Come sail away

     Part of life is about making memories. Some memories hold more meaning than others. They carry with them more than just a recollection of events and trigger more emotions. One of the memories I hold very close to my heart is a sunset trip on a beautiful tall schooner named the Appledore II. The trip came just a few short months after a very traumatic event in my family's life. I didn't realize it at the time but I still cradled life like a fragile piece of stained glass that might fall apart any minute.

     The schooner was based out of Key West Florida. I was lucky enough to take a trip to Key West while visiting family. As we wandered around the farthest southern point in the U.S., we noticed the beautiful vessel and a sign for the evening excursions. I wanted a closer look and was invited on board by the first mate. His passion for what he did was evident as he shared the history of the schooner. It was actually known for it's maiden voyage in 1978 that visited many ports of call as it circumnavigated the world. He showed us photos from a National Geographic book of the voyage. His love for what he did was infectious so we booked an excursion. 

     Now, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I am not a fan of water, especially large bodies of water. I have never been on a cruise and never plan to go on one, at least one that takes me far away from visible land.  So, I had some trepidation about going on this evening voyage but I have to say I was also very excited. It had all the makings of a very romantic evening, and it was.

With champagne and a few snacks being passed around, we set out late in the afternoon. We moved into open waters and the first mate hoisted the sails. 

Watching, as the sails captured the wind I understood how this life could be enchanting. Feeling the spray from the water on my face and listening to the sound of the sails in the wind brought about a peace within me, a peace I needed after the trying period in my life. Somehow, something that would normally set fear lose inside me had calmed a raging heartache I had carried for months.

The salty air filled my lungs and tears filled my eyes as I witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.

There was nothing standing in its way, no buildings, no trees, just the beautiful ripples of water, and a few well placed clouds to enhance the experience. I can't explain it, but in that moment as we headed back to port, my heart felt mended.

In the eye of...

     THE STORM. Where I live, is what is commonly referred to as Tornado Alley. This past week has proven this statement to be a true. I have lived in a few locations that seem to be a part of  this imaginary passage within which the weather seems keen on producing these behemoth storms. In Texas I stared one down. Softball sized hailstones pelted the ground as a black ominous cloud roared toward me. I was lucky to  have a friend who had a basement I could take shelter in. It is terrifying yet, on some levels absolutely captivating to watch as the storms roll in.
     I have always been enamored by the weather. I had a fifth grade science teacher who taught us about the different types of clouds and at that time I thought it would be fun to become a meteorologist. After watching one of my local stations during the recent outbreak, I am glad I didn't choose that field of study. The poor guy was on the air for a day and a half...I can't imagine what I would look like if I had to stay awake that long.
     Every corner of our wonderful nation has it's own issues with weather. The coastlines have hurricanes, the mountainous areas and northern states have snow...TONS of snow. The deserts have the scorching heat and droughts. You get the picture. Each have their ideas of what the other states face...but how many of these ideas are misconceptions? Here are a list of the top misconceptions or myths about tornadoes and how to survive.
1. Bridges and overpasses are safe places to ride out a tornado if you are on the road. The thought is the concrete barrier will somehow protect you from the intense winds. WRONG. The strength of the wind can actually intensify as it condenses and can still catch you and carry you away, plus a pile up of cars parked under the overpass is just asking for a car accident.
2. Opening a window will help save your home. The idea is that opening the windows would somehow equalize the pressure. It sounds somewhat interesting in theory but is completely WRONG. Tornadoes come baring high winds along with all sorts of debris, that can take out an entire house. Opening a window does absolutely nothing to prevent that from happening.
3. Lying in a ditch can protect you from a tornado. Um...this is so wrong on so many levels. I think this is born out of the idea of finding the lowest level possible to seek shelter.  The lowest level of a sturdy building  or storm shelter will always be better protection than running for a ditch. Now, if you are out in the middle of an open space with nowhere else to go, a ditch would be the lowest area but that is not going to protect you from the massive vortex that is produced from a tornado. Plus, tornadoes usually are accompanied by a large amount of rain so you would be putting yourself in danger of drowning from lying in a ditch...moving on
4. Tornadoes don't hit largely populated areas. Where this idea came from, I haven't a clue. Tornadoes can hit anywhere and everywhere if the conditions are right. Large cities that have been hit include, St. Louis(several times in fact), Indianapolis, Miami, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Chicago just to name a few.
5. Tornadoes only occur in the spring. WRONG AGAIN! Although spring and fall have more of a drastic temperature fluctuation from surface air and atmospheric air, which aid in the formation of tornadoes, they can happen any time of year.
     How's that for a quick science lesson?
These are just a few of the myths and misconceptions, trust me there are many more where these came from.

