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Thursday, July 6, 2017

Road Trip from Maryland to Florida

I have honestly been meaning to write this post long ago. Today I find myself with some spare time as I enjoy the Miami sunshine. So, here it is. Starting at exit 21 on the Baltimore Beltway (695) it took a total of 20 hours for us to reach Miami. The trip could have been much shorter had we not stopped to shop a couple times. These shopping stops were our walk around stops. Let me elaborate. Long periods of sitting such as our trip from Maryland to Florida or long plane rides slows down the blood flow in your legs leaving you predisposed to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thrombosis. Although, the trip can be made in a shorter period of time it's best to be health wise and safe.

Below I have outline the exits by state and added tips.

Maryland

*109 exits
*Speed limits range from 55-65
*Gas prices are reasonable $2.13-2.35 per gallon 

Virginia

*177 exits
*Speed limits up 70 miles per hour (mph)
*Gas prices are at a premium at the top of Virginia. I make sure I have enough gas to get me at least to the lower part of Virginia where prices are reasonable.
*Speed traps are usually up and running around the Spotsylvania and Ashland areas.

North Carolina

*181 exits
*Speed limits up 70 miles mph
*Reasonable gas prices
*Look out for the signs counting down to South of the Border. They are cleaver and keep you informed as to how many miles you are from South Carolina. If you want a real treat, plan to reach South of the Border at night when it's all lit up.

South Carolina

*183 exits
*South of the Border. Be sure to stop and take a look around.
*Gas prices at South of the Border come at a premium. If you need gas, get it before you reach South of the Border.
*Speeding through work zones in South Carolina can get you a $200 fine and 30 days in prison.
*The left lane is used as a passing lane.

Georgia

*111exits
*Gas is usually priced higher at the top of Georgia.
*Speed traps are aggressive. There have been times when I have spotted a police at each authorized vehicle lane which connects the north bound and south bound traffic. They park in the grassy areas that separate north and south traffic and behind trees and shrubs. With all that being said, my advice is do the speed limit in Georgia.

*The left lane is used as a passing lane.



Florida

*380 exits. The longest of the states. The 380 exits are only the exits off I-95. It does not include the Keys. Florida is a long legged state.
*Florida has a new sign to welcome you. There's one just like this that sits on the road as you drive over the line from Georgia into Florida. I like it. 
*Gas is priced higher at the top of Florida as you skirt the beaches. Farther down the prices come down until you reach Miami; then they shoot up.
*St. Augustine is the oldest city in the USA and is home to my favorite shopping outlet at exit 318. It was founded on September 8, 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Florida's first governor. It is known for its Spanish colonial architecture as well as the Atlantic beaches. I plan to vacation there in a beach home one day.
* If you love pulled pork and ribs, you will want to stop at Daytona Pig Stand just off exit 273. I love the tractor trailer that sits on the lot. And it is right there with Harley Davidson if you want to check out a motorcycle.
*Make a stop at Daytona Beach. You can drive right up on the sand, park and have lunch and enjoy the Atlantic. It will cost you $10. The beach is accessible and free for pedestrians and bicyclists 24 hours a day, depending on tides and weather conditions. Driving and parking on the beach is open to vehicles from sunrise to sunset from November 1 through April 30 and from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm from May 1 through October 31. Take a look at these beach tips.
To get to the beach From St. Augustine take I-95 South, exit 261A and head east on U.S. 92 toward Daytona Beach. Have fun.


GUILTY (A Marston Series Book 1)

A not guilty verdict. A kidnapping. A midnight trial. Six sitting in judgement and one empty chair. Revenge- is it sweet or just a bitter seed? Coach Terrence Jackson is the man who has divided the town of Marston. There are those who believe in the coach and his innocence and then there are the victims who despise him, his smile and his crime. He has a dark past- a previous life no one knew about until the not guilty verdict.




Sunday, June 4, 2017

Audible Books





Audible books are books you can listen to and become part of the story. The book is no longer just words you read to yourself on a page. It becomes movie like. The scenes are read by the characters, thereby giving them shape and form and voice. A Secret Love is a short Audible story, 1.5 hours long. The good news is it is on sale for $1.99 on Audible and Amazon. 




Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Bad Things Happen to Good People

In this wide world that we live in, the possibility of something unforeseen happening to a neighbor, a friend, a family member, a stranger, or even yourself is bound to cross your path. Not knowing the
person or people who have had a bad thing happen doesn't preclude you from feeling it or having the event affect your life and emotions. Have I lost you? Think about this- 911. You may have been in states away or even a country away, but you felt the raw emotion of it all. The event remolded lives and activity. Now think on a smaller scale- a heinous act that boils your blood. You may not know the people who were affected by the crime per se, but as you hear or read the details, the what-ifs creep up. What if it had happened to my child? What if I had been there? We feel empathy toward the victims. We want to do something. Anything to make it better.

GUILTY is the latest novel in the BMB Books collection. It's a novel that portrays the victim's view of events. How can a family and friends come together after such a heinous event? The rape of a teen by a role model. And as if things weren't unbelievable enough, he gets off. Not guilty. Doesn't that just boil you over?

After your introduction to the characters, GUILTY has twists and turns you would not expect. A reader summed the book up saying, "There are two running themes- injustice and unity. Honestly, I had not thought of the novel in those terms. But, he had a definite point.

So, when bad things happen, how do you handle them? Close your eyes and ears? Clamp your mouth? Unite? Plan? The young women of Marston are strong. They love life. Here's a poem that Linsey shares with anyone who needs the words. The words of this poem were written by a young lady in the GUILTY novel who was taken down to her lowest and today- she lives.

      I am a girl, who will one day be a woman. I am your sister, your mother, your daughter, your aunt, your friend. I was raped. But it does not define me. Because I won’t let it. I take long walks along the path lined with colorful flowers. I stop to examine and appreciate each one. I sniff their fresh, outdoorsy fragrances. I take a moment to smile at each one. This I do because I can. It reminds me that I live yet another day. I won’t let the incident rob me of that. It had robbed me of many things in the beginning. Now I refuse to let it rule my being. I refuse to be enchained by this vicious act. I am comfortable in my clothes. I wear them for me. I am comfortable in my skin. We are friends. I am strong. Today I remove my chains. I am taking back my life. Today I live.


GUILTY is now available in ebook,

paperback, and as an audiobook. 



GUILTY (A Marston Series Book 1)

A not guilty verdict. A kidnapping. A midnight trial. Six sitting in judgment and one empty chair. Revenge- is it sweet or just a bitter seed? Coach Terrence Jackson is the man who has divided the town of Marston. There are those who believe in the coach and his innocence and then there are the victims who despise him, his smile and his crime. He has a dark past- a previous life 
no one knew about until the not guilty verdict.






Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Meet the Characters of GUILTY

Meet Rose Canter


Rose Canter is the third character introduction of the novel GUILTY. She's smart and full of life. She has a big goal- Medical school. Her father has been saving for it. She's a cheerleader for the football team; the team that Terrence Jackson coaches. She has a boyfriend, the coach's son. Now she's a victim and life is no longer going as planned.


Meet Terrence Jackson

  

He's the villain that has given the town of Marston a bipolar nature. There are those that believe in him and his innocence and then there are the ones that despise him, his smile and his crime. Coach Jackson's signature smile is an integral accessory of his wardrobe. In fact, he doesn't leave home without it. 

He has one son-Jonas, a dead wife, and a young blonde bombshell by his side. He has money and status which he earned on the football field. Now he's giving back to the community by helping high school students afford a college education.  Trusting the coach will changes lives.

Beware








Meet Gabellah Shaw


She's feisty and gorgeous. Gabellah is the talk show hostess that everyone loves to watch. If she has a special guest on the show, you'd better believe the town will be watching. The show is called GAB, the first three letters of her name. And then there is her ability to talk about any and everything- her gift of gab. Gabellah says, "it's all about the 3 Ws- who did what, who's doing who and why." She makes her guest feel at home- a little chit-chat and something to drink; just like at mom's. But, if you're a guest on GAB, never forget you're not at your mother's. You're at GAB's sitting in the shark tank.



GUILTY is now live and available at your favorite store.


GUILTY (A Marston Series Book 1)

A not guilty verdict. A kidnapping. A midnight trial. Six sitting in judgment and one empty chair. Revenge- is it sweet or just a bitter seed? Coach Terrence Jackson is the man who has divided the town of Marston. There are those who believe in the coach and his innocence and then there are the victims who despise him, his smile and his crime. He has a dark past- a previous life no one knew about until the not guilty verdict.



Heart stopping forgetfulness

I'm guessing you've noticed my blog's name change. I think it's time to make a change, especially with change of season. Let me treat you to a short chuckle of a story. And it's true.

Heart stopping forgetfulness :)

I had to work 4 hours on my birthday. I drove to the train station and caught the subway downtown. My daughter called me close to quitting time with an offer to pick me up and spend some time. My shero! After scooping me up from work we picked up my younger daughter and the three of us went off to lunch for good food and chatting. After lunch we gassed up and headed home where we spent time sharing life events- wedding plans and videos and book launch strategies. Well, my daughter was packing up to head home. She had a test to study for. I parted the curtains to check the weather. I froze. Actually, I couldn't breathe or move or speak. And to top it off I felt light headed. My parking pad was vacant :O My car had been stolen. I was finally able to make the announcement- my car is gone. It took us a little time, but we got it all sorted out. The darn thing was still at the train station :)

Have you heard? 

GUILTY is now live and available at your favorite store.


GUILTY (A Marston Series Book 1)

A not guilty verdict. A kidnapping. A midnight trial. Six sitting in judgement and one empty chair. Revenge- is it sweet or just a bitter seed? Coach Terrence Jackson is the man who has divided the town of Marston. There are those who believe in the coach and his innocence and then there are the victims who despise him, his smile and his crime. He has a dark past- a previous life no one knew about until the not guilty verdict.