Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This is just one more reminder of why neoliberals are just as much the enemy as conservatives. When it comes to economic issues, there's really no difference between them.

Black Bean #Soup In A #Crockpot #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's another stick-to-your-ribs soup recipe to keep you warm this Winter. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
3 12oz cans black beans drained and rinsed
6 cups water or vegetable stock
1 cup red wine (your favorite kind)
1 12 oz can corn
3 potatoes cut into bite-sized pieces
1 carrot chopped
4 onions chopped fine
2 chili peppers chopped (and seeded if you want mild chili)
1 bell pepper chopped
10 cloves garlic minced fine
1 10oz can crushed tomatoes
4 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp turmeric
1/2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp oregano
2 tsp basil
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Add the beans, carrot, potatoes, and water or stock to the crockpot, set to high, and cover. Put the olive oil, butter, onions, and peppers in a saute pan and cook until the onions are translucent and soft. Add the garlic to the saute pan and cook until the onions start to caramelize. Transfer the vegetables to the crockpot and deglaze the saute pan with the wine. Simmer for a couple of minutes to allow the wine to reduce and transfer the contents of the saute pan to the crockpot. Add the tomatoes, corn, herbs, and spices to the crockpot and stir to combine. Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 2-3 hours. Stir the soup, taste it for seasoning, and make adjustments as necessary. Add more water if it's needed. Cover the crockpot and cook for an additional 2-3 hours or until the potatoes are tender. Serve piping hot with a side of crusty bread.

Bon appetit!

Good Food And Difficult Conversations...

 

Hey Everyone!! ☺

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to all my fellow Americans, and happy Friday to everyone else! 😉 Since it's a holiday here, I thought I'd share an excerpt that, to me, represents what holidays are all about... Good food and difficult conversations.🤣 Enjoy! 

Excerpt from Taken by the Huntsman:

Maeve gave the wardrobes one more mournful glance, and then led Cassie out the door and down several hallways and a couple flights of stairs, into a massive dining room. There was an enormous chandelier with hundreds of flickering candles that hung above a table large enough to sit two hundred people comfortably. Night had fallen and the drapes had been pulled over the windows, but Cassie could see that they ran from floor to ceiling like the ones in the bedroom.  A fire roared in a fireplace that was large enough for Cassie to stand up inside of. 

At one end of the table stood the Erlking, decked out in a green tunic that was heavily embroidered with gold thread and which hung to mid-thigh. He wore green trousers underneath, with black leather boots that laced up the backs of his legs and ended just above his knees. The green of the tunic deepened the green of his eyes, so that they looked like sparkling emeralds in his face. His red hair shimmered in the firelight, the golden thread in the embroidery bringing out his gold highlights.

He bowed to her and indicated she should take the seat next to his. He didn't appear to be overly concerned that she was not wearing a dress. She moved to the chair, and he politely held it out and pushed it to the table once she was seated. When she was settled, he took his seat.

As soon as the two of them were seated, servants began bringing in plates of food. There was a roast of some kind, swimming in gravy and smelling heavily of onions and garlic. What appeared to be mashed potatoes that had been whipped into a fluffy cloud and were glittering with melted butter were brought in next. And then another dish that held cooked greens. It smelled salty and spiced, as if the vegetables been sautéed with a flavored meat. 

Steam rose from a covered basket that smelled of fresh bread. And a small plate sat next to it with what looked like whipped, flavored butter. A soup tureen was brought out that smelled of tomatoes. Then, a servant placed plates of green salad in front of them and drizzled vinaigrette of some kind over the tops of them. 

Cassie was speechless. After a week of nothing but trail-mix biscuits and mushrooms, not that she wasn’t grateful for them, her mouth watered at the sight and scent of such a feast. Looking around at the splendor that surrounded her, she understood why Maeve had been so upset that she hadn’t dressed up. She was also overwhelmed by the size of the meal. She hadn’t seen so much food in one place since she worked in a restaurant.

“Is all of this for the two of us?” she asked. 

The Erlking smiled and said, “It’s for us, but we aren’t expected to eat all of it. Anything that is left will be shared among the staff or placed in storage for another day.” 

