Sunday, January 8, 2017

CULLUM ON PROLOGUE OF "HEART CITY"

John reads aloud the bone-chilling opening chapter of this novel--setting the stage for a tale of a loving couple, and the rape and scalping of an Indian girl.

Get free copy of HEART CITY
(free till Jan.11.








Wednesday, January 4, 2017

BYE BYE XMAS/NEW YEARS

It's my first day back at work since the holidays. I've got to post a blog for tomorrow.


I'm looking out my window  before I head for my computer.

 It looks ... different from last year. Maybe it's my mood, new year, new President, not sure where we're heading.
 
Workers have been demolishing the old nuns residence across the street. It will probably be another parking lot. The tall, wide buildings directly across from us, which were lofts for various businesses, are mostly condos now. Families with kids live there -- 3 in one loft, 2 little ones in another. Their fancily decorated Xmas trees are no longer lit up. The kids aren't up yet.  Maybe, now that the holidays are over, they're in nursery schools.

There's already a tree lying at the curb. Soon all the trees will be in the street. After the holidays you can pretend not to notice the branches becoming brown and  pine needles on the floor, until you notice pine needles on your kitchen  and in the bathroom.

Our neat small tree is is already in our hallway, waiting for Phil, our janitor, to dispose of it. We didn't need a tree -- our son JD who lives in LA is doing a show in Hollywood. The folks in the condos will soon elevator their trees downstairs and their trees and ours will rest ignobly on  their sides at the curb till the garbage guys arrive, and the dumpsters, which will soon be piled high with red, green, and gold stuff that was purchased to prettify the gifts under the tree.

Golly, I'm glad I gave holiday presents to Phil, and whats-his-name, the parking lot guy who sweeps our curb. I don't know the post office person. The mail lady who replaced our  postman, doesn't buzz the buzzer on the TV monitors that protect us now, but if she buzzed I can open the front door for her and say, "Put it on the bench, thanks."

Lately real estate agents buzz, give their names and credentials, expressing interest in buying our building.  I quickly say "I'm the owner. I'm very busy right now.  It's definitely not for sale,." and turn off the TV monitor, not explaining that the building will be inherited by our son. These agents have our address; they'll write me letters for the waste basket. 

Hello 2017!!  It'll be Ground Hog Day soon,  then Valentine's Day, first day of   spring, 4th of July, Halloween, and  in a minute it'll be Xmas New Years again. 
  
No doubt about  it -- our street will be busier than ever with a new parking lot, and kids -- bet they'll have pets, and playmates, there'll be school buses taking them to school, and more grocery, drugstore, UPS deliveries. I'll learn the names of the delivery guys and get Phil to tell me the parking lot guy's name. Tomorrow, I'll put a note on the mailbox for the mail lady --  "Please buzz  buzzer -- when I buzz back tell me  your  name." Knowing names for the new faces will help  make my street, my world,  into a familiar neighborhood again.  

Hey, things are safer with the TV monitors. Kids growing up  will be fun to watch from my window -- next time I see a kid at the window  I'll wave. Kids wave back. 
 
When I post my blog, I'll borrow the title of this video.




Saturday, December 31, 2016

SONG TO SING TODAY.

What a song -- what a gathering of people who gave us this song to sing. And today, again, like last year, and the year before and now -- right this minute -- this is a song that expresses what we are feeling.




Tuesday, December 27, 2016

THE OBAMAS' NEW HOME

Here's where Barack and Michelle Obama, and their daughters will be living.



It's a 9-bedroom mansion with 8.5 baths, in the Kalorama section of D.C. about two miles from the White House. Barack Obama said they'll live there for at least two years while their youngest daughter, 15-year-old Sasha, finishes high school.

Photos and videos describe this mansion as "swanky, splendiferous, glamorous." There are rooms for everything -- work, research, recreation, exercise, pets, guests and guests' kids, a suite for Michelle's mother, accommodations and parking for assistants and servants, as well for U. S. Secret Service Guards who guard former presidents and their families.  

The Obamas have also acquired a California home in Rancho Mirage where there are world-class golf courses. The town has been the unofficial West Coast Camp David for other presidents. Right now, for the holidays, the Obamas are at their vacation home in Hawaii.

Yes, it's a WOW  of  home -- what they deserve after more than eight years of working for us -- a home sweet home where Michelle will continue working for us on her various projects, where Barack will continue working for us, our country, and people everywhere in the world. He's had the whole world in his hands. Undoubtedly, he'll continue to work on the many issues that are life and death important for the whole world



If you want to see more, you'll enjoy this second, longer video. 




Interesting facts:  
This 8,200 square foot brick Tudor mansion, owned by White House press secretary Joe Lockhart, is currently valued at $7 million. Though we don't know what the Obamas are paying for it, it would cost  $22,000 a month to rent, according to Lockhart's real estate agent, who lists the house as meticulously renovated with courtyard space for 8-10 vehicles. The mansion is next door to a former congressman,  down the street from the French ambassador's residence, around the corner from the oldest house in the city, and about a half mile from the D.C.home of Hillary and Bill Clinton.