it cool for 4 to 5 hours or overnight. Sprinkle the powdered sugar over the top and cut the square into individual cookies.

If you don't like nuts, you can, of course, omit them. You could also add raisins to the filling, if you like them with chocolate. A tablespoon of instant coffee powder added to the mix gives the cookies a nice mocha flavor. And if you're entertaining adults, you could also add 1/4 cup Kahlua or Amaretto.

Bon appetit! :-) 

Rudolph's #Reads #Holiday #Giveaway! $120 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holiday season!  Please take a moment to check out Rudolph's Reads Holiday Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 100 prizes, and the grand prize is $120 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

It's #Winter, But He'll Keep Her Warm In The #Snow. ;-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

With Christmas almost here, I thought I'd give you a peek at how the King of the Winter Court of Fairie keeps his soulmate warm in the snow. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from Captivated By The Winter King:
Cupping the back of his Anamchara's head in his hand, Ankou threaded his fingers through her short, red hair and tilted her neck to the side. He laid a gentle kiss against her throat, over the spot where her pulse fluttered beneath her skin. Sliding his other hand up her belly, he cupped her left breast and squeezed it until she gasped. Maintaining his grip on her head, he watched her expression as he eased his hand back over her stomach and slid it beneath her lace panties.

Kate's breath caught in her throat at the feel of her lover's fingers exploring the folds of her sex. Her eyes refused to focus, and she couldn't help thrusting herself into his hand. If he kept that up, it wouldn't take long for her to climax. When he pulled back, she groaned in frustration.

Pleased with his Anamchara's level of arousal, the Winter king nibbled his way up her neck, sucking her earlobe between his lips and nipping it. "Kate?" he whispered in her ear. "Are you with me?"

"Mmmm?" she moaned. When he reached up and pinched her nipple, she gasped and writhed against him. "Yes, Master," she breathed

"Good. I'm going to ask you to trust me now. Can you do that?"

Blinking, she turned her head and looked into his eyes. "Yes, Master, I can do that."

He gave her a naughty grin and waved his hand, snuffing out all the candles in the room.

Jumping, Kate looked around in the sudden darkness. The only illumination in the room came from the fire in the hearth at the far end. The flickering light of the flames cast writhing shadows across everything, making it difficult for her to see.

Ankou walked over to the chest of drawers and selected two bottles of lube and two dildos. Returning with his selections, he stood in front of his mate and studied her. Her pale skin was bright in the dim light, and her expression was open. Trusting. Smiling, he held up one of the dildos and coated it with simple lubricant.

It was made of wood and the smaller of the two, only about four inches long and two inches in diameter. Still, he made sure it was well lubricated. Stepping up to his lover, he pressed his body against the front of hers and wrapped his left arm around her waist. Holding her still against him, he used his right hand to slide the small toy underneath her panties and between her ass cheeks.

Kate gasped and stiffened in his arms. Looking down at her he said, "Kate?" She didn't respond at first, so he repeated himself. "Kate?" When she looked up at him, he asked, "Have you ever had anything here before?" He rubbed the tip of the dildo against her anus.

Shaking her head, she said, "No, but I trust you, Master."

Smiling, he said, "Good, then try to relax." When he felt her muscles loosen, he gently worked the toy into her ass. He pumped it slowly in and out, sliding it a little further inside with each thrust. When it was fully seated, he asked, "How does that feel?"

Concentrating on the full sensation, she answered, "Strange, but not bad, Master."

"Give it some time. It should start to feel good soon." Stepping back, he picked up the other dildo from the bench where he had left it. This one was larger, both in length and girth, and made of bone. It had been constructed in sections around a central core, and the sections could move and rotate independently of each other. Some of the sections were covered with bumps and ridges. Lubricating this one as well, he knelt in front of his mate and sucked on her clitoris through the lace of her underwear.

She bucked against him and cried out, "Yes!"

Captivated by the Winter King

And remember, ebooks make great stocking-stuffers. ;-)  Merry Christmas! :-)

#APC #Spotlight: Sand Storm (Quantum Touch Book 2) By Michael R. Stern!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today, I've got Michael Stern in my APC spotlight!  Michael is an active and supportive member of  the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and his sci-fi time-travel novel, Sand Storm, looks interesting! Here's the description:

How do you say no to the President of the United States when he’s asked you to stop a nuclear war?

