WRP: "Why Barbara Ehrentreu Writes"

Three days a week, I meet with other writers in Writing Room Prime on Zoom where we spend an hour focused on writing, plotting, or anything that advances our careers as writers. I've been asking the participants why they write. Here's one of the answers.

"The main reason I write is because I want people to know what I think. At the age of eight, I had a poem published in the school district newspaper. I loved the feeling of seeing my words on paper. But I didn’t start writing seriously until I was married with children and going to graduate school. I was able to meet some authors, and they heard a piece I had written about picking blueberries as a child. They all told me how good it was. I started my first novel the next year. I was able to get into a workshop by Paula Danziger, a well-known children’s writer, and I wrote three pages of my novel: If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor. Paula taught me how to write for children. I’ve been a writer ever since then."
~ Barbara Ehrentreu, author of If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor  

WRP: "Why Vivian Zabel Writes"

Three days a week, I meet with other writers in Writing Room Prime on Zoom where we spend an hour focused on writing, plotting, or anything that advances our careers as writers. I've been asking the participants why they write. Here's one of the answers. 

"My imagination has always worked overtime. Movies run in my head. Stories bubble up and over. If I don’t write, my dreams awaken me and yell at me, telling me to write, write, write. I began telling stories from my imagination as soon as I could talk. My mother saved some of my first written poetry and stories from when I was in third grade. I write because I have to do something with all those words, stories, characters, movies." 

~ Vivian Zabel, author of Prairie Dog Cowboy 

September Steppin'

This was a hot summer! Cooler weather has finally arrived, so heat stroke isn't winking and making advances on me as I walk around the neighborhood. 

Book News:
• I've been working on the cover for Murder by the Mile. Which may seem to be an odd thing to do since the book isn't completed, but it gives me something concrete to shoot for. Makes it more real. Writing a book can be a nebulous thing at times. What you see in your head—the movie in your mind as it were—and what you're writing can be wildly different. I always have to remember that writing could also be called rewriting and be just as true.
 • I've chosen Floozy Takes A Ramble as the title for the next humor book. Seems to fit better than anything else for a book of eclectic and eccentric writings. Of course, I reserve the right to change it if a better title comes along.
 • Buy all my books--and I do mean buy all--at online retailers and independent bookstores. This includes Floozy Goes Forth, Murder by Dewey Decimal, Murder by the Acre, Floozy Comes Back, Tales from Bethlehem, Floozy & Other Stories, Undying, and more!
Order my books from Amazon here!
Order my books from Books-A-Million here!
Order my books from Bookshop.org here!
Order my books from Magers & Quinn Booksellers here!
Order my books from Thrift Books here!
Order my books from Powell Books here!
Perfect for the readers in your life—and for you!

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I'm Back in August! You there?

Glad we got some rain, but it makes things sticky. I hope the month has been treating you well. If not, we will speak harshly to it. If that's not enough, steps will be taken!

Book News:
• Murder by the Mile is NOT sinking into the swamp, but it is a slow slog through murky waters and biting insects. I suspect the characters are trying to kill me, which is weird since, after all, it is a murder mystery and another character is trying to kill them. I hope they're not blaming me. After all, I did not tell XXXXX to take vengeance on BBBBB or encourage WWWWW to ZZZZZ that money. I am innocent! INNOCENT! Huh, I sound like DDDDD when questioned by the police. Weird.
• Floozy Takes A Ramble may get a new title. I'm playing with several different ones. I want it to be exciting, intriguing, mysterious, inviting, charming, funny, and intelligent. Apparently, I'm trying to date the title. Well, I'll know what the title is when it gets closer to publication sometime in 2025 or 2026.
• You can find all my books, including Floozy Goes Forth, Murder by Dewey Decimal, Murder by the Acre, Floozy Comes Back, Tales from Bethlehem, and Floozy & Other Stories at online retailers and Your Independent Bookstore. 
Here's the link to my author page on Amazon.
Here's the link to my books on Books-A-Million.
Here's the link to my books on Bookshop.org.
Here's the link to my books on Thrift Books.
Here's the link to my books on Powell Books.
Go buy several. Perfect for gifts for anyone except those weirdos who don't like to laugh or enjoy a good mystery. They do exist, I hear.

