Steampunk Granny’s Day of Writers and Frighters

                                                             

Congratulations! You’re a writer, and you’ve published your first book, but the really hard part is just beginning. You have to get your little tush out there and sell yourself and your book. It’s not easy to wear different hats: author; marketing; vendor, and if you’re an introvert, then the marketing part can be physically and emotionally daunting.

                                                                

I’m working on the fourth book of my Roof Oasis Series so I speak from experience. Yesterday was spent with two writer friends selling their debut novels followed by a trip to Cherry Hill’s Monster Mania. Did I have fun? You better believe it.

Author Fair at Deptford

Deptford Mall in Deptford NJ was hosting a Book Expo and I wanted to drop by and support two of the authors: William Howard and Tom Minder. William is a science fiction writer like me, and this is the first book of his series called The Eye of Hermes. I did an interview with William Howard about his book and you can check it out here. The Eye of Hermes is a dystopian tale about two criminals on a prison asteroid who must join forces against a powerful enemy. You can buy the book on Amazon, or you can come out and see the author in person on March 25 at the Treehouse Coffee Shop in Audubon NJ.

                                                        

Tom Minder’s book is a suspense thriller called The Long Harbor Testament. The story is about an unholy alliance between a priest, a detective and a mob boss who join forces to solve a murder. You can purchase the book on Amazon or meet the author in person on April 8^th at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Delaware.

Monster Mania

The last time I was at Monster Mania in Cherry Hill NJ, I have the pleasure to meet several cast members from “The Walking Dead” I wrote a post about my experience of meeting, Tyreese, Carl, Beth and Hershel on Biff Bam Pop and you can read about it here.

                                                           

 

I wanted to say hello to a few of my friends who were vendors at this big event. One of the vendors was Dave Nagy of Dave’s Dark Realm and besides wearing his products, he sells them to film companies and special effects crews.

   

                                                          
                                                          
I also met with friends from Jersey Paranormal Investigations. They are having a big event “Peg Leg’s Paracon on September 16, 2017 that will benefit the Red Mill in Clinton NJ. The event will be held at 56 Main Street in Clinton. Here is the Facebook page for the event.
                                                           

 

Monster Mania featured well known stars like John Cusack, Louise Fletcher, Nick Castle, Ashley Bell and a few cast members from Stranger Things. My favorite was Louise aka Nurse Ratched from the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. What a beautiful and classy lady!

                                                          

Heads Up for a Psychic Dinner Event

                                                              

On March 14^th, come to a Psychic Dinner at Bahama Breese Island Grille in Cherry Hill. The featured gifted Psychic Medium will be Judy Dingler. The event begins at 5:30 pm

Are you open to gaining valuable insight about your past, present or future? Would you like to hear from a loved one who has crossed over into the spirit world? Do you want to have an enjoyable dining experience with stimulating conversation? If so, then come to this fun and enlightening event. The event will be held in a private dining room where Psychic Medium Judy Dingler will give messages to the attendees after they have dined. Judy Dingler has been a Psychic Medium for the past twenty-four years. She is able to help people connect with their loved ones, guides and teachers during gallery readings. Judy also shares messages that assist attendees in all the important aspects of their lives.

In addition to being a Psychic Medium, Judy is a meditation facilitator, Reiki teacher and the Founder of “Gathering Together,” a bi-weekly get-together for spiritual seekers held in Blackwood, NJ. She also teaches intuitive development classes. Her warm, down-to-earth personality combined with Judy’s unique blend of knowledge and experience, make her highly sought after by a wide range of clients.

 

                                                                       

                                                             

This even is for women and men, friends, couples, families and anyone over the age of 18. If you come with friends, we will seat you together. Dinner is from 5:30 to 7:30 with the gallery readings starting from 7:30 to 9:00

For more information, and to buy a ticket, visit this site. Steampunk Granny will be there to help Host Stacy Joyce with the seating arrangements

Your host for the Psychic Dinners is Stacy Joyce who is a Psychic herself, and the Producer of thePsychic & Healing Expo held every March and September at the Holiday Inn in Cherry Hill, NJ.

The Osmosis of Malicious Nature

                                                         

I waited a while before posting this article because I wanted to see where we are going as a nation. I should have titled this blog “Birds of a Feather” because this has to do with how we see ourselves and how others see us by the company we keep.

Osmosis: is the spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides. ... Osmosis is a vital process in biological systems, as biological membranes are semipermeable...

                                                            

Birds: Why do birds flock together? Scientists believe that birds tend to fly and hang out together in flocks because there’s safety in numbers and flocking together helps birds stay safe from predators.

People behave the same way. People with same tastes and similar ideologies tend to spend lots of time together. This flocking of people in designated groups helps insulate them from criticism from other groups. For example, I am very into ghost investigations. There are many people who don’t believe in ghosts and I would find myself up for ridicule if I did not have a safety net of people with the same belief in the theory of an active afterlife.

