Be patient and the title will make sense...Just a warning though- this is a rant...
I have to work for a living (outside of writing), as most of us do, but what you may not know is that I cook at a convenience store. It's not glamorous, but I like to cook- usually. I have always liked to cook and even after working all day either on the farm (when we had a dairy) or off the farm at a regular job I still preferred to cook my meals at home. I enjoyed preparing healthful and tasty meals for my family. They used to teach this at school in a class call Home Economics, or Home Ec for short. I think this must have been cut with other classes that are necessary to life like Driver's Education. A lot of really useful life skills were learned there, and now some schools have a class just to teach students how to do a budget. That used to be part of Home Ec - how to shop for groceries, how to cook, how to make a household budget so you kept the lights and other utilities on. Now students look at you like you sprouted horns for mentioning that they might have their own bills someday and they need to learn how to take care of money.
Why do I bring this up? I work nine to ten hours a day with a mandate that I have a certain amount of food out before I leave. Now keep in mind I have to also clean the kitchen and do a few other things around the store before I can clock out. So when I say I am frustrated because people come in for
EVERY SINGLE MEAL or every night for dinner (wiping out all my hard work in a second and causing me to start over) you might say,' but that's job security', or 'that's literally your job to feed the masses." Someone actually asked, "What kind of restaurant is this?" when they couldn't special order burgers in five minutes one day and another clerk told them, "It's not! It's a gas station. If you want a restaurant; go a couple blocks." (Thank you co-worker. I loved your answer.) Other people have said, "It supports the economy and helps keep restaurants open creating jobs." Excuse me, but the occasional stop to grab something quick because we're on the way to such-and-such and we don't have time to make dinner is one thing, but every single night is just plain LAZY! I work all day too and I AM ON MY FEET 99% of the time. I still want to go home and make dinner for my family, but that's hard to do if someone is in there buying out the hot case because yet again they don't 'want' to cook. If you have something scheduled every single night of the week that keeps you away from home then you my friend are over scheduled and are missing out on some real family time. Every body has an activity but are you discussing anything that doesn't involve that activity with your family? If you ate at home over a nice dinner you'd have that opportunity.
This is where education has failed. This is where somewhere down the line parents have failed. They didn't teach the concepts necessary to plan a meal, shop for groceries, or cook the food. Learn to go to the grocery store, and please for goodness sake, don't use it for an opportunity to hold everyone else up in the aisle while you have old home week with someone you could just as easily go their house or call. Just so you know, I hate shopping too. I seriously despise it, mainly because people block the aisles and I can't get what I went to get so I can go home. It isn't fun at all for me, but I do it because it is necessary if I want to make food- which is the part I enjoy. Homemade food is better for you too. You can control how much salt and fat and sugar is in it. You can make favorites and desert and actually afford it. Restaurants require a tip and if you don't leave one they just might tack it onto your bill for you and you don't get a say in how much. That is not good for YOUR economy.
My boys did not leave home without learning how to cook so they could feed themselves. One is married and she is not a fan of cooking- not sure she knew how before (sorry for outing you D-I-L). As a result, they are a lot of takeout. My son finally said, "You know, we'd save a ton of money if we just cooked it ourselves and with kids coming, we have to save money somewhere." He took on the job of cooking a good bit of the time and they saved a ton. She cooks now too, maybe not anything elaborate but she is putting in the effort and over time has learned to cook more and more. The kids are involved and it makes it fun for them now too.
If your school isn't teaching basic home skills, tell them they need to start (or re-start!). Teach your kids to cook and that eating out isn't the norm but the exception. They will get used to it.
By the way, I do have to stop at some point. I am not allowed to stay all night until the store closes. We have one cook a day since the store is not a twenty-four hour establishment and the area is really small. We get a lot of through traffic being on a US highway, but I am talking about people who live nearby and just refuse to cook for themselves.
Eliza Lynn Taylor
Eliza Lynn Taylor Freelance Writer
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Saturday, August 17, 2019
We Can Come Together
There was a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas last week. Another one in Ohio. These are the latest of many in recent years and anti-gun groups are using these to try to take away our Constitutional right to bear arms to defend ourselves. Pro-gun groups are angry and fighting back. The protests go on and on.
This is NOT about that. This is about a story I saw on Good Morning America about a man who had no one except his wife in this world and she was a victim of the shooting in El Paso. When he made arrangements at the funeral home for her he told them to invite all who cared to come because he was afraid it would only be him and the necessary staff in attendance. This happens more often than we we'd like to think - a person is buried without anyone or only a couple people paying their respects.
