Nov 10 2018, 10:46 am
Happy 243rd Birthday to the United States Marine Corps
Oct 30 2018, 11:24 am
Haunted Lighthouse
From William Samuels’ Journal.
Written on a plane headed to Kansas City.
I love lighthouses. I grew up a block from the St. Augustine, Florida lighthouse. As a kid the grounds, with its old oaks were my playground. The light and the keeper’s house were basically abandoned after the Coast Guard automated the light.
I’m not admitting to anything but…entering the structure was—cough—hypothetically possible. Hypothetically, I spent some rainy afternoons in the keeper’s house with a girlfriend or two, making out. Occasionally, of an evening, Clay, my best friend in high school, and I would entice our dates to climb in a window and go into the light. Not up to the top, just stay at the bottom where it was nice and private. I’ve only been to the top a handful of times. Not because it’s 219 steps to the top, but up past the first 50 or so steps I got a queasy, dizzy feeling. Like vertigo. Pretty sure it’s because of the heavy smoke smell permeating the walls. Accumulated from years of cigar and pipe smoking keepers. I also hear things, like phantom footsteps that kept me on the ground. One of the times I did go up to the top was with a girl. While we were up there she clocked my hard enough to cause a bloody nose. Why? She said I tried to push her over the iron stair railing. I didn’t lay a hand on her and I was pretty mad she said I did something like that.
Anyhow, that’s how I got started with lighthouses.
I went away to journalism school at the University of Missouri and believe it or not there aren’t any lights there. I was so used to the beam from the St. Augustine light sweeping past my window every minute and a half I had trouble sleeping. Tried setting a timer on a lamp to mimic the light. Roomie put an end to that real quick.
After graduation I worked for a couple of small newspapers and freelanced. I could see the internet was killing print media and in my spare time—which had become more than my working time—I began to write the great American novel. Quickly learned I’m no Stephen King. Writing is hard. One night at the corner pub I was telling a friend my sad tale of woe and he gave me the name of a client of his looking for a ghost writer. Well, hell. I gave it a try and found out I could do it and do it well. I live comfortably off my earnings. So do two ex-wives.
I recently traveled to Michigan to work with a client on his auto-biography. I visit to gauge the tempo of a client’s speech and get a feel for where they live. Knowing some about a client makes the ghost writing easier. The client spent his childhood on the upper-peninsula, or thumb, as the locals call it. A nice guy, nothing earth shaking in his life. Some interesting stuff, like his grandfather came to Michigan from Boston on an orphan train. We bonded big time when he tells me about a nearby haunted lighthouse he and his friends hung out in. I’ll be honest, I never thought about lighthouses in Michigan. But, get this, Michigan has more than any other state. The rocky shores on four great lakes have a hundred and twenty. Florida has thirty. Yeah. We shared a few lighthouse stories and a lot of damn good whisky.
My business concluded, on a whim I drove my rental to a few of the Michigan lights. I was greeted at each by enthusiastic volunteers who treated me to the stats, stories and secrets of their wards. These bastions are pretty damn amazing. Most, built in the late nineteenth century on inhospitable rocky islands and desolate land, are pounded year round with treacherous weather. Yet, they’re still standing. Gotta tip my hat to those who built the towers without the heavy equipment we have today. One thing is the same as the St Augustine light, they smell of cigar and pipe smoke. I mentioned this to the woman—an aging hippie type—showing me around. She stopped dead in her tracks and put her hand to her throat, breathing hard. Thought she was having an attack. Eyes big as Oreos and in a halting whisper she told me only special people could smell the smoke. Alrighty then.
I made my way to the next house where a great guy and his wife show me around. At the top of the light the lady, in a hushed voice, says, “The windows are clean.” I thought she was responsible and asking for an atta girl so I told her she did a good job. Although I wasn’t sure how she’d managed to do the outside. The Mrs. politely informs me she didn’t clean the windows, the ghost did. Okay. Moving on, I mention it’s too bad the smoke smell can’t be removed by cleaning. The couple give me a hard look. The Mr. chimes in that not everyone can smell the smoke from the light keeper’s cigars.
As if I’ve given them a secret handshake into a paranormal club, tales of haunted lighthouses around the country pour from them. Strange lights, music playing, cries of women and sailors, heavy footsteps on the stairs. Cleaning ghosts, like the one here, who clean light windows and brass. Specters of women in flowing white gowns and men in pea coats.
On the ground, outside and after the hairs on my body returned to their proper positions I was slapped alongside the head with a book idea. Thoughts swirled in my mind and I wasn’t able to think of anything else. I’ve heard writers speak of getting ideas this way but this is a first time experience for me. I’m excited. Excited about writing for myself. I can hardly sit still. The woman in the seat next to me keeps giving me funny looks. I gave her a big smile and tell her I’m going to write a damn good book about a haunted lighthouse.
Thanks for stopping by. Rita
Oct 21 2018, 10:48 am
 Ram Island Ledges are a series on stone break waters on Casco Bay, Maine. The ledge was the sight of frequent shipwrecks. As the result of a steamship wreck in February 1900 Congress appropriated funds to build the Ram Island Light. The 90 foot high granite tower is located near the entrance to Boothbay Harbor, Maine an went into operation January 1905. The region has a long history of warning and assisting mariners even before a lighthouse was finally constructed. One account from a sailor tell how his boat was being tossed about. Lightening turned the night to day and there, standing on the reef at Ram Island, waving her hands in warning was a lady all in white, as if full of electricity. He goes on to say if it weren’t for her he would have struck the ledge. He was never able to find the lady. Another fisherman: “I was in danger of running into the rocks when I saw a burning boat near shore, about to smash on the rocks and in the boat was this woman, warning me away. I quickly changed direction. The next day I saw no trace of the burning boat or the mysterious woman.”
The light in now private property. It was sold in 2010 to Dr.Jeffery Florman
The ghost of a beautiful young woman dressed in white walks the shores of the beach near Hendrick’s Head Lighthouse, Southport, Maine. 
Is she the ghost of a woman who was found drowned there one morning, or is it the mother of a shipwrecked baby? In 1871, a vessel went aground on the ledge about a half mile off shore during a March gale. The keeper had no way of getting out there, so he watched helplessly as the ship went under. Some of the debris washed ashore, and the keeper and his wife went to pick through it. The keeper spotted what looked like two feather mattresses bound together with rope. He called his wife over, and they hauled it in. Untying the rope, they found a wooden box wedged inside, which was making strange noises. Opening it, they found an infant girl. Apparently the mother had done the best she could to save the baby, and succeeded. The keeper and his wife rushed her to the house where they dried her, warmed her and fed her, and kept her as their own. But the real mother, filled with grief and longing, may be the ghost who walks the beach.
What do you think? Real or stories. I believe it. What I wonder is why haven’t these women recently been seen. No one to help or did their spirit get closure?
Oct 11 2018, 9:27 am
 Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, is located on a hill overlooking the northern side of the entrance to Yaquina Bay, Oregon. The charming two-story clapboard structure was deserted a mere three years after its light was first lit in 1871 and it remained empty for fourteen years. In 1889 The Army Corps of Engineers used it to house one of their engineers and his family. That is, until it was heavily damaged in a hail storm and struck by lightning. It’s had spotty off and on use until it was privately purchased and relit in December 1996 as an aid to civilian navigation.
Deserted and in disrepair, it has ever since been the scene for many a ghostly tale. The most famous being about Muriel Travenard, born at the end of the 18th century to a sea captain and his wife. Her mother died when she was young, and for a time she sailed with her father. When she was a teen he decided to leave his daughter behind with friends in Newport. Weeks lengthened into months, and the captain didn’t return. Muriel was unhappy but made friends with other teens, which helped to assuage her grief. Her group decided to explore the abandoned lighthouse. It was a mess, dilapidated, and not as much fun as they’d hoped, but they did find a strange iron plate in the floor on the second level. It was a door to a compartment that had a deep hole cut into it. They looked inside, but left the door open, and went off to explore the rest of the area. In the late afternoon, as they were preparing to leave, Muriel remembered she’d left her scarf inside and went back to get it. Her friends waited, but she didn’t return. Several went back in to look for her. After searching without success, one of the kids noticed a pool of blood on the floor, with a trail of drops leading to the iron plate, which was now—mysteriously— closed. The teens tried to open the door, but couldn’t. After coming back with help, a complete search of the lighthouse and grounds was made, and the plate was frozen in place and couldn’t be pried open. Muriel, or her body, was never found, and a dark stain marks the floor where, what is believed to have been, her blood was found. No one knows what happened that fateful day. Over the years there are claims Muriel’s ghost has been seen peering out of the lantern room or walking down the path behind the lighthouse.
