ARE YOU A COMMENT JUNKIE?

Don't forget to stop by to visit our very good buddy Kim's site at  www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com, who is hosting today's blog.  She always has tons of great info about book reviews, blogging tips, movies and other fun stuff. 

When I first started this blog, I was hesitant to share it among the masses, mostly because I had no idea what the heck I was doing. Then I jumped out there to share it publicly, which still made me a little nervous.  That's when I noticed that no one was responding.  Oh no!  Was anyone even paying attention?  Was I offending someone?

Thanks Kim!

Eventually, that changed, but it made me realize that that there are plenty of people who read the thousands of blogs out there who just don't feel like responding, and that was okay.  Maybe the topics I brought up were not a fit.  Some people are simply shy about commenting. Sometimes there is a lot of mutual love by those who respond back to bloggers who visit their pages, and we see them every time we post. 

I like to visit a blog I'm familiar with, then click on an unfamiliar name leading me to that person's blog for something new.  

The thing about blogging is the tendency to see a lot of the same people commenting on blogs we visit, so despite so many bloggers out there, it's still a relatively small world.  I love interacting with other people to share ideas, to just have fun, and to hang out.  Sometimes I'm not as timely as I need to be, but I do try to respond to each comment.

Then you have the Big Blogs who have over 200-300 comments. How can anyone keep up with that kind of volume?

After that comes the group of angry commenters who are ready to pounce on you at any moment. (lol)

Don't forget the super funny ones that may or may not make any sense.

What does bug me, however, is if you use a contact form associated with a blog to ask a specific question, and the owner of the blog never bothers to respond. Why do you have a contact form on your page, and why don't you at least acknowledge the person's request? That is just downright rude! 

C-Span Mania
Let me put it out there that I don't talk politics via Social Media, but there are plenty of blogs who do. I do, however, love to observe potential funny behavior. (lol) Has anyone ever watched C-Span for a long period of time?  I don't normally, but yesterday, I watched a man give sporadic pertinent info to his viewers, while also taking LIVE calls from Republicans, Democrats and others as they gave opinions about the candidates.  

I have to say that many of these comments were less than favorable to either party, but this guy stoically took each negative call, remained silent as he listened, then thanked the caller for the comment.  Sometimes he smirked, or looked plain bored, but this guy literally was inundated with hateful messages during the entire program and maintained his composure consistently,never getting pulled in to the feelings of either party.  All he did was move on the next call. Can you imagine doing this on LIVE television for an entire hour?! Bravo, I say!

RADIO
Do people still listen to the radio?  I definitely do, whenever I'm driving, and it tends to be loud. (lol)  No talk radio for me, usually, as my focus is on all that music.  Did you know you can actually listen to radio stations from all over the world? College campuses, the Vatican, Hit Music from France and so much more, can be found by visiting this site:  http://www.mikesradioworld.com/. Don't worry, if you visit a site that's in a language you don't speak, Google will translate.  Also, I keep one of those radios around that run by battery in case we have a zombie attack, and lose all power or Internet connectivity.

YOUR FRIDGE
Do you have certain items in your fridge, but have difficulty coming up with a recipe to use them?  Visit this site to let them do the work for you!  myfridgefood.com

SOCIAL MEDIA
If you are an author or business with no time to update your 
social mediaplatforms we can help. 
E-mail us for more information at goddess10@gmail.com

Don't forget to get your FREE Ice Cream today!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO FINISH A BOOK & A STRAWBERRY EXTRAVAGANZA

Are you a fan of strawberries?  I adore them, and have been experimenting with different recipes instead of just popping them in my mouth and eating while watching a movie. 

You already know that I won't be eating this sauce because I'm no fan of barbecue food.(lol) Sorry!   But for those who do enjoy 'cue and want to try something different, go ahead and jump in with this creative recipe!  I'm trying the salsa tonight!

Roasted Strawberry BBQ Sauce (Closetcooking.com) Hugs...

A sweet, spicy and smoky strawberry BBQ sauce.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons strawberry preserves/jam
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 Chipotle chili in Adobo, chopped
• 1 tablespoon garlic, grated
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 4 Cups Strawberries, hulled

Directions

1. Place the strawberries in a single layer on a baking pan lined with foil folded up on the sides to capture the juices and roast in a preheated 425F/220C oven until they start to caramelize, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Bring everything except the cilantro to a boil, reduce the heat, simmer for 15 minutes, remove from heat, mix in the cilantro and puree in a food processor or blender or using an immersion blender.
3. Put in a safe container, and you're all set!