The Erlking thought of the meager fare he had found in his Anamchara’s abode. A few cans of vegetables that smelled as though they contained more salt than food, some processed grain chips that smelled like the cardboard they had been stored in, and he wouldn’t even try to describe the "meals" he’d found in the cold-storage box. The only thing he’d been able to find that was recognizable was a small cardboard box with some cow’s milk in it, and even that seemed less than fresh.

Of all his lady’s possessions, he had left only the "food" behind. If she insisted on such fare, he could obtain it from the human world for her. But he hoped she would realize how much better her board would be in his household…now their household.

Besides, that "food" had been rife with the human pollutants that sickened Fae. He hoped he wouldn’t have to contaminate his home with it, but if it was necessary to please her, he would.  He’d also left behind the container labeled "cat food," but he had since had his kitchen staff research the food such animals required to be healthy and learn how to prepare it. He wondered if she would acknowledge all of the steps he had taken to see her happy.

Cassie had always had a healthy appetite, though she often couldn’t afford to indulge it. But she couldn’t abide wasting food. She had felt hunger too many times in her life to countenance throwing perfectly good food away. Now that she was reassured that the leftovers wouldn’t be wasted, she dug into her salad with gusto. 

The Erlking also ate his salad and then reached for the soup tureen. “Would you care for some tomato bisque?” he asked.

Cassie, also finished with her salad, said, “Yes, please.” While he served the soup into their bowls, she reached for the basket of bread and the plate of butter. She buttered a roll and offered it to him. He accepted it and thanked her, and she buttered a second roll for herself.

As she was eating her soup, one of the goblets at her place setting, there were several, caught her eye. It was cut glass that alternated red and blue pieces to create a mosaic that somehow suggested a sun setting over an ocean. She wondered if Ellyn had made it. The Erlking noticed her regard and picked up a pitcher. “Some wine?” he asked. 

Cassie placed her hand over the top of the goblet and said, “No, thank you, water is fine.”  She didn't want her thinking muddled by alcohol.

The Erlking nodded and put the pitcher back on the table.

Normally, the servants would bring the courses out one at a time and serve them individually. But the Erlking had anticipated he'd be having a conversation with his Anamchara that he’d rather not have an audience for. So he had instructed them to bring all of the food out at the beginning of the meal and leave it on the table. This necessitated that the Erlking do the serving, something he was more than willing to do to ensure a private meal with his mate.

Next, he carved the roast and offered some to Cassie. She regarded the meat with a little trepidation. It smelled wonderful, but she’d learned from the Goblins that the Fae sometimes consumed meat that a woman from the 21st century United States considered a…little…odd.

One of the red caps had carried a pouch attached to his sword belt that contained what appeared to be rodents preserved whole and uncooked. Periodically, he would pull one of the carcasses from the pouch and pop it into his mouth, devouring it bones and all. None of the Goblins had the opportunity to hunt while she was in their company, but she had gotten the distinct impression that they weren’t at all picky about how they came by the meat that they ate raw.

The roast, at least, was obviously cooked, but she was still leery about eating it.

The Erlking noticed her hesitation and guessed at its cause. “This roast is beef, Cassandra. I assure you that all of my household is familiar with the dietary preferences of modern humans and will be sure to respect them in what they offer you.” 

Cassie looked at him, a bit surprised that he would have thought of something like that, and said, “Then, thank you, yes, I will have some.” 

The Erlking served her and himself, and they passed the potatoes and the greens between them.

Cassie found that the roast was soft enough to cut with a fork, of which she also had several, and that it melted in her mouth. She tasted the potatoes and involuntarily her eyes closed with contentment. 

The Erlking watched her eat and was gratified that she was enjoying her meal. When they were both finished, Cassie was so full she thought she might need to unbutton her jeans. But she couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed food so much.

“Your cook is amazing,” she said.

“I’ll be sure to tell her you said so,” replied the Erlking. “She’ll be thrilled to have pleased you.”

Now that the distraction of food was gone, Cassie and the Erlking regarded each other a bit awkwardly. Then they both tried to speak at the same time.

“Why do you…”

“Would you like some...”

They both fell silent.

Cassie said, “You first.” 

“Would you like something sweet to finish the meal?”

“Lord no, I’m stuffed.” 

He nodded.

“Why do you always call me ‘Cassandra’?” 

“That was the name that was written on the cards you carried, is it not your name?” 

