Tuesday, November 1, 2011

'Missing Person -- Returns!'

  Yes, I've been missing from this blog for awhile (thanks for putting out those 'missing-person' posters). Computer problems! Thinking it couldn't happen to me, it did. The dreaded blue screen.

  I suffered with it for awhile, trying all my tricks, remedy's and screaming at it while making lewd gestures. Nothing I had -- worked. So...packing the magic box up I was convinced some other expert needed to work their genius on this, now, piece-of-crap.

  35 days later, picking up the POC, while plunking down my $200, the young guru gushed from across the sales counter, 'I think I got it fixed.' No, no...he may have thought he had it fixed, but no...he didn't. So now it's at the neighbor lady's house, whose day job is heading the IT department of a humongous engineering firm. Hopefully my computer will be back in perfect form within the not too distant future. I love and miss that computer. It's my friend. Except. When it seems to have a brain of it's own, then, there's a problem.

  Using Linda's computer cramps me. It's small, a laptop. At my age (and size), things, all things, need to be bigger. The screen is too small, can't see it. The keys are too close together, allowing my fat fingers to pound more than one at a time. Her chair is terrible. Her work space is miserable...looking out the window at all those leaves. Makes me tired.

  Anyway, that's why you haven't heard from me in a while. BTW, am thinking of creating another, separate, blog containing information about the books I've written, and will write. Having all this information together, I believe, will be much better than separate, stand-alone blogs for each book. I'll let you know when that all inclusive blog is up and running.

  All for now. Thanks for following my escapades in this writing venture. The latest book, 'Bloody Omaha,' is selling a respectable 250-300 ebooks per month. Not bad, I guess. Could always be better. Also, I'm happy to help, advise, or converse with anyone, who thinks they might be interested in doing some writing, themselves. Just drop me a note, here:
garry m graves at gmail dot com.
Regards, --gg
PS -- Do me a favor. Share this blog post with your friends and family. And, if you do, let me know and I'll send you a free PDF version of 'Bloody Omaha' for your own reading or sharing. Thanks.
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Posted by The Remembrance Tree at 11:32 AM
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What are "The 5 Most Important--But Fleeting Virtures?"

Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion and Humility.

.....this is a portion of the "introduction" or prologue to the book (not yet completed)...email with your comments.

The books title; Character Happens! The 5 Most Important—But Fleeting Virtues, describes my belief these five important virtues (Honesty, Integrity, Courage, Compassion, Humility), are sporadic in use and diminishing in personal character. The books message is in recognizing this “fleeting” nature and from that reinstitute a more virtuous choice in your decision making.

The paradox of the two words; Character Happens, with another two words: “S### Happens”* (decorum prevents use of actual word) is not without merit. My belief is that observed human character is much like, well...s###! This kind of observation can be disconcerting at times. So confusing that society can hardly make the distinction between the two words and there obvious different meaning. Individuals make virtuous and un-virtuous choices/decisions for innumerable reasons, both consciously and without deep thought. If we postulate; can an individual make a 'more' virtuous choice in life’s decisions should they want to do so? Answer—perhaps. How does one 'reinstitute a more virtuous choice' into their personal makeup...making the response more automatic? Answer—practice. With a concerted effort at 'practice' I believe...an individual might just develop a more 'repetitive' decent response...much like grooving a golf swing.

I love golf. I think the game is like no other. The five stories that make up Character Happens! have a golf storyline. Some readers may not be able to relate to the game of golf or its vernacular or for that matter, why people...a large number of people...love golf. Too bad! You should try it sometime...because it’s more than a game...it can be a life experience. The golf course environment alone is enough to put most people at ease.

Golf is a game played by the individual as opposed to being a member of a team, like baseball. Baseball has umpires who enforce the rules of the game. In golf you are the umpire. Because of this unique method of enforcing the games rules—golf is a “hotbed” for testing the players character...their honesty, their integrity, their courage and sometimes their compassion. And, because all golfers started from knowing nothing about the game; like how to swing, how to putt or chip... they also learn of humility. Now doesn’t it make perfect sense that a book about character would juxtaposition a storyline with the game of golf? Anyway, I thought so.

There are five stories, one for each virtue. The book has six main characters that make up a group of what I call 'golf buddies.' The storyteller, Spencer Madison, in reality is me. Well, somewhat like me...as I have a better golf game than Spencer. The five others vary in age, gender, education, religious beliefs and definitely personality. The 'binder' of the group or what brings them together; golf.

The reader will hopefully discover in their own lives a similar incident with one of the story’s in Character Happens! If not, that’s okay too...as the stories are earnest while humorous, carefree yet compelling. And, I believe each chapter or story makes a 'point' in this wonderful, wacky, dynamic world in the 21st century.

The stories are fictional as are the characters. Names, personalities or incidents are fictional and in no way resemble or refer to a living person. I’ve used paraphrasing of many authors’ ideas and concepts and have referenced them in a special section. Because of these references and the specific genre where the book is to be found, it’s categorized as a non-fictional, personal development book.


*...sorry for the language but this word best describes the thought I want to convey. In Forrest Gump the term was used to describe situations that happen to all people for no particular reason.