After Fritz Russell discovered his classroom door was a portal through space and time, he helped the United States resolve a foreign policy emergency. Now the president wants him to use the portal to avert the threat coming from a Middle Eastern nation that is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons.

For a history teacher, travel to the past is entertaining, enlightening, and a great way to engage students. But Fritz hasn’t learned all the portal’s secrets. Could others put the world in danger by forcing him to use what he doesn't even understand? If he uses it to help the president, there might be a war. But if he says no, he will be permitting his family, friends, and the world to remain in great danger.

Should Fritz agree to be the heart of the US operation? And if he does, is there enough time for him to learn all he needs to know about the mysteries of the portal?

If you think it sounds as intriguing as I do, you can grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 423

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Four-Hundred-Twenty-Three:

I have attempted to make several conciliatory gestures towards my hominid-servant for my apparent gaffe in destroying the tree decorations. Since she has clearly held a grudge over this for several days, it is obvious that I somehow transgressed against a hominid ritual of some importance. However absurd or illogical such a tradition may be, it is clear that my hominid-servant places great value on it, and so it is incumbent upon me to make amends. Even if only to have peace in my domicile, once again.

Towards that end, I have attempted to divert her by engaging in breathtaking feats of acrobatics, the likes of which no hominid could duplicate. She seemed to find my display amusing, but it did not put a stop to the sad glances she gives towards the still-naked tree. Frustrating, but I persevered.

There are objects that she seems to consider quite valuable as she presented them with elaborate ceremony when she gifted them to me. To demonstrate my regard for her, I gathered these objects from throughout the domicile and offered them back to her. She, apparently, did not understand the meaning of this gesture because, while she briefly accepted the objects, she quickly gave them back to me.

To make my intentions clearer, I waited until well after she commenced her sleeping ritual and then gathered the objects and placed them next to her on her sleeping platform. When she awoke, she seemed confused and cleared the objects off the platform. It did not seem as though she understood that the objects were meant as an apology.

My hominid-servant's lack of comprehension is irritating, but it is an inherent part of dealing with hominids and so unavoidable at times. I will endeavor to continue to communicate to my hominid-servant that I did not mean to cause her pain, but I begin to despair that I will ever succeed.

Poor Agent Thoth. It's hard when someone repeatedly misunderstands what you are trying to say. You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-)  Happy reading, everyone!

#TrumpWars I: The #Swamp #Fills

Hey Everyone!

Today, I'd like to talk about, you guessed it, Donald Trump and his claims that he intends to "drain the swamp" in Washington DC. The easiest way to do this, in my opinion, is to juxtapose some of his words with some of his actions and let you draw your own conclusions.  So, what I'm going to do is post some quotes below and then post some facts about some of the people he wants as part of his administration. I won't be able to cover all of them, there are just too many, but I'll try to get to as many of the most important ones as I can. So, take a look and then decide for yourself if his actions match his promises.

Excerpt from a press release by Donald Trump: "My plan for the economy can be summed up in three simple words: jobs, jobs, jobs." (1)

Mr. Trump's choice for Secretary of Labor, a position that is supposed to be dedicated to protected the interests of American workers is Andrew F. Puzder. Mr. Puzder is the CEO of the franchise that owns Carl's Jr. and Hardees and has been an outspoken critic of the worker protections put in place by President Obama. Mr. Puzder also contributed generously to Mr. Trump's Presidential campaign and is a wealthy elite business man. He is against paid sick leave for workers and is described by Richard L. Trumka, president of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., as “a man whose business record is defined by fighting against working people.” Recently, Mr. Puzder spoke out in favor of automation, stating that robots don't get sick or take vacations. (2)

Excerpt from a press release by Donald Trump: "Third: I am going to expand the definition of lobbyist so we close all the loopholes that former government officials use by labeling themselves consultants and advisors when we all know they are lobbyists....Decades of failure in Washington, and decades of special interest dealing, must come to an end. We have to break the cycle of corruption, and we have to give new voices a chance to go into government service." (1)


