Nope I’m not talking about that great rush you do to finish up buying those last minute gifts. New Yorkers like myself are more concern red about finding a way to work or a way to get out to finish there Christmas s shopping. Oy. Yesterday like most of New Yorkers I held my breath hoping that the strike wouldn’t happen. Well it did and then there was the scramble to find other means to get into work. Yeah, yeah I could of done the sane thing and stayed home but heck I’m a New Yorker and if a little thing like a blackout wouldn’t stop me from going to work why should not having my regular transport stop me. I’m sure you figured out the punch line already but let me give you more insight into the workings of the great Strike Exodus.
I’ve been staying at a relatives house so I could get a ride to a train that was working if the strike was to occur. I’ve been without my computer which means no internet (except when I can sneak on at work shhhh…. don’t tell anyone). On Monday morning I was so happy there was service I did a little jig yes you heard me I danced to work on my merry way. Then on Tuesday came the strike. I went to the train I could take which is really out of my way. It was a Metro North and waiting on that platform I was feeling that cold air. Getting in to work wasn’t to bad. I even made a friend on the train and we talked to our stop. When I arrived at Grand Central it was okay and my new friend helped me find a bus that my job had set up to take us into lower manhattan. After a few almost crazy moments I got where I needed to be. Again it wasn’t so bad.
Then reality struck as I left to go home. My job transport was nowhere to be found for hours I was in the cold. I couldn’t feel my hands or feet. Finally I got on the transport and made it back to Grand Central at about 8 o’clock and let me tell you. I’ve never seen so many people. It was a mass of moving bodies all rushing to get out of the city. Now this was already almost 8 o’clock at night. And it was a mad house. An Exodus of people you would not believe. I was lucky enough to catch another family member on the phone and ask to get a ride uptown. Now I had to trek back through the crowd to get out. Got to the doors and found I was locked in they weren’t letting anyone in or out. It was crazy. Well after a few choice words I was able to get out and make my flight to meet my ride who was six blocks away coming uptown and would meet me at 42 street. I walked fast as I could.
But then the funniest thing happened. I took a glance around and slowed down and appreciated the beauty around me. If you have visited around Grand Central before especially at Christmas you realize what I mean. It was beautiful even though everyone was running around to get where they were going. The air was cold and crisp. The sounds of New York was alive and well. The people were being New Yorkers by dealing with what was thrown at us as best as they could. In that moment my love of New York came into me. Now don’t get me wrong I was still pissed at having such a crappy commute but I was in the heart of New York City and there is no feeling like it. I walked on appreciating the sight and sounds. I still made it in time to meet my ride, was stuck in traffic for hours but hey I came away with the beauty of what New York is.
This Strike Exodus is going on and no one knows how long it will take. I have to be to work no matter what anyway. So each day I’m waiting to see what experience I will come away with.
McKenna
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Monday, December 12, 2005
The scent of Mama’s cooking
Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is having a wonderful blessed season. Give thanks for all your blessings.
It’s been an interesting few months for me. My computer in October conked out on me. I’ve recently received the new one and still getting familiar with it. The long wait for a new one gave me a lot of time to think and contemplate about everything that happened in this last year.
When I thought about everything I was amazed and saddened how things changed. Not the day to day changes of life but the one that shake your core and change you irrevocably. My biggest change this year was the passing of my mother. And the holiday’s brings it out even more. I miss her so much. I’ve fought away the sadness and instead will celebrate as we usually do each year. Cooking and baking as we usually do.
Each time I bake or cook one of my mother recipe many things overcome me but there two things that stand out. The first is of course the memories of being in the kitchen with her. For as long back as I can remember I was always underfoot when my mom cooked and I wanted to learn. I remember my first time I baked a cookie on my own I was eight at the time. My mom was shocked when she came home to find the cookie. Did you catch that “cookie” in there? No It’s not a typo. I made a cookie with a recipe that should have made about a batch. Mine was one big fat cookie that covered an entire pan. It was soft and delicious. I remember that my Mom was so proud and barely got a bite before my brother ate it off. LOL. Ahhh…. The memories.
Comfort is the second thing that comes to me. To me cooking and baking gives me time to think. There is nothing like kneading dough to get all your thoughts in order. It is a therapeutic thing. The work brings me comfort and takes me to a place where I can experiment yet get my mind off of things. Hmmm… that bring a whole new meaning to the term “comfort foods”. Each person has that comfort food that no matter what is happening the thought of it brings a smile to your face and tummy. LOL. I used to call my Mom and say “make me a bowl of love”. This was our own little code for her to make a bowl of hot cereal (it’s didn’t matter which one). I call it love because I knew that is how she made it. With love. She used to kid and ask why don’t you make it (since she knew I could cook almost as well as she did). I told her that it doesn’t taste as good. Believe me when I made it for myself it just didn’t taste as sweet. I’m sure you know what I am talking about. Well Mom laughed and made it and she even turned the table on me a few times and asked that I make her a bowl of love. I did it since we are an equal opportunity “bowl of love” household. LOL. From generation to generation cooking has been passed down in my family.
