Writer’s Log, May 25, 2023

Jimmie Kepler in a hat and black t-shirt. The t-shirt has the word ABBA on the front in gold letters.

🌟🌞 Happy Thursday, May 25, 2023! 🌞🌟

It’s a terrific Thursday, and I’m feeling energized and ready to conquer the day! πŸ’ͺπŸ˜„ I decided to treat myself to some extra rest and slept in until 9:30 AM. 😴⏰ Starting the day with a good night’s sleep sets the tone for success!

After waking up, I took my morning RXs to keep my health in check. πŸ’ŠπŸŒΏ Health is wealth, and I’m all about taking care of myself. No one can love or care about you more than you!πŸ˜‡

To nourish my spirit, I indulged in my morning devotion and Bible reading. The text was an old favorite Psalm 56:3, β€œWhat time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. πŸ“–πŸ™ It’s important to find moments of peace and reflection amidst the hustle and bustle of life.

I got some wonderful news from my high school age granddaughter! πŸŽ‰πŸ‘©β€πŸŽ“ She passed all her finals! πŸŽ“πŸ’― Proud grandpa moment right here! πŸ˜πŸ’•

Fueling my creative juices, I made my way to Starbucks for some delicious coffee and writing time. β˜•βœοΈ There’s something magical about sipping a warm cup of joe while letting the words flow onto the page.

Yesterday, my friend Les Hall lent a helping hand and together we installed a brand new single post hand rail by the front door. Safety first, folks! πŸšͺβœ‹ I’m taking every precaution to prevent any falls and keep myself safe and sound.

Later, I enjoyed a delightful evening meal of spaghetti with Les and my beautiful and mysterious girlfriend “she who can’t be named on the Internet.” πŸ˜‰πŸ Good food and great company make for a perfect combination!

This afternoon, I’ll be diving into some writing admin stuff, reading – immersing myself in captivating writing of JRR Tolkien, walking, and allowing myself some well-deserved rest. πŸ“šπŸ˜Œ It’s all about finding the balance between productivity and relaxation.

Speaking of organization, today it’s time to refill my pill organizer. With nineteen daily RXs, it’s no small task! But I’m determined to stay on top of it to ensure my well-being. πŸ’ͺπŸ’Š

Tonight, at 6 PM Dallas time, I’m super excited for my one-line writer’s group on Zoom! πŸ“βœ¨ Sharing ideas and connecting with fellow writers is always inspiring and uplifting. These writers are like extended family to me. No lonely old man here when I have all these friends.

After the writer’s group, I’ll be heading to a local club to support a talented lady from my Mensa group. 🎢🎹 She’s part of a fantastic 1960s/1970s girls singer cover band, and I can’t wait to cheer her on! Go, Anne! 🎀🎡I’m wearing my ABBA t-shirt today to support her. 🎡🎡🎡

As the night winds down, I’ll return home for my usual late-night reading session and more time with the master wordsmith, JRR Tolkien. πŸŒ™πŸ“š Losing myself in the pages of a captivating book helps me unwind, relax, and drift off into dreamland. πŸ˜΄πŸ’€

Wishing you all a fabulous Thursday filled with joy, achievements, and memorable moments! Let’s make the most of this terrific day! πŸ’–And live a wonderful life. ✨

#TerrificThursday #PositiveVibes #SafetyFirst #ProudParent #StarbucksTime #WritingCommunity #SupportLocalMusic #bookwormlife

Writer’s Log, May 23, 2023

Jimmie sitting at the coffee shop

🌟 Good morning, fabulous peeps! Peeps means people. Who needs “people” when we’ve got a whole new lingo? πŸ˜„βœ¨ Just had a blast chatting with this awesome college student who schooled me on the meaning of “peeps.” She looked at the confusion on my face when she greeted her friends.

She looked at me and asked, β€œwhat’s a peep?” I answered, “those little yellow marshmallow candy things they stores sell at Easter.” She and her peeps bust out laughing. Then she explained. Born in the early 2000s, she’s got the inside scoop! And shared it with me … πŸ’« So rise and shine, folks, because it’s TUESDAY! Time to seize the day with boundless enthusiasm and a mega-watt smile! πŸ˜„βœ¨

Who’s feeling those Tuesday vibes today? πŸ™‹β€β™€οΈπŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ Let’s kick off this day right by spreading some serious positivity and joy all around.