Mr. Trump's choice for Treasury Secretary is Steven Mnuchin.  Mr. Mnuchin is a former employee of Goldman Sachs (Yes, the big bank that, through its fraudulent practices, destroyed the US economy and contributed heavily to the 2008 economic crash. And about which Mr. Trump had so much to say when it came to Ms. Clinton's association with it), Soros Fund Managment (Yes, that would be George Soros, the billionaire that Ms. Clinton was criticized so much for taking money from), and part owner and former Chair of One West Bank. Mr. Mnuchin profited from the housing crisis when One West Bank bought IndyMac when it failed, though the bank was later forced to pay millions of dollars in fines for improper foreclosure practices. (3,4)

Mr. Trump's choice for Commerce Secretary is Wilbur Ross. Mr. Ross is a billionaire became known as the "king of bankruptcy" for making a habit of helping to pick over the bones of America's failing manufacturing industry. He is, naturally, in favor of making enormous cuts to the corporate tax rate, so that workers can start paying more in taxes, and doing away with the regulations that prevent energy companies from poisoning the American people. As Deputy Commerce Secretary, Mr. Trump's choice is Todd Ricketts, another Republican megadonor and billionaire. (5)

Mr. Trump's choice to lead the National Economic Council is Gary Cohn. Mr. Cohn is another Goldman Sachs executive, in fact he is the President and COO of Goldman Sachs. Mr. Cohn donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates, including President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Marco Rubio. And he has stated that banking regulations inhibit banks' ability to transmit capital. For all Mr. Trump's rhetoric about corruption and government connection to Wall Street, he sure does seem to love his bankers. (6, 7)

Mr. Trump's choice for head of the EPA is Scott Pruitt. Mr. Pruitt is the Attorney General of Oklahoma and has spent much of his time as State Attorney General fighting with the EPA. He has been a staunch defender of the oil and gas industry and has opposed efforts to limit the amount of mercury, arsenic, and other toxins that corporations are allowed to leak into the environment. Hmm..no special interests here. No, not at all. (8)

Mr. Trump's choice for Education Secretary is Betsy Davos. Ms. Davos is another billionaire and large Republican contributor. She is an opponent of public schools, and instead seeks to privatize education so that only the wealthy are able to educate their children. For those who are not rich, she believes that unregulated charter schools are sufficient. These substandard, for-profit schools should, naturally, to be funded by taxpayers, seems to be Ms. Davos's philosophy. (9)

Donald Trump's statement to a pastor in an interview that aired on the Impact Network regarding the perception that he is racist: "I am the least racist person that you have ever met." (10)

Mr. Trump's choice for Attorney General is Jeff Sessions. Mr. Sessions has stated that he thought the KKK was “okay, until he learned that they smoked marijuana.” He has stated that the NAACP and the ACLU are "un-American" and "Communist-inspired." And then there's this story from J. Gerald Hebert, "I was a young lawyer in the civil rights division at the Justice Department in 1981 when I first encountered Jeff Sessions. At the time, Sessions was the new U.S. attorney for Alabama. I met him while I was handling a major voting rights case in Mobile, and I relayed a rumor I’d heard: A federal judge there had allegedly referred to a civil rights lawyer as “a traitor to his race” for taking on black clients. Sessions responded, “Well, maybe he is.”"  Yeah, no trace of racism there. (11, 12, 13)

Trump's White House Chief Strategist is Steve Bannon. Mr. Bannon is another former Goldman Sachs executive and Executive Chairman of conservative "news" outlet, Breitbart News. He has stated that Breitbart was a platform for the "alt-right," a thinly veiled rebranding of white supremacy. Mr. Bannon kept his daughter out of public schools because, according to his former wife, he didn't want her in classes with Jewish students. And it's not just his detractors who claim he's racist, leaders of the white nationalist movement, including former KKK leader David Duke, have stated that they view him as their representative in Mr. Trump's administration. (14, 15)


So, there you have it, people. And that's not even a comprehensive list of the swamp creatures Mr. Trump is installing as part of our government.  I don't know about you, but I think actions speak louder than words. If you're someone who supported Trump because you thought he would be an agent of change, did you want this kind of change?  If not, there are a couple petitions you might want to look at. That also goes for anyone who didn't support Trump and who doesn't want our government to be run by Goldman Sachs and Exxon Mobile. I'll link to the petitions below.