Well, let me tell you about the most amazing thing that happened. Word got around about this lady and this man. It went viral over the internet. People from all over the country sent flowers and condolences. People came from all over El Paso and the country to attend the funeral. THEY CAME TOGETHER, not as for or against anything. Not as any political party either.There were no protesters outside inappropriately holding signs during a funeral. They showed respect for this man who lost his whole world, love of his life.
How come in our country, where we all came together after 9/11 and cried for all the victims of shootings, can we not put aside our differences instead of protesting at funerals, stomping on one another verbally and physically, calling one another names, can we not just come together and get our country back on a compassionate track towards one another? It shouldn't take a tragedy.
This is NOT about that. This is about a story I saw on Good Morning America about a man who had no one except his wife in this world and she was a victim of the shooting in El Paso. When he made arrangements at the funeral home for her he told them to invite all who cared to come because he was afraid it would only be him and the necessary staff in attendance. This happens more often than we we'd like to think - a person is buried without anyone or only a couple people paying their respects.
Well, let me tell you about the most amazing thing that happened. Word got around about this lady and this man. It went viral over the internet. People from all over the country sent flowers and condolences. People came from all over El Paso and the country to attend the funeral. THEY CAME TOGETHER, not as for or against anything. Not as any political party either.There were no protesters outside inappropriately holding signs during a funeral. They showed respect for this man who lost his whole world, love of his life.
How come in our country, where we all came together after 9/11 and cried for all the victims of shootings, can we not put aside our differences instead of protesting at funerals, stomping on one another verbally and physically, calling one another names, can we not just come together and get our country back on a compassionate track towards one another? It shouldn't take a tragedy.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Codename: Doppelganger New from Eliza Lynn Taylor
I'd like to share with you, my readers, that I do finally have a new Grant Sommers book out. Codename: Doppleganger. It is available on Amazon.com in ebook for Kindle as well as in print.
When teenaged Caroline Buckley has a tantrum over what she considers to be unfair rules she finds out some very interesting news. (You'll have to read the book to find out what it was!) She runs away to Washington, D.C. to find her aunt for whom she is a doppelganger (they look dead-on alike). When her aunt (Amy Ingersol) isn't home she relies on the 'kindness' of a handsome and charming stranger who drags her into the world of human trafficking. Through a mutual friend at the FBI, Amy is introduced to Grant Sommers for help finding her niece. Will they find out what happened to Caroline? Will they be able to rescue her before it goes too far? Will anyone come out unscathed?
If you read Codename: Cipher then you know Grand Sommers gets into all sorts of situations with all sorts of interesting outcomes. Please read Codename: Doppelganger and find out.
Hey, While I've got your attention.... You may not know this, but along with actually buying our books (duh) reviews are the next most important part for writers. So, please, if you read my books leave a review so others can decide if they want to read it too. No reviews usually equate, no matter how unfairly, to no sales. Thank you!
See you at the reading table!
Eliza Lynn Taylor
Codename: Doppleganger in print
When teenaged Caroline Buckley has a tantrum over what she considers to be unfair rules she finds out some very interesting news. (You'll have to read the book to find out what it was!) She runs away to Washington, D.C. to find her aunt for whom she is a doppelganger (they look dead-on alike). When her aunt (Amy Ingersol) isn't home she relies on the 'kindness' of a handsome and charming stranger who drags her into the world of human trafficking. Through a mutual friend at the FBI, Amy is introduced to Grant Sommers for help finding her niece. Will they find out what happened to Caroline? Will they be able to rescue her before it goes too far? Will anyone come out unscathed?
If you read Codename: Cipher then you know Grand Sommers gets into all sorts of situations with all sorts of interesting outcomes. Please read Codename: Doppelganger and find out.
Hey, While I've got your attention.... You may not know this, but along with actually buying our books (duh) reviews are the next most important part for writers. So, please, if you read my books leave a review so others can decide if they want to read it too. No reviews usually equate, no matter how unfairly, to no sales. Thank you!
See you at the reading table!
