... written by Greer Macallister, who is reportedly a USA Today Best Selling Author, according to the wording on the boxed set of Cds. Published in 2017 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Really good reading, and well researched to boot.
Kate Warne is the lead character. A single woman living in Chicago, in the middle 1800's, a few years before the heated arguments preceding the declaration of war in the US. She was married, had a child that was still born, and husband no longer on the scene. Alone, no skills, nothing that might help her to become self-supporting. She applies for a job with Allan Pinkerton as he is in the early stages of recruiting to form the Pinkerton Detective Agency. As you might suspect, there has never been a female operative, both Pinkerton and his agents are suspicious, doubtful, reluctant to even think of a woman as qualified to suss out criminals, suspicious characters, alleged evil-doers.
She is desperate for employment, eventually persuaded the disinclined Pinkerton to take her on. He begins to train her, and help her to learn the ropes of subterfuge, investigations, cloaking her identity with disguises, using guile to gain needed information.The author has obviously done her homework, as a tremendous amount of research is evident with each turn of the page. Kate is assigned a number of investigations, and sent out to inquire about details related to several cases: bank robbery, mysterious homicides. She has great powers of observation, and readily uncovers details of the various crimes no one else can claim. Historical facts woven into the tale include two separate meetings with Abraham Lincoln, once in a small Illinois town, and again as the president elect.
She is sent as a spy to the south, from their home base in Chicago, before the beginning of conflict in the Civil War. She develops a back story, invents her history and charms many in society as she travels to New Orleans, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte, other points where the rebels are fomenting insurrection, collecting information. Her cover story is she is a married woman, in the company of her fellow-spy/fictitious husband Tim Bellamy. They spend so much time together, they eventually do become a couple. But when Pinkerton discovers their engagement and plans to wed after the war, she is separated from Tim, and he is sent away. His identify is discovered, he is hanged as a Union spy. You keep hoping, expecting with each turn of the page, that Tim will return, it was only a case of mistaken identity...
I really enjoyed this story, even though it took me weeks to finish the nine discs. Plenty of action, well written with details of towns and military to make it seem most realistic, the people came to life and I found myself pulled into their stories as the book was read while I was driving. Well written, believable characters, so detailed it is difficult to realize it is fiction and not an accurate telling of footnotes from that time in history.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
in order to...
... avoid having to confess how long it has been since that kitchen floor was really cleaned I got up early this morning and swept and mopped. Thereby allowing me to feel self-righteous and enjoy my sparkly spotless floor for at least a week. Partially due to the fact there is no one around who will spill stuff on it to create sticky spots from failure to take food to eat at the table like a civilized person. You would absolutely not believe how many dead ants I swept up, though I am thankful they all appear to be corpses, it is possible I am still providing the perfect environment for an ant colony.
The last time it got cleaned, it was what my mom would likely refer to as 'a lick and a promise', though I am not absolutely clear on what that means? I've always thought 'sort of half-arsed', doing the job in such a poor way that it would soon require a do-over. Swiffer is a poor excuse for cleaning, but will do in a pinch if you are desperate and short on time. I am not much fond of that short-cut method as those little wet mopping pads are so aggravating when they keep slipping off and you have to stop forty times to put it back on again. But a quick solution when time is of the essence.
It was a productive day. Floor swept and mopped.
Papers sorted to take to CPA for getting taxes done, though my expectation was I would still be organizing, shuffling papers into next week. I called to ask if I could drop by and leave it for him to look at, decide if I need to gather up other/different documentation. Hopeful I had everything necessary, and will not hear until it is time to sign. Not looking forward to having him say: 'Ready'.
I expect it will be a traumatic event when he calls: getting mentally prepared to pay a pile to satisfy both the state and Uncle Sam. When we filed last year, I should have gotten hundreds back in a refund from the state, but was told it would be applied to the amount we owed for federal. I was so thoroughly annoyed with the idea of letting my state refund roll over for satisfying Uncle Sam, I changed my withholding. Hoping to avoid that scenario again: if I did not have as much withheld, there would not be extra to dump into paying into federal coffers. Sadly, now it appears I might have shot myself in the foot with that ploy...since I will be the one paying the full amount.
Sounding like a good plan, but now I fear I will be paying both state and federal requirements, the price we pay for enjoying the benefits of being US citizens. Also supporting all those incarcerated behind bars for long sentences we will be required to feed, clothe, shelter, provide with free health care. It's the American Way!