First Petition:  https://tytnetwork.com/public_html/petition/

Second Petition:  https://www.change.org/p/donald-trump-get-the-lobbyists-off-of-your-transition-team

Thanks for stopping by today, folks, I hope you found this post enlightening. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for more of Mistral Dawn's Musings!


References:

(1) https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/trump-pledges-to-drain-the-swamp

(2) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/us/politics/andrew-puzder-labor-secretary-trump.html

(3) http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2016/11/29/who-is-trump-pick-steven-mnuchin-what-does-the-treasury-secretary-do-anyway/#3c0f1e0a628f

(4) http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/29/news/economy/donald-trump-steven-mnuchin-treasury/

(5) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/24/us/politics/wilbur-ross-commerce-trump.html?_r=0

(6) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/09/trump-to-name-goldman-sachs-veteran-gary-cohn-to-head-national-economic-council/?utm_term=.3b17453c212e

(7) http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-gary-cohn-goldman-sachs-national-economic-council/

(8) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/07/trump-names-scott-pruitt-oklahoma-attorney-general-suing-epa-on-climate-change-to-head-the-epa/?utm_term=.56615c506bf5

(9) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/11/betsy-devos-trump-education-secretary-michigan-charter-schools

(10) http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/15/politics/donald-trump-election-2016-racism/

(11) https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/11/22/my-testimony-about-jeff-sessionss-racist-remarks-kept-him-from-becoming-a-judge/?utm_term=.fbc87c6f0d65

(12) http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/politics/jeff-sessions-racism-allegations/

(13) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/18/10-things-to-know-about-sen-jeff-sessions-donald-trumps-pick-for-attorney-general/?utm_term=.42552f6f2093

(14) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/15/opinion/turn-on-the-hate-steve-bannon-at-the-white-house.html

(15) http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/white-nationalists-on-bannon/

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!

I'm back with another video that I wanted to share. This one is partially political and partially just because I thought the story it's about is hilarious. For a little more than a day a hashtag trended on Twitter about Trump supporters wanting to boycott the new Star Wars movie because they thought it was anti-Trump.

Now, I haven't seen the movie yet, so I can't say for sure whether it is or isn't anti-Trump. Though, I strongly suspect that Trump doesn't come into it at all since it's a Star Wars movie. But I thought it was hysterically funny that so many people took offense to the idea that it might be.  The Young Turks did a video on the story, and that's what I'm sharing.

The part of the video that I love the most is when they point out that the Rebel Alliance, if they existed in reality, would be called anti-government terrorists. After all, in every single movie they did their damnedest to destroy government property (the Death Stars and Imperial warships) and to murder government soldiers.  And yet, they're the good guys. Why? Because they're the underdogs and they're fighting for freedom. And most people like that better than they like a monolithic, repressive, fascistic government, that's why.

So, to anyone who wants to boycott Star Wars because you think the writers are anti-Trump, go ahead. That's your right. But just remember that Trump is now the establishment. He's everything that you said you hate. In effect, you're siding with the Empire. So don't be surprised if the rebels rise against you with cries of #NotMyPresident. Me? I think I may just make a point to see the movie in the theater, something I almost never do.

#December2016 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's the 18th again, so you know what that means. ;-)  Here is my #IndieBooksBeSeen indie author book review for the month! :-)

Warlord's Flame by L.W. Browning:

Var and Bess are two people plagued by guilt. Her guilt is from actions she took in the past which she regrets, and his is from his failure to act at a moment that changed his life forever. Neither is looking for, or expects to ever find, love, but when these two damaged souls are thrown together in dangerous circumstances, their need for each other blossoms into romance.

Warlord's Flame is a fun and charming addition to the Kristile Warriors series. The dance the two of them do around the feelings that are growing between them is entertaining, and the vulnerability they both try so hard to hide is endearing.  I also enjoyed seeing the overarching story of the series advance and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Rudolph's #Reads #Holiday #Giveaway! $120 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holiday season!  Please take a moment to check out Rudolph's Reads Holiday Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 100 prizes, and the grand prize is $120 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#Animal #Rescuer's #Guide To #Staying ( #Relatively ) #Sane! #Free! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Just a reminder, for those who haven't checked it out yet, I've collected all my animal rescue/care posts together and published them as a small book.  If you'd like, you can download the book for free from Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, and iTunes.