Lately I find myself more and more in the kitchen just thinking. As I think I wondered about how the preparation of food then the cooking of it that is passed down in families. You can have many families preparing the same thing but the way they prepare it is what makes them different and unique. Uniqueness is the dynamic of the family. This led me to questions of families.
What is it about the preparation then the scent of foods made using mama or grandma’s recipes that invokes so much memories, feelings, and comfort? What about it that makes your family unique?
It’s been an interesting few months for me. My computer in October conked out on me. I’ve recently received the new one and still getting familiar with it. The long wait for a new one gave me a lot of time to think and contemplate about everything that happened in this last year.
When I thought about everything I was amazed and saddened how things changed. Not the day to day changes of life but the one that shake your core and change you irrevocably. My biggest change this year was the passing of my mother. And the holiday’s brings it out even more. I miss her so much. I’ve fought away the sadness and instead will celebrate as we usually do each year. Cooking and baking as we usually do.
Each time I bake or cook one of my mother recipe many things overcome me but there two things that stand out. The first is of course the memories of being in the kitchen with her. For as long back as I can remember I was always underfoot when my mom cooked and I wanted to learn. I remember my first time I baked a cookie on my own I was eight at the time. My mom was shocked when she came home to find the cookie. Did you catch that “cookie” in there? No It’s not a typo. I made a cookie with a recipe that should have made about a batch. Mine was one big fat cookie that covered an entire pan. It was soft and delicious. I remember that my Mom was so proud and barely got a bite before my brother ate it off. LOL. Ahhh…. The memories.
Comfort is the second thing that comes to me. To me cooking and baking gives me time to think. There is nothing like kneading dough to get all your thoughts in order. It is a therapeutic thing. The work brings me comfort and takes me to a place where I can experiment yet get my mind off of things. Hmmm… that bring a whole new meaning to the term “comfort foods”. Each person has that comfort food that no matter what is happening the thought of it brings a smile to your face and tummy. LOL. I used to call my Mom and say “make me a bowl of love”. This was our own little code for her to make a bowl of hot cereal (it’s didn’t matter which one). I call it love because I knew that is how she made it. With love. She used to kid and ask why don’t you make it (since she knew I could cook almost as well as she did). I told her that it doesn’t taste as good. Believe me when I made it for myself it just didn’t taste as sweet. I’m sure you know what I am talking about. Well Mom laughed and made it and she even turned the table on me a few times and asked that I make her a bowl of love. I did it since we are an equal opportunity “bowl of love” household. LOL. From generation to generation cooking has been passed down in my family.
Lately I find myself more and more in the kitchen just thinking. As I think I wondered about how the preparation of food then the cooking of it that is passed down in families. You can have many families preparing the same thing but the way they prepare it is what makes them different and unique. Uniqueness is the dynamic of the family. This led me to questions of families.
What is it about the preparation then the scent of foods made using mama or grandma’s recipes that invokes so much memories, feelings, and comfort? What about it that makes your family unique?
Monday, September 12, 2005
McKenna Jeffries List
My chat group McKenna Jeffries List has a lot fun features, exclusive free reads and various things.
On August 1, 2005 I introduced to my chat group The Sloan Family Web Serial. For now (don’t know if I will eventually change this) this will be an exclusive set of interweaving stories that will be posted only to my chat group. You don’t want to miss out so sign up for the group. The group has many chat group only features. Some of the thing in the group are lots of excerpts (some not posted on the site) , exclusive to the chat group features like Between the Pages which is a look inside my novel, exclusive short stories (the first was New Wishes, a Kincaid family story), exclusive Sloan Family Web Serial, chat group contests, and lots of other things. In the upcoming months the group will be even busier with more reads, surprises and in January 2006 the exclusive to the chat group interweaving short stories series called Caramel Notes will start. There will be eight short stories and…. Well it’s a surprise even the chat group members do not know about yet. Sign up for McKenna Jeffries List so you don’t miss out.
On August 1, 2005 I introduced to my chat group The Sloan Family Web Serial. For now (don’t know if I will eventually change this) this will be an exclusive set of interweaving stories that will be posted only to my chat group. You don’t want to miss out so sign up for the group. The group has many chat group only features. Some of the thing in the group are lots of excerpts (some not posted on the site) , exclusive to the chat group features like Between the Pages which is a look inside my novel, exclusive short stories (the first was New Wishes, a Kincaid family story), exclusive Sloan Family Web Serial, chat group contests, and lots of other things. In the upcoming months the group will be even busier with more reads, surprises and in January 2006 the exclusive to the chat group interweaving short stories series called Caramel Notes will start. There will be eight short stories and…. Well it’s a surprise even the chat group members do not know about yet. Sign up for McKenna Jeffries List so you don’t miss out.
