Cats Rule! by Traci Kenworth

Kitties Rule!

Traci Kenworth

Have you ever realized how noble, how serene your cat looks sometimes? As though they rule over thousands. Maybe more. Of course, there’s always the alpha of the pack but I’m talking about how they seem to think they own the place. They’re adorable, they’re sly. And they warm their ways into our hearts without a problem.

Who doesn’t adore a newborn kitten, with its eyes barely open? Its tiny paws stretch, seeking to find its first meal with its Mama. They grow in leaps and bounds so fast and so furious that no time seems to pass before they’re ready to tackle the world. Or at least your kitchen counter, lol.

People who don’t have cats don’t get it. Or at least, those who don’t snuggle close to these adorable creatures don’t. They can be your anchor, a companion in times of trouble, someone to lend an ear when no one else will. Everyone thinks dogs got that covered and they do but kitties do as well.

Of course, when it comes to mischievous, they’re a sight above most other pets. They know how to climb, how to dig, and how to knock over. And that’s just starters. “Don’t bother me human,” they seem to say in their latest escapade, their arrogant stance meant to show us that they “own” us.

They permit us to live with them. Not the other way around. They are sweet and adorable at times. Those faces under the door, begging to be let out after they’re finished with their toys. Sometimes they want to socialize. Other times, they want to be left alone. Cue in the aloof expression.

They like their routines. And heaven forbid to veer from that ideal for them. They want their feed times on a schedule. They want their humans available when they want them. Even though for most of us, there are other commitments we need to take care of in a day. When they peek around a corner, they expect us to be there.

Yeah, they have me wrapped around their paws. I grumble in the mornings when they get me up but they soon have me laughing at their antics. If you have a pet, you know. They have a way of getting into your heart. They teach you to be a better person at times. We can get upset when they break something but they’re little buttering up afterward warms our hearts.

Yes, cats rule, let’s face it. From their Egyptian tomb days to recently, they’ve learned how to play the adorable kitty, and earn a place at the top of our households. They are gentle and kind. Except when they aren’t. That’s the tiger in them, thanks to their cousin. While they might nick us with their claws, they always make up for it. They are loveable and divine and don’t you forget it.

Happenings:

I thought I was going to be starting a new routine or rather going back to the afternoon shifts with both my son and daughter. My son is still on afternoons but my daughter has to go through training on the first shift for over a month. So, I’m still running him to work in the afternoons and her in the mornings, just at a shorter distance to drive. Last night, he didn’t get off till after midnight and I didn’t get to sleep till one, one-thirty, and then had to get up at five. That wears on a body at my age and my health isn’t exactly great right now. I have to go in to see my doctor about my legs tonight. I already have an appointment with a neurologist through a referral of another doctor but that’s not till December unless they get a cancellation. Still, looking to teach both how to drive.

Here are some links around the web you may like:

Writers Helping Writers https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/how-to-tell-if-youre-self-publishing-your-book-for-the-right-reasons/ Should you self-publish your book? It’s not always an easy question to answer. Too many authors these days self-publish for the wrong reasons, and that sets them up for failure. As a hybrid author—I’ve self-published 3 books and traditionally published 3 novels—I have some ideas about how you can increase the odds that your self-published book will succeed. Life in the Realm of Fantasy: https://conniejjasperson.com/2022/10/26/nanowrimo-prep-part-7-resources-amwriting/ We are in the last week of prepping for NaNoWriMo 2022. Today we’re going to look at affordable resources for developing writing craft and sourcing information pertinent to your project. Let’s start with craft. If you are at the beginning stage of your writing life, it’s hard to know where to find help in shaping your work into a coherent story. For many years, I didn’t even know books on the craft of writing existed. One day in 1990, I stumbled upon a book offered in the Science Fiction Book Club catalog: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card. The day that book arrived in my mailbox changed my life. That was the day I gave myself permission to be a writer. I recommend checking out the NaNoWriMo Store, as it offers several books to help you get started. These books have good advice for beginners, whether you participate in November’s writing rumble or want to write at your own pace. I’ve always found the books from Writer’s Digest high-quality and helpful.
The Write Stuff https://marciamearawrites.com/2022/10/26/teripolens-badmoonrising-featuring-terrytyler-happyhalloween/ Another really spooky post on Bad Moon Rising today, this time featuring author Terry Tyler. Head on over, but be sure you’re ready for some more shivers!
Roberta Writes https://writingtoberead.com/2022/10/26/dark-origins-the-sotho-tswana-and-the-malevolent-tokoloshe-southernafrica-mythslegends/ The Sotho-Tswana people of southern Africa comprise of the South Sotho (Basuto and Sotho), the West Sotho (Tswana) and the North Sotho (Pedi) people. Most Sotho people were historically herders of cattle, goats, and sheep and growers of grains and tobacco. The Sotho people were also recognized for their metal and leather work as well as their wood and ivory carving. The Sotho people live largely in Lesotho and South Africa and as a combined group are the second largest ethnic group in South Africa. Religious beliefs The Sotho traditionally believe in Modimo who created the world and then withdrew to Heaven. He no longer concerns himself with life on earth. Modimo is not worshipped directly but through the ancestors. The belief in ancestors is central to Sotho’s traditional religion. The ancestors are believed to have an influence over the daily lives of their direct descendants. Each family is under the direct guidance of its own descendants while the tribe, as a whole, is under the guidance of the ancestors of the chief. What an interesting background and read!
Angela & Becca (Writers Helping Writers): https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/fear-thesaurus-entry-feeling-unsafe/ Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they’re a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental health condition, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character’s behaviors, habits, beliefs, and personality traits. The compulsion to avoid what they fear will drive characters away from certain people, events, and situations and hold them back in life. In your story, this primary fear (or group of fears) will constantly challenge the goal the character is pursuing, tempting them to retreat, settle, and give up on what they want most. Because this fear must be addressed for them to achieve success, balance, and fulfillment, it plays a pivotal part in both the character arc and the overall story. This thesaurus explores the various fears that might be plaguing your character. Use it to understand and utilize fears to fully develop your characters and steer them through their story arc. Please note that this isn’t a self-diagnosis tool. Fears are common in the real world, and while we may at times share similar tendencies as characters, the entry below is for fiction writing purposes only.
Angel Messages https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/angel-messages-oct-29-2022/
Smorgasboard Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/smorgasbord-posts-from-my-archives-memoir-life-on-the-ocean-wave-part-four-1942-hms-beverley-american-shipmates-and-rough-seas-by-eric-coleman-2/ The narrowness of those ships looks positively terrifying!
Syl’s 65 blog: https://syl65.wordpress.com/2022/10/30/spiritualsunday-42-%e2%9c%9d%ef%b8%8f/
Charles French: https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/a-walk-from-richmond-to-easby-abbey-medieval-wall-paintings-and-the-little-drummer-boy/ Once upon a time there was a little drummer boy, stationed with his regiment at Richmond Castle (that’s the Yorkshire Richmond, by the way, not the one by the Thames). Some of his fellow soldiers found a tunnel in the castle and, as the drummer boy was small, sent him to explore its length, beating his drum so that his comrades, walking above, would know where he was. What a spooky and haunting tale. History lives for a reason.
