tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24517041334272807452024-03-13T15:31:25.044-07:00Deek's RhewminationsDeek's blog where he rhewminates about the best place to get a cup of java, the meaning of life, and existentialism.Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-30315491441756777542019-07-07T09:56:00.001-07:002019-07-07T10:37:58.868-07:00Dose of Happiness: Beta Help<b>Dose of Happiness: Street Team</b><br />
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My new book, <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules---redemption.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">122 Rules - Redemption</span></a></i><span style="color: #999999;">,</span> is set to release August 27. My editor and bride, <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">Erin Rhew</span></a>, and I have edited it so many times, I've lost count. Erin is an <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/editing-and-design.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">AMAZING editor</span></a>, but after a dozen readings (including THREE rounds of content edits and a dozen rounds of line), even she is susceptible to missing some of the flaws in a manuscript.<br />
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And honestly, at this point, I'm really sick of the story.<br />
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Every time I think of going through it once more...<br />
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<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://giphy.com/embed/pVAMI8QYM42n6" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/january-joan-baez-googles-pVAMI8QYM42n6">Please. I beg you. Not again.</a></div>
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Fortunately, in comes the Cavalry to save me!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Cavalry Arrives!</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://giphy.com/embed/LpDmTYtmOJLXxkMB3H" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/tv2zulu-zulu-tv2zuludk-robbiegif-LpDmTYtmOJLXxkMB3H"></a></div>
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In this case, the Calvary is my advanced reader team. Those merciful, patient souls willing to tag in and find the logic problems, character inconsistencies, and word flounderings that I've missed.<br />
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Here are a few examples of some of what my street team found:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqYSCL9M1c91nLjnIPcga3bP8w-eZ-3qomecAlXb1joxL_4HM1rl6dUj55ciFPvkV98kEbe2NtTJsyIOxPoqItYB1L9yu-N0za1CvLs6b9ERzi7MFYeNypYtdx0rBTilzpx9xpaWELn4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.17.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="1488" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqYSCL9M1c91nLjnIPcga3bP8w-eZ-3qomecAlXb1joxL_4HM1rl6dUj55ciFPvkV98kEbe2NtTJsyIOxPoqItYB1L9yu-N0za1CvLs6b9ERzi7MFYeNypYtdx0rBTilzpx9xpaWELn4/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.17.09+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Out of order words.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLTcYfrbEc0PehCreyRaNrWf_a_pJz-9aG31tWAuhHI2p3ynKAfinO2ZR_SCyOpow79sR7CIh1vgdCHP6Y9M_WIP9iXFUEI7Xmtxk3JiNhUS7aPWqAjEMLe05akbBkwtuURH49xmqSAY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.18.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="1556" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLTcYfrbEc0PehCreyRaNrWf_a_pJz-9aG31tWAuhHI2p3ynKAfinO2ZR_SCyOpow79sR7CIh1vgdCHP6Y9M_WIP9iXFUEI7Xmtxk3JiNhUS7aPWqAjEMLe05akbBkwtuURH49xmqSAY/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.18.00+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Extra words.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Becky has some seriously great hawk eyes for typos.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzZAnd3z3wmUH8sd3Mi2tvXu_I_38t7a__BS8pxrtTej0W943wrZ0bt8wy_PYKoqJTUD-4U0S9AH3VdlPfOsfp3jOqCH1l0-bH9irsqPSWZJtcPhzQQPIlZZN5dBaZrWH70RvadpNG4A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.18.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="670" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzZAnd3z3wmUH8sd3Mi2tvXu_I_38t7a__BS8pxrtTej0W943wrZ0bt8wy_PYKoqJTUD-4U0S9AH3VdlPfOsfp3jOqCH1l0-bH9irsqPSWZJtcPhzQQPIlZZN5dBaZrWH70RvadpNG4A/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.18.22+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Timeline problems</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3HxwX-84B9ekrJeWWH3iEA3KWof9fCCoR0c2gZ15tkmvMozpVSKZ9MBj04mSapliwyZI4GnUaZlbhum5k7Yi7MAh5eGka-l1YIwNs7X8Nm15az7zb22pyVuMEBUx_thVoNayPsiZZGw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.18.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="1118" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3HxwX-84B9ekrJeWWH3iEA3KWof9fCCoR0c2gZ15tkmvMozpVSKZ9MBj04mSapliwyZI4GnUaZlbhum5k7Yi7MAh5eGka-l1YIwNs7X8Nm15az7zb22pyVuMEBUx_thVoNayPsiZZGw/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.18.32+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Misspellings both I and Word missed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8Wt_0pjf99Y9ENLAzjGclBmAAOtlHi02uNEDwOrKONU1Z8ZZmVtsqxbRl6fW7I2YyxxKKmqBn88o6JydWC-4R_XRsHoiY5QAU8x9U_yRxlV8LQHH917oiDx-a_PxKYbd6zZouHdJSdU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.20.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8Wt_0pjf99Y9ENLAzjGclBmAAOtlHi02uNEDwOrKONU1Z8ZZmVtsqxbRl6fW7I2YyxxKKmqBn88o6JydWC-4R_XRsHoiY5QAU8x9U_yRxlV8LQHH917oiDx-a_PxKYbd6zZouHdJSdU/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.20.35+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Repetitive</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ptTmMZOJuXcSofF3AQfiMqghbKjsHHgCJGODnYmsh-j3MO5GTtn8TU4wN8FxnsrXmWpnnWmdlIaX4jU-bghRTcCXMmRL5WN79BhwVAyVJochx_14fYjY1xTd7Wwu-LAjON34p8VLi9Y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.21.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="1568" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ptTmMZOJuXcSofF3AQfiMqghbKjsHHgCJGODnYmsh-j3MO5GTtn8TU4wN8FxnsrXmWpnnWmdlIaX4jU-bghRTcCXMmRL5WN79BhwVAyVJochx_14fYjY1xTd7Wwu-LAjON34p8VLi9Y/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.21.09+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who's talking dialogue problems.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DHA47az9HyU4fSP7FM1eK8JeFD8koJ_GXgE7ck8JMXHYz_9HSCS8yGWX6noj5dZMqRBhaNVtyyuTN6p5DxJz-OVeHK6hyIeDCMCMNMb-uP_JqWQhQHa1EIg8WAIMTI2dw6bi5GMZguk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.21.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="708" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DHA47az9HyU4fSP7FM1eK8JeFD8koJ_GXgE7ck8JMXHYz_9HSCS8yGWX6noj5dZMqRBhaNVtyyuTN6p5DxJz-OVeHK6hyIeDCMCMNMb-uP_JqWQhQHa1EIg8WAIMTI2dw6bi5GMZguk/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.21.38+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksfWBykfZ4I9i52qz-wP2_Oty8GhedsGHY82sqZEXrvlRqWecuHleFR_3rFjz6GOkk6B2iBktldO297vr1Snjo3jEBsYdDQBuRX95fANUtnhSwqaNB2nf1B1yXd9UhdCMTiI1BGJfeo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-06-29+at+5.52.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="574" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksfWBykfZ4I9i52qz-wP2_Oty8GhedsGHY82sqZEXrvlRqWecuHleFR_3rFjz6GOkk6B2iBktldO297vr1Snjo3jEBsYdDQBuRX95fANUtnhSwqaNB2nf1B1yXd9UhdCMTiI1BGJfeo/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-06-29+at+5.52.34+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chrissy is awesome at finding story problems and <br />doesn't hold back on telling me exactly what she thinks.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqsyQDNWYA9CxxZHe_TejJKUpa18g9ebR7XuG-ZUTwMlFen9tAb5MhoEtxUEEABv_hFDiVx7mILe6TXylgH6S2oSLC2qkCTcX8RqlLmZo-f8oB8V5WaL4fif2Yr8uE_Z0tCVYha0VSA8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.28.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="674" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqsyQDNWYA9CxxZHe_TejJKUpa18g9ebR7XuG-ZUTwMlFen9tAb5MhoEtxUEEABv_hFDiVx7mILe6TXylgH6S2oSLC2qkCTcX8RqlLmZo-f8oB8V5WaL4fif2Yr8uE_Z0tCVYha0VSA8/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.28.01+PM.png" width="344" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivONsgVAIoPVa7R_3LOEQMje21l_nIqTA9EsC9LHloNufmIhl1ps429fu0rdU0N1jPAaHEqUN1lEGRkeUGZ9LA7VTUImZTAypNslwgoM1fd5AE88EJKwU0w9MCTjAvjo_eg7m_i7hqVeY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.30.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="670" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivONsgVAIoPVa7R_3LOEQMje21l_nIqTA9EsC9LHloNufmIhl1ps429fu0rdU0N1jPAaHEqUN1lEGRkeUGZ9LA7VTUImZTAypNslwgoM1fd5AE88EJKwU0w9MCTjAvjo_eg7m_i7hqVeY/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.30.40+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jess is so good at making sure to we tap into the characters' emotions.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E17k6V9zVPbfpGSMmE9njOSCKzRE_DZPidjzS4a9ljk5wSsbFbbmlfyFq1X3IRYXEN0s9JQCbRevkWEzAQBfq08deMfXZzpf-g-batIjeFyZO3DjZ46H_Ixtn82ML9Akc3aigwcnhcw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.31.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="662" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6E17k6V9zVPbfpGSMmE9njOSCKzRE_DZPidjzS4a9ljk5wSsbFbbmlfyFq1X3IRYXEN0s9JQCbRevkWEzAQBfq08deMfXZzpf-g-batIjeFyZO3DjZ46H_Ixtn82ML9Akc3aigwcnhcw/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.31.54+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Geographical problems.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkWtHn5XGUHVBACnxxHxOwTmYbXxEDZAUlqV3OQmvxOxJMihQS-z3CAsU0ucuvS5Qo-_JrgLyaCA7-IGNONmB8djA6htEPaoFcw5R2lA9IhCy9WAXO7tQDGH1PLTatgz8TtT0-8NY5BY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.32.36+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="660" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkWtHn5XGUHVBACnxxHxOwTmYbXxEDZAUlqV3OQmvxOxJMihQS-z3CAsU0ucuvS5Qo-_JrgLyaCA7-IGNONmB8djA6htEPaoFcw5R2lA9IhCy9WAXO7tQDGH1PLTatgz8TtT0-8NY5BY/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-07-07+at+12.32.36+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't forget how they feel!</span></td></tr>
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Even though <i>Redemption</i> is still out with several more beta readers, but I wanted to give a shoutout to my street team...<br />
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<br />
<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="345" src="https://giphy.com/embed/QAsBwSjx9zVKoGp9nr" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/thank-you-keanu-reeves-QAsBwSjx9zVKoGp9nr"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you!</span></a></div>
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Until next time, adventure on!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Want to become part of the Jaguar Street Team?</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
If you are interested in becoming part of the <a href="http://www.tenaciousbookspublishing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">Tenacious Books Publishin</span>g</a> street team, sign up for our <a href="http://www.tenaciousbookspublishing.com/contact.html#signup" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">newsletter</span></a> or PM me!<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">122 Rules - Redemption</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK5h8PZg4sZotxgdtQ8AX5szz0aKGen3iGhAkRvaDvZ37eGWEcicryDJh1fp8Cf3eJe0KQossbC6SXSVo-xsunznA6F6gCa6bUNZAhR7SVa1LBIcYlb5ZHRCDnqEJj-D7J4jwJArMNA8/s1600/DUOFront-Back-PaperbackREDEMPTION.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK5h8PZg4sZotxgdtQ8AX5szz0aKGen3iGhAkRvaDvZ37eGWEcicryDJh1fp8Cf3eJe0KQossbC6SXSVo-xsunznA6F6gCa6bUNZAhR7SVa1LBIcYlb5ZHRCDnqEJj-D7J4jwJArMNA8/s400/DUOFront-Back-PaperbackREDEMPTION.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: small;">122 Rules - Redemption</span></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">Sam Bradford’s worst nightmares are confirmed when the mutilated body of Monica Sable washes up on the Pacific coast. The woman he’d fought and sacrificed so much to save is dead. Armed with his wits and mastery of the 122 Rules of Psychology, he breaks rank to track down the murderer—notorious hitman Tyron Erebus, whom Sam thought he’d eliminated during his last assignment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">When his investigation leads him back to Monica’s hometown, he discovers that the floating corpse was a decoy. Monica is still alive. But Erebus, having escaped the grave, is hellbent on finishing the hit he’d started but failed to complete.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The madman has her in the crosshairs...again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">After a storm washes out the only bridge in or out of town, Sam, Monica, and everyone in Alabaster Cove are trapped with the psychopath who is mercilessly reigning terror upon the little community in his relentless quest to fulfill his personal vendetta. When his training fails him, Sam is forced to throw out the rules and face the lunatic head-on, before Erebus annihilates the city and everyone in it.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Though <i>Redemption</i> officially comes out August 27, 2019,<br />
you can <a href="https://amzn.to/2X8P5tH" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;">pre-order it today</span></a>!</div>
Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-82233169847892564822019-05-26T18:51:00.001-07:002019-05-26T19:08:06.980-07:00Memorial Day 2019 - Here We Mark the Price of FreedomToday we salute veterans and their families.<br />
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My father spent his adult life serving in the military, but he'd never been to our nation's capital. So Erin and I met him and my mom in DC. Not only is DC full of history, it seems like anyone that's served--as both my dad and Erin's dad did--they should visit the highest rank in the chain of command.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyEz6F70r-Q8vcMhUXwVOTiviYqt8RmchegdfQKvo13JDcmFYOvdmdGHntun-JXL4P9jpivdPY4IACohrdrOPtJx9i85pgWd7rlCtotF-dfb1FsV98IMOACvzeLNuwtFihek0v0ZCmuc/s1600/IMG_3053.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyEz6F70r-Q8vcMhUXwVOTiviYqt8RmchegdfQKvo13JDcmFYOvdmdGHntun-JXL4P9jpivdPY4IACohrdrOPtJx9i85pgWd7rlCtotF-dfb1FsV98IMOACvzeLNuwtFihek0v0ZCmuc/s400/IMG_3053.jpeg" width="338" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My father at the WWII Memorial</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj955L0aftW739dKVwduhZKTWM6vpDHthSaE4LyS1YMn6c9F-a1SIGjSrcO6AVUo11etTprrswb-biS0RZ9-GtpxWD11VtK69j4p27Bik-gbWwrVzaFAUOjZtMlQ3UdesWq79Uyzd82G5g/s1600/IMG_2435.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj955L0aftW739dKVwduhZKTWM6vpDHthSaE4LyS1YMn6c9F-a1SIGjSrcO6AVUo11etTprrswb-biS0RZ9-GtpxWD11VtK69j4p27Bik-gbWwrVzaFAUOjZtMlQ3UdesWq79Uyzd82G5g/s400/IMG_2435.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin next to the Arlington sign.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUvs8-vaErKKVSB1-6bPwerVGwuAPPapuRV3Z3kez1g-m8a6saVbwtdNCRoQ1epuwdKU1hwpg3XRe5uJQx_pEI3Kh1nGq8d0NeyKDsTzy9rtkGzF7iifjJv1oNB-Fy7YnvQm4X1wbQzE/s1600/Deek+and+his+Dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="210" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWUvs8-vaErKKVSB1-6bPwerVGwuAPPapuRV3Z3kez1g-m8a6saVbwtdNCRoQ1epuwdKU1hwpg3XRe5uJQx_pEI3Kh1nGq8d0NeyKDsTzy9rtkGzF7iifjJv1oNB-Fy7YnvQm4X1wbQzE/s640/Deek+and+his+Dad.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and his dad</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.</td></tr>
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If you never seen one, the <a href="https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Changing-of-the-Guard" target="_blank">Changing of Guard </a>is a meaningful and honorable ceremony, rich in tradition. Those who apply to be guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, are made part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and, must not only have an exemplary record, but must adhere to a strict regimen.<br />
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Take the time to watch this video of the changing. The dedication of these men and women is simply amazing, and the ceremony itself is beautiful and precise.<br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vqZ-mkdp1H0" width="560"></iframe>
