Writer’s Log, May 27, 2023

๐ŸŒŸ Good morning, friends! โ˜€๏ธ It’s Saturday, May 27, 2023, and I’m starting my day off right at Starbucks, sipping on my delicious morning coffee. โ˜•๏ธ Today’s brew of choice, Pike Place. Iโ€™m listening to the great Don Francisco. Heโ€™s such a great singer, songwriter, and storyteller โ€“ his Christian music is the perfect soundtrack for my weekend vibes! ๐ŸŽถโœจ
I’ve already completed my devotional time, setting a positive tone for the day ahead. ๐Ÿ™ Now, I’m super excited because I just purchased my tickets for the 11 AM showing of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at the Angelika Theater in Plano, Texas. ๐ŸŽฌ๐Ÿช„ The theater is nestled in The Shops at Legacy, and I can’t wait to immerse myself in the magical world of Hogwarts! โšก๏ธ
After the movie, I’ll be treating myself to a delicious lunch and taking a leisurely stroll to soak up the beautiful day. ๐Ÿฅช๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ There’s nothing like a little fresh air and sunshine (surely, the morning cloud cover will clear) to recharge the soul!
Later in the afternoon, I’ll be heading back to my favorite Starbucks for some serious writing time. โ˜•๏ธ๐Ÿ“ There’s something about the cozy atmosphere and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that sparks my creativity!
But before the day comes to a close, I’ll tackle a bit of yard work and spray for those pesky mosquitoes. ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸฆŸ Gotta keep my outdoor space enjoyable, right?
In the evening, it’s time for some entertainment! ๐Ÿ“บ I’ll be catching up on the series finale of Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime. ๐ŸŽ‰ I’ve been eagerly following the journey of this hilarious and inspiring character, and I can’t wait to see how it all wraps up!
Iโ€™ll be saying prayers for my friends headed to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference near Asheville, NC. Iโ€™ve been six times but could face the Memorial Day traffic on the highways or airport this weekend. Maybe Iโ€™ll return next year.
I’ll be wearing green today because on gamely you wear green. The Dallas Stars face-off against the Vegas Golden Knights in NHL western conference playoffs tonight. I’ll be paying attention and listen on SiriusXM channel 91 (The NHL Channel).
Finally, it’s bedtime for me tonight, because self-care is essential! ๐Ÿ˜ด๐Ÿ’ค I want to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to conquer whatever adventures Sunday brings, including church!
Wishing you all a fantastic Saturday filled with joy, laughter, and a touch of magic. โœจ Share your plans for the day below! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ’–

Writer’s Log, May 26, 2023

Hey everyone! Happy Friday, May 26, 2023! Sending greetings from beautiful North Texas, USA! ๐ŸŒŸ

Last night was a blast at Six Springs Tavern! ๐ŸŽถ Wondering why this deep water, teetotaler Baptist went? Well, one of the awesome ladies from my Mensa group was rocking the stage with her girl group band. She asked us regular Mensa attendees to come and show our support, so we did! ๐Ÿ’ช

The last time I experienced live music was at Spillman Hall at Ridgecrest for the Blue Ridge Writers Conference last year. Last night my iWatch’s loud noise alarm kept going off because the music was so loud! ๐ŸŽต Some tunes reached a mind-blowing 128 dB!

For comparison, my Mercedes car stereo tops out at a modest 79 dB. Safety first, right? Even back in my folk-rock band days, I rocked hearing protection. Even though my dad hated my music and guitar playing, he gave me earplugs wear while playing to “avoid the family curse” of hearing loss. ๐Ÿ˜„ My mom, bless her heart, loved every noisy guitar riff I played!

There were six amazing bands performing last night, each with a thrilling thirty-minute set. The music spanned from Led Zeppelin to Hank Williams, showcasing incredible talent. Special shoutout to the Hank Williams Band (aka Hillbilly Shakespeare Band) โ€“ their musicianship was out of this world! ๐ŸŽธ And they covered every Hank Williams hit! Their standup bass player even teaches music at a local university and plays with the symphony. Talk about impressive!

