It’s time for Blog de Diablo, Blog Post #66. I would say that I don’t believe in the devil but that’s not true. There’s the bird, the fish, and the eggs… all which are real.

It’s July, which means my wife and I celebrate our anniversary. This year is thirteen years of marriage. Thirteen years of marriage talked about in Blog Post 66? Good thing I’m not a numerophobe. If there’s any number to fear right now, it’s 2020.

Celebrate the Flow of Life

My wife and I took a two hour road trip to Whistler for a couple nights of R&R. It was nice to “travel” again. I took this photo of Fitzsimmons Creek and was reminded to appreciate the still and the moving aspects of life.

Movie Goals

I had a new year’s resolution to watch 36 movies this year. With the pandemic, I reached my goal in the first week of July. I highly recommend Stuck in Love, Still Life, and Requirements to be a Normal Person. Pain and Glory was also amazing.

Novel Goals

My novel writing continues. I’ve been reading bits and samples of other writers, deciphering what I like and what I don’t like. While it has been easy and natural to find my voice in this blog, writing a fictional novel has been another animal all together. They’re not really the same things. It would be like comparing apples to orangutans.

As promised, I am continuing to share excerpts from my novel. Keep in mind that this is all first draft material. It will likely change. In this scene, the main character had been given a letter from his mother that he couldn’t get out of his mind:

“The thinking was all focused on the letter and not on whether he was full or whether he should keep eating. There was self loathing and negative self talk that needed to occur. There wasn’t time for interference with questions of satiety or comfort.”

Words of Wisdom

1. My advice for a long happy marriage: Always apologize when you do something wrong or say something wrong (it’s ‘when’ not ‘if’).

I recently read a social media post that said :

“To all the people who are apoligizing for a past they weren’t part of or even born for. Speak for yourself I myself did nothing to apoligize for.”

You could start by apologizing for your punctuation.

Then I’ll say, “I’m so sorry that you have so much trouble with grammar and spelling.”

Apologies are free and helpful.

2. Pass on encouraging words. Inspire others.

Gratitude

Thanks to everyone who continues to support this blog and my first book, Nursing: The Funny Side of the Bedside. Sales have continued through June and July which has been surprising and humbling. It’s time for some ending jokes. Enjoy.

 

Nurse: “Sir, you’ll need to be on clear fluids for the next two days.”

Patient: “Clear fluids? Ok, no stouts or hazy IPAs… only lagers and pilsners. Got it.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Quotes to live by: “All of us need to do our part. We need to continue to support each other in doing that. We need to be calm, and to be kind to each other, and to be safe.” – Donald Trump

______________________________________________________________________________________

Correction: The above Donald Trump quote may not have been Donald Trump but instead may have been Dr. Bonnie Henry. It does sound like something Trump would say though; #fakenews.