Eliza Lynn Taylor
Codename: Doppleganger in print
Codename: Doppelganger for Kindle
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
State of the Union 2018
We watched the State of the Union Address last night. That was a huge event in our house. Why? Because for the first time my husband actually told me to change the channel TO the State of the Union Address. We have been married for nearly 37 years and in all that time, unless he was at work, he always had me change the channel or start a movie when it was on. He said they were only going to lie to us anyway. Imagine how stunned I was that he wanted to watch it. He even made commentary regarding the disrespect shown by those in the audience (nearly the entire Democrat section and a few Republicans) who sat arms crossed, dower expressions on their faces, and even at one point a female representative mouthing (you couldn't hear her) 'No! No! No!'
What they objected to? Keeping America safe from the illegal immigrant criminal element. Really? Why wouldn't you want people who are educated or are being educated, can and will work rather than play the welfare system game, are not a threat to the safety of our country and our citizens, and show respect by adopting our country instead of trying to turn it into the country they left, over the gangs, drug dealers, murderers and rapists that are flooding our borders right along with the good people? Why? Seemed like a good compromise to me. I think it probably did to a lot of people.
President Trump praised our military and border patrol agents who work to keep our borders and our country safe from those who would harm us. He praised our police, firefighters, EMTs and volunteers who gave up their time and money and risked their own lives to help those devastated by the floods, wildfires, and hurricanes and tornadoes. He praised a young man who received the Bronze Star with the V for Valor for his actions to save a fellow soldier and still they did not stand. He painted a bright future for our country with industry coming back, or starting up, or expanding bringing jobs for our people. Hope is a wonderful thing! If the people lose hope for their future then the future will be lost and our country will fall apart. Don't think for one minute that just because there are protesters out there that we are not a united country in many ways. No one asked if someone was black or white or legal or illegal, gay, straight, Christian or not, before pulling from the flood waters of the hurricanes or giving them refuge and food in the aftermath.
I also watched the Democratic Response by Senator Joe Kennedy III. Mostly what he said was rehash of the president's speech. Then he tried to twist it for some reason to be a bad thing. President Trump stated he wanted our country to be safe and prosperous for all its citizens regardless of race, gender, religion, etc. He didn't say 'except for those who are gender confused, gay, lesbian, or whatever other thing they come up with these days. He was inclusive of EVERYONE. But Senator Kennedy made it sound like he had an exceptions list. He acted like the only dreamers are the ones here illegally. Well, I'll tell you what Senator Kennedy, as the president put it, "Americans are dreamers too!" I am, my children were and are, my neighbors' children and grandchildren are. We all dream of a bright future and being able to pay our bills and earn a decent living, and of being safe in our own homes.
The senator went off subject several times addressing things that weren't even part of the president's address. I don't know why.
All in all, I considered it, albeit long, a good address presenting hope for us all if we just listen without regard to political party and stubbornly cutting off our nose to spite our face just because someone doesn't care for the man who holds office.
What they objected to? Keeping America safe from the illegal immigrant criminal element. Really? Why wouldn't you want people who are educated or are being educated, can and will work rather than play the welfare system game, are not a threat to the safety of our country and our citizens, and show respect by adopting our country instead of trying to turn it into the country they left, over the gangs, drug dealers, murderers and rapists that are flooding our borders right along with the good people? Why? Seemed like a good compromise to me. I think it probably did to a lot of people.
President Trump praised our military and border patrol agents who work to keep our borders and our country safe from those who would harm us. He praised our police, firefighters, EMTs and volunteers who gave up their time and money and risked their own lives to help those devastated by the floods, wildfires, and hurricanes and tornadoes. He praised a young man who received the Bronze Star with the V for Valor for his actions to save a fellow soldier and still they did not stand. He painted a bright future for our country with industry coming back, or starting up, or expanding bringing jobs for our people. Hope is a wonderful thing! If the people lose hope for their future then the future will be lost and our country will fall apart. Don't think for one minute that just because there are protesters out there that we are not a united country in many ways. No one asked if someone was black or white or legal or illegal, gay, straight, Christian or not, before pulling from the flood waters of the hurricanes or giving them refuge and food in the aftermath.
I also watched the Democratic Response by Senator Joe Kennedy III. Mostly what he said was rehash of the president's speech. Then he tried to twist it for some reason to be a bad thing. President Trump stated he wanted our country to be safe and prosperous for all its citizens regardless of race, gender, religion, etc. He didn't say 'except for those who are gender confused, gay, lesbian, or whatever other thing they come up with these days. He was inclusive of EVERYONE. But Senator Kennedy made it sound like he had an exceptions list. He acted like the only dreamers are the ones here illegally. Well, I'll tell you what Senator Kennedy, as the president put it, "Americans are dreamers too!" I am, my children were and are, my neighbors' children and grandchildren are. We all dream of a bright future and being able to pay our bills and earn a decent living, and of being safe in our own homes.
The senator went off subject several times addressing things that weren't even part of the president's address. I don't know why.
All in all, I considered it, albeit long, a good address presenting hope for us all if we just listen without regard to political party and stubbornly cutting off our nose to spite our face just because someone doesn't care for the man who holds office.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Codename: Cipher Now in Print
Yay! Just in time for Black Friday shoppping: All you book lovers out there, Codename: Cipher is now available from Amazon.com in print as well as for Kindle e-readers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1973350890?ref_=pe_870760_150889320 Just follow the link to get to the order page!
Grant Sommers has an unusual hobby- he breaks code. Something he learned from his father, a former code breaker for the government, they used it to communicate with one another after his parents divorced when he was a kid. Then he stumbled upon something in junk emails that scared him senseless. His father agreed with his conclusions and tried to bring his old friends in on it, only to be killed for what he knew. After Grant is kidnapped and then let go to 'think about joining their organization', Grant contacts the FBI and discovers the men who had him were not with the government. Now Grant is on the run and he doesn't know whom he can trust, except one man: Agent Evan Larson. Using survival skills his father taught him, his own wits, some special people along the way, and just plain luck he is trying to stay one step ahead of a worldwide terrorist organization determined to capture him and kill him. Will he survive long enough to stop them and keep them from killing anyone else, including Agent Larson and his own mother?
I have loved my character Grant Sommers from the first time I started writing about him. He is versatile for someone who was somewhat held back from adventures by his overprotective mother, but hey, he loves her anyway! His dad taught him quite a bit when he had the opportunity to see him, he just didn't realize it until he needed it. Isn't that how it goes? You don't know what you learned from your parents until you have to rely on those skills. I am currently working on a follow up Grant Sommers book so there will be two in the series. (If anyone has an idea for further adventures- just pass them along to me!) I have so many irons in the fire from a writing standpoint it is unreal. There are story idea flying everywhere!
Happy Thanksgiving! And don't forget to check out Murder So Convenient which is also now available in both print and for Kindle e-readers!
Grant Sommers has an unusual hobby- he breaks code. Something he learned from his father, a former code breaker for the government, they used it to communicate with one another after his parents divorced when he was a kid. Then he stumbled upon something in junk emails that scared him senseless. His father agreed with his conclusions and tried to bring his old friends in on it, only to be killed for what he knew. After Grant is kidnapped and then let go to 'think about joining their organization', Grant contacts the FBI and discovers the men who had him were not with the government. Now Grant is on the run and he doesn't know whom he can trust, except one man: Agent Evan Larson. Using survival skills his father taught him, his own wits, some special people along the way, and just plain luck he is trying to stay one step ahead of a worldwide terrorist organization determined to capture him and kill him. Will he survive long enough to stop them and keep them from killing anyone else, including Agent Larson and his own mother?
I have loved my character Grant Sommers from the first time I started writing about him. He is versatile for someone who was somewhat held back from adventures by his overprotective mother, but hey, he loves her anyway! His dad taught him quite a bit when he had the opportunity to see him, he just didn't realize it until he needed it. Isn't that how it goes? You don't know what you learned from your parents until you have to rely on those skills. I am currently working on a follow up Grant Sommers book so there will be two in the series. (If anyone has an idea for further adventures- just pass them along to me!) I have so many irons in the fire from a writing standpoint it is unreal. There are story idea flying everywhere!
Happy Thanksgiving! And don't forget to check out Murder So Convenient which is also now available in both print and for Kindle e-readers!
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Big News From Eliza Lynn Taylor
I have been asked several times why my first book Murder So Convenient and the second one Codename: Cipher are only available for Amazon's Kindle readers. Well, for one, I don't have a Nook and I don't have a way to set up (yet) for that reader. So there is your answer. However, I have also been asked why they are not in print either...
I have some big news and it is just in time for Christmas! As of today, Murder So Convenient IS available in paperback from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1973334224?ref_=pe_870760_150889320
In a few days Codename: Cipher will also be available in paperback! I don't have that link yet as it not yet live, but I will let you know when this happens.
I hope you all are as excited as I am in this. A huge thanks goes to Kindle Direct Publishing for this program.