Amazon

Smashwords

iTunes

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Thanks for stopping in today, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#APC #Spotlight: Inside #Sorrow: Poems Of #Mourning And #Grief By K.D. Rose!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got K.D. Rose in my APC spotlight, today!  K.D. is an active and supportive member of  the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her poetry collection, Inside Sorrow, looks interesting. Here's the description:

If you or someone you know is down, depressed, or grieving, this book will reach you. Clear-eyed and uncompromising, you will identify with the short prose of Inside Sorrow that captures the experience of feeling so down we can't see up.
Written to help people who have experienced loss, Inside Sorrow takes the reader through a journey and shows that despite feelings of loss, grief, or depression, we can come out stronger on the other side.

A little darker than what I usually post on this blog, but maybe reading it will help us all find the light. :-) If you agree, go ahead and grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 418

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Four-Hundred-Eighteen:

I am incensed! In an effort to redirect my hominid-servant's attention from her inexplicable obsession with a dead tree back to it's proper focus, my wonderful self, I undertook to undecorated the tree during the regular, extended time period she spends on the sleeping platform.

Towards this end, I knocked the dangling objects onto the floor, causing a satisfying crashing noise from many of them. I also tore the decorations she had wound between the branches and threw the resulting shreds onto the floor. Once the tree had been cleared, I scattered the broken bits and pieces throughout the domicile, in the hope that my hominid-servant would see the futility of attempting to reconstruct them.

I took no pains to be quiet while undecorating the tree but, even so, my hominid-servant did not rouse from her slumber. When she did wake, and she saw the results of my efforts, far from being grateful for the reminder that her purpose is to see to my needs and take care of me, she instead became upset and howled in a way I have not witnessed from her before.

Saltwater leaked from her eyes, and she looked at me with such an expression that I actually felt concern for my safety for a moment. She took a moment to compose herself, then swept down and picked me up with no regard for my dignity, whatsoever. After carrying me to a small room at the back of my domicile, she forced me into a container, despite my objections, and, after locking me in, lectured me about my behavior. As if I am the one engaging in the strange conduct!

After a short while, she did release me from my prison. I noted that she had used the time to gather the bits and pieces of her decorations and remove them to an undetermined location. The tree is still inside the domicile, but remains largely undecorated for the time being. But what has truly irritated me is that every time my hominid-servant looks at the tree, she then turns to glare with resentful eyes at me!

It seems my destruction of the tree decorations may have been a miscalculation on my part. I do not understand my hominid-servant's desire to place bric-a-brac in the limbs of a dead tree inside the domicile, but it seems that it is important to her. If she undertakes to replace the ruined decorations, I may need to accede to her wishes and simply accept the odd addition to my domicile.

Poor Agent Thoth. Hominids can be so unreasonable. ;-)  You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-)  Happy reading, everyone!

#SocialControl From On High?

Hey Everyone! :-)

I'm back today with more of Petri's trials and travails. Check it out! :-)

Excerpt from Book Two of the Petri Dish Chronicles:
Petri sifted through some of what the Arcanum had shared with her when they melded earlier. She found several examples of species that had tried to claim part of the territory the Arcanum considered theirs, and how the Arcanum had discouraged such encroachment. She gulped. Discouraged with prejudice, when necessary. Looking back at the alien in front of her, she said, "You don't play around."

"We are not juveniles in search of idle amusement. We use only the force necessary to achieve our ends, no more. Everything we do has a purpose."

"Then why allow the humans, the Paka, and so many others in your territory while excluding new-comers?"

"We don't dissuade all new colonists, child. Look deeper into the memories you now hold."

Doing as the alien instructed, Petri searched through the mountain of data it had transferred to her. It didn't take long for her to understand what it was talking about. "You only keep out those who want to start wars or commit genocide. You want everyone to live together peacefully."

"Relatively so, at least. Trying to prevent all conflicts between inferior beings would take up far too much of our time and energy. But we must have relative stability for our research to flourish, so we take steps to prevent those who would disrupt that stability from entering our territory."

