tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333385572024-03-07T19:42:10.809-05:00AllenMadding.COMAllen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03975320122826127770noreply@blogger.comBlogger589125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-4263236832398515132023-11-05T14:00:00.004-05:002023-11-05T14:00:55.597-05:00What's Shaking?<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd2lk9vfIw_ajOU6L67BKfHdByJAwbN-5cxSbQrBysHzQfgnVZ5rQ9wc7Yrji0ioRq0bdiEsNzH3ThF3ZnhNRgprW3g5yCHNIk6-od95J5qcLv-bJ_zmzxb_mTA34F4SKBQ7mFZaskYyEsNyi_mxYrVNhmf-CqX67GAv_i9R9mmRYHEKemVbUOyw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd2lk9vfIw_ajOU6L67BKfHdByJAwbN-5cxSbQrBysHzQfgnVZ5rQ9wc7Yrji0ioRq0bdiEsNzH3ThF3ZnhNRgprW3g5yCHNIk6-od95J5qcLv-bJ_zmzxb_mTA34F4SKBQ7mFZaskYyEsNyi_mxYrVNhmf-CqX67GAv_i9R9mmRYHEKemVbUOyw=w320-h240" title="image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismometer" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismometer</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>Society teaches us to pursue all sorts of things for happiness - BMWs, Mercedes, Ferraris, that bigger house, that infinity swimming pool, that vacation home in the mountains, that Key West home, that new set of TaylorMade golf clubs, that Italian shotgun, those Christian Louboutin red sole shoes, that Giorgio Armani purse. The list goes on and on. But what I have found is all of those things are temporary and the happiness they bring is fleeting. </p><p>This is what Jesus was talking about when He said <i>"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."</i> Matthew 6:19</p><p>Now I'm not saying we can't have nice things, and that we should live in a state of poverty. Not at all. But what I am saying is looking to possessions and money to provide happiness is pointless and temporary. Instead we should be pursuing Jesus as the source of happiness. Because the joy we find in a personal daily relationship with Him is eternal. </p><p>After my second divorce, I chased after temporary happiness in relationships. Again it was temporary and fleeting. A good weekend or a enjoyable evening was quickly over and unsustaining. Why? Because I was trying to fit a relationship with someone into a hole in my life that only a relationship with Jesus could possibly fill. Does this mean we should pursue a dating or marriage relationship? Not at all, but only after we pursue a personal relationship with our creator. Pursue Him with reckless abandon. Read His Word daily, talk to Him, and then listen. Don't just pray before a meal or before you go to bed. Have an ongoing conversation throughout your day. </p><p>God wants to remove the things that are temporary and provide you with the eternal, if we are willing to listen to that still, small, quiet, calm voice of truth that keeps nudging us - that thought that doesn't seem like us that is suggesting doing something good, something contrary to our fleshly pursuits, something that's not quite comfortable, something that when we examine it against His Word aligns with His will. </p><p>I encourage you to listen to that still, calm, quiet voice that calls you out of your comfort zone, that calls you to do good when it isn't easy.</p><p><i>"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.' Now this, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. </i></p><p><i>Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." </i>Hebrews 12:25-29</p><p>When things are shaken up in our lives, consider that maybe He is shaking things to remove the things that are barriers to your relationship with Him, so "...<i>that the things which cannot be shaken may remain."</i></p><p>Blessings,</p><p>Allen</p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-68734215221431242662022-11-29T10:51:00.000-05:002022-11-29T10:51:42.298-05:00Summer of '82<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='574' height='477' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0oawln28nk0Hsww1NgTTZBvZe6WTusw-rdKF7ReiIgilpL8bi7GEkC90HV1DBnbo1ja72vEU0bjM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-46556115575655159502022-11-25T10:54:00.001-05:002022-11-25T10:54:18.133-05:00SUMMER OF '82<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazzX9Dn-xkQmCH-fNjmbsxzmvLmV5-3CrnDpSRdfv2PDqb6vkE4ucYT-HlF6lOBTgu7jelFJi-LOPDYVUDKbSny9U3xYC9mt4M2kpO5Lt6AXgNgxOJPujzYwBi1yL5NkZBK734eHwJKmW9z0gYWHo4w_KI_o4SGOSUWaXvXyGRCFznqaFZDQ/s640/Promo%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazzX9Dn-xkQmCH-fNjmbsxzmvLmV5-3CrnDpSRdfv2PDqb6vkE4ucYT-HlF6lOBTgu7jelFJi-LOPDYVUDKbSny9U3xYC9mt4M2kpO5Lt6AXgNgxOJPujzYwBi1yL5NkZBK734eHwJKmW9z0gYWHo4w_KI_o4SGOSUWaXvXyGRCFznqaFZDQ/s320/Promo%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A coming-of-age YA story that is as hauntingly authentic as it is deeply thought-provoking.<p></p><div><a href="http://summerof82.com">Iearn more</a><br /></div><div><br /></div>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-9185088119969621722022-09-09T09:18:00.002-05:002022-09-09T09:18:20.288-05:00Book Signing - Saturday Sept 10, 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll be signing copies of <a href="http://summerof82.com" target="_blank">Summer of '82</a> at <a href="https://www.bookshelfthomasville.com/" target="_blank">The Book Shelf</a> in Thomasville, GA <br />Saturday, September 10, 2022 from 2pm to 4pm. Stop by!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0iNs5HlE9Tt-srBXBZb5gjtWCCyfslYxSqJQZf7vjAbqEfyZXYAqhNB6o0aVmO7oPOgWqJ6JHPpZOmA14_NLbhAGsD4wx_qO5jaZivyfnOf39-Xsgp0hWdHvj7dTbgk0KU9u5_QUcjuBGhz3iORsAupAgZ739bS6Z1x5ek5poLDrlf5B0xc/s659/booksigning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="381" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0iNs5HlE9Tt-srBXBZb5gjtWCCyfslYxSqJQZf7vjAbqEfyZXYAqhNB6o0aVmO7oPOgWqJ6JHPpZOmA14_NLbhAGsD4wx_qO5jaZivyfnOf39-Xsgp0hWdHvj7dTbgk0KU9u5_QUcjuBGhz3iORsAupAgZ739bS6Z1x5ek5poLDrlf5B0xc/w370-h640/booksigning.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-66134029508714748342022-03-11T11:33:00.000-05:002022-03-11T11:33:00.752-05:00How to do You De-stress?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbWWdimksl_exmJfR-PFeFF79lL-oWTUcZengrA-BjBCU5XRX79TPiVQemwZHIh0f0NMRybhaDvm3LNWwndlA-wSHfg1WPkw2hWo_iZXpaXS3lgrrW1cZXfso1NkS82IMLqzqt6_MGercmQbx5U6Po7iojDWT_JUzaAae8OaI5evw_MY99rug=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbWWdimksl_exmJfR-PFeFF79lL-oWTUcZengrA-BjBCU5XRX79TPiVQemwZHIh0f0NMRybhaDvm3LNWwndlA-wSHfg1WPkw2hWo_iZXpaXS3lgrrW1cZXfso1NkS82IMLqzqt6_MGercmQbx5U6Po7iojDWT_JUzaAae8OaI5evw_MY99rug=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> de-stress</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>/dēˈstres/</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>verb</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>verb: destress</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>relax after a period of work or tension.</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>"others come simply to de-stress and to enjoy the exercise and relaxation classes"</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>- Google Dictionary</b></p><p>There are a great number of recommended de-stress exercises that I have read about or that have been suggested to me over the years. Going to the beach, on a cruise, a long drive, or a weekend in the mountains always works, but their not quickly accessible options all the time. Sometimes you need to be able to take a quick break, regain your composure, re-center, reset your perspective, and return to work.</p><p>When I worked in Roswell, GA several years ago, there was a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop about 3 blocks from my job. When things got hectic and I needed a break, I would walk over, get a cup of coffee, and a hot sugary blessing from God, and then return back to the job.</p><p>When I moved to Saint Pete and began working in Tampa, sometimes it was a short walk over to Starbucks for a flat white. But what really worked even better was to walk all four floors of the parking deck. Not only did it change your attention and focus, it burned off some calories, burned off some adrenalin, and provided 15 minutes or so of reset.</p><p>Since moving back to South Georgia and working from home, I've continued using this method by walking 3-4,000 steps around the neighborhood during my lunch break. It's been very relaxing and gives me time to meditate, think without pressure, pray, and appreciate all of the nature around me.</p><p>Wednesday was one of those days when I really needed the break and it was raining. I didn't let that stop me. A long walk in the rain really settled the anxiousness and frustration.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2P854yM97F3qr7l4KHFlWdGRkVtOieZNCXTewwTWG-SzlmIST8jKWmoSCGnluE6p-B0UL8t-XCw-8-udu_LBZzmItsihu2wqV9-3U_ZsUVjyjd384Mc_eHyiQiYSiIc6qzEpcHbTawL4sjuVE2s43g5qzmxlKMjwbMhtebN_EXQXQKoS-IC4=s2944" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2944" data-original-width="2208" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2P854yM97F3qr7l4KHFlWdGRkVtOieZNCXTewwTWG-SzlmIST8jKWmoSCGnluE6p-B0UL8t-XCw-8-udu_LBZzmItsihu2wqV9-3U_ZsUVjyjd384Mc_eHyiQiYSiIc6qzEpcHbTawL4sjuVE2s43g5qzmxlKMjwbMhtebN_EXQXQKoS-IC4=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stressed? Do yourself a favor. Take a long walk.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-56696499170771517632021-12-11T16:19:00.002-05:002021-12-11T16:19:24.714-05:00The Five Best Books On Writing<p> As I continue to work at improving my skillset as a writer, I continue to read and write on a regular basis. Occasionally someone suggest a book specifically on writing or someone asks me to recommend a book on writing. To date, I have found these five to be the most helpful. They are listed in no specific order.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B000FC0O1I&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_HBFDY1A8VWZE7WYZSNN1&tag=freetechanswe-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="322" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLhcgSVUN_cxbpkNICsWnkNMrKB2jsauBYIQCV6ysD2TumbP6M2OnntLOEQ0VeA46Ai_VHCAZIlVapzADEWiMdHXm0HEiyZTHFIU9NYV2ivZN95ZhMw7r1_sQu7M0CeO0tTuzIg/w258-h400/image.png" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B000FC0O1I&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_HBFDY1A8VWZE7WYZSNN1&tag=freetechanswe-20" target="_blank">Ernest Hemmingway on Writing </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hemmingway always said it was bad luck to talk about writing, but numerous time throughout his life, he tossed out some pretty sound advice. Phillips assembles the gems into one cover and a brief 140 pages. I may be a little bias, but you can't go wrong with writing advise from a master.