Etc. Etc. Etc.

Every now and then, I will write something that doesn't really fit into a specific label or category. So, I will tag it with this image.

The Importance of Keeping Permanent Records (Hurricane Sandy Reminds Me)

When it comes to people, we should never keep permanent record of wrong doings. But, we should keep a permanent record of all the things we love about them and the good things they have done and the good that they are. But, that's not the purpose of this blog post right now.

As Hurricane Sandy is approaching, and we have no idea as to whether she will hit our home or not, we are preparing as though she will. I am quickly making lists in my head of what to bring--learning from Hurricane Irene what this means. But, another nice thing about Hurricane Irene, and mandatory evacuation, it taught me to prepare as much the day after so that I would be prepared for another hurricane. I have taken concrete steps to be prepared. Let me tell you the stress that has alleviated in my mind. 

I have just downloaded all my 4700 photos from vacation from my cell to my computer and from there to the cloud. I'll get my husband to do the same. And, this reminded me of something and made me aware of something.

While thinking of going through another hurricane is stressful... I am grateful for having been through the first one (Irene). This third generation Colorado native never had to even think of hurricanes living near the Rockies. But, having said all of that, I feel a peace. Why? My affairs are in order. My priorities are straight. I know to prepare for the worst--and pray the best happens. But, most importantly, I have kept permanent records.

Let's be realistic. I can lose all of my possessions. I can always buy and accumulate more. But, the memories are what are priceless and need to be guarded with fierce veracity. This includes photos, journals, writings, calendars, scrapbooks, etc. Hence, to have permanent records of these things are critical. 

WHAT DO I MEAN BY PERMANENT RECORD?

I mean having everything saved on the cloud over the internet -where you could lose your computers, cell, tablets, house, etc., but you can access these records from anywhere in the world at any time, provided you have access to an internet capable device and the internet. 

What should you keep on permanent record? The answer is simple: EVERYTHING. 

Examples: Journals, digital scrapbooks, photos, writings, letters, digital scans of important paperwork, etc. 

A LESSON FOR US

You never know when a hurricane or tornado might come your way. Or what about a fire or a natural gas explosion? Or, what about being burglarized?

I know we hate to think like this. I know we would rather live in a world of denial. But, as our house is in flames, or flooded, denial will not change the fact that it is happening or has happened. It's critical to be prepared for the worst today. 

So... Think about this. Are you prepared? Do you have everything saved to a computer that you can have saved?

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Stacy Duplease
Thriller Historical Fiction Writer

The Chronicler and Roanoke: The Family Treez of the USA Series, Book #1

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com

NaNoWriMo: http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/familytreezetc

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Remember

Remember your present. Live it well.
Glance at the past from time to time.
Focus on the future. Plan it well.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Stacy Duplease
-- Sent from my Kindle Fire

My story from 9/11

SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH: REMEMBERING

On 9/10/2001, I watched as a beloved Broncos player, Ed MacCaffrey was hurt. He was given a life-changing break to his leg. It was horrible. It was an injury you had the feeling ended his career. I tossed and turned that night.

When I drove to work that morning, across town, I could not help but think of him. The radio talked about it as well.

Then... Everything was put into proper perspective.

846 a.m. Eastern Time (It was 646 in Denver, where I am from and will return one day.)

I heard the radio announce: "An airplane has crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City."

I remember saying out loud, "WHAT?" That sure caught my attention.

Was it a Cessna or a commercial jetliner? Was it a terrorist or an accident? I could not help but wonder. Then, the guy on the radio speculated the same questions over the radio.

A couple of minutes later, he announced again, "A second airplane has struck the World Trade Center." There was a pause. "It is now safe to say that this was a deliberate act of terrorism."

"War has been declared on the United States of America," I said to myself. Hearing those words, and speaking them, were rather mind-boggling and stunning. Never mind what just happened in NYC.

We were at war.