The last time it got cleaned, it was what my mom would likely refer to as 'a lick and a promise', though I am not absolutely clear on what that means? I've always thought 'sort of half-arsed', doing the job in such a poor way that it would soon require a do-over. Swiffer is a poor excuse for cleaning, but will do in a pinch if you are desperate and short on time. I am not much fond of that short-cut method as those little wet mopping pads are so aggravating when they keep slipping off and you have to stop forty times to put it back on again. But a quick solution when time is of the essence.
It was a productive day. Floor swept and mopped.
Papers sorted to take to CPA for getting taxes done, though my expectation was I would still be organizing, shuffling papers into next week. I called to ask if I could drop by and leave it for him to look at, decide if I need to gather up other/different documentation. Hopeful I had everything necessary, and will not hear until it is time to sign. Not looking forward to having him say: 'Ready'.
I expect it will be a traumatic event when he calls: getting mentally prepared to pay a pile to satisfy both the state and Uncle Sam. When we filed last year, I should have gotten hundreds back in a refund from the state, but was told it would be applied to the amount we owed for federal. I was so thoroughly annoyed with the idea of letting my state refund roll over for satisfying Uncle Sam, I changed my withholding. Hoping to avoid that scenario again: if I did not have as much withheld, there would not be extra to dump into paying into federal coffers. Sadly, now it appears I might have shot myself in the foot with that ploy...since I will be the one paying the full amount.
Sounding like a good plan, but now I fear I will be paying both state and federal requirements, the price we pay for enjoying the benefits of being US citizens. Also supporting all those incarcerated behind bars for long sentences we will be required to feed, clothe, shelter, provide with free health care. It's the American Way!
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
finding internet, part 3...
... when rolling along the city streets, and seeing a little campaign-sized sign for "Internet -39.99" with a number to call. I quickly grabbed my pen and wrote it down before the light changed, and made the call when I got home. Who answered? 'Edward'. I assumed a company who was trying to lure me into a package, that would give me what I wanted, then attempt to boost the price with add-on frou-frou. But it was only 'Edward'. Who is working for WOW on commission. He reported he had put the signs out to drum up business, which is, I suppose, a great way to increase your income or get votes.
I could not even recall what company this was, before seeing panel/work trucks all over town with WOW decals plastered on the sides. They used to be Knology, remember? We talked, he said they really could provide residential, high-speed internet for about forty bucks a month (plus rental on modem). I said sign me up. Then he wanted my address. I told him and he said he knew the company supplied service to a public golf course nearby. Oh, yay! That made me even more confident I had solved the over-priced wi-fi problem, and could now get what I wanted at a price I wanted.
He called me back to report that he cannot help. No service on my side of the street. Really? I had even shared the amusing story of taking my lap-top to the repair shop for service, amazed and delighted when bumped to the head of the line. I told the receptionist the only thing I knew was that the 'blog will not publish', and when she heard that, she assumed I was running a business! Great amusement for me, but no argument when she promised fast attention. The call to pick it up came within hours, and I thought the problem had been resolved. So sorry,all you blog readers out there, as well as so very aggravating that is not yet healthy. But the experience of going to the repair shop was also somewhat useful, when I could report to 'Edward' the tale of my conflated enterprise, who then attempted to get me hooked up with service as a 'business'.
Causing me to ponder what a huge can of worms that would be if I attempted to get a business license, involving questions about zoning, major tax ramifications, as well as a huge pain in the sitter. I laid in bed early one morning and considering the idea of a license which took off down a number of ill-advised rabbit trails, causing me to stuff that plan into the bottom of the trash can, hopefully permanently hiding it from discovery.
No luck with WOW, either residential or business. I am now pondering the likelihood of inviting myself to hook up with the neighbors who do have WOW. Necessary to run their cash registers and computers, and if they would share the password, I would not be greedy. That would make me really happy, to have access when they do not need it at night, and the price would be excellent as well!
I could not even recall what company this was, before seeing panel/work trucks all over town with WOW decals plastered on the sides. They used to be Knology, remember? We talked, he said they really could provide residential, high-speed internet for about forty bucks a month (plus rental on modem). I said sign me up. Then he wanted my address. I told him and he said he knew the company supplied service to a public golf course nearby. Oh, yay! That made me even more confident I had solved the over-priced wi-fi problem, and could now get what I wanted at a price I wanted.