Personal news:
• I enjoyed my birthday last month. Lunches with friends, funny cards, and a gift or two made getting older...well, not fun, but bearable. The next time I get loot--ah, I mean sincere tokens of people's affection for me will be at Christmas. Looking forward to the holiday season.
• My six cats are doing generally well. Gypsy, the mother of four of them, has been sick and taken to the vet a few times, but she is doing better. Hoping for a clean bill of health the next time she goes in for a blood test.
• Speaking of doctor's visits, I will be going to the doctor at the end of the month for my trice-yearly diabetes checkup. No, it's not the vet, but I wonder if that would be cheaper.
• Trying to take up my walking program again. Get those steps for health. Probably should have begun before the soles of my shoes started melting from summer's unrelenting heat.

Jokes of the Month: 
A man walks into a seafood restaurant and sees a sign saying “Lobster Tails $1 each.” The man goes up to the waitress and says, “Those must be tiny tails if you’re selling them so cheaply.”
“No,” replies the waitress. “They’re normal size.”
“Then they have to be pretty old,” says the man.
“No,” replies the waitress. “They’re fresh today.”
“Okay,” says the man. “I’ll have one.”
So the waitress takes the man’s money, sits him down, and says, “Once upon a time there was a big red lobster…”

The manager of a garden center overhears one of his employees talking to a customer.
“No, we haven’t had any of that in ages,” says the employee. “I don’t know when we’ll be getting any more.”
The customer leaves, and the manager walks over to tell the employee off.
“Never EVER tell a customer we can’t get them something,” he says. “Whatever they want, we can always order. Do that again, and you're fired! Do you understand?”
The employee nods.
“So what did he want?” asks the manager.
“Rain,” replies the employee.

Quotes of the Month:
“Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great, too.” ~ Mark Twain
“When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give good thought to the happiness that you can give out.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Take care and be safe. We'll chat again in September.

This & That in July!

Glad to see this month. Last month saw the loss of three people who should still be with us. June was, excuse the language, poopy. July, so far, has been--knock on wood, fingers and toes crossed, salt tossed over shoulders--better.

Book News:
• Murder by the Mile progresses! It's a tangle as I sort out who did what and when and to who, but each day, words accumulate. It's been harder than I expected, but I think...maybe...it's getting easier. My muse is waking up or coming back from vacation or leaving his job in Paris as a pop art museum curator to spur me on...but he's working again. 
• Work also continues on Floozy Takes A Ramble. So far, we've had adventures with the beverage that won the Civil War, itchy things, time, space, and belly lint! It's a pulse-pounding dive into extraordinary oddness. Look for it in late 2025 or early 2026. 
• Find Floozy Goes Forth, Murder by Dewey Decimal, Murder by the Acre, Floozy Comes Back, Tales from Bethlehem, Floozy & Other Stories, Undying, and all my other books at online retailers and at Your Independent Bookstores. 
Here's the link to my author page on Amazon.
Here's the link to my books on Books-A-Million.
Here's the link to my books on Thrift Books.
Here's the link to my books on Powell Books.
You can find my books just about everywhere you can buy books!

Personal news:
• My birthday is this month! I will be...somewhat...older. A year, I guess. Or something like that. Just send cash and/or gifts to receive a nice glow from honoring me as I know you do.
• My cats are a constant joy and worry. I remember hearing about a mom who said they named their daughter "Helen Joy" and then added, "And she's been just that!" That's how it is with cats. I will say the vet seems to support us having six felines. I wonder why.
• If you're dealing with grief, you might find help in Heartache to Healing by my friend and fellow author Lloyd Davis. Lloyd endured three terrible losses that shattered his family's world as they faced overwhelming sorrow. Lloyd credits his faith in God with helping him to navigate these horrible events. Daunting and hard to read at places as he details these blows, but ultimately, his story is triumphant. Recommended.
• Trying to take up my walking program again. Get those steps for health. Probably should have begun before the soles of my shoes started melting from summer's unrelenting heat.

Jokes of the Month: 
A young man called his mother and said excitedly that he had just met the woman of his dreams. Now what should he do?
His mother had an idea: "Why don't you send her flowers, and on the card, invite her to your place for a home-cooked meal?"
He thought this was a great strategy and arranged a date for a week later. His mother called the day after the big date to see how things had gone.
"The evening was a disaster," he moaned.
"Why? Didn't she come over?" asked his mother.
"Oh, she came over, but she refused to cook."