One of the bands had a female lead singer who channeled the spirit of Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane), Janis Joplin and even Debby Harry of the band Blondie fame. Her covers of “White Rabbit” and โ€œOne Way or Anotherโ€ were mind-blowing! ๐ŸŽค And let’s not forget the blues band that closed the night, rocking the stage with some killer guitar skills. Wow! ๐ŸŽถ

By the way, the fountain Dr Pepper at Six Springs Tavern was the best I’ve ever had, and their burger was almost as good as the ones at JG’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers!

Speaking of JG’s, I had a lovely chat with Morris, the former owner, when we unexpectedly bumped into each other shopping at Costco. We caught up for about 20 minutes, chatting about life, health, family, and everything in between. It’s heartwarming to see how proud he is of his wife, daughters ๐Ÿ’–and grandchildren. Family love is truly special! โค๏ธ

Guess where I am right now? Starbucks! โ˜•๏ธ Getting ready to kickstart my day, even though I didn’t get enough sleep. That late night Dr. Pepperโ€™s caffeine must have got to me lol.

Writing mode on! I’m working on some rewrite and corrections, going through the editor’s recommendations for my book on Hope. Let’s make it shine! โœ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ซ

Later today, I’ll soak up some fresh air while reading outdoors. But first, I have to conquer the mosquitoes and do a little yard work to prep for an epic Memorial Day Weekend Pool Party! ๐ŸŠโ€โ™€๏ธ๐ŸŽ‰

And hey, I’ll be the designated driver for my friends’ Happy Hour meet-up. Safety first, always! No, I donโ€™t do Happy Hour. But I work to keep friends safe. Between my drop-offs, them getting all happy, and my picking them up, I’ll run errands, enjoy a walk at the mall, and chill at the coffee shop with more JRR Tolkien reading material.

In the evening, I’m beyond excited for the series finale of The Magnificent Mrs. Maisel! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ“บ I’ve fallen in love with the show and its incredible characters. It’s going to be an emotional rollercoaster, but I can’t wait!

And guess what’s happening on Saturday? Brace yourselves, Potterheads! โšก๏ธI’m heading to the Angelika Theater in Plano, Texas for a magical big-screen experience of Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban at 11 AM! ๐ŸŽฌโœจ The theater will be buzzing with Potter lovers of all ages, and I’m thrilled to join them for an unforgettable cinematic journey. Some – not me – will even come in their robes.

Weekends like these are what life’s all about! ๐ŸŒˆ So, let’s make the most of this Friday and dive into a fantastic weekend ahead.

Wishing you all a fabulous day and a magical weekend! And donโ€™t forget to include Sunday worship services!

Stay awesome, my friends! Keep smiling and keep on keeping on! ๐Ÿ’–๐Ÿ˜ƒ

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.

๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒž Happy Thursday, May 25, 2023! ๐ŸŒž๐ŸŒŸ

It’s a terrific Thursday, and I’m feeling energized and ready to conquer the day! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ˜„ I decided to treat myself to some extra rest and slept in until 9:30 AM. ๐Ÿ˜ดโฐ 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. ๐Ÿ’Š๐ŸŒฟ Health is wealth, and I’m all about taking care of myself. No one can love or care about you more than you!๐Ÿ˜‡

To nourish my spirit, I indulged in my morning devotion and Bible reading. The text was an old favorite Psalm 56:3, โ€œWhat time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿ™ 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! ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽ“ She passed all her finals! ๐ŸŽ“๐Ÿ’ฏ Proud grandpa moment right here! ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ’•

Fueling my creative juices, I made my way to Starbucks for some delicious coffee and writing time. โ˜•โœ๏ธ 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! ๐Ÿšชโœ‹ 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.” ๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ 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. ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ˜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. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’Š

Tonight, at 6 PM Dallas time, I’m super excited for my one-line writer’s group on Zoom! ๐Ÿ“โœจ 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. ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽน She’s part of a fantastic 1960s/1970s girls singer cover band, and I can’t wait to cheer her on! Go, Anne! ๐ŸŽค๐ŸŽตI’m wearing my ABBA t-shirt today to support her. ๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽต๐ŸŽต

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. ๐ŸŒ™๐Ÿ“š Losing myself in the pages of a captivating book helps me unwind, relax, and drift off into dreamland. ๐Ÿ˜ด๐Ÿ’ค

Wishing you all a fabulous Thursday filled with joy, achievements, and memorable moments! Let’s make the most of this terrific day! ๐Ÿ’–And live a wonderful life. โœจ

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