Tuesday Thoughts: It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

As Hurricane (now Tropical Depression) Florence winds her way up the coast on her way to finally fizzling out, we are feeling the effects here in New England. Nowhere near what the Carolinas and Virginia experienced, but it is raining pretty darn good out there right now. It looks like this is what we will see for the whole day. It was much worse in the southern US, of course, but all day rain is not a whole lot of fun, wherever you are. Well, I suppose if you are in one of the areas experiencing a drought, you might actually be glad of an all day rain. See? There’s an upside to everything.

We had a really nice weekend. We were in the New Haven, CT area for a chili cook off. It’s one of our favorites and it was a pretty good event, once again. The weather was good, if a little warm, and public turn out was steady. And that is good for the charity, in this case the Emergency Food Pantry of the Community Action Agency.

We went down to New Haven- well, Branford, actually, since that is where our hotel is- on Friday. We always stay at the same hotel. It’s nice to do that, since the owners now know us. They have a beautiful vegetable garden out in back of the hotel, and always tell us to go and take whatever we want! That evening, we went to Nataz, a restaurant we discovered years ago. It’s really, really good, and the people who run the place are just so very nice. We had a long talk with both the chef and his daughter about chili, and, like so many people, he says he makes the best chili around. And he gave us a container of it to take home! LOL

How is it, you ask? Well, we are having it for dinner tonight, but did taste a bit. It’s good, but it isn’t competition quality. Needs more chili powder and cumin for that. But that’s common in many chilis. And we are looking for very specific things in a competition pot. From just that one taste, I would say that if that were on a buffet table, I would most certainly eat it! If it were on a competition table for traditional Red, I would have to pass on placing it. It would probably do very well in Homestyle, though.

We also discovered a really good pizza place on Saturday night after the cook off. We just wanted a nice, relaxing, relatively quick dinner someplace we could sit and relax with a few drinks and a nice pizza. We found Capone’s. Nice place, nice people, really good pizza. Another place that will be a regular.

We came home on Sunday, via another regular place for us: Sarah’s On Main in Portland, CT. Breakfast time! They have some unique specials every time we are there. The food is fresh, not fancy, and always good.

So, there- if you are ever in the New Haven, CT area, you have three places to check out!

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Coming in December 2018: Two’s Company, a sci-fi novel in the space opera tradition.

Medusa “Deuce” Grainger is smart, confident, and as good a pilot as she is a poker player. A freelance shuttle jockey working for an independent terraforming company, she’s left her former life, and her father, behind. Mostly.

Now, her AI has downloaded another Personality off a wrecked ship, and he’s acting oddly ever since. Someone wants to sabotage her friend’s company out of business, evidence of tampering is being corrupted, and people have died.  With an investigation looming that could shut down the company and cut off her main source of income, Deuce needs to figure out what’s going on. And she needs to do it fast, because there’s more at stake than anyone realizes.

Two’s Company is listed on Goodreads. If you like what you see above, I’d appreciate you adding it to your Want To Read list. Thanks!

Available now :

After five years away, Kaili is coming home for the ceremony to install her sister as head of the family business. When an old rivalry threatens the family, Kaili and her partner need to use all their skills to save the sisters’ lives. Learn more here

 

 

A collection of six short fantasy stories set in varied worlds of magic and mayhem. Learn more here.

 

 

 

A short novelette set in a dystopian Earth after the final environmental collapse. Sam is a genetically engineered chameleon who may hold the key to mankind’s survival. Learn more here.

 

 

 

In a world reeling under the effects of severe climate change, food shortages are common, and arable farmland is scarce. Unscupulous distributors like Beni Oligowma take advantage of the shortages for their own gain. When a promising new technology for growing food even under the harsh conditions is unveiled, grocery store owner Frank is determined to see that everyone is able to benefit from the results, not just the Benis of the world.
Feed My People is a short story, set in a dystopian science fiction world, and is free. Learn more here

Demon hunters Johnny and Cerise travel to the small town of Carroll Fork where they find a demon-possessed thrift store, a sweet old lady who is more than she seems, and an army of underworld inhabitants. Can Johnny and his trusty yo-yo save the town from a devil of a problem?

Five and Daemon, the Yo-Yo Files #1, is a short novelette in an urban fantasy setting, with elements of the supernatural and humor. Learn more here

Things have been quiet. No demonic possessions, no otherworldly intrusions, nothing. And then Lucifer shows up in Johnny’s living room, claiming that two archangels are missing, and something is definitely not right in the heavenly- and other- realms. Saying he has nothing to do with it- this time- he asks Johnny and Cerise to help him find out what’s happening, and who is behind the disappearances. While they are trying to do just that, Lucifer is devilnapped by a larger-than-life serpent. He manages to get a clue to Johnny before he disappears. Johnny and Cerise are left to puzzle out the disappearances and try to find the missing angels. Oh, and stop what could mean the ultimate destruction of pretty much everything.

Snake’s Alive, the Yo-Yo Files #2 is an urban fantasy novelette with elements of the supernatural and humor. Learn more here.