An Update

Hello my few fans,

I’m sorry I have not posted anything in such a long while. I’ve been very busy.

Firstly, I got a job at McDonalds at the beginning of the year. Its been going okay. Its not a career, but it helps me buy diapers for my son.

Second, I found out that I’m pregnant again. Hopefully a little girl this time. I had a trip to the hospital because of severe abdominal pains, and the cause was a combination of dehydration and the discomforts of pregnancy. I’m all right, but now I’m drinking more water, and thus visiting the bathroom more often.

Third, I’ve signed up for another anthology, deadline in December. 10K words to write. I’m a little nervous. I might make it a month goal. Like camp nano, only on my own. I might post my daily word count for that story. Maybe.

Fourth, I’ve applied for the associate editor position at The Sun Magazine. I haven’t heard anything yet, but I’m hoping to. Its going to be a great work for me. Plus, I could do the editing from home here in Virginia. Wish me luck.

Fifth, I’m working on my novel, which is taking a while. Plus the second edition of Murder by the Letters has to be prepared. I have to find stock image to send to the cover designer, and prepare everything so its ready come October when all the stories come in.

Lastly, I’ve been binge watching Call the Midwife, series four. I can’t help it. Plus, father’s day and anniversary shopping.

Thank you for reading.

Yokozuna Sushi

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful day to spend with your spouse, your boyfriend, and even yourself. And its even better when you can go to a nice restaurant together.

My husband, David, took me to Yokosuma Sushi in the Ashland shopping center (the same one as Anthony’s and Martins) and we sat down at a table.

When you first walk in, you notice a professional and romantic atmosphere where you’re approached by one of the waiters. They tell you that you can sit where ever you want, which is a choice between the bar and the dozen or so tables scattered around the floor. Once you sit down, you’re asked what you want to drink with a wide selection of alcohol and only three choices for sodas: Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite*. However, the food choices varied from deep fried cheesecake to delicious sushi rolls and appetizers everywhere.

The food was delicious. Every bite of the tuna rolls and the shumai my husband and I had were divine. My taste buds did a little dance every time I took a bite. And for dessert, we had the deep fried cheesecake. That was the best choice we could have made. Presentation was beautiful.

The staff were friendly and helpful. They also seem to have a few regulars, so that’s a plus. It means that they care about all their customers, treating them more like guests.

I also visited the bathroom while I was there. Admittedly, there must be something wrong with the toilet and the drain in the floor was not in the right place, leaving a hole that someone could trip on, but the bathroom was classy and decorated nicely. It also smelled good.

I give Yokozuna Sushi four out of five stars.

*Coke, Diet Coke, and Sprite are all trademarked.

Writing Update

I’m working on editing a play I wrote some years ago based and inspired by Alice in Wonderland. A theatre friend of mine loved it, so, I guess that I’ll get it edited, possibly published, and maybe offer it for free in a pdf format to college students for their thesis plays. Maybe. What do you guys think?

More Publications!

Hello, my loyal fans. I have published an anthology of fourteen authors entitled Murder by the Letters: 26 Terrible Tales.

It is available on Amazon only right now, but it will be up on other sites soon enough.

Its available here.

“Murder by the Letters” is a collection of short stories created by a deeply prolific and diverse group of authors. The book not only showcases different voices and styles, but also presents a wide spectrum of genres, characters and topographies. Big cities, small towns, college campus, foreign countries, men, women, children, pets… they are evidence that any place can become a murder scene, while anyone can fall victim, not to mention, when it comes to deadly weapons, whether they are of conventional nature or not, the possibilites are infinite. Bottom line, anything can be lethal, even the alphabet. 26 letters, 26 crimes, 14 writers with homicide in their brains.

Doll Maker now on Barnes and Noble

My book of poetry, “Doll Maker” is now on the Barnes and Noble website.

 

 

The Doll Maker is taking women off the street and turning them into dolls before killing them. Will he be caught?

 

You can find it here.

It is also on CreateSpace, Amazon in paperback and on Kindle, Powell’s Books, and on ebay.

 

My second book of poetry, “Duskhouse Player” is available on Amazon as a paperback and Kindle.

 

Life is a series of random events laid out by Fate. Poetry is the paintings of her face. Duskhouse Player takes the random parts of life and pulls them out of a hat to give you a different experience in poetry. Its joyful and sorrowful.

Anthony’s Italian Food

Anthony’s an Italian restaurant in the Ashland area that serves pizza, pasta, sea food, and more. After three visits, I feel like I can give a fair assessment of their food, atmosphere, bathroom, and more.

When you first go in, there are the typical tables and chairs lining the restaurant, but at the bar area start the booths with only enough room between the bar and the booths for one person to walk. Behind the bar, are where they work their food magic. The atmosphere is rustic, sort of what you expect from a vineyard you might be visiting. The windows has painted images of plants and food. Inside, the walls have various pieces of art that run from obvious to abstract. Its cozy and lit a little romantically.

However, there is a modern jukebox that breaks the cozy, rustic feel of the room, and turns it into a claustrophobic nightmare in one spot. Its possible to avoid that spot, but at the same time, you don’t want your customers to feel like they need to make a run for it.

The food is delicious. My favorite dish–stuffed shells, which is on the special once a week at around $9.00–is amazing. The shells are always cooked to perfection and the sauce makes your mouth water. Their calzones are impeccable, and everyone I dine with at Anthony’s loves the food. They have Pepsi products, which isn’t too bad, but if you want tea or water they’ll bring it to you.

Our waiters/waitresses are always courteous and only once have we had any problem with anything coming out in a timely manner.

The bathrooms… the bathrooms… What can I say about the bathrooms? They’re… small. Anthony’s bathrooms desperately need an overhaul. The toilet was not properly attached to the floor and moved while you sat on it, if you shifted your weight. Water–from the toilet–is constantly on the floor, because its leaking. The sink is cramped, and the trashcan is always full. It is not parent friendly, in that there is no where to change your baby’s diaper. Nor is there any room if you have to go in with your child.

I give Anthony’s 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Overall, I’d say that you should go and eat there. Just don’t use the bathroom.

Duskhouse Player

My second book of poetry, Duskhouse Player, has been published through Amazon.

 

 

 

Life is a series of random events laid out by Fate. Poetry is the paintings of her face. Duskhouse Player takes the random parts of life and pulls them out of a hat to give you a different experience in poetry. Its joyful and sorrowful.

 

Purchase the Kindle edition here, and the paperback edition here.

 

 

 

End

The books pile high
and the military
becomes the police force.
Torches in every man’s hand.
I hide, watching.

Skyscrapers once reached
to the heaven.
Now, they are crumbled.
Pictures, not withstanding,
no one remembers.

With no choice, but survival
they turn to him,
the man with the torch,
setting the books on fire.
I watched.

Summerland

Hell is a place for the Christians

after death. That is not my home.

 

My body will lay among

the roots of the fields,

which will grip my flesh,

and worms will break my body apart.

 

My soul will see no fire.

 

Flames cannot harm me,

because I do not believe

in a place where you are punished

for mistakes you are supposed

to learn from.

 

A scatting will let

me pass through

the veil,

 

where I will learn my lesson,

and be reborn.

Untitled

I wish there

had been a physical

slap across my face

 

Don’t talk to your Nana

that way! She’s not a dog.

 

Then what am I?

 

A physical pain

assaults me when the shout

comes without warning.

 

If you break that dryer,

you’ll be sorry.

 

I already wished

I wasn’t born.