Remember, a little dose of positivity can work wonders! I’m a total believer in Jesus Christ, and I know that my attitude and good vibes can influence everyone I interact with today. It’s like a ripple effect of love and happiness! 🌈✨ So let’s dial down the moodiness and share the love and peace. Be the radiant light that others need in their lives!

Alright, spill the beans, peeps! What’s on your agenda for today? Are you diving headfirst into a new project, smashing your goals, or simply enjoying the journey? Let’s dish out our daily motivations and inspire each other like there’s no tomorrow! πŸš€πŸ’ͺ

My agenda? You guessed it, I’m currently stationed at my favorite coffee house for my morning writing session. As soon as I walked in, I received five big hello Jimmies and waves from all the regulars around here.

Three of the super cool baristas were genuinely thrilled to see me. They even mentioned how I bring some sparkle to their morning! 😊 One of them even asked, “Why aren’t you grumpy like most older guys?” I flashed my brightest smile and replied, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!” 🌈

And guess what? Two regulars said hey when I entered. They always ask if I’m back to write some more today. I even got asked why I write about Jesus and the Bible. I simply share my testimony and the latest Bible verse that spoke to me during my regular devotional time. I keep it short and sweet, telling my own story. The rest is up to the Big Guy upstairs!

Oh, and don’t forget to pamper yourself today with some self-care. Sip on your favorite cuppa β˜•οΈ, take a leisurely stroll in nature 🌳, or crank up the volume on your go-to tunes or playlist πŸŽΆβ€”find those little moments of bliss throughout the day! 😊 As part of my self-care routine, I’m heading for two allergy shots. πŸ’– Yep, I’ll be taking my stroll too, but in the comfort of an air-conditioned mall. Gotta get those daily steps in to keep both mind and body in top shape!

Hey, let’s spread some serious love and kindness today! Take a moment to reach out to someone, send a sweet message their way, or maybe even give them a virtual hug.

It’s the small acts of kindness that can turn someone’s day around. Hey, how about treating that person behind you in the coffee house line to a cup of joe? You know, the one who could use a little pick-me-up? πŸ€—πŸ’•

Remember, you’ve got the power to make today absolutely fantastic, for yourself and others! Let’s make this Tuesday one for the books, filled with positivity, laughter, and all-around good vibes! And hey, it’s not just Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys who deserve to feel those good vibrations (yeah, that’s a throwback reference to fifty-six years ago, folks!) πŸŽ‰βœ¨

Sending virtual hugs and high-fives to all my fabulous friends! Have an absolutely amazing Tuesday, and let’s make it a day to remember! Let’s make it a day for the books, the record books, the books we’re devouring, and the books we’re dreaming of writing! πŸŒŸπŸ’™ #TuesdayVibes #SpreadPositivity #GoodVibesOnly #Jesus #ImaBeliever

Writer’s Log, May 20, 2023

Jimmie Kepler at a local coffee house. He's wearing a driving cap and hoodie. A big smile on on his bearded face.

🌟 Hey there, fabulous friends! Happy Saturday, May 20, 2023! Guess what? The scorching πŸ”₯ 93 degrees F weather from yesterday has given us a break. Woo-hoo! I woke up yesterday to a sweltering 76 degrees F, but today it’s a refreshing 63 degrees F. So much better, right? And hold on tight because the high for today will be a pleasant 76 to 78 degrees F. Now that’s what I’m talking about! Nice! 😎 #WeatherUpdate #FeelingGood

So, let me tell you about last night’s shindig. I was at the Mensa poker scholarship fundraiser, and oh boy, it was a brainy blast! Picture this: eighteen brilliant minds gathered around three poker tables, ready to rock the game. It lasted a whopping five hours, and let me tell you, I didn’t emerge as the ultimate champion. Nope, not this time. I secured a solid second place, though! Tension filled the room as the last hand had four of us vying for glory. The winner had an unbeatable combo of two kings and two threes, ace high, which trumped my pair of queens and pair of threes, also ace high. Phew, luckily it was all “play money” with no actual cash involved, because that hand would have cost me over five grand. On the bright side, we raised around $300 for the college scholarship fund. Woo-hoo! πŸ’ΈπŸ’ͺ #PokerNight #SecondPlace #PlayMoney

