Aug 16, 2016 |
The Bluecut Fire is a bad dream. This fire went from zero to over 18,000 acres in twelve hours. Twelve. Hours.
I’m not sure what I’m going to wake up to tomorrow. I’m not sure I want to go to bed tonight.
I’ve posted photos and updates on Facebook throughout the day. Here’s the collection.
The fire started around 10:30 am. I was at working, jamming out to Luke Bryant on the local country station and writing new policies for a client when my boss came into the main area. She was on her cell phone and changed the radio. Now, normally, I have few issues with this. Except, like I said, it was Luke Bryant. So I say, “What are you doing to my radio station?” As if I own Luke Bryant and his country swagger. She says, “(Hubby) is on the phone. Did you know there’s a fire in the Pass?”
So I sigh. Because the Pilot Fire was just contained like, yesterday. After seven days and 9,000+ acres. Some of the policies I wrote today had been waiting for the fire restriction to be lifted for the last week. So this morning I was a happy camper insurance agent. Notsomuch by this afternoon.
I finish with my client, say ciao, and decide to take a peek out the back door. MoJoGirlSayWhaaaat?! I expected a smoke cloud along the lines of what we had last week. Which I thought was bad. But it retrospect, I’d take that almost any day over what I saw. It was like freaken Armageddon.
And it just keeps growing. Like, crazy growing. Every news update has this thing exponentially growing like a bad science experiment.
So I took a few photos.
And at the end of the day, I head home. Which takes me toward the storm.
Have you ever been inside a disaster movie?
There’s a quality in the air, an electricity that pricks you from the inside of your nerves and travels throughout your body. You hold your breath and hyperventilate all at the same time. It’s a sensory overload, and you look at the traffic around you and everyone else is gawking at the strange orange-red sky.
Orange-Red Sky.
Now, we get wildfires out here, it’s part of the climate. The drought makes it worse, but we get through. Most smoke clouds are thick, grey, a little dark.
Today’s clouds – clouds – are orange-red. Like the ash clouds themselves are on fire. They’re not reflecting the fire, they are the fire.
And I’m holding my breath and trying not to see the beautiful colors because the devastation is only beginning.
My friends are evacuating. Historic sites are burnt down. The only freeway is closed in both directions. And the wind keeps blowing it closer in my direction.
So tonight, my go-bag is packed. My crate is packed. My food essentials are packed. And the cat crates are out and open.
I don’t think I’ll have to evacuate. I think there are too many buildings between there and here. But that knowledge doesn’t help when red ash is falling.
And I think this is something worth documenting.
BlueCut Fire Around 1pm, Hesperia.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Around 5pm, Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Around 5:15 pm, Main Street, Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Around 5:20 pm, Main Street and Locust, Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Around 5:20 pm, Main Street and Locust, Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Around 5:25 pm, Backyard at Bedford Manor, Hesperia, CA.
Blue Cut Fire, Day 1. Around 6:50 pm, Backyard at Bedford Manor, Hesperia, CA.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jul 8, 2016 |
Faith Is . . . Inspire: Creative Journaling Bible
So there’s a lot going on in the world today that I’d like to, but can’t (and really shouldn’t) ignore. I don’t even want to start the laundry list of upset, because I’ll inevitably forget or neglect something or go sideways with it.
As things of late have been happening, I’m understanding more and more there’s a before, during, and after. For everything. Except God. He’s just an all-inclusive is.
My faith has been challenged recently. It’s been uplifted, spun around, trampled on, revived, amplified, and abused. And I’m the prime culprit.
Yet it holds. In the dark thoughts, in the silent screams, in the moments of “I don’t know what comes next!”, it says, “Hold on.” It says, “Things are gonna get better.”
It says, “Trust me.”
It proves itself to me time and again, when it shifts from thought to reality.
It is strong. It is the dynamic of what is and what will be. Did you catch that? What is and what will be. Imperatives. Not suggestions. Not ideas. But absolute, positive, imperative.
Faith is not a question.
Faith says, “I will do this.” “I will be that.” And then it hangs around and waits until it happens.
Faith isn’t a wish with fairy dust.
I purchased my new Bible two weeks ago tonight. It was a bonus purchase when Faith brought my community together in such an immediate response that I was enabled to purchase Raven, my new laptop and needed accessories. That was a journey of faith, let me tell you.
Faith Is . . . My Writing Desk
And I was blessed with far more than just the essentials. A new desk, swivel chair, better lighting. And yes, an adult coloring book. All things a creative person needs to exceed.
Naomi told me of a friend of hers who teaches creative Bible journaling; that is, using scrapbooking/artistry to delve deeper. I told her I wasn’t sure I could do that to a Bible. But then I thought, I’m a creative. I’m not sure I couldn’t do that to a Bible. Especially a Bible designed with a creative reader in mind. If it causes me to connect with God and my world in a better way, how could I not explore the option?
But of course, it’s a new Bible. It’s pretty. It smells like a book should smell. The pages are smooth and the words are crisp.
And I’m human.
I’m gonna mess this up.
So, for the last two weeks, I kept the Bible where it doesn’t belong. In its box. On the desk. Untouched. Unopened. Like a precious gem.
But here’s the thing about Bibles. The more they’re used, the more they’re worn, and marked and highlighted and underlined and notated . . . That’s when they’re priceless.
I have several Bible verses that I hold to consistently. Lately, another has been creeping into the forefront of my spirit, begging me to grasp it, to understand it.
And as God will often do, He confirmed this understanding by having it presented to me in several different ways. Through conversations. A Facebook meme. Dreams. Song lyrics.
So tonight, I opened my gem to find the Gem.
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for;
it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” [Hebrews 11:1, NLT].
God’s been impressing upon me lately the value and the promise of Faith. How, without Faith, nothing would be accomplished.
You bake because you have Faith the cookies won’t burn down the house.
You drive with Faith that the brakes will work when they need to, and that you will reach your destination.
You love in Faith that it will be returned to you.
Now, these are human examples and at times, subject to fail. But overall, you see it, don’t you?
Faith is the tangible realization of what we keep in our hearts.
But wait ~ there’s more!
Faith is the driving force behind our success and excess. Faith is what moves mountains out of our way, and moves us over the muddy pits.
Faith is what gets us from Point A to Point B. We can’t be swayed from it. We know deep in our gut that this is who we are, what we are destined to be. The path may [will] turn, in parts be grown over and hard to follow, but it is still the path we’re meant to be on.
Faith says so. Faith says, “Don’t give up, honey.” It says, “We got this.”
Faith says, “Lean on me.”
When things seem dark and chaotic and noisy and unclear, Faith is the flashlight. It is what motivates all heroes to fight against the dark, to stand and run when others fall.
It’s what’s calling you.
Faith, like God, Is.
Faith Is . . . What Superheroes Are Made Of
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
CLICK TO TWEET: Tweet: Frankly, My Dear . . . Faith isn’t a question. It’s a flashlight. @realmojo68
CLICK TO TWEET: Tweet: When things seem dark and chaotic and noisy and unclear, Faith is the flashlight. @realmojo68
Jul 7, 2016 |
After my peeps joined my campaign to bring Raven to Bedford Manor [Translation: When my family and friends supported my fundraiser to buy a new laptop], I was approached by several friends and associates who asked for advice on crowdfunding.
Now, before I get into all that, I need to let y’all in on a not-so-secret. I’ve been pursuing knowledge this year like never before. I’ve attended conferences, used Google like a best friend, and sought information from anyone willing to share it.
And I’ve learned that I’ve already learned a lot. It’s time to use my knowledge. It’s time to grow.
I’m a writer, right? So what’s This Girl to do with some of this wisdom, but, well, write it out? I know, bet ya didn’t see that one coming, did ya? [*insert snarky comment here*]
In a mutually beneficial effort to not only get my Social Media Ninja name out there, and to help others, I published a new Kindle booklet: Crowdfunding Your Way to Success.