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Each element of tomb guarding--from the 21 footsteps (symbolizing the 21 Gun Salute) between mats, to him or her placing the rifle on the shoulder closest to the audience (meaning they stand between the audience and the soldier)--has meaning.<br />
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Within Arlington we also visited the grave of JFK. It's difficult to see because it was sunny out when I took the picture, but JFK's flame--known as the Eternal Flame--never goes out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ7AJC9t625Wg3tB3Fh1Sp4pxSNPHu20NdHtMrLoGluaqUBatv-pAsFMdKJLWSZJ-JVbE0RJ9EbRRMryCX2Qf2gIs3oJmzSoEL26497TbPKk-c55BbJJf091NlQlZQrs4Cm2WNZmNGw0/s1600/IMG_9105.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJ7AJC9t625Wg3tB3Fh1Sp4pxSNPHu20NdHtMrLoGluaqUBatv-pAsFMdKJLWSZJ-JVbE0RJ9EbRRMryCX2Qf2gIs3oJmzSoEL26497TbPKk-c55BbJJf091NlQlZQrs4Cm2WNZmNGw0/s640/IMG_9105.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JFK's Eternal Flame</td></tr>
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It's difficult to comprehend from a few pictures, but there are acres and acres of tombstones. Gazing out across the vast fields, my heart ached with gratitude as I thought of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that sacrificed everything to protect our country. They believed so strongly in our nation that they paid the ultimate price to preserve our way of life.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk99dVnSkQLA88jBW0vIZQb8i5EvVUl-PDlXdOdQ61K5tFBF5oiVAvQC3M_5YxV0XqJxs6HSDaJJz3DTAHYhTL3DvQbWPSUkFns-WWYGHyof9j5V0_8KAuEtWnGtIGU81viekjwGqzLb0/s1600/IMG_9115.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjk99dVnSkQLA88jBW0vIZQb8i5EvVUl-PDlXdOdQ61K5tFBF5oiVAvQC3M_5YxV0XqJxs6HSDaJJz3DTAHYhTL3DvQbWPSUkFns-WWYGHyof9j5V0_8KAuEtWnGtIGU81viekjwGqzLb0/s640/IMG_9115.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vast fields of tombstones</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_dXzKE3RKmWbHLiruYfGWhRh3dwvUPyPmpHfpYIpUKAfGsJ3ulXZINzToKi0W0p3y8qpTHkJ5F8k0oZhjTswUi5fsEXep5PQEc42ppvL12WVD1myAjV-8qGI3i_i7ByeGbCvxPbFM3w/s1600/IMG_2471.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj9_dXzKE3RKmWbHLiruYfGWhRh3dwvUPyPmpHfpYIpUKAfGsJ3ulXZINzToKi0W0p3y8qpTHkJ5F8k0oZhjTswUi5fsEXep5PQEc42ppvL12WVD1myAjV-8qGI3i_i7ByeGbCvxPbFM3w/s640/IMG_2471.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many people. So many sacrifices.</td></tr>
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The tombstones go on and on. It's simply breathtaking and beyond words.</div>
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The Memorial Stone outside of the WWII Memorial reads:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;">HERE IN THE PRESENCE OF WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;">ONE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY FATHER AND THE OTHER THE </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;">NINETEENTH CENTURY PRESERVER OF OUR NATION, WE HONOR </span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;">THOSE TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICANS WHO TOOK UP THE STRUGGLE </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: x-small;">DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND MADE THE SACRIFICES TO </span></div>
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PERPETUATE THE GIFT OUR FOREFATHERS ENTRUSTED TO US: </div>
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A NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.</div>
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<b>Pentagon Memorial</b></div>
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While WWII and Vietnam happened long before my time, 9/11 is still as fresh in my mind and heart as if it had happened yesterday. Erin and I have talked about how we always, ALWAYS, look up when we hear a jet flying low over the city.</div>
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9/11 is most poignantly associated with the destruction of the twin towers in New York, but a lot of brave men, women, and children lost their lives at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo_sXFSsagJLXGwrYZHeaS9ClzadsaI3Za0mXOEu0LB-UT6tyUUMPeXHbNyL5Y_2DW7zG3GqVX4RYzNC1whEX03y5WP594Aav45euIj-o2ENv6Yy8__SNAS_dVFzv_oFrnrdPG8-jRqY/s1600/IMG_2473.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHo_sXFSsagJLXGwrYZHeaS9ClzadsaI3Za0mXOEu0LB-UT6tyUUMPeXHbNyL5Y_2DW7zG3GqVX4RYzNC1whEX03y5WP594Aav45euIj-o2ENv6Yy8__SNAS_dVFzv_oFrnrdPG8-jRqY/s400/IMG_2473.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pentagon Memorial</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtWmsxPej4dM7Uatqjx_WuOqTssv6qaqVSZkfLH65zAPoTIDKsVQCSfCgDhU07K2sjbB20raYc0vfTkEVHJQXzX8lgMA4p0kUogvYtfGlWlZeAd_hWfXvvOtvoudQq0tei_n7vQHvS_s/s1600/IMG_2474.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtWmsxPej4dM7Uatqjx_WuOqTssv6qaqVSZkfLH65zAPoTIDKsVQCSfCgDhU07K2sjbB20raYc0vfTkEVHJQXzX8lgMA4p0kUogvYtfGlWlZeAd_hWfXvvOtvoudQq0tei_n7vQHvS_s/s640/IMG_2474.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeAzBzrPsj_HVEGjY9Lu6no_S9pZXPkT1CpK8E00uWvBH50ezi3GQSOGJjVs65V9aUv3EQA2ld93VEvCmKPXe8IC1_5utvVcQ8gpIlOq1fHiX8mT4EmxwolYnhoxXRDLqzcjTQ310Kng/s1600/PA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1008" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeAzBzrPsj_HVEGjY9Lu6no_S9pZXPkT1CpK8E00uWvBH50ezi3GQSOGJjVs65V9aUv3EQA2ld93VEvCmKPXe8IC1_5utvVcQ8gpIlOq1fHiX8mT4EmxwolYnhoxXRDLqzcjTQ310Kng/s640/PA.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial to those brave souls who lost their lives on Flight 94 in Pennsylvania.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TvWjiafI9LKXRQ1BY_5d-3zXkd1B9TeN_aZpVacgxuw0ecru49_F13ZLOXbm8VaLEEfKf9PSrUdPVTS-MnQZ6rbUvpySH5i4x_33paBRjFNz8PWArjmT5W1dfoMY14IyORN1B2Jz4Rk/s1600/IMG_9121.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TvWjiafI9LKXRQ1BY_5d-3zXkd1B9TeN_aZpVacgxuw0ecru49_F13ZLOXbm8VaLEEfKf9PSrUdPVTS-MnQZ6rbUvpySH5i4x_33paBRjFNz8PWArjmT5W1dfoMY14IyORN1B2Jz4Rk/s400/IMG_9121.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin in front of the Pentagon where the plane struck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuiDYZ4hUqToHUrMk2fwvqLUfPUsuHhfX1TIK9f6jw-nUko9ZibNdgZztpNJ7zdsHOs1EGyjj3KatdEZC0G1r3TDerotlHeovEKvOe3U9S6Lb_ruGFXVJYIVaDc0K7XHeAbq5biOVXmI/s1600/Pentagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuiDYZ4hUqToHUrMk2fwvqLUfPUsuHhfX1TIK9f6jw-nUko9ZibNdgZztpNJ7zdsHOs1EGyjj3KatdEZC0G1r3TDerotlHeovEKvOe3U9S6Lb_ruGFXVJYIVaDc0K7XHeAbq5biOVXmI/s640/Pentagon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's what this side of the Pentagon looked like on 9/11</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn7uNQpniSWQ6Pdz0VF0hg1_5TtuaLiopXhmIKpEjpFCQaSy2kILBbwtYWITrhvPGw-zQ92qtmjxiYxe1m47_PcOjFd36cMhKw7W09Coec7dnFkWbeCicajaUPkN5CJ7w12Shm2eALAM/s1600/IMG_9117.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn7uNQpniSWQ6Pdz0VF0hg1_5TtuaLiopXhmIKpEjpFCQaSy2kILBbwtYWITrhvPGw-zQ92qtmjxiYxe1m47_PcOjFd36cMhKw7W09Coec7dnFkWbeCicajaUPkN5CJ7w12Shm2eALAM/s640/IMG_9117.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New face of the Pentagon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4Mu-0tV3RU2AEg5Xyi4DJ8cfcGWOXYgcHYT3y4zJ0SQIUJJIs67aKBON1WcKvrPsH0Jo723ifaNBbVNflFuzFAttUbfhDYfcvBZ1W17NsLum4tJSv153dOVoTv2Iy20gGgu_ue3Smr8/s1600/Benches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4Mu-0tV3RU2AEg5Xyi4DJ8cfcGWOXYgcHYT3y4zJ0SQIUJJIs67aKBON1WcKvrPsH0Jo723ifaNBbVNflFuzFAttUbfhDYfcvBZ1W17NsLum4tJSv153dOVoTv2Iy20gGgu_ue3Smr8/s640/Benches.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pentagon Memorial Benches</td></tr>
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The 184 lives lost at the Pentagon are represented by "Memorial Unit" benches. Each bench includes the person's name and their date of birth. The direction of the bench indicates if the person was on the plane or in the building.</div>
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<b>Here We Mark the Price of Freedom</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQnbEOFMjTxKLy5v0A51DmeECA2QHz2WcdeXF-840nyCluCYYhDeqTHQ4yRL00xH7KpFg1TlLKqZHWCCgjeGkHGCbMS0Ka2GaSBTskPmIEWOUFr60Vd4jKdvEi1URhUuCXighMZlzgQk/s1600/IMG_2518.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQnbEOFMjTxKLy5v0A51DmeECA2QHz2WcdeXF-840nyCluCYYhDeqTHQ4yRL00xH7KpFg1TlLKqZHWCCgjeGkHGCbMS0Ka2GaSBTskPmIEWOUFr60Vd4jKdvEi1URhUuCXighMZlzgQk/s640/IMG_2518.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freedom Wall in Washington DC</td></tr>
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While your eye is naturally drawn the inscription, <i>Here We Mark the Price of Freedom, </i>notice the Freedom Wall in the back. Each of those dots lining the wall are stars. Each stars represents 100 American lives lost during World Ward II.<br />
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There are 4048 stars on this wall.<br />
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<b>4048</b></h3>
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So many have sacrificed so much.<br />
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I'm grateful beyond words to our soldiers who have and are still keeping our country safe. While there's no way to repay your generosity, we can say thank you. Thank you for dedicating your lives to freedom. Thank you for fighting for the United States.<br />
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<b>Thank you.</b></div>
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Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-19797866417116829132019-05-16T03:00:00.000-07:002019-05-16T03:00:16.948-07:00Vacation Time: Washington DC<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
As readers of my blog may recall, I'm from the Pacific NW. On the west coast we have three states. That's it. So if you're traveling from say southern Washington to northern California, best buckle in for a haul, because that little trek is going to take 6-8 hours. Possibly longer because the interstate is part of the traffic hell corridor known as Portland. Going east, to say Idaho or Montana, the traffic is better, but you'll still need 8-10 hours.</div>
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But travel the same amount of time on the east coast and one could potentially journey through five or more states. I still have trouble wrapping my brain around that.</div>
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So, one of the things that <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I promised each other when we moved to the east coast, was that we would take advantage of these short travel times and explore. In our effort to continue making good on that promise, we went to Washington DC!</div>
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<b>Welcome to Washington DC</b></h3>
Another difference between the two coasts is that if you live on the west coast and someone says "Washington" everyone assumes the state. On the east coast, same person same word, and everyone assumes DC. So, I've gotten into the habit of saying "Washington State" and "Washington DC" to help alleviate confusion.<br />
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<b>First stop: The White House</b><br />
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In order to get tickets into the most secure fortress in the country, we had to write to our congressman and request tickets...SIX months in advance. But, ever since <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I started talking about the trip, I'd been making plans to get us a tour.<br />
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I'll be honest, I was ridiculously excited to get to see the White House. It was up there with meeting Weird Al. I kept waiting to see if something would happen and the tour would get canceled, but it never did!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYpyTVMauzSGi-D_jCe6C_-VqS4Jt8lUehaDqUovvCIPXJj1hEncGtHvQB_vujfL2WUDj1tCN2axOnUM6s9xEPW65hHGimTscEDJU0Lejh1cF1GIp-mu_xZdREnrr3Cvq17_6G4s6Eto/s1600/IMG_9127-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYpyTVMauzSGi-D_jCe6C_-VqS4Jt8lUehaDqUovvCIPXJj1hEncGtHvQB_vujfL2WUDj1tCN2axOnUM6s9xEPW65hHGimTscEDJU0Lejh1cF1GIp-mu_xZdREnrr3Cvq17_6G4s6Eto/s640/IMG_9127-COLLAGE.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Erin and I taking a few selfies as we scope the place out the day before.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlzIPJpiZKBRvfPK9cc7cSBMTbVPO6uuel2L58fkYtFMzo9ORHJLryM-aKw0bl0Y2QEeyA5GfBbzr-kjGlwrZ63wZQWoXhkp981cG18myrz7AsHQDnnOO2ZHads-mk9SyN0ZprXXZe6A/s1600/IMG_9228.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlzIPJpiZKBRvfPK9cc7cSBMTbVPO6uuel2L58fkYtFMzo9ORHJLryM-aKw0bl0Y2QEeyA5GfBbzr-kjGlwrZ63wZQWoXhkp981cG18myrz7AsHQDnnOO2ZHads-mk9SyN0ZprXXZe6A/s640/IMG_9228.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Waiting in line at 7:30 in the morning. Early, but hey, we got to see the White House!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGK6dgFWfwmfCgLtbf42jimW9YpfJOCSrXMkRSzI28Ysdl2eaM06ZUSKq_NMk24D56Srxd7kuQfkzZX3aoI9yySAMuPCY1Diew60A2iPxt3nKbo_x3kDuYF_3sD8-BHA_DA1ZcS7kLwVA/s1600/IMG_2596.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhGK6dgFWfwmfCgLtbf42jimW9YpfJOCSrXMkRSzI28Ysdl2eaM06ZUSKq_NMk24D56Srxd7kuQfkzZX3aoI9yySAMuPCY1Diew60A2iPxt3nKbo_x3kDuYF_3sD8-BHA_DA1ZcS7kLwVA/s640/IMG_2596.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Inside the front door!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4o_AnczqXovxkEFOKwTayfd_YGXmWzJSqJX6dhD1wPofLC5Mq9IALf3jvte-_LuzVAsx8IxaGXtrhUtd0VlQPMIY2qUTopXF0yahB6PRB7pvNkG6x_hLKCIylyXTX4SreYODMQiLDRs/s1600/IMG_2572.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgi4o_AnczqXovxkEFOKwTayfd_YGXmWzJSqJX6dhD1wPofLC5Mq9IALf3jvte-_LuzVAsx8IxaGXtrhUtd0VlQPMIY2qUTopXF0yahB6PRB7pvNkG6x_hLKCIylyXTX4SreYODMQiLDRs/s640/IMG_2572.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hey, who's that on the other side of the Green Room? My folks causally walking the grounds.</td></tr>
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Interestingly, there were several "color" rooms: Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, Plaid Room. Oh, wait, the Plaid Room would be on Scotland, but you get my drift. Each one was decked out to the nines with 300 year old furniture, silk wallpaper, and about a million stories from our country's history.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1NVGRoFoYkiHJMUgoMPjPpGnaFhHdnLshMaJfGGzVVZiWih_J8mbw51syMcGgD-VUOHtJqmoxOJi9SzMM3MrpsYAWLl3v9_ywHYd9RyGEQiE1QVNVrb6y8Szsn3z9_i46WE3wvZCA2Y/s1600/IMG_2569.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgq1NVGRoFoYkiHJMUgoMPjPpGnaFhHdnLshMaJfGGzVVZiWih_J8mbw51syMcGgD-VUOHtJqmoxOJi9SzMM3MrpsYAWLl3v9_ywHYd9RyGEQiE1QVNVrb6y8Szsn3z9_i46WE3wvZCA2Y/s640/IMG_2569.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Green Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7ZtFaLV34pC79x7vZGhjxJzpNH5tz9-cFPXzeDt7umMiBB9FPIyuYKvnyB20WSSLHKqOAxaJH08R_7czfsd1wkB7zOYkrin7ln3yMquTJdEBbaY58X2-mwhXHCy6yIshpzvYEIpBT9w/s1600/IMG_2576.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7ZtFaLV34pC79x7vZGhjxJzpNH5tz9-cFPXzeDt7umMiBB9FPIyuYKvnyB20WSSLHKqOAxaJH08R_7czfsd1wkB7zOYkrin7ln3yMquTJdEBbaY58X2-mwhXHCy6yIshpzvYEIpBT9w/s640/IMG_2576.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Blue Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHc_x0tIOcSg_h2BtBSsQHQzgqG5HVBvWTd27pM7djYTM7Yj_0QH1AdNyXa88mEtKTmuvjcjS_y68zyXoQCXkj1jqRYDmrTZJCL-JwHhTPUGgST3A6xVj9K1NM4H2q_q_nM_WynRwpwVY/s1600/IMG_2567-EFFECTS.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/AVvXsEiHc_x0tIOcSg_h2BtBSsQHQzgqG5HVBvWTd27pM7djYTM7Yj_0QH1AdNyXa88mEtKTmuvjcjS_y68zyXoQCXkj1jqRYDmrTZJCL-JwHhTPUGgST3A6xVj9K1NM4H2q_q_nM_WynRwpwVY/s640/IMG_2567-EFFECTS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">B&W of the Red Carpet</td></tr>
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This is the red carpet that's laid out for dignitaries and others who come to visit.</div>
