Tag: writing community

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Coffee and Contemplation: My Favorite Books of 2020

I enjoyed many of the books I read during this last year. I read more books than I have in an entire year and I’m proud of myself for that. There were two in particular that stood out to me. It wasn’t so much the stories themselves but the writing and the way the stories captured my imagination. This isn’t a book review. Not really. I hope what I say will encourage you all to read these books, though one might be hard to find. These were both new approaches to old ideas. And there was something supernatural and magical about them.

The first book is “The Wolfman” by Nicholas Pekearo. Many have said this is the best werewolf novel ever written. I’m inclined to agree. It was tragic that Pekearo died before seeing it published. The story is about a man who is a werewolf and uses this condition to hunt and kill bad people like murderers, serial killers, etc… The main character reminded me of my father in many ways. Both his good and bad qualities. Copies of this book are online. Physical copies are more expensive. I don’t think it’s being printed for the moment. If you prefer e-readers, it’s still more expensive than others. Just fair warning but it’s worth every penny.

The second book is “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern. The synopsis makes one think this will be a romance novel, but the romance is subtle. I didn’t notice the two characters were starting a courtship until half-way through. This could be because of the non-linear narrative. There’s no mushy stuff. There’s too much magic going on in the story. It has a little of everything and is well written. My enthusiasm for this novel overshadowed many of the others I read in 2020. This book is a little easier to acquire than the first one I mentioned. 

What were your favorite reads of 2020? I often stick with supernatural or magical realism type stories but please share any books that stuck out in your mind during 2020.

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National Static Electricity Day

January 9 is Static Electricity Day. Static electricity is different from the electricity that turns on our lights and appliances. For a clear definition, we’ll quote Wikipedia. “Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is named in contrast with current electricity, which flows through wires or other conductors and transmits energy.”

Static electricity occurs when the positive and negative charges of an atom are out of balance. When two insulators, such as cloth or plastic, are rubbed together they transfer electrons causing positive and negative charges. To rebalance these charges, static electricity is discharged when an insulator comes into contact with a conductor like a piece of metal. This release is what causes the shock from static electricity.

There are a few things you can do to help prevent getting shocked. During the Winter months, the air is drier than the humid air of the Summer months. Use a humidifier in your home to put moisture back in the air. Moisturizing your skin before getting dressed will also help. Synthetic fibers are better conductors than natural fibers. Wearing cotton will have less of a charge than polyester. Holding a key or metal pen will help discharge the buildup of static without shocking you. And finally, wear leather-soled shoes instead of rubber-soled.

Now that you know some new things, go rock down to Electric Avenue.

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Yuletide Aviary – Part 4

Read Part 3.

            “Did you know Lutin was that old?” Jacob says.

            “I don’t think I’ve ever heard him speak.” Thomas says.

            “Old Ben gets forgetful too. He’ll be in a couple more times and say the same thing.” Lutin says.

            They listen to a commercial for sugar plums and gingerbread. No one speaks for several minutes. Even the Hens are quiet. The night outside holds an eerie silence.

            “Hey there, Lutin. Can you switch it to the delivery coverage? Let’s see how everyone’s doing, Eh?” Jacob says.

            Lutin clicks through several channels then settles back into his chair. The Hens move to a closer table. The anchor sits at a desk wearing a red and green suit. He doesn’t wear a hat like most elves do. Behind him is a map with many blinking lights.

            “…and we’re getting reports of an accident North of Johannesburg. First Responder Emergency Elves are on the scene clearing debris and maintaining social distance from humans. Reporter Bella Tink is on the scene. Bella? How do things look down there?”

            Bella wears a green long sleeve dress and a matching green hat. Her brown hair covers her ears.

            “As you can see Stephen, the debris has mostly been collected. There were no serious injuries, but a couple of our birds won’t be finishing deliveries tonight. The remaining packages have already been divided around to other carriers nearby. So far everything is on schedule.”

            “This is our first accident this season which is an improvement over last year.”

            “That’s right Stephen. You may recall the six-bird pileup that occurred in Southern Argentina where we lost two of our carriers.”

            “Let’s hope this is our only accident this season. Thank you, Bella.”

            “Thank you, Stephen.”

            “We’ll return to local news after this short break. I’m Stephen Gumdrop.”

            Everyone in the shop lost interest and the Hens returned to their first table.

            “I remember that accident. One of my coworkers lost a cousin.” Thomas says.

            “Did you know him?”

            “The cousin? Nah, she worked the other side of the factory. She was one of their top carriers.”

            “Let’s have a toast then.”

            “For what?”

            “To good workers we lost.”

Read Part 5