Now here is where the story get a little wonky. It may or may not be true. All this falderal could have originated from Lischen Miller’s story, “The Haunted Lighthouse,” published in an 1899 issue of Pacific Monthly. A fictional account of a girl named Muriel Trevenard, who mysteriously disappeared in the lighthouse after returning to retrieve her handkerchief.
Hmmm. So whatcha think? Fact or fiction? Did Ms. Miller hear the legend and write her story or, did the legend get legs from her story?
Sep 23 2018, 1:35 pm
Do you have Netflix? I don’t. I’m afraid I’d become a giant blob of algae sitting on the sofa watching all the good shows. Nothing would get done. No writing. No cleaning house. Well, have to say I’m lax on that already. I have Amazon Prime and it’s bad enough. My passion is movies and small screen series adapted from books. Love seeing book characters come to life. I do my best to read (actually I listen to the vast majority of books) a book before I watch the movie or series because, the book is always better. Right?
Some adaptations I’ve enjoyed are:
The Martian. Of course there are book details left out of the movie production. But the movie was totally fantastic.
Bosch. Amazon Prime series. I’ve read all of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch books and really enjoy the story of an older LAPD homicide detective. I also like how the production, working with Connelly, have taken story lines from different books and woven them together in episodes for a season. If you’re into car chases and shootouts this isn’t for you. It’s definitely about the human side of police work.
Amazon also has the Jack Ryan series. It isn’t directly from any of Clancy’s books. It does evoke what the Ryan stories are about. Kinda like how the 007 movies developed. I liked it. Seeing comments, people either loved it or didn’t. I particularly like John Krasinski as Ryan.
Outlander. Okay. I confess. I LOVE Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Time travel. Men in kilts. Epic love story. What’s not to like? Taking giganticus books and producing them for a TV series has to be a giganticus undertaking/headache. In which, it is difficult to please the purists book readers. If you are a fan and in any fan groups you will know of what I speak. From my perspective the casting is spot on. Acting, scenery, settings, and costumes are perfect. Personally I’ve found very few things to get squinty eyed over. The series adds to the book story IMO.
Mr. Mercedes. Made for TV series from Stephen King’s trilogy of the same name. It’s dark and disturbing and I love it. Not even minding changes from the book.
Unbroken. WoW. If you haven’t read Louis Zamperini’s story of survival and overcoming I suggest you add it to your TBR list. I listen to parts frequently. The book was broken in 2 parts for movies. First part is war experiences and the second, which I haven’t seen, is how he overcame experienced horrors.
The Monument Men. When I read the book I was floored I hadn’t heard the story before. My hubs and I are WWII history buffs and had seen much of the art and been to many places mentioned in the story. IMO the movie hardly did the story justice.
A favorite book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, was made into a film showing only on Netflix. I sooo want to see the movie but, once I have Netflix there would be no going back. Can you feel my pain?
These are only a few books to the screen adaptations. Do you have any favorites?
May 17 2018, 4:04 pm in Audio Books
Do you have to get debris and aquatic critters out of the pool because you have hoards of guests coming to visit for the summer?
Need to get the knee high grass cut and clear the poison ivy away from the yard?
Convince the mosquitoes not carry off your guests?
Have to give the old home a good cleaning?
And….. all you want do is to read a good book?
—Imagine me talking in a cheesy infomercial voice.—
Well, have I got the solution for you.
Audio books.
Yes that’s right. You heard me-
Audio Books.
For busy people who love to read.
You can listen on your phone, E-reader, or laptop.
—End cheesy voice over—
I’m here to tell ya listening to books will make the drudgery of cleaning closets, using the shop vac to suck the crumbs from the oven, and scrubbing those toilets a thing of the past. You’ll be so pleased to listen you’ll wish there was more work to do. Ehh. That last statement might be pushing it.
I started listening because of vision problems. Even with glasses over contacts, it was difficult to read. After five eye surgeries reading is much easier now but I’m totally hooked on listening. Many times I’ve foregone seeing a movie because the audio book production was so good.
The big thing is, I can listen to books and not feel guilty because I should be doing something else. ‘Cause I can do something else. Except drive. I get too engrossed in the story. Shakes head here –Not a good thing. Now that I’m thinking about it, listening to the, shall I say, steamy parts, of a romance novel in the doctor’s office or in the dentist chair, eh, not good either. Well, it’s not bad that you’re listening to it there, it’s odd to explain why you’re fanning yourself and you’re hyperventilating. Whatever you do, just say no to the hygienist if she wants you to take out the earphones so she can also hear.
So, tell me, do you listen to your books? Do you have a favorite narrator?
I would know Dick Hill anywhere. He narrates many of my favorite books. Many actors lend their voices to books. If any of you are longtime watchers of Law and Order you remember there was a female psychologist on the show. Carolyn McCormick portrayed Dr Elizabeth Olivet, and narrates The Hunger Games Trilogy. I also have one narrator I will not listen too. Nope. He ruins the story for me.
I loved:
11-22-63
Water For Elephants
The Martian
Outlander Series and novellas
Michael Connelly Books—all of them
Barry Eisler
Jack Reacher Series
Stephen Kings Me. Mercedes Trilogy
The Hunger Games Trilogy
Neil Gaiman
I guess you get the picture.
Tell me an audio book you enjoyed.
My first book Under Fire is available in audio format. Click here Audible to listen to a sample.
—WARNING—
Listening to Audio Books is habit forming.
Apr 9 2018, 4:51 pm in National Library Week
I grew up in St Augustine Florida, the oldest city in the nation. History all round. Many buildings in use date to the early 1700’s. My grandparent’s home was built around civil war times.
One was constructed around 1783, by Bernardo Segui. It also was the home of Edmond Smith, the last Confederate general to surrender his command. He was born in the home in 1824. In 1863 Union officials exiled the general’s mother from the city for spying.
The house came to be called the Segui-Smith House. In 1895 it was given to the city to be used as a library. My library.
It’s a good possibility many of the books I perused on the shelves had been there since 1895. Really. It’s still in use as a research library, home to historical records. That building holds powerful memories for me.
Rainy afternoons sitting in a corner listening to rain tap a beat on the banana leaves and palm fronds in the courtyard. The rooms were dark and the library cards yellowed. The wood floors upstairs creaked when no one stepped on them. The powerful musty scent of dust, old paper and history was comforting. I honestly can’t remember any books I checked out and if I remember correctly there were a set of encyclopedias from the 18th century. Yes, I am that old that I didn’t have a device to look everything up on not the 18th century part.
I miss my library. 
Do you have fond Library memories?
Apr 2 2018, 2:26 pm in Dr. Suess, Frost, National Poetry Month, Poe
I know nothing about poetry. Except what speaks to me. When I open a book of poems I can honestly get lost in them. I marvel at the author’s ability to tell me a story in a few lines. To draw me in and make me feel. I’m sharing a few.
Impromptu – To Kate Carol – Poem by Edgar Allan Poe
When from your gems of thought I turn
To those pure orbs, your heart to learn,
I scarce know which to prize most high —
The bright i-dea, or the bright dear-eye.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.
Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.
Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Suess
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
Any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
An Irish Poem ~Unknown
Death leaves a heartache
No one can heal
Love leaves a memory
No one can steal.
The Toucan by Shel Silverstein
Tell me who can
Catch a toucan?
Lou can.
Just how few can
Ride the toucan?
Two can.
What kind of goo can
Stick you to the toucan?
Glue can.
Who can write some
More about the toucan?
You can!
My Spoon ~Unknown Author
Greasy grimy gopher guts.
Mutilated monkey meat
Little dirty birdies feet
And I forgot my spoon.
~Unknown because who would admit to writing this?
Do you have favorite poems? Please share.
To learn more about Poetry Month click here
Feb 28 2018, 9:01 am in Character stories, March special days, Women's Month
Other special days in March are:
March 4th—the day all the animals marched forth from the ark.
March 17th—St Patrick’s Day
March 19th—St Joseph’s Day
And… there is March Madness. The month long NCAA basketball tournaments to determine the college national champions.
I write about Extraordinary Women so I asked my heroines what women they find inspiring and what their plans for the month of March are.
Olivia, from Under Fire, said she is in awe of the women who, hundreds of years ago, had the courage to leave their homes in Europe, get on tiny boats, cross the Atlantic and settle an unknown land.
She and Declan will be in Kansas City, MO for a business meeting on March 15th. They decided to stay a few extra days to see the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Then they’ll visit the notable, or notorious, depending on your point of view, Irish establishments in town. When I spoke with them, Declan was laughing about drinking green beer and then pe…. eh. Well, you know, green liquid in, green liquid out.
They’re staying at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza. If you’re in Kansas City stop and visit. Just ask Ed, the doorman, where they are.
Gemma, from Under Fire: The Admiral, said she admires Nancy Augusta Wake, a British agent during WWII. Nancy was a courier for the French Resistance and in1943 was the Gestapo’s most wanted person.
Gemma and Ben will be in Boston for St Patrick’s Day enjoying the festivities with friends. They did share an experience they had a few months ago while visiting Ireland.
They were in the Irish countryside on a very dark, stormy night–really it was–in the middle of nowhere. They’d stopped at a local pub for dinner and were enjoying the food, pints, and conversation when the pub door slammed open. A soaking wet, obviously upset young man stood in the doorway. He rushed in babbling about a horrible experience.
He was settled into a chair and given a pint. The beer was half-gone before he could string words into sentences and answer the many questions. The young man explained he was backpacking through Ireland and on a deserted road when it began raining so hard he could hardly see a few feet ahead of him. Finally, a car came slowly towards him and stopped. Desperate for shelter and thinking he was being offered a ride, he got in and closed the door only to realize there was nobody behind the wheel. Even though the engine wasn’t on, the car once again started moving. Ireland’s many ghost stories rumbled through his brain and fear paralyzed him. That is until he looked at the road ahead and saw a curve looming. Gathering courage, he prepared to jump. Then, through the driver’s window, a ghostly hand appeared out of gloom. In terror, he watched as the hand turned the wheel, guiding the car around the curve.
The lights of the pub appeared and gathering strength, he jumped out of the car and ran for it.
A silence enveloped the pub when everybody realized he was crying.
Once again the door slammed open, startling everyone, and two men walked in from the dark and stormy night. They too were soaked and out of breath. Looking around, and seeing the young man sobbing at the bar, one said to the other…
“Look ….there’s that fookin idiot that got in the car while we were pushing it!”
Honey, From Point of No Return, answered after a long pause. “More than anyone I respect and admire the women who are married to military men, agents, police officers and firemen. They have an uncommon strength and bravery.”
She and Jack, are both rabid basketball fans and they’re hosting March Madness parties to watch the games and a huge St Pat’s Day party. Gloria, Kara, and Gunny will be there. Buck and Coop haven’t decided if they’ll come. Seems they’ve been invited to Florida by a couple of young ladies for spring break fun. What do you think they’ll do?
Celia, from Hunter’s Heart, shared she’d been reading about Eleanor Roosevelt and very much admired her.
She and Hunter will be in Greystones, Ireland for St Patrick’s Day. She’d told Hunter she would love to visit the place where the landscape he gave her was painted. On Valentine’s Day, in a very romantic way she didn’t want to share, he surprised her with plane tickets to Ireland. Gotta love Hunter.
All my book characters say hello to you and hope to wave at you from the pages of future books.
I think that’s a hint for me to get busy writing.
Oh! In honor of the day all the animals marched forth from the ark– March 4th–everyone is invited to stop by for cake, animal cookies, and tea.
Dec 17 2017, 12:01 am
Here are a few recipes for fun holiday drinks. Enjoy.
Guava pineapple juice and vodka. Yes, I did say guava pineapple. It’s delish. You’ll need Dole’s guava pineapple juice, the vodka of your choice, a pitcher, cute glasses to serve in and a garnish. I like citrus curls, pomegranate seeds and raspberries. 
Measure vodka into pitcher then pour in juice. Be careful here. The juice completely covers the taste of vodka. I recommend starting with a vodka 1 to juice 5 formula to begin with. Go to a 1 to 4 if you think you and your guests can handle it. 
Love eggnog especially with dark spiced rum.
You’ll need rum, eggnog, whip cream and cinnamon, and of course glasses to serve in. Again, know your guests as to how much rum to use. Here I use the finger formula. 1 finger of rum   to 3 or 4 fingers of eggnog, according to your taste. Top off with whip cream and a dusting of cinnamon. Purrrfect.
My other favorites are mimosas and poinsettias.
Mimosas are half orange juice and half sparkling wine. Easy. I like to garnish with pomegranate seeds.
Poinsettias are half cranberry juice and half sparkling wine and a dash of Cointreau. Use any champagne glass or flute. More pomegranate or an orange slice will garnish very nicely.
So, this is a new to me treat. It involves cookie crumbs, salted caramel Baileys and a splash of heavy cream. Moisten the edge of the glass and roll in the cookie crumbs flavor of your choice. pour a couple fingers of Baileys and splash in the cream. O_My_Goodness. So good!
Enjoy the Holidays and drink responsibly.
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