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Google Photos stylized it and the pic turned out so cool I used it instead of the original.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8q5CHIy4nHmDv9S5NXdkxTh9c-1lWowVURnB_8xUGI5BMuFcpIAHMvOvFllXs6jXSGB64VL1NMv6gvm8xwXK4CoERqHLBqavXrARFPIWcRCVjb5kGlI6W_bjm7AmvY4oTC5h4C_EtzVE/s1600/IMG_2553.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEh8q5CHIy4nHmDv9S5NXdkxTh9c-1lWowVURnB_8xUGI5BMuFcpIAHMvOvFllXs6jXSGB64VL1NMv6gvm8xwXK4CoERqHLBqavXrARFPIWcRCVjb5kGlI6W_bjm7AmvY4oTC5h4C_EtzVE/s640/IMG_2553.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">White House Library</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">White House Theatre</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSXvvk2YfK-9ZzDnaxLUGjQM-QlFjaMwmkaCT6Al6VxKlZ8uYnK24-TwC0ca4rMTO4kiuN2k6ClrQOFnEYJ-G8pW7tLbol4ZBqelQg4Wn9AespHfropZmUPc2UP3UkM4bqJT3aj6L_uE/s1600/IMG_9246.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjVSXvvk2YfK-9ZzDnaxLUGjQM-QlFjaMwmkaCT6Al6VxKlZ8uYnK24-TwC0ca4rMTO4kiuN2k6ClrQOFnEYJ-G8pW7tLbol4ZBqelQg4Wn9AespHfropZmUPc2UP3UkM4bqJT3aj6L_uE/s640/IMG_9246.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">White House Dining Room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Deek - Happy to be through security!</td></tr>
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I was not disappointed with our tour of the White House. Sure, we didn't get to see the Oval Office, but still I loved it. Not to mention there were "Secret" police, guard dogs, and black SUVs with tinted windows EVERYWHERE. That part was just like TV.</div>
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<b>Checking out the Sites!</b></div>
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After the White House tour, we headed out to check out the sites. The cool thing is that you can see the Washington Monument from pretty much everywhere. Back in Oregon, if I could see Mt. Hood, I could pretty much figure out where I was. Here, the Monument did the same thing.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghk43aHunnH__JuIfCHZfrvaXziZAgVAWYGYS1Cuusg7BaxKHSEf05_JaEfaYnqBPA9zDG3bY0uXIF-6ua-VFwjk-9ksiUsyOWnpNle9F2ym8s1MYUrB9iglZRuPDwOomST2bk6TmwQDw/s1600/IMG_2517-EFFECTS.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/AVvXsEghk43aHunnH__JuIfCHZfrvaXziZAgVAWYGYS1Cuusg7BaxKHSEf05_JaEfaYnqBPA9zDG3bY0uXIF-6ua-VFwjk-9ksiUsyOWnpNle9F2ym8s1MYUrB9iglZRuPDwOomST2bk6TmwQDw/s640/IMG_2517-EFFECTS.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Washington Monument</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXDWw7aCRuS1gIk-NPo0eXbM0SLPe-EeuvIo0BiEbRS1uuNmqQvD8-_Sm64ufUEtA0Cx7IiZgkdjcLfmVzm8j-UOwkGONZbkBBpZY-sudl-hoUt2n5sm2RloPScEyxOSMjq5mJBgdkuY/s1600/IMG_9218.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXDWw7aCRuS1gIk-NPo0eXbM0SLPe-EeuvIo0BiEbRS1uuNmqQvD8-_Sm64ufUEtA0Cx7IiZgkdjcLfmVzm8j-UOwkGONZbkBBpZY-sudl-hoUt2n5sm2RloPScEyxOSMjq5mJBgdkuY/s400/IMG_9218.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">If you're name is something like Bacon, may as well flaunt it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX82rNq-knTl80NEHQwm8jMzzNwAdy-ynCXemGYkIsrGOyZlTDheI_cxSGPjXLhJNzNcQuchzm8C0tyaVr-Y3NsSvPwC5KTA822p0t_uUWpgorQSmJeub8hUn3WMdTTaA7mDV3D4TePvQ/s1600/IMG_9341.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX82rNq-knTl80NEHQwm8jMzzNwAdy-ynCXemGYkIsrGOyZlTDheI_cxSGPjXLhJNzNcQuchzm8C0tyaVr-Y3NsSvPwC5KTA822p0t_uUWpgorQSmJeub8hUn3WMdTTaA7mDV3D4TePvQ/s640/IMG_9341.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Deek and Erin stopping for a quick selfie by the lake!<br />I HIGHLY recommend taking a trip like this with your best friend. It makes it so much more fun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13tl-QMfmvxQEMOAwN03Q8Jrxi6kw-U77YvZEf2oWdaAsu-rAZEVRfBciQ4MxbMUMZcNat2x_KPbdMixnnQKqxZLq41SI0xwdsP9RXd0ZJQgyC3gMBDazTMCF0iK7zNGdrmZMfjMEwWw/s1600/IMG_9186.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEg13tl-QMfmvxQEMOAwN03Q8Jrxi6kw-U77YvZEf2oWdaAsu-rAZEVRfBciQ4MxbMUMZcNat2x_KPbdMixnnQKqxZLq41SI0xwdsP9RXd0ZJQgyC3gMBDazTMCF0iK7zNGdrmZMfjMEwWw/s640/IMG_9186.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Gonna catch that pesky monument!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCLxYjFW56j4cHAbpXAOQ80JH8_l3S01tU4qNdjKjuUkUhXOyj6WbhM66E0AahqkNmXeteQPeQdcRzST_cKG7GK3JW-u7qvH8VBJcoytjQLe8-3BOrTGk-xI78S-WP9n4t4P7MT2fBLo/s1600/IMG_9185.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEgyCLxYjFW56j4cHAbpXAOQ80JH8_l3S01tU4qNdjKjuUkUhXOyj6WbhM66E0AahqkNmXeteQPeQdcRzST_cKG7GK3JW-u7qvH8VBJcoytjQLe8-3BOrTGk-xI78S-WP9n4t4P7MT2fBLo/s640/IMG_9185.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Erin got it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZjj38V_CeRgribuNEIVzjwGtDcaXo9Gk16K86LXNIAaoMKM22lWNqSk1HXeR5jBxa9tSqsx1CSvpyO3JMrEUWW3fnWdrUXNdSJzvG5YmZUvWRhFX6zSEar8eE1Aew78eF9DP43IPI58/s1600/IMG_2674.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjOZjj38V_CeRgribuNEIVzjwGtDcaXo9Gk16K86LXNIAaoMKM22lWNqSk1HXeR5jBxa9tSqsx1CSvpyO3JMrEUWW3fnWdrUXNdSJzvG5YmZUvWRhFX6zSEar8eE1Aew78eF9DP43IPI58/s640/IMG_2674.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">State Capital Dome</td></tr>
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We also got to visit the State Capital. Talk about history! If you've never been, the tickets are free (like most things you can visit in DC) and the walking tour includes a guide.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Rw5c660vi94XGV_-4ywq1Tjv8XT4XD6N8uOen0VosZd3xHYYvbAb-YVTy3fe4RK6iwgi8-NdMFCmiEjpBSua8uANZiqhLKZeaKqvGmIzxa-_kFAACVU7NyVdo9nnyQE0OY3zBBddNBw/s1600/IMG_9190.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Rw5c660vi94XGV_-4ywq1Tjv8XT4XD6N8uOen0VosZd3xHYYvbAb-YVTy3fe4RK6iwgi8-NdMFCmiEjpBSua8uANZiqhLKZeaKqvGmIzxa-_kFAACVU7NyVdo9nnyQE0OY3zBBddNBw/s640/IMG_9190.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Erin and Deek at the Lincoln Memorial</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJnEhSuTFiCO8u84-HTH3bygwGbonhSAx6xRqviv8UyzFgC31h_74ZOOALEb9-_paN2A6W0udl4HuVhypPBW-im3XC9lwSdvVQ0GL4VGeTiTqp18j8mCTeWvjZhwD6nKvFkE3Vjycgmo/s1600/IMG_9200.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJnEhSuTFiCO8u84-HTH3bygwGbonhSAx6xRqviv8UyzFgC31h_74ZOOALEb9-_paN2A6W0udl4HuVhypPBW-im3XC9lwSdvVQ0GL4VGeTiTqp18j8mCTeWvjZhwD6nKvFkE3Vjycgmo/s640/IMG_9200.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">On the steps in front of Lincoln is a stone inscribed "I have a Dream."<br />This is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered his I have a Dream speech.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrPPX13MvcsXm0XOMks07qX6gxHqssafngf2jfAHP64UzEBtiC9yLmtWZ1q6xS3F4LLnJFEKSUjrSbW3yuVolfmHeh6fzP-WWQrEOsuWmjhD84pKBZM7F-1DRZ0wOKWlONtbIy-qL1-c/s1600/IMG_9219.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEjMrPPX13MvcsXm0XOMks07qX6gxHqssafngf2jfAHP64UzEBtiC9yLmtWZ1q6xS3F4LLnJFEKSUjrSbW3yuVolfmHeh6fzP-WWQrEOsuWmjhD84pKBZM7F-1DRZ0wOKWlONtbIy-qL1-c/s640/IMG_9219.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dr. King also has a monument near the Jefferson Memorial.<br />It's hard to see how big it is until you see the teeny person walking next to the statue.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJtJuCg8IHdGcSWzHJcEI3dMDIkgnP2ILqO51AQpCPUx7Cls7RaDAMFcIvz0t8V2uKc7JD6KuG66qt1svMrZLKxO5a2lozPP2Hes8VvF00OMBFjF7-D_uMAb40KVs93F0Ffg0brrxuWk/s1600/IMG_9308.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJtJuCg8IHdGcSWzHJcEI3dMDIkgnP2ILqO51AQpCPUx7Cls7RaDAMFcIvz0t8V2uKc7JD6KuG66qt1svMrZLKxO5a2lozPP2Hes8VvF00OMBFjF7-D_uMAb40KVs93F0Ffg0brrxuWk/s400/IMG_9308.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Inside the American History museum is one of the Bat Mobiles.<br />I *think* it's the one from the 1989 version.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto-xnba0EcYewy8CNPHFveLkArOON6FRVW6FcOe4if-Wlqk56ACvPy3cncissU61CRg6JbzlPzahdSE0xkW6-H7aErIzx9m_S-MoAvjSToll2moSHfvGSXHJJT7wXgdqZpqQenUxjBSU/s1600/IMG_9296.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto-xnba0EcYewy8CNPHFveLkArOON6FRVW6FcOe4if-Wlqk56ACvPy3cncissU61CRg6JbzlPzahdSE0xkW6-H7aErIzx9m_S-MoAvjSToll2moSHfvGSXHJJT7wXgdqZpqQenUxjBSU/s400/IMG_9296.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We made a stop to honor the Great Bard!<br />My beautiful bride poses next to the monument sign.<br />Shakespeare would most certainly approve!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k0rMAWxw3XbO0iL7Tqe_q9EHmsDQh_ZHb2LTVeQ7Ta8cHHCfd7qRknPE_rxaIj1Nc1iZtdquAgd3tyxCjPhNhcE4SDbthvBR49c-xAJuuwUU4hBe9A11V_pg1b8Nvy0JrO6aBOuMzJo/s1600/IMG_2805.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEj4k0rMAWxw3XbO0iL7Tqe_q9EHmsDQh_ZHb2LTVeQ7Ta8cHHCfd7qRknPE_rxaIj1Nc1iZtdquAgd3tyxCjPhNhcE4SDbthvBR49c-xAJuuwUU4hBe9A11V_pg1b8Nvy0JrO6aBOuMzJo/s640/IMG_2805.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Deek hanging with a bud from space in the Air and Space Museum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKn89o33iB0d5d9T5hBNEzKDexwgN7MHf-3jJLtMW7NuCQD652_rSk_yUSnfaFM9doYuMzE0oeYTezVUM21LzZ2ooW32xDLg0YE_HQbBnmyu4uD3WmDy7StOwzdeObUuYegTIpWj-9LYo/s1600/IMG_9123.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEiKn89o33iB0d5d9T5hBNEzKDexwgN7MHf-3jJLtMW7NuCQD652_rSk_yUSnfaFM9doYuMzE0oeYTezVUM21LzZ2ooW32xDLg0YE_HQbBnmyu4uD3WmDy7StOwzdeObUuYegTIpWj-9LYo/s640/IMG_9123.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hubba Hubba! Man, there's some beautiful sights to see here in DC!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzTbk7sIY2bAoXQqSv2WZLdYA7lkA7DawxWeb7aCPJurmmUogkbFw_5z91jEZflvc-gUP8ZTLYRlK-LurD1r0hS7hdvoYl-oYRrBubcMB9NKLYPlt3KCgyrkBwxdMT1OiR-Km-8rtKHk/s1600/IMG_9155.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEimzTbk7sIY2bAoXQqSv2WZLdYA7lkA7DawxWeb7aCPJurmmUogkbFw_5z91jEZflvc-gUP8ZTLYRlK-LurD1r0hS7hdvoYl-oYRrBubcMB9NKLYPlt3KCgyrkBwxdMT1OiR-Km-8rtKHk/s640/IMG_9155.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div>
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Deek and Erin hanging out at FBI HQ to help him get inspired for his books,</div>
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<i>The Injector</i> and for <i>122 Rules - Redemption</i></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0EKVyq0SMXUfvetCDkUkCYVzOn4lpDObomZkmlgj9IjsjCUiD3lbgzbVc7aFtbAgHqNy6iRpzNQgmjHc0uB3zKUX0lqcfUIH3kVhhbwMjirp95iYmFpZRuTXV9jM6PXKom9mtfUq0YE/s1600/IMG_9099.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0EKVyq0SMXUfvetCDkUkCYVzOn4lpDObomZkmlgj9IjsjCUiD3lbgzbVc7aFtbAgHqNy6iRpzNQgmjHc0uB3zKUX0lqcfUIH3kVhhbwMjirp95iYmFpZRuTXV9jM6PXKom9mtfUq0YE/s640/IMG_9099.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Deek and Erin doing The Matrix as we wait for the Metro.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Rw5c660vi94XGV_-4ywq1Tjv8XT4XD6N8uOen0VosZd3xHYYvbAb-YVTy3fe4RK6iwgi8-NdMFCmiEjpBSua8uANZiqhLKZeaKqvGmIzxa-_kFAACVU7NyVdo9nnyQE0OY3zBBddNBw/s1600/IMG_9190.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Rw5c660vi94XGV_-4ywq1Tjv8XT4XD6N8uOen0VosZd3xHYYvbAb-YVTy3fe4RK6iwgi8-NdMFCmiEjpBSua8uANZiqhLKZeaKqvGmIzxa-_kFAACVU7NyVdo9nnyQE0OY3zBBddNBw/s640/IMG_9190.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hello there, Mr. Lincoln!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RHlfAKVAvMlF3nmfuJnJCYoSt6ng0gnWDZzg9NESleOVTNnIG7Sw594tvNcJrWDS-mWxIRHZxOsSu2lQcJ4GxR6NolWISo5XRdjFs8VA_3sZUivZQde6IBctOGGtf1ZE_hi_9dRYAkQ/s1600/IMG_2851.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RHlfAKVAvMlF3nmfuJnJCYoSt6ng0gnWDZzg9NESleOVTNnIG7Sw594tvNcJrWDS-mWxIRHZxOsSu2lQcJ4GxR6NolWISo5XRdjFs8VA_3sZUivZQde6IBctOGGtf1ZE_hi_9dRYAkQ/s640/IMG_2851.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Rhews still goof off in even in the capital of the nation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSApCtvsezS1xB1AStj2kJpJIakczQJCAKHrBER_TgUZIq2xSJ0fyR0cTi0-R13yvndw0lEusYFPT3LxyD8RkMJEW2AyjJtUWRQuhX1Qnsui14x_e2uejUcsnnwHcWtwm7y8CZHkXGIY/s1600/IMG_9225.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSApCtvsezS1xB1AStj2kJpJIakczQJCAKHrBER_TgUZIq2xSJ0fyR0cTi0-R13yvndw0lEusYFPT3LxyD8RkMJEW2AyjJtUWRQuhX1Qnsui14x_e2uejUcsnnwHcWtwm7y8CZHkXGIY/s640/IMG_9225.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Of course there's ALWAYS time for a Starbucks date with my bride!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The train ride to DC was only a few hours and totally comfortable. We hung out, talked, napped, and even snuck in a little writing time. Almost everything except for the hotel and food is free, and there's SO much to see. My folks had never been there before (and my dad is lifetime military), so we were really happy that they got to see it all.<br />
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If you haven't see my post about <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/05/vacation-time-washington-dc-awesome-con.html" target="_blank">Awesome Con and us meeting Weird Al and Val Kilmer, then check it out</a>. <a href="http://awesome-con.com/" target="_blank">Awesome Con</a> is, well, awesome!<br />
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Until next time, my friends, adventure on!Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-62409098318874942019-05-07T18:50:00.001-07:002019-05-07T19:14:04.267-07:00Vacation Time: Washington DC - Awesome ConGeeks and nerds unite! <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I got to crash <a href="http://awesome-con.com/" target="_blank">Awesome Con in Washington DC</a> and, for the record, the name is perfect because it was AWESOME!<br />
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Usually when we con, Erin and I have a table for our books. It's a wonderful place to meet people, check out the amazing cosplayers, and geek out with readers. But this time around we took my folks and just enjoyed the con sans books.<br />
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We got to meet several celebrities (more on that later), one of whom greeted us as we entered.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hello, R2D2! </b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxmm6-spqXDv2ZORpSieB0ZEeWntyMDLwZe68jdDaDzzkmngLdtiHNdoUiCTJX4A9CrbC4P7CFZLrCEOn5KpQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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R2D2 is Your Awesome Con Host!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCe2nc2oEG0SPrSxGc0_1SPR_tRB2vaxQnNcQW5n88pDAPkCmbP-F4G1fz5657vIt-Rw-41aBYSIuEqFY1AWCalaYvAuVku0mMpF3ePfTdbEmfyAJTX6aodA_jBmyLWGvQqZhAUt14Zo/s1600/IMG_9065.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCe2nc2oEG0SPrSxGc0_1SPR_tRB2vaxQnNcQW5n88pDAPkCmbP-F4G1fz5657vIt-Rw-41aBYSIuEqFY1AWCalaYvAuVku0mMpF3ePfTdbEmfyAJTX6aodA_jBmyLWGvQqZhAUt14Zo/s400/IMG_9065.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek hanging with Luke's bud!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>Celebrity Time!</b></h3>
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Ever since the movie Tombstone, my bride has had a Val crush. And no other role of his was as iconic as when he played Doc Holliday.</div>
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<b>This con, Erin got to meet her Huckleberry!</b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj16hPn_miFadn4bOkb8fisHlUkd_cGuzW2HUGU3KbdxT27efvoSBnPPW-tsoud3iZvPqO8vWboq1HDGt0IiRxH1Mv9eCdeEI8-3mDaXc9J_dFTCvGMo1ANt0lpNDoPcacgKkb2xJSJcE/s1600/IMG_2430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1303" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj16hPn_miFadn4bOkb8fisHlUkd_cGuzW2HUGU3KbdxT27efvoSBnPPW-tsoud3iZvPqO8vWboq1HDGt0IiRxH1Mv9eCdeEI8-3mDaXc9J_dFTCvGMo1ANt0lpNDoPcacgKkb2xJSJcE/s400/IMG_2430.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin meets THE Val Kilmer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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While Erin has had a Val crush, Deek has had an Al crush. And nothing was cooler than getting to meet his object of affection and king of geeks. Ever since he was a kid, he's listened to <i>Another One Rides the Bus, Eat It!, </i>and <i>Yoda. </i>While, they've gotten to see Mr. Weird Al Yankovic in concert, at the con, Erin and Deek met him for real!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRBVKYyn1WD4vHJMvpeVKBLlCvSGONEI6W2IWFvD6xcrkf6k6j2xDlR6XfIBMK-_6TXt1eDib_wkg5X4UvAMWdhKOxB8ERADoQj8fDhV4mxqleYZphYEYuQazaMdriEI3SwNyKuAUajc/s1600/IMG_9079.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRBVKYyn1WD4vHJMvpeVKBLlCvSGONEI6W2IWFvD6xcrkf6k6j2xDlR6XfIBMK-_6TXt1eDib_wkg5X4UvAMWdhKOxB8ERADoQj8fDhV4mxqleYZphYEYuQazaMdriEI3SwNyKuAUajc/s400/IMG_9079.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, Deek has his arm around one of his favorite geek icons!</div>
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<b>The Cosplayers</b></h3>