The Story Reading Ape blog: https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2022/10/30/editing-secrets-the-difference-between-craft-and-style-by-hank-phillippi-ryan/ The question for author Ben Mezrich came from an audience member high up in the amphitheater seating. “What would be your advice for a beginning author?” Ben (the author of The Accidental Billionaires which became the movie The Social Network and the new The Anti-Social Network which will soon be the movie Dumb Money) thought about that, and then said: “You can write whatever you want, and that’s fine. But “writing what you want” may not be the point. You need to think about whether anyone else would want to read it. You need to think about–will this SELL?” And that brings up a dilemma every author has faced: Whether to take someone else’s suggestions if they might put your book on the road to a sale. Let’s agree that it’s always possible that someone other than you has a good idea. In fact, it’s likely, right? On the other hand, your book is your book, and you want it to be the way you want it to be. I think it’s helpful to think this way.
Books and Such: https://teripolen.com/2022/10/29/badmoonrising-johnny-lycan-and-the-vegas-berserker-the-werewolf-pi-2-by-wayne-turmel-thriller-paranormal-werewolves/ This author made his BMR debut two years ago with the first book in his Johnny Lycan series, and he returns today with book two that releases in December. Saying Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror? Only at a snooty brunch. But he and The Candyman are acquaintances. Welcome, Wayne Turmel! Have you ever said Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror? I know what you mean, but the only time I ever said Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror was at a snooty brunch in West Hollywood, and the waiter ignored me every time. Candyman, on the other hand, and I are on speaking terms. Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard? I’d much rather visit a graveyard. They are so much more atmospheric than haunted houses, there’s the smell of newmown grass, and there’s a lot more room for running, dodging, and hiding when #%$#^ gets real. I’d rather have the room to run as well, lol.
Entertaining Stories: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2022/10/29/a-quick-update-2/ I haven’t posted here a ton this month, because of the ongoing blog tour. There’s a bunch of original content, it’s just hosted elsewhere. There have been a ton of good remarks along the route and I’ve had a great time. There’s only one tour stop left, on Halloween. I also have the Story Empire post that day. Somehow, between two posts and working, I might have to catch up on all those comments after I get home. Not a lot happening beyond that. I ate Asian pears until they started getting mushy. Those on the tree now might not get harvested at all. Frankie has a new bulldog game that’s kind of annoying. She sleeps with us, so we have a set of stairs for her to go up and down. She navigates these with ease. She’s surprisingly agile, so she can also jump up with ease. For some reason, at bedtime, she whines and plays this game where she just can’t make it up there. Most nights I get up, then she jumps in with no problem.
This is Horror: https://www.thisishorror.co.uk/news-round-up-week-ending-28-october-2022/ Out now from Weird Punk Books and editors Sam Richard and Joe Koch, Stories of the Eye This brand-new horror anthology explores the relationships between artists and their subjects. Edited by Sam Richard & Joe Koch. Beauty is a knife. Between the desire to create and the thing created, the model is a key, a stepping stone, a participant othered through the process of creation. These thirteen visions of modern horror dissect the relationship between artist and model, exposing the spaces the eye is tricked into missing where we witness the beautiful and monstrous intricacies of making and being made. Featuring stories by Hailey Piper, Andrew Wilmot, Gwendolyn Kiste, and many more, you can pick up your copy in paperback format here.
John Howell: https://johnwhowell.com/2022/10/28/friday-johnku-aka-tgif-fri-yay-goodnews-4/ A breakthrough in electric vehicle fast-charging battery design from Penn State has enabled a 10-minute charge time for a typical EV battery. The record-breaking combination of a shorter charge time and more energy required for a longer travel range came from heating the battery to a Goldilocks Zone which has proven difficult for engineers thus far. Their findings are hoped to accelerate the sale of EVs and were announced on October 12th, in the journal Nature. “The need for smaller, faster-charging batteries is greater than ever,” said Chao-Yang Wang, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State and lead author of the study. “There are simply not enough batteries and critical raw materials, especially those produced domestically, to meet anticipated demand.” In August, California’s Air Resources Board passed an extensive plan to restrict and ultimately ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars within the state. By 2035, the largest auto market in the United States will effectively retire the internal combustion engine. If new car sales are going to shift to battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs), Wang explained, they’ll need to overcome two major drawbacks: they are too slow to recharge and too large to be efficient and affordable. I like the idea of EVs, but I’m not sure how long it’ll take to reach a reliable one.
Writers in the Storm: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/making-a-podcast-love-connection/ The last time I appeared here, I talked about ways to be selected for podcast appearances to promote your writing. I hope it encouraged you to put yourself out there. In this post, we’ll cover how to find and evaluate podcasts, so you don’t waste your time on shows with poor quality or audiences that are a little too niche in size. So, if you want to get booked on a podcast, I have good and bad news. The good news is, according to PodcastHosting.org, there are two million (2,000,000!) podcasts out there with more than 48 million episodes available. The bad news is there are two million (2,000,000!) podcasts out there of varying quality and audience size. What does that mean if you’re seeking a good fit for your topic with a decent-sized audience? How do you make that podcast love connection? Two million. Hard to realize there are that many to choose from.