Sunday, April 29, 2012

SlantedK Book Feature-rama.


BY DMK 

- This week I am changing it up a bit.
- Oh, there is a surprise, DMK changing it up.

It is well known my criteria for this awesome Book Feature-rama is 
"Sharing the Love," and giving ya'll an opportunity to find places & people to visit.

Keeping with books, I could not make a decision when I was visiting 
"A Little Shelf of Heaven." so today the feature is the book reviewing talent of Kristy. 
She likes owls.


About Kristy - I'd say I'm just a small town girl with big city dreams but how clichéd does that sound? All I want is to get through high school happily and leave knowing I had the best years I could have! Books are my way of getting through this crazy life and I hope to share that with everyone possible! I'm also slightly obsessed with Harry Potter and owls...

Here is a couple Reviews.


 Stop by and giver her a shout out.

Thanks for today's visit, if ya want, feel free to join me any time.

DMK

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Back Stage with Author Rita Emmett


While discussing with Rita the popularity of the 
most recent blog
The discussion came up about the photo in the article.

                                                                        About Rita

In our Blogging world, 5 steps, 13 steps, 4 ways... We wanted to share what fun things can happen when working your “13 Easy Tips for Promoting Your Book ©”

This is a Back Stage Access to an hour of time spent by Rita exposing the kind of commitment she has to getting the job done. Her tenacity to succeed is evident in all that she does.

Why share this?
That’s a fair question.
Big picture thinking can land a wide variety of opportunities.
Speaking begins at libraries, schools, social clubs, grows to corporations, then Cruises, even Hawaii.
Yup, that’s what I said.

This coming Thursday Rita will leave for Honolulu where she will speak to orthodontists. All hotels and meals are covered by the client. The speaker before Rita is Captain Sullenberger, the pilot who landed the plane in the Hudson River.

This little ditty about the pursuit of getting a clear picture of the name of a boat is a good example of the type of person Rita is. She sees signs in everything; is a great motivator and just plain silly.

This is Rita’s tale of the photos,

We were getting on the ship for our cruise. Dad took my picture, we turned around and saw another ship in front of ours (over my right shoulder), and the word on it stunned us.

We both shouted, "We gotta take a picture of this for Dave."

So after a very early start to the day, waiting for and taking a long sweaty bus to the ship, waiting in long sweaty lines to get on board, we got to our cabin, tossed our stuff in, and headed out to take a photo for you.

Our cabin was on the 4th level, and all we had to do was get to the front of the ship to take the picture, but there are signs that say "No Entry." To add to the challenge, the doors are locked (we tried).

A guy says, "Try deck 3."

However, to get to the front of deck 3, we had to run to the middle of the ship, go down the stairs, then run to the front. Gotta hurry cuz the ship in front might leave any minute. Deck 3, blocked also.

Another crewmember says, "Try 9."
We asked if he would go into the locked door and take a picture for us, no he cannot.

We try 9, go down to 5, got sent to 8.
Each time, running to middle of this huge long ship (see pic) and back to the front.



FINALLY, on deck 11 (the very top deck) we got to the front to take the photo.
BUT the front of OUR boat was blocking part of the name.

So 3 days after hearing that SOLSTICE Publishing Co. will publish Dave's book -- out of all the ships in all the world -- the one ship we see is "Olstice".
Well, that's what YOU get to see.



What startled us and began the race to get a photo, was looking in front of our boat and seeing huge letters that spelled SOLSTICE.
So we took the pic, went to our room and collapsed and one minute later it was time for the MANDATORY life boat drill. LOL

~*~

"So our talks have taken us to many beautiful places and we've met some very cool people.
The last cruise/speaking engagement took us to Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt and Malta, and that was all free for both of us." Rita


Well it is true; here @ SlantedK 
we will share just about anything.
Gotta dream big, thanks for stopping in.
SlantedK contains a wide variety of topics,
the archives are calling ;^)

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

13 Easy Tips for Promoting Your Book ©


SlantedK Presents
Guest Author
 Rita Emmett


This is an excerpt from the proposal I sent to publishers when I was trying to get my book 
The Procrastinator's Handbook published. These marketing ideas that I proposed to the publishers can be used or adapted by other authors (including you) to market their books.
PROPOSAL (Excerpt)
So - How Will I Work to Market This Book? ©
1.      Before the release of a book, I will start offering talks on it. When I mention that the book will be out soon, I will collect email addresses of everyone who wants to notification. Once it is released, I will send an email blast to every address I've collected.
2.      At my talks, I will sell books at the back of the room to the people attending the program.
3.      Once I send my email blast, I will offer that anyone on that list can have a free subscription to my "Anticrastination Tip Sheet."  The Tip Sheet will be short with quick and easy tips for breaking the procrastination habit and conquering clutter. 
4.      Schedule any radio, TV, magazine and newspaper interviews that I (or anyone else) can arrange.
5.      Promote book signings and mini-seminars at bookstores that I (or anyone else) can arrange.
6.      Write articles for newspapers, trade and association magazines to mention the book. Through the clients I speak to, I will have access to hundreds of trade magazines.
7.      Requested endorsements from authors who I admire including; Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield, co-authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I have already received an endorsement from Frank McCourt who wrote Angela's Ashes.
8.      Attend a seminar in California in March with Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen on "How to Build Your Writing Empire." This commitment of time (not to mention the cost) will generate a wealth of ideas for marketing this book.
9.      Propose a series of books based on the variety of topics I have developed in my seminars.
10.  Include flyers about the book in the information packets I mail to people interested in my Procrastination Presentation.
11.  Mail out flyers promoting the book to the thousands of names I have been collecting on my data base.
12.  Call my former clients and offer them an opportunity to buy advance copies for their sales force once the publication date is announced.
13.  Arrange for a booth from which I can sell this book, whenever presenting a Keynote to kick off a conference.
14.  Offer workshops on "Conquering Procrastination" to employees of publisher.
15.  Generate "spin-off" products using illustrations, quotes and concepts from the book.
·         Procrastination quote of the week for computers, small book of quotes, CD's, Screen Savers, tapes, calendars and much more
·         How about "The Procrastination Doll"? Wind it up and it sits there and does nothing :)
·         How about "The Procrastination Game"? You buy it, put it on a closet shelf, and never get around to playing it :)
·         How about "The Procrastination-exercise Machine"? You buy it; drape your clothes all over it. It doesn't do anything because nobody will ever use it anyway. Comes in decorator colors :)
~*~

Thank You and until we meet again.
Good Day, eh.
DMK & SlantedK
Twitter eh. @slantedK

Click on
For Some Great Ideas

Sunday, April 22, 2012

SlantedK's Featurerama Book Promotion.


SlantedK's Featurerama Book Promotion!

Here @ SlantedK we believe in sharing the Love.
(SFBP formerly known as Book of the week, eh.)
Thanks for visiting.
DMK 
Follow on Twitter @slantedk




When you read the sub-title about being overwhelmed and over-everythinged, did you feel that this book was written especially for you? It probably was. Here’s the good news. You do not have to accept a life of forever feeling frazzled, frantic and frustrated. 


How often do you think to yourself “So much to do and so little time”? Life does not have to be a constant struggle with stress. 


We often have little control over the demands made upon us, yet we can control our response. That’s where the management of stress must start. 


In this book, you will find quick, simple, easy-to-follow steps that will make sense and help you take back control of your life. 


This is a short, easy read that could turn your whole world around. Do yourself a favor and read this book.



Endorsements

Your book Manage Your Time To Reduce Your Stress --- just like The Procrastinator's Handbook --- came to me during one of the roughest periods of my life when I needed it the most. And both times, your books saved me. Without your recent book, I don't think I would have been able to calm down and settle my thoughts amidst all the chaos of moving from San Francisco to Tokyo. Especially considering that I ended up with jury duty in the midst of it all! But I did have your book, and I was able to manage my time to reduce my stress, just like you said I could. Watch me Rita, I'm going to work your techniques and make you proud!
--- Raiman Au, Japan

Order Book

More Endorsements


Enjoy and be well.
Thanks
DMK
A SlantedK Production

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Got Traffic?