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Nothing says "comic con" like the cosplayers. Some costumes are elaborate, some super creative, and every one of them is spirited as they portray their favs. Here are a few of the great costumes from Awesome-Con!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAFYlzNP_PDjxCWx3XypqR4k0z6O4OgWJPa10dY7HAzX2GQnvbiY49B5Znrf44q3nl_CXmfc26iitXViW4xE0hegphcO-Z7XkO4AIctjPq9z5jftIBhuad2y1u49JafIGsZpi72RChC8/s1600/IMG_2384.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAFYlzNP_PDjxCWx3XypqR4k0z6O4OgWJPa10dY7HAzX2GQnvbiY49B5Znrf44q3nl_CXmfc26iitXViW4xE0hegphcO-Z7XkO4AIctjPq9z5jftIBhuad2y1u49JafIGsZpi72RChC8/s400/IMG_2384.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes! The shower costume from Karate Kid!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN8j0q1FqgGqZfRp_ZYv67SYqp-D6LoIksNx09g_4ELrBfedWlespyrVmfBERfSPKnxuYZgcPHxEO1H-rcm_o-Aa4YhAxemwW2TUxBuEFg4vl0He_dWa_ME0dE5N2dIFT0oAnoWWDkb0/s1600/IMG_9082.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN8j0q1FqgGqZfRp_ZYv67SYqp-D6LoIksNx09g_4ELrBfedWlespyrVmfBERfSPKnxuYZgcPHxEO1H-rcm_o-Aa4YhAxemwW2TUxBuEFg4vl0He_dWa_ME0dE5N2dIFT0oAnoWWDkb0/s400/IMG_9082.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have zero idea who they are, but their costumes rocked!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidJWVN9hzzHPbWBrSgNKB4uS7WVAfwGD7m5GQEMQds-L6r-Ygh4cS2KTRc7oFF-d04nMsrs1tgGvnU9zwugIp_uCF-HICCM51ZGw10kUec-BtgtL1IT8NpbpQgc3E7P1tLdTSHr3hl7A/s1600/IMG_9081.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhidJWVN9hzzHPbWBrSgNKB4uS7WVAfwGD7m5GQEMQds-L6r-Ygh4cS2KTRc7oFF-d04nMsrs1tgGvnU9zwugIp_uCF-HICCM51ZGw10kUec-BtgtL1IT8NpbpQgc3E7P1tLdTSHr3hl7A/s640/IMG_9081.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harry Potter fans, this one is for you!<br />
What really sells this is them dressing up their son as a Mandrake. OMG, SO cute!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnANa535K39Tn8okO-a_r7JnqBRaM5lboEIAX6TRJguX7gleBeLn1vKFXcGjJTgaYgW9GQN2iL4UYXy8QKXeA_SmE3UjHh5afOAVZ2I0BUGTNEZfrDhPnkORekW-AFXk3ab_-Ot2q3bfo/s1600/IMG_9088.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnANa535K39Tn8okO-a_r7JnqBRaM5lboEIAX6TRJguX7gleBeLn1vKFXcGjJTgaYgW9GQN2iL4UYXy8QKXeA_SmE3UjHh5afOAVZ2I0BUGTNEZfrDhPnkORekW-AFXk3ab_-Ot2q3bfo/s400/IMG_9088.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evil R2!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPoAGMpXWQKSnXk5pqG0ORrPqp2p8CVCJVfgJq01Kr8I31ILuJDVDSaZk-MGy-FlyyyWz3iakYy0M2MVvK1w64cYeRj6W6a205quLd4kCfBZOuSZQZIN7gel0BNkkgbhcfb7pkpzrJQ8/s1600/IMG_9087.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPoAGMpXWQKSnXk5pqG0ORrPqp2p8CVCJVfgJq01Kr8I31ILuJDVDSaZk-MGy-FlyyyWz3iakYy0M2MVvK1w64cYeRj6W6a205quLd4kCfBZOuSZQZIN7gel0BNkkgbhcfb7pkpzrJQ8/s400/IMG_9087.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every high school boy's fantasy: Princess Leia and Boba Fett!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHTQDCNZRffPbNU_kW4ZHrdYjOxjAWMNMs4QsxrDyityo6l9a5Yh4it9_s7dPTj-7WKLUOPoIbt8gYHdaeZrR0r9LBFk02qCVJ1X1sQffpKcOjXY1hhmLHNcd-cgdHkc2bEnEhmWu-1s/s1600/IMG_9083.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHTQDCNZRffPbNU_kW4ZHrdYjOxjAWMNMs4QsxrDyityo6l9a5Yh4it9_s7dPTj-7WKLUOPoIbt8gYHdaeZrR0r9LBFk02qCVJ1X1sQffpKcOjXY1hhmLHNcd-cgdHkc2bEnEhmWu-1s/s400/IMG_9083.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiral Ackbar at your service!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0Ta0JO341ZjkhSZOJxI1k_SWuApQHozFrN75FuZqykhN17N9RFR54qjozMa0sjpgXKebC_HmeAcbLCTX60f1YHw21ZDKhmW2wJgudoqaZRz4n6_cQ_2cVJYdGqc2kBzDiRFckq4Kj6U/s1600/IMG_9091.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0Ta0JO341ZjkhSZOJxI1k_SWuApQHozFrN75FuZqykhN17N9RFR54qjozMa0sjpgXKebC_HmeAcbLCTX60f1YHw21ZDKhmW2wJgudoqaZRz4n6_cQ_2cVJYdGqc2kBzDiRFckq4Kj6U/s400/IMG_9091.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? Frigging amazing!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_88U4Fo7msmQzPJlTGRjUirMahcTWxU0OSyXsfeHpNsxmPPGyTuU2yhIhli0-Oq35uxH7e6YoVMzM_mRnTh752R4dTfIiP5W7rPkVcI2v7tln8QzDIRopS2z9EGVFoU40GBwZm3_ytI/s1600/IMG_9095.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_88U4Fo7msmQzPJlTGRjUirMahcTWxU0OSyXsfeHpNsxmPPGyTuU2yhIhli0-Oq35uxH7e6YoVMzM_mRnTh752R4dTfIiP5W7rPkVcI2v7tln8QzDIRopS2z9EGVFoU40GBwZm3_ytI/s400/IMG_9095.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David! Man, we miss you!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Iconic Costumes</b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfICUrQFZ1OjnowbZQTbJNFnwky2VnGFOssKc_KB2YNeeNVNgm3580vSyWE9yqGviOCZ-nz7bADxauPZCVaWB_nze51u33wG4jc7KIDXV-mFS60Hs9GnDN_EuQr52NrCEvz460qv-vVRw/s1600/IMG_2405.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfICUrQFZ1OjnowbZQTbJNFnwky2VnGFOssKc_KB2YNeeNVNgm3580vSyWE9yqGviOCZ-nz7bADxauPZCVaWB_nze51u33wG4jc7KIDXV-mFS60Hs9GnDN_EuQr52NrCEvz460qv-vVRw/s400/IMG_2405.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Val's Batman Costume</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcVYuwjeObe7YnHP9nhEiFiVl7lN1Bl89mT8DehDNVhSEUdNluBYKwKmkjYPUiPMviU4W0ahAN0NKZgL5_lfA1Pp1iL1b__B_FGqHBc9ptDtsjZivhibtFMIoeDoqPB_kCouL41KLz0Y/s1600/IMG_2409.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcVYuwjeObe7YnHP9nhEiFiVl7lN1Bl89mT8DehDNVhSEUdNluBYKwKmkjYPUiPMviU4W0ahAN0NKZgL5_lfA1Pp1iL1b__B_FGqHBc9ptDtsjZivhibtFMIoeDoqPB_kCouL41KLz0Y/s400/IMG_2409.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Freeeeeeze!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5jMmCdzosw4glDHxu1XzxW2nL_GxtHtMVzyLY7o9pKvWt9jLGmyEKnVlh-NTxYCBjdBm5q6RsCZf4Bfq_n6Iz_DZjo6kHOObgMQOgtoT_51SAX_ejrTF5-b3qGo8k8LT-FIFwgG7jGI/s1600/IMG_2396.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5jMmCdzosw4glDHxu1XzxW2nL_GxtHtMVzyLY7o9pKvWt9jLGmyEKnVlh-NTxYCBjdBm5q6RsCZf4Bfq_n6Iz_DZjo6kHOObgMQOgtoT_51SAX_ejrTF5-b3qGo8k8LT-FIFwgG7jGI/s400/IMG_2396.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin meets the robot from Lost in Space!<br />
By the way, if you haven't seen the reboot, do yourself a favor and watch it.</td></tr>
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We even ran into an old friend!</div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/susherevans" target="_blank">S. Usher Evans</a> was crushing it at her booth this year!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin and Deek with the Capital in the background</td></tr>
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Erin and I rocked the con. My parents had fun, met some of the Star Trek cast, and got a taste for what it means to be nerdy.<br />
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I love love love getting to spend time with my family and making memories and what better place to do it than at a con!<br />
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Until next time, adventure on, my friends!Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-8146755206125951242019-05-03T02:00:00.000-07:002019-05-03T02:00:01.955-07:00r.r. Campbell's Mourning Dove - EMPATHY #2<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Mourning Dove</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QZGSDX6" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1131295072" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://ninestarpress.com/product/mourning-dove" target="_blank">NineStar</a></div>
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<a href="http://ninestarpress.com/product/mourning-dove" target="_blank">Press</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mourning-dove-7" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/935036" target="_blank">Smashwords</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43728390-mourning-dove" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://rrcampbellwrites.com/product/signedmourningdove/" target="_blank">Author Website</a></div>
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<b>Author Bio</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVFm8f4SNLjS-lLx4ZRSq_FCSzF-3vozZmlnFigAzbRDIsCaluRBpYVHtcg0DtVFx98A6JmB0B9obhBUF5RYUl24OANIdxSQoYBRe0t0-JOyDouiZyrLF4f2jtSGh8ObU2C1Q5e8c9Uw/s1600/JPG+r.+r.+campbell+-+Square+Author+Photo+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVFm8f4SNLjS-lLx4ZRSq_FCSzF-3vozZmlnFigAzbRDIsCaluRBpYVHtcg0DtVFx98A6JmB0B9obhBUF5RYUl24OANIdxSQoYBRe0t0-JOyDouiZyrLF4f2jtSGh8ObU2C1Q5e8c9Uw/s200/JPG+r.+r.+campbell+-+Square+Author+Photo+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
r. r. campbell is an author, editor, and the founder of the Writescast Network, a podcast collective for writers, by writers. His published novels include <i>Accounting for It All</i> and<i> Imminent Dawn</i>, which debuted as the number one new release in LGBT science fiction on Amazon. Its sequel, <i>Mourning Dove</i>, is now available in print and ebook with most major retailers.<br />
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The author has been an invited speaker at conferences and seminars including the University of Wisconsin Writers’ Institute, WisCon, and AllWriter’s Workshop. His work has also been featured in <i>Five:2:One Magazine’s #thesideshow</i>, <i>Erotic Review</i>, and with <i>National Journal Writing Month</i>.<br />
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r. r. lives in Stoughton, Wisconsin with his wife, Lacey, and their cats, Hashtag and Rhaegar.<br />
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<b>For more:</b> </div>
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<a href="http://rrcampbellwrites.com/">rrcampbellwrites.com</a> | <a href="http://writescast.net/">writescast.net</a></div>
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<a href="http://empathyseries.com/">empathyseries.com</a> | <a href="http://accountingforitall.com/">accountingforitall.com</a> </div>
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<b>Twitter and Instagram</b>: <a href="https://twitter.com/iamrrcampbell" target="_blank">@iamrrcampbell</a> </div>
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<b>Facebook</b>: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iamrrcampbell" target="_blank">facebook.com/iamrrcampbell </a></div>
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<b>Goodreads</b>: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18577940.r_r_campbell" target="_blank">goodreads.com/iamrrcampbell </a></div>
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Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-91193400101204257252019-04-18T04:00:00.000-07:002019-04-18T04:00:09.747-07:00Dose of Happiness: Coffee Dates!Readers of my blog know that I'm a simple fella. As a minimalist, I don't need a lot of stuff. <i>Things</i> don't make you happy. Piles of gizmos, giant houses, massive quantities of anything won't put a dance in your step, nor lighten the burdens in your heart.<br />
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In fact, given time, those things will bury you.<br />
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Too much stuff!</div>
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Aaaaaaahhhhhh!<br />
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Sure, I have my weaknesses. I'd be lost without my computer, phone, and coffee maker, but the items themselves aren't what make me happy. Simplicity and making memories are where it's at.<br />
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I've talked about <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/03/does-of-happiness-fryday.html" target="_blank">Fryday</a>--the one day a week Erin and I share a small Wendy's fry and a pizza--well, this goes hand-in-hand with Fryday: Coffee Dates!<br />
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Coffee Dates</h3>
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Easily some of the most overlooked joys of life are simple times like grabbing a cup of joe down at the local coffee shop. Usually we walk to our local Starbucks--a trek that's five miles round trip. Then when we arrive, we chat it up with our favorite baristas. Every time we go in we learn a little more about them, get a little more familiar with their life stories.<br />
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For me and Erin it's more than just coffee, it's about connecting. Connecting with each other and those around us.<br />
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And of course, it's about drinking coffee, which come in all flavors and types!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVU-UsWpUb4CkD0QPdoSirmvWfQNNh8XJo179pYyxq0mAyqIZ0moz3u12trf-n3fxR2fThf3vw-RYEmslWYZyU9P4cFhrT-AnFNSTupbI3lFpG1smj-uIJVVxEo8lF_9RoXgJrZmFgJc/s1600/IMG_0570.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVU-UsWpUb4CkD0QPdoSirmvWfQNNh8XJo179pYyxq0mAyqIZ0moz3u12trf-n3fxR2fThf3vw-RYEmslWYZyU9P4cFhrT-AnFNSTupbI3lFpG1smj-uIJVVxEo8lF_9RoXgJrZmFgJc/s400/IMG_0570.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin's favorite, Ice Cinnamon Almond Milk Caramel Macchiato</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When we aren't Starbucksing, Erin will go for a Califia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parents say, "Don't play with your food." Bah! Who can resist Starbucks in sunglasses?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluDsfReX83ewvYdiLOHhXr_cW88V4bJqClMY-WjH_JJIBC6o7s4quoRsBY6OGT5Xj3puHwWAAggy9zCADl1FRLZL4q-BvylkSz5pwDQUAaZXJaCHA0h6ck1gbuqwcerAhQBjKwmyM-K4/s1600/IMG_8125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluDsfReX83ewvYdiLOHhXr_cW88V4bJqClMY-WjH_JJIBC6o7s4quoRsBY6OGT5Xj3puHwWAAggy9zCADl1FRLZL4q-BvylkSz5pwDQUAaZXJaCHA0h6ck1gbuqwcerAhQBjKwmyM-K4/s400/IMG_8125.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gimme your coffee and nobody gets hurt!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOL! The baristas know me well. DOUBLE whipped cream!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peekaboo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29thI6C7PLbzkGGxgSnvx9n3GCHOHMrVyiqOIjOlWHyFsWYlOpdgyTs1fevNQKrsbxX5q6umy5KKixZUveJBIBg99rmq7BG8p3h-wjvUSPF5If1RLhxqwJXi7yBJACQZtM1eZv912zoU/s1600/IMG_8811.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29thI6C7PLbzkGGxgSnvx9n3GCHOHMrVyiqOIjOlWHyFsWYlOpdgyTs1fevNQKrsbxX5q6umy5KKixZUveJBIBg99rmq7BG8p3h-wjvUSPF5If1RLhxqwJXi7yBJACQZtM1eZv912zoU/s400/IMG_8811.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hangin' with my best friend!</td></tr>
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In the end it's really all about hanging out with my partner, my best friend, my beautiful bride.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYFJQeVVHzjquJjclJUZFCW6BcG5UC80-fHyQYll-OOXyAM-bmYfXsiPvdOykwa4VDimcSASXwdm-le-vYrASyCkuHCAzzAXP-OelDVthzvKoTe18G2TJ4Y7w0jyWDVkzy0aLroCGXYQ/s1600/IMG_1608.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYFJQeVVHzjquJjclJUZFCW6BcG5UC80-fHyQYll-OOXyAM-bmYfXsiPvdOykwa4VDimcSASXwdm-le-vYrASyCkuHCAzzAXP-OelDVthzvKoTe18G2TJ4Y7w0jyWDVkzy0aLroCGXYQ/s400/IMG_1608.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin - Brewin' Togetha!</td></tr>
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So, go out, get some coffee--or whatever floats your boat--and make some connections!<br />
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This is Deek, with a little dose of coffee happiness!<br />
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Adventure on, my friends!<br />
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<br />Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-19847983302593052192019-04-10T16:42:00.000-07:002019-04-10T16:42:29.099-07:00Dose of Happiness: Book Happiness Part 2!Book happiness? Didn't I just blog about that a couple weeks ago? Why, yes, yes I did.<br />
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Again and Again!</div>
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If you missed it or don't remember, check out <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/03/dose-of-happiness-book-happiness.html" target="_blank">Dose of Happiness: Book Happiness</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This week, we're talking:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Formatting!</span></i></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2lXQnRsnm0yFRkaT7kckmV-1JaKTTiFsY5EB8J4pilT5Kwz9hw4vtkvIwb_jnxMIwLzawNHl9Q68RZ4fNbmMOeHzkMLIdI53jyLJUCS75R-bkbzcRUuR15wN57iftW7tIRybG2xgSNQ/s1600/IMG_8930.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2lXQnRsnm0yFRkaT7kckmV-1JaKTTiFsY5EB8J4pilT5Kwz9hw4vtkvIwb_jnxMIwLzawNHl9Q68RZ4fNbmMOeHzkMLIdI53jyLJUCS75R-bkbzcRUuR15wN57iftW7tIRybG2xgSNQ/s400/IMG_8930.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">122 Rules Cover Page</td></tr>
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Sure the covers on your favorite books rock, but what about all the pages in between? Someone had to spend HOURS meticulously laying them out, finding the right fonts, the right headers, the right chapter breaks.<br />