STRAWBERRY SALSA(Southern Living) Hugs...

Ingredients

1/2 cup red pepper jelly

1/3 cup chopped fresh chives

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon lime zest

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

2 cups chopped fresh strawberries

1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1 small avocado, diced

Preparation

Whisk together red pepper jelly, chives, cilantro, lime zest, fresh lime juice, and dried crushed red pepper in a medium bowl. Stir in strawberries and sweetened dried cranberries; cover and chill 1 hour. Stir in diced avocado just before serving. Serve with grilled or pan-fried meats, poultry, or seafood.

BUFFET
I used to love going to buffets when I was a kid because I had the stamina to pack in about 4 servings without gaining an ounce. Needless to say, those days are long gone.   According to the Travel Channel, there are over 5,000 buffets in the United States, and range from high end pricing to the more budget friendly.  One place to get the gamut of every type of buffet food fusion that you can imagine, is none other than the awesomely awesome Austin, Texas. Ironically, they are not well known for all those bountiful buffet spots. In fact, with over 300 restaurants dedicated to smoky goodness throughout the city, Austin is actually famous for their barbecue.  If you like to go back more than once to partake of all those goodies, experts recommend that you limit the carbs on your plate dang it!

HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU FINISH A BOOK  
Way back in the day, it was super simple for me to read about 3 romance novels in a week.  Then, when I reviewed erotic romance, there was such a heavy volume to keep up with, that I read about that many in two weeks, in addition to writing those reviews.  I soon found that there was very little time to read for fun, so the books just kept piling up.

Now, because I'm involved in various projects, I'll be lucky if I can finish even one novel in 5-7 days. Yikes!  At the end of each month, many of my book blogging friends share how they have read 40 - 100 books, and I'm impressed, wishing I can catch up on all my precious reading.  Curling up with a good novel is always the best way for me to unwind, relax and forget about everything that is going on in the world.  What about you?  How long does it take to get through one book?

SEATING ON A FLIGHT
Did you know that you can look at the seating chart on a plane to get an idea of where you want to sit while flying?  Check out www.seatguru.com to get more info on various flights.

Devious Maids

Have you ever watched a television program and screamed out that you loved an outfit and HAD to have it?  Well, if you visit this site,  https://wornontv.net ,you too can look like those stars you've been admiring. 

  

Modern Family

Empire

NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH & PARANORMAL SHAPE-SHIFTING

NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH

Before I forget, stop by to visit our very good buddy Kim from www.caffeinatedbookreviewer.com .  She always has tons of great info about book reviews, blogging tips, movies and other fun stuff. 

I feel it's my duty to remind you that July 17 is National Ice Cream Day, but the entire month of July is dedicated to all kinds of ice cream treats.  Yay!  How important is ice cream? Did you know that George Washington, loved this frozen treat?  Don't forget to search in your area on Sunday to take advantage of freebies!

My favorite flavor is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, then I add in wet walnuts and pecans to make it even more yummy.

Peanut Butter Cup Sundae

Add peanut butter, gooey hot fudge, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to a bowl of Vanilla Ice Cream. Dare to add in some marshmallows. Doesn't that sound decadent?! Yes, yes, you can also get it at your local Ice Cream Parlor, but I don't think it will nearly as much fun!

If you're thinking of having a party, why not have one dedicated to all things ice cream? Throw a party for friends and let them do all the work! (lol)  Ask them to bring their favorite flavor of ice cream, and you can supply a zillion toppings and the music.  Set everything up in some colorful plastic or paper bowls on a table, and let guests pile on the toppings they enjoy.  Then there is very little clean-up.

PARANORMAL WORLDS
When looking for stories about romance, we all have specific things we like to read about such as contemporary, suspense, YA and more.  But some of us adore titles that are over the top or unusual.  We want our heroes to be vampires, ghostly beings or more, so our focus is on the paranormal world as the sub-genre of romantic fiction.  Some people may simply say it's fun fantasy.

Years and years ago, I lived and breathed vampire stories, so I voraciously read  every novel I could get my hands on from authors like JR Ward, Joey Hill, Christine Feehan, Lynsay Sands and Lara Adrian.  Those books were so addictive, that I was caught up in the fantasy of those heroines who fell in love with a hero who was darkly sensual, sometimes sensitive, but often damaged.  There was plenty of raw romance, lusty love, and funny laugh out loud moments. Now we all know there are no vampires,(at least I don't think so), but something about those fantastic and dynamic creatures intrigued us enough to want a HEA.