“It is, but people usually call me ‘Cassie’.” 

“And that is what you prefer?”

She nodded. 

“Then, that is what I will call you from now on.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” 

“Are you just called ‘the Erlking’?”

“I have many names, but you may call me Cadeyrn.” 

“Cadeyrn? Is that your name or another title?”

“It means ‘battle king’ in the old tongue, but it’s what my mother called me, so it is my name.”

Cassie nodded. “Is your mother still alive?”

“Oh yes, she lives and is well.”

“Will I get to meet her?”

“I don’t know, she comes and goes as she chooses. It’s impossible to predict when she will reveal herself.”

Cassie thought that was an odd way to express that his mother liked to travel, but she let it go. She hadn’t thought it would be difficult to confront him about why he had kidnapped her.  For days, she had wanted answers. She was livid that he had thought that it was okay to completely disrupt her life without even consulting her. But now that he was sitting here beside her, she was having trouble framing the question.

The strange compulsion that she felt towards him was still there. Her eyes kept straying to his lips. She felt like she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she didn’t know why. Cassie was certainly no virgin; she’d slept with her share of men. But she had never felt so drawn to another person. 

Sex had never even seemed all that wonderful to her. Yeah, it was pleasant while it happened, assuming the man had any skill. But the pleasure was fleeting, and she was usually just left feeling empty afterwards. So why did she feel like she should drag this man back to that humongous bed in her room and beg him to quench the fire she was feeling?

She shook herself. She had a life to get back to, and she needed answers to do it. Cassie had always been a straightforward, blunt person.

Since she couldn’t think of a polite way to phrase her question, she just came right out and asked, “Why did you kidnap me?”

If you'd like to know the answer to that question...as well as if any fire-quenching happens, grab your copy at the link below. 😉 Happy reading!

Taken by the Huntsman

#APC #Spotlight: Vampire Blood And Iron Bullets: An Urban Fantasy Romance By Lily Luchesi!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Lily Luchesi in my APC spotlight, today! Lily is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her paranormal, suspense, urban fantasy, romance, supernatural, mystery, thriller novel, Vampire Blood and Iron Bullets, looks great! Here's the description:

One vampire. One Fae. Countless assassins. Challenge accepted.

Energy vampires make excellent rock stars. Changelings make excellent actors. It's been that way since time out of mind, and the best way to discover an actor is a changeling? Look at the awards they haven't won.

Perry Gold is one of the most brilliant changeling actors out there, and one award has always eluded him. Until now. And now that's he's won it, he's a wanted man on a hunter's hit list. As a celebrity, he can't run forever. He needs the type of protection only a vampire can provide.

If the world's most successful special agent Angelica Cross can't save him, no one can.

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

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

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1213

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 Twelve-Hundred-Thirteen:

My hominid-servant has, once again, begun a flurry of food preparation for no apparent reason. She is preparing far more than she, I, and the other residents of my domicile could possibly eat before the majority of it spoils. And she is spending far more time and exerting far more effort than she normally does on meal preparation. To make matters worse, she will not allow me to sample any of the exotic edibles she is preparing. In fact, if I even venture into the meal-preparation room, she exhibits hostility towards me. I truly do despair of ever definitively proving a capacity for genuine intelligence in hominids!

Hominids are such strange creatures! 😉 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!

She Don't Get No Respect... ;-)

Hey Everyone!! 😊

The way things have gone this year, I figured the week of Thanksgiving was the perfect time to remember some of the reasons I still have to laugh. And, since I'm remembering, I thought I'd share with the rest of you. I hope it gives you all a laugh too. 😉  Happy Thanksgiving!

The Players:

The Muffin:


Miss Diva Sin Cat:


The drama...

The Muffin does not cover his deposits in the litter box to the satisfaction of Miss Diva Sin Cat. So, whenever he uses the litter box, she waits for him to get out, and then she goes in and makes sure everything is covered in accordance with her standards. The thing is, being the vocal little furry person that she is, she grumbles about it the entire time, and then goes and tracks the Muffin down and scolds him for his slovenly ways.

Now, I can't help sympathizing with her. I mean, what woman who has ever lived with a man wouldn't identify with her frustration? But I also can't help laughing, which just annoys her more.