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Oh, and let's not even get into "widows" and "orphans."<br />
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No, not those widows and orphans, I'm talking about trailing little <a href="https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Book_Design/Widows_And_Orphans" target="_blank">devil lines at the end or beginning of a page.</a><br />
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For print book layout, we use Adobe's Indesign. <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> has always done our book layouts and is smashingly good at it, but it was time for me to take the reins. So, she used <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/the-fulfillment-series.html" target="_blank"><i>The Prophecy</i>'s </a>template to springboard the <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules.html" target="_blank">122 Rules</a></i> set up. She did the heavy lifting of setting up the master pages, fonts, headers, so on and so on.<br />
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She also worked with our cover designer, <a href="https://twitter.com/RacePointUS" target="_blank">Anita Carroll</a> of <a href="https://race-point.com/" target="_blank">Race Po!nt</a>, on the dimensions, page count, and things random sounding things like "gutters" and "bleed." All of this mess requires more precision than a mission to Mars or KDP will chew your book up and spit it out.<br />
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Then it was over to me to clean up the content. Compared to all that other stuff, cleaning the content doesn't sound like a big deal. I've got this.<br />
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Okay, maybe not as much as I'd hoped.<br />
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I've worked in programs that seemed to have been designed by drunk monkeys, and while Indesign wasn't quite that bad, the tipsy primates sketching the buttons and menus were clearly feeling prankish. Within the book itself there are a TON of things that you have to get just right--not only the widows and orphans--to make a book look polished and clean.<br />
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While it took a lot longer than I thought, with Erin's guidance, I think the results speak for themselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4kMlvMwIHQ9ZWtBQz-LszuOnPlvpI1fOOVIZNa6zs6iJLuxgLiyImhef61BZDhyvg1dopcZ8w9sT0x5MoFY53rwkrxHWExTHuNPjLOcROlSmYpDau53N34VoVuJCXu94BzVL1JRxdsc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.45.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="972" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4kMlvMwIHQ9ZWtBQz-LszuOnPlvpI1fOOVIZNa6zs6iJLuxgLiyImhef61BZDhyvg1dopcZ8w9sT0x5MoFY53rwkrxHWExTHuNPjLOcROlSmYpDau53N34VoVuJCXu94BzVL1JRxdsc/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.45.46+PM.png" width="401" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">122 Rules - Cover Page</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW2a_Z5ZYy6plzyH4A6ctPoLbVASnCAN2S8qsbFvFXSnGYjeXueJDNzgwkKYmUWPdjiHTRapdcK4JVTwgMtoqxEgGFWeim8Z_GDUC8iyfmf_JvgwwUVPU7cIkm-O9VdNDm-CzctLM3Ws/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.47.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1600" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW2a_Z5ZYy6plzyH4A6ctPoLbVASnCAN2S8qsbFvFXSnGYjeXueJDNzgwkKYmUWPdjiHTRapdcK4JVTwgMtoqxEgGFWeim8Z_GDUC8iyfmf_JvgwwUVPU7cIkm-O9VdNDm-CzctLM3Ws/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.47.03+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">122 Rules - Chapter One</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhSMvctN2TdBV7eSy58c-8QyCXFD_d727B6ke7uNhvoW5wyeRaSufqvMnzta1JBhRiAiQ9KYo9AFdnJdsBPc02ImNBdWY4_vyD9vIWEyMzW_PE-tQj8633E_qdMg9l74-Dqi_YSzWfp0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.45.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1600" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhSMvctN2TdBV7eSy58c-8QyCXFD_d727B6ke7uNhvoW5wyeRaSufqvMnzta1JBhRiAiQ9KYo9AFdnJdsBPc02ImNBdWY4_vyD9vIWEyMzW_PE-tQj8633E_qdMg9l74-Dqi_YSzWfp0/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.45.19+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">122 Rules - Rule #73</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejlBePavBdYldnikQN_W5cct1Qj5aesyBI9USgWTb5dB2udS8UdNrmrdDV1x5igXAFYpyfE_Xvb5g-zyv0rT8z87Bi_73qQ7hZO2uZnu-6FrNEdi9dOd9WqS7r0XHDYs8B5fiPMub-qo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.45.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1600" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejlBePavBdYldnikQN_W5cct1Qj5aesyBI9USgWTb5dB2udS8UdNrmrdDV1x5igXAFYpyfE_Xvb5g-zyv0rT8z87Bi_73qQ7hZO2uZnu-6FrNEdi9dOd9WqS7r0XHDYs8B5fiPMub-qo/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+5.45.02+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">122 Rules - Chapter Break</td></tr>
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And while I messed up a bit and asked a ton of questions, my amazing bride was profoundly patient and worked with me through all of it.</div>
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Next up, we tackled the Smashwords and KDP ebook versions. Those have their own, completely set of rules. Smashwords will upload your book to places like OverDrive, B&N, and Apple IF you are in their premium catalog, but to get there takes a whole lot of work.<br />
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Fortunately, Erin knows the 128 pages (yes, 128!!!) of rules and guided me through the process. Happily, Smashwords accepted <i>122</i> on the first try!<br />
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My bride is a brilliant editor and a total pro at book design layout. She even has her own company for just this service.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JeHI4ZClbnFWer_NNEV1QJiQXUIzrSrK9qHIVH0EZvap8NIuDzRlnuyZv7FAPogbLSPxp6fdEVHVA_xFjaVQdofB4Wy7SIe5PKP_ZgO5Z481N9xzNtpH6PwBTDDYz9I8OOCDBeSupDQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+7.20.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1034" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JeHI4ZClbnFWer_NNEV1QJiQXUIzrSrK9qHIVH0EZvap8NIuDzRlnuyZv7FAPogbLSPxp6fdEVHVA_xFjaVQdofB4Wy7SIe5PKP_ZgO5Z481N9xzNtpH6PwBTDDYz9I8OOCDBeSupDQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-04-10+at+7.20.25+PM.png" title="Erin Rhew Editing and Design" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/editing-and-design.html" target="_blank">Erin Rhew Editing and Design</a>.</div>
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As a side now, <i>122 Rules</i> is now available under its new <a href="http://www.tenaciousbookspublishing.com/" target="_blank">Tenacious Books Publishing</a> home!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyU5_MFdwW8qhMR3NEJX1hDFLOFDUUcPqYmGgbKyXLqNygPwTmc_ccP-pgco1EbW7t6dWYEbBwyBLKnW_BXoJupLCFd0RPEvlGItPQk2yHflh2tYYIlE8IOuGDU32XFLuqlu-5jB6P4tY/s1600/eBOOK_122_RULES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyU5_MFdwW8qhMR3NEJX1hDFLOFDUUcPqYmGgbKyXLqNygPwTmc_ccP-pgco1EbW7t6dWYEbBwyBLKnW_BXoJupLCFd0RPEvlGItPQk2yHflh2tYYIlE8IOuGDU32XFLuqlu-5jB6P4tY/s400/eBOOK_122_RULES.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2KkjZda" target="_blank"><i>122 Rules</i> on Amazon!</a></div>
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I'm incredibly lucky to have such a talented, patient bride who's willing to help me learn the ropes. </div>
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<b>Erin is a total pro all the way!</b></div>
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This is Deek with another Dose of Happiness!</div>
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<br />Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-3393137853009405962019-03-28T02:00:00.000-07:002019-03-28T02:00:00.525-07:00Dose of Happiness: Book Happiness!This past month has been all about covers and editing and formatting and covers. Now that <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules.html" target="_blank">122 Rules</a></i> is being re-published under the <a href="http://www.tenaciousbookspublishing.com/our-books.html" target="_blank">Tenacious Books</a> jaguar, we thought it only appropriate to give it a brand new cover to celebrate!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZnYNYAdIz3_UEbo_Grrn6cSAgvTvcMzFL4VlIMp-kz9rM-pCOkZ8scXQmMPoUyrW4vP-eZtXhEjakuVC6AbIJcjUGQr1fSMvW3-R6yRLyy1LA8muNEdm53suyOYFSh85bNlh75eqtuo/s1600/Jaguar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZnYNYAdIz3_UEbo_Grrn6cSAgvTvcMzFL4VlIMp-kz9rM-pCOkZ8scXQmMPoUyrW4vP-eZtXhEjakuVC6AbIJcjUGQr1fSMvW3-R6yRLyy1LA8muNEdm53suyOYFSh85bNlh75eqtuo/s320/Jaguar.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jag welcomes <i>122 Rules</i>!<br />
He's one cool cat!</td></tr>
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But covers don't just happen. Sure, anyone can take an image, slap some verbiage on it, and call it a cover. But to really create something amazing and eye-catching, you need an artist.<br />
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No. Not that kind of artist.<br />
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The kind that can take a vague idea, some random images, and create something truly spectacular. That's why today's Dose of Happiness is about our cover artist, <a href="https://twitter.com/RacePointUS" target="_blank">Anita Carroll</a>, of <a href="https://race-point.com/" target="_blank">Race Po!nt</a>, because she is just such an an artist.</div>
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<b>Book Cover Dose of Happiness</b></div>
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We began this process three years ago. Three! When we created the original cover for <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules.html" target="_blank">122 Rules</a></i>, we batted around a ton of ideas. The funny thing is, the original concept--and the one we have now gone with--was what both Anita and I, each individually, envisioned. I'd had in my head the idea and after she read the book, she also--without knowing what I thought--suggested something similar.</div>
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Wut? Yep!</div>
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Though the final cover turned out really good, ultimately, we didn't get to use our idea.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiekw3G-UljspwnvPRVeHgAFO-YqNImUF04SvQhqTUDGL9X6fBMroAuLiegFPVecfGfzcYO0J8C4_FOtI488BffCOzChqptCmhNRw815yYb76_-zYo3JI1ZLuYjg1ntqhz-3GP69cV8E/s1600/122+Rules+-+Old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiekw3G-UljspwnvPRVeHgAFO-YqNImUF04SvQhqTUDGL9X6fBMroAuLiegFPVecfGfzcYO0J8C4_FOtI488BffCOzChqptCmhNRw815yYb76_-zYo3JI1ZLuYjg1ntqhz-3GP69cV8E/s400/122+Rules+-+Old.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original <i>122 Rules</i> Cover</td></tr>
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It's pretty sweet, right? Though, cool, I never let go of that original vision. I talked it over with <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a>, who told me that it was worth spending the $ to get the cover re-done when we brought <i>122</i> under the Tenacious Books jaguar.</div>
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Erin wanted to see my vision brought to life. Seriously, could I get any luckier? </div>
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So, this last February I told Anita I envisioned a man on a motorcycle, racing toward the reader, hell bent on a mission.</div>
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Yep. That's what she got from me.</div>
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Have I mentioned that I'm really lucky that my peeps are so patient and understanding?</div>
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Here are the pics I sent her:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzhR-oxJXl8km83t7l8XnhUK-HIuvf59SYJMbl_0VMvq4c5GqB4nktuqaHKnYbfWMXEELXl741fgOGSS5F_Kj4_-kRNpO22oXPka_AuVp7oaPGPBfogqQk1ILFmItuEoXcgzf1hUdA_M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+12.38.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1176" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzhR-oxJXl8km83t7l8XnhUK-HIuvf59SYJMbl_0VMvq4c5GqB4nktuqaHKnYbfWMXEELXl741fgOGSS5F_Kj4_-kRNpO22oXPka_AuVp7oaPGPBfogqQk1ILFmItuEoXcgzf1hUdA_M/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+12.38.22+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoaAnh12ahqJkymvxYqeL-c18_PB0EcRH13hcB0fwKegRuf4wXXLIPZURYuMibrv-5UEGpvu8tKKDJIB8zyqqc1o3Yb0E1Bz_inrEpWUKnwsIlswLJ_CarzZeFmAAhQKGf55Gi4y27E8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+12.38.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1372" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoaAnh12ahqJkymvxYqeL-c18_PB0EcRH13hcB0fwKegRuf4wXXLIPZURYuMibrv-5UEGpvu8tKKDJIB8zyqqc1o3Yb0E1Bz_inrEpWUKnwsIlswLJ_CarzZeFmAAhQKGf55Gi4y27E8/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+12.38.33+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVniGbiQ8tc4U0tcaWgkYH1VfW1QX-2PPKHaTDHlh5Pa323HmlOHYrO30zro-xONkDdGMGcSYiSEacbrSQgCMO1645-Vga1d5o452O1NaWHo91p6WWosISZHrqpKUwm2jPxSFtlw1qfw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+12.38.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVniGbiQ8tc4U0tcaWgkYH1VfW1QX-2PPKHaTDHlh5Pa323HmlOHYrO30zro-xONkDdGMGcSYiSEacbrSQgCMO1645-Vga1d5o452O1NaWHo91p6WWosISZHrqpKUwm2jPxSFtlw1qfw/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+12.38.44+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Umm, yep. That's what she had to work with.</div>
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Fortunately, Anita didn't even blink. She took that hodgepodge of stuff and created...</div>
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<drum roll please></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Presenting, the brand new <i>122 Rules</i> cover!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3IKjEkt5U4dIO4WXErYQzf04RZwTkLL3AqtN0VGnqsiQwFjhkwEk88C8lxDruLCeOIyZG4phfH-Cz2g9XX0ycequf_r-4vvt2zpUNiZBc2TDuiw_naXB4E3HtSLQnWqKUHZT71TEJw0/s1600/eBOOK_122_RULES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3IKjEkt5U4dIO4WXErYQzf04RZwTkLL3AqtN0VGnqsiQwFjhkwEk88C8lxDruLCeOIyZG4phfH-Cz2g9XX0ycequf_r-4vvt2zpUNiZBc2TDuiw_naXB4E3HtSLQnWqKUHZT71TEJw0/s640/eBOOK_122_RULES.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New <i>122 Rules</i> cover!</td></tr>
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I'm so pleased with the result. It matches exactly to what I've had in my head all those years.</div>
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I'm incredibly lucky to get to work with a great group of professionals, and am please to include <a href="https://twitter.com/RacePointUS" target="_blank">Anita</a> among them. She's a graphics artist pro from concept to delivery. There's a reason she's done the cover for everything in the <a href="http://www.tenaciousbookspublishing.com/our-books.html" target="_blank">Tenacious Books library</a> and <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I created the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23AnitaIsAmazing&src=typd" target="_blank">#AnitaIsAmazing</a>.</div>
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We have <i>122</i> tentatively scheduled for relaunch on April 10, 2019. I'm super excited to get to release it under the jaguar and with a cool new cover!</div>
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This is Deek, giving you a little dose of book happiness!</div>
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Adventure on, my friends!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf5Q307EreqpVt2l5XID1ODYTTsC42OVQ0f6IqucWyxN058f65vYm6nagxDum4RoKftgUDOh2nbwSvqt0VmTa-6FUMyjBMqepvtswc-wVgElNvUCOfy1oP3HJLgwOR8fp1ETYvSPHKRY/s1600/DUOFront-Back-Paperback-BookRULES.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisf5Q307EreqpVt2l5XID1ODYTTsC42OVQ0f6IqucWyxN058f65vYm6nagxDum4RoKftgUDOh2nbwSvqt0VmTa-6FUMyjBMqepvtswc-wVgElNvUCOfy1oP3HJLgwOR8fp1ETYvSPHKRY/s400/DUOFront-Back-Paperback-BookRULES.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">122 Rules</td></tr>
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Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-47144687067111945502019-03-21T05:00:00.000-07:002019-03-21T05:00:04.851-07:00Dose of Happiness: Home ProjectsNobody ever says that doing home projects are fun...well, almost nobody. But, this one made me happy.
