Writers Cantina Writing Conference...Another Success

Yesterday, the presentations were packed up, the posters taken down, good-byes were exchanged and promises to keep in touch were made.

The second-ever Writers Cantina writing conference came to an end.

Another amazing success.

Last year was an experiment--having no history, we didn't know if it would even work. Turns out, it did, so we scheduled another one, added another day, and waited for the months and weeks to pass until we could do it again. 

What I love about this conference is it has something for a writer at almost every level, just starting out, having a few things published, a seasoned writer, and the pro. A friend of mine who has produced double-digit novels wanted to sit in on a panel of a writer who can sell, and I mean...really sell. My friend wanted to learn from the master how to become better salesman.

Another thing I love is the cantina aspect, large spaces where creatives can gather, catch-up, swap stories, network, and make new friends--even hear a guitar lick or two. I pitched an anthology idea to a writer I highly respect and he's on board. 

We're scheduled for Writers Cantina, 3rd Edition for July, 2025. I can't wait. Thanks Nate. Thanks Jana. Thanks JC. And thank you to everyone who came, helped on panels, and made this year's edition another amazing success.

Check out the pictures of some of the great times.

In Honor Of Christmas In July...You Must Watch "The Christmas Twist"

 Last night I showed my daughter a Christmas classic, Stu Burguiere's The Christmas Twist. We are, after all, starting the second-most popular Hallmark Christmas season, Christmas in July.

If you're unfamiliar with Stu Buguiere, he works for The Blaze Network. The classic short film is not political or religious (unless Hallmark Christmas movies are your religion, or politics...). It's a hilarious take on the genre.

If you--like us--watch Hallmark Christmas movies, and by extension, Lifetime Christmas movies, Netflix Christmas movies, and Up Channel, Great American Family, and several other networks's Christmas movies, you will immediately recognize the themes, the dialogue, and, of course, the twist.

If you're interested in seeing the short film, you can click: HERE for a Facebook link, or do an internet search for "Stu Burguiere" and "The Christmas Twist." 

If you love Hallmark Christmas movies, this is a "must-see" for any fan. You'll be glad you did.

Finally...It's My Turn To Do A Little Snackin'

 It wasn't until the bag of fast food was passed from the drive-through window, through the driver's side window, from the driver, to me sitting in the passenger seat that I realized I could participate in one of life's great simple pleasures...

Snacking on fresh, hot, crisp french fries on the car ride home.

It's something I rarely do.

You see, when my wife and I decide to go get take-out, it's me who drives. It's not a chauvinist thing...well, maybe it is, but it doesn't feel that way. It's just how we do things. I drive--my wife is handed the sack of food and we drive away. It's my wife who gets to do a little snacking as we pull out of the parking lot and onto the road.

I've been a little bit jealous. Of course, from time to time I might get a fry or two, but I usually wait until we get home. And my wife is more than happy to let me dig my grubby little fingers into the bag and retrieve some fries. It's just I usually wait.

Today, my son wanted to get more practice driving hours so he drove to get dinner and I rode shoot gun.

Because of how great the fries tasted only moments from the restaurant, I might let someone do the driving more often.

It's A Guy Thing...Revising A Classic Meme

Two years ago I used this exact same meme for a blog post. I didn't realize this until when I entered the label "Bad Financial Decisions" under the Labels section, the website told me I'd used that exact phrase once before.

But, do I look at life differently now?

I'm going to leave what I wrote below. Much is the same as on the previous blog post (if you want to read it click: HERE if you're interested...). On the old post I said I'd include a photographer guy, a drone guy, and a musical instrument guy. I did not include musical instruments on this post. So, hope you like reading my new thoughts on the same topic.

 I suppose it's not just a guy thing, but at least, I understand it. Of the following knights and/or king, I'm maybe half those people. And there's probably things I would put on this list, that is missing. I'm not a boat guy, I'm not a knife guy, or a PC guy, or a golf guy, or a gun guy (not because I'm against them...), or a gamer guy. 

Had I the money, I could be a car guy or a Lego guy or a gun guy or a watch guy. I'd also be a book guy and a camera guy (including drones...), and some other things I'd have to think about.

The reason I'm not a car or Lego or gun or watch or camera or book or other things is based on the big thing all the pointing things are pointing at...bad financial decisions. I'm not saying I always make good financial decisions, but there are a lot of things I don't buy because of that. The main reason is I like to eat, I like my family to eat. I like to sleep under a roof with an address where mail can be delivered and I like my family to have that same level of comfort.

When you think about it, it doesn't matter how much money you have. Even if you're a billionaire, spending money foolishly is a bad financial decision.

Still, I'd like to be a billionaire and test my theory myself.

Didn't They Sell All The Hot Tubs...?

Nope. 

They did not.

If you watch our local TV station that plays Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy each day, you will see local ads selling mostly cars and hot tubs. It's the hot tub ads that are getting to me.

Back in the spring, a local events center put on a sale...millions of dollars worth of hot tub inventory was being sacrificed at bargain-basement prices, all in an effort to get rid of the old models to make room for the new ones. Every day, over and over again during the game shows they played that ad. Thankfully, the sale was only that weekend and then, the sale ended.

Or so we thought.

Apparently, they did not sell enough hot tubs because a few weeks later, the annoying ads returned. They needed another sale. Oh well...it's only another week.

So, why are they now doing the same sale again? Do the new models need to make room for even more new models? I guess so.

I'm wondering if they'll ever run out of hot tubs. I'm thinking...

No.

Maybe Too Much Soccer...

 Last year we cut the cord, the cable cord. For the most part, it's been fine. Life goes on and in many ways, we are better off for it. Then came soccer season. And not just any soccer season...international play. Right now, there are two major tournaments going on, The European Cup across the pond, and the America Cup on this side of the pond.

The best players in the world playing for national pride.

I know not everyone is a soccer fan, but I am, especially when national teams play.

The problem? We cut the cord and these games are only available on cable. I did a little research to see if I could go to different channels in different countries and watch a game or two. Looks like those in charge were thinking people would do this. The result: no access.

I did see a Spanish cable channel that was broadcasting both tournaments...Vix. After a little more research, I found out my phone carrier offers that channel free for one year. Nice. I signed up and I'm able to get all the soccer I can watch. 

Can there be too much soccer?

The only downside (other than perhaps too much soccer...) is all broadcasts are in Spanish. I don't mind watching the games on mute, but I found the toughest thing about signing up is...well, signing up. I had no idea what "Forgot Your Password?" is in Spanish. Now that I'm all signed in, things are better.

For some, any soccer is too much. For others, even live games broadcast 24-hours a day would not be enough.

Me? I'm somewhere in the middle.

I Have Faith...In The Fig

 Our daughter-in-law gave us a fig tree several months ago. We kept it inside until the weather warmed, then we'd put it outside during the day to get used to the new world in which it would soon be a part. Last week we planted it in the north end of our backyard.

Then, we worried.

Before we planted it, we wondered if it was not doing well, or in other words...dying. The big beautiful leaves started to brown. I'm no expert in trees generally, or fig trees specifically, but we hoped it would enjoy its new location in the yard.

We watered it everyday and waited.

A few days ago I thought I saw a green bump growing at the top of the fig. Turns out, it's a new leaf. I went out today and saw the leaf actually taking shape. Even though it's way early in the process, I'm thinking our little fig tree just might make it after all.

I have faith in the fig.