I can just hear her, "Damn men! Even when you cut their balls off, they still can't manage to use the toilet without making a disgusting mess! I'm the only one who cares about maintaining a reasonable level of sanitation around here! And to add insult to injury, the human laughs at me for my efforts! I should just stop cleaning up after him and make her deal with the consequences. A couple days of having to live with this stench, and we'll see how funny she thinks it is then."

Ah, poor Sin Cat. She's truly unappreciated in her time. 😂

#Catastrophe
#LifeWithCats
#WomenkindUnited

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. This one pretty much sums up why I won't be voting for Democrats for the foreseeable future. There may be a candidate, here or there, that I support, but overall, I will not be supporting the party. And this, right here, is exactly why. But you all watch for yourselves and make your own decisions. Peace!

Easy, Inexpensive Vegetarian Chili In A #Crockpot #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

This is one of those recipes I keep in reserve for when I need to save a little extra money...like around the holidays. But even though it doesn't cost a lot to make, it's still delicious and filling enough to warm you up on a chilly Autumn evening. Enjoy! :-)

Ingredients:
1 cup brown rice
1 cup lentils (any color)
4 cups water or vegetable stock
1 cup beer (your favorite kind)
2 12 oz cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 12 oz can pinto beans drained and rinsed
4 onions chopped fine
2 chili peppers chopped (and seeded if you want mild chili)
1 bell pepper chopped
10 cloves garlic minced fine
1 40oz can crushed tomatoes
4 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp turmeric
1/2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tbsp oregano
2 tsp basil
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Add the rice, lentils, and water or stock to the crockpot, set to high, and cover. Put the olive oil, butter, onions, and peppers in a saute pan and cook until the onions are translucent and soft. Add the garlic to the saute pan and cook until the onions start to caramelize. Transfer the vegetables to the crockpot and deglaze the saute pan with the beer. Simmer for a couple of minutes to allow the beer to reduce and transfer the contents of the saute pan to the crockpot. Add the tomatoes, canned beans, herbs, and spices to the crockpot and stir to combine. Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 2-3 hours. Stir the chili, taste it for seasoning, and make adjustments as necessary. Add more water if it's needed. Cover the crockpot and cook for an additional 2-3 hours or until the rice is cooked and the lentils are tender. Serve piping hot with a side of crusty bread.

Bon appetit!

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1209

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 Twelve-Hundred-Nine:

My youthful compatriot has, more or less, returned to his usual, obstreperous self. His energy level does seem to be a bit lower than it was, but other than that he is as aggravating and obstinate as ever. He refuses to allow me to properly examine him. Every attempt I have made has been met with ferocious growling and even deployment of the C.L.A.W.S. So, I cannot determine if there are any lingering physical manifestations of his illness. However, I am happy to report, that his scent has returned to normal. Though it has never been a truly pleasant odor, it is certainly much preferable to the acrid reek of the frightening place or the stench of canid. 

My hominid-servant has relaxed her vigil, somewhat, though she still maintains watch and checks on his condition at regular intervals. Unlike my own efforts to examine him, the little idiot has not been successful in rebuffing my hominid-servant’s attentions. He did try to ward her off, but she was persistent. She even growled back at him when he growled at her, which utterly astounded me. I’ve never heard her growl like that before. Neither had the small irritation, apparently. I wasn’t certain if he was more astonished or alarmed, but he did allow her to examine him and hasn’t actively objected to any subsequent examinations from her.

Still, overall, it seems as though circumstances may soon return to what passes for normal on this planet. Which means, perhaps, I will be able to finally get some of my research done!

Poor Thoth, he never seems to be left alone long enough to get any work done. 😉 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!

#APC #Spotlight: From The Dance To The Grave By Lynn Mullican!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Lynn Mullican in my APC spotlight, today! Lynn is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her paranormal, suspense, supernatural, thriller, horror short story, From the Dance to the Grave, looks great! Here's the description:

When Rhianne Overton, an actress and dancer, acquires a movie prop from her former dance partner, Gigi Quiesenberg, she learns of its terrifying secret. Will she learn of what happened to the previous owner or will she fall victim to the curse?