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="261" src="https://giphy.com/embed/N25nrRX4rsnkY" width="480"></iframe><br />
Say what?<br />
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Yep, it's true! <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I have been planning to replace the fans in our bathrooms, paint, and hang our barn door for several months now, and this weekend was it. So, as soon as I got off work on Friday, Erin came and picked me and we headed to the hardware store.</div>
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One of the things we had to do was figure out how to connect a super-sucker, modern-day bathroom fan to our antiquated 1980's attic venting. Erin and I worked through the limited available pipe pieces until we came up with a Y-adapter that would connect two fans with 6 inch exhaust pipes to a 3 inch flexi-vent pipe.</div>
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Rube Goldberg, eat your heart out!</div>
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Our ridiculous contraption looked both like the funnel on a steam engine or, well...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kyg02YRGOpTnFaDloh1I3IWkadt5SzTMVwIwS7tTBBi4kSpKABgtwFX0JShZbO64dMoKbK7l5aBDnK74f4Tx9sDi-85FY-4PM5U7r36kpa3gL44Cnnhe4hxStr5lyR1s39J7m12CO9Y/s1600/Bong.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kyg02YRGOpTnFaDloh1I3IWkadt5SzTMVwIwS7tTBBi4kSpKABgtwFX0JShZbO64dMoKbK7l5aBDnK74f4Tx9sDi-85FY-4PM5U7r36kpa3gL44Cnnhe4hxStr5lyR1s39J7m12CO9Y/s320/Bong.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be jealous, my Portland peeps!</td></tr>
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In the end the venting worked perfectly, though this one looks kinda like a scorpion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcfrBXxU7MJ68XAiI51FQIFsLH_vJVj0vZSzgRndGseM95IwkM3uS3CEopYPCYtlUCgiwfWeuQVyTVp1vLOnN6gPdTN0O4VAy55RBm87JRr3gpZkwjF4mVwimu6_KHA7KbV7Cgz6hjVI/s1600/Duct+Mess.1.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAcfrBXxU7MJ68XAiI51FQIFsLH_vJVj0vZSzgRndGseM95IwkM3uS3CEopYPCYtlUCgiwfWeuQVyTVp1vLOnN6gPdTN0O4VAy55RBm87JRr3gpZkwjF4mVwimu6_KHA7KbV7Cgz6hjVI/s320/Duct+Mess.1.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>
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And this one, well, I don't know, is just a mess.<br />
Functional, but a mess nonetheless.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGL5CoCICMppJ_Bmw3hFplPWDFDCys3wxQQvWDzgywWEhmv-Fl2OrraP_4lydICGDzLjOQ4zL5ZEpIfE2G8c6aqJjNgdQt9TXflO1p0wuMWA5pbnLjr2sRVW9sTRKhlsvDg-L2d9rT7g/s1600/Duct+Mess.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGL5CoCICMppJ_Bmw3hFplPWDFDCys3wxQQvWDzgywWEhmv-Fl2OrraP_4lydICGDzLjOQ4zL5ZEpIfE2G8c6aqJjNgdQt9TXflO1p0wuMWA5pbnLjr2sRVW9sTRKhlsvDg-L2d9rT7g/s320/Duct+Mess.2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>And the results... Drumroll please!</b></div>
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<b>Before</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9RkbgkrgGLccwGJBNy_hxzfMdXxl1z8HWnrgyW9eQaxaBljNOdlxif0m6ePoIilK2dyFdhmw2llGbHNLTKWxzYEYv9EgYgmYn7GQSb93Uc0e9bc2K8ZYySRajUWjjXnGeEzZIlSmduU/s1600/IMG_8799.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9RkbgkrgGLccwGJBNy_hxzfMdXxl1z8HWnrgyW9eQaxaBljNOdlxif0m6ePoIilK2dyFdhmw2llGbHNLTKWxzYEYv9EgYgmYn7GQSb93Uc0e9bc2K8ZYySRajUWjjXnGeEzZIlSmduU/s320/IMG_8799.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>During</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbXTzKmzrLK0bV865_u6gs-h38lBF1r2SX0zoTSBl7NsIeaQqkLpejErWrRn-iVfnN0zUwBsZ5HMK50Y2AlNHEuwX16jSHLHwr9zAf3ZVn6JFMkjdNUUnk7wfzkmlbs0g939PFusAzeI/s1600/IMG_8801.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbXTzKmzrLK0bV865_u6gs-h38lBF1r2SX0zoTSBl7NsIeaQqkLpejErWrRn-iVfnN0zUwBsZ5HMK50Y2AlNHEuwX16jSHLHwr9zAf3ZVn6JFMkjdNUUnk7wfzkmlbs0g939PFusAzeI/s320/IMG_8801.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>After</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eR1uhypaEc39jd8v3sfP9ZJ_c2gxMEpSK5RL56HEjXTBtpIyptxrekM6mQQjwfZm37lQqw1g2MUhuhV2QZf9_28VCSHzRAWC83P8OEJ1w_doGiBLj0HPvRgXaXBo5AvI-CBzp6x0ZwQ/s1600/IMG_8806.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eR1uhypaEc39jd8v3sfP9ZJ_c2gxMEpSK5RL56HEjXTBtpIyptxrekM6mQQjwfZm37lQqw1g2MUhuhV2QZf9_28VCSHzRAWC83P8OEJ1w_doGiBLj0HPvRgXaXBo5AvI-CBzp6x0ZwQ/s320/IMG_8806.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Dose of Happiness</b></h3>
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Okay, so how does all of this tie back in to a dose of happiness?</div>
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Easy!</div>
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<b>Erin and I did this together</b></div>
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And, really, for me to be happy that's all it takes. She and I had fun picking out our color, piecing together the crazy vent pipe, planning, and ordering the parts. During the project, which took most of the weekend and FOUR total coats of primer and paint (yes, FOUR!), we talked, laughed, and jammed out to country tunes.</div>
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Saturday evening, we had to go up to the hardware store for the inevitable thing that we forgot, but instead of driving we took advantage of the beautiful weather and walked.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnoLAbSHV2kEYS_1aOfNUgAr6Ejxe9ifmxXkeDzTIdfAZJJ2grx1hYSh49FuwF9a2FEMo_eAeZd5NtAOEgi-cePnlhJIrdlrSJs6pOSXak2BtSfY3jrRuLBglzZEKWHX7csXJ1qD3u-w/s1600/Night+sky.HEIC" 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/AVvXsEhgnoLAbSHV2kEYS_1aOfNUgAr6Ejxe9ifmxXkeDzTIdfAZJJ2grx1hYSh49FuwF9a2FEMo_eAeZd5NtAOEgi-cePnlhJIrdlrSJs6pOSXak2BtSfY3jrRuLBglzZEKWHX7csXJ1qD3u-w/s640/Night+sky.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous sunset from the hardware store parking lot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEqLp56R7AJ7OoHBHKvz5SFNU9t-LF2eFytPxj18Y-oHGwpgG-KMhrVc7JlRwu6-3aZHIKuCmYZm00RgOjYkpbAmXeIQBnkzagndGQmxXJ8uYpj_kaHjAmOe6F3aBSV-eCHldc21IAH8/s1600/IMG_8803.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEqLp56R7AJ7OoHBHKvz5SFNU9t-LF2eFytPxj18Y-oHGwpgG-KMhrVc7JlRwu6-3aZHIKuCmYZm00RgOjYkpbAmXeIQBnkzagndGQmxXJ8uYpj_kaHjAmOe6F3aBSV-eCHldc21IAH8/s640/IMG_8803.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It just kept getting prettier as we walked home.</td></tr>
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As seeing as how Saturday is also Fryday, we then went to Wendy's, got our small fry, and ate in the parking lot. Dude, tastes SO good after a day of sweating and painting and bending and stooping and wiring in the attic! AND after we finished for the evening, it was pizza night!</div>
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In my past life I would have done the whole project alone. But my best friend and partner was there every step of the way, and together we rocked it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH9q-2fGdzydVBnTM6CX1PtrcsJp4tGOScLvhS4fFjfmm81-to9p1OCjT88dAKj-9YltoE5I6BjQXY7riBp51zImvgzDR7CAetldwp0eIKFyEQ3K5Jn8xYHX0ha6zvMcbu1fBoCJSgv4/s1600/Jay+and+Erin+-+Home+Proct.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHH9q-2fGdzydVBnTM6CX1PtrcsJp4tGOScLvhS4fFjfmm81-to9p1OCjT88dAKj-9YltoE5I6BjQXY7riBp51zImvgzDR7CAetldwp0eIKFyEQ3K5Jn8xYHX0ha6zvMcbu1fBoCJSgv4/s400/Jay+and+Erin+-+Home+Proct.HEIC" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin, back again, party on party on!</td></tr>
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This is Deek, giving you a little dose of home project happiness!</div>
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Adventure on, my friends!</div>
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Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-72715152938787857622019-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:002019-03-17T11:18:12.348-07:00Dose of Happiness: Fryday!<a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I spent months and months losing weight via <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2018/10/the-amazing-world-of-keto.html" target="_blank">Keto</a>. It worked awesome and we shedded the pounds like melted butter.<br />
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But what do you do after you've lost the weight?</div>
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Unfortunately, a lot of people go back to their old habits and put the weight back on. <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I got rid of all our "fat" clothes, thus committed to keeping the weight off. So we incorporated the changes into our lifestyle.<br />
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We like fitting into our clothes. We like feeling energetic. We like taking pictures and not worrying if we look bloated/puffy/fat.<br />
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While we were dieting, we had our weekly cheat-meal day. Pizza, Starbucks, and we split a small Wendy's fry. I'm affectionately coining this day:<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Fryday!</b></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAkTa5rQdqnclBD7gHIq6CTqe9hjUKLhl19y0ChogMV56v6rs5LCpgjEF9FFC_ZnV_FQqDjuSZOEPduVZ6reeCYRcDXLWGT25hi1SaxKPJe34XwTpJPvm_brbYVxEEmH3V8A1EL_p5I0/s1600/Fries.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="930" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAkTa5rQdqnclBD7gHIq6CTqe9hjUKLhl19y0ChogMV56v6rs5LCpgjEF9FFC_ZnV_FQqDjuSZOEPduVZ6reeCYRcDXLWGT25hi1SaxKPJe34XwTpJPvm_brbYVxEEmH3V8A1EL_p5I0/s640/Fries.png" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountains of delicious salty goodness in a convenient sleeve</td></tr>
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You can taste their warm, salty, goodness can't you?</div>
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But who eats just half a small fry? Actually, we do. Once a week.</div>
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Fries are one of those things that there's diminishing returns for each delectable, salt-ladened stick. The first few blow your socks off. The next curl your toes. After that, it starts losing something and the enjoyment factor goes way down.</div>
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As a kid I was always told to clean my plate. Starving kids in Africa/China/California, yada yada yada. But SHOULD you do that with unhealthy foods?</div>
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Anyway, we decided to carry on the habit of our once-a-week cheat meal over, incorporating it into our lifestyle. We get our fry and sit in the parking lot, savoring it. And just when we are starting to get diminishing returns on our caloric investment, they're gone.</div>
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Food-wise, Fryday is easily my happiest day of the week! While we eat great stuff all the rest of the time, this tops the charts...plus, it's the weekend, so I'm hanging our full time with my bestie and sleeping in.</div>
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This is Deek, delivering a little dose of Fryday happiness.<br />
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Adventure on, my friends!<br />
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<br />Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-8138349514920003572019-03-06T10:02:00.002-08:002019-03-06T14:45:36.809-08:00Cholesterol Scare - Follow UpTwo months ago, I posted about my frightening cholesterol numbers being almost double the legal limit. See: <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2018/12/cholesterol-scare.html" target="_blank">Cholesterol Scare</a>.<br />
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In my due diligence, I read A LOT of articles and did a TON of research. It turns out that it's possible high cholesterol isn't the death sentence we believed it to be. See: <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/01/cholesterol-scare-part-2-not-as-scary.html" target="_blank">Cholesterol Scare - Part 2: Not as Scary as We Thought?</a><br />
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During my last post about lipid levels, <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> and I had theorized that I fall into a sub-group of Keto reactors known as a <a href="https://cholesterolcode.com/are-you-a-lean-mass-hyper-responder/" target="_blank">Lean Mass Hyper Responder</a>. Basically, it means that when I get my body fat low enough and I'm on a high-fat diet, my cholesterol numbers and LDL go through the roof.<br />
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And, brother, let me tell you they did!<br />
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As of December 27, 2018 they were:<br />
<ul>
<li>Total Cholesterol = 375mg</li>
<li>Triglycerides = 100mg </li>
<li>HDL = 51mg </li>
<li>LDL = 291mg</li>
</ul>
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If you've ever gotten back elevated lipid levels, you know that these are frightening numbers.<br />
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Frightening!</div>
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<b>So, it's been two months, what's been happening?</b></div>
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<b>Plenty!</b></div>
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We decided to test the <a href="https://cholesterolcode.com/are-you-a-lean-mass-hyper-responder/" target="_blank">Lean Mass Hyper Responder</a> theory. I modified my Keto diet and meds as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li>Increased calories by 300 to a maintenance level of 2400</li>
<li>Increased carbohydrates from ~30-40 to 100</li>
<li>Removed egg yolks from my diet</li>
<li>Switched from 10mg of Lipitor to 5mg of Crestor</li>
</ul>
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That's it. No additional exercise, no other anything. The rest of my diet remained the same and on the same schedule.<br />
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The results <drum roll plllleeeeease>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Total Cholesterol = 233mg</li>
<li>Triglycerides = 75mg </li>
<li>HDL = 52mg </li>
<li>LDL = 163mg</li>
</ul>
I can live with that...literally.<br />
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In two months that's a pretty phenomenal change. We're going to ride it out a little longer and see where my body settles in, but the long and the short of it, is that <a href="https://cholesterolcode.com/are-you-a-lean-mass-hyper-responder/" target="_blank">Lean Mass Hyper Responder</a> is a real thing.<br />
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In the future, if I need to lose more weight, then I *may* still do the low-carb version of Keto, though perhaps not as low as I was doing. I don't know just yet. We only got these blood results yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to process it all.<br />
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When we cross that bridge, I will write another post about it. For now, I'm going to bask in the I'm Not Going to Die from Cholesterol Tomorrow glory!<br />
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Gloriously Relaxed!</div>
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What am I fighting before besides the chance to add more candles to my birthday cake?</div>
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Years and years more of this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VmXWME07CIeOGlZP_Y9mbV9rrH53KRcUk8Ynj_gRdJVeVeGqBz2MyTx1rgFbDWrWeQFw_8Z95AWkmXbHMCLzkjxEP2AmVwOQkEcQYBUJtT_9kpN-7nHDH7y7BAQTfhK9slF6isBekNc/s1600/Anniversary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VmXWME07CIeOGlZP_Y9mbV9rrH53KRcUk8Ynj_gRdJVeVeGqBz2MyTx1rgFbDWrWeQFw_8Z95AWkmXbHMCLzkjxEP2AmVwOQkEcQYBUJtT_9kpN-7nHDH7y7BAQTfhK9slF6isBekNc/s320/Anniversary1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu-KqsL8Ww4-83MPQuCP4ryYsQqQ764UnVkL6Ozqn0fx1v5qLJnFu9aqzjq-btsu75WCFEz09por86z-wS9kPRl3fO6aFdnmSzglIBCi_juJrB4-P-zLhRZEEOUoevTP8wRga9ItLt4g/s1600/Anniversary7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFu-KqsL8Ww4-83MPQuCP4ryYsQqQ764UnVkL6Ozqn0fx1v5qLJnFu9aqzjq-btsu75WCFEz09por86z-wS9kPRl3fO6aFdnmSzglIBCi_juJrB4-P-zLhRZEEOUoevTP8wRga9ItLt4g/s320/Anniversary7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8msi5FA1VjdyPnr3kOHcVb6umS2VHdf7hpsmt760_HCVuHm0Icd4HH3brLxYisTkQ4Lv3B6pAoTHlpdg4MGlZeakpWHhX2aqnz4GAxqpPgXHCs7KgEJJ6-Qr2euVQFROJE3CXdgBPesw/s1600/Anniversary19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8msi5FA1VjdyPnr3kOHcVb6umS2VHdf7hpsmt760_HCVuHm0Icd4HH3brLxYisTkQ4Lv3B6pAoTHlpdg4MGlZeakpWHhX2aqnz4GAxqpPgXHCs7KgEJJ6-Qr2euVQFROJE3CXdgBPesw/s320/Anniversary19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KIMen3wscDAexxMuUc1CLQ-p77C78W_M-nNCbDDMtYZg9NOmOXo2TbZocBMf51GxOVcURu52ok7K1TxGWDKdWt7jcqJTvs-j5BpXw34P9yqnqqBuRrWrfVNsRX9mXlPevOD1Qjj4mOY/s1600/Erin+and+Jay+Kissing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KIMen3wscDAexxMuUc1CLQ-p77C78W_M-nNCbDDMtYZg9NOmOXo2TbZocBMf51GxOVcURu52ok7K1TxGWDKdWt7jcqJTvs-j5BpXw34P9yqnqqBuRrWrfVNsRX9mXlPevOD1Qjj4mOY/s320/Erin+and+Jay+Kissing.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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Yes, please! A very long life of this!</div>
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I'm incredibly lucky to have a partner that's worried and researched and kept a level head and listen to me ramble about cholesterol and lipids and fats and blood levels and lean responders and on and on. Thank you, Erin, for standing by me through all of this. I epically love you!<br />
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Until later, adventure on my friends!Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-90784091218743654622019-03-01T16:35:00.000-08:002019-03-01T16:35:19.801-08:00Beachin' It - Homework for RedemptionI love writing, but there are times when I love it even more. For instance, when I have to go to the beach for some "homework."<br />
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Check that out! You can practically hear the waves crashing and the seagulls squawking. Smell the brine and salt air and feel the sand beneath your bare feet.<br />
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The beach is homeopathic therapy. Being there is like one long, happy meditation session while someone rubs your shoulders, scratches your back, and feeds you pizza.<br />
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When I'm at the coast, the stress magically melts away and the worries and chaos of the world fade to insignificance. And when I'm there with my bride and best friend...oy! What worries? We have problems back in the "real" world?<br />
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Well, this last trip wasn't just about fun and games though. I was there for some hardcore book research to help me edit <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules---redemption.html" target="_blank">122 Rules Redemption</a>. </i>Time to get serious.<br />
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<b>Project: Get into Max's head</b><br />
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Max Fayle is one of my favorite characters. He's a die hard boardhead who lives and breathes surf. At his shop, <i>The Board Wake - Epic Fayle Designs</i>, in the jewel of the Pacific--<a href="http://www.alabastercove.us/" target="_blank">Alabaster Cove, California</a>--he makes custom surfing gear.<br />
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In the story, he's minding his own business when he has a run-in with a certain serial killer, Tyron Erebus. While he deals with the murdering psychopath better than most, he's got a lot of other scenes where Max is just being...well, Max. But during this last round of edits I felt like I was having trouble getting into his beachy head.<br />
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<a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a>, being the wonderful, understanding woman that she is, agreed to a beach trip to help!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoIZTydAnDRSa-W0QbZz5EuZEvBoGxGohjtdFs40T9_wKgQIPU0lKf5mTKQfM_oHWg9dhbBzXwRnuqleriynJClstvOEjsDfh2TUkn40Cf7zk86dcJk6xtGvHZWq_TfiLD4X7MJxAUgw/s1600/Beach2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoIZTydAnDRSa-W0QbZz5EuZEvBoGxGohjtdFs40T9_wKgQIPU0lKf5mTKQfM_oHWg9dhbBzXwRnuqleriynJClstvOEjsDfh2TUkn40Cf7zk86dcJk6xtGvHZWq_TfiLD4X7MJxAUgw/s400/Beach2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting to feel it...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6GMU6P937rub2D6nxFtf8S95YAfufxxWSxl1UiKSfYOyePdWA2IRwUHRsNemPBc0zFwrn64nmcUXPgJx1lS3u6KuggB9orcbkBk7puTb3hElvi4jI_uGL4cRxZII4KbNjo0rV30-Nmc/s1600/Beach3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6GMU6P937rub2D6nxFtf8S95YAfufxxWSxl1UiKSfYOyePdWA2IRwUHRsNemPBc0zFwrn64nmcUXPgJx1lS3u6KuggB9orcbkBk7puTb3hElvi4jI_uGL4cRxZII4KbNjo0rV30-Nmc/s400/Beach3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling it even more...</td></tr>
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While it looks like we are right on the ocean, our hotel upgraded us for free. So UP we went! This was taken from our hotel room on the 31st floor.<br />
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While the view over the ocean rocks, I highly recommend refraining from looking straight down. It's a REALLY long way.<br />
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While we spent a ton of time on the sand, we did spend a bit of time in the local shops. Look! I've got abs of steel!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hIIyRhw282bW0Vg_cWBPO1ud6PVs1C0Mf44xPQhZ2WG4FCQE5axDqkXP63mjHdc4YMhGly1P7vmp3WlcIVbWTsHrASQUeShlaoHMZtA74z92Dr71iN4Imby066ZYLfmY3VH1eo2lVfk/s1600/Beach+-+Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hIIyRhw282bW0Vg_cWBPO1ud6PVs1C0Mf44xPQhZ2WG4FCQE5axDqkXP63mjHdc4YMhGly1P7vmp3WlcIVbWTsHrASQUeShlaoHMZtA74z92Dr71iN4Imby066ZYLfmY3VH1eo2lVfk/s400/Beach+-+Jay.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Check out some of the rather odd wildlife that</div>