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6T_kuULueeJulFLp2k7o1qdcIlYSFnm621QcxfuWduaKEdxf94ecAByqNV00urXY3ITG_4Dj0DpmcgG3oFgK1Q72PoqDFg96_TKMahGGCsTK4EvS_2D0sleerRnHUGyHwxLGFg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6T_kuULueeJulFLp2k7o1qdcIlYSFnm621QcxfuWduaKEdxf94ecAByqNV00urXY3ITG_4Dj0DpmcgG3oFgK1Q72PoqDFg96_TKMahGGCsTK4EvS_2D0sleerRnHUGyHwxLGFg/w252-h400/image.png" width="252" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00PBB5IFU&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_PQKJ49RHXNGQQRDKM0RT&tag=freetechanswe-20" target="_blank">On Being a Writer by Kroeker & Craig</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On Being a Writer provides 12 simple habits to develop and maintain a writing career. Though some may seem simple and obvious, they provide good suggestions that can benefit every writer new, established, young, and old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07TL118LX&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_KW0HH5Q5TXCWDCE5YFZF&tag=freetechanswe-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="338" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpN1SVUMyb_dwrUUjpey5zW-D0dUChvgjFkDFBMeO6XLDyXOEJseZhnWAilvAjE526wR4CYAP6k0maoV9kKuT-kRqb80VqvJFy82iJ8cmetFYkqlqrrWfoRyIw1Y0rQStGYJryw/w272-h400/image.png" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07TL118LX&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_KW0HH5Q5TXCWDCE5YFZF&tag=freetechanswe-20" target="_blank">Storyville: An illustrated Guide to Writing Fiction by John Dufresne</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Storyville gets into to nuts and bolts of good fiction - developing plot, characters, scene, summary, backstory, drafts, revisions. I highly recommend this book to anyone setting out to write fiction or already engaged in this daunting task. This is a book a fiction writer will go back and re-read from time to time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07B9MB32X&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_Z4X8NRNE45XDMW5KSB6K&tag=freetechanswe-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-jgMi0rB6asLiDAWKtZPi8NY0lftIEwrJaxWGWvZFTAF1eYR9G5b_I9qa-2O6RAQODZtdiin7JwK5vQ5NGQkXnc25UJ31HNcoO6SKYM0iMieogFGFCDy0k3KXdw07fnwt8keYg/w267-h400/image.png" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07B9MB32X&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_Z4X8NRNE45XDMW5KSB6K&tag=freetechanswe-20" target="_blank">The Business of Being a Writer by Jane Friedman</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you don't know who Jane Friedman is, as an writer, you owe it to yourself to find out. In this book, she introduces the reader to the publishing industry (Trade, Magazine, Online/Digital, and Literary publishing), how to get published, literary agents, publishers, query letters, book proposals, self-publishing, freelance writing, blogging, author platforms, book launches, and more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friedman's knowledge of the industry is evident through out the book, and she provides sound advise and how to information from cover to cover. Additionally, she provides a wealth of resources on her website to aid writers. This book is an invaluable resource that I personally return to regularly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B000FC0SIM&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_5QJFKH27XQDD5E68EEPA&tag=freetechanswe-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ-whW7DU2RAKKn6Pp9Z-GHhMuOAV-s6LV4wXBOjRJL7A8OFBA94P2BLJpiPgXPFTCFZDZ1vEM8jc4rF7_Tu0880U5IJq7cXrDQUPq4kz0dAasSfYJROnJZNwlveTi8TsvNe07w/w262-h400/image.png" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B000FC0SIM&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_5QJFKH27XQDD5E68EEPA&tag=freetechanswe-20" target="_blank">On Writing by Stephen King</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I received this book as a birthday gift and immediately dug into it. At first, I was a bit put off as it seemed like it was simply King's memoir. But halfway through, he switched gears and began to pour out sage advice for writers - especially fiction writers. As I said in reference to the Hemmingway book, you can't go wrong with writing advice from a master, and there is no denying King is a master of fiction. The final sections of the book provide samplings of his edit process which are quite insightful and substantiate a point he and Hemmingway both make: first draft- brain dump, get it on paper, then second draft- clean it up. I found this book both helpful and encouraging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-42257818312286108912021-06-27T12:06:00.003-05:002021-06-27T12:06:55.934-05:00The Beanee-Weenee Economic Index<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacgyQnL2cr_mrfF4WrXAZIWWfg4fRcUFKy9m5E7XFZNxt8jFVe775d0YmQe4jC8RjG7yFqyP9ML0nkKZSrjmRYJT6QtJvYdpgGzYqSNclj0QmBQgJ5dPugS5_DvWhhkz6u-83NA/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacgyQnL2cr_mrfF4WrXAZIWWfg4fRcUFKy9m5E7XFZNxt8jFVe775d0YmQe4jC8RjG7yFqyP9ML0nkKZSrjmRYJT6QtJvYdpgGzYqSNclj0QmBQgJ5dPugS5_DvWhhkz6u-83NA/w240-h241/image.png" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: Amazon.com<br /><br />For years there have been many economic indexes utilized as an indicator of the strength or weakness of the current economy. One index that was widely publicized for sometime was the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hot-waitress-economic-indicator.asp" target="_blank">Hot Waitress Economic Index</a> which asserted that the higher the number of hot looking servers in a food establishment, the weaker the current state of the economy. This indicator relied on the assumption that physically attractive individuals do not have any problem securing a high paying occupation during economic upturns, and that during times of economic downturns, physically attractive job hunter were forced to work as waitstaff. This index was unsubstantiated due to several other factors that were not properly taken into consideration.<br /><br />Another index is known as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/magazine/adam-davidson-economic-indicators.html?_r=0" target="_blank">Lipstick vs Nail Polish</a>. The theory behind this index is that women splurge on cheaper luxuries when the economy is weak and money is tight. If gas is $3 a gallon, the budget has to be rearranged. While this index seemed plausible from 2008-2011 while the majority of sale of goods was flat, nail polish soared by 65%, by 2013 nail polish sales began to fall off with the rest of the overall market.<br /><br />One index relied on by former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Alan Greenspan was the sale of non-luxury items, in particular the sale of men's underwear. His theory was since the sale of men's underwear remains typically flat as men typically only purchase underwear when the need it, not based on fashion trends, any drop in the sale of men's underwear indicated a reduction on discretionary spending and therefor an indicator of a weak or struggling economy.<br /><br />Having been a quiet observer of general trends in consumer goods for over 50 years, I humbly submit my own theorem that I call the Beanee-Weenee Economic Index (BEWEIDX). The theory is quite simple. Open a can of Beanee-Weenees and note the ratio of beans to weenies. The more beans and less weenies indicates a higher cost of meat and a weaker economy. The more weenies, the stronger the economy. <br /><br />I submit the validity of this BEWEIDX with supporting commentary. The late Dale Earnhardt once noted that underfunded racers "Gotta eat beans, wear jeans, and work all night."<br /><br />Further, the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/consumerpriceindex.asp" target="_blank">Consumer Price Index (CPI)</a> is one of the most frequently used statistics for identifying periods of inflation or deflation and is directly associated with the cost of living. CPI is calculated by comparing the price of consumer goods like transportation, food, and medical care. Additionally, the<a href="http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/meat/en/" target="_blank"> Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations </a>(FAO) monitors the Meat Price Index. While the <a href="https://fredhelp.stlouisfed.org/fred/about/about-fred/what-is-fred/">Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)</a> specifically monitors over <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/tags/series?t=meat#" target="_blank">25 different points of data related to the price and consumption of different meats</a>. <br /><br />With this amount of supporting data, I submit to you, the Beenee-Weenee Economic Index (BEWEIDX) as a valid and ongoing indicator of the state of the economy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-38206273490817110872021-05-28T12:21:00.002-05:002021-05-28T12:21:10.031-05:00Drinking the Kool-aid<p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi8_gSZR7ksSYhS8hORd9BldMl1Q23EPoc8B2i6ItVg9YitF9f09nyo-p7dzwssHE4NdY-ojDXjW_Y9NpqXd8_IhgfmIuptTY7dPTiHDOCMzqtCW1_-4asfw0o9VTCYVhtKH4bQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="500" data-original-width="428" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi8_gSZR7ksSYhS8hORd9BldMl1Q23EPoc8B2i6ItVg9YitF9f09nyo-p7dzwssHE4NdY-ojDXjW_Y9NpqXd8_IhgfmIuptTY7dPTiHDOCMzqtCW1_-4asfw0o9VTCYVhtKH4bQ/w342-h400/image.png" title="photo credit: https://cookingwithkoolaid.wordpress.com/" width="342" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: https://cookingwithkoolaid.wordpress.com/</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>"Drinking the Kool-aid" is a phrase that gets used regularly in today's society. If you are under 40 years old, you probably have no clue where it originated. Back in the 1970s, there was a "minister" by the name of Rev. Jim Jones. Jones had served as student pastor at Sommerset Southside Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1952, but parted ways with the church over racial integration issues. In 1954, he rented some space in Indianapolis and launched his own church, Community Unity Church. By 1956, he and had garnered enough funds to purchase his own building naming it Wings of Deliverance and then the Peoples Temple Full Gospel Church. In 1959, they joined the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and renamed itself as the Peoples Temple Christian Church Full Gospel. </p><p> Jones spread a message of racial equality while mixing elements of Christianity, socialism, and progressive idealism that appealed to the masses. In 1961, he announced he had a vision that revealed to him the cities of Indianapolis and Chicago were destroyed in a nuclear attack and began the process of searching for a new location for his church. Jones spent two years traveling in Brazil investigating possible locations before returning to Indianapolis in 1963.</p><p>In 1965, Jones began predicting a nuclear holocaust would occur on July 15, 1967 and proclaimed the surviving elect would create a new "socialist Eden on earth". Jones and approximately 140 faithful followers moved the ministry to California's Redwood Valley in July 1965. He opened facilities in San Francisco in 1971 and Los Angeles in 1972 where the combined congregation swelled to over 5,000 members. </p><p>As they gained in popularity, Jones and the Peoples Temple became the target of numerous media investigations for "suspicious activities". In 1972, both the San Francisco Examiner and the Indianapolis Star ran the first of an expose series on Jones and the Temple written by Lester Kinsolving. </p><p>After the defection of one the church's leader, Joyce Shaw and soon after the mysterious death of her husband, Bob Houston, the local police began to become suspicious of the actions of Jones and the Temple. While Jones had made strong political allies with San Fransico's Mayor George Moscone, as well as Governor Jerry Brown, Mervyn Dymally, Willie Brown, Art Agnos, Harvey Milk, Walter Mondale, first lady Rosalynn Carter, San Francisco Sun Reporter's publisher Carlton Goodlett, and San Francisco Chronicle's columnist Herb Caen, media scrutiny continued to heighten. </p><p>Seeking to rid himself of the media and police scrutiny, in 1974 Jones led the church to lease land in Guyana, the remote country east of Venezuela. In Guyana, the group created the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project which became informally known as "Jonestown." Jones moved to Guyana in 1977 following several unfavorable newspaper articles listing numerous allegations against Jones and the Temple. </p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeZoRIPlIyZ3T9ZcPSzCSITHpBzTJE4c-bQA1xaatqw6DvIYfwCJ6Vm0WghJPs2ezwpwZGsohqJ2lHDNykmXmMM3cHEzqN_6BA-35NELoPImeeOW773dCwMUO2MQtVe_fMRE9OQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeZoRIPlIyZ3T9ZcPSzCSITHpBzTJE4c-bQA1xaatqw6DvIYfwCJ6Vm0WghJPs2ezwpwZGsohqJ2lHDNykmXmMM3cHEzqN_6BA-35NELoPImeeOW773dCwMUO2MQtVe_fMRE9OQ/w400-h266/image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: People.com<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />By 1978, Jonestown had a population of over 900. On November 17, 1978, United States Congressman, Leo Ryan accompanied by three reporters, visited Jonestown to investigate claims of abuse within the Temple. Upon the conclusion of his trip, several Temple members requested to leave with the congressman. Temple security guards met the group at the local airstrip at Port Kaituma, where they opened fire on group, killing the congressman, the three reports, and one of the "defectors". Bob Brown, a NBC cameraman and one of the journalists killed in the attack managed to record several seconds of the gunfire. Following the killing, Jones ordered a mass suicide of the inhabitants of Jonestown - women and children first. His chosen method for the suicide: cyanide-laced, grape-flavored kool-aid. </p><p><br /></p><p>All told 918 people, including 276 children <b><i>"drank the kool-aid"</i></b> and died that evening.