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

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

#November2020 #IndieBooksBeSeen #Indie #Author #Books #Monthly #BookReview!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

It's the 18th again, so time for my #IndieBooksBeSeen monthly indie author book review!! Enjoy! :-)

Habitat by Vanda Denton:

In a society where the majority of people exist in a pleasant bubble of ignorance as the world around them crumbles, and those in power will go to any lengths to retain that power. Where control is king and any deviation from the norm or questioning of the status quo is punishable by the harshest methods, it takes real courage to stand up for what you think is right. And the question becomes, who among us would have that courage?

It's hard for me to summarize the story in Habitat without giving away too many spoilers. What I can say is that Ms. Denton has done a wonderful job of blending a frank look at where our society is clearly heading, the dangers of not addressing the effects of climate change on our world, and the creation of characters and circumstances most of us can relate to. Five stars, this is definitely a book worth reading.

The Devil Is In The Details...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from the third Petri Dish book:
To shake the sense of being overwhelmed, Petri tried focusing on the details of what was happening around her. Ahead and to her left, an old man with a makeshift crutch was holding out a cup to passersby. It was an activity Petri had spent many hours engaged in, herself, in real life, but she couldn’t imagine why anyone would need to do so here.

“What would people need to beg for here?”

Vlad gave her one of his slow blinks. “What do you mean?"

She nodded her head towards the beggar with the crutch. “Why would anyone need to beg here? What would people need?”

Chessie grinned at Vlad's incredulous expression. “Petri doesn't spend much time in the rainbow, and when she does it's always in free areas like government-sponsored libraries and learning centers. She hasn’t really explored much," explained the older woman.

Turning back to Petri, Chessie continued, “There's currency here, just like in the real world. It just comes in a different form.”

Her brow furrowing, Petri persisted, “But what do people need here? You can't eat. I mean, how would the food get to your stomach? If you’re tired or want to get away from other people, you disconnect. So, you don’t need a place to live. I understand you can interact with other people, and some people might charge for that interaction. And I get that you can buy information, like what you sell when you diddle, but if people needed money for that, wouldn’t they need to get it in the real world?

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. Now that this year's debacle of an election is over, it's time to look forward to replacing the corrupt, senile, racist, rapist ass that will be parked in the Oval Office for the next four years. Here's an early analysis of what that road will likely look like. Peace!

Roasted Veggies And Rice #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! 😊

This is an easy, filling dish that's perfect for a chilly night when you want something hot and a little spicy to warm you up. Enjoy! 😊

Ingredients:
4 cups cooked rice (your favorite variety)
2 cups brussel sprouts halved
1 butternut squash cleaned, peeled and chunked
2 cups broccoli florets
2 onions chopped
1 cup sliced almonds
4 cloves garlic grated
2 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp basil
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp cumin
2 tbsp turmeric
1 tbsp red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tbsp spicy brown mustard
4 tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 cup vegetarian Worchester sauce
1 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1 cups vegetable stock
1/2 stick butter
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the cut vegetables on a foil-lined baking tray. Brush them with the balsamic vinegar and sprinkle them with olive oil. Bake them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until they soften and start to brown. Remove them from the oven and set them aside.

Add the remaining olive oil and vinegar along with the rest of the ingredients, except for half a cup of the almonds and the cooked rice, to a saucepan and heat until they simmer. Simmer them over low heat for about five minutes. Put the roasted vegetables and rice in a baking dish and mix them together. Pour the contents of the saucepan over the rice and vegetables and stir them until everything is evenly distributed. Sprinkle the remaining almonds over the top and bake the dish at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the almonds are toasted. Remove from the oven and serve warm with a side of crusty bread.

Bon appetit!

Context Matters...

Hey Everyone!! 😊

I hope you are all gearing up for the holidays, and that it will be a happy time for you. But since we'll all likely be spending with people who don't necessarily share our point of view, I thought it was a good time to remember that perspective and context can greatly influence a person's moral code. It's something I try to keep in mind when I'm forced to deal with people whose ethics, or seeming lack thereof, make me want to pull my hair out. And, if nothing else, I hope this excerpt will offer you a little entertainment to start off your weekend. Either way, enjoy! 😉

Excerpt from Intrigue in the Summer Court:
Cassie gave her Anamchara an arch look. "Do you think you scared her enough?" she softened the implied rebuke with a smile.

The Erlking grimaced. "I hope so."