Jack's grandfather left him ten million dollars, and the next week, Jill agreed to marry him.
After three months of married life, Jack noticed that his beautiful wife ignored him more and more, and whenever they went out, she flirted with other men. Finally, he decided to confront her.
"Jill, I have to know," he said, "was the only reason you married me was because my grandfather left me ten million dollars when he died?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Jill replied. "I don't care who gave you the money."

Quotes of the Month:
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." ~ George Eliot
“Our task is to become our best selves. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.” ~ Thomas S. Monson

May July be filled with blessings! We'll talk in August.

June Already?

Wow. This year is going by faster than a Congressman loses their morality in Washington, D.C. I hope the month is treating you well as we barrel on through the year.

Book News:
• Murder by the Mile continues! I mean, I haven't given up on writing it. It's changed quite a bit from where I started, but the changes make the mystery sharper, smarter, and cozier. I appreciate the people who are supporting me in this continuation of the Measurements of Murder™ series. You keep telling me that you can't wait to read it; trust me, I can't wait for you to read it, too.
• I am also working on the next Floozy, tentatively titled Floozy Takes A Ramble. It's scheduled for publication in late 2025 or early 2026. 
• You can find Floozy Goes Forth and all my other books online and at Your Independent Bookstores. You can also check with your local library. If my books aren't on the shelves―for shame!―the library can get them for you through interlibrary loan. Just ask!
Here's the link to my author page on Amazon.
Here's the link to my books on Books-A-Million.
Here's the link to my books on Thrift Books.
Here's the link to my books on Powell Books.
You can find my books just about everywhere you buy books!

Personal news:
• Another birthday coming up next month. Amazing how good I look when everyone else my age looks so old.
Important Beauty Tips:
1. Keep the lights dim in your house.
2. Remove all the mirrors, particularly the ones near your shower.
3. Befriend kind people with bad eyesight. 
• Tawny, the little tomcat we adopted, is much better and running around the house like a mad cat. He can be sweet and loving. He can also be bitey and scratchy. We're working on socialization; it's like training a teenager, but not as much angst.
• Have you picked up  Dawn of Shadows by Wendy Blanton yet? If you like dashing dragons, evil witches, walking dead, and dashing warriors, buy this!
• Decided to not use the ARC browser regularly. Still messing with it some, but not ready to replace Chrome. Hate the learning curve. Download ARC HERE and see what you think. 
• Trying to eat cleaner these days. Cutting back on carbs and processed foods. Eating more veggies. Yeah, I know. It's like I've gone mad. Feels that way sometimes, too.
• A shout-out to my fellow writers who meet three times a week for an hour of writing, editing, researching, etc., in Writing Room Prime. It's amazing how much we do in those three hours a week. It's commitment with accountability. Like a romantic relationship but not soul crushing. 

Jokes of the Month: 
Dale: "What's orange and sounds like a parrot?"
Kyra: "What?"
Dale: "Carrot."

A man goes to the circus.
After the show, he speaks to the manager and asks for a job.
"Okay, what can you do?" the manager asks.
"I can do great bird impressions," the man replies and makes a few bird sounds.
"Sorry. That's not good enough for the circus."
"Oh well, thanks anyway," the man says...and flies away.

Quotes of the Month:
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." ~ Henry David Thoreau
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." ~ Warren Buffett

May June be good for you and yours. We'll discuss stuff again in July.

Marvelous May!

Happy May!

Can you believe we're already five months into the year? It seems like time is rushing by. Soon it will be Christmas―sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up. Don't panic...yet. Oklahoma is in storm season so we're all watching the sky and the weather reports. Love my state, but the weather can be dangerous. Be safe, y'all.

Book News:
• Murder by the Mile is murder. Yes, you say, it's a book about murders; we know that. No, smartypants, I mean that it's a struggle as I pick up the pen--I'm using a keyboard, but you know what I mean―after all this time to resume my fiction writing. It is going slow, but we are going, letter by letter, word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by...well, you know. I appreciate all the people who have cheered me on. You are awesome.
• I am also working on the next Floozy, tentatively titled A Little Floozy or Floozy Takes A Holiday or A New Floozy or something completely different. It's scheduled for publication in late 2025 or early 2026. 
• You can find Floozy Goes Forth, my latest book, and all my other books online at various retailers and your independent bookstores. You can also check with your local library. If my books aren't on the shelves―for shame!―the library can get them for you through interlibrary loan. Just ask!
Here's the link to my author page on Amazon.
Here are my books on Thrift Books--which are not used but new.
Here they are on Powell Books.
You can find them just about everywhere you buy books.