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;">Sources:</h3><ul style="background-color: white; list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/common/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/jonestown-13-things-you-should-know-about-cult-massacre-121974/">Jonestown: 13 Things You Should Know About Cult Massacre - Rolling Stone Magazine</a></span></span></li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown:_Paradise_Lost" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">Jonestown: Paradise Lost</a></i>, a 2007 documentary broadcast on The History Channel</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown:_The_Life_and_Death_of_Peoples_Temple" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple">Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple</a></i>, a 2006 documentary film</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana:_Cult_of_the_Damned" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Guyana: Cult of the Damned">Guyana: Cult of the Damned</a></i>, a 1979 exploitation film based on the Jonestown tragedy</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana_Tragedy:_The_Story_of_Jim_Jones" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones">Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones</a></i>, a 1980 television movie based on the life of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seconds_From_Disaster" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Seconds From Disaster">Seconds From Disaster</a></i>, a documentary television series that covered the events at Jonestown in Season 6, Episode 2 ("Jonestown Cult Suicide")</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sacrament_(2013_film)" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="The Sacrament (2013 film)"><i>The Sacrament</i> (2013 film)</a>, a thriller whose plot borrows heavily from the events of Jonestown</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Congress_members_killed_or_wounded_in_office" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="List of United States Congress members killed or wounded in office">List of United States Congress members killed or wounded in office</a></li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown_conspiracy_theories" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jonestown conspiracy theories">Jonestown conspiracy theory</a></li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casefile_True_Crime_Podcast" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Casefile True Crime Podcast">Casefile True Crime Podcast</a></i> – "Case 60" – three-part series aired in September 2017</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Podcast_on_the_Left" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="The Last Podcast on the Left">The Last Podcast on the Left</a></i> – Episodes 300–304 – a five-part series aired in January 2018</li><li style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><i><a class="external text" href="https://vimeo.com/373653092" rel="nofollow" style="background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/common/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?48e54") right center no-repeat; color: #3366bb; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">605 Adults 304 Children</a></i>, a 2019 short documentary filmed entirely by the Peoples Temple at Jonestown</li></ul><ul style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/common/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_group)" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Heaven's Gate (religious group)">Heaven's Gate (religious group)</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="">San Diego</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="California">California</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Solar_Temple" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Order of the Solar Temple">Order of the Solar Temple</a> in Canada and Switzerland</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_for_the_Restoration_of_the_Ten_Commandments_of_God" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="San Diego">Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God</a> in Uganda</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puputan" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Puputan">Puputan</a>, mass ritual suicide in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Bali">Bali</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Guyana" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Suicide in Guyana">Suicide in Guyana</a></li></ul><p><br /></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-32947000209925041332021-05-12T09:17:00.005-05:002021-05-12T13:53:55.713-05:00Jobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl2V4XshrrvUaQpcFrL_k0IX8hZdXKcJ8TNoZ5lp0QfUSSKU0BeDM48axApAvTpREMOK05ujJHcCihduhTFQw_fCsdl0JM74g61b1LFl1sHc-xG27MS3ns7PwLRH5FqB9XxDD1g/s595/kissclipart-jobs-png-clipart-job-clip-art-b1f09ccd2a19c71c.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxl2V4XshrrvUaQpcFrL_k0IX8hZdXKcJ8TNoZ5lp0QfUSSKU0BeDM48axApAvTpREMOK05ujJHcCihduhTFQw_fCsdl0JM74g61b1LFl1sHc-xG27MS3ns7PwLRH5FqB9XxDD1g/s320/kissclipart-jobs-png-clipart-job-clip-art-b1f09ccd2a19c71c.png" /></a></div><br /><p> Over a recent dinner with friends, the comment was made that they believed there wasn't a job I hadn't held at some point in my life. I laughed, but honestly there are several jobs I haven't held. I never worked in fast food. Not because I didn't want to, but the owners of the local Dairy Queen when I was in high school wasn't too keen on my reluctance to work on Sundays and wouldn't hire me. But there have been a myriad of jobs I have worked over the years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7lJAluMvb6mc766BLTKEsu2RkxMdwDGf5kZM6gP9gTcxlIRP-MZ-6GyqVHR-VCUvLpcztbvWKAcB9JJjVHcjzH9XVf9L02cU3YyFYtqf0O7diuXqI_9lx5g6h6u6iEvLKh-wgg/s600/ffl1258a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7lJAluMvb6mc766BLTKEsu2RkxMdwDGf5kZM6gP9gTcxlIRP-MZ-6GyqVHR-VCUvLpcztbvWKAcB9JJjVHcjzH9XVf9L02cU3YyFYtqf0O7diuXqI_9lx5g6h6u6iEvLKh-wgg/w400-h259/ffl1258a.jpg" title="photo courtesy: http://www.floridamemory.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit:www.floridamemory.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The first I recall was riding my bike to the local Suwannee Swifty convenience store (which no longer exists) before school every morning and sweeping the parking lot. I think I made $5 a day for it. I worked that job until one morning I finished up, walked to the counter to collect my agreed wages, and the manager looked at me with a smirk and said "Doesn't look too good to me." He pointed out the front window as a big wind whipped up blowing dirt and leaves across the parking lot. He had stood behind the counter watching me sweep the parking lot, but this particular morning for whatever reason had decided to stiff a middle school kid just trying to make a few bucks. I quit on the spot and went to school.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhM5weaWgEWhkL3t482YgFN8Al5ieFT0EA-f2VfIXQQ2ybSK1ZYbjSnMfY7ICk5mTbFTPkBgMh4pzmldcJVRKZz-BOhR7fySNxuKUohUp_jsy6A8rTv8BWjB5nhVrtjwwnR_7YA/s872/WatersLab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="872" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhM5weaWgEWhkL3t482YgFN8Al5ieFT0EA-f2VfIXQQ2ybSK1ZYbjSnMfY7ICk5mTbFTPkBgMh4pzmldcJVRKZz-BOhR7fySNxuKUohUp_jsy6A8rTv8BWjB5nhVrtjwwnR_7YA/w400-h231/WatersLab.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon after I got a brief seasonal job picking peanuts off of vines for testing at Waters Agricultural Laboratories. It was a bit of a hike out Newton Hwy on my bike, but it wasn't too bad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzgLOfpiha0KMKzG32KNeGCjV3O_EXzO2SSZRX1bkwcHsJgIF5kH_9ubWXINwhKPcV4j4pIE3aFkuqldb6GDchkkWTiPhAPXETMQ54xgeG93gCARhY37aGSqZljHPKBYWdeJL9g/s535/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzgLOfpiha0KMKzG32KNeGCjV3O_EXzO2SSZRX1bkwcHsJgIF5kH_9ubWXINwhKPcV4j4pIE3aFkuqldb6GDchkkWTiPhAPXETMQ54xgeG93gCARhY37aGSqZljHPKBYWdeJL9g/s320/Untitled-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For a while in Junior High School, I worked concessions at school basketball games.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mVuAhzOpGvIDfLd6YhkgBpN1s3WDpnCE-5NS3R1ZaU9m6nkYpofo06K5OEUCU08-ZABooYyEMpufFqNwZE0CIMcTDMiHxaM6wsCi97ntsiWLn7ji4TrSpZHbHXnhoU7_6ZrJ7Q/s796/bucket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="635" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mVuAhzOpGvIDfLd6YhkgBpN1s3WDpnCE-5NS3R1ZaU9m6nkYpofo06K5OEUCU08-ZABooYyEMpufFqNwZE0CIMcTDMiHxaM6wsCi97ntsiWLn7ji4TrSpZHbHXnhoU7_6ZrJ7Q/s320/bucket.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple years later, I snagged a job washing and servicing the trucks for my Dad's construction firm. I washed two 4 door one ton dually pickups with enclosed service bodies, and a Chevrolet C65 medium duty truck as well as changing the oil and filter and greasing all the grease fittings under each truck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeUmkoAhXGc-B4kys4HRmIRWnyud_5EI-hU4ZvcnIeUhXzY3DSxoEE-0M-zlWKG7oGx_eEPDkNMzE4xU6ZtTLK0x3JSROfpnnoaTqsKDd6sSyyJevpZhCvRrngaUvNczx7QYtMw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="910" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeUmkoAhXGc-B4kys4HRmIRWnyud_5EI-hU4ZvcnIeUhXzY3DSxoEE-0M-zlWKG7oGx_eEPDkNMzE4xU6ZtTLK0x3JSROfpnnoaTqsKDd6sSyyJevpZhCvRrngaUvNczx7QYtMw/w400-h266/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My tenth grade year of high school I began driving and I took a job at our local airport mowing along the runway and taxi strips, fueling customers airplanes, and manning the UNICOM radio universal communications used at airports with a low volume of general aviation traffic and where no control tower is active. Yup, I was looking out the window at the air sock and telling pilots which end of the runway to utilize for landing or taking off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8FpxoGzhXkZiux-FEzDUM8bPkgZY9KmmpzA6tro-JNOLp8kxFrHDVcs1-cFuUJipXdsVfXV20JsVE3VqEGkFTr8B5znpgHk3swKj_zoXmcx8nTU2jBVa5YDsuEWEXLcEtCzC8Q/s1024/galaga.