I have some big news and it is just in time for Christmas! As of today, Murder So Convenient IS available in paperback from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1973334224?ref_=pe_870760_150889320
In a few days Codename: Cipher will also be available in paperback! I don't have that link yet as it not yet live, but I will let you know when this happens.
I hope you all are as excited as I am in this. A huge thanks goes to Kindle Direct Publishing for this program.
Available Now at Amazon.com!
Available in just a few days! Look for it on Amazon.com!
Friday, May 26, 2017
Brother is so Funny
My older brother has kept me laughing my entire life. Today is no different. He called me and actually said, "I thought I'd give you something funny to write in your blog about your brother." He doesn't even have internet, and he wanted me to post about his incident.
This last week his cell phone quit. It happens, and like me, he really would rather chew nails than have to go get a new phone. The sales reps always try to talk us into 'upgrading' into a smart phone from the flip phones we currently use. For me, I did have smart phones once. I discovered not only was it too expensive, but the phones were smarter than we are. No thank you.
My brother went to his local cell phone store (we are the same network but I'm not endorsing the brand). They, of course, did not have an identical flip phone to the one that died so he chose another flip phone. It didn't hurt that it was the only one in the store. I've run into that myself, so I know what he was up against. The representative set it all up for him and he went on his way. Flash forward to the next day: brother is trying to take a nap. The house is completely locked up, the television is off, complete silence. All of the sudden he hears a voice calling, "Hello! Welcome...." that's when he quit listening and just went into action. He grabbed his trusty protection, a 9mm handgun, and goes after whomever has broken into his home. He sees no one, but then the voice calls out again. "Hello".
Spinning around, safety off, weapon cocked to fire, he nearly shot his "really nice television that was off and did nothing to deserve it." He heard it again. After about a minute he heard it again. "Hello, Welcome to ... network." His new phone was talking to him! Repeatedly!
After much swearing he grabbed the possessed cell phone, turned it off, and took it back. The manager reset the settings to not give verbal notifications and handed it back. Confident the problem was corrected, he handed it back. My brother set it on the counter and just stared at it.
"What are you doing?" the manager asked.
Holding up a finger, he replied, "Just wait for it."
Less than a minute later..."Hello, welcome to ...network." It had done its own reset, four times. The representative finally grabbed the phone and yanked the back off of it and removed the battery. He set it on the counter and backed away. He stared at my brother with a scared look. "What the hell was that?"
"I told you it was possessed!" my brother said.
"Well, we got another phone the same model as your old one, newer of course, over night. We'll just get you that one."
So far so good. No magic voice has haunted him from his cell phone. Ha!
This last week his cell phone quit. It happens, and like me, he really would rather chew nails than have to go get a new phone. The sales reps always try to talk us into 'upgrading' into a smart phone from the flip phones we currently use. For me, I did have smart phones once. I discovered not only was it too expensive, but the phones were smarter than we are. No thank you.
My brother went to his local cell phone store (we are the same network but I'm not endorsing the brand). They, of course, did not have an identical flip phone to the one that died so he chose another flip phone. It didn't hurt that it was the only one in the store. I've run into that myself, so I know what he was up against. The representative set it all up for him and he went on his way. Flash forward to the next day: brother is trying to take a nap. The house is completely locked up, the television is off, complete silence. All of the sudden he hears a voice calling, "Hello! Welcome...." that's when he quit listening and just went into action. He grabbed his trusty protection, a 9mm handgun, and goes after whomever has broken into his home. He sees no one, but then the voice calls out again. "Hello".
Spinning around, safety off, weapon cocked to fire, he nearly shot his "really nice television that was off and did nothing to deserve it." He heard it again. After about a minute he heard it again. "Hello, Welcome to ... network." His new phone was talking to him! Repeatedly!
After much swearing he grabbed the possessed cell phone, turned it off, and took it back. The manager reset the settings to not give verbal notifications and handed it back. Confident the problem was corrected, he handed it back. My brother set it on the counter and just stared at it.
"What are you doing?" the manager asked.
Holding up a finger, he replied, "Just wait for it."
Less than a minute later..."Hello, welcome to ...network." It had done its own reset, four times. The representative finally grabbed the phone and yanked the back off of it and removed the battery. He set it on the counter and backed away. He stared at my brother with a scared look. "What the hell was that?"
"I told you it was possessed!" my brother said.
"Well, we got another phone the same model as your old one, newer of course, over night. We'll just get you that one."
So far so good. No magic voice has haunted him from his cell phone. Ha!
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