                                                              

Sometimes the process of osmosis and flocking is beneficial for people as it is with married couples and families in general. When people are first married, they bring along their own individual ideals and dreams. But over time, those married couples evolve into a new creature; one that shares values.

The disturbance to osmosis and flocking usually appears when the offspring of said married couples develop their own ideologies that are in sharp contrast to their parents. It’s called life and that’s okay. It’s better to be a civilization of free thinkers than blind followers. The majority of the time, these young dissenters will point out the antiquated osmosis (ideologies) that kept their parents insulated from the world around them. The flock then has the opportunity to change direction and begin to include other species at their waterhole. Inclusion and acceptance is always good for everyone.

Osmosis of Politics

The threat to all ideologies is eminent when a mutation happens to certain birds nesting at a particular waterhole. This mutative thinking or bigotry begins to spread because all the birds of let’s say the Cuckoo species looks upon the other birds as intruders...or worse...less worthy than them.

                                                           

The Cuckoos will then begin a slow, manipulative method of destroying all birds at that waterhole that do not assimilate into the new world order. With the constant use of conspiracy theories and the constant shaming of those birds that resist joining the flock, the Cuckoos slowly destroy the ecology of the waterhole forever.

Conclusion

Can this happen in real life? Yes! We see it happening with Trump and his cabinet that consists mostly of people who have shown in the past that they are intent on destroying anything that protects the environment, education and the survival of the American middle class. They hate the poor and dehumanize anyone who thinks or looks differently than them. Maybe Trump isn’t a person of bigotry, but if the flock he’s getting his advice from is tolerant of bigotry then Trump by association will be held responsible. Is Trump a subscriber to the Alt-right ideology? What exactly is Alt-right?

Alt-right: Bannon once described Breitbart News in an interview with the Investigative Fund as the “platform for the alt-right”. Alt-right is far-right conservatism that embraces and promotes white nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny. The article, which I’ll include here, goes on to say that Breitbart does concede in that article that neo-Nazis or “1488ers” make up part of the alt-right. Like I’ve stated above...the Cuckoos are slowly destroying the waterhole forever.

“1488ers”

This is the description that I found explaining this group. It is the term given to the hardcore racists who populate the movement, though in smaller numbers. They believe in the radical and violent eradication of minority groups from the USA. The first part of the term is a reference to a 14 word, new Nazi slogan, while the second part of the number -88- refers to the eighth letter of the alphabet “H” which put together stands for “Heil Hitler”   

Is Trump a follower of Alt-right ideology? If not, then Trump will need to explain in clear and concise language to the entire nation why he picked Bannon for his cabinet. And it better make sense to us on why our president is hanging with haters. If it walks, talks, and flocks like a Cuckoo, then it’s a flocking Cuckoo! End of discussion!

                                                              

 

How do we fight this mindset of entitlement, hate and bigotry? The other birds (Republicans and Democrats alike) need to stand together and protest against any signs of hatred coming from this administration. The Free Press must be diligent in reporting only the truth and holding themselves to a higher level of journalism. We Americans must hold our representatives in Congress to the fire and demand that they explain the policies coming from the White House. And, if these policies are harmful to us as a nation, then these representatives in Congress are duty bound to protect all the other birds at the waterhole.

                                                             

Because in the end...it will be where Congress places its loyalty that will give proof to what flock they’d prefer to associate themselves with. Will they stand with...us or the Cuckoos? The ball is in your court Messieurs Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell.

Side note: I wish to offer my sincerest apology to the cuckoo bird species for using them as an example for this story.

The Foils of Nature on the Family Car

                                                             

                                               

 

I love nature and so does my husband, Dan. After growing up and living in Philly most of our lives, my husband and I were ready to live alongside the plentiful Jersey flora and fauna. We even built a beautiful pond in our back yard to encourage the visit of woodland creatures. Life was good as we added all types of beautiful trees and plants that attracted humming birds, bees and butterflies.

Then it happened!

My husband’s pride and joy...his GMC Terrain had been invaded...but Dan found out the hard way that this invasion had even taken place the day his car began to act up. You can imagine my husband’s surprise after taking his car to Jim Reid’s Auto Repair Shop. A few important engine wires had been chewed in half.

                                                            

 

After the car was fixed, my husband was told to put some moth balls around the engine to keep all furry critters away from the engine and wires. The moth balls had no effect on the critters, but I began to smell like a dry cleaning service every time I used the car.

Killer Squirrel

After several trips to the Reid Auto Repair shop to repair more chewed up wires, my husband bought an animal trap. Dan’s mission was to catch the little bugger and drop him off in a park far, far away. He put the cage inside the engine, and inside the cage he placed a few crackers with peanut butter.