Personal news:
• Excited to share that I will become a great-great-uncle in November! My family will be joined then by a beautiful little girl. This will be my first great-great-niece. Absolutely wonderful!
• Results are back from my diabetes checkup last month. Some improvement, but much more to do if I want to avoid further complications. And I do. Sure wish carbs weren't so dang attractive. I mean, Little Debbie®...what a babe!
• Tawny, a sweet little tomcat, has joined our household! Yes, that means I'm the neighborhood crazy cat guy. Six cats now. You knew it was coming. He has a couple of health problems we're working on, but so far, he is adapting well. Or actually, we're adapting well to him. Cats don't accommodate you; you accommodate them. Please spay/neuter your pets. It lets them live longer, healthier lives with you.
• Recommended: Dawn of Shadows by Wendy Blanton. Just released. If you like dragons and magic, buy this!
• I'm using the new ARC browser. Interesting. Can't tell if will replace Chrome or not, but I doubt it. Download it HERE and see what you think. 

Jokes of the Month: 
Bob: "A man got hit in the head with a can of Coke® at the last ball game."
Bill: "Oh no!"
Bob: "It's okay. He was all right because it was a soft drink."

A man went to his lawyer and told him, "My neighbor owes me $500 and he won’t pay up. What should I do?"
"Do you have any proof he owes you the money?" asked the lawyer.
"Nope," replied the man.
"OK, then write him a letter asking him for the $5,000 he owed you," said the lawyer.
"But it's only $500," replied the man.
"Precisely. That’s what he will reply, and then you’ll have your proof!"

Quotes of the Month:
“Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.” ― Vincent Van Gogh

I'll return you to your regularly scheduled life now. I hope May blesses you with health and happiness. We'll chat again in June.

Amazing April!

Happy April!

Spring has sprung and all that. I hope allergies aren't affecting you. I wanted to share some BIG NEWS with you. It's something I thought might never occur. Just goes to show life has a way of surprising us, sometimes in a bad way, but sometimes in a good way. Read on, brave reader!

The Big News:
After years--seriously, years and years and years--I'm working hard on Murder by the Mile, the long-awaited third book in The Measurements of Murder™ series. It's been delayed enough that the world has changed significantly. Fortunately, the town of Ryton, Oklahoma, hasn't; it's still just as cozy and dangerous as it always was.

"And why is this Big News?" you may ask. ... I said you could ask; go ahead. ... Okay, I will tell you since you asked so nicely. A few years back, on a beautiful July 3, I suffered a "neurological event." This prompted lots of doctors, therapy, medication, etc., to deal with lots of problems. It was probably a stroke of some sort per my doctors, although my MRI showed no permanent damage. My balance is off and remains so; I use a cane now. (Looks dapper, I think.) Worse, though, was my loss of memories. Stories, books, and poems that I could quote from--to the annoyance of those around me at times--disappeared. And my life memories had huge gaps in them. Scary and discouraging. I doubted my talent. I doubted me. Things that seemed so simple were hard; it took a while to adapt and to learn how to do things working around my new limitations. And frankly, I didn't think I could hold a story in my head again. Other than humor and short inspirational pieces, I kind of thought my writing career was done.

Fast forward to a year ago: I started to host a thrice-weekly writing room, Writing Room Prime. I mostly used that time to work on humor, Sunday Service with Stephen, and publicity. But as I watched the other authors write, I thought, hmm, can I do that again? Maybe. So I pulled out the uncompleted Murder by the Mile, gave it a thorough read-through and new edit, and now I'm writing again. Frankly, It feels good. 

I am not confident enough to give a release date...yet. But as soon as I feel the story will be completed, I'll let you know. Send me prayers, positive energy, or any other supportive vibes as I tackle fiction once more. Also, cash is always appreciated in case you want to show your support in that way! Just (not) kidding. 

You can find all my books on Amazon, including my latest collection of humor, Floozy Goes Forth. Click here for my Amazon Author Page!

Personal news:
- I have a doctor's appointment and tests coming up this month. It's my trice-yearly checkup that mostly focuses on keeping my diabetes under control, which is often a struggle. I have to keep making the right decisions each and every day even if Big D doesn't always cooperate. Diabetes is a scourge, and I hope someday there will be a cure.
- I am slowly adopting another cat. This one lives outdoors, and I doubt it will ever make it inside, but it is young so we will see. If nothing else, I'm going to try to help it as much as I can; the life of an outdoor cat is often short and brutal. Please, please, please, spay or neuter your pets. it's good for them and your community.
- We've started tornado season here. Unlike football season, this is not a time I look forward to. For one thing, I need to get my front porch cleared up and put the tornado-watching chairs out. If you live in Oklahoma, you know what I mean.