Taking his hand and looking up at him seriously, Cassie said, "Do you really think Angelica will try to harm Jillian?"

Cadeyrn sighed and pulled her against his body. "I'm not certain. She's quite old, and Fae that old often have a hard time not trying to turn any situation to their own advantage...regardless of what the consequences to others might be. I know you've researched our history, so you know that Fairie used to be quite different from the way it is now. It's not uncommon for Fae who came into existence during that time to have trouble adjusting their mindset to better fit our current social structure. Jillian is wise, and she's old enough to have lost most of her naivety, but she doesn't have the perspective that hundreds of millennia will lend one. Also, her magic doesn't come close to comparing with the power wielded by that Pixie. I wanted to make sure Angelica realized the consequences should Jillian come to harm as a result of her actions, or her failure to take action."

"You make Fae who are old sound as though they are all selfish and opportunistic. You're not like that, and I've met others who are old who don't seem to only be concerned about themselves."

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. "Thank you, but the goddess created me to be an instrument to aid in creating the changes she wanted for Fairie. The others you've met have adjusted well to the changes. Some people are more flexible than others. If you asked one of the Fae I'm speaking of, they wouldn't consider themselves to be selfish or opportunistic, only survivors. When the world is a harsh place, a certain amount of toughness and self-interest are needed to survive. What might seem callous in the context of a more forgiving environment, becomes an admirable, strong-willed determination to protect oneself from harm."

"You mean when times are hard, kindness becomes a luxury you can't afford? I don't think I buy that argument. I think it's possible to still be a good person, even when life is difficult."

"Ah, but isn't 'good person' a moral judgment? By what standard of morality would you judge them?"

"The standard agreed upon by society."

Laughing, he hugged her tighter. "Has any society ever truly agreed on a standard of morality? Doesn't the location of the line often depend on who you ask, and what mood they happen to be in at that moment? And doesn't it tend to move with alarming regularity?" He winked at her. "Besides, by the standards of the 'society' that existed when they were created, these Fae are 'good people.' They're good at surviving and taking care of themselves."

Cassie pushed away from her mate, glared up at him, and put her hands on her hips. "But isn't part of being a 'good survivor' being able to adapt to your environment? If society has changed, shouldn't they change also?"

"Again, it depends on your perspective. If you are an individual who is only concerned with your own survival in a society of individuals who are concerned about collective survival, you have a competitive advantage, don't you?"

"Yeah, until the rest of them get together and kick you out."




Want to learn more about the Fae and their culture? Grab your copy at the link below. Happy reading! 😊

Intrigue in the Summer Court

#APC #Spotlight: Just Before Dawn (Time Will Tell Book 4) By Les Lynam!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Les Lynam in my APC spotlight, today! Les is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and his young adult, time-travel, dystopian, fantasy, science-fiction novel, Just Before Dawn, looks great! Here's the description:

Alex wants nothing to do with the Dark Decades. No other time in recorded history matched the level of suffering, pain, and death as this era. However, to follow the path needed to restore his timeline, he and his friends must go to Chicago in 2059 when everything begins to collapse.

 If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

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

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1207

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 Twelve-Hundred-Seven:

My young companion’s condition has steadily improved, though he is not yet back to his usual, irritating self. The stench that engulfed him has dissipated, somewhat, though the reek the canid imbued him with lingers. Still, it is a familiar odor, at least, and so not nearly as offensive as what it replaced. The little idiot, himself, has begun to take more of an interest in what is happening around him, and so has made some half-hearted attempts to dissuade the canid from her ministrations to his person. I believe, as he regains more of himself, he will be better able to assert his refusal of her services, and so will be able to divest himself of her scent.

For her part, my hominid-servant continues to hover and fret over him. Fortunately, she also continues to tempt his appetite with edible delicacies, which she also offers to me. So, while I am grateful my youthful protégé is recovering, I am perfectly content with him taking his time doing so.

Ah, well, you gotta look on the bright side of things, right? 😉 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!

Long-Shots Are Better Than No-Shots...

Hi Everyone!

I'm writing this post well before the election that will have happened a week ago because I want to be honest about my thoughts regardless of who wins. I think, I hope, that all the results have been tallied by now, and that the winner has been decided. I further hope that there were no shenanigans that have cast doubt as to the validity of the election. But, somehow, I find it difficult to have much confidence that last will be achieved. Still, I'd like to share my thoughts and fears regarding the outcome for a win by each of the candidates.

The short version is, I really don't have much hope regarding the future of this country. Regardless of how the election goes, I think we're pretty much fucked. If Trump wins, he'll do his best to end our democracy. The problem is, I think Biden will do the same if he wins, and he won't even face any opposition while he does it.

I know many people think Trump is a far worse danger than Biden. I don't agree. Every door that Trump is walking through was opened by neoliberal corporatists like Biden. And often by Biden, himself. I don't really think Trump is doing anything but taking the next logical step. The only real difference is that when Trump attacks our freedoms and works to erode the foundations of our system of government, the mainstream media reports on it. When Obama and Clinton and even the Bushs did the same thing, there was silence from journalists.

And I think the notion that protests will continue if Biden is elected is fanciful. Some protesting will continue, but not much. If you ask people why they're willing to vote for Biden, a lot of them will tell you that it's because they don't want to have to keep fighting. Biden being elected will give a lot of people the excuse they need to go back to their sofas and go back to sleep. So there really won't be much pressure on Biden to do the right thing.

As for considerations like the courts, I honestly think Biden will do even more damage than Trump. Biden loves to give Republicans everything they want, so I have no doubt his judicial nominations will be just as bad if not worse than Trump's. And because they will come from Biden, there won't be much scrutiny from the media, and there will be no push-back whatsoever from Democrats in the Senate.

I also think it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Biden will escalate tensions with Putin and with China and likely get us into more endless wars. He won't do anything to address anthropogenic climate change, and will likely make things worse by giving the continued deregulation of fossil fuel companies a "bipartisan" figleaf. I don't think there's any doubt at all that the rampant corruption and selling of our government to private interests at the expense of the American people will continue and expand under Biden. And I don't even think he will protect women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, or the rights of Black people and other people of color because to do so would be "divisive" and he doesn't want Republicans to criticize him.

So, I see no upside to a Biden election, at all, but Trump is still a monster. So, regardless of what happened last week, I think this country is in for a really dark time.

So, yeah, I'm pretty pessimistic about the future of this country, but I think it's important to acknowledge the truth of the situation. I think the only possible hope is to build so much momentum for progressive third-parties during this election cycle that they will have to be taken into account in both midterms and four years from now by the major parties. Building a true party of the left is the only way we'll get the changes we need, and that's where I'm focusing my energy and time. Hopefully, we'll get those changes before it's too late, if it isn't already. It's a longshot, but it's the only shot we have, so I'm going to take it. And I hope I won't be the only one.

Peace!

Something Worth Watching?

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I'm back today with another video I wanted to share. Two videos, actually. Both about the same problem, neither party is representing The People. Both parties are concerned only with their "team" winning, and even politicians who are among the best in their party, like AOC, are too ready to take it easy on members of their own party. And now they have all the courts too. We need strong, aggressive, uncompromising progressives who won't back down to anyone to drive the change we need in this country. And if the political system is too corrupt for us to get them through elections, the only hope we have is mass popular uprising to force politicians to come to heel. 

I'm writing this before the 2020 election, so I don't yet know who won. But, regardless of which wing of the corporate party gets into power, I hope people remember that we have to keep fighting. We need to escalate and expand our resistance to both major parties through tactics like civil disobedience, non-violent demonstrations, and nationwide general strikes. Because it really doesn't matter which of the corrupt, racist, rapists won. The rest of us lost. 

Shepherd's Pie Dumpling #Recipe!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

This is a variation on the recipe I shared with you last week. It's the same technique but slightly different ingredients and flavors. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! :-)

Ingredients:
15-20 large wonton wrappers
2-3 cups vegetable or peanut oil
1 egg
2 tbsp water
1 cup butter melted
1/2 cup red wine reduced
2 tbsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
5 large potatoes peeled and boiled
1 cup frozen green peas thawed
1 onion chopped very fine or grated
1 carrot chopped small
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped fine
4 cloves garlic minced fine or grated
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Whisk the egg and water together in a small bowl and set aside. In a larger bowl, mash and mix the remaining ingredients except for the oil and wonton wrappers. Make sure you mix everything thoroughly. Taste your mixture and adjust seasoning as necessary. Lay the wonton wrappers on a clean, flat surface and brush the edges with the egg wash. Put a tablespoon to a tablespoon and a half (depending on the size of your wrappers) of the filling in the center of each wrapper, and then fold the wrappers over to form triangular-shaped dumplings and press the edges together to form a seal. Make sure not to over-fill your wrappers or they'll pop open when you cook them. If you want to, you can crimp the edges of your wontons with a fork, but it probably isn't necessary as long as you press the edges together firmly with the egg wash.