Kaitlyn St. James
My alter ego Kaitlyn St. James will also be getting a Web Serial called Dual Prophecy. It is based on the Legend family and is coming in December but before that there will be little tidbits posted on the family and web serial. The first issue of St. James Chronicle my newsletter for my Kaitlyn site will be posted in October 2005. This will have news just on Kaitlyn St. James. It will be posted on the site once a month. Updates will be coming to my site over the next few months so check back. Kaitlyn St. James will also have her very own blog so look out for that. Here is a little about the Dual Prophecy Web Serial.
Introducing the Dual Prophecy web serial featuring the Legend Family written by Kaitlyn St. James – the other pseudonym/pen name I write under.
A Legend is coming
By: Kaitlyn St. James
Copyright © 2005 by Kaitlyn St. James. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Rayne Cove. What you see is more than you can imagine. Rayne Cove, the residents, and especially the Legend family is not as they seem. I hope you enjoy your time spent in our town.
The Legend family have been resident’s of Rayne Cove since it became. Well actually before it came into existence. Since inception Rayne Cove has been called by many names. Names which were lost as time went by until it was settled that the name would be known as Rayne Cove. Originally created as a sanctuary or haven for the Legend family over time it slowly expanded and became more. So much more than anyone expected. Now Rayne Cove is a picturesque town with a close – knit community and many secrets to revel.
The community has always known the Legend family is different. Some even speculate on what they are. The closest term I can think of to describe them is witches. But even that falls short of what they are and what they are destined to do. There is really no accurate description for them. The Legend’s like the town are more than meets the eye.
For More check newsletter and site.
Introducing the Dual Prophecy web serial featuring the Legend Family written by Kaitlyn St. James – the other pseudonym/pen name I write under.
A Legend is coming
By: Kaitlyn St. James
Copyright © 2005 by Kaitlyn St. James. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Rayne Cove. What you see is more than you can imagine. Rayne Cove, the residents, and especially the Legend family is not as they seem. I hope you enjoy your time spent in our town.
The Legend family have been resident’s of Rayne Cove since it became. Well actually before it came into existence. Since inception Rayne Cove has been called by many names. Names which were lost as time went by until it was settled that the name would be known as Rayne Cove. Originally created as a sanctuary or haven for the Legend family over time it slowly expanded and became more. So much more than anyone expected. Now Rayne Cove is a picturesque town with a close – knit community and many secrets to revel.
The community has always known the Legend family is different. Some even speculate on what they are. The closest term I can think of to describe them is witches. But even that falls short of what they are and what they are destined to do. There is really no accurate description for them. The Legend’s like the town are more than meets the eye.
For More check newsletter and site.
Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial
Another thing coming in 2006 to my website is Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial. Jordis Warren is a very complex character and I am going to enjoy exploring her with you. A sneak peak of the first episode will be on the site and it was already posted in the newsletter. I'll included some below.
The Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial is various serialized mystery stories featuring Lieutenant Jordis Warren. An new episode will be posted every month or if Jordis gets to unruly maybe even more often. With the first episode there will be an episode guide for reference so you can know the order of the stories. Enjoy the sneak peek.
False Impressions
A Jordis Warren Mystery
Episode 1
Unedited excerpt
Copyright © 2005 by McKenna Jeffries. All rights reserved.
The aroma was as distinct as it always was. Not many people realized that natural death and death by murder had different smells. Death by murder had a smell that could not be mistaken. A scent that was cloying, rich and robust coating the tongue like molasses except it was so bitter you wanted to cough it up so you could breathe again. The more violent the murder the more pungent the aroma.
With that first step inside newly promoted Lieutenant Jordis Warren knew from the smell knew that the murder that took place at 2982 Alpine Towers would be messy, bloody, and violent. In her eight year on the force - the last four and half in the Special Homicide Unit – she had seen many crime scenes and always thought the same thing. There were always too much people at the scene. This time was no exception. The various personnel required at crime scenes looked paler that usual. Their stiff faces turned to her as she walked deeper into the apartment. The stilted conversations trailed off with her passage across the room.
The unspoken accusations tinged with fear hung heavy in the air. She was fresh off of another particularly nasty case. The six week it had taken her to find and solve the Carver – as the press dubbed it – murders had cost them one of their own. One of their own that had vowed to protect and serve. Ignoring them Lieutenant Jordis Warren gave them her blank face. A look she had perfected over the years to keep all those who judged her at bay. Heading for the hallway that from the layout she had seen before entering the scene led to the back bedroom.
With each step she relived another scene. Another murder that she blamed herself for. A murder she felt she could have prevented if she had been a little quicker in finding the murderer.
For More check newsletter and site.
The Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial is various serialized mystery stories featuring Lieutenant Jordis Warren. An new episode will be posted every month or if Jordis gets to unruly maybe even more often. With the first episode there will be an episode guide for reference so you can know the order of the stories. Enjoy the sneak peek.
False Impressions
A Jordis Warren Mystery
Episode 1
Unedited excerpt
Copyright © 2005 by McKenna Jeffries. All rights reserved.
The aroma was as distinct as it always was. Not many people realized that natural death and death by murder had different smells. Death by murder had a smell that could not be mistaken. A scent that was cloying, rich and robust coating the tongue like molasses except it was so bitter you wanted to cough it up so you could breathe again. The more violent the murder the more pungent the aroma.
With that first step inside newly promoted Lieutenant Jordis Warren knew from the smell knew that the murder that took place at 2982 Alpine Towers would be messy, bloody, and violent. In her eight year on the force - the last four and half in the Special Homicide Unit – she had seen many crime scenes and always thought the same thing. There were always too much people at the scene. This time was no exception. The various personnel required at crime scenes looked paler that usual. Their stiff faces turned to her as she walked deeper into the apartment. The stilted conversations trailed off with her passage across the room.
The unspoken accusations tinged with fear hung heavy in the air. She was fresh off of another particularly nasty case. The six week it had taken her to find and solve the Carver – as the press dubbed it – murders had cost them one of their own. One of their own that had vowed to protect and serve. Ignoring them Lieutenant Jordis Warren gave them her blank face. A look she had perfected over the years to keep all those who judged her at bay. Heading for the hallway that from the layout she had seen before entering the scene led to the back bedroom.
With each step she relived another scene. Another murder that she blamed herself for. A murder she felt she could have prevented if she had been a little quicker in finding the murderer.
For More check newsletter and site.
By Reader’s Design/ Beyond the Book
Another exciting thing coming is two special features. Since January I’ve been posting hints on my Hush, Hush projects. I did plan to start the features in January of this year but due to my mom being ill then passing away I postponed it. It was hard to keep it a secret but I did. Coming in January 2006 By Reader’s Design will start. I can’t wait. For more on what exactly is By Reader’s Design check out the ROM Insights - August Special 2005 Issue and my site (I’m in process of posting more info on this). Before this I have another feature that is starting this month. Beyond the Book is a spin off of an exclusive feature I have in my chat group called Between the Pages which gives an inside look at my novel, excerpts, and such. This wonderful reaction to this made me decided to bring a similar feature to my website so Beyond the Book was born.
Kincaid Family
The Kincaid's are such a wonderful family. When I created the Kincaid’s I didn’t know if I would write all of their stories however with the first story New Wishes (posted exclusively for my chat group only) and the posting of the first part of Just a Little Cyn I received such a flood of emails asking about the rest of the Kincaid’s that I knew that the Kincaid’s was a family that I would continue to write about. When I continued writing Just a Little Cyn (JALC) I tried to fit it into the a short story but couldn’t so it is now a novella and the first chapter will post on September 15, 2005. I’m also running a contest called Use my Name where you can be a part of Just a Little Cyn. After JALC is complete I already know that the next Kincaid 15 will be Cameron Kincaid. Her book will be called Simply Cameron. More details on her story are on my site and in the newsletter.
Muse in hyper drive
Finally I’ve found a blog I’m happy with. I’d decided a few weeks ago to move my journal Essence of a Writer to become a blog so it can be more interactive allowing comments and such. With the move I plan to post more often but have no set times. I will post as the mood strikes me to post. Essence of a Writer is my thoughts and such so what better way to kick it off than letting you know what has been going on with my online things ie. Site, groups and such.
My muse has been in hyper drive and I’m so excited with the announcements I put in my ROM Insights - August Special 2005 Issue. There is so much coming to my site and in the chat group. Here is a rundown of what is happening and coming. I posted each item in a seperate blog since the post was too lenghty as one.
McKenna Jeffries List
Kaitlyn St. James
Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial
By Reader’s Design/ Beyond the Book
Kincaid Family
That all so far that I have for things coming to my site. My next post will let you now what is going on with my various Works in Progress novels.
Back to writing.
My muse has been in hyper drive and I’m so excited with the announcements I put in my ROM Insights - August Special 2005 Issue. There is so much coming to my site and in the chat group. Here is a rundown of what is happening and coming. I posted each item in a seperate blog since the post was too lenghty as one.
McKenna Jeffries List
Kaitlyn St. James
Jordis Warren: A Mystery Web Serial
By Reader’s Design/ Beyond the Book
Kincaid Family
That all so far that I have for things coming to my site. My next post will let you now what is going on with my various Works in Progress novels.
Back to writing.
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