Hmmm...it seems Petri may be learning about some of the drawbacks that come with exerting complete control over people's behavior. Some definite ethical conundrums to wrestle with there. Do you think she's up to it?  I can't wait to find out! ;-)

Thank you all so much for checking in today, and don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the next edition of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back with another video I thought was worth sharing.  A couple of weeks ago, Bernie Sanders gave a speech about where he thinks the country is at this point and what he thinks we need to do going forward.  It's a good speech and he reminds us that if we want the changes that we need in America, we all need to get involved and make them happen. We need to draw our lines in the sand and tell Trump and the Republican Congress, "This far, and no farther!"  As Bernie has said multiple times, "Change never happens from the top down. Change only happens from the bottom up when millions of people raise their voices and demand that change."  Those millions of people include me and thee, my friends, and this speech is a good reminder that we all need to get our asses in gear.

After the speech, Senator Sanders also did an interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now!. I've only put the recording of his speech below, but if you go to Democracy Now!'s YouTube channel, you can see the interview as well. It's also well worth watching.

Don't #Forget The #Sides! :-)

Hey Everyone!!

I'm back with another easy recipe for you today.  This one is a side dish and takes about five minutes to throw together. :-)

Garlic Olive Oil Potatoes:
3 Large Baking Potatoes
3 Tblespns Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tblespn Butter
3 Cloves Garlic Grated
Salt and Pepper To Taste

Wash the potatoes and cut them in half length-wise. Mix the olive oil with the garlic and pour two tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of a 9x9 baking dish. Cut the butter into six pieces and place the pieces in the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle salt and pepper into the oil mixture and place potatoes cut-side down into the mixture placing each potato half on top of a piece of butter. Use a fork to puncture the top of each potato half. Brush the remaining olive oil and garlic over the tops of the potatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Bake the potatoes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes until potatoes are fork tender.

This recipe also works with sweet potatoes if you're trying to cut white potatoes out of your diet. If you'd like, you can add grated Parmesan cheese to the olive oil at the bottom of the baking dish. It makes a crunchy, salty crust on the bottom of the potatoes. Or you can add a quarter of a cup of white wine to the olive oil mixture, which adds a bit of tang to the dish. You can also cut the potatoes into chunks, instead of halves, and toss them in the garlic and olive oil and bake them that way. If you do the chunk method, it's easy enough to also add chunks of other vegetables -- mushrooms, onions, peppers, etc. -- to the mix and make it a roasted vegetable dish.

Bon Appetit! :-)

Rudolph's #Reads #Holiday #Giveaway! $120 #Cash #Grand #Prize! #Free To #Enter!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

There's a new giveaway for the holiday season!  Please take a moment to check out Rudolph's Reads Holiday Giveaway!!  There are lots of awesome books and prizes!! :-)  It's free to enter, there are over 100 prizes, and the grand prize is $120 cash payable through PayPal!! :-)  Now isn't that worth taking a few minutes to check out? ;-)   Here are all the details:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the next installment of Mistral Dawn's Musings! :-)

#Spellbound #Hearts #BlogTour!! :-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I just wanted to let you all know that my Spellbound Hearts series is currently enrolled in a blog tour that started last month. If you'd like to check out the postings, I'll paste all the links with the dates they were/will be live below. Some have already posted and some will be posting in the near future.  There's also a giveaway you can enter! :-)


Nov 21st - kickoff at the Silver Dagger Scriptorium

Nov 23rd- MJ's Book Blog and Reviews - spotlight

Nov 24th – Tome Tender – spotlight

Nov 25th – Up Til Dawn Book Blog – Excerpt

Nov 29th – VampyreLady's Lair – spotlight

Nov 30th- Book Giveaways – spotlight

Dec 1st – Wonderful World of Books – Excerpt

Dec 6 – Jazzy Book Reviews – spotlight

Dec 7th – The Authors Blog – Excerpt

Dec 8th- Happily Ever After Romance Book Reviews - spotlight

Dec 12th- Mello & June – spotlight

Dec 13th – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – Excerpt

Dec 14th- The Opinionated Woman's Musings - review

Dec 19 – CelticLady's Reviews – spotlight

Dec 20 – fuonlyknew – Excerpt


Thank you all for stopping by and, if you entered the raffle, good luck! :-) Happy reading!