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thrives on the east coast</div>
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I'm happy to report Project: Get into Max's Head was a complete and utter success! I was feeling the call of the waves by the time we left and I was even able to get in a little editing time from the balcony of our hotel.<br />
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Did I mention it was on the 31st floor?<br />
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Best of all, I got to spend the weekend with my bride!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztZvcql0cWOsLTofCD0A9N7s4ScQ8VCnznEc2ujBB3DfKh9u3QA9dTaWCUU5rMQWYaRT8p16Aqj_8Qkslqz7PWa5TsBggw45K42Bvz7-XHiqPnVlWwvBdIHrVpJb3rds_o3Le8Mqxjw/s1600/Beach+-+Jay+and+Erin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPztZvcql0cWOsLTofCD0A9N7s4ScQ8VCnznEc2ujBB3DfKh9u3QA9dTaWCUU5rMQWYaRT8p16Aqj_8Qkslqz7PWa5TsBggw45K42Bvz7-XHiqPnVlWwvBdIHrVpJb3rds_o3Le8Mqxjw/s400/Beach+-+Jay+and+Erin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin and Deek, Beachin' It!</td></tr>
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When going to the beach I HIGHLY recommend you go with your best friend too. There's no one Earth I'd rather spend my time with. Erin makes every day fun. She makes every day an adventure. She makes every day fulfilling.</div>
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She makes my life.</div>
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<b>!Reader Alert!</b></div>
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Readers of <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules.html" target="_blank">122 Rules</a></i>: Keep your eyes peeled. We will be republishing <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules.html" target="_blank">122 Rules</a></i> under the <a href="http://www.tenaciousbookspublishing.com/" target="_blank">Tenacious Jaguar</a> at the end of March! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_VNXg6oJUVUdsez-CEGBwb9pbNaC9RqGX95_cIZidiQWD7tGnwllQHNRVxXuOiLmFs6WiBzjEY3Dxh3gUyR8hJgaUMkFgh0UFlaQYbL9CW585MH2eMiDa9e4nlhDbAZ6QSWhUQbeQQY/s1600/jaguar_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="609" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_VNXg6oJUVUdsez-CEGBwb9pbNaC9RqGX95_cIZidiQWD7tGnwllQHNRVxXuOiLmFs6WiBzjEY3Dxh3gUyR8hJgaUMkFgh0UFlaQYbL9CW585MH2eMiDa9e4nlhDbAZ6QSWhUQbeQQY/s320/jaguar_orig.png" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tenacious Books - The Soon-To-Be New Home of <i>122 Rules</i>!</td></tr>
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To go along with it's brand new home, it'll have a brand new cover. <a href="https://twitter.com/RacePointUS" target="_blank">Anita</a> from <a href="https://race-point.com/" target="_blank">Race Point</a>, is blending and editing and pasting and graphing and whatever else graphic artists do, to bring you super cool new design. I'm totally stoked. I think you're gonna love it. There's a reason we say #AnitaIsAmazing!</div>
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Also coming soon, the long-awaited sequel, <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/122-rules---redemption.html" target="_blank">122 Rules - Redemption</a></i>!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Join Angel, Monica, and Sam as they take on Tyron Erebus as he wreaks havoc on <a href="http://www.alabastercove.us/" target="_blank">Alabaster Cove</a>. Also making a cameo appearance is Dios from <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/birth-of-an-american-gigolo.html" target="_blank">Birth of an American Gigolo</a></i>!</div>
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Stay tuned for updates!</div>
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That's it for now my friends.</div>
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Adventure on!</div>
Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-58301686514295319662019-02-21T17:13:00.000-08:002019-02-21T17:13:35.528-08:00Dose of Happiness: Four Day Weekend!Woooop! Today marks the first day of my four day weekend! Sleeping in, editing, and chillin'.<br />
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So, what's the occasion? Well, really it's nothing special. During the day, I'm a code-slinger: One of the geeks that helps make a web page do its thang.<br />
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Sounds simple, right?<br />
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Well, sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. The last couple of months, have been one of those isn't times. My job is awesome. I love the people and the work is always interesting, but there are times it's mentally exhausting to get the right words and information to show up on the screen.<br />
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So, after our last release, I scheduled a couple of days off. And what better days than Thursday and Friday?<br />
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Both of those days, I'm tagging along with <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> as she run errands and does the usual day-to-day. The only difference is that I get to do them with her.<br />
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#Winning<br />
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Saturday, we are attending a book festival.<br />
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#Winning<br />
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Sunday afternoon we have a date at our favorite Mexican restaurant.<br />
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Can anyone say:<br />
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So, despite the stress of the last couple of months, we got our code out and our customers satisfied, and I get some great time with my bride.<br />
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This is Deek, delivering a little dose of happiness.<br />
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Adventure on, my friends!<br />
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<br />Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-55332868007292534382019-02-18T17:16:00.000-08:002019-02-18T17:16:30.366-08:00Dose of Happiness: Back in Jail...Twitter Jail!So, I'm back in Twitter jail. Well, really this is the like being sent to the corner. Basically, when I reply to someone's tweet, like a tweet, or just tweet, no one can see it unless they look at my feed. It's something that happens to my account on a regular basis and I think it's because Twitter thinks I'm spamming.<br />
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What the what?<br />
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Yep. Last time it happened, I was tweeting a blog post. This time it happened I was also tweeting about blog post.<br />
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But guess what? I'm grateful it happened!<br />
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Again...what the what?<br />
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Yep. Because this time I was tweeting about Erin's new book, <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/thetranshumanproject.html" target="_blank">The Transhuman Project</a>!<br />
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Follow me here: I'm in jail...or in the corner or whatever...because Erin has a great new SciFi book out and I'm so proud of her, I'm tweeting her blog tour posts. And the Twitter Skynet does not like it.<br />
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But the world still gets an awesome new book by my favorite author of all time, so, yep, totally winning!<br />
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This is Deek delivering a little dose of happiness.<br />
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Adventure on my friends!Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-44965275915755885972019-01-04T16:51:00.000-08:002019-03-07T09:43:24.558-08:00Cholesterol Scare - Part 2: Not as Scary as We Thought?If you haven't read my first blog post, <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2018/12/cholesterol-scare.html" target="_blank">Cholesterol Scare</a>, where I got back my lipid profile back and was startled to find my numbers almost double the legal limit, stop in and give it a read.<br />
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Over the last six months, I've lost 32 pounds on the keto diet. During that time my migraines have all but vanished, my energy levels are way up, my body fat % has dropped a ton, and I feel great. So, all good things. Unfortunately, my blood work up wasn't what we'd hoped.<br />
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As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not a doctor, just a guy with Google and extra fat packets in his bloodstream. So, in this blog post, I'm going to give you the research I found that says that not only does cholesterol NOT cause heart disease. But having elevated levels may actually make you live longer and fight off cancer, diabetes, and other diseases.<br />
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<b>US and UK Translations</b><br />
If you or someone you love has high cholesterol (and you're in the States), you'll want to convert your mg ratings to mmol/L that they use in the UK. A lot of the data I'm linking to is from there and almost all their reports and articles use mmol/L instead of mg. To do that use the <a href="https://www.omnicalculator.com/health/cholesterol-units" target="_blank">OMNI Calculator</a>.<br />
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Alright, you have your report from the doctor, you have it in mg and mmol/L. On with the research!<br />
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<b>Are You a Lean Mass Hyper Responder - LMHR?</b><br />
For years, I've known I'm a bit over the top. What I didn't know was that my body is too!<br />
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One of the things that Erin discovered is that there is a segment of the population that reacts differently to keto than all the rest. This subgroup is known as <a href="https://cholesterolcode.com/are-you-a-lean-mass-hyper-responder/" target="_blank">Lean Mass Hyper Responders</a>. Basically, what it means is that when you get your body fat low, and you are on a high-fat diet, your cholesterol levels and LDL go through the roof.<br />
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Most people respond by a serious drop in cholesterol, but not us LMHRs! We get excited about it and want more and more! But, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Read on to see why.<br />
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<b>Is there an inverse relationship between high cholesterol and heart disease?</b><br />
<a href="http://www.zoeharcombe.com/about-2/" target="_blank">Dr. Zoë Harcombe</a>--Ph.D. in Public Health Nutrition--is off the charts brilliant and working dilligently to weed fact from fiction. Check out her write up about the <a href="http://www.zoeharcombe.com/2010/11/cholesterol-heart-disease-there-is-a-relationship-but-its-not-what-you-think/" target="_blank">relationship between heart disease and cholesterol</a>. This article explores the fascinating purpose of cholesterol in our bodies. It's in our brains, it's the mechanism that delivers energy and nutrients to every cell, and, oh yea, we would be DEAD without it.<br />
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I honestly had zero idea about its plethora of purposes which range from digestion, to reproduction, to mental functions. She also talks about how LDL and HDL aren't actually, cholesterol at all, but proteins.<br />
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Wut? Yep. So anytime you hear or read someone that says LDL is "bad" cholesterol and HDL is "good" cholesterol, they are wrong. They're actually lipoproteins, hence:<br />
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LDL - Low Density Lipoprotein</div>
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HDL - High Density Lipoprotein</div>
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AKA: NOT cholesterol</div>
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<a href="http://www.zoeharcombe.com/about-2/" target="_blank">Dr. Harcombe</a> ran several reports from the World Health Organization database trying to find a correlation between elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular death. She actually found that the higher the level, the lower the death rate from cardiovascular episodes especially in women.<br />
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The question she poses is: <a href="http://www.zoeharcombe.com/the-knowledge/we-have-got-cholesterol-completely-wrong/" target="_blank">Do we have cholesterol completely wrong</a>?<br />
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Another leading researcher, Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, did a massive amount of studying on the correlation--or, by his research--the lack thereof, between elevated cholesterol levels and cardiovascular death. Below you find his 30 minute presentation and I think you find it incredibly fascinating.<br />
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The long and the short of it is that the relationship between elevated levels and death are actually inverse.<br />
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Wut the wut?<br />
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Yes. According to his report, the lower your cholesterol the HIGHER your chances are of dying from a cardiovascular episode.<br />
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<b>Wait! My doctor told me it's in my genes!</b><br />
Yes. Me too. What our doctors are talking about is Familial Hypercholesterolemia or FH. Unfortunately, FH isn't nearly as common as we are lead to believe. FH is a genetic mutation and is revealed by a simple test. Usually what happens is that your doctor says you have FH because you have high cholesterol.<br />
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Maybe, but probably not. Check out <a href="http://www.zoeharcombe.com/2016/11/familial-hypercholesterolemia-fh/" target="_blank">Dr. Harcombe's article</a> that reports only 1 in 500 people actually have the gene. Here's another great article by <a href="https://www.docsopinion.com/2016/06/05/familial-hypercholesterolemia/" target="_blank">Dr. Axel Sigurdsson</a> on FH mutation carriers.<span class="entry-author" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/Person" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><br />
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<b>Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Ketones, and Lipoproteins</b><br />
Wow. What a mouthful. Just the sheer number of syllables in the title makes my eyes blur and my head swim. Fortunately, this article on <a href="http://cholesterolcode.com/">CholesterolCode.com</a> makes it easy to understand what each <a href="https://cholesterolcode.com/a-simple-guide-to-cholesterol-on-low-carb-part-i/" target="_blank">of these components are and why we need them</a>.<br />
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<b>Another Lean Mass Hyper Responder</b><br />
Stephen Richert is a documentary adventure photographer. In 2015 he was diagnosed with very high cholesterol--his numbers are almost exactly the same as mine. But he has the added complication of having diabetes. Here's his <a href="http://livingvertical.org/2015/12/29/ketogenic-diet-and-high-cholesterol/" target="_blank">first article in 2015</a> when he talks about being on keto and getting those results back.<br />
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As of 2017, he was still doing keto and still has high cholesterol numbers. However, he is no longer trying to "fix" the lipid levels. <a href="http://livingvertical.org/2017/07/03/high-cholesterol-meets-ketosis/" target="_blank">Here's his reasoning</a>.<br />
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<b>How do I know if I'm Healthy?</b><br />
Okay, so if cholesterol levels are not necessarily the best indicators of your cardiovascular health, then what are? Unfortunately, there's nothing that's 100% guaranteed, but our research has turned up two tests that can give you a really good idea.<br />
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CIMT - Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Test<br />
<a href="https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=carotid-intima">https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=carotid-intima</a>
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CAC - coronary artery calcium scan<br />
<a href="https://www.headsuphealth.com/blog/self-tracking/low-carb-lab-testing-part-8-the-cac-test-a-better-way-to-evaluate-cardiovascular-health/">https://www.headsuphealth.com/blog/self-tracking/low-carb-lab-testing-part-8-the-cac-test-a-better-way-to-evaluate-cardiovascular-health/</a>
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<b>What's Next for Me</b><br />
Now that we've ruled out thyroid, cortisol, and any other health-related causes, we've decided to switch my statin (I've been on one since I was in my early 20s). I'm changing from Lipitor to Crestor's lowest dose (half of what I was on before). I'm also modifying my keto diet slightly. Instead of staying below 50g (usually well below) of carbs a day, I'm upping it to 100g.<br />
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The extra carbs are almost all veggies and a little bit of fruit. I'm good with this since I've reached my weight goal and am switching to maintenance.<br />
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We are pretty certain that I'm a LMHR--remember I'm over the top about almost everything!--but we want to be totally sure. I know that changing two things kinda skews the results, but being on such a low dose should cut down on potential side effects if we decide to increase it.<br />
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Right now, we are going to see what happens to my levels over the next two months. It's a make a change, then wait kinda game. But I'm in it for the long haul.<br />
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Still haven't decided my feelings on the health benefits of high cholesterol. Still need to do more research--which I will share--and weigh that with the risks of more statins.<br />
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Until next time, my friends, adventure on!<br />
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Ready to see what happens next?<br />
And the <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/03/cholesterol-scare-follow-up.html" target="_blank">Two Month Follow-Up.</a>Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-70126060565570441512019-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-14T16:07:09.478-08:00The Transhuman Project Review<div style="text-align: left;">
I've had the great privilege of reading <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin Rhew</a>'s new Sci-Fi adventure, <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2VUFgf6" target="_blank">The Transhuman Project</a></i>.</div>
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<div align="center">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KQQR5GK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07KQQR5GK&linkCode=as2&tag=rhewination0f-20&linkId=d0d571e7aa0edcadeb624cabc393bb17" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07KQQR5GK&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=rhewination0f-20" width="263" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=rhewination0f-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B07KQQR5GK" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<b>The Transhuman Project back blurb</b><br />
When a video of Molly Richards is taken out of context and goes viral, she’s thrust into the upper echelons of social media stardom and becomes an overnight success in a country where Life Channel ratings reign supreme. As Kadar’s fastest-rising celebrity, her life becomes a media circus, a show put on for the shallow national audience salivating for the next new thing.<br />
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But in a world where image is king, danger and death hide among the shadows. In the nearby country of Pacifica, the brutal Caezar turns his citizens into robotic weapons who infiltrate Kadar as sleeper transhumans. They walk among the populace, unaware they are pawns in the madman’s personal arsenal.<br />
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Only Molly, her friends, and an elite group of Kadarian fighters known as the Cyber Knights fully understand the transhuman threat, and only they can break the Caezar's terrorist grip on both Pacifica and Kadar. Battling Fire Bots and humanoid agents, they seek to put a stop to the Caezar's tyranny by unraveling the secrets buried between layers of deception.<br />
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And they have to do it all while smiling and waving for the cameras.<br />
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As Molly and her friends peer behind the glitz and glamour, they discover something more frightening and more sinister than anything they’ve encountered yet...the truth.