                                                          

   

Then he waited. The next day, the cage was empty, but the crackers were gone. There was a note from the squirrel. It was a menu for its next meal. Jersey squirrels are known for their sense of humor, but my husband wasn’t laughing.

                                                         

 

It took two days of empty traps and continuous damage to the engine wires before my husband finally caught the squirrel. It was huge. When caught, the squirrel was wearing a tee shirt that said, “Make my day!”

Conclusion

My husband took the squirrel for a long ride. He didn’t want the squirrel to easily find its way home. Killer Squirrel is now living at a nice park, and hopefully, Killer Squirrel has forgotten where we live. Just to play it safe, hubby is leaving the trap under the hood for a few more days.

                                                         

 

I didn’t have the heart to tell my husband that I’ve recently noticed a few chipmunks surveying the car. I better get that box of moth balls from the garage. We might be very busy with potential squatters.

 

                                                                  

A Message of Love to President Obama and President Trump

                                                                   

Thank you for 8 years of service to the American people, President Obama. I'm wishing you the best of everything for you and your beautiful family as you start out on your new journey.

I will ask GOD to guide President Trump in his duties and for GOD's nonjudgmental love for all his children to be a gentle reminder for President Trump that the American people come before all corporations, all churches and all banks.

                                                                

                                                             

President Trump may you have only love and compassion for every single person in America. May you do all in your power to stop the hatred that is dividing this country by remembering that you are a servant to the American people and that we will rally around you if you do right for all of us.

When no child goes to bed hungry, when no American is denied medical treatment and when the elderly are not forgotten or treated as disposables. When we are valued as children of the Universe regardless of race, sex, sexual identity, nationality or economic status, America will become a true beacon of Love and Tolerance to the entire world.

Identifying GOD

                                                            

 

Do I believe in GOD? Yes, with my whole heart and soul. But, do I believe that GOD is this old man living up in the clouds? That is what I was taught as a child, but as I grew older and witnessed the horrors that men commit against each other, I’ve become cynical of the teachings of religion.

How I ask, can a Creator that not only made us, but all life throughout the Universe be okay with us hating another one of his creatures? Why would a powerful Creator subscribe to one religion using murder and terrorism to attack others? Why would this Creator subscribe to the speeches of hate that have been in the news lately?

The answer is simple: The Creator does not endorse negativity of any type, shape or form. The Creator is the ultimate life force and as a life force, His mission and motto is “BE and let BE.”  And yet, here we are ready to kill in his name.

Who is GOD?

GOD is certainly not the myth of religions. God is pure energy and pure love. His energy is what created the universe and all the life forms that are evolving on all the planets that are scattered through the universes and, through the different dimensions.

Early man had no way of understanding the depth or range of the universe and mankind certainly had no way of understanding that everything, including themselves, was made up of the Creator’s life-force-energy and because he didn’t, he made up stories to explain this power. He gave GOD a name; many names to be exact. Mankind went about building temples of gold where daily sacrifices were offered to the GOD of many names. When the temples weren’t enough, Man began a methodical indoctrination of the masses.

It was all about power and control, but with the threat of an eternity spent in hell, lay people were coerced into following the laws of the many religions. For the lay people, the laws were hard to bear upon their shoulders, but for the leaders of religion, they had found Nirvana: willing slaves that followed their every instruction. Any dispute was treated as heresy and, the solution was often a painful public death. All the while, wars continued to be fought in the name of God, while the poor and the vulnerable were mowed under the wheels of the war machine.

Here we are in the year 2017 and the people of Earth are no closer to peace and harmony than they were since they crawled out of that primordial soup of evolution. Do we place the blame at God’s door? Because, after all, he is all powerful and we were promised by our religious leaders that if we followed the “True” religion, we would be saved.

Maybe...the problem is with us...maybe we are looking for God in all the wrong places...maybe science can help us understand just how powerful God has made each and every one of us.

May the Force Be With You

He is the Force...okay, I’m going Star Wars here a bit, but it will help you understand where I’m headed. We are made up of atoms, we are light, and we are truly the dust of stars long gone: We are energy with no ending. We are GOD’s energy that is vibrating at a lower level than his. Everything has his energy! Think about this...every planet, every sun, every moon, every leaf, tree, rock, animal, bird, fish, insect, bacteria and virus...we are the sum total of GOD.

There are many scientific explanations for energy and many types of energy, but the one I’ll use is this: energy is the ability to move forward. Living entities are always moving forward from one life to another. Our soul’s energy doesn’t die when we shed our bodies. Our souls go on and on and on. GOD is E=Mc2

                                                                                                 

We have been reborn over and over since the beginning of time...for God is time and space. We have lived on every planet and in every dimension and we are doing this simultaneously at most points in our existence. There is no set place to hold the energy of life except in the Soul, which is the mirror of God. We reflect his energy in our soul...and the soul craves life and knowledge. The soul wants to be like GOD...to be GOD.