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1024" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8FpxoGzhXkZiux-FEzDUM8bPkgZY9KmmpzA6tro-JNOLp8kxFrHDVcs1-cFuUJipXdsVfXV20JsVE3VqEGkFTr8B5znpgHk3swKj_zoXmcx8nTU2jBVa5YDsuEWEXLcEtCzC8Q/w400-h274/galaga.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="text-align: center;">Around my junior year in High School, I landed a job managing a game room. Papa's Palace had pool tables, Asteroids, Galaga, and all the cool video games of the 1980s. I worked every day after school and weekends.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbOqLpw4d86yDxv0Bm2xxAfiptTmaBasEvflsxgki8n_6dWBv_QjXVXRl8dlzS-BnuNM7KqUuCQCpA2lpOR12on80xTqYBbT2uZa8qL39v-VnYv2tSyNG5lAdXJy_gWvB-Hbm5A/s610/ClipartKey_1184210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbOqLpw4d86yDxv0Bm2xxAfiptTmaBasEvflsxgki8n_6dWBv_QjXVXRl8dlzS-BnuNM7KqUuCQCpA2lpOR12on80xTqYBbT2uZa8qL39v-VnYv2tSyNG5lAdXJy_gWvB-Hbm5A/s320/ClipartKey_1184210.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I the got hired as a DJ at Big Woof Radio 105.5 - an amazing 5,000 watt FM station you could only pickup if you were in the county limits. I worked a lot of Saturday nights until sign off and then right back for sign on early Sunday mornings. Ownership changes/management changes quickly had all the high school DJs hours getting cut. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUg8hqytLwytE32OHUgRTdMXVve-f01kPeh7mAD7lyG3D6GAcLEdMApkzBk1Hc4NQQl3ErGX1CjHUYdRSORV3XPDCgkO2jwQtdVsA0emfBdfKTf-31wcZcQQSBJal1AGD0vg1Og/s1337/Untitled-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUg8hqytLwytE32OHUgRTdMXVve-f01kPeh7mAD7lyG3D6GAcLEdMApkzBk1Hc4NQQl3ErGX1CjHUYdRSORV3XPDCgkO2jwQtdVsA0emfBdfKTf-31wcZcQQSBJal1AGD0vg1Og/s320/Untitled-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One day while bemoaning the lack of hours and shrinking paycheck, my granddad offered me a job working with him performing general carpentry and roofing. So I spent the summer of my Senior year painting houses and roofing. By the time I left for college, had the best tan and thickest knees around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEPrsIExKS4-k4R1zHcksl3y9jRtbKjjs130z3-sGBKCbnAqCZKBzdp5q7RNZcJ8cVVpC-bo4sU_MzvgMPYzOTmqNMbamxwqBQIcBBDDJ4o8Kf-OwesvCFanYVJbIBsyRBOJovQ/s800/Untitled-3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="800" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheEPrsIExKS4-k4R1zHcksl3y9jRtbKjjs130z3-sGBKCbnAqCZKBzdp5q7RNZcJ8cVVpC-bo4sU_MzvgMPYzOTmqNMbamxwqBQIcBBDDJ4o8Kf-OwesvCFanYVJbIBsyRBOJovQ/w400-h283/Untitled-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credit: www.vintage-computer.com</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Upon completing college (barely), I began my career in computer programming (BASIC, Cobol, CICS) and then progressed into computer repair and technical support. I've worked for several companies large and small and even owned my own computer network consulting firm and computer store. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga_rR_54PWCk8gYdiYaFrXjC5SojJC47LEnEF3KmcaYeDiPxQCKAXSsG-AGn_RfeyR_28mWmvvl1f9THjL8JknEZc4DrMyQb22ud0PgeIMrEeXR3qM_-4GyDZHi1h0ExJz-9j9w/s397/139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga_rR_54PWCk8gYdiYaFrXjC5SojJC47LEnEF3KmcaYeDiPxQCKAXSsG-AGn_RfeyR_28mWmvvl1f9THjL8JknEZc4DrMyQb22ud0PgeIMrEeXR3qM_-4GyDZHi1h0ExJz-9j9w/s320/139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><div>I served as a volunteer firefighter/NREMT-I around 10 years, and...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHxZNbTyvd7vqx3nuhjIhxOBpkimiY2f2fH_7jUyLfKkECmKmp7lX-aSuSf9QMGGX897DbbNkdre8IhCT8zKRdb6iyBnfC6EuZYl58Mbu9Nx34CWDNQIUatSYfe8EGrsQ5sX9sQ/s446/us13.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHxZNbTyvd7vqx3nuhjIhxOBpkimiY2f2fH_7jUyLfKkECmKmp7lX-aSuSf9QMGGX897DbbNkdre8IhCT8zKRdb6iyBnfC6EuZYl58Mbu9Nx34CWDNQIUatSYfe8EGrsQ5sX9sQ/s320/us13.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QuZxTX0HR4ZsDzGnaMP8al8NFzZL2eckNlurCnEbvfH1mLHkGIFUql9IjpvAwFJgGBVRoUA8IFFlqYsKvacMi6ihNY2U74sJ1bG907Yt5yQMGb4OL9sFxMqlTd1F9vcMy0NGqQ/s584/cordele97.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QuZxTX0HR4ZsDzGnaMP8al8NFzZL2eckNlurCnEbvfH1mLHkGIFUql9IjpvAwFJgGBVRoUA8IFFlqYsKvacMi6ihNY2U74sJ1bG907Yt5yQMGb4OL9sFxMqlTd1F9vcMy0NGqQ/s320/cordele97.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cebixm3s0KLT163o3Lf4fy5R3ZZNGFEiNAffq9DmCnh7l03zHskrBVNWC2I878GKR7zVLWBGBjwlTYk2EeL_Ywl26h8fCJDHiR_vdfg0PPWTPIEKFTu0sN7_HXfuf1ZOzd6r_Q/s381/al31_042002.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cebixm3s0KLT163o3Lf4fy5R3ZZNGFEiNAffq9DmCnh7l03zHskrBVNWC2I878GKR7zVLWBGBjwlTYk2EeL_Ywl26h8fCJDHiR_vdfg0PPWTPIEKFTu0sN7_HXfuf1ZOzd6r_Q/s320/al31_042002.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I raced dirt and asphalt short track cars for 10 years.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRRtTGG1BjQsjRFH2a4BfExQvi0ZUb5_rpk8ssW9isOFs0UvZYOK2IUhsonhzOnM3Du97UqHP2t4AYULKckfubpAEqmNoaDvzCK3kLvlueUEJf8q-FJI_K_nDu3S-GgOgZlKyEA/s1030/habitat-for-humanity-logo-1030x1030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRRtTGG1BjQsjRFH2a4BfExQvi0ZUb5_rpk8ssW9isOFs0UvZYOK2IUhsonhzOnM3Du97UqHP2t4AYULKckfubpAEqmNoaDvzCK3kLvlueUEJf8q-FJI_K_nDu3S-GgOgZlKyEA/s320/habitat-for-humanity-logo-1030x1030.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIws5m2Olen4nhqulJl0lx1LUTq2DKWCOZOU4e38VukMmDzG8Rs7oVMbe0KN9fp-Ozid2pvSMs2DLXZeK-Ff49VR8ipf_I5kc0lEx-ZSvFMBqRG-nv9Ee5PPDPfZeyeEU_cT0lw/s180/Untitled-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="166" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIws5m2Olen4nhqulJl0lx1LUTq2DKWCOZOU4e38VukMmDzG8Rs7oVMbe0KN9fp-Ozid2pvSMs2DLXZeK-Ff49VR8ipf_I5kc0lEx-ZSvFMBqRG-nv9Ee5PPDPfZeyeEU_cT0lw/w369-h400/Untitled-4.jpg" width="369" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKhBgy3zjcfjcip3wUKkpvRFGdPlmd9Wtw5QPzjK-W9pYCh7JiLWxn0eSpAnwRYTtY_Y69zFomEoFN9uHSkTAInfAutdWohJafJ2O4JHWlPrIC8pVfAHFgu3Ci8VlWgYmawjqnA/s1024/IMG_3564-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="683" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKhBgy3zjcfjcip3wUKkpvRFGdPlmd9Wtw5QPzjK-W9pYCh7JiLWxn0eSpAnwRYTtY_Y69zFomEoFN9uHSkTAInfAutdWohJafJ2O4JHWlPrIC8pVfAHFgu3Ci8VlWgYmawjqnA/s320/IMG_3564-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fYNfhCZGQWzFaK0mLh03HejtmfL6ZPhanfdwOwqIhh3pdmnsZcZ-IVs7wm3KZJLPoTH63Lj-TbzIbVkHjoxIQXW_PhW9u17tMzLbEza8L2WSG0GPwWZTpX0mYSfXbyb0ch_1sA/s999/ABCDMAY012011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fYNfhCZGQWzFaK0mLh03HejtmfL6ZPhanfdwOwqIhh3pdmnsZcZ-IVs7wm3KZJLPoTH63Lj-TbzIbVkHjoxIQXW_PhW9u17tMzLbEza8L2WSG0GPwWZTpX0mYSfXbyb0ch_1sA/s320/ABCDMAY012011.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have volunteered with Kairos Prison Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, Feed Saint Pete, in church parking lots, operated a nonprofit - Feed the Hungry Forsyth delivering food to food pantries, and been on mission trips to Appalachia and Venezuela. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThoflymR_wxW5yH7xAbWWoPGVqmkNXuBqACiRBC_uRKzhT-0vd5CN0j94plYIuYN16L92TgEt-ddoK2Cnlyso5B0JGasqEQlKbxlsUleD62Td4cC3qrIRcBLv4vSpYz0tGaIlSg/s1600/Untitled-5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThoflymR_wxW5yH7xAbWWoPGVqmkNXuBqACiRBC_uRKzhT-0vd5CN0j94plYIuYN16L92TgEt-ddoK2Cnlyso5B0JGasqEQlKbxlsUleD62Td4cC3qrIRcBLv4vSpYz0tGaIlSg/w400-h266/Untitled-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credit: HTTP://CENTRUM.ORG/PROGRAMS/WRITING/<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I covered NASCAR racing as a sportswriter for SpeedwayMedia and InsiderRacingNews, and now spend my time writing fiction (<a href="http://www.allenmadding.com/p/books-by-allen-madding.html">http://www.allenmadding.com/p/books-by-allen-madding.html</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Safe to say, while I have held a lot of different jobs (paid and volunteer), there are plenty of jobs that I haven't held. But it's been an interesting ride, and I have learned something from each opportunity.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div></div>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-2738031428070198482021-04-17T23:00:00.001-05:002021-04-17T23:00:00.176-05:00Giveaway<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIRB82VcwF71BdX7aY_Ig7fmV-mCOpIHcjui-rT4yd7ypEHKNDjVQWFTTfo6AKv54xLnLXZbyMZfA6zZFx_czxUZlPCbv58WRzxnrerocTx93CvoeFDVhwKhFwsaryJwUjKDKdw/s600/promo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIRB82VcwF71BdX7aY_Ig7fmV-mCOpIHcjui-rT4yd7ypEHKNDjVQWFTTfo6AKv54xLnLXZbyMZfA6zZFx_czxUZlPCbv58WRzxnrerocTx93CvoeFDVhwKhFwsaryJwUjKDKdw/s320/promo+4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am giving away three paperback copies of my new book Lendercide!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can enter the giveaway for your chance to win one of the copies starting on April 18, 2021 at <b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/322899-lendercide" target="_blank">GoodReads.com </a></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This giveaway ends April 30, 2021. Enter TODAY!!</div><br /><p></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-86751769656219322922021-04-13T10:59:00.003-05:002021-04-13T10:59:36.135-05:00You Are Cordially Invited!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-11y-Yi3mGx5W9ZmrZZuhPIywiZbSv8g5H_Y45SBNudCeVgroNISQtwwBfP4VIRYiErNEH534G4A1dDShyphenhyphen_VvO9DTsts_qOfUnsfOCfNHutzFvkexQs2IMXBmGC_7BiBSyLudg/s800/promo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="557" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-11y-Yi3mGx5W9ZmrZZuhPIywiZbSv8g5H_Y45SBNudCeVgroNISQtwwBfP4VIRYiErNEH534G4A1dDShyphenhyphen_VvO9DTsts_qOfUnsfOCfNHutzFvkexQs2IMXBmGC_7BiBSyLudg/s320/promo+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h1 style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 39.06px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px;">Lendercide Launch</h1><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Hey Y'all,</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">I’ve got some pretty exciting news: It’s almost time for my next book to be released! It’s called <em>Lendercide</em>, and it releases on June 1, 2021. <strong>My publisher, Charm House Publishing, and I want to invite you to join the launch team!</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Lendercide - "<em>Some Women Shouldn't Be Crossed"</em></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Colleen Smithwick is a loan processor at Sunshine City Bank in Saint Petersburg, Florida suffering myopic and tyrannical loan officers while grinding through unreasonable deadlines, when suddenly one by one loan officers are being found murdered.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Gary Black, an attractive young City of Saint Petersburg Police detective is working tirelessly to find the killer before they murder again. He will have to unravel murder, mystery, and romance to get to the bottom of this case if he ever hopes to nab the killer. Will he catch the killer or will he somehow become involved?</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">The <em>Lendercide Launch Team </em>will be a fun and personalized group with only so many spots available, so apply now. Details are listed below:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><strong>WHAT YOU WILL GET:</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span>A chance to read the book before anyone else does. All eligible team members will receive an Advanced Reader digital copy of the book.