A few bite size takeaways so you can begin implementing an action plan to more visitors.

By DMK 
Follow DMK @ Twitter @slantedk 
SlantedK contains a wide variety of topics, 
the archives are calling ;^)


Traffic, we all know a key ingredient for success to manifest in a brick and mortar business or an e-commerce business relies on people visiting.

Before I start, I must tip my hat to PABlo, the man working hard to educate me in the world of e-commerce. He also runs a Blogger group here in Tucson.  If you are in Tucson and want to turn your blog up a notch, this group is necessary.



There are layers in a successful conversion once the visit counts are exploding. Today I am touching on traffic.

A few bite size takeaways so you can begin implementing an action plan to more visitors. I have read many blogs so I know that there are many opinions. 

Here are the stats that support my points.
I started my Blog SlantedK in Jan. 2012.YTD the traffic count is 2974 at the moment I entered this. (3000 will pass today.)
After working hard at implementing certain points.
The 30-day average Visits are 1426.

Blog everyday a minimum of 250 words.
250 words, what? Not that hard, find your nitch, and write what you know.
1.      Parenthood
2.      Writing
3.      Cooking
4.      Health
5.      Self Help is popular
6.      If you are already on Twitter, what are the topics of the groups you are in?

If you look at my blog one may say, “You don’t Practice what you preach, every day?” I will admit because I drive a truck I don’t get content out every day, I am still working towards that goal, that is what it is, a goal. Stated above, I am assisting you in “A few bite size takeaways so you can begin implementing an action plan to more visitors.” It puts emphasis on the technique; I believe my traffic will continue to increase as I personally fulfill the goals stated here. The numbers are not a bad start.
That brings me to another point.
·         Tweet
Because I have a stockpile of content, on the days I cannot get something new up I promote past topics. You would be surprised how the traffic matches the days I do entries.
·         Re-Tweet, read the work of others and re-tweet. (Be careful of the spammers.)
·         If you follow someone, follow him or her. Check there blogs, comment and tweet.
Guest Bloggers.
·         This is a big help in getting content out consistently. (Again be careful.)
Content
·         Edit, make your writing professional and an extension of yourself. You are not just driving visitors you are starting relationships with other businesses & people.

I little bit to digest, it does work.
DMK
Have a Great Day ;^)

PABlo Bley gets all the credit. I simply put the words together to bring you a nibble of knowledge. His passion and proven work speaks for itself.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Satire or Reality?


YES

Q. Does this paragraph make me sound stupid?
A. The paragraph has nothing to do with it.

Q. Will you read this for me?
A. Will you listen to what I say?

Q. Can I ask you a question?
A. You can ask.

Q. Will you answer my question?
A. Not with what you want to hear.

Q. Do you wanna do something tonight?
A. As long as nothing is something.

Can anyone relate?


Well, reality on the flat screen is not reality, if reality was real, then who would watch? We look at produced reality and get entertained. Some anyway, to me it is fingernails on a chalkboard. Fiction & reality clearly blurred the line as of late.
What is missing? Creativity in my opinion, remember, “Married with Children”? That was more reality than today’s version; it fell into that sad but true thing, eh? (Laughed my butt off.)





Is it so hard to be creative today? 

I do not understand, with so many authors out there that pour their heart into every project, we tolerate the dribble tossed on the screen. I, by no means lump everything into that statement. There is quality out there; I just think we should not have to work so hard to find it.
   
Anyone who follows SlantedK knows that the more obscure the better for me. I can’t wait to see the Three Stooges, I will wait for the DVD.
Why?
The theater is gouging us in excess. (That is another rant.)

Tell me, what are you rambling about today?
Is it wrong to ramble about rambling?

Exactly, to write, we live in the world of our minds. Nothing has to make sense, then once we re-read and edit what we write we need to make sense out of it.

Make sense?

Exactly.

To pass you will need to bring me a shrubbery!
What Movie?




We writers live in the world of fiction, reality that seems real; however, it is not reality. Yet when engulfed in the story, reality has nothing to do with it, or does it?

Through the mind’s eye, I feel and look no different from any given year. A gaze into the mirror and the smack of gray breaks reality.