How many people just died or were hurt? How many fathers, mothers, children, friends were not going home that night? I thought as my heart went to my throat. How many people were in the towers? How many people worked in the towers?

They radio program, a music station which played the 80's to today music, had a guest who said over 50,000 people worked in the World Trade Center's two towers.

I knew someone who would most likely be going to war. (My future husband.) The thought hit me pretty hard.

I thought about the two most important dates in U.S. history, according to my father: 04 July 1776 and 07 December 1941. Both days were marked by the shedding of American blood for freedom. 12/7 was a day of infamy.

My dad made sure I knew all about the events on 12/7, those that led up to it, and the aftermath. I knew the costs of that day.

My dad was too young to know 12/7 personally, but I could tell it impacted him and his life. (It still does today.)

Any day when THOUSANDS of Americans die is a terrible day. (Never mind any other nationality across the world.)

I knew September Eleventh was most likely going to be worse than Pearl Harbor. The numbers, and airplanes, only cemented this reality.

"It has been confirmed that it was two commercial jetliners, folks." The guy over the radio shared with us.

I had just pulled into the parking lot at work. I turned off my truck and said a prayer before I headed into work.

The radio was not on. It was always on. But, it was not on yet. This struck me.

"Turn on the radio," I hollered across the print shop to the gal closest to the radio.
"Why?"

"Two commercial planes have hit the World Trade Center in New York City. That's why." I shared the simple truth with them. I heard my voice quiver a little as I spoke.

The guy and gal looked at one another and then LAUGHED at me in disbelief.

I remember feeling furious, but I bit my tongue. This was not something you joked about or made up. Ever. "I am serious. Please turn on the radio." I requested and headed to the back to punch the clock.

When I got back up front, they stood there, mouths hanging open.

I immediately called our supervisor and he brought in a t.v. He was getting ready to leave his house.

937 a.m.

I then called my dad, and woke him up, since he worked nights. This was something you wake people up for. We just heard how the Pentagon was hit. (That was yet another declaration of war. How many more would we get today?)

Then, I called my mom.

959 a.m.

The moment our supervisor got to work, and plugged in the t.v., the first tower fell.

I will never forget a group of us standing around watching this. Two were former military. They said it would be a matter of days before we responded. I agreed. How could we not? They both said they would want to re-enlist that second if they could, but they could not. One had physical problems. One had too many obligations at home. He was also a single father and the mother was out of the equation.

1006 United 93, southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1028 The second tower fell.

I will never forget how we could tell when customers walked into the print shop--whether they knew or not about what happened this day. Those who heard, said something, and were somber. Those who had not heard were loud, happy, continued on with life as normal.

Since I was the one who ran the counter, along with A/R, I was the one who told them.

"I take it you haven't heard." I knew not to ask if they had or not. It was obvious.

"Hear what?" All of them asked.

"About how two planes have crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City."

"No!"

"Yes..."

The moment I got in my truck to drive home, I listened to the radio. The moment I got home, I turned on the t.v. I saw all of the images again... Heard stories...

Just as I did a couple of days ago.

My husband and I drove home from a Presidential rally when he turned on the radio. They were replaying the sounds of that day.

For 45 minutes, my husband and I drove in silence.

Today, I have been peeled to the t.v. again... as I am every year.

One day, we will have a child. They will know about the three dates in U.S. history to never forget. 04 July 1776. 07 December 1941. 11 September 2001.

Our future child will know how many military men and women we have personally known who have fought and fallen since.

Freedom costs. It is not free.

We will never forget.

We will not falter.

The land of the free, the home of the brace.

God bless the USA.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

 

Maybe because it's Tuesday

The pain from 9/11 is quite raw to me today.

 

I am weepy. It started last night.

 

Is it because it's another beautiful blue sky Tuesday?

 

I realize, if I am honest with myself, I do not intentionally think of 9/11 as much as I should. This reality hurts.

 

My life, however, cannot help but reflect it every day. I support the U.S. military every day. They are still fighting for our freedom today. Even when the wars are ended, they still fight every day as they pay attention to current events all across the globe.

 

The military is my absolute passion. They fight for me, and my freedom, so I do not have to. This is never taken lightly by me.

 

But, the feelings from 9/11 are still with me.

 

9/11 was a day that changed everything for the United States of America--and for the world. But, it also changed for me. And for all of us individually.

 

9/11 was another day of infamy.

 

9/11 was when terrorist struck CIVILIANS at home. At HOME.

 

No. May we never forget. May it always be raw with us. May we ensure no one then or since has died, been injured, or fought be in vain.

 

I press the keys on my keyboard a little harder, and with more passion, now.

 

Today is another beautiful blue sky Tuesday. And, it still hurts.

 

You are remembered.

 

God bless America!

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

 

Where were you?

Where were you when you first heard about 9/11?

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Living history

We are living history today.

And not just because it is 9/11.

Every day, we are living history. After all, when tomorrow comes, today is history.

Are you living with this knowledge every day?

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

How quickly life changes

On 9/11/2001, we learned how quickly life can change. 

Let us make sure every day to live as though it was our last and make it count.

This is our tribute to the vicims of 9/11.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Remember

THOUGHT: History must be remembered... Or it will be doomed to repeat itself.

I was raised that if I must never forget two particular dates in American history: 04 July 1776 and 07 December 1941. A new date was added 11 years ago... 11 September 2001.

Those three dates prove freedom is not free. Freedom costs. The payment, unfortunately, is blood. Freedom is not free. 

In order for everyone to fully live free, the blood of Jesus had to be shed.

In order for American to be free, blood has to be shed at times. The price is higher than high.

Have we forgotten 9/11?

Really.

How united are we?

Do we understand that our very national defense is rapidly being not just cut, but gutted... each day by our politicians? What about Iran and China? We are less safe today than on 9/11. 

May we remember. And not forget. 

Do you know what the country learned on 07 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor? The USA learned how the very military who protects us could not react immediately. We did not have the ships, planes, or men to protect us.

Today, we have less ships, planes, and men and women in the military.

Have we learned? Have we remembered? Have we forgotten?

Have we learned from history?

Today... Let us rededicate ourselves to being united and not divided. To standing strong as a nation. To prayer. To remembering. 

To action and not inaction. To prayer. To voting carefully to ensure those who defend us can and not be held back and gutted by government.

To making sure not one from 9/11 died in vain.

To making sure the first responders who have cancer from being hurt in their lungs now have not been in vain. 

To making sure the military men and women who have died, been injured, and/or fought have not been in vain.

May we remember and be united. Always. Every day. And not forget.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Remember

THOUGHT: History must be remembered... Or it will be doomed to repeat itself.

I was raised that if I must never forget two particular dates in American history: 04 July 1776 and 07 December 1941. A new date was added 11 years ago... 11 September 2001.

Those three dates prove freedom is not free. Freedom costs. The payment, unfortunately, is blood. Freedom is not free. 

In order for everyone to fully live free, the blood of Jesus had to be shed.

In order for American to be free, blood has to be shed at times. The price is higher than high.

Have we forgotten 9/11?

Really.

How united are we?

Do we understand that our very national defense is rapidly being not just cut, but gutted... each day by our politicians? What about Iran and China? We are less safe today than on 9/11. 

May we remember. And not forget. 

Do you know what the country learned on 07 December 1941 at Pearl Harbor? The USA learned how the very military who protects us could not react immediately. We did not have the ships, planes, or men to protect us.

Today, we have less ships, planes, and men and women in the military.

Have we learned? Have we remembered? Have we forgotten?

Have we learned from history?

Today... Let us rededicate ourselves to being united and not divided. To standing strong as a nation. To prayer. To remembering. 

To action and not inaction. To prayer. To voting carefully to ensure those who defend us can and not be held back and gutted by government.

To making sure not one from 9/11 died in vain.