Put the oil in a frying pan and heat it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Put your dumplings in the hot oil and fry until they are golden brown. Flip them over halfway through cooking to make sure they get brown on both sides. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan. Place the cooked dumplings on a paper-towel-lined tray to drain the excess oil and lightly sprinkle them with salt. Serve warm by themselves or with your favorite dipping sauce or gravy.

Bon appetit!

#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: Raven's Hill By Lynn Mullican!

Hey Everyone!! :-)

I've got Lynn Mullican in my APC spotlight, today! Lynn is an active and supportive member of the  Authors-Professional Co-op Facebook group and her romantic, mystery, suspense, thriller, ghost story, short story, Raven's Hill, looks great! Here's the description:

Raven’s Hill, known for its history of murder, mystery and mayhem, has gained yet another owner, Serena Goodwin. Upon learning that she bought a haunted house and a private cemetery, she becomes interested in learning more about the unique occupants of the house, Asmodeus and Gisela. Serena soon makes a terrifying discovery and learns of their mysterious and dangerous love affair, a love that could endanger Serena’s life.

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, go ahead and grab your copy here:

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

#Agent Thoth's #Personal Log: Day 1205

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 Twelve-Hundred-Five:

This morning, my hominid-servant rushed out of my domicile before the local star had even risen above the horizon at coordinates of my station on this planet. Given her haste, I feared the worst. However, after several tense hours, she returned with my young companion. Who looks much the worse for wear, but remains inarguably among the living.

The little idiot has allowed the fur on multiple areas of his person to be removed down to the skin, and he does not demonstrate the energy or interest in his surroundings that I would expect from any self-respecting felid. And I won't even go into detail regarding the mingled stench of sickness and the sharp, disturbing odor of the frightening place that seems to have permeated every molecule of his being. Also, he seems inclined to engage his version of the P.U.R.R. far too easily, which I fear will spoil my hominid-servant and cause her to expect it as her due for even the most basic caretaking services.

However, he has demonstrated an eagerness to partake of the edible delicacies my hominid-servant offers, and she has extended this largesse to us both, so I won’t complain too much about the disruption he is causing to my domicile.

The canid, silly beast that she is, has taken to treating the small pest as if he were her offspring, and so is slowly adding her own malodorous mark to the miasma that engulfs him. However, I am hopeful that the lethargy on his part is temporary, and that the fact of his return indicates he will soon be capable of taking himself in paw and setting his person to rights, once again. As always, however, I will report back on any further developments.

What a relief! Hopefully, the little guy will start feeling better soon. 😊 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!

Transitioning Perceptions...

Hey Everyone!! :-)

Here's a little bit more of the third installment in the Petri Dish Chronicles! As always, the disclaimer is that this is a draft and, as such, it's unedited and likely full of errors and is subject to revision, revamping, and being completely scrapped and rewritten. But, with that in mind, I'm reasonably satisfied with the basics of it, at least at the moment, or I wouldn't have bothered posting it. Enjoy! :-)

Excerpt from the third Petri Dish book:
Vlad gestured to his city. “Won’t you step into my parlor?"

“Said the spider to the fly,” Chessie finished the quote absently while looking around at the impressive sight.

Petri and her friends followed Vlad as he led them down a street lined with flashing neon signs advertising all manner of wares and services for sale. Petri was shocked, and a bit disturbed, by how out-of-place she felt. This virtual reality was almost an exact replica of the city she had grown up in, streets she had known every nook and cranny of because her survival had depended on her ability to find a crevice to hide in at a moment’s notice, but now she felt…lost. The cacophony and chaos she had once found invigorating and useful for the distraction it offered, now she experienced as disorienting and exhausting. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was tied into the effect the rainbow always had on her, or if she’d really gotten so soft so quickly.