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span>Access to the <strong>private Facebook group</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><strong>Interact with me personally</strong> through Facebook Live chats and other fun things happening inside the Facebook group</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><strong>Exclusive chances to win</strong> some prizes</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><strong>Guidance</strong> every step of the way with suggested posts, content, and memes to share</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><strong>WHAT YOU WILL DO:</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><strong>READ & SHARE</strong> about the book on your social media channels, with your IRL friends, book club, etc…</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><strong>REVIEW</strong> the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and GoodReads</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><strong>PARTICIPATE</strong> in the private Facebook group – tell me how the book impacts you personally, join in on exclusive Facebook Live Chats, etc.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><strong>HOW DO YOU JOIN THE GROUP?</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: #222222;">● </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://allenmadding.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u%3Da33dd850ac91b3277a01da04f%26id%3D61b4589d15%26e%3Dcb533513b3&source=gmail&ust=1618415789006000&usg=AFQjCNEMcEdfbwrzBW79AZ5VYcrZBKbinA" href="https://allenmadding.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a33dd850ac91b3277a01da04f&id=61b4589d15&e=cb533513b3" style="color: black; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Fill out the launch team application HERE</span></a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><em>**the application will close at midnight on April 23, 2021 or whenever the team is full</em></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">Thanks so much, my friend. I can’t wait to share this book with you. I hope you’ll join me in spreading the word!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><em><strong>- Allen</strong></em></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-393478626023857402021-03-02T11:14:00.006-05:002021-03-02T11:14:59.514-05:00New Release Announcement: LENDERCIDE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj88mIKLsov5myQrcLNNsZzPiroLTqV2iYwq2wCQpT8Ic3kHGSekYIwK1PYYWjK83ybxh5kavTrcJg0VxnqRY-sil9IKxllV36SHYUqI8PwauAHzAZMoiV9x78P0SjphgLAORhg/s600/promo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj88mIKLsov5myQrcLNNsZzPiroLTqV2iYwq2wCQpT8Ic3kHGSekYIwK1PYYWjK83ybxh5kavTrcJg0VxnqRY-sil9IKxllV36SHYUqI8PwauAHzAZMoiV9x78P0SjphgLAORhg/w400-h400/promo+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I am thrilled to announce my latest book, <a href="http://lendercice.com" target="_blank"> Lendercide</a>, a murder mystery set in Saint Petersburg, Florida is set to release June 1st. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Some Women Shouldn't Be Crossed!</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Colleen Smithwick is a loan processor at Sunshine City Bank in Saint Petersburg, Florida suffering myopic and tyrannical loan officers while grinding through unreasonable deadlines, when suddenly one by one loan officers are being found murdered.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Gary Black, an attractive young City of Saint Petersburg Police detective is working tirelessly to find the killer before they murder again. He will have to unravel murder, mystery, and romance to get to nab the killer. Will he catch the killer or will he somehow become involved?</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">Upon release. it will be available in Kindle, Paperback, and audiobook forms.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Coming June 1, 2021 to a Book Retailer Near You!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XQWLQ9D?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViJMFhrSjM4cLHJbJSfIVQqT-0CumZ3IuGWv6hksWwgdSsPM_IcTe4LGdUg1U5w-5TnOIo7NTuWVfIlIYcBIBM2ngEIJheLF8n5S0zB_-5urI5hvsfauZzWADclHZyKgd46icSg/s0/Preorder2.jpg" /></a></div>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-78924301386160047702020-08-15T16:06:00.000-05:002020-08-15T16:06:04.406-05:00A Little Down Time<p> While I was in South Georgia for a book signing, I spent a few days on my brothers farm. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXuVNmyn3lkMtE0RX7mCJoDyCqbCA1hMrsnh46Vh88lDOqSjLGbVudd4T9j9V4SYJUcw66wM0-Cv5ws-rC2wP3uiURzwxEjqR1VKL57Pn1VrY_ruEPANGupXg7OzUpv03KvRYCg/s2543/20200731_103422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXuVNmyn3lkMtE0RX7mCJoDyCqbCA1hMrsnh46Vh88lDOqSjLGbVudd4T9j9V4SYJUcw66wM0-Cv5ws-rC2wP3uiURzwxEjqR1VKL57Pn1VrY_ruEPANGupXg7OzUpv03KvRYCg/s640/20200731_103422.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvCo9Br28rqgWP78mMUTjCjqSL_6dONqYO91nBVgFO1jM8_iEmqOQadvDu2iJQSMhJU1rkxri1W0IFaQLDG-WytRjRBndpAorgWh80l45Piw-6ph8cbgkZJZFV9KIrjZfh12sww/s2543/20200731_103429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvCo9Br28rqgWP78mMUTjCjqSL_6dONqYO91nBVgFO1jM8_iEmqOQadvDu2iJQSMhJU1rkxri1W0IFaQLDG-WytRjRBndpAorgWh80l45Piw-6ph8cbgkZJZFV9KIrjZfh12sww/s640/20200731_103429.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS6SBZbRuTiZCQzX-E_i1fREVqjSDR2bfMNfhYoZVKOUTVKmDyNRZOSSBriBQLTBZGh-QS9P-rZHGfSZlzYYKVdyc48LnumrsjFIvuU_8ROrLzGbqFxqRkuMna7dX0F2GspcvGg/s2543/20200731_103431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQS6SBZbRuTiZCQzX-E_i1fREVqjSDR2bfMNfhYoZVKOUTVKmDyNRZOSSBriBQLTBZGh-QS9P-rZHGfSZlzYYKVdyc48LnumrsjFIvuU_8ROrLzGbqFxqRkuMna7dX0F2GspcvGg/s640/20200731_103431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivslfr8y45PHgSfyOjXywug8_jZvJAumqRJIZXmdSrLzT2KHZPhvp84VgSvdEY7p8wC864CmgS866nN-s8V-nrCxlfwVd1xEKCagBvH5pvg-FT4615DQeKkFNkjkYShUn7vJHEYA/s2543/20200731_104108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivslfr8y45PHgSfyOjXywug8_jZvJAumqRJIZXmdSrLzT2KHZPhvp84VgSvdEY7p8wC864CmgS866nN-s8V-nrCxlfwVd1xEKCagBvH5pvg-FT4615DQeKkFNkjkYShUn7vJHEYA/w608-h1250/20200731_104108.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLBXRKExAYSTSE4RGSpjGhehMnkGuBSwNzxrQvRXevIY_zy6FXWqnYRpV3qkcpg77BBaS01CT-SDZcf8vCeabz5tldPrbXXO8iZGAOO3_1TXSDUzXayuHY1_1Aam-mkNTehcbAA/s2543/20200731_105201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDLBXRKExAYSTSE4RGSpjGhehMnkGuBSwNzxrQvRXevIY_zy6FXWqnYRpV3qkcpg77BBaS01CT-SDZcf8vCeabz5tldPrbXXO8iZGAOO3_1TXSDUzXayuHY1_1Aam-mkNTehcbAA/s640/20200731_105201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy2Q8wPX4DyU_Ugg0R62YTm71QDiGNIhqGmyI9gxx9xcrguvt-OblUIVUmTygeufSFxS8VAQyXacW9LEeTqd0WTQpKMGmxFNDni4RjDKwykc6yczjt5gNCmhRZ9z6OLUVvYCgtQ/s2543/20200801_083018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy2Q8wPX4DyU_Ugg0R62YTm71QDiGNIhqGmyI9gxx9xcrguvt-OblUIVUmTygeufSFxS8VAQyXacW9LEeTqd0WTQpKMGmxFNDni4RjDKwykc6yczjt5gNCmhRZ9z6OLUVvYCgtQ/s640/20200801_083018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AG1s2r-T-9Y-Kcs_OTBmE9Q8wbDHbzlEFjsvMrhZdq7etRrQI40sEMbxpWd2qLj1vea7FRIf0dLTA2QTrWs9lUg4dLPLwJHE3hj3Qu1_hf_4d06sPVOHNNn9YvWsKp51xEHPFg/s2543/20200802_081116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AG1s2r-T-9Y-Kcs_OTBmE9Q8wbDHbzlEFjsvMrhZdq7etRrQI40sEMbxpWd2qLj1vea7FRIf0dLTA2QTrWs9lUg4dLPLwJHE3hj3Qu1_hf_4d06sPVOHNNn9YvWsKp51xEHPFg/s640/20200802_081116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I quickly became big buddy's with their newest addition to their array of animals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoENjcewa1VCWqB7nK_Y12uyp_BJoutg_iFWWda1gwKegMXVO4MROl6-DsF94JDABPl57itjoiYUWD-8aY4JWk96tAMfpTTRh2IfGujNM_tga6uqzMWzBLkUHuZ0SVnePfsGVxw/s1836/20200731_111806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1657" data-original-width="1836" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoENjcewa1VCWqB7nK_Y12uyp_BJoutg_iFWWda1gwKegMXVO4MROl6-DsF94JDABPl57itjoiYUWD-8aY4JWk96tAMfpTTRh2IfGujNM_tga6uqzMWzBLkUHuZ0SVnePfsGVxw/s640/20200731_111806.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSSgnvzjcJ3xEQsZ8SG-VPO5qoyJ9xmkxjii1Lz_Ulma7hlRMTbCt9qB0N50c_vywx55khpOwt7gpa4PZLN60FW4AyM96wKm2zq8ufgGdwX5Q8KYQY3B3osBQC167b8wVF7pcFQ/s2543/20200731_111525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSSgnvzjcJ3xEQsZ8SG-VPO5qoyJ9xmkxjii1Lz_Ulma7hlRMTbCt9qB0N50c_vywx55khpOwt7gpa4PZLN60FW4AyM96wKm2zq8ufgGdwX5Q8KYQY3B3osBQC167b8wVF7pcFQ/w608-h1250/20200731_111525.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xYA6G5pDIiHm0cPkJzzrHdZ1lfH6YYmiKyrAaiGVolQcTMZH5M46xYz8ZVSJuv2mEiISD-S1foEpT-AkTKDbBTUu-xlqLl-dInkLAWR4zQ-PnDpWZ76mx3hXomfk0bTNSv-BSA/s2543/20200731_183051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xYA6G5pDIiHm0cPkJzzrHdZ1lfH6YYmiKyrAaiGVolQcTMZH5M46xYz8ZVSJuv2mEiISD-S1foEpT-AkTKDbBTUu-xlqLl-dInkLAWR4zQ-PnDpWZ76mx3hXomfk0bTNSv-BSA/w608-h1250/20200731_183051.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>They had a tornado set down in the middle of their farm a couple months back and were still working on the cleanup. So we worked on cutting down "widowmaker" broken tree limbs hanging in precarious manner along their driveway and around their house and pastures. I lucked out on day one getting to operate the tractor while he stood on a pallet cutting libs with a limb saw. I question sometimes how much he trust me 😂</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6AspO4GwkFwoEGBVW1Dfv4ci1egVAHRH_RkG9UduzM4O-LM4N8svQqlt1nn6bz8RcfppbDMiGp77Q-Y8zCQpNAe7xd1aDeE6OfRj1Ptfa9l2VYhZOca8upm769uuJCdk1yt6-w/s2543/20200731_114419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6AspO4GwkFwoEGBVW1Dfv4ci1egVAHRH_RkG9UduzM4O-LM4N8svQqlt1nn6bz8RcfppbDMiGp77Q-Y8zCQpNAe7xd1aDeE6OfRj1Ptfa9l2VYhZOca8upm769uuJCdk1yt6-w/w608-h1250/20200731_114419.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I lucked out on day one getting to operate the tractor while he stood on a pallet cutting limbs with a limb saw. I question sometimes how much he trust me 😂</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7e8WV7QUJ71loJK9pWfQTMo-jHs_1L3kfYNNdmk6rsZfBj769kHmBiOOPWCfeRHu0YEE-xjwpjEmi-hVz2mJl6NQGsoLkHUAiL3d7Bh4Jpxin8ABIhwB0Q9xTFNHA4xnz9hRMw/s2543/20200731_114435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7e8WV7QUJ71loJK9pWfQTMo-jHs_1L3kfYNNdmk6rsZfBj769kHmBiOOPWCfeRHu0YEE-xjwpjEmi-hVz2mJl6NQGsoLkHUAiL3d7Bh4Jpxin8ABIhwB0Q9xTFNHA4xnz9hRMw/w608-h1250/20200731_114435.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>They had been working on a fencing project when the tornado hit, and I spent some time helping to complete it. Along the way we discovered a tree that had fallen on the brand new fence, so I leaned on my history of fence repair to help get it back up and tight. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XNAab4MkmB2FXo6Jk6a2Vkb_yapzbVG4wUMb4kHnXq7XMuVGj8E7PM6bluFoz2x1Jw7a9NYUhaZ-qAAwTQB2Dsu38pIFl6QX5wsj43CFHK-yAcQylA7Z6l2F9v4jaUfAgcmvxg/s1960/IMG_20200802_171833_155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XNAab4MkmB2FXo6Jk6a2Vkb_yapzbVG4wUMb4kHnXq7XMuVGj8E7PM6bluFoz2x1Jw7a9NYUhaZ-qAAwTQB2Dsu38pIFl6QX5wsj43CFHK-yAcQylA7Z6l2F9v4jaUfAgcmvxg/s640/IMG_20200802_171833_155.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got some time to relax as well and enjoy the serenity of their farm and even kayaked for the first time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9Yd5rqYIr0aZRygvL0BiuzE58KfBbuNAb4wLwmV7xWBVNYJj49SU-CnkzlNGpNkH2qrDkFAUb9OelCGoT2y0JHWnqHM7zqECqpKL2gwTHCHFQjNsJuy_m2H81ZZ6T5cy3d1Kjw/s1960/IMG_20200802_083108_797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9Yd5rqYIr0aZRygvL0BiuzE58KfBbuNAb4wLwmV7xWBVNYJj49SU-CnkzlNGpNkH2qrDkFAUb9OelCGoT2y0JHWnqHM7zqECqpKL2gwTHCHFQjNsJuy_m2H81ZZ6T5cy3d1Kjw/s640/IMG_20200802_083108_797.