To making sure the first responders who have cancer from being hurt in their lungs now have not been in vain. 

To making sure the military men and women who have died, been injured, and/or fought have not been in vain.

May we remember and be united. Always. Every day. And not forget.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Are we united?

Are we united or are we divided?

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

Learning from History

Evaluated experience is the best teacher. And so is learning from history.

 

History is another great teacher. If we do not learn it, we are doomed to repeat the errors made in history.

 

Why do I love historical fiction? Some of these errors can be made and learned from again today. That's why. If we do not know our history, we live a very dangerous life. After all, we do not know the lessons others had to learn the hard way.

 

So, study up on history. It will help you live a better today. I write historical fiction to make this learning easier and more imaginative than reading a textbook.

(Clipart Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Blame

In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve ate the fruit and after God confronted them, Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the sneaky snake. They did not accept responsibility.

If they had, God would have forgiven them.

The most important thing to remember is that blaming anyone and everyone else for our own personal wrongdoing is sin. It is wrong.

Accept responsibility.

Remember he is a God of grace.
 

(Photo Credit: Microsoft Imagines Online.)

-- Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer
Sent from my cell.

What an interesting weekend: Etc. Etc. Etc. #4

Well, this weekend was an interesting one.

 

First, my husband came home from being gone for a week for work. His flight was delayed twice when he came home. Then, we had a torrential downpour of rain for hours, which led to our flooded yard (in the picture above). We kept waiting for Noah, the ark, and all the animals to pass by.

The water, thankfully, never came into the garages or into our house. But, it sure made a mess in our front yard. It took a few hours for the water to subside.

 

Never mind how every distraction came to me last week imaginable, so I was not able to get ahead with my writing when my husband was gone, like I usually am. As a matter of fact, I am running behind. (Sigh.)

 

Now, today, I have been hit with more distractions. It seems like whenever I think I am going to get ahead, another shoe falls. Today was a bad day from the moment the alarm went off, though. Bad moods and bad luck--mixed with being tired from not sleeping well last night, then add how dog decided to get sick in the house, and cat was stepped on, and other distractions... What a lousy day and it is only 11:16 a.m.

 

So, did I have a nice, relaxing weekend?

 

Umm... No... Not really.

 

Am I refreshed and ready to take on the week? Um... No. I keep getting further and further behind on my writing--and that is not like me. So, this only adds more stress and frustration. It seems like everything is complicated and a mess at the moment. Oh. And, a family member is having a operation tomorrow. So, that only adds even more yucky stress.

 

Am I complaining? Not really. Rather, I am letting you know how the best laid plans do go astray and how it is absolutely essential to journal, do Bible study, have prayer, and regroup when that happens.

 

I realize that I need to stop. Halt. Freeze. I am going to print out the last partially types page I was trying to write. I am going to stop hitting my head against the wall and do what I just said. I will journal, do Bible study, and regroup. I probably should have done that first thing this morning. But, I felt the pressure of my writing goals slipping away. So, I tried to shortcut the process. Shortcutting never works. Not having a quiet time until later rarely works for me. I get the most out of my quiet time when I give God the time he deserves first. The next thing I know, he usually helps me get far more done that day than I could imagine or would have otherwise.

 

I fail. I mess up. I am human. I am a sinner. It is what I do from here that counts and I am going to apply the lessons learned to my own life and try again. I will let you know how this works in a bit.  

 

Do you ever have this kind of Monday?

(Photo Credit: Stacy Duplease. 26 August 2012.)

 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Etc. Etc. Etc. #3: Stormy Days and Sickness

I think stormy days, and those of sickness, are God's way of slowing us down so we are without excuse and have time to be with him.

 

(Today is one of those for me and the weather report says tomorrow to expect more of the same.)

(ClipartCredit: Microsoft Images Online.)
     

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Etc. Etc. Etc. #2: Fall

Is anyone else ready for Fall--or is it just me?

(Photo Credit: Miscrosoft Images Online.)