#APC #Spotlight: Falling #Angels (The #Guardian Novels Book Two) By Jen Winters!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Today, I've got Jen Winters in my APC spotlight!  Jen is one of the founding members of  the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group, and she remains active and supportive within the group.  Her paranormal romance novel, Falling Angels, is fantastic!  I know from personal experience. ;-)  Here's the description:

What’s worse than losing your job? How about losing your life, your home, and everything familiar? I just wanted to work. What did I get in return? A long fucking fall with a sudden stop.
Stranded on earth with little hope for survival and an eternity of banishment ahead of me, I did the only thing I knew—I worked the jobs I could. Until I realized I’d been replaced. Then I got mad.
Eleven thousand years of fighting for my destiny had me broken, bitter, and ready to just give up. And then my best friend blew up Fort Worth and screwed the entire universe in the process. Now I have to save his ass from everyone including the Guardians.
I hate Guardians—those intrusive vixens replaced me, took over my job, and left me utterly useless. But this one, Lavinia, she’s almost as old as I am and she is starting to get under my skin. I can’t concentrate when she’s around—everything about her mystifies me and why the hell do I remember her from before? She shouldn’t even exist! And certainly not in my memory.

If you think it sounds as interesting as I found it, you can grab your copy here:

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Happy reading! :-)

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 415

Hey Everyone! :-)

Agent Thoth discusses more of the trials and tribulations associated with living with hominids. Incidentally, if you've missed Agent Thoth's earlier entries, you can find them here: Thoth's Journal

Department for the Preservation and Confirmation of Intelligent Life (DPCIL)

Agent Thoth's Personal Log

Day Four-Hundred-Fifteen:

Over the past several planetary rotations, my hominid-servant has been hanging and stringing seemingly random objects among the branches of the tree she installed within the domicile.  I have ceased attempting to study the tree and have turned my attention to this bizarre hominid behavior instead.

The placing of these objects seems to give my hominid-servant much pleasure, as she often makes the rhythmic, semi-melodious vocalizations I have come to understand are a hominid expression of joy while engaging in this activity.  I have attempted to study the objects themselves but, once again, my hominid-servant interrupted my studies with harsh words and shooing motions.

It has become clear to me that, whatever her motivation behind the decorated tree, my hominid-servant has brought it into my domicile for her own reasons, and she does not intend for me to be a part of it. I find this troubling as, until now, my hominid-servant always seemed to understand her role and function in our relationship. I may need to take steps to remind her of her place.

Poor Agent Thoth. Hominids can be so unreasonable. ;-)  You may have noticed that Agent Thoth has a new look. I hope you like his new picture as much as I do, but I'd love to hear your thoughts, either way. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments. ;-)  Happy reading, everyone!

Life Lessons...From The Adams Family? ;-)

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I was watching the Adams Family movies the other day for the umteenzillionth time. You know the ones, from the '90s with Angelica Houston as Morticia Adams. I think they're funny, and I really like their take on the Adams. Why?  Because they are unreservedly, unabashedly, unapologetically themselves, with no reservation or artifice. And, yet, they aren't aggressive about it.

What do I mean?  Well, if you watch the movies, you'll notice that while all of the Adams are decidedly odd when compared to the rest of the people in the movies, and they clearly don't view the world the same way much of society does, they don't hide or refuse to engage with others, they aren't unkind to others, and they don't insist others conform to their ideals. But they still respond openly and honestly in their interactions with others. They say what they think, they don't mince words or try to hide their true natures, but they don't attempt to make others share their world view.

The Adams don't seek approval or validation from others. The just do what they want, live the way they want, and allow everyone else to do the same. It's a perfect blend of "This is who I am, take me or leave me" and "Live and let live."  And I love it. I also think that the rest of us could learn something from the way the Adams approach the world.

It isn't necessary to either remain silent or to gain the approval of others.  Are you a little different from those around you? Do you see the world in technicolor while everyone else is stuck in black and white?  Are you, perhaps, even a bit...odd?  If so, so what?  Are you happy with yourself the way you are?  If you are, why change or hide? Embrace your oddity, celebrate it even, and allow everyone else the room to do the same.

If people want to talk about you, let them talk. Who cares? They only have power over you if you allow them to.  And if you live your life honestly, hiding and holding back nothing, you'll probably experience something else the Adams succeeded at. Family.