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvJ8TIVYWWBDnyInADxN6YD9wGTJAHmJcj3XA2Zbmm9c6kVZj5q0rHLLKgQVfTcoqKiIiLUIFXriVcLKibM1VPC7S3fj-pSb9_FzLZBatpsORCwoGyk0SUIR_XmmGA24p1WBjSQ/s1960/IMG_20200801_183539_822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvJ8TIVYWWBDnyInADxN6YD9wGTJAHmJcj3XA2Zbmm9c6kVZj5q0rHLLKgQVfTcoqKiIiLUIFXriVcLKibM1VPC7S3fj-pSb9_FzLZBatpsORCwoGyk0SUIR_XmmGA24p1WBjSQ/s640/IMG_20200801_183539_822.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the whole Covid-19 pandemic, our vacation plans got canceled twice this spring and summer, so it it was nice to break out of my schedule, get away from the day job, and hang out on the farm.</div><p><br /></p>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-35859381023489658972020-08-05T09:29:00.004-05:002020-08-05T09:29:44.249-05:00Book Signing - Desoto Trail Regional Library, Camilla, GA<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJSL2S0D3c2Iu0ewbxYjcBD7Z77nYm4pjmTf2QspaYsoptwTJ1zflcWGFsj0TBHze9B05cMNpNX22uSJhrKR0DI1UFZnkxxE6pKr8eu5FMbcPwoYUVD1Q9EtnOIZVadVU5PC3mw/s960/Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="465" height="1250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJSL2S0D3c2Iu0ewbxYjcBD7Z77nYm4pjmTf2QspaYsoptwTJ1zflcWGFsj0TBHze9B05cMNpNX22uSJhrKR0DI1UFZnkxxE6pKr8eu5FMbcPwoYUVD1Q9EtnOIZVadVU5PC3mw/w606-h1250/Sign.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I was honored to be the guest of honor at a book signing in my hometown of Camilla, GA at the Desoto Trail Regional Library - very library that fostered my love for reading. I used to pedal my bicycle 1.5 miles to participate in their Summer Reading Program. I am very grateful for the influence the library had on me growing up and for all the wonderful friends that showed up for the event!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6XaXpgVznDksWIcs9R5Y4dIl8_55ffGC7xeZntNukKIsaAkUZORpU3lP7CxxC39QSHgi1WTKP7exf_dp1v86E2ERV-fzelZIpr7R7S0IOaO3lLmKTP0UhSuuhDjo8DVFxmSypw/s960/116918469_908679366284363_7179576580956521937_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6XaXpgVznDksWIcs9R5Y4dIl8_55ffGC7xeZntNukKIsaAkUZORpU3lP7CxxC39QSHgi1WTKP7exf_dp1v86E2ERV-fzelZIpr7R7S0IOaO3lLmKTP0UhSuuhDjo8DVFxmSypw/w600-h800/116918469_908679366284363_7179576580956521937_n.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Oe1cAZiIqWEPkkKkJHLZap981Xi0erpmw5eXVnggYKiqhUFjk2IRVJVsWXiHUTwPcWPxlyg1PhjRYatdoCC-81RQtE2WtFwR_shXI_9MLmhHrTYCN0XyjVoS5xiKYWU_YinpVQ/s960/117077788_908679529617680_6414695512194674756_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Oe1cAZiIqWEPkkKkJHLZap981Xi0erpmw5eXVnggYKiqhUFjk2IRVJVsWXiHUTwPcWPxlyg1PhjRYatdoCC-81RQtE2WtFwR_shXI_9MLmhHrTYCN0XyjVoS5xiKYWU_YinpVQ/s640/117077788_908679529617680_6414695512194674756_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bO3SVitMbyPDqyauGJORriMzYRAiPeWtWL4_sJO_iUaNXTwkpS9qCjsIWiiSurUyLnEcz-OZ8aaJrkuBPo6gfyvS400w09YRUhn3XBXOsmdXNjOGmK4_UcCse1UE8u7oelY5Cg/s960/117104908_908679306284369_7055467440170915665_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bO3SVitMbyPDqyauGJORriMzYRAiPeWtWL4_sJO_iUaNXTwkpS9qCjsIWiiSurUyLnEcz-OZ8aaJrkuBPo6gfyvS400w09YRUhn3XBXOsmdXNjOGmK4_UcCse1UE8u7oelY5Cg/s640/117104908_908679306284369_7055467440170915665_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy6Yw_pC9ZnS0r7lAUJWzqh96igOLVpmmOhUoVRu5EMxTRc6HJDEBjLaDwPs9Unw-aQtG8WUmeIrTVp-HKgKeOB-vpz0EwPM0bs_cqintVicFEiCjeDBibe35ewHP8ZIA_DbNDA/s960/117112296_908679406284359_903134275857490957_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEy6Yw_pC9ZnS0r7lAUJWzqh96igOLVpmmOhUoVRu5EMxTRc6HJDEBjLaDwPs9Unw-aQtG8WUmeIrTVp-HKgKeOB-vpz0EwPM0bs_cqintVicFEiCjeDBibe35ewHP8ZIA_DbNDA/s640/117112296_908679406284359_903134275857490957_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJvP0gan-TP1ZlNwCi0R7pochgWjdteGZ-KJTNOOa7Rioz4F1CnbuRKCtS7KetPTvWzQjPzRX9hyphenhyphenNRgY1ar33Iu4GuCBE67Xz2xYdiRVkhilrVOUwVlSCFIQ-kKZK1Bs2soQ45w/s960/117134545_908679279617705_323442364135433985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJvP0gan-TP1ZlNwCi0R7pochgWjdteGZ-KJTNOOa7Rioz4F1CnbuRKCtS7KetPTvWzQjPzRX9hyphenhyphenNRgY1ar33Iu4GuCBE67Xz2xYdiRVkhilrVOUwVlSCFIQ-kKZK1Bs2soQ45w/s640/117134545_908679279617705_323442364135433985_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvooAAlJQxiQ4BbufoPFour9bLBfsTDkpQs4xWJc-dkkz49hpV1-MJm92Lvz14blcrPjkh-7UZ8lwd0cKBOmqsnU0_OZnH0EpOsfTtP_YsnRpb5mCYXRnKjUx5s_MVM5r2FQx9A/s960/117164844_908679449617688_1974995172810784233_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvooAAlJQxiQ4BbufoPFour9bLBfsTDkpQs4xWJc-dkkz49hpV1-MJm92Lvz14blcrPjkh-7UZ8lwd0cKBOmqsnU0_OZnH0EpOsfTtP_YsnRpb5mCYXRnKjUx5s_MVM5r2FQx9A/w600-h800/117164844_908679449617688_1974995172810784233_n.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-7275929345003360082020-06-11T07:32:00.002-05:002020-06-11T07:32:21.827-05:00Interview With Christine L. Henderson... Let's Write!I had the sincere pleasure to be interviewed by Christine L. Henderson at Let's Write! It was a great opportunity to talk writing and revisit some things from my past that have shaped my present day that I haven't thought about it quite a while. Head over there and check it out!<br />
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<a href="http://thewritechris.blogspot.com/2020/06/understanding-homeless-crisis-author.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="651" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv47plUulogAJojUxr6_YVNxgPAU4H-bw_h39IctBLdnCeKYOwMF4-Q4LdAYR_1ZNQ9glxWLNT4_yVJnWth6UOuE0YzArK6bsq6nzgHUe4cc_fYa9uFrUa7eU4N8Jc9MbDKPcM_A/s640/1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-84793384137883235492020-05-26T06:00:00.002-05:002020-05-26T06:23:57.599-05:00Writer's Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SS8pYQkDLCyKUh2lrDMOXz2ONZ0BzBLpFvk7Xz_NJ1I2WrKfOeHlY8n2z-jZ-KX5Nu9EwZUizr93BxrGWjDvgibMNJfZnJfP-o_DhPW2h-P6NzQ6Ua5eFSH7ultASZIC9vDdxg/s1600/free-vector-full-trash-can-icon-clip-art_117574_Full_Trash_Can_Icon_clip_art_hight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SS8pYQkDLCyKUh2lrDMOXz2ONZ0BzBLpFvk7Xz_NJ1I2WrKfOeHlY8n2z-jZ-KX5Nu9EwZUizr93BxrGWjDvgibMNJfZnJfP-o_DhPW2h-P6NzQ6Ua5eFSH7ultASZIC9vDdxg/s320/free-vector-full-trash-can-icon-clip-art_117574_Full_Trash_Can_Icon_clip_art_hight.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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A question that comes up from time to time is "How do you deal with writer's block" or some variation like "Is writer's block real?"<br />
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Writer's block is a very real phenomenon. It is basically writing to the end of your conscious stream for a story, and it can be very daunting and frustrating to overcome. I have set on a particular writing project for months trying to figure out where to go next.<br />
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So how do you deal with it? How do you as the Doors would say "Break on through to the other side?"<br />
<br />
The best advice I have come upon regarding combating writer's block, is from Ernest Hemingway. His advice to a young apprentice, Arnold Samuelson as quoted in Samuelson's book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hemingway-Year-Key-West-Cuba/dp/0030056179" target="_blank">With Hemingway: A Year in Key West.</a><br />
<br />
<i>"The most important thing I’ve learned about writing is never write too much at a time… Never pump yourself dry. Leave a little for the next day. The main thing is to know when to stop. Don’t wait till you’ve written yourself out. When you’re still going good and you come to an interesting place and you know what’s going to happen next, that’s the time to stop. Then leave it alone and don’t think about it; let your subconscious mind do the work.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The next morning, when you’ve had a good sleep and you’re feeling fresh, rewrite what you wrote the day before. When you come to the interesting place and you know what is going to happen next, go on from there and stop at another high point of interest. That way, when you get through, your stuff is full of interesting places and when you write a novel you never get stuck and you make it interesting as you go along. "</i><br />
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Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-24143335801753018532020-05-10T10:09:00.002-05:002020-05-10T10:09:41.619-05:00Coffee Giveaway <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecqaMcmIrH6bXKz1Sh1s-1gkGZHkmscN8MplCCHlW6J66vIzJP0XdF5iHCJCIFKv1GiWWvicoSHd3GmhiEGFFweM69pgMocIn_7JdEve86Aof2_KLXZlrtVglCcFnhspaKFV_SQ/s1600/starbuck_giftcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecqaMcmIrH6bXKz1Sh1s-1gkGZHkmscN8MplCCHlW6J66vIzJP0XdF5iHCJCIFKv1GiWWvicoSHd3GmhiEGFFweM69pgMocIn_7JdEve86Aof2_KLXZlrtVglCcFnhspaKFV_SQ/s1600/starbuck_giftcard.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm giving away a $10 Starbucks gift card. Sign up before midnight May 18, 2020.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #168eea; font-family: Roboto; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://buff.ly/2SRhJMp?" target="_blank">Sign Up HERE</a></span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="9npep-2-0" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #59626a; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span data-text="true" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><br /></span></span></div>
Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-12943090547035744122020-05-07T09:43:00.002-05:002020-05-07T09:43:55.946-05:00Book Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dy1PuB8lHGfF2NUYZ2dW7ScOdVHqhxXv-yLmd5YXs_S5VjM2AFa1x6hiQnRKKOiY0rP_p9nCebWXHaZGlS_D5n_XyJIw_xu-dMksAk1KwtSZhz0TFGcYC9PrRnnui9Wa3-x6Fg/s1600/Promotion+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dy1PuB8lHGfF2NUYZ2dW7ScOdVHqhxXv-yLmd5YXs_S5VjM2AFa1x6hiQnRKKOiY0rP_p9nCebWXHaZGlS_D5n_XyJIw_xu-dMksAk1KwtSZhz0TFGcYC9PrRnnui9Wa3-x6Fg/s320/Promotion+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Want a <b><u><span style="color: red;">FREE</span></u></b> copy of <a href="http://www.allenmadding.com/p/shaken-awake-complete-trilogy.html" target="_blank">Shaken Awake: The Complete Trilogy</a>?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's your chance! I'm giving away FIFTY copies at <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/307008-shaken-awake-the-complete-trilogy" target="_blank">GoodReads!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/307008-shaken-awake-the-complete-trilogy">https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/307008-shaken-awake-the-complete-trilogy</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Don't wait, the giveaway ends May 30, 2020!</span></i></b></div>
Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-57596856023284526622020-05-05T20:17:00.001-05:002020-05-05T20:17:18.593-05:00Shaken Awake: The Complete Trilogy - Behind the Story<div>
On Tuesday, January 7, 2014, I walked into my office on the 5th floor of Colony Square (14th and Peachtree ST, Atlanta). I sipped the tall blonde coffee that I had grabbed at the Starbucks at the base of the building and read the headlines on the Atlanta Journal Constitution app on my phone. I was shocked to read that a a <a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/man-freezes-death-atlanta/rcMkrNNT71Wu6kKTwQKIpM/" target="_blank">70-year-old homeless man, Charlie Perkins, was been found dead</a> just a few blocks from where I was sitting. He had frozen to death sleeping on the street. The news rattled my soul. I looked out the window of my office at all the high rise apartment and office buildings a strong contrast of wealth and the poverty of the homeless just below them.<br />