He called me back to report that he cannot help. No service on my side of the street. Really? I had even shared the amusing story of taking my lap-top to the repair shop for service, amazed and delighted when bumped to the head of the line. I told the receptionist the only thing I knew was that the 'blog will not publish', and when she heard that, she assumed I was running a business! Great amusement for me, but no argument when she promised fast attention. The call to pick it up came within hours, and I thought the problem had been resolved. So sorry,all you blog readers out there, as well as so very aggravating that is not yet healthy. But the experience of going to the repair shop was also somewhat useful, when I could report to 'Edward' the tale of my conflated enterprise, who then attempted to get me hooked up with service as a 'business'.
Causing me to ponder what a huge can of worms that would be if I attempted to get a business license, involving questions about zoning, major tax ramifications, as well as a huge pain in the sitter. I laid in bed early one morning and considering the idea of a license which took off down a number of ill-advised rabbit trails, causing me to stuff that plan into the bottom of the trash can, hopefully permanently hiding it from discovery.
No luck with WOW, either residential or business. I am now pondering the likelihood of inviting myself to hook up with the neighbors who do have WOW. Necessary to run their cash registers and computers, and if they would share the password, I would not be greedy. That would make me really happy, to have access when they do not need it at night, and the price would be excellent as well!
life lessons...
... even though my original proposal for a title was something more descriptive, less forgiving like: 'failed craft projects', or 'you should know better by now', or a variety of other appropriate and far less cleverly worded titles. I was pondering the chronic and acute mess that faces me in my laundry room, namely that whole wall of shelves holding boxes and stacks of things I know will be needed as soon as I donate to the non-profit or next trash pickup day. Murphy's Law is still in effect: 'You will find it in the last place you look' because you stop looking when you find IT, be that lost item keys, glasses, calendar, etc.
I was pondering life, foibles, our failings as humans, being American while driving back from Decatur in the early hours this morning. About the joys of citizenship and living in American: we do love to have our choices. There is something so classically 'us' when we go to the store and find 99 different types of coffee, but not the one we were looking for! Or 999 different choices of breakfast options, and this is just on the grocery aisle in the boxed items with dozens of dry cereal to decide upon, then all manner of portable hand-held nutrition bars, as well as a vast variety of flavors of instant oatmeal. And then: Pop Tarts in a class by its-own-self. That sugary fruit-filled confection someone had the brilliant idea of adding icing to the top, and then making the filling out of sugar and cinnamon.
Back from being off track: We Love Choices. From years of working in retail, I am convinced that we do love to make a thousand small decisions when pushing a grocery cart. Almost as if: were there not all those wee small choices between varieties of cereal, or coffee, or types of fresh apples, oranges, grapes, potatoes, we would not purchase any at all. Crazy! Especially when so many people in the world are hungry, struggling, living in tents, standing in line for meager portions to feed their families, wondering about potable water, fuel to heat the meal, where the next one might be coming from.
Oh, sorry. I got off track again, wandering dangerously close to preaching.More digressing, but I will try to do better: Prepared to write a commentary of how long it took for me to realize how prone I am to start a project that lingers around in a slow painful death before being donated to charity, or someone who mentions enjoying hooked rugs, crochet, knitting, paint-by-numbers, etc. I have learned to just not start it to begin with. Helpful that I have never ever looked at Pintrest, as I have it on good authority it is not only addictive, but a tragic way to invest hours you will never get back after squandering scrolling the Internet.
I just offered to be a volunteer for someone who is organizing a painting project. I like to paint, and will supply my own brush. Even so, it is just not in me to go to the craft store and purchase the components, think that I will bring home parts to assemble. After boxing and sending numerous half-done crafty things out in the world as orphans, hoping some kind-hearted soul will find, adopt and give them love, three squares, and a place to call home I know better! That won't be me at the hobby store with the thought that there are projects out there awaiting my attention. My creativity (along with Elvis) 'has left the building'.
finding internet, part 2...
...is part of the story that should have been written before part one, but since I only recently concluded that it is going to be a long sad tale, the beginning of that woeful tale never made it into print. It started weeks ago, when the statement for cell phone service arrived, and I decided to limit service to what I thought was reasonable. Not a huge agreement including all the add-ons available with cell service. Roaming is nice, as is actually talking to people I want to communicate with. Paranoia is in order when you realize that the downside of roaming is satellites are tracking your every breath. Someone can follow your every move, purchase, interaction, trip to the bathroom as well as any illicit behavior should you happen to misbehave.
