O’Connell Ye Faithful

It’s Christmastime. And we are nearing the end of what I am sure has been a long strange year for everyone. 2021 will bring more changes and require us all to adapt and modify our lives, yet again. Please be safe. Think of yourself as you make your way through this world, and remember to make others’ health and welfare an important part of your life. This world is a small place, and we need to get better at sharing it. 

With this in mind, finding safe things to do during the holidays can be challenging. How about a ride around some of your city’s best Christmas light displays? Here in North Florida, we have a magical neighborhood display that will transport you to another world. It is in the Blackhawk Bluff neighborhood off Girvin Road. I hear that the churches downtown look pretty spectacular, too. (Thanks, Rosemary!)

If you are on Spotify, check out this playlist I put together years ago. It is called O’Connell Ye Faithful. It is a mix of some of our favorites from years long ago—Doris Day, Dean Martin, Eartha Kitt, Leon Redbone, Harry Belafonte, Vince Guaraldi, and so many more. I hope you find as much peace and joy in it as Linda and I have.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy Kwanza! Happy Festivus!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and joyous holiday season.

Is it really possible to live an ordered and organized life? Is there any fun in that?

 

"Well, only got an hour of daylight left. Better get started"

"Isn't it unsafe to travel at night?"

"It'll be a lot less safe to stay here, your father's gunna pick up our trail before long"

"Can Loca ride?"

"Yeah, I can ride, Margaret, time to go! Maigret, thank you for everything"

"Goodbye Chenga"

"Goodbye miss"

"I'll be back"

Is there anybody out there?

No Reason Not To

 *gasp*

*gasp*

*pant*

*pant*

just read Harry Turtledove's No Period on the Tor website & dammit, the man seems to have found access to my brain (it isn't that he is writing about me, per se, although wouldn't that be a welcome bit of alternate history to think about since that is what the man is famous for), only I've never been divorced, and I don't think I've ever been Jewish—not in this life, anyway, which gets me to wondering if only I…
“No Period” copyright © 2020 by Harry Turtledove
Art copyright © 2020 by Scott Bakal

The Only Good Indians

This was one of my most anticipated novels of the year. It did not disappoint as it is easily in my top five of the year. Stephen Graham Jones is one of those prolific authors who has a number of tasty morsels and full meals out every year. I first read his werewolf novel, Mongrels, last year, and since then, I have been slowly working my way through some of his other works. 

The Only Good Indians is a literary slasher of guilt and retribution. It is the story of four Blackeet—Ricky, Lewis, Cass, and Gabe—and the aftermath of an elk hunt gone wrong. It is a tale of a deed done in the dark that follows each man and haunts them, and when you violate tradition and cultural norms, you will pay a price. We, too, pay a price because we care about these men. Jones drags us through life both on and off the Rez leading us to an epic battle the likes of which I have never experienced before. In the end, I was left sweating and gasping for breath. I know that I will never look at an elk or a ceiling fan the same way again.

POW/MIA There re still too many out there.

I came across this one at a yard sale a few weekends back. Captain Robert Di Tomasso – 7-29-66. He is still listed as missing. God bless.  

Learn more about the history of the POW/MIA bracelet.

If you are interested in ordering a POW/MIA bracelet or other related merchandise, download the order form from POW-MIA Families. 

Meet Mr. Magee

I was a little over 80,000 words into my novel when I came across the curious account of Sylvester Magee. Mr. Magee died in 1971, around the same year that Mr. Sam, one of the characters in my novel, Your Pal Al, died. When writing my story, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. Mr. Sam came to life in the bluish glow of the screen, just as Albert did. They came to life together and grew into real people together. Albert is a young, white boy from Florida. Mr. Sam is an old black man from Georgia. Samson is quite literally larger-than-life. And, up until the time that I discovered Sylvester Magee, I thought he was quite old, too. Meet Mr. Magee.