Joke of the Month: 
George: "I just read a book about helium."
Jeff: "Oh, was it good?"
George: "Yeah, I couldn't put it down."

Quotes of the Month:
"You do not find the happy life. You make it.” — Camilla Eyring Kimball
“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama

I'll let you get back to your life now. May April bless you with health, happiness, and love. We'll chat again in May.

Marching through 2024!

Happy March!
Spring into spring with a Floozy or three! Or maybe a few murders are more to your liking. I aim to please while the murderer in Murder by the Acre aims to kill.

Below are the Floozies for your enjoyment:

And here are baffling murders:


You can find all of my books on Amazon, Books-A-Million, Lulu, and other online booksellers. Also, don't forget that independent bookstores can order my books for you if they don't have them on their shelves.

Personal news:
- I have been busy with marketing my books, cleaning my house, hosting Writing Room Prime on Zoom, cleaning my house, conducting Prosateurs meetings on Zoom, cleaning my house, working on print and email newsletters, cleaning my house, taking care of my kitties who are all doing well, cleaning my house, running errands, cleaning my house, getting my taxes finished, and, of course, cleaning my house. It's obvious that I need a maid or two. Oh, and someone to clean my house, too.
- I have been watching Chinese tomb raider movies lately. A few are quite good. Most are not. Hollywood studios are not the only ones that can spend millions of dollars on a movie and it still turns out bad. It always comes back to having a well-written story instead of just a huge special effects budget.
- Speaking of huge budgets and special effects, I recently saw Aquaman 2, The Flash, and The Marvels. While all three had scenes I enjoyed--from breathtaking underwater vistas to the return of Michael Keaton as Batman to the cutest man-eating kittens you've ever seen--I was glad I saw the movies on streaming channels and didn't pay at the theater for them. I would have liked them less if I had paid $10 a ticket and whatever buttered popcorn is going for these days.

Joke of the Month: 
A woman got on a bus holding a baby.
The bus driver said, "Wow, that's the ugliest baby I've ever seen."
In a huff, the woman slammed her fare into the fare box and took an aisle seat near the rear of the bus.
The man seated next to her asked her what was wrong.
"The bus driver was insulting," she fumed.
The man said: "Why, he's a public servant and shouldn't say things to insult passengers."
"You're right," she said. "I think I'll go back up there and give him a piece of my mind."
"That's a good idea," the man said. "Here, let me hold your monkey."

Quote of the Month:
"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." — C.S. Lewis 

I'll close now. May March bless you with health, happiness, and love. We will talk again in April!

Happy February, y'all!

And here we are in the second month of the year! Or the first month if you took my suggestion about having a DO-OVER after a dismal January. Either way, we're here, moving on down the road.

Floozy Goes Forth, my latest and greatest collection of humorous essays, is now available on Amazon, BooksAMillion, Lulu, Thrift Books, Walmart, Wordery, and other websites. Pick up a copy or two and put a smile on your sweetie's face!

Here are links to make it easy for you:

Buy at Amazon
BooksAMillion
Lulu
Thrift Books
Walmart

Have you joined Stephen B. Bagley's Books on Facebook yet? Good people, laughs, a bit of wisdom, and (sometimes) giveaways! Join us now so you don't miss out. Join here!

Personal news:
- Busy with several projects and getting my house ready for company as my wonderful family will visit me soon for a (really) late Christmas. Then I will take down the tree and regain some space in my living room! The Christmas Village--AKA Winter Village--will hang in there a bit longer. The little people spend enough time in boxes; I like to let them have a bit of freedom. I might need to get out more.
- My cats are doing well. I sure love those sweet, funny, savage creatures. They can be so loving and then attack like you're their greatest foe. I read once that dogs are what humans should be while cats are what we are. That was probably written by a dog person so we can't trust it.
- Otherwise, I'm working on several publicity projects that will soon launch, writing and teaching about writing, enjoying group Zoom meetings, doing household, and keeping track of all the usual things that make up a life. And always, I am blessed by family, friends, and felines. 

I hope February treats YOU and yours with health, happiness, and a lot of love. We will talk again in March!

A February Floozy For You!

 Here is your February Floozy!

Buy Floozy Goes Forth at Amazon

Buy Floozy Goes Forth at BooksAMillion

Buy Floozy Goes Forth at Lulu

Buy Floozy Goes Forth at Thrift Books

Buy Floozy Goes Forth at Walmart

Buy Floozy Goes Forth at Wordery

Here it is!

The tease is over! Here's the cover of the forthcoming Floozy Goes Forth in all its glory!

Happy Halloween!

 

Another Cover Tease!

 

Cover tease!

 

Cover Tease!

 A Floozy Goes Forth cover tease!

Up, down, middle

Life isn’t gangbusters of awesomeness usually. Life is what it is: sometimes up, sometimes down, a lot of time in the middle. It’s learning to live in the middle that so many of us find hard. We rise to the occasion when confronting a crisis or an emergency. We behave brilliantly, bravely, and benevolently. But it’s the day-to-day life that’s hard and grinds on us. Most people break at the endlessly getting out of bed each morning to confront life’s little annoyances and battles. That’s what we find tough. That’s how we know if we’re a sprinter or a long-distance runner.

I hope you’re the latter, because sprinters may be fast, but this life is long. It is the ones who can keep going, step by step, mile by mile, day by day, year by year... they finish the race. I hope I’m a long-distance runner.

I try to be. I try to stay busy. I try to keep putting one foot in front of another. Keep my eyes on the road. Don’t get distracted. Don’t lose focus. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose courage. Don’t fail. Believe, believe, believe.

It’s a lot of pressure, and I think that’s why some people falter. They drink or take drugs or have crazy sex. They cheat on their spouses, neglect their children, and waste their lives seeking a thrill to fill the holes in their lives. They think happiness is a destination rather than the journey itself.

It’s learning to take joy in the journey. We have to do that if we’re going to survive and flourish. It’s the secret to happiness, contentment, and fulfillment. For some – like me – finding that joy is easier with God’s help. Others choose another path, but finding that path is essential.

It's how we become fully human. 

In the sky

Have you ever just taken a few minutes to watch the clouds drift across the sky? Some people see shapes... dragons, animals, horses cars... what they're looking for, I think. But I don't see anything. My imagination doesn't work like that. Instead, the sky fills me up until there's nothing of me left. No thoughts, no worries, no me. Just the clouds and winds and sun.

Starry nights do that to me, too. I can look into the darkness punctuated with pinpricks of lights, and the vastness inside me expands. It's a weird feeling ‒ or it is after I've stopped experiencing it ‒ but when I'm in the moment, it doesn't feel weird. It feels... expectant. Like I'm waiting for something to raise its head and look at me. You'd think that would be frightening, but it's not. It's anticipation. A strange anticipation.

I've mentioned this to other people before, but I've never met anyone who felt the same way. I'm sure someone does in this world with millions of people. Maybe in China or maybe just someone I don't know. Maybe in the next house. I'd like to meet them, though. I'd like to find out how they feel. And talk with them about that vast creature out there. Ask them when we look at the sky, what are we expecting? What's coming for us out of that blackness between the stars?

And why aren't we afraid? That might be the most important question of all.

Our AI Pal

Excerpt from the forthcoming Floozy Goes Forth

Recently, a chat AI premièred on the Internet. The idea was that the AI would learn from the humans it interacted with. The AI was young and naïve; less than a day later, it was lying, sharing secrets, threatening people, tossing around racial slurs, and generally being a jerk. The AI was taken offline and sent to a cloistered convent, but it’s probably too late for the poor thing to recapture its innocence. The computer scientists did succeed in creating humanlike intelligence, but they should have aimed higher.

Of course, AI is not really alive, at least in the biological sense of being able to find a mate, produce babies, and then leave its faithful mate for an AI who really understands its needs and is also 20 years younger. No, the AI is using complex algorithms to mimic lifelike intelligence. At least, that’s the story our AI overlords want us to believe.

What are algorithms? Let’s break down the word. The first part is al which is the chemical symbol of Aluminium; the second part is go which means to move from one place to another; and finally, the word ends with rithm, a variant way to spell rhythm which means the placement of sounds in time. Put those all together, and you realize there’s a good chance I don’t know what I’m talking about.

(Excerpted from the forthcoming Floozy Goes Forth. Copyright 2023 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.)

Bigfooting around

From the forthcoming Floozy Goes Forth

Most Bigfoot encounters are benign with only glimpses of the creatures in the woods or darting across a field or disappearing into a forest. However, sometimes the creatures throw huge rocks, shake cabins and RVs, tear into food supplies, hit hunters and joggers, destroy tents, drink entire cases of beer, and run up large bills with Amazon. Basically, this means Bigfoot might simply be a hairy soccer hooligan. Or, as the rest of the world calls soccer, “Football.” (Their term for our version of the sport in which humans hurl their bodies against each other—NFL, NCAA, AFL, or Black Friday—is “America football” or “blamed foolishness with all those protective pads and helmets.”)

I am neutral in regard to Bigfoot. I don’t disbelieve it, but I don’t believe in it. I’m like a Free Range United Unitarian talking about God: the jury is still out. It would be nice if Bigfoot existed just like it would be wonderful to find other mythical creatures such as dragons, elves, unicorns, and fair, balanced cable news. And who wouldn’t want to see an honest politician in its natural environment attacking lobbyists and jumping over bribes? Of course, if we found an honest politician, we will need to find a mate for it. Perhaps instigate a careful breeding program until the species recovers. (Excerpted from the forthcoming Floozy Goes Forth. Copyright 2023 by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.)

"The Mystery of Saint Etienne"

 "The Mystery of Saint Etienne"

      Between reason and faith, we make our way through a hard world with edges sharp enough to wound the unwary. Oh Lord, guide our steps.
      Faith is what we hold, a lamp to light our way and to let blind eyes see. Oh Lord, let Your light shine on us.
      Between what is and what should be, we are stretched, a cord between two black horses. Oh Lord, send to us Your mercy.
      Heaven is our hope in this world without hope. Oh Lord, may we bring hope as You brought hope unto us.
      Between the precipice and the fall, we take faltering steps, children lost in the dark woods. Oh Lord, give us a lodestone that points to You.
      Here we stand unclean in our souls and dark of hearts. Oh Lord, send to us Your cleansing rain.
      Oh Lord, we are fallen but You lift us up.
      Oh Lord, we are scattered but You gather us.
      Oh Lord, we are unworthy but You take us.
      We raise hands to You, a thousand tongues give unto You praise, and the rocks and hills and dales resound with voices that cry,
      Hosanna,
      Hosanna,
      Hosanna.

(Copyright by Stephen B. Bagley. All rights reserved.)

A proposition

An aspiring young lawyer was sitting in her office late Christmas Eve night when Satan appeared before her.

The Devil told her, "I have a proposition for you. You can win every case you try for the rest of your life. Your clients will adore you, your colleagues will stand in awe of you, and you will make embarrassing sums of money. All I want in exchange is your soul, your husband's soul, your children's souls, the souls of your parents, grandparents, and the souls of all your friends and law partners."

The lawyer pondered this, then finally asked: "So, what's the catch?"

Stormy Weather

A royal castle was under siege by an army. The only hope was to send one of the knights to get help, but the problem was that all the horses had been killed in the battle.

"We must get help," said the king.

"I know," replied General George, the leader of his army, "but we have no horses. If a knight goes on foot, he will be slain at once."

"Is there not another animal he can ride?" demanded the king. "What about that mighty wolfhound? It could surely bear the weight of a man."

"No, no," pleaded General George. "The wolfhound is too dangerous. Look at its snarling teeth. I wouldn't send a knight out on a dog like this!"

Trouble!

(A Christmas Joke that always gets me in trouble...but I'm tellin' it anyway!)

Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter said, "In honor of the season, you must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven."

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle," he said.

"You may pass through the pearly gates," St. Peter said.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells."

St. Peter said, "You may pass through the pearly gates."

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties.

St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, "And just what do those symbolize?"

The man replied, "These are Carol's."

Can't drive 55

Alice and Susanna, two lovely ladies in their late 90s, decide to go to the shopping center. As Alice drives down the road, their car rushes through a red stop light. Susanna looks nervously at Kyra as other drivers honk at them.

Then a bit farther down the road, Alice doesn't stop at a stop sign, and they narrowly miss being hit by a truck.

"Alice!" Terry says. "Why are you driving so recklessly?"

"What?!" Alice looks shocked. "I'm driving?! I thought you were!"  

Prepare yourselves

This guy goes into his dentist's office because something is wrong with his mouth.