Then those paranormal books slowly moved to men/women who shifted into other creatures, and for a while I was cool with wolves and tigers.  Please don't get mad at me my shape shifting friends, but the thought of a person changing into a bunny, a snake, a gargoyle or an octopus doesn't quite do it for me. But I still have much  appreciation for those authors who dare to be different by using their imagination to write prolific tales that many can't wait to read.   There is clearly a market for this type of sub-genre.  But what about you?  Are there some type of novels you just won't read in the paranormal world?

FREE SLURPEE
Don't you just love FREEBIES?  On Monday, July 11, go get your Slurpee on at a participating 7-11 Store near you from 11am - 7pm!


ALMOST FREE PANCAKES Passionate about pancakes? Did you know that the vert 1st IHOP opened for business in 1958 in Los Angeles? Stop by IHOP on Tuesday July 12 and celebrate their 58th anniversary. Yay! They're giving away their Original Buttermilk Pancake Short Stacks for just $ .58 from 7am - 7pm. 

If you have to stand in line to take advantage of this fantastic offer, they may not ask for your real last name.  IHOP has been known to use fun monikers like Sleeping Beauty, The Hulk, or James Bond to let you know when your table is ready.

FALSE EYELASHES
The only make-up I use outside the house is usually mascara, and maybe some lipstick.  Everywhere I go these days, it seems as if every woman has such phenomenal and lengthy lashes, and it makes me really want to try false lashes, but the thought of gluing or sticking those things on makes me super nervous.  I can just see me pulling them off one night along with my own real lashes. (lol)  What about you?

DID YOU PASS YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST ON THE 1ST TRY, AND PET MANIA

Ohio License - 1938

I won't give the actual date, but a zillion years ago, me and a friend, who was a professional model back then, wanted to hang out and dance the night away. Unfortunately, I was only 17, but she was 22.  Dang it!  At the time, her license had her age but no picture, so she let me use it.  She had another ID, and we were in.  After all that stealthy madness and the incessant grabbiness of the guys, we pretty much ran out of that club after about 20 minutes. That was our adventure for the evening.  After all that, the first time I tried to get my own license in ND, (nope, didn't try until I was 22) I failed miserably and was so embarrassed!

Chicago License - 1901

Fast forward to 2016, and while we gripe about it every time, we've pretty much resigned ourselves to posing for that dreadful obligatory photo required by the DMV to drive a vehicle in the United States.

Ironically, photos weren't always on driver's licenses in the United States.  In fact, California was first to require photographs in 1958. Michigan required them in 1964, Texas came on board in the 70's, Oregon in 1979 and Vermont in the 90's.  What really surprised me is that New York didn't add photos to licenses until 1984!

Did you get your license when you were 16, and did you pass the first time?  What's it like to get a license in your state these days?

Have you ever had the chance to watch The Animal Planet or National Geographic Channel?  This week I got caught up in all things veterinarians. I watched all the shows I could find.  Then I met Dr. Jeff - The Rocky Mountain Vet from Colorado, and boy am I hooked!  

This man is so busy that he has a staff of 30 people, and because his rates are so much more affordable than other doctors in the area, his clinic stays packed.  He provides FREE services to clients up in the mountains who can't get to him, and his focus is never been about the money. He's now moved to a much larger space for his crew, and carved a space for him to live in as well.  This is dedication, and you can tell that everyone there loves those animals. What's sad, is that Dr. Jeff recently passed on to his staff (and us) that he has cancer, and has been going to chemo sessions.  When he shaved his head at his clinic because his hair was falling out, there wasn't a dry eye there.  His words, "I'd rather lose my hair than my life" had me bawling. 

This lady is an expert at shooting tranquilizers from far distances!

Dr. Pol

Remember the Dog Whisperer?

Did you know there are 200 types of squirrels, and that they live everywhere except Australia? - Animal Planet

Even though I'm not a fan of barbecue, lots of people are. This style of cooking means something different to each person, but there are still 4 styles based on specific locations.  Memphis TN, North Carolina, Kansas City and of course, Texas.  Memphis is well known the world over for pulled pork-shoulder dripping in sweet tomato-based sauce (eaten right off your plate or as a sandwich). North Carolina smokes that whole succulent pig in a vinegar-based sauce. Kansas City natives prefer ribs cooked in a dry rub, and Texans like everything BIG and they love their beef!  Even though people are into this, it doesn't matter what state I visit or what culinary style of sauce you prepare, I still won't eat barbecue. (lol)

Source Links:
America on the Move
Evolution of the New York Driver’s License
1938 Ohio driver’s license from the National Museum of American History