     Now, what do you do if you are faced with a tornado? Most of us in Tornado Alley think we have this drill down pat, but chances are we don't. Here are some things to remember before the tornado hits. Stay weather aware especially during the high tornado season. Have a plan in place of what you would do. Have a weather radio and flashlight available in case the electricity goes out. Know what to look for when a storm hits. If you have a shelter, have it stocked with water, first aid supplies, a flashlight, weather radio, and non perishable readily edible foods. This is in the event you have to wait for help.
1. If you have a tornado shelter or basement...GO! Don't go outside and video the thing barreling at you. If it's a daylight or walk out basement, put as many walls between you and the exterior wall as possible
2. If you don't have a shelter or basement and you are home, go to the most interior room in the house, away from external walls and windows, get down as low as you can and cover up with mattresses or blankets or anything that would somewhat protect you from flying and falling debris.
3. Public locations such as shopping centers, usually have a protocol they follow, LISTEN TO THEM. Most have designated areas for storm shelters. If not, again, find an interior area away from exterior walls and windows and get down and cover up.
4. If you are driving, good luck! I have been caught in a traffic jam with a tornado siren blaring through my window.  But, chances are, if you see bad weather coming you will have your radio on and have some kind of warning. Seek shelter in a sturdy building if possible to ride out the storm. If you can tell what the path of the storm is, you can head the opposite direction but tornadoes can be tricky so this isn't a great option. If you don't have time,  here is what the experts say. Seek a low lying open area away from trees and bridges or overpasses. Park your car. Keep your seat belt on. Roll your windows up. Duck down and protect your head. 

Stay safe my friends!

History in the making

     Let me make something perfectly clear right out of the gate. I am not a history buff. I don't think I learned much in history my classes. I am not much for geography either and couldn't tell you much about where certain countries are or their social skills and currency. That being said, I highly recommend doing historical trips. I had the opportunity to take a trip to New York and Pennsylvania a while back. As I was researching where we would be going I mapped out what I would like to see. Sit back, this week is going to be a bit long.
     Our first stop was Niagara Falls.
     Now I am a sucker for any kind of waterfall anyway so this was a given. If there is a waterfall within 50 miles of where I am going, I want to see it. To stand in the presence of such power and beauty was absolutely mind boggling plus knowing that it spans between the U.S. and Canada was also an interesting fact.

But it was just our first stop on our very interesting historical trip. We drove from Buffalo, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WOW, who knew Philadelphia was such a cool place. Now, I may not be a history buff but I love to look at OLD buildings and Philadelphia has some REALLY OLD buildings with some really cool stories. We will get to that in a minute. When we were pulling into Philadelphia there was one stop I had to make! ROCKY! I can hear the music playing now.

The statue used to sit at the top of the stair that he ran in the movie leading up to the art museum you see in the photo. They had to move it because too many people gathered outside the museum and never made into the museum. Too many running the stairs! Why yes, I did run those stairs. I mean who wouldn't? Is this really history though? I mean it's from a movie for crying out loud. Well considering it was written by Sylvester Stallone(a no name at the time) and he starred in the movie that won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 1976, a movie that is now being preserved in the U.S. Film Registry, I would say, yes, yes it is history!
     But if you want history that is studied in school, Philadelphia is PACKED with it.

The Liberty Bell! The bell was made famous because it rang on July 8th, 1776 to call the towns people to town square for the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. It is actually not clear how or when the bell cracked but if you look close you can see a whole section of the bottom of the bell is missing. In 1846 it was taken down because it was too damaged.

Declaration House. This is where Thomas Jefferson lived while he wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Independence Hall. This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed. 

To see the place where your country started, is absolutely fascinating. Our founding fathers walked the streets and lived right here. Ben Franklin is buried here.

This is Elfreth's Ally. The nations oldest residential street. Houses that date back centuries are all over Philadelphia. 

We also had to make a stop in at McGillins Old Ale House. It's the oldest, continually operating pub in the area. It dates back to 1860. It has never shut down! 

Seeing the sights of Philadelphia gave me a love for history and a passion to find other places of historic significance to visit. There is nothing like seeing the actual locations where history was made and walking in the footprints of people who made a difference in our nation and culture.

The Power of LOVE

     Aaaaahhhh..... Love. I love LOVE. I think that is one of the reasons I became a romance writer. Whether it's seeing people holding hands in public, looking at photos of friends getting married, watching a romance on TV or reading it in a romance novel, it's always fun to see people in love, and all romance novels have to end in a happy ending. YAY!!!

     Love, Amour, Aloha, Ai, Agapi, Gra, Leifde, Karlek, Upendo, Lyubit, Liebe, Ask.........in any language, love is a powerful emotion.
     By definition, love means adoration or very strong liking. Who wouldn't want to be adored? Other words for love are devotion, affection, fondness, friendship, passion and respect. All are words that conjure up an idea that someone enjoys your company and likes being around you. I think everyone has a desire to be liked for who they are.