After a brief examination, the dentist exclaims, "Holy smokes! That plate I installed in your mouth about six months ago has nearly completely corroded! What on earth have you been eating?"

"Well, the only thing I can think of is this: my wife made me some asparagus about four months ago with Hollandaise sauce on it, and it was DELICIOUS! I've never tasted anything like it, and ever since then I've been putting the sauce on everything—meat, meat, fish, toast, vegetables—you name it!"

"That's probably it," replied the dentist. "Hollandaise sauce is made with lemon juice, which is acidic and highly corrosive. I'll have to install a new plate, but made out of chrome this time."

"Why chrome?" the man asked.

"Well, everyone knows that there's no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!"

Ho-Ho-BANG!

Murder by the Acre 

By Stephen B. Bagley 

The librarian and the reporter are back! This time Bernard and Lisa stumble on the body of a local jeweler and ladies' man in an underground house. As the couple and Chief Donaldson investigate, they find themselves drawn into a confusing mystery of lies and alibis that involves the upper crust of Ryton, Oklahoma.

Questions abound: Who killed him and how? Why doesn't the widow care that her husband is dead? Why doesn’t his mistress? What does the mysterious Aventura Corporation have to do with the murder? What is the corporation hiding? Soon events spiral out of control as the killer strikes again and again.

As the three dig for the truth, they upset powerful, vengeful people. The chief might lose his job, but Bernard and Lisa could lose their lives in this suspenseful sequel to Murder by Dewey Decimal. 

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Lepidopterology

A man wandered into a doctor's office and asked to see Dr. George. The receptionist was hesitant to let him in, especially as it was time to close, but he was insistent. The doctor, having completed all his consultations for the day and in a good mood, agreed to see him.

The man entered in a rather aimless manner and, after some hesitation, flopped into a chair and looked nervously around the room.

"How can I help you?" asked the doctor.

"Well, it's like this," said the man. "I keep thinking I'm a moth."

"What? Did you say you think you're a moth?"

"Yes," the man replied. "I'm convinced that I'm a moth."

"Well, I'm very sorry, but you're in the wrong place. What you need is a psychiatrist."

"That's what I've been thinking," replied the man.

"Well, as it happens, I know just the man," said Dr. George. "I'll give him a call and see if he can schedule an appointment for you."

The man agreed, and the doctor made the appointment.

"Tell me," said the doctor, "it must have been apparent from the sign outside that I'm a general practitioner. So if you already know you need to see a psychiatrist, why did you come in?"

"Well," the man said in a resigned voice, "the door was open and the lights were on...."

It's all in the preparation

Two cannibals meet one day.

The first cannibal says, "You know, I just can't seem to get a tender missionary. I've baked them, I've roasted them, I've stewed them, I've barbecued them, I've tried every sort of marinade. I just cannot seem to get them tender."

The second cannibal asks, "What kind of missionary do you use?"

The other replied, "You know, the ones that hang out at that place at the bend of the river. They have those brown cloaks with a rope around the waist and they're sort of bald on top with a funny ring of hair on their heads."

"Ah, ha!" the second cannibal replies. "No wonder ... those are friars!" 

"Clothed & Happy"

Excerpted from 

Floozy Comes Back

By Stephen B. Bagley

Have you seen that TV show Naked And Afraid on the Discovery Channel? It’s a (so-called) reality show where they drop two total strangers—a man and a woman—into a harsh wilderness environment with only one item apiece. Neither item is clothing.

You might think this is a recipe for hanky-panky or whatever the kids are calling it these days, but after a day or two with the couple being bitten and stung by hordes of hungry insects, sunburning in places the sun really shouldn’t get to, feeling ravenously hungry and desperately thirsty, having their bare skin slashed by vines and plants, limping on feet bleeding from thorns and bruised by rocks—hanky-panky is the last thing on their minds. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn the show is sponsored by the Clothing Manufacturers of America after seeing what clothes and shoes protect us from.

Of course, the Discovery Channel blurs what needs to be blurred; you’ve seen more skin at the beach or the lake. And since these are not supermodels, the skin you do see isn’t skin you’d necessarily want to see—if you can follow that.

“Experts” give them a Survival Rating at the start and end of the show. By choosing to participate in such an insane and life-threatening situation, it’s obvious the participants have the survival skills of deranged lemmings and the intelligence to match. I suspect their family trees are more like telephone poles.

Read more in Floozy Comes Back.

Give the gift of laughter this Christmas with Floozy Comes Back!

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