After returning home, I took my nineteen evening prescriptions. Yup, you heard that rightβ€”nineteen! With all those meds, I munched on a half black forest ham sandwich to avoid an upset tummy. I drink two bottles of water to wash down this pharmaceutical feast created by those genius biologists, chemists, and pharmaceutical folks. I hit the sack at 1:44 AM. And you won’t believe what happened next. πŸ’ŠπŸž #PrescriptionLife #MedsOnPoint

Now, here’s the kicker: despite the late bedtime, my internal clock had the audacity to wake me up at 5:55 AM. Can you believe it? Since going back to sleep was a lost cause, I got up, got dressed, took my morning prescriptions, and headed straight to my go-to caffeine joint. Oh boy, the line was insane!

There was this lady in front of me with a stack of gift cards, using them for a massive order. It seemed like an entire army had pooled their cards, even if they only had a penny on them, to cover the bill. Kudos to the superstar barista, who handled the situation like a pro when the lady realized there were a few cents missing to cover everything. I bet she was picking up enough coffee and food for over twenty people! While I waited patiently in line (well, kinda patiently), the queue behind me grew to almost a dozen folks. β˜•οΈπŸ’ƒ #CaffeineRush #GiftCardSurprise

Oh, and while waiting for my much-needed java, I discovered the Dallas Stars lost their NHL hockey game last night in overtime. Bummer! I was planning to catch the replay later since Mensa took priority over the game. πŸ’πŸ˜ž #NHL #HockeyLife

Tonight, I have dinner reservations with someone special (you know, the girlfriend who shall remain unnamed on the Internet) and three other fantastic folks from my local writer’s group. They’re an amazing bunch! 🍽️✨ #DateNight #WritersUnite

Somewhere in between all the excitement, I need to squeeze in a walk, do some reading, make a health and welfare call to my dear friends Les and Don, and swing by the grocery store. Of course, I can’t forget to check my email and social media to keep up with what my adult children are up to. πŸšΆπŸ“šπŸ“žπŸ›’πŸ“§ #BusyLife #SelfCare #StayConnected

But before I dive into all that, I need to let you know my morning devotional is completed (it’s always a priority). I’ve got my music playlist ready to go, and I’m almost done with this post. It’s time to get my writing groove on, folks!

Thank goodness for my noise-canceling headphones, ’cause this coffee shop is buzzing with people craving their morning fix and a hearty breakfast to go. πŸŽ§β˜•οΈπŸ“ #WritingMode #CoffeeHouseVibes

Life as a retiree is anything but dull or lonely, my friends. I’ve got my gig as a writer, and I’m blessed with an abundance of wonderful friends.Β Friends are like the family I’ve chosen.

Back in the ’80s and ’90s, when I was a Senior Adult Pastor, I used to tell my fellow retirement age friends to make at least one new friend every year. Why, you ask? Well, because we all need people, and if we don’t actively seek new connections, we might outlive most of our pals. Plus, let’s not forget what the Holy Bible says about friendship: “A man that has friends must shew himself friendly.” Wise words from Proverbs 18:24a, don’t you think? 🌟🀝 #RetirementVibes #BlessedWithFriends

Alright, my amazing buddies, have an absolutely fantastic weekend, and remember to spread that friendly vibe wherever you go! Catch you later! πŸ˜‰βœ¨ #WeekendVibes #FriendlyFeels

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.


 

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.


 

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Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.


Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.


 

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Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.


Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.


 

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How to Become a Christian

Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.


Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.


 

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How to Become a Christian

Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.


Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.


 

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How to Become a Christian

Here’s how can know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be sure heaven is your eternal home. Click the link to read my personal story of accepting Jesus –My Story.


Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Books: Click on BOOKS to see some of the books I’ve written or where I’ve been a contributor.