Reality or Satire?

Are we talking about the ramblings of a fiction writer or the visions of the demented and insane? Is there a difference between a parent of two, entering two and a half decades of such and thirty years in a great relationship with one woman?

Or, is it one and the same?   
Entertainment?
Satire or Reality?

Cheers, Ya’ll!
I love hanging with every one of ya!
DMK
A SlantedK Production

Sunday, April 15, 2012

SlantedK’s Featurerama Book Promotion!

This Week I Present to You a Non-Fiction Work.
By Richard Biggs


Here @ SlantedK we believe in sharing the Love.
Thanks for visiting.
DMK
There Is no Hope Here

In the dark arena of poverty, There Is No Hope Here 
takes you deep into the Appalachian Mountains of 
eastern Kentucky where for decades ambitious 
politicians and greedy businessmen have 
manipulated the poor for their own agendas. Facing 
great odds and danger, a remarkable woman's love 
overcomes prejudices and fears to forever change 
the lives of those who have become known as the 
forgotten Americans.


Excerpt from Chapter 1

Early Lessons---Knoxville, Tennessee

Within thirty minutes after her father had returned from the doctor, he called her inside
and told her he was going to die. Not in those exact words but even at nearly seven she was
smart enough to read between the lines. What he had said was that he might have to go
somewhere with Jesus, which she already knew meant he was going to heaven.
“Daddy, what if I don’t want you to go?” Julie said, eyeing him closely.
Her mother was the next to try. “Sometimes God needs people like your daddy,” Mary
Ellen said. She didn’t know what else to say. Her husband was thirty-one and diagnosed with
testicular cancer. The doctor gave him an outside chance of living three months. “So He calls
them to be with Him.”
“He can choose someone else,” Julie said, defiantly.
“It’s not that I want to go but I don’t have a choice,” her father said. “Do you understand
what I’m saying?”
She understood, all right. God was bullying her around and taking her father away. That
was as plain as the nose on her face.
“Your grandfather always says that God has a plan in everything He does,” Mary Ellen
said.
Julie threw her arms around her daddy’s neck. “I don’t want you to die!”
But he did. The year was 1968.

New Authors or Seasoned Pro's
SlantedK Believes in Sharing the Love.
Follow Richard's link if you wish to extend further communications.
Thank You
Have a Great Day.
DMK

Saturday, April 14, 2012

G-Baby Portraits 'R' In

I present to you the official Easter Portraits of my 
Grand-Daughter Keleigh.



Brought to you By Ken, Brit, and SlantedK.



Political Correctness Run Amuck



Old School vs. New School
BY DMK 
A SlantedK Production 
Find DMK on Twitter @slantedk 

Everything can be dealt with applying reason, really?

A parent for decades and a manger for a respectful portion of my life I have come to the above conclusion. Nicey McNice, and happy go lucky techniques, in my experience do not produce the equal amount of results compared to the time invested in correcting an issue. However, in the business world it is not in the best interest of the company to manage in such a manner other than Nicey McNice and feel good Freddy.

Parenthood today, oh my, quiet time? Quiet time is when the nest empties, am I wrong?

The business world: New School.

The problem, Jimmy McStiff, 3 out of 5 days is not accomplishing his on time arrival status, his hour lunch has grown to one and a half hours and he logs off his phone 45 minutes before the end of his shift.
First, the now dubbed “proper technique:”
A knock on the office door, “come in Jimmy, have a seat.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
“No Sir necessary, Dave is fine. Today we are going to touch on a couple topics in your thirty-day review. Do you have any questions before we begin?”

“Yes actually, can we get flavored coffees at the coffee station?”

“Well, that is something I can look into. I would like to paint a scenario and we can then discuss. In our organization, we have an obligation to attend to the needs of our clients customers. To do so, we staff this call center based on something called a schedule forecaster. Do you remember that part of your training?”
“Yes, yes I do, it was covered in detail.”
“Good, I like to hear that. Anyway, you also know the leadership chain here, me, my assistant and our five team leaders?”
“Yes, the chain of command.”
“Again, good, the training department is providing a valuable service. Ok, Jimmy, for the sake of this conversation, let us put you in the position of a team leader. One of your new associates is developing a less than positive habit of late arrival, extended lunches and on occasion, clock watching at the end of the day. The reason this is manifesting into an issue is that the remainder of the team has to pick up the slack. My question to you is; in what manner would you approach this individual to rectify the growing problem?”