Not necessarily blood-relations, the way the Adams had. But if you let your light shine, others of your ilk will find you...or you'll find them. They may not be just like you. If you look at the Adams, they were all weird, but they were weird in their own ways. Other than a general theme of the macabre, they didn't share many common peculiarities.  But they allowed each other the space to be who they were and accepted each other for the special, unique weirdos that they were. You can do the same.

When your tribe finds you, or you find them, accept them for who and what they are. Whatever warts they may have, accept them. Whatever beauty they may offer, celebrate it. Be as loyal to your tribe as the Adams family was to each other, and accept their loyalty to you in turn.

Sometimes it seems difficult. If you look around and see others who all seem to have so much in common, while you're on the outside looking in, it can seem impossible. But remember two things. First, you don't know what others are experiencing on the inside, you only see the face they present to the world, which may or may not reflect reality. And second, it doesn't matter.

Other people are who they are, they should live the life that works for them. But that has nothing to do with you. You might feel pressure to conform, but you don't need to yield to it. If the people around you make you feel bad, find other people to be around. Your tribe is out there, you just have to find them. Or be by yourself, if that's what makes you happy. Either way, please yourself and let others do the same. At the end of the day, if your life makes you happy and you aren't hurting anyone, that's all that matters.

Peace!

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!!

I'm back with another video I thought was worth sharing. Actually, today, it's a series of videos I want to share with you Jordan Chariton from TYT Politics has been doing a lot of amazing reporting from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe's water protector camp in Standing Rock North Dakota. Much of what has been going on defies belief.

The police at Standing Rock have apparently been co-opted by the Energy Transfer corporation into a modern-day Pinkerton Gang and our government, including President Obama, has apparently decided to stand back and let them abuse and assault peaceful, unarmed US citizens who are voicing dissent.  It's like one of the darker pages of history and I'm appalled to see it playing out in our lifetime.

As I said, Jordan has done a wonderful job of documenting many of these atrocities in a series of videos, which he has thoughtfully compiled into a playlist on YouTube.  I'll link you to the playlist below so you can see for yourselves. I would recommend watching as many of the videos as you can because there's a lot of material that he covers.  The more people know what's going on, the better the chance we'll be able to put a stop to this injustice.

Peace!

TYT Politic's No DAPL Playlist

#Soup, It's What's For #Dinner! ;-)

Hey Everyone! :-)

Winter has finally arrived and the weather here has been getting colder. So, today, I thought I'd share one of my favorite soup recipes with you. I hope you find it as delicious and warming as I do. :-)

Meatless "Beef" And Potatoes Soup:
4 large potatoes cubed
3 large onions chopped
2 large portabello mushrooms, stems and caps, sliced
1 14oz container of sliced button mushrooms
2 large carrots chopped
1 bell pepper chopped
3 cups of raw kale chopped
4 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
4 cups water or vegetable stock
1 cup red wine (Merlot or Burgandy work well)
2 tbsps olive oil
1 tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste

Sautee the onions in the olive oil and butter in a stock pot until they are well caramelized. Add the carrots and pepper and continue to cook to until they soften. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook until the mushrooms soften. Stir in the tomato paste and deglaze the pot with the wine.  Add the water or stock, salt and pepper, and potatoes. Bring the soup to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for half an hour and stir. Allow to simmer for another 20 minutes to half an hour and stir.  Check to make sure the potatoes are soft and add the kale. Simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the kale wilts, and serve.

If you'd like, once the vegetables are softened you can transfer them to a crockpot and complete the soup there. Still deglaze the pot or pan with the wine and pour that into the crockpot as well. If you don't like wine, or don't keep alcohol in the house, you can use 1/4 cup red wine vinegar and 3/4 cups water or stock to deglaze the pot or pan.  If you don't like button mushrooms, you can use any kind of mushroom you like. If possible, you should use the portabello mushrooms as they add a "meaty" texture and richness to the soup.

You can thicken the broth by mixing 1/4 cornstarch with cold water to make a slurry and adding it to the soup at the end. You can also add any other vegetables you like in your soup. I've made the soup with sweet potatoes instead of potatoes. You can also replace the potatoes with barley or rice. If you like your soup spicy, you can add a couple of chili peppers or some curry paste to the soup. Basically, this is a good basic soup that can be taken in a lot of directions, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Bon appetit!