Become the Force

Again, I ask for your forgiveness in using a Star War phrase, but to become close to God, we need to look only within ourselves. GOD lives in each of us. He doesn’t need temples and there is only one law. “BE and let BE.”  Once we start to look at other life forms on this Earth as fellow mini gods in training, we will understand that we are all equal parts of the whole...every person, every animal, and every plant on every world and every dimension.

                                                           

If we are to move forward and evolve as an energy being, we need to take religion out of the equation. We need to connect with the collective universal mind and follow the law of the Ultimate Life Force...Do no harm...create not destroy...BE and let BE.

GOD is waiting for us to make the first move.

The Necessity of Truth

                                                          

 

To understand why it’s important to tell the truth, we first need to understand what the word means. Truth: the quality or state of being true; that which is in accordance with fact or reality; a fact or belief that is accepted as true.

When Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth” the reply from Jesus was, “I have come into this world to testify to the truth.” If we follow the words and actions of Jesus we learn that HIS truth is peaceful, loving, sympathetic, and above all, his truth is constant. But, are the truths of one man the same for another?

                                                                   

When the popular theory was that the Earth was the center of our universe, there were men of science who cried out to dispel that falsehood. Some were martyred for this truth as were those who said that the Earth was not flat. These brave souls stood up to the lies and misconceptions put into place by those in power. Why would church leaders lie? Was it because these men of power lacked the ability to understand the natural workings of our universe, or worse, they continued the lie as a means to control the populace.

When people tell the truth, they don’t have to worry about getting their stories right if questioned later. When people tell the truth, they are not afraid of the backlash of being caught in a lie. Truth speakers are usually truthful in words and actions. Their word is their honor. When I was young, my parents stressed the point of my being honest with them and others, but by the time I was in sixth grade, I understood that they often did not follow their own teachings. So why do we lie, when the truth will set us free?

Lies

Something seriously has happened in the world we live in today. False information bombards us via television, Facebook and the internet. How many times have we heard someone state a falsehood and when questioned, they say, “But it was on the internet, so it has to be true.” Wrong! Just because someone puts misinformation on the internet doesn’t mean you should blindly believe it to be true. With the recent elections, the people of this country were faced with politicians telling bold faced lies.

                                                              

Politicians have forgotten that they are merely our servants and not our masters. We should hold them to the highest standards and when we catch them in a lie, we should tar and feather them and run them out of office. Democrats and Republicans are equally guilty of the “Big Lie” but how do we stop liars and the lies they weave?

Survival Techniques

When it comes to the internet, your neighborhood library is the best source of information for you to come to your own conclusions. You should also listen to foreign news stations like the BBC and you should read newspapers. You should be doing your own research to get to the truth. The Church and Governments are good at telling lies because they know that they will lose control once the people know the truth.

But, how do you deal with liars in your own family or in a work situation? Be aware. When someone lies, you must deal with the situation without emotion. When you are stuck dealing with a compulsive liar, your first instinct is to challenge the lie. If this is a child, then find out why they feel the need to lie. The fault might lay with you being too judgmental or controlling. You might need to change your ways in order for that child to feel safe in telling you the truth.

If you are dealing with an adult member of the family, then you need to decide how important this relationship is before deciding to challenge or ignore. Did the family member tell a little white lie when you asked how your meatloaf tasted? Were they trying to spare your feelings? Some lies are told to avoid hurting people’s feelings. We can understand this.

Some people lie to protect their own emotional turmoil. They say that they are fine, or they lie about their partner’s faults because they can’t face the truth that the failed relationship might actually be their fault.

The most dangerous of liars is the emotional vampire. They will lie to weaken our sense of self-worth. The best way of handling an emotional vampire is to dump them as soon as possible, but if you are unable to do this, then you need to set up boundaries by understanding that everything they tell you is a lie, then check out their story every single time. This seems like too much work, but it will give some protection if there is no way to escape the vampire, especially if they refuse counseling or therapy.

Conclusion

Everyone tells little white lies when they need to protect themselves from a harmful situation or when they really don’t want to offend someone (“This meatloaf tastes horrible”). What is unacceptable is when the lie can turn people against each other, like Trump’s claims that all Mexicans are rapists, or that Obama was not an American citizen. Hillary had her share of lies that upset many voters and allowed Trump to be elected. Our leaders have to be held accountable. When a lie is discovered, they must be made to acknowledge the lie and to apologize to the nation. Nothing less is acceptable.

                                                          

 

How do we get our leaders to tell the truth? Start with ourselves and then demand that they do the same thing. When a politician makes a statement that doesn’t ring true, do your own investigation. Be a man or woman of your word. Be honest. Demand honesty.