     There are seven different types of Love. This was developed, from what I can tell, through Ancient Greek philosophy.
1.Eros- The hot steamy passionate love for another. This is the romantic soulmate love. The love beyond reason. The fun one to write about in the romance novels!
2.Philia- is a love for another in friendship. A love developed through companionship and trust. This love is the authentic love that knowing you can be your true self and share your true life with the other person.
3. Storge- is the familial love. The kind of love a parent has for their child. It's a love born out of familiarity and something that is unconditional.
4. Agape- The kind of love someone has for strangers, nature or God. This is a love sometimes defined as altruism or a love for the welfare of others
5. Ludus- Is the playful, flirty love. The no strings attached type of love.
6. Pragma- Sexual attraction is not in the forefront of this type of love but instead its more personal qualities, shared goals and making the relationship work. This love is sometimes born out of arranged marriages but can develop into one of the other types of love!
7. Philautia- is a self love. Everyone needs to learn to love themselves for all their quirks and awkwardness, before they can really love someone else. Some may take it a little too far and become arrogant and conceited. This is a love of self in a way of trusting your instincts. Having enough confidence to move forward with decisions you make and not always relying on another.

     When I write my novels, it's like taking a movie playing in my head and putting it on paper. I love watching my characters go from the fun, flirty, playful love into a deeper passionate love.

     I was recently asked by someone what my character's love language was. Do you know your love language? Better yet, do you know the love language of the people you love? Did you know there was such a thing as a love language? I have heard about the love languages many times but I don't know that I've actually explored what they are. So here we go!
1. Affirmation- Does it make your heart explode when someone gives you a compliment? Just by hearing, "Wow, you look amazing!" give you enough happiness to last you a month? If so, maybe affirmation is your main love language.
2. Time- Does it just knock your socks off having someone spend time with you in a good conversation or doing a project together? If that fills your heart up, your love language may be 'time'
3. Gifts- now everyone loves to be the recipient of gifts, and retailers definitely play upon that with their commercials. We all know giving gifts to our loved ones is surely a slam dunk for making them happy but for some, it is their love language. Receiving a gift to them is the perfect way to say I LOVE YOU.
4. Acts of Service- I'm going to be honest here. I think every young couple develops a need for the act of service love language when kids come into the picture. The more their spouse can help them with the day to day craziness of raising kids and trying to keep the house from exploding from laundry and dishes and muddy tracks and dirty diapers... well you get the picture, the more they feel their cup filled. Simple things like loading a dishwasher or taking out the trash or basically taking on a task that the spouse normally handles can mean everything to someone who has been up to their elbows with different crisis' throughout the day.
5. Physical Touch- I am a hugger...most of the time. If  you have the flu don't hug me, but for the most part, I love hugs. I think it has something to do with my southern upbringing. We wouldn't go as far as the kiss on each cheek greeting but hugging was just a way to show a person you were happy to see them. Scientific studies have proven that physical touch from an early age helps develop a healthier emotional life. For me, I think physical touch is up at the top of my love languages. I love it when my hubby holds my hand or gives me hugs. It really has very little to do with intimacy and much more to do with caring. When he holds my hand, it shows me that he enjoys my company, that he wants to be near me, that he cares for me. That means so much to me. Don't get me wrong, I like when he does the other 4 love languages that I spoke of, but ultimately, I love the hugs.

That one song

 
     Passion. When I started this blog, I wanted it to reflect the things I was passionate about, but what exactly does that mean? What is passion? To me, passion is when something or someone spurs an innate spark inside that far exceeds any normal feeling of love. Its something familiar, something ingrained. You can be taught to draw but there are some who have something inside them that spur them to pick up a brush without one lesson and blend colors. You can be taught to cook but for some there is a desire to bring flavors together that create a tasty masterpiece.

     One of the things I have been passionate about my entire life is music. I have this connection to music on a very personal level that is hard to explain. Whether it's Rock, Country, Pop, Christian, Blues, or any other genre, there is something about music that moves me. Some songs I connect with the lyrics, some with the melodies, some with the rhythm and some with the arrangements.  The 70's band KANSAS is one of my all time favorite bands. Their harmonies are phenomenal. Their lyrics are amazing and their music is mind blowing. Music speaks to me. It always has.
   
     My dad was a musician, so I am sure that has something to do with it. Every child wants to have some kind of special connection with their parents. Music was mine with him. He played guitar, drums, bass, piano, trumpet and probably other instruments I didn't know about, and he could sing. I can remember, when I was very young, going to some of his gigs. I was always enamored with his ability. Whether it was that or some deeper genetic ingrained instinct, I was passionate about music.
   
     At around five, I started singing in front of crowds. By eight I was playing the piano. I found I could hear a song and play it without the music in front of me. At twelve I got into the band playing trumpet and at fourteen I got my first guitar, and at fourteen I lost my dad. His death, in a way, put a fire in me that has effected me to this day. After learning how to play the guitar, I started writing songs. Like most fourteen year old girls, most of my songs were about boys.

   
     As I was looking through some old stuff the other day, I found my book of songs. It was a crazy blast from the past. Suddenly I was drawn back to my fourteen year old self. I remembered sitting on stage performing some of my songs. I was petrified to be in front of people performing but the feeling of creating the music, telling the story, releasing that pent up urge was freeing.
   
     My question to you is, what are you passionate about?