Tag: Lord of the Rings

Writing Life – June 8, 2023

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Jimmie Kepler holding CS Lewis classic spiritual books bookset.

Hey everyone. Happy Thursday. Let’s make it a terrific day! 🎉 It’s June 8th, and I’m feeling fantastic! Here’s a glimpse of my day so far:

Started the morning with my usual routine of taking my RXs and spending some peaceful time with my devotional. ✨ It’s important to start the day on a positive note!

I had an exciting moment of financial responsibility by making a deposit to my bank savings account as some money I was owed showed up – as they say they check was in the mail.  💰 It’s always great to see those savings grow! I like collecting money more than spending it. Sigh – I paid my quarterly federal taxes yesterday, so on the ledger it’s like a wash or break even.

Then, I hopped into my car and drove to my favorite local coffee house ☕️ to get my caffeine fix. Nothing beats the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning!

Now, I’m diving into some productive writing and editing tasks. 📝 There’s something satisfying about polishing your work and making it shine!

Later in the morning, I’ll be delving back into the enchanting world of “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. 🧙‍♂️ Can’t wait to get lost in the epic adventure once again!

Afterwards, I’ll be heading to the mall for my daily walk. 🏃‍♀️ It’s a great way to stay active and enjoy some window shopping at the same time!

In the afternoon, I’m continuing my reading journey with “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis. 📚 It’s fascinating to explore the intricate depths of Lewis’s mind! I’m reading through the spiritual classics of C.S. Lewis (see today’selfie). 📚

I also have more exciting things to work on today, like more government paperwork preparing for my trans-pacific cruise. 🚢 Adventure awaits!

Yesterday, I had a major win by securing my assigned seats on a Quantas Airlines flight from Sydney, Australia back to LAX for a November trip. I got an aisle seat close to the restroom – both are important for me and especially since I’ll on the plane over sixteen hours. ✈️ The excitement is building up!

Later tonight, I’ll be joining a refreshing Bible Study Magazine session via Zoom. 📖 It’s always inspiring to connect with others and grow in faith together. The group is an important part of my writing family and my personal spiritual growth.

Before I doze off, I’ll be indulging in some captivating bedtime reading with “Madly, Deeply” by Alan Rickman. 🌙 It’s like having a personal conversation with the amazing actor himself! Don’t know Alan Rickman? He was the villain in the first Die Hard movie and Snape in the Harry Potter movies plus many more movies and plays.

Remember, folks, have an amazing day and strive to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Let the light of Jesus shine through you, and spread that love and positivity! ✨❤️ Let’s make the world a better place together!

Writer’s Log – June 4, 2023

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🌟✨ It’s a spectacular Sunday! 🌞💃 The date is June 4, 2023. I always write the day, date, and year just to make sure I’m on track, haha! 😄

Yesterday was a scorcher! 🔥🌡️ The weather person predicted 82°F, but we soared up to a humid 88°F! ☀️💦 The rain was dancing around everywhere except where I was. Today, they’re saying we’ll have upper 80s with a lower chance of rain. Fingers crossed! 🤞🌧️

Exciting news! 🎉🛫 I just booked my flight back to DFW and the USA from Sydney, Australia! 🇺🇸✈️ I’ll be spending five amazing nights in Sydney this November. After a month of exploring Hawaii, French Polynesia, Tahiti, Pago Pago, American Samoa, and New Zealand, my trans-Pacific cruise will end in Sydney. I can’t wait. It is a #bucketlisttrip! 😍🌏

Last night, I had a blast watching hours of YouTube videos about Sydney, Australia and all the fantastic things to do there. I feel like I know so much about the city, yet there’s still so much more to learn! Seems they have beaches, museums, parks, and lots of food.📺📚

Guess what I did this morning? You got it! After showering and washing my hair, shaving, dressing, and taking my RX’s, I hopped in the car and drove straight to Starbucks for my much-needed dose of coffee and writing time. ☕️📝 Gotta get that word count in before church and Bible study! 📖🙏 Currently, I’m jamming to the Precious Memories Collection by Alan Jackson. 🎶 For those who don’t know, Mr. Jackson is a fantastic country singer, and this collection consists of those classic church hymns that still give me goosebumps when we sing them at church. 🎵❤️

My agenda for today is packed! I’ll be attempting to apply online for my travel visa to New Zealand and Australia. 🌍✈️ No time like the present to get it done, right? I’ll also check in on NASCAR because, let’s go #8 Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing! 🏎️💨

Getting my steps in is a must today. When I don’t hit my 10,000 steps, I tend to gain weight instead of maintaining it. As the doctor says, “Eat less, exercise more!” 💪🥗 And as the Apostle Paul says in the Bible, “The things I know I should do, I don’t, and the things I know I shouldn’t do, I do.” 🍦🍿 Bad ice cream and tempting popcorn, why must you be so delicious?

I’ve got some extra editing to tackle today. I’m a bit behind on my goal of completing the recommended edits, but I’m determined to catch up. The book on Hope is still set for release this month, as long as I finish up and send everything back to the publisher. 📚✍️

Somewhere in my busy day, I’ll make sure to dive into the world of J.R.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. Just ten to fifteen minutes a day to get lost in the magic! 🧙‍♂️📖

This evening, I’ll have a tough choice to make: swimming or visiting with “she who can’t be named on the Internet.” 😄🏊‍♀️👵 I’ll probably end up visiting her son, daughter-in-law, and adorable grandchildren. Can’t resist family time!

What are you doing to make your Sunday spectacular? Don’t forget to include the Lord in your day! 🙌❤️

#SpectacularSunday #June4th2023 #BlessedSunday #SydneyBound #CoffeeLover #SundayAgenda #FitAndActive #WritingGoals #NASCARFan #Bookworm #FamilyTime

writer’s Log – June 3, 2023

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Hey hey, folks! It’s Saturday, June 3, 2023, and I’ve got some exciting updates for ya! 🌞 The weatherman says we’re in for a treat today with a high of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Can I get a hallelujah? 🙌 It’s a nice break from those scorching 90s we’ve been dealing with lately. 

But wait, there’s more! We’ve got an 80% chance of rain ☔️coming our way here in North Texas. Can I get a rain dance going? We always need more of that precious liquid in the Dallas Fort Worth area, am I right? ☔️

So, let’s dive into the adventures of my wild weekend! It all kicked off yesterday when I had a fabulous lunch date with my buddy Dan. Guess what? He and his lovely wife are gonna join me on the trans-Pacific cruise this fall. How cool is that? We’re becoming fast friends, and I’m pretty sure having a breakfast and walking buddy like Dan is gonna be a blast. Plus, I think his wife might appreciate a little break each day from his constant presence when we’re cruising. You know what I mean? 😄

Now, who would’ve thought that going to Walmart could be part of a wild weekend? Well, it totally can! I swung by and grabbed some health and beauty goodies. Oh, and let’s not forget my trip to Michael Stores. Can you believe it? I managed to buy the wrong thing not once, but TWICE! 🙈 But fear not, my friends, because third time’s the charm, and I finally got the right thing, or so I think. Man, it’s a whole rollercoaster of confusion out here, but I’m just gonna go with the flow and hope for the best! 🎢

Next up, let’s talk about the backyard oasis, the swimming pool. It always needs TLC, so I backwashed it, added more DE, and tossed some chlorine in there. I tell ya, buying chlorine is like throwing ten-dollar bills straight into the water. 💸 Last night, I chucked in four of those bad boys. Ah, the things we do for a sparkling pool and living the rest lifestyle!

Now, let’s get real for a sec. We all have those guilty pleasures, and last night, I indulged in some mindless TV series on Apple+. Yep, I called it a time waster, but hey, we all need a little mindless entertainment every now and then, right? 📺 Although I must admit, I’d usually choose a good book over TV, but last night was all about chillin’ in front of the screen. Sigh.

Fast forward to this morning, my lovely peeps! I popped my RXs, did my morning devotional (gotta get that spiritual fuel!), set my pool robot to work, handled some financial stuff like a boss, and you bet your bottom dollar I headed straight to Starbucks. Gotta get that caffeine fix to kickstart the day, am I right? 

Oh, and I’ve got Fernando Ortega’s heavenly Hymns and Meditations playing in my ears, filling my soul with positive vibes and helping me worship the Lord. Can I get an amen? 🙏

Speaking of chores and updates, today I’m bidding farewell to AT&T Verse and saying hello to AT&T fiber optic Internet only. It’s time to cut the cord, my friends! Shoutout to my middle adult child for coordinating this epic switcheroo. You rock, kiddo! 🎉

But hey, it’s not all work and no play! I’ve gotta squeeze in my daily walk and, of course, some quality Lord of the Rings reading time. And with the rain threat looming large, guess where I see myself heading for walking? That’s right, the mall! Gotta keep dry while indulging in some walking therapy, right? 

And tonight, the enigmatic “she who can’t be named on the Internet” and I have some exciting plans. No idea what they’ll be at this time, but the time is all hers. I forward to the surprises that await! 😉 

Oh, and an early bedtime is definitely in my future, ’cause tomorrow is all about church and Bible fellowship class. Can’t wait to kick off Sunday with a dose of spirituality!

My selfies is from this morning. I screwed up trimming the beard so now it’s a mustache. Amazing when you forget to get the height on the beard trimmer and buzzcut it before you realize you messed up. A classic senior moment for me, I confess. 

Alrighty, my lovely peeps, that’s the lowdown on my wild weekend so far. Hope you’re all having an absolutely fab time out there, filled with adventures and good vibes! Remember, live it up and make some fantastic memories. Catch you later! ✌️😎 #WeekendVibes #WildTimes

Review: A Requiem for Love

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Requiem of Love“A Requiem for Love” by Calvin Miller is a dramatic work in the tradition of Milton’s Paradise Lost and J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy.

With A Requiem for Love, the first book in the “Symphony Trilogy”, Calvin Miller displays the strength of his voice and the clarity of his vision. It is a story of fallen love, of impossible dreams and ancient longings, of frustrated ambition and a love so strong that it endures forever.  The first volume of his Symphony trilogy retells the Genesis story.

Miller has a poetic pen. It is on display as he plays off the images of light and darkness. It evokes a poignant picture of the love of power and the power of love.

The original drawings and distinctive page styling make the book a work of art from cover to cover. This is Miller at his best.  I read the book originally when it was first released in 1989.  Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler.