Writer’s Log, May 30, 2023

Hey there! ๐Ÿ˜„ It’s May 30, 2023, and the Memorial Day weekend was off the charts! ๐ŸŽ‰ Those pool parties were epic, but whoa, I’m seriously wiped out! Hanging with friends was a blast, but now I’m in desperate need of some quality alone time to recharge. ๐Ÿ˜ด Plus, there’s a mountain of cleaning waiting for me. Ugh, the struggle is real!

Last night, I hit the hay at 10:30 pm, but guess what? ๐Ÿ˜ฎ I woke up at 3 am! It was like my sleep took a detour or something. But thanks to my trusty melatonin, I managed to drift back into dreamland around 6 am. #SleepIssues ๐Ÿ˜ด๐Ÿ’ค Maybe I was mourning my Dallas Stars losing and their season coming to an end. Just saying. ๐Ÿ˜”

Anyway, I made my way to Starbucks, and I’m currently sipping on a delightful tall blonde roast coffee. โ˜•๏ธ Ahh, the perfect pick-me-up! Later today, I’ve got an appointment with the allergist for a reassessment. ๐Ÿคง But before that, I’m planning to take a nice walk and dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, “The Fellowship of the Ring.” So much more to discover in the book compared to the epic but long movie! ๐Ÿ“š And you know what? I might even sneak in a quick power nap. Gotta recharge those batteries, ya know? ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ’ช

By the way, what’s going on with you? Share your story! ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿ˜Š #ChillTime #CoffeeLover #Bookworm

Writer’s Log, May 29, 2023

Jimmie Kepler at Starbucks.

๐ŸŒŸ Good morning, everyone! It’s Monday, May 29, 2023, and here in the United States ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ, we’re celebrating ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Memorial Day! ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
As I drove down the streets this morning, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful American flags ย ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธย  lining the way. It’s a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by the brave men and women who gave their lives while serving in the military. Today, we honor their memory and express our gratitude. ๐Ÿ™
I drove to essential stop at Starbucks for my morning dose of caffeine and writing inspiration. โ˜• While enjoying my cup of joe, I’ll be delving into my morning devotional time. Today, my prayers will be with the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, currently in session at the Ridge Conference Center in North Carolina. ๐Ÿ“š I hope their conference is filled with inspiration, knowledge, and meaningful connections.
As for me, I’ll be tackling the recommended changes from my editor during my writing session. There’s something magical about sipping a steaming cup of coffee while fingers to keyboard.
Oh, and before I forget, I have a quick errand to run at the store on my way home. I need to pick up a couple of bags of ice and some health and beauty items. Gotta be prepared for any situation that arises! ๐Ÿ’ช
Yesterday was a blast! We had an amazing pool party ๐Ÿ’ฆ and celebrated the third birthdays for my girlfriend’s grandson. ๐ŸŽ‰
Today, it’s all about tidying up and getting ready for another fun-filled day. No, we’re not repeating the birthday party, but we’re hosting another awesome pool party ๐Ÿ’ฆ , this time with some of the talented ladies from my local writers group. It’s always a joy to share laughter, stories, and splashes with such a fantastic group. ๐Ÿ’ฆ
Now, let’s talk sports! The NASCAR race scheduled for Sunday was rained out, but don’t worry, it’s rescheduled for this afternoon. ๐ŸŽ๏ธ Fingers crossed for an exhilarating and action-packed race! I wonโ€™t watch it but will listen to itโ€™s replay as I read before going to bed tonight.
And in NHL playoff hockey, tonight the Dallas Stars triumphed over the Vegas Golden Knights. ๐Ÿ’ Of course, they havenโ€™t played yet. I don’t have the inside scoop, but hey, a little hope and positive vibes can go a long way! I believe the Stars will win.
On this special Memorial Day, I want to wish each and every one of you a magnificent day! Let’s be the bright spot in someone’s life today and every day. Let’s radiate kindness, love, and compassion, showing others the beauty of God’s love through our actions. Together, we can make a difference! ๐Ÿ’ซ
Enjoy the day, my friends, and may it be filled with cherished memories, laughter, and a whole lot of joy. Happy Memorial Day! ๐ŸŽ‡

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.

๐ŸŒŸ Hey there, fabulous friends! Happy Saturday, May 20, 2023! Guess what? The scorching ๐Ÿ”ฅ 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! ๐Ÿ˜Ž #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! ๐Ÿ’ธ๐Ÿ’ช #PokerNight #SecondPlace #PlayMoney

After returning home, I took my nineteen evening prescriptions. Yup, you heard that rightโ€”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. ๐Ÿ’Š๐Ÿ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. โ˜•๏ธ๐Ÿ’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. ๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ˜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! ๐Ÿฝ๏ธโœจ #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. ๐Ÿšถ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ“ž๐Ÿ›’๐Ÿ“ง #BusyLife #SelfCare #StayConnected

But before I dive into all that, I need to let you know my morning devotional is completed (itโ€™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. ๐ŸŽงโ˜•๏ธ๐Ÿ“ #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.ย Friends are like the family Iโ€™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? ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿค #RetirementVibes #BlessedWithFriends

Alright, my amazing buddies, have an absolutely fantastic weekend, and remember to spread that friendly vibe wherever you go! Catch you later! ๐Ÿ˜‰โœจ #WeekendVibes #FriendlyFeels