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Etc. Etc. Etc. #1

Do you ever think of where you came from and whom you came from?

 

Who were your ancestors?

 

How have they influenced your life--even if you have no idea who they are? They have, after all.

 

We are connected with our past==even if we do not know it. Our past shaped who we are today.

 

Are we to dwell on the past? No. Not at all. But, knowing one's past helps one to live more fully today. We are a product of our past, whether we realize it or not. And, yesterday is proof of this. What we did, or did not do, yesterday shapes who we are and what we do today.

 

The Bible talks about generational sin and how the sins of our forefathers bear on us today. However, what about the faith of our forefathers? And, how can you lay a foundation of a strong faith today--so the next generations will receive blessing because of your actions today?

 

Appreciate the past, learn from it, and apply the lessons learned. Learn about your ancestors. They have helped shape who you are. You might even have more in common with them than you ever realized--even if it is your twelfth generation grandmother or grandfather.

(Photo Credit: Microsoft Iamges Online.)
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Family Treez Blog and Website: http://familytreezusa.blogspot.com and http://familytreezusa.tumblr.com

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Journaling, Writing, Photography, Coffee/Tea, Running, Bible study, prayer, and Digital Scrapbooking

What else can you expect from this blog over time?

 

Let me tell you more about me. I am a journal keeper. It is an important part of my life and I find it helps me to live and practice my faith. I also am a writer of historical fiction. I love to take photos everywhere I go and throughout my day most days. It is one way I use to journal and remember what I have done and seen. I also love coffee and tea. I am a runner and have a body type where I have to constantly watch what I eat and how much I eat. I enjoy doing and writing Bible studies. I strive to pray without ceasing. And, I do digital scrapbooking.

 

What do all these things have to do with this blog? You will see each of these elements on this blog--along with thoughts on marriage, beagles, Orange Maine Coons (cats), turtles, patriotism, voting, pro-military, etc.

 

Mostly, this is my blog about the Family Treez of the USA historical fiction series.

 

Whenever I write about any of these things, I will add the phrase, 'Etc.Etc. Etc.' to the title so you know it's a miscellaneous blog post.

 

I will focus on these elements most, however:

~ Historical Fiction

~ Writing a Novel

~ Journal Keeping

~ A Loyal Faith (Bible study and faithful thoughts)

~ Etc. Etc. Etc.

(Photo Credit: Stacy Duplease. 2012. The picture was taken in Hampton, Virginia--near the Hampton History Museum.)
 

Stacy Duplease
Historical Fiction Writer of:

Inspirational American Historical Ancestry Romance Fiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez USA

Email: familytreezusa@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction   

Emotional Olympics, London, and Camp NaNoWriMo: Etc. Etc. Etc. (Misc. Thoughts)

Is it just me, or does any one else shed a lot of tears during the Olympics?

Last night was quite emotional--between women's gymnastics team competition getting the gold to the 800 Men's relay in swimming. Never mind all of the other moments. How impressive and moving.

I get just as emotional for those who do not win, by the way.

Never mind how much I love seeing London when they break away to a commercial and when they come back from commercial. It's the very setting for the first book I am writing in my historical novel. Therefore, that moves me and inspires me as well. The things I am researching, I can see from today's perspective and it helps me put things into context. It helps that my husband is a studier of history, so he knows London. But, he's also been there. So, we can pause the screen and he points the sites out to me. I find this quite helpful.

Just a couple of thoughts for today... Now, I need to get back to the London in my book.

Total word count so far: 12,896.

Oh! And I am going to do Camp NaNoWriMo for August. You can find me here: http://www.campnanowrimo.org/campers/familytreezetc/novels/american-origins-part-1

I will do a new blog post about this so you know what I am talking about here, if you do not.

Have a blessed day.

(Photo is by Stacy Duplease.)
--

Stacy Duplease
Geneaologist and Historical Fiction Writer

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Family Treez

Email: familytreezetc@gmail.com
Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction