November 9, 2008 by Karl.
Good evening, my friends,
I’m sorry to say it hasn’t been a good week for me. I bought a new bike to ride in an effort to get in a little exercise each day, and have been riding seven miles or more every day.
My old bike had very loose brakes, and I had to grip the handles hard to stop; the same can not be said of my new bike - the brakes are quick and stop you in a hurry.
You probably know what’s coming - Yes, I did a flip last Friday when I was coming down a slope to a street and didn’t see a truck approaching from my right. I had my right hand off the handlebars and rear brake handle, so grabbed the front brake handle and gripped hard.
The front of the bike stopped on a dime, but the rear kept going and flipped me out on to the street. I got a nice piece of “road rash” on my chin and upper lip, chipped a front tooth, and really did a number on my right knee. It is swollen up about twice the size it should be.
I went to the emergency room and they took X-rays - no breaks or fractures - just a hematoma. (I hope that’s the correct spelling).
So, the book signing for Starbucks over in Portland, TX, for this weekend had to be postponed.
I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow and hope to get the thing drained and be back in good shape by next Friday, when we have rescheduled the book signing. Stop by to visit a while if you’re in the neighborhood.
I guess I learned something from this - keep your hands OFF the front brake handle - use ONLY the rear to stop. (A friend of mine from the Post Office saw me at the side of the road, bleeding from the chin and mouth, and stopped to ask if I needed assistance. Then he passed the above suggestion along - a little late, but to be heeded in the future.
I worried when I hit my head, as the brain aneurysm from a couple years ago was on my mind (no pun intended). I guess I didn’t do it any further damage, as I feel fine.
The tooth will also be repaired this week.
I still intend to keep riding and uphold the old Texas saying - “You have to get back on the horse that throwed you and ride him until he knows who’s boss.”
Nothing new on the second book. I keep hoping to hear from the publisher soon. I’ll keep you informed. Come back to visit often.
Thank the good Lord I wasn’t injured worse. Someone was looking out for me.
Until next time,
Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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October 21, 2008 by Karl.
Good afternoon, my friends,
Yes, we went and voted early - the lines were long, but every American should make it a point to vote. If I was in charge, we’d all be required to vote or pay a fine. There’s no excuse to not vote - and if you don’t, you don’t have any reason to complain who the other folks elect for you.
But, enough about politics - I am fed up with the mudslinging and name calling - it’s enough to make you sick - on both sides of the fence.
Yes, I ordered another 140 copies of my first book, “Signs of Our Times”, just in time for Christmas. They just arrived at our doorstep a few minutes ago - still first editions. So, we’ll soon be back out on the book signing circuit. We hope to start off at Starbucks in Portland, TX in a few days, and move on up to Austin and beyond. Maybe Fort Worth again - who knows?
If you’d like a copy to send to a friend or family member for Christmas, send a check for $21.75 to Karl Boyd Productions at PO Box 2096, Rockport, TX, and we’ll get it on the way to you, or to whomever you want us to send it to. ($19.75 including tax, and $2.00 for postage and handling). I’ll be glad to sign it to whomever you wish, just let me know.
We’re still waiting for the publisher to ask for the final draft of my new book, “From China with Love”. You can check out the website and see my book listed on the “forthcoming publications list” at www.bluewaterpress.com
I hope you’ll come see me at one of my next booksignings. I’ll let you know the dates and times when we complete our schedule.
Thanks again for dropping by - don’t be a stranger. Tell your friends.
Again, get out there and vote for the candidate of your choice. God bless America!
Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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October 8, 2008 by Karl.
Good afternoon, my friends,
Sorry to be so long in posting another blog entry, but we’ve been busy. We took a very nice week vacation and flew up to Oregon to visit with good friends who were at our wedding, 51 years ago. God, can it be that long ago??
We had beautiful weather, although our friends advised us to tell everyone it rained every day and all night, as they don’t want more people moving to “Paradise” as they call it.
Well, election time is almost here, and the two contenders are still slinging mud instead of addressing the specifics about how they intend to correct the mess we are in now. I have been a supporter of Mc Cain, as I see Obama as a very inexperienced politician, who can give a good speech but lacks much else to make him worthy of being our leader for the next four years. You may see it differently, but that’s what makes the USA such a winner - we can agree to disagree and move on.
Now, I’m not sure either of them will do a good job and am looking at Ron Paul, who no one invited to the debates. At least he addresses the problem and has some solutions.
I wonder where we’re going to get the three trillion in spending that Obama says he needs to put our lives and health in the hands of the government - yeah, like we need more government in our lives. They can’t stop the corruption in Medicare now, what will socialized medicine do to help? Will more taxes on us help? I think Obama believes it would.
I also wonder why neither of them has addressed the possibility of establishing a mass transportation system in the good old US of A like that of Europe. Talk about relieving us of our dependence of foreign oil - the Europeans have been paying $10 for a gallon gas for years - they ride the trains, trams, subways and buses - on time and cheap transportation to anywhere in Europe.
But, that makes too much sense to our would-be leaders. I’ve written to John four times, asking him to address the specifics instead of throwing mud at Obama. I guess his advisors don’t want advice from just a common “Joe” like me - or you! I may just send him a “Dear John” letter, literally.
But, enough. Pick your man and at least get out and vote. We’re in trouble, here in the good old USA, and someone has to bail the average citizen out - not just the greedy Wall Street barons.
Let’s hope the New Year brings some relief and we get back on our feet and on the way to recovery. I see a long, hard road ahead. What few stocks I own have gone way south, and there goes the World Cruise we’d planned on for years.
Once again, my new book is due out sometime in “early 2009″, and I look forward to seeing a lot of you at book signings. I’m hard at work on my seventh - “Palmyra - Isle of Death”- I think you’ll like it too.
Lots to do, so off I go. Take care and drop by again soon.
Until then,
Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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September 19, 2008 by Karl.
Good afternoon, my friends,
Yes, we’re back in Rockport after 2,300 miles of driving through the desert southwest. Amazing how many modern windmills are being put up on mesas to catch the wind and turn it into electrical power. Maybe we’ll get off oil after all. Someone has a great idea and is following through on it. We saw countless 18-wheelers hauling parts of the towers and big blades.
We spent an enjoyable week with my sister and her hubby, went casino hopping, (Carol won - I lost - what’s new?), shopping (more items for the collection), and saw some new sights.
Rockport didn’t receive any wind or rain from Ike - thank goodness!! We could use some rain, but not ten inches like they got in Chicago.
So, our shutters are down and put away; and we’re trying to remember where everything in our art collection goes - it will take us a couple days to get it all straight, but have decided next time, (let’s hope not a next time), we’ll just leave it and drive away. It’s just too much to handle when we get back.
We were lucky and feel sorry for many of our friends in Houston who either lost it all, or had severe damage. My fishing buddy says they only had about $2,000 done to their home, and his son about the same, so they were also lucky in that sense - they still have a home to come back to.
On another subject, the political scene is warming up and it looks like John and Sarah may have caught up with and passed BO. We’ll have to wait and see.
Drop by again, my friends. I hope to have more news about my next book shortly. Keep the faith.
Via con Dias,
Karl
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September 11, 2008 by Karl.
Good evening from Tucson, AZ, my friends,
Yes, we’re two states over, trying to avoid good old Ike. He is not liked back in Rockport, or any part of Texas he may choose to visit. We got up early Tuesday morning, put up our shutters in about two hours, packed a lot of clothes, my book discs and computers, some personal items we’d like to keep from Ike, and then put up our large collection of Southwestern Art - statues and paintings, and many other items we hated to leave behind, but couldn’t take with us. We took our art collection off the walls and put them on top of our bed, covered them all with a large tarp and tied it down, hoping against hope that Ike would not take off our roof. Then we put the statues and other collectables in top drawers of chests. It was a long, long day and we went to bed late, to get up early and pack the car and head out after the bank opened for our safe deposit items. (We have one just off the floor and figured if water came in the bank, the items in the box would be ruined. Better safe than sorry). We left at 9 a.m., expecting lots of traffic, but guess everyone else stuck around to see what was going to happen, as the road was practically empty and we maintained 70 mph all the way - either luck or good planning - (I like to think it was the latter).
We had a good trip to Fort Stockton, TX, and stayed overnight in a motel that was gouging people ($159), but took it in stride.
Today we made good time until El Paso, where they had a terrible accident on I-10 that had one vehicle crossing the divider near downtown and hitting an 18 wheeler or two and causing them to take out the center divider. It was a mess, both sides closed down for over an hour. The result was 14 miles of trucks and cars backed up in the Eastbound lanes. We were lucky, as we were only a mile from the accident scene and when one lane of traffic finally started moving, it only took about 30 more minutes to get back on the Interstate after crawling along and then being detoured onto a side road for several blocks. I hate to think about how many vehicles were behind us… All in all, another adventure and an hour and a half lost, but we weren’t involved, so counted out lucky stars. The rest of the trip was uneventful, with lots of rain, heavy at times, but we got in here at my sister’s at 3 p.m. their time. We have no idea when we’ll be able to return, and what we’ll find with we get back, but we hope you’ll join us in a prayer to ask that the residents of Houston and the surrounding towns be spared the horrific damage usually associated with a hurricane of this magnitude.
I think I messed up my sister’s computer by trying to get online to post this message, but hope we can restore the memory to get on AOL when I am done here… I should know by now not to mess with someone else’s computer.
Thanks for stopping by again, come back and visit often. I’ll let you know when we get home, and if we have a home to go back to. Thanks for your prayers and good thoughts. We appreciate them.
Until next time,
Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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August 29, 2008 by Karl.
Good evening, my friends,
Yes, after a month of waiting, due to Florida storms, the contract for my second book, “From China with Love” arrived, I signed it and sent it on its way to Florida, with a publication date of “early 2009″, which I hope is VERY early in 2009; but we’ll see.
The final draft of the manuscript has been edited and is ready to go. I hope you’ll “hang in there” with me. The story is worth the wait and will keep you in suspense throughout until you reach another unexpected ending.
We spent part of today with the Bahia Bay Residents Group, packing another 100 boxes to send to our brave troops in Iraq. We had at least 15 people helping, and got the boxes done in just over two hours. We’ve had fantastic support through donations of goods and money from our neighbors and friends throughout the coastal bend area, and want to thank them all.
One of our troops was back on R & R, and stopped by to tell us how much he and his men and women appreciated our support. He told tales of different items we sent and how they were received. A box of five soccer balls was a big hit among the Iraqi children.
We try to include a toy or box of crayons in each box for the troops to share with the local children. I think I told you before how a gift of a toy could save the lives of our troops. The recipient may see the giver another day and warn him of a roadside bomb or ambush.
I hope to hear from my new publisher with a more definite publication date, but regardless, another book is on its way.
Thanks for caring enough to visit often. Keep in touch. I’ll miss you if I don’t see you visit at least once a week.
Until then, Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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August 7, 2008 by Karl.
Good evening, my friends,
We just returned from another Corpus Christi “Hooks” baseball game, which the Hooks lost (AGAIN)!! 9-7 with a home run by the opponents in the ninth inning…arrgh!!
I’ve noticed a great amount of interest lately by friends in various foreign countries, and I want to thank you all for dropping by to read what I’ve written here. We hope you’ve ordered my first book, “Signs of Our Times”, and are looking forward to my next, “From China with Love”.
(If you go back a few entries, you’ll find the first chapter of this book in my blog - it’s been changed a little since then, but will still give you an idea of the story line - it’s filled with suspense.)
Let your friends in other countries know about me an my novels. They make great Christmas presents. Hint!
I also see I have a very recurring visitor from East Peoria, Illinois, my old stomping ground when I was a teenager. Whoever you are, thanks for dropping by so regularly. If you have time, drop me a line at carhop2007@sbcglobal.net and let me know what you think of my writing. I enjoy all the feedback I can get. It lets me know if I’m doing a good job or not.
It’s also great to know someone from near my home town thinks enough to visit so often. Thank you.
On other subjects, many of “our” troops are coming home!! We took the binder out of Starbucks, as the addressees are returning within the next few months. We thank all of you who “adopted” one of our troops. We got a lot of feedback from several who received letters or packages from you, and they really appreciated your thoughts and efforts. So did we! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Nothing is too good for OUR troops.
We go out to the airport on the 13th to welcome back Wallace Tinnin - our “adopted” soldier who is returning from fifteen months in Afghanistan. Welcome home, Wallace. His brother just returned to Iraq. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for Wallace’s return and another to safeguard his bother.
I’m still awaiting the contract from Bluewater Press, so we can get on with publishing “From China with Love”. I have no idea of the time frame for publishing the novel, but hope to have it out to you in time for Christmas, if not earlier.
So, hang in there and have faith. Believe me; this novel is worth the wait. Four more are done and awaiting their turn, so keep coming back to see when they will be published.
But, it’s late, and Carol is calling me to come to bed. By now you know who the boss is around here. Goodnight, my friends,
Via con Dias,
Karl
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July 26, 2008 by Karl.