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<b>Deek's Review</b><br />
One of the things I love about this book is that it's so incredibly relevant. Over the last decade social media has become a huge driving force in our society. Now everyone with a Facebook page, blog, You Tube account, Twitter, or Instagram page has a voice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs5PYFr16bVPvlBceEn0HSFuKcMOl0WxzsPY4E7-0XiYbzy0-gp6AfGc4d9kGfGlyUwcFHg5OzODR2mnZufPDqPJ5UsEQYUbgxYuQw140ukFP9vS85bDwcW8GBfOJ3WEq90bEDUlBuWc/s1600/Social+Media.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs5PYFr16bVPvlBceEn0HSFuKcMOl0WxzsPY4E7-0XiYbzy0-gp6AfGc4d9kGfGlyUwcFHg5OzODR2mnZufPDqPJ5UsEQYUbgxYuQw140ukFP9vS85bDwcW8GBfOJ3WEq90bEDUlBuWc/s320/Social+Media.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And in each case, they are vying for your attention and your "likes."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufPubFmaSvmyXf40x2CkyxIWk6SJuvxnAQi8FJNlyjNBekNy-InmRLWH8jF1TlZCMU3FGVHGaF8Gaf4r6DtSzfYu6XFQ8u5zMjOzCgPIpTPh3C8UBIjfs4nw6ekUlD9DrupcbFncP268/s1600/social-likes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufPubFmaSvmyXf40x2CkyxIWk6SJuvxnAQi8FJNlyjNBekNy-InmRLWH8jF1TlZCMU3FGVHGaF8Gaf4r6DtSzfYu6XFQ8u5zMjOzCgPIpTPh3C8UBIjfs4nw6ekUlD9DrupcbFncP268/s320/social-likes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right now, social media is still somewhat passive, though, that is gradually changing. With the #MeToo and other such movements, these platforms are having more and more societal influence. So, what if we jumped ahead a hundred years in the evolution of social media? What kind of power will it hold?<br />
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That's exactly the question that Erin's book explores.<br />
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Molly Richards and crew, affectionately known as the Pentad, flee the oppressive, warmongering nation of Pacifica into the bordering country of Kadar. Kadar is an advanced, free society that is ruled by social media popularity. The Pentad had stolen the plans to Pacifica's most powerful weapon, The Transhuman Project, and given it to the Kadarians, hoping that they will be able to neutralize the threat.<br />
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Unfortunately, Kadar was not as welcoming as they'd hoped.<br />
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Not only do they hold the Pentad in captivity, but a video of Molly goes viral and suddenly she finds herself at the top of the social media ratings. She has no desire for her fandom or the attention it garners, but the unstoppable machine has been put into motion. The media specialists descend and help perpetuate their false story, in hopes of keeping her in the top spot. All the while this is happening, she and the rest of the Pentad are fighting to save Kadar from the evil leader of Pacifica, the Caezar, as he develops more sophisticated weapons in a grab for power.<br />
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What's especially intriguing about this book is that the government of Kadar is more puppet that leader. That the true power in this nation is whomever has the highest ranking spot in the Life Channel program.<br />
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Imagine if you will, the loudest, most obnoxious blowhard on Facebook, having any sort of power over the government.<br />
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Yet, this is exactly what has happened.<br />
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Filled with intrigue, mystery, self-sacrifice, unlikely heroes, action, and even a smattering of romance, Erin's new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/2VUFgf6" target="_blank">The Transhuman Project</a>, will have you flipping the pages until the very end!<br />
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On a personal note, I'm incredibly proud of Erin and her amazing accomplishment. What no one knows is that this is actually the <i>second</i> Molly book she's written. But after years of working on it, she realized that the first one is just backstory, that the real story is in The Transhuman Project. As an author, it takes barrels and barrels of courage and gumption to throw away so much work. But that's what Erin did. She, as she always does, persevered and made the tough call. Working her behind off to deliver to you, what I think you will find to be a fascinating and exhilarating story.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2VUFgf6" target="_blank">The Transhuman Project</a> releases TODAY, January 15, 2019! </div>
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<a href="https://amzn.to/2VUFgf6" target="_blank">Order it now</a>!</div>
Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-51274731873489206662018-12-28T11:11:00.002-08:002019-03-07T09:43:07.170-08:00Cholesterol ScareNOTE: I'm using my REAL numbers in this blog post. I've done hours and hours of research, and for whatever reason, no one seems to feel comfortable disclosing actual information. Needless to say, it has driven me completely apeshit to read an article that use vague words like "elevated," "moderate," and "high."<br />
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<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/foxhomeent-3oz8xZvvOZRmKay4xy">Wut?</a></div>
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WTH do those even mean? If we don't even know what the definition of "is" is, then how can we expect people to understand "moderate?" Anyway, I'm going against the grain and probably violating a HIPPA rule or something, but I'll actually say what I mean.<br />
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Also, it should be noted, I am NOT a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. I'm just a guy with Google, some extra packets of fat in his blood, and a propensity for research. My goal is to share my research as I go along.<br />
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Knowledge is power.<br />
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Alright, with all of that said, I had a scare this holiday. I went in for my annual physical and blood workup in the middle of December. I expected great lab results and a high-five from my doctor for losing over 30 pounds (yes, 30!-<a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2018/10/the-amazing-world-of-keto.html" target="_blank">Thank you Keto diet</a>).<br />
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<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/high-five-dancing-super-amazing-shit-r2BtghAUTmpP2">High Five!</a></div>
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Unfortunately, the blood work didn't come back the way I expected. When Erin did her test, her cholesterol had dropped 20 points since she started Keto. I was hoping for something similar, but mine not only didn't drop, it increased by 149 points. My total cholesterol level as of 2 weeks ago was 349. To weed out a fluke test, I took it again yesterday.<br />
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As of this morning, my number is 375 (for my Brit friends, that 9.698 mmol/L).<br />
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<b>375</b></h2>
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Anyone that has experience with "elevated lipid levels" will know that the level of risk runs kinda all over the place. Generally speaking "high risk" is considered somewhere in the neighborhood of 200-240.<br />
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To say that this number frightens me a bit, is an understatement.<br />
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Here are my total numbers as they stand right now:<br />
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Total Cholesterol = 375mg (9.698 mmol/L)<br />
Triglycerides = 100mg (1.129 mmol/L)<br />
HDL = 51mg (1.32886 mmol/L)<br />
LDL = 291mg (7.525 mmol/L)<br />
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I can practically feel the creators of HIPPA snapping their pencils in half and drooling into their pocket protectors.<br />
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This fat in the blood propensity runs in my family (both my grandfather and father have it), and I have been on a statin since I was 20. Up until just recently, that's been enough to keep it "below borderline high," aka 200ish.<br />
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So the fact that my body is up to some kind of shenanigans, even after losing 30+ pounds, didn't come as a complete surprise. I've evidently got some overzealous little fat-generating liver gnomes who are putting in some serious overtime.<br />
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So...<br />
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That's the big question, right? Well, it could be a whole slew of things. The big ones: diet, exercise, obesity, smoking, diabetes, liver disease, thyroid, stress. Well, for now, I've scratched obesity off the list. I'm down 30+ pounds and really only need to lose a few more to be right about where I want to be.<br />
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I don't smoke, and diabetes and liver problems came back as a big negatory in my blood work.<br />
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Exercise: I lift three days a week, and Erin and I walk. A lot. I <i>could</i> add some high intensity cardio to my morning routine, but since I haven't done early cardio in years, I don't think that a lack thereof is the cause of this sudden flareup.<br />
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Stress: My life is certainly not without it, but who's is?! While this little episode can make one's sphincter pucker, compared to what I was experiencing stress-wise 6 years ago, my life is a walk in the park. Now my body could be like, "Um no, I just can't roll with it the way I used to." That's certainly a possibility, but this reaction seems extreme. For now, I'm going to focus on other factors but keep this one in the back of my mind.<br />
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So, that leaves a couple of possibilities: diet and thyroid.<br />
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<b>Let's start with diet.</b><br />
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I've made it no secret I'm on Keto and have been very successful at it. The basis of the diet is low carb, moderate protein, and high fat. The principal behind is it is your body becomes "fat adapted." Meaning, instead of using carbs for fuel, it burns fat. Once it runs out of fat in your diet, it looks for other sources in your body.<br />
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But the concept of Keto flies directly in the face of everything I've ever known about a cholesterol conscious diet. The latter is all about low fat. To add more confusion to the whole mix, when I was first diagnosed with "elevated lipids," my doctor told me that eating cholesterol doesn't cause high cholesterol.<br />
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I've read this online in many many other times, but still, it's a difficult fact to ignore.<br />
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To argue with myself about this, I also need to point out that my diet before Keto sucked. Fried foods, carbs, so on and so on. Unfortunately, I didn't track my food before, so I don't have anything to compare it to. But my guess is that overall my fat, especially my cholesterol and saturated fat intakes, are way down now compared to the fried food life before.<br />
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<b>Another possibility is thyroid.</b><br />
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There are a lot of articles I've read that there is a direct link between <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/thyroid-issues-and-cholesterol#thyroid-and-cholesterol" target="_blank">hypothyroidism and cholesterol levels</a>. I don't really have many of the other symptoms of a thyroid problem, but it certainly isn't off the table.<br />
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<b>Quick Weight Loss</b><br />
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The last possibility (thus far) is rapid weight loss. In someone who doesn't process cholesterol out of their blood very quickly, rapid weight loss can cause "elevated levels." (Damned vague articles. Give me real numbers!!!)<br />
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The concept behind it is that when your body breaks down fat cells, that fat gets dumped into your bloodstream. Losing 1 pound of fat is equivalent to 3500 calories. If you lose, say two pounds, like I did between my two cholesterol tests, that's my body dumping 7000 calories of triglycerides and fat into my bloodstream. Yowza!<br />
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Unlike other diet plans, Keto is focused on fat. I've lost a lot of weight before, but when I did it, my body stripped itself of muscle as well as fat. So, it had a nice mixture of the two to work with. But on Keto, my muscle has mostly been left alone.<br />
<br />
So, that's where things stand right now. Erin and I are drawing up battle plans, and I'm doing research, which I will share with y'all as I find it. We will be talking to the doc when she gets back from her vacation at the beginning of the new year, so we'll see what she says.<br />
<br />
Until then, adventure on!<br />
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Ready to see what happens next?<br />
Check out <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/01/cholesterol-scare-part-2-not-as-scary.html" target="_blank">Cholesterol Scare Part 2: Not as Scary as We Thought?</a><br />
And the <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2019/03/cholesterol-scare-follow-up.html" target="_blank">Two Month Follow-Up.</a>Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-32202270772708763252018-11-07T06:00:00.000-08:002018-11-07T06:00:02.453-08:00A Year of Love, Laughter, Victory, and Adventure!It's hard to believe that another year has gone by, but last November I blinked and here we are almost at the end of 2018. And what an incredible year it has been! Full of love, laughter, victory, and adventure.<br />
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This past year has been a rollercoaster ride that has taken us across the country, led us to new friends, experienced new adventures, and saw victories to long, hard-fought wars. Amongst all the turmoil, my partnership, love, and friendship with my beautiful bride, <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/" target="_blank">Erin Rhew</a>, has been the foundation of my world.<br />
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<b>Side by side, we battle.</b></div>
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<b>Side by side, we adventure.</b></div>
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<b>Side by side, we are happy. </b></div>
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So, I thought for this special occasion, I thought I give you a glimpse into our life this past year!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3oFxfx-qdjsu12BXCED9zMU09W353QOTVJuiNpAnhu191_67NSNW-5ixJnrF7KZVNXut-K_gd6SxigpVww0umWXFpQT0HhXKC_sbb2cpf-nBcDi4r2C83B6c4RK6kjYNXkuyYufFDy0/s1600/Anniversary1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3oFxfx-qdjsu12BXCED9zMU09W353QOTVJuiNpAnhu191_67NSNW-5ixJnrF7KZVNXut-K_gd6SxigpVww0umWXFpQT0HhXKC_sbb2cpf-nBcDi4r2C83B6c4RK6kjYNXkuyYufFDy0/s400/Anniversary1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_Uf8wbjaMr1mpJTmFn4crd2tC1ywrG7SdXBZXyOvJx-tKjN24afzL1L_WAWeJ02EyoH9Rm9tV8Q7IzFtP8OanT41Jpsi29wLi9VK_hLm6xe6vFQk9MsZ4ppuGBwkJbUbavT1uH8Nva8/s1600/Anniversary2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="790" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_Uf8wbjaMr1mpJTmFn4crd2tC1ywrG7SdXBZXyOvJx-tKjN24afzL1L_WAWeJ02EyoH9Rm9tV8Q7IzFtP8OanT41Jpsi29wLi9VK_hLm6xe6vFQk9MsZ4ppuGBwkJbUbavT1uH8Nva8/s400/Anniversary2.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the trails together!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_yegD072Ld0bU8qFXvWUG1XwdqjuldjIIVhODDmj3SvHr0qzD8pHef1avhD4S9BjLsWXuMkGlcPAgKgli33UgUcbQKZ3YvSAxaC1AL0q_mPjmv1LYzZFYzkJxvMNfRUX3z-H1tX28o8/s1600/Anniversary3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_yegD072Ld0bU8qFXvWUG1XwdqjuldjIIVhODDmj3SvHr0qzD8pHef1avhD4S9BjLsWXuMkGlcPAgKgli33UgUcbQKZ3YvSAxaC1AL0q_mPjmv1LYzZFYzkJxvMNfRUX3z-H1tX28o8/s400/Anniversary3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday festival!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fqFopEN2oRj-85HguER3yX3i1bfKNcA0zYu2aIKv_nG90pV5zoM0rQ3XDZ3ZXs42u9Kh4BeVr-3XNVJ7itZZcdgDJkQENCoRvhNxdMCkdH095MkGt9TtyuMWRMs79ZKzOl55AVWlfUA/s1600/Anniversary4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fqFopEN2oRj-85HguER3yX3i1bfKNcA0zYu2aIKv_nG90pV5zoM0rQ3XDZ3ZXs42u9Kh4BeVr-3XNVJ7itZZcdgDJkQENCoRvhNxdMCkdH095MkGt9TtyuMWRMs79ZKzOl55AVWlfUA/s400/Anniversary4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book tours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb34M2iAd4VVjPjkWPM1ZKKlS2dOlws5ZDlEojeVb_JRy65EN9ytRMMGQiUqPQKHqhV5G8_5fUp2oCO23Hkrbs2vzpJHI-lHlpBMi_RH9aCOy8HRPDKfxQ3Drdg0wGudFXtrAg4rEk7s/s1600/Anniversary6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb34M2iAd4VVjPjkWPM1ZKKlS2dOlws5ZDlEojeVb_JRy65EN9ytRMMGQiUqPQKHqhV5G8_5fUp2oCO23Hkrbs2vzpJHI-lHlpBMi_RH9aCOy8HRPDKfxQ3Drdg0wGudFXtrAg4rEk7s/s400/Anniversary6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord have mercy, what a lucky man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdF8_EDuLWJFIMH9_SVg45kX-YoOyMoeaytY5pgbT1hFxoA-WLTtM_nRvr30tkEfuX1Fye7TDMrRtw4sj5VPNmf3ETQPlpMnPoeMm4uA483GYuCQ5j-T8Fl1t3JX7dVhUSh3wfMTUi5A/s1600/Anniversary7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdF8_EDuLWJFIMH9_SVg45kX-YoOyMoeaytY5pgbT1hFxoA-WLTtM_nRvr30tkEfuX1Fye7TDMrRtw4sj5VPNmf3ETQPlpMnPoeMm4uA483GYuCQ5j-T8Fl1t3JX7dVhUSh3wfMTUi5A/s400/Anniversary7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wonder if we can get one of these in real?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq_qLSzWgb15eKR_O-JHbx-mNWjqkkP-Xi1JgyfzyCQ5E0gZvjdCuDxnPf4ddsJDdaShpDD99Nq2EyMm-2FvLM_2P71oXzVknKZRQ6d2nak0IlCdsmC9dy94WnA6gJUAt3wnMlCBtIdE/s1600/Anniversary8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq_qLSzWgb15eKR_O-JHbx-mNWjqkkP-Xi1JgyfzyCQ5E0gZvjdCuDxnPf4ddsJDdaShpDD99Nq2EyMm-2FvLM_2P71oXzVknKZRQ6d2nak0IlCdsmC9dy94WnA6gJUAt3wnMlCBtIdE/s400/Anniversary8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't want a little putt-putt on the moon?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AXFFSlGx1Y5z3nRNSBwha9334kGTjFwACC0i6TrDqvJQcjfk6S__YgVar7EPON4LWZPsAjCjtfFewcx4wC7o1VIQUP169wRM996AT45Tl-AiqrKrtoGHR-h85XqaWdWjdezFT5CRrbo/s1600/Anniversary9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AXFFSlGx1Y5z3nRNSBwha9334kGTjFwACC0i6TrDqvJQcjfk6S__YgVar7EPON4