The idea of hanky-panky does not interest me in the least, but I do occasionally get paranoid about Big Brother knowing where I went and how long I stayed. Basic, decent service. I don't need to get email, or spend hours on facebook, or devote excessive time to googling or YouTube on a small screen. Just basic stuff, and minimal gigs - whatever gigs are. Decent service is all I am asking.
A trip to the AT&T store, weeks ago, to reduce service and eliminate things I do not use, want pay for. Then an inquiry about adding internet at home, as I know the providers like to make you think you are getting a great 'deal' when they can bundle, combine services on one statement. But wonder of wonder: when they looked up the address, reported they do not provide cable. Interestingly, their cell service out in our area has been shoddy and spotty for years. Making me wonder why the guy who was paying the bill did not make any effort to shop around in an effort to get both a better price and more reliable service.
But knowing the parent company purchased the Dish company some years ago, makes me wonder? Asking several people who reported their cable was supplied by AT&T, makes me wonder? What is it about me that causes people to think I just fell off the turnip truck? You would think all the gray hair would count for some degree of experience, right? Yes, I did grow up in south Georgia living on a dirt road, but don't the years and life-lessons-learned count for something?
The idea of hanky-panky does not interest me in the least, but I do occasionally get paranoid about Big Brother knowing where I went and how long I stayed. Basic, decent service. I don't need to get email, or spend hours on facebook, or devote excessive time to googling or YouTube on a small screen. Just basic stuff, and minimal gigs - whatever gigs are. Decent service is all I am asking.
A trip to the AT&T store, weeks ago, to reduce service and eliminate things I do not use, want pay for. Then an inquiry about adding internet at home, as I know the providers like to make you think you are getting a great 'deal' when they can bundle, combine services on one statement. But wonder of wonder: when they looked up the address, reported they do not provide cable. Interestingly, their cell service out in our area has been shoddy and spotty for years. Making me wonder why the guy who was paying the bill did not make any effort to shop around in an effort to get both a better price and more reliable service.
But knowing the parent company purchased the Dish company some years ago, makes me wonder? Asking several people who reported their cable was supplied by AT&T, makes me wonder? What is it about me that causes people to think I just fell off the turnip truck? You would think all the gray hair would count for some degree of experience, right? Yes, I did grow up in south Georgia living on a dirt road, but don't the years and life-lessons-learned count for something?
finding internet....
... that does not feel like highway robbery, those guys with dirty bandanas over their noses, brandishing six-shooters holding up the stage coach filled with terrified Aunt Bee-like passengers. When I discovered the statement for service from Mediacom could run as high as $400 a month, I knew that was not going to work for me. Especially due to the fact (embarrassing confession here) I cannot even turn the TV on. Not that I want to, as I long ago decided to not devote my time to the brain-eating, butt-numbing, time-consuming act of viewing. Yes, I am aware there is some really interesting programming out there, so it is possible the baby is being tossed out with the bathwater, but there is no place/time in my life to devote to flipping through dozens of channels/choices.
After being amazed, astounded, and horrified at the recent payments for accessing cable choices, the request was made to take the superfluous program options off. Hoping to whittle the next statement down to something more reasonable, within the parameters of resources available. I actually appeared in person at the store and made my plea, providing much more personal information than intended. When the most recent statement arrived last week, it was nearly twenty dollars more than the previous one that had all the bells and whistles, after my face-to-face request to whittle it down to 'basic'. Arggggghhhhh....
The current bill was a stunner. About twenty dollars more than the one that nearly caused my eyeballs to fall out of my head a month ago. After a brief period of shouting four letter words, causing the air to turn blue as I was talking to myself, I called customer service. Politely explaining the dilemma to a very patient, helpful customer service rep., the request was made to completely eliminate any television service at all. You might recall the report of attempting to reduce the bill last year by changing to Direct TV? Now owned, I think by AT&T? The price was 'too good to be true'. When the installer came and reported he would have to put the dish on a post in the precise middle of the lawn, we both laughed heartily. Then said 'No, thank you'. So that is not an option.
Not only did the nice person who answered my call agree to cancel service, she also took nearly $100 off the bill, reducing the cost to just over $80, which still requires a bandana-trimmed, boot-wearing, bean-eating, campfire-sitting cowboy in my opinion. Because now service is only for internet, plus modem. I have discovered I can purchase a modem (but of course, I cannot install it!) instead of renting, paying month after month after month to use one from Mediacom.
Do not come to my house expecting to watch the news or weather. You likely get all that on your phone anyway, but you most definitely will not be enjoying viewing on the wide screen here. I have had the passing thought of getting rid of it completely, especially after a recent conversation with a friend who said she just bougth one after having her home be a tv-free zone for fifteen years.
After being amazed, astounded, and horrified at the recent payments for accessing cable choices, the request was made to take the superfluous program options off. Hoping to whittle the next statement down to something more reasonable, within the parameters of resources available. I actually appeared in person at the store and made my plea, providing much more personal information than intended. When the most recent statement arrived last week, it was nearly twenty dollars more than the previous one that had all the bells and whistles, after my face-to-face request to whittle it down to 'basic'. Arggggghhhhh....
The current bill was a stunner. About twenty dollars more than the one that nearly caused my eyeballs to fall out of my head a month ago. After a brief period of shouting four letter words, causing the air to turn blue as I was talking to myself, I called customer service. Politely explaining the dilemma to a very patient, helpful customer service rep., the request was made to completely eliminate any television service at all. You might recall the report of attempting to reduce the bill last year by changing to Direct TV? Now owned, I think by AT&T? The price was 'too good to be true'. When the installer came and reported he would have to put the dish on a post in the precise middle of the lawn, we both laughed heartily. Then said 'No, thank you'. So that is not an option.
Not only did the nice person who answered my call agree to cancel service, she also took nearly $100 off the bill, reducing the cost to just over $80, which still requires a bandana-trimmed, boot-wearing, bean-eating, campfire-sitting cowboy in my opinion. Because now service is only for internet, plus modem. I have discovered I can purchase a modem (but of course, I cannot install it!) instead of renting, paying month after month after month to use one from Mediacom.
Do not come to my house expecting to watch the news or weather. You likely get all that on your phone anyway, but you most definitely will not be enjoying viewing on the wide screen here. I have had the passing thought of getting rid of it completely, especially after a recent conversation with a friend who said she just bougth one after having her home be a tv-free zone for fifteen years.
Sunday, February 17, 2019
trying to leave...
... early from work today, with no success. I'm not sure that the experience could be described as the opposite of success, which would be 'failure', as it was a productive day. But from the standpoint of that plan to exit before the scheduled time - it did not happen as expected. In fact, by the time I got out the door and headed across the parking lot, it was nearly an hour past my official 'go' time.
It was a good day, even though longer than it should have been. Half of the day was spent doing the work I signed on to do years ago, but rare is the opportunity to get any floral stuff done. Even though the schedule often has me working on the days my co-worker is off, many of those days seem to get so swamped with production: making salads or prepping stuff in the produce dept. Those few days when there is time for being creative are so uncommon as to be amazingly scarce. Thus today was a better than average day.
The plan for leaving early was due to my desire to drive to Atlanta for a birthday party at the Varsity. Well known local landmark that serves the greasiest fries in town, along with chili dogs and fried apple pies. None of which I had plans to consume, intending to take a green salad and avoid all the fatty stuff on the menu. Sadly, I accidentally ate an apple pie. It was maybe a 3.5 on a 1-10 scale. The filling seemed to be the consistency of applesauce. I won't make that mistake again.
The birthday girl is 94. Family and friends gathered to celebrate with Varsity food and chocolate topped cupcakes. And more celebrating tomorrow, which is the actual birth date. Sad to think she probably will not remember any of the fun she had today, as she had a stroke just over a year ago, and her short term memory is nearly non-existent. But there is always more fun to be had on the morrow!
It was a good day, even though longer than it should have been. Half of the day was spent doing the work I signed on to do years ago, but rare is the opportunity to get any floral stuff done. Even though the schedule often has me working on the days my co-worker is off, many of those days seem to get so swamped with production: making salads or prepping stuff in the produce dept. Those few days when there is time for being creative are so uncommon as to be amazingly scarce. Thus today was a better than average day.
The plan for leaving early was due to my desire to drive to Atlanta for a birthday party at the Varsity. Well known local landmark that serves the greasiest fries in town, along with chili dogs and fried apple pies. None of which I had plans to consume, intending to take a green salad and avoid all the fatty stuff on the menu. Sadly, I accidentally ate an apple pie. It was maybe a 3.5 on a 1-10 scale. The filling seemed to be the consistency of applesauce. I won't make that mistake again.
The birthday girl is 94. Family and friends gathered to celebrate with Varsity food and chocolate topped cupcakes. And more celebrating tomorrow, which is the actual birth date. Sad to think she probably will not remember any of the fun she had today, as she had a stroke just over a year ago, and her short term memory is nearly non-existent. But there is always more fun to be had on the morrow!
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