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I thought about the man in the army coat and thick military issued black framed glasses that I had just spoken to in the Starbucks as I did every morning. A man who I recognized was homeless. I thought about the older homeless woman who sat in the food court just outside the folding gate to Chick-Fil-A waiting for it to open. I thought about the white haired and white bearded man with the huge backpack that usually sat one table over from her quietly waiting for breakfast.<br />
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My work day proceeded on, but my thoughts continued to return to the shocking news that someone had frozen to death a few blocks outside my office and the city carried on as normal. It was surreal.<br />
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014 started as just another cold windy day in the city. When I went downstairs for lunch, I sat in Chick-Fil-A and noticed it had started snowing - not the slow, light snow Atlanta was accustomed to seeing. It was falling fast and quickly accumulating. You can read my entire account of the winter storm written two days after the events here: <a href="http://www.allenmadding.com/2014/01/atlanta-snowapocolypse.html" target="_blank">Atlanta Snowapocolypse</a><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLWQDsqJeGkG2LkjvL46FIxpU7ZpIAK8sifLJVlndDqtHnsOzje8MLltgE7uCL4l-R3TsJP9jSNY8aTEIOn23LRDZbOvxYp4qoV47V6PgIpV04UE222E3xY4a15vhLl4Y6aVSoA/s1600/Jan282013a.jpg" /></div>
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After the storm, I began writing Shaken Awake, the first of three stories which would eventually lead to the trilogy. Once I started writing the story just flowed. I found myself grabbing my phone and jotting notes at lunch or when waiting in line somewhere. In 2013, my wife and I had launched a nonprofit performing food rescue, and we had been working with partner agencies that provided food to struggling individuals and families. That experience coupled with our experience meeting families while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and my personal interactions with the homeless I encountered in and around Colony Square provided me with a great deal of insight into the struggles of the homeless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjNUT-vYV8gQ_OBjoYyw_J_5g-fD1q44t51gWlyMJgA2s5L6a4-LOKB5_Nd8JWvpmAxK3RW_Fb2JOGElXmJNODoNhn2Z0KSxQsn74OFy2rGE7no3tsv0iVdi5cR4QGDE9aCZzJg/s1600/Cover280x360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjNUT-vYV8gQ_OBjoYyw_J_5g-fD1q44t51gWlyMJgA2s5L6a4-LOKB5_Nd8JWvpmAxK3RW_Fb2JOGElXmJNODoNhn2Z0KSxQsn74OFy2rGE7no3tsv0iVdi5cR4QGDE9aCZzJg/s320/Cover280x360.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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Not long after Shaken Awake had been published, I began receiving feedback that it ended too abruptly, and it didn't show how the church responded to the community after the storm. Honestly, I had intentionally written an abrupt ending as an invitation for the reader to write themselves into the book and write their own ending. This recurring sentiment did not seem to fade away. So kinda like Steve Goodman after receiving David Alan Coe's feedback, I wrote Awakened as a sequel to resolve Shaken Awake for the reader. I had followed the ministry of Alan Graham and <a href="https://mlf.org/" target="_blank">Mobile Loaves and Fishes</a> in Austin, Texas which operates food trucks providing meals, socks, and blankets to the homeless in their city. And I had followed their work constructing Community First! I got a copy of Alan's book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Homeless-Journey-Discovering-Meaning/dp/0718086554" target="_blank">Welcome Homeless: One Man's Journey of Discovering the Meaning of Home</a>,and fell in love with the story of how community was changing the lives of homeless in Austin. I then read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Overpass-Journey-Streets-America/dp/1590524020" target="_blank">Under The Overpass</a> by Mike Yankoski and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Not-Just-One-Night-Stand-Ministry/dp/0881775576" target="_blank">Not Just a One Night Stand</a> by John Flowers and Karen Vannoy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwe5uwPQTU4rrXiJQez1Lys6e1aMwO3Tbs8MKDgnHGaX9s-6nnwOaCpWC5cd9gxFcl6BQn5AXRy-ix4A0EPP0XM04HvvG8ZopTCIdEaZrpsMwsH0kn1vWsC46IlaCH8XKhSDrZ5w/s1600/Awakened_Front_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1059" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwe5uwPQTU4rrXiJQez1Lys6e1aMwO3Tbs8MKDgnHGaX9s-6nnwOaCpWC5cd9gxFcl6BQn5AXRy-ix4A0EPP0XM04HvvG8ZopTCIdEaZrpsMwsH0kn1vWsC46IlaCH8XKhSDrZ5w/s320/Awakened_Front_cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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After Awakened was published, my good friend, Bill Barton began a relentless campaign that he wanted to see the how the characters that moved into the community found themselves a role in serving others. After his continual nudging, I volunteered with a service learning organization to take a group of college students to Community First! for a week. I volunteered in the community during that week and listened to the stories of everyone I met. I chatted with Alan Graham and asked questions. I listened to staff members and volunteers detailing how they created a community that provides healing and restoration.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgm_6fzuME9Vw4hJLnGihZGFNjoUbGMs6RY5fE2LU1Dmje_uPEx6NoKSmHTqokMz0698Hv7xaskrFHznBVDExvqpUm54ctBxA4e8tfecGBkXhcFn5b3fuVnA1Jb8p8G0tl1f-Jw/s1600/WOKE_Front_COVER_.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1054" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgm_6fzuME9Vw4hJLnGihZGFNjoUbGMs6RY5fE2LU1Dmje_uPEx6NoKSmHTqokMz0698Hv7xaskrFHznBVDExvqpUm54ctBxA4e8tfecGBkXhcFn5b3fuVnA1Jb8p8G0tl1f-Jw/s320/WOKE_Front_COVER_.png" width="210" /></a></div>
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After the trip to Austin, I wrote Woke! as the third and final story in the trilogy. During the editing phase, I developed a strong sense that none of the books really stood on their own individual merit, but needed each other to be complete. I made the decision not to release Woke! as a single book, but to instead release the complete trilogy under one cover.<br />
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<a href="http://shakenawakebook.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1038" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPJt27Ly-tGQjOUfy4VGQXbuY9FLV_C8C6-kSYyD9_ZMbdeTGyNy32ULmIlkb_kzXHVjCsa_1DZ5qxOsqJEdPClIZUqcTlS4_-7hrCIo8bkM3kZgqJalXXbvQUdqroP-olcQ8IQ/s320/Shaken+AwakeCover.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-62720530520157963462020-04-23T06:30:00.000-05:002020-04-23T06:30:17.570-05:00Overcoming the Naysayers When I was working on my undergraduate degree, I wrote someone a thank you note. They asked a college friend if I had ever passed a composition class. That comment has remained with me for more than 25 years - etched in my brain. I struggled thru college and graduated. I have since completed a graduate degree and published a book. I write this not to garner sympathy, but as a word of encouragement. Don't let the naysayers hold you back from pursuing your dreams. Whatever you want to do, do it. Don't listen to the detractors saying you can't. Pursue it with reckless abandon. You CAN do it. Press on for the prize.Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-13425582564608591492020-04-03T08:47:00.000-05:002020-04-03T08:47:18.330-05:00Shaken Awake: The Complete Trilogy Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX1jG288g_flA9EtBxNkqV0No8Y0QJUlWCRO4btB6GfyjltN_SfRpDhhBWs62gmDNoznqaoXjombUO5k3OjbGZIN29stysOU7W3eSnhrOceSD6gVFkc04tpO3cJb4xAFPo04iYQ/s1600/Promotion+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX1jG288g_flA9EtBxNkqV0No8Y0QJUlWCRO4btB6GfyjltN_SfRpDhhBWs62gmDNoznqaoXjombUO5k3OjbGZIN29stysOU7W3eSnhrOceSD6gVFkc04tpO3cJb4xAFPo04iYQ/s320/Promotion+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm giving away a copy of my new book! Enter Now!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a013f97f1/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="a013f97f1" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_aqg2hbkq">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-24562335721390072402020-03-19T19:16:00.000-05:002020-03-19T19:17:50.322-05:00Book Launch Invitation! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXQHhTjstLEurE5uoKiHgYzLZWwU59UqMzkZogjcAz6zdh1m4GdnmqHc2CjJizvb93V1fx-1zypR9rhQbiX92g_gliciHOB0Qb00aviVKur0Bvo6phgUUTQO2km7gWBfnP4Kbsw/s1600/Promotion+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXQHhTjstLEurE5uoKiHgYzLZWwU59UqMzkZogjcAz6zdh1m4GdnmqHc2CjJizvb93V1fx-1zypR9rhQbiX92g_gliciHOB0Qb00aviVKur0Bvo6phgUUTQO2km7gWBfnP4Kbsw/s320/Promotion+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hey Y'all, </div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ve got some pretty exciting news:
It’s almost time for my next book to be released! It’s called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shaken Awake - The Complete Trilogy</i>, and
it releases on April 30, 2020. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My
publisher, Charm House Publishing, and I want to invite you to join the launch
team!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="normal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="background: white;">
Shaken Awake - The Complete Trilogy is
three books in one. Shaken Awake, Awakened, and Woke! Chances are you have read
Shaken Awake and Awakened and have been patiently waiting for a conclusion to
the series. This is the entire story start to finish!</div>
<div class="normal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="background: white;">
The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shaken Awake Launch Team </i>will be a fun and personalized group with
only so many spots available, so apply now. Details are listed below: </div>
<div class="normal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="normal" style="background: white;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>WHAT
YOU WILL GET:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A chance to read the book before anyone else
does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All eligible team members will
receive an Advanced Abbreviated Reader digital copy of the book. <span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Access to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">private Facebook group</b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Interact
with me personally</b> through Facebook Live chats and other fun things
happening inside the Facebook group<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exclusive
chances to win</b> some prizes<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Guidance</b>
every step of the way with suggested posts, content, and memes to share<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>WHAT
YOU WILL DO:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">READ
& SHARE</b> about the book on your social media channels, with your IRL
friends, book club, etc…<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and GoodReads<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PARTICIPATE</b>
in the private Facebook group – tell me how the book impacts you personally,
join in on exclusive Facebook Live Chats, etc.<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>HOW
DO YOU JOIN THE GROUP?<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://forms.gle/YxBYk9NSChDCQGnAA"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Fill out the launch team application HERE</span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">**the application will close at midnight on
March 22, 2020 or whenever the team is full</i></div>
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Thanks so much, my friend. I can’t
wait to share this book with you. I hope you’ll join me in spreading the word! </div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "segoe script"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Allen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-8452317604815881902019-08-09T07:53:00.000-05:002019-08-09T07:53:02.065-05:00Giveaway! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Invited-Power-Hospitality-Age-Loneliness-ebook/dp/B07N98K6Z" target="_blank">Invited - The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness</a></td></tr>
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Many people today feel lonely, isolated, and disconnected from God and others. We crave authentic community, but we have no idea where to start. We'd be glad to cultivate friendships; but honestly, who's got the time?</div>
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In Invited, writer Leslie Verner says real hospitality is not having a Pinterest-perfect table or well-appointed living room. True hospitality is not clean, comfortable, or controlled. It is an invitation to enter a sacred space together with friends and strangers. Through vivid accounts from her life and travels in Uganda, China, and Tajikistan, and stories of visiting congregations in the United States, Verner shares stories of life around the table and how hospitality is at the heart of Christian community. What if we in the West learned about hospitality from people around the globe? What if our homes became laboratories of belonging?</div>
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Invited will empower you to open your home, get to know your neighbors, and prioritize people over tasks. Holy hospitality requires more of Jesus and less of us. It leads not only to loving the stranger but to becoming the stranger. Welcome to a new kind of hospitality.</div>
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I was provided a pre-release copy of Invited and found it very thought provoking. Verner challenges us to step out of our comfort zone and to walk out loving our neighbors as Jesus called us to do. She relates story after story from her own life about how real the struggle is against our own nature and western culture and at the same time rewarding.</div>
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Read even MORE about Invited and the ideas behind the book in this post on Leslie's website:<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.scrapingraisins.com/2019/07/simple-ways-to-practice-hospitality/" target="_blank">Four Simple Ways to Practice Hospitality</a></span></b></div>
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Leslie has provided me a paperback copy of Invited to giveaway to one lucky reader. Interested? You can enter by simply responding in the comments with "I WANNA COPY!" Contest ends Aug 20th. Winner will be chosen at random. Sorry, only open to U.S. residents.</div>
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If you pre-order a copy before August 20th, you are eligible for these pre-order bonuses: <a href="http://www.scrapingraisins.com/2019/06/invited/">http://www.scrapingraisins.com/2019/06/invited/</a></div>
Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-23833152807937606692019-06-29T18:53:00.000-05:002019-06-29T18:53:33.450-05:00Free Water - Part DeuxOur testing found that the main HVAC unit on our house in the middle of June and July was producing 10 gallons of condensation a day. I picked up a 90 gallon tank and with some help from my daughter's boyfriend, have it now catching the condensation from the main system. In theory, this tank should store 9 days of condensation from that system. If we find we need more storage (I usually shoot for 14-21 days worth), I will find a second tank and plumb them in line.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_deOtCHalaJMGUbR1_tsiad8XM15MH-vWFzLvwZl7TZgrYUWlae5bbvqeVULQ8MvMhMejlz1T1q6GQIC82mjiMTvjMMdAke10GyT6blsfM34-ylWuMOHuE9p6JRwHMBvHsCgrpQ/s1600/20190629_165334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_deOtCHalaJMGUbR1_tsiad8XM15MH-vWFzLvwZl7TZgrYUWlae5bbvqeVULQ8MvMhMejlz1T1q6GQIC82mjiMTvjMMdAke10GyT6blsfM34-ylWuMOHuE9p6JRwHMBvHsCgrpQ/s640/20190629_165334.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I used the same overflow configuration as on the wine barrel, it has a 6 ft garden hose coming off the top edge of the tank leading down to a female how barb screwed on to the hose containing a screened washer like used on washing machines to keep out the mosquitoes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8HWONeBD6xeVOwS21aqmmEmR1b9XbePZoN3HbtEF4fGvGISc7gLFSGq7I3e-dPfH3Pg9A1_8e1qq6S-xwllBGO7rqmXST0d_X7S4YigVr4bn_1yicc_P3JBa179hVdFS74P65Q/s1600/20190629_165343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8HWONeBD6xeVOwS21aqmmEmR1b9XbePZoN3HbtEF4fGvGISc7gLFSGq7I3e-dPfH3Pg9A1_8e1qq6S-xwllBGO7rqmXST0d_X7S4YigVr4bn_1yicc_P3JBa179hVdFS74P65Q/s640/20190629_165343.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I riveted aluminum window screen wire in the center of the lid to allow filling and keeping out mosquitoes and leaves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OXPuWb_mitbe3LvsoIu8RnvSf_S0R4wVGlrtYEd7NQJLz5Arn7ePKK8ACcTdq5VAoJzGBCj7qDFvWg4yO4yUhcKLfkyHWAhcLwKsa7PslEvdxVR0kkat87vfBBgH4wHwLQUmBg/s1600/20190629_165407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OXPuWb_mitbe3LvsoIu8RnvSf_S0R4wVGlrtYEd7NQJLz5Arn7ePKK8ACcTdq5VAoJzGBCj7qDFvWg4yO4yUhcKLfkyHWAhcLwKsa7PslEvdxVR0kkat87vfBBgH4wHwLQUmBg/s640/20190629_165407.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The tank had a 1 1/4" fitting in the bottom, so I installed a ball valve and then reduced to a 1 inch Tee. On one side of the tee, I reduced to 1/2" and installed a hose bib. On the other side, I installed a 3/4" ball valve. Plans are to run 3/4" PVC pipe under the house to provide a hose bib on the other side of the house.</div>
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<br />Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33338557.post-36466967884459090242019-06-22T14:34:00.000-05:002019-06-22T14:34:09.034-05:00Free Water?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've experienced a few drought periods that last anywhere from three weeks to a couple of months. It can be frustrating when you've planted new trees or shrubs or watching your lawn die. The alternative to watching it all die is to water, but that can quickly get expensive if you don't have a well or access to reclaimed water. In the past, we remedied this by diverting a gutter downspout to a rain barrel. But without gutters and during a drought that doesn't even help. Another source to consider is your HVAC. During the hottest days, the HVAC system displaces condensation through a drain line. You might be very surprised at just how much water that produces in a day's time.<br />
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Our home, the "Charm House" has a main system with an air handler in the attic and a mini-split in the master bedroom. I elected to determine how much water each system was producing. So, I cut the drain line off on each one just high enough to place a 5 gallon bucket under the drain line, but high enough that when the bucket filled and overflowed it wouldn't back up the drain line. I was pleasantly surprised to find the mini-split produced 1/2 - 3/4 of a 5 gallon bucket of water a day (2.5-3 gallons). The main system produced closer to 10 gallons of water a day. That spells out to me a pretty good source of water that could be collected and used for watering during drought periods.<br />
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I just completed the collection system for the mini-split. Here is what it took:<br />
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(1) 55 gallon used wine barrel ordered from Walmart.com ($99.99 w free shipping)<br />
(1) 1/2 inch MNPT brass hose bibb<br />
(1) 3/4 inch black steel close nipple fitting<br />
(1) 3/4 inch black steel 90 degree elbow<br />
(1) 3/4 inch threaded male hose adapter to 3/4" pip thread<br />
(1) rubber washer with screen diverter washer garden threads<br />
(1 ) 3/4" barbed barb to garden hose female adapter fitting<br />
(1) 6ft garden hose<br />
(1) screen door repair patch 5 inch x 7 inch<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRYC7ArzRGQzKfT4I682zZRI6jHeRGLoUk4qJQyLvfWgAfdjEc3lj9SqLYpp3BKRKqX6cYiFosu0obAC7_UJXd54I_EEDg3_SvgwfdbEfPiSe5xqSAsx9DNSHLJYqmA_WB4Liyg/s1600/20190620_173443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRYC7ArzRGQzKfT4I682zZRI6jHeRGLoUk4qJQyLvfWgAfdjEc3lj9SqLYpp3BKRKqX6cYiFosu0obAC7_UJXd54I_EEDg3_SvgwfdbEfPiSe5xqSAsx9DNSHLJYqmA_WB4Liyg/s640/20190620_173443.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Used 55 gallon wine barrel (as it arrived from Walmart.com)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRxY92EUnq9JNL7r9wUvsecteUT9tMgkFPJD0760c2ahWj1iWxPmdHSftRku8LyuDOqQ94MWPInojz7O4kRXQA-puaC6S1hRy5vZL5OVuIgXGutd2NFrCU5ZdhD_V1AugtG3jlg/s1600/20190620_174508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRxY92EUnq9JNL7r9wUvsecteUT9tMgkFPJD0760c2ahWj1iWxPmdHSftRku8LyuDOqQ94MWPInojz7O4kRXQA-puaC6S1hRy5vZL5OVuIgXGutd2NFrCU5ZdhD_V1AugtG3jlg/s640/20190620_174508.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Drilled and 1/2 inch hose bib installed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOytlWUKIeixjmhkW9VA9RC-6GuWjwtXlwrA6MOSylR74u8JGo8DLL7daX5YcSSs-yLpz0hg37vm-Yq23GgHxqMOqSFcKM6PmHjObKYE6GTczKtSe10vuqCHSi9dLLvt1Dew4Wpg/s1600/20190620_182228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOytlWUKIeixjmhkW9VA9RC-6GuWjwtXlwrA6MOSylR74u8JGo8DLL7daX5YcSSs-yLpz0hg37vm-Yq23GgHxqMOqSFcKM6PmHjObKYE6GTczKtSe10vuqCHSi9dLLvt1Dew4Wpg/s640/20190620_182228.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drilled and 3/4 inch close nipple installed, 3/4 inch elbow installed, 3/4 inch hose adapter and 6ft hose installed for overflow<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXVL4OnkZi3fNGjbsAgxrFY5pIF-R47D2k0nVXqp8KABTuBwfdHSIWClUUH0t4kTunBlRJdZJjstYojzk9CjbkGVLhhdl7yaiuamefS6gmY5ZXeDPh9lNJIwQCWx3SMcPM7YETg/s1600/20190620_182240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXVL4OnkZi3fNGjbsAgxrFY5pIF-R47D2k0nVXqp8KABTuBwfdHSIWClUUH0t4kTunBlRJdZJjstYojzk9CjbkGVLhhdl7yaiuamefS6gmY5ZXeDPh9lNJIwQCWx3SMcPM7YETg/s640/20190620_182240.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The screened hose washer goes in the 3/4" barbed barb to garden hose female adapter fitting and the the adapter screws on the hose (this prevents mosquitos getting in the barrel thru the overflow drain line)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA58cF9nZ6xQJI-o2HCGlBsA_xWPWEsPtIl5MxHz-JaAgEAFrwpzQ9CHJFeerpmlFjtLOnVh9PMXdl5nHsvmIU_GpiHY1QiFP_63eh86y0cBjC5gD448NQCcSoxSTeuXVhEguvBA/s1600/20190620_182502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA58cF9nZ6xQJI-o2HCGlBsA_xWPWEsPtIl5MxHz-JaAgEAFrwpzQ9CHJFeerpmlFjtLOnVh9PMXdl5nHsvmIU_GpiHY1QiFP_63eh86y0cBjC5gD448NQCcSoxSTeuXVhEguvBA/s640/20190620_182502.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">3/4 inch hole drilled in top of barrel, screen wire cut and stapled over the hole to prevent mosquitoes from getting in the barrel. Mini-split HVAC drain line cut and draining over the hole in the top of the barrel.<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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Allen Maddinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14108694222225681417noreply@blogger.com