“Am I getting promoted, Sir, I mean Dave?”

What are the chances this technique will result in Jimmy McStiff changing course?

Do you think this might work? Old School.

“Come on in, Jimmy, have a seat.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Jimmy, I am gonna get to the point. Since you came out of training you have been unable to get to work on time, you have been taking more time for lunch than provided and at the end of the day you have become a professional clock watcher.
“Now listen, in this last week I figure you have stolen at least five hours from this company, I am writing you up with the specifics, I am docking you five hours from this check and if you do not STOP, this behavior as soon as Monday YOU ARE FIRED! Do you understand!”
“Yes, yes I do.”

Now which effort will produce the desired result? Am I wrong?
~*~
In parenthood, it is no different. 
I openly communicate with my sons so I know this tale will not hurt anyone’s feelings.
Same, same as above.
Talk until your blue in the face trying to guide the young one in the ways necessary to succeed. Yet repeatedly the conversation sounds like a broken record, and so do the results.

Change in game plan. “Here is the deal, Son, I am cutting you off. No more gas money and I am no longer paying your insurance. Get a job or walk.”

The result of that conversation was not expected. He moved from Tucson back to Illinois. Long short, it was a ruff restart for him, however, he got two jobs bought his own car, got his own insurance and is going back to school. I asked him what made the difference? “The kick in the ass from you and your brother, (the person he is currently living with,) If I didn’t get off my ass he was throwing my ass out.”
~*~
The proof is in the puddn’ yet still handcuffed with PC, eh. Don’t want to get sued.

Now for something totally different.
Here is a closing joke, Have a Great Day!

A man staggered home late after another evening with his drinking buddies.
Shoes in left hand to avoid waking his wife, he tiptoed as quietly as he could toward the stairs leading to their upstairs bedroom, but misjudged the bottom step in the darkened entryway. As he caught himself by grabbing the banister, his body swung around and he landed heavily on his rump.

A whiskey bottle in each back pocket broke and made the landing especially painful.

Managing to suppress a yelp, he sprung up, pulled down his pants and examined his lacerated and bleeding cheeks in the mirror of a nearby darkened hallway, then managed to find a large full box of band aids before proceeding to place a patch as best he could on each place he saw blood.

After hiding the now almost empty box, he managed to shuffle and stumble his way to bed.

In the morning, he awakens with screaming pain in head and butt to find his wife st aring at him from across the room, and hears her say: "You were drunk again last night!!!"

Forcing himself to ignore his agony, he looked meekly at her and replied:
"Now Hon, why would you say such a mean thing?"

"Well," she said, "there is the front door left open, the glass at the bottom of the stairs, the drops of blood trailing through the house, and your bloodshot eyes but, mostly....it's all those band aids stuck on the downstairs mirror!" 

more jokes at dailyjokes.co

Thanks for stoppin' in.
BY DMK 
SlantedK Production 
Find DMK on Twitter @slantedk 

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Can We Have Fun?


A SlantedK Prouction
By DMK

A blogger/writer pours their heart and soul into the trade, and in my psychosis; I always seem to have the need to first scream then laugh. Then I can step forward and assemble thought. 

Can we have fun?

Titles are important and require an inventive train of thought. 

In sales, one has ten seconds to make a positive impression, just to make it to the next segment of time, the thirty seconds that hold the power of success or failure. Same with marketing our product, the headline is important. Have you ever read the headline and then thought to yourself, “huh.”

I like nonsense, Mel Brooks, Monte Python, National Lampoon and the likes of such. (New Three Stooges, oh my!)

Therefore, fun.

Rambling about a topic and discussing that which has no relevance, can in some way produce intrigue.

In a study of off shore fishermen, a discovery found that bowling was not a sport practiced during expeditions.