Good afternoon, my friends,
Yes, there is good news. Bluewater Press in Florida has agreed to publish my next book, “From China with Love” - a story of how China takes over all of North America in five days without, essentially, firing a shot! It’s a tale of suspense, mystery, determination to live, and survival or death, (depending on the choices you make), with a little romance thrown in for good measure.
If you liked “Signs of Our Times”, I assure you that you’ll love this new novel.
The contract is on its way. I’ll sign and return it, and hopefully it won’t be long before you’ll be able to purchase this new book.
Let your friends know, and keep coming back to check my BLOG to get the latest news.
Hurricane Dolly delayed our packing of boxes for the troops this week, but we hope to complete another 100 or so next Thursday. We’ve received quite a few notes from Iraq, thanking us for our efforts.
Starbucks has a green folder in their store in Rockport with the names and addresses of local troops, if you’d like to “adopt” one and write to him/her. Check it out.
I’m beginning a new novel about a treasure ship wrecked near the island of Palmyra, out in the middle of the Pacific. I have 56 pages done and it’s moving along well.
The other four books I have written are final-edited and ready to be published. I hope Bluewater Press will assist me in getting them out to my readers sometime in the near future.
So, you see, there is reason to celebrate.
Drop by again soon. Until then,
Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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July 4, 2008 by Karl.
Good evening, my friends and Happy Fourth of July!!! God Bless America and the wonderful people who make up this great nation.
Yes, the final book of the 700 we purchased was bought today, and we had an employee from Starbucks, Brenda, draw ten tickets out of the bag to determine those who will receive a FREE copy of my next book.
The winners are:
S. Paxton, Rockport, TX
Dawn Brown, Rockport, TX
Lori Navarro, Portland, TX
Paul Sweitzer, Arlington, TX
James Am Marozzi, Elk Grove, CA
Hilda Pennington, Corpus Christi, TX
C. L. Zimmerman, Jr, Tomball, TX
Carl Howe, Ingleside, TX
Sue McGraw, Benbrook, TX
Karl Rader, Corpus Christi, TX
And, yes, it’s pure coincidence that two of the winners had the name of Carl and Karl.
We hope to hear from the publisher soon that “From China with Love” will be published in the near future. When it is, we’ll contact the above people and let them know they are winners.
Thank you all for your support. I’ll be letting you all know when my next book hits the market. Be waiting; it will be worth your while. You’re going to love this one as much as you liked “Signs of Our Times”.
The fireworks in Rockport were fantastic as always, and we thank all of those connected with the annual display. What a wonderful country we live in. Once again, God Bless America.
Until next time, Via con Dias, my friends,
Karl
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June 29, 2008 by Karl.
Good morning my friends,
Get set for one last book signing for “Signs of Our Times”, scheduled for Starbucks in Rockport on July 4th, 2008. I only have 14 books left of the 700 we originally purchased, so come in early to get your first edition.
In related news, we’ve moved over 1,000 copies so far, counting the ones the publisher sold. As soon as the last book is sold, I’ll have Carol draw for the free copies of my next book and notify the winners.
And, there is good news in that sector too: I decided to bypass the agents, as I’ve had little success there, and go directly to a publisher. I found a small press in Florida, Blue Water Press, and sent them “From China with Love”. Their initial response was positive, so now we have to wait until Monday to see what a new week brings. Wish us luck.
On the home front, we’ve now sent out over 3,500 packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also placed each of our local troops up for “adoption” at Starbucks. If you’d like to “adopt” a troop, send him messages of encouragement, or a box of “goodies” they can’t get over there, stop by and copy down an address out of the green ledger you’ll find on one of the tables at Starbucks.
We can’t say enough kind words about Starbucks and the group of good guys and gals they have working there. Every one of our packages has a pound of Starbucks coffee in it, thanks to the efforts of these nice people and the citizens who stop in and purchase a pound of pleasure for our troops. Keep up the good work, everyone.
On a personal note, our grandson, Brandon, continues the military family legacy Carol and I began, and our daughter, Carla aided, when he heads to Iraq in September. Keep him in your prayers, along with the rest of our brave men and women in the military, wherever they are stationed.
It’s getting hot here in Rockport, but not as hot as it is over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s hope this New Year brings them all home, safe and sound.
Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Remember the day as one dedicated to those who gave their lives, limbs, hearing and sight, plus so much more to protect our wonderful way of life.
God bless each and every one of them.
Until next time; Via con Dias, my friends,
God Bless America!!
Karl & Carol
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