I did this because my most recent crowdfunding campaign, Molly Needs A Mac, was so successful and I want to help others exceed their goals and needs. It’s also my second completed project on my new Mac (the first was setting up and producing last week’s Firsts In Fiction Podcast). See? I told y’all I’d continue to strive to be worthy of your investment.
So if you’re thinking of crowdfunding your next creative endeavor, you’ll find some helpful tips in my new Kindle booklet. Just click on the photo for the link.
Crowdfunding Your Way to Success by Molly Jo Realy
As always,
With a huge jar of pennies and quite a bit of sweet tea,
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jul 5, 2016 |
Exciting news: NOLA is nearly fifty percent written!
Josie and her new friends are going through the wringer (it is a mystery, after all) but still finding moments to enjoy the Crescent City. Would you like to meet her friends? You would?
How about one in particular? One very special friend.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Rain.
Meet Rain, from NOLA
Rain and Toni are best friends. He lives on the plantation he inherited. I could tell you more, but I can’t give away any secrets.
Josie is immediately attracted to him, and relishes in learning more about him every chance she gets.
What does he do for a living? Let’s just say food is involved. He’s also a take-charge kind of guy.
New Experiences in NOLA
Josie soon discovers some of Rain’s imperfections and struggles to make sense of the chaos surrounding these revelations.
But New Orleans is a restless environment, throwing Voodoo, hurricanes and Rougarous into the mix.
How is Josie going to learn all Rain’s truths? And does she really want to?
Want more? I was hoping you would. Join the Facebook NOLA Swarm Group and be a part of the fun.
NOLA should be released later this year.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jul 4, 2016 |
For realz. Who doesn’t love photos of cute kittens? (Which begs the question: Are there ever any ugly kittens? I think not.) And better ratings? And smart, helpful people? Those social bees will be swarming all over for a piece of this sweet pie.
Five Kittens
Just like with books on the bookstore shelf, a post on the blog is competing with many more like it. The reality is titles are the money-maker. You could have found the cure for the common cold, but unless your title gets the reader’s attention, no one else will benefit from your wisdom.
Hooking your readers feels a bit like putting together a jigsaw puzzle while blindfolded but like any puzzle, once you get the border established, the rest will fall into place.
Kitten Puzzle
Take a look at the title for this post. Got your attention, didn’t it? Let’s break it down into manageable morsels and get you some title honey to help attract your Swarm.
- The Popularity Contest. Social media is interactive. Become a Bee Ninja and learn from the masters. Then share and share alike. Cross links, reposts, and mentions are a great way to let others know you recognize their sweet social media savvy, and they may return the favor. At the very least, your readers will know you do your research.
- It’s a Numbers Game. “Five Easy Solutions” or “Ten Alternate Ways” gives your readers a selection to choose from. They may not agree with everything you say, but who doesn’t love counting the seconds when the Big Apple falls on New Year’s Eve? Give your Swarm a reason to see if their favorites made your list. And then ask them to leave a comment of what they would add.
The Numbers Game
- Keep it Simple. Notice how often the words “easy” and “simple” are used in countdown titles. Would you read a post that offered 25 Complicated Steps to Brushing Your Hair? How about 31 Ways to Confuse Yourself in the Kitchen? Remember your Swarm is made up of worker bees. You want them to have time to promote you, not get frustrated and fly away. A short list plus easy options equals a happy hive.
- Yes, I mean kittens. Cute, cuddly, attention-grabbing kittens. Do you have any idea how many posts generate kitten memes? I don’t either, but I hear it’s, well, a lot. Find something specific to your brand or subject matter that others will buzz about then stand back and watch them play.
- The End Goal. Imagine a large stadium or court with the clock ticking down. Tick. Tick. Tick. The ball snaps or bounces and you leap out of the impending rush of opponents. Your teammates cheer and buzz as you reach the goal, make the pass. Even the visitors have to admit, you have what it takes. And you sweetly take the win.
MoJo Says: Five Simple Ways Counting Kittens Can Boost Your Blog Traffic
Not every posts needs every element, but a good title will draw your Swarm in. A great post will keep them buzzing.
With some sweet tea and a spoonful of honey,
~ Happy writing.
Molly Jo