The fact that a fisherman cannot bowl while fishing has brought scientists together to find a solution to the anxieties experienced due to the event of bowling being void from the daily activity of off shore fishermen. In an attempt to replicate the effect, bowling has on the mind; they attempted to have shuffleboard introduced during deep water fishing expeditions. 

This was a complete failure; studies proved that the high seas were not conducive to the atmosphere required to bowl or compete in shuffleboard. In a valiant attempt to give attention to and provide a solution to the disturbing statistics of not bowling on the high seas, the same scientists installed bad mitten nets on three boats.

Each rig had a designated scientist and independent auditor.

After Months of research, it has been a challenge to determine and solidify the results. Due to the strange anomaly, that there is no success in locating any of the three research teams.

Fishing continues without a solution to the deficiency of not bowling. 

One anonymous individual was willing to let a reporter from the institute interview him. He simply said. “Those dumb asses got thrown overboard, really, bad mitten?” This statement is without confirmation.  


Thanks Ya'll.
Have a Great Day!
Find me at Twitter @slantedk

Monday, April 9, 2012

Are You A Low-Tech Person In A High-Tech World?



&

Rita is a Guest Author @ SlantedK

HIGH TECH CLUTTER BUSTING

Are You A Low-Tech Person In A High-Tech World?

      In the first computer class I ever took, they opened by teaching us to hit control + home to go to the top of a page, and control + end to get to the bottom.

      It was an all-day class. The next day, all I knew to do was Ctrl + home, and Ctrl + end.

       A year later, that’s still all I knew, but I had learned that I’m not good at absorbing a day’s worth of computer knowledge all at one sitting.

       If you still use your word processor like a fancy typewriter or your data system like a high-tech-rolodex, find someone who has mastered a program you use and ask her to teach you new tips every so two weeks or so. That will give you time to practice your new tips before moving on to another one.

       Also, there are some things you MUST learn. If you feel overwhelmed, type out the various steps to each skill or find someone who will help you with each of these.

Learn to:

1.    Run a full system scan using your Anti-virus software
2.    Back up your files
3.    Purge frequently
Every so often, clear out temporary Internet files, cookies, recycle bin, old unnecessary and deleted emails, etc. Also learn to run scandisk and defrag. (All of these speed up your computer)
4.    Set up a pop-up blocker
5.    Get an anti-spam utility or set up filters
6.    Not give out personal information
If a website asks for personal info to enter the site, and you do not want to provide it, create an email account with one of the free email sites such as Hotmail or Yahoo. When signing up for this email account, don’t give your real information. Then when a website asks you to sign in, use the fake email account. That way, you will not be bombarded with spam and no personal info will have been given out.
7.    Report SPAM
8.    Have your computer give you reminders
Most databases and email programs have a calendar where you can set up reminders that will practically tap you on the shoulder any time you want it to and it will tell you what to do.

     If you don’t understand some of these, it’s important for you to get someone to help you. Learning ANY of these will make your life SO much easier.



       Rita Emmett is a "Recovering Procrastinator", a Professional Speaker, and best-selling author of The Procrastinator’s Handbook;  and The Clutter-Busting Handbook.
For more articles on this subject, go to www.RitaEmmett.com

      To subscribe to her free monthly “Anticrastination Tip Sheet” with quick short tips & ideas to help break the procrastination habit, go to the first page of her website  www.RitaEmmett.com


Have a Great Day
DMK

Sunday, April 8, 2012

SlantedK's Featurerama Book Promotion!


SlantedK's Featurerama Book Promotion!

Here @ SlantedK we believe in sharing the Love.
(SFBP formerly known as Book of the week, eh.)
Thanks for visiting.
DMK
Follow on Twitter @slantedk 
This week is something different.
The book is FREE!
And it is about food, and who does not have a soft spot in their heart for food.

I present to you a cookbook filled with a collection of recipes from the many authors at Solstice Publishing.

Cooking with Solstice Publishing Vol.1 & 2



As a special bonus for taking the time to visit my blog, I am including love letter excerpts from my coming book, 
From the Ashes. 
To set the scene, the main character David Murphy, as a child watched his father leave for the civil war. On a regular basis letters would come back from the frontline. Since my blog this week was “The Many Masks of Love”  I thought this to be a good fit. Enjoy.
From Chapter Two
I was seven in 1861

To my Love:
The day turns into night
As the sun sets
As a flower wilts
My soul longs for you
In the blood and coldness of war
My love for you warms my soul
I close my eyes and see your face
I breathe deep and smell the lilacs
You are the anchor of my soul
Without you tomorrow has no value
My thoughts of you are the heartbeat of my soul
I long for your touch, your beauty
The smell of your perfume
Your kiss, your hug
You are the anchor of my soul
I will always love you.

Kiss, Kiss, my Cherry Blossom, I will see both of you soon!

Mom so wanted us to be together again. Dad only wrote about the good things, he would tell of his friends, the laughs they would have around the fire, how bad the food was, sleeping under the stars and so on. He would mention the battle, only in the fact he was always running the rebels back. I thought it was the greatest.
     Another letter arrived.

To My Love:
Since that day I met you; my heart has been yours!
The golden lace on your white dress
The deep red of your lips
Your gorgeous deep brown eyes
Your hair, your lovely, lovely hair
Your soft skin, the skin of an angel

These are the thoughts that cleanse my soul.
PS
Today I saw Ben from the lumberyard, he is still wearing grey, across from our position I could see him manning the cannon.  It is quiet today, no bloodshed, and no hatred.  I do not know if Ben saw me but I know I hope our paths do not come that close again during this war.  It will never be too soon for this war to end.
I remember the day I met Bill. He moved from Arkansas to find work in the big city. He never let that accent go. It’s funny how we remember certain things.
Tell David I acquired a new Henry Rifle, accurate as hell.

Kiss, Kiss, my Cherry Blossom, I will see both of you soon!


Thank so much for your continued visits.
A tip of my hat to ya.
DMK
A SlantedK Production


Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Many Masks of Love



By DMK 
Follow DMK @ Twitter @slantedk 

Two young teens sat in a theater, Ghost Story on the screen. He got up the nerve to put his arm around her, leaned left, lifted his right arm and set it on her shoulder, she accepted, success.

Not sure on how to graciously pull it back once the tingle began, the arm fell asleep and stayed in that position for the rest of the movie. Asleep for nearly two hours, excruciating pain not detected externally, too much riding on the date, she leaned forward at the credits and the arm fell, blood began flowing.

~*~

One-year rolled by, her heart torn and shattered, and a very hard decision made. “Your smothering me, we need to take a break from each other.” Dejected, she was right, that did not ease the pain.
Four months later, passion rekindled.

Four years later, The Little White Church, packed to capacity. The young teens in that movie theater are now the King and Queen of the ceremony. The Bride adorned in the most beautiful dress is ravishing. The Groom, dressed in a white on white Long Tail Tuxedo.

“You may kiss the Bride.”

Gently he lifted the veil, exposing the face of his lovely bride. He cupped her face with both hands; his left thumb wiped a single tear from her cheek. He leaned in and they gently kissed, then he whispered, “I will love you always.”



~*~

The heated flames of passion bring forth a family.
Father time shows no mercy, gives no reprisal. Infants become boys.

“The answer is no! You are, grounded!” The father hurts and cannot waver, the child angry.

A trip to Disney and the dancing fountains.



Christmas Morning, two young boys witnessed one single, very large box, in amazement they tore into it for what seemed to be hours. Miles of smiles illuminated that day.

~*~

“It’s always my fault! EVERYTHING I DO IS WRONG!”

The bedroom door slammed, the back door followed, glass shattered, in the garage he sat in the car and screamed, “WHY!” Palms to his eyes, he breaks down in sorrow and shame.

Back in the bedroom, she curled into a ball, clutching a tear soaked pillow, emotionally distressed, she whispered. “Don’t leave.”

~*~

The flame has now flickered into the third decade. Saturday afternoon dates at the same restaurant. She smiled and they laughed. Reflecting on days past and sitting in the moment.
They tipped their glasses, smiled and he whispered.
“Love Ya Babe.”

Thank You for stopping in.
DMK 
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Thank so much for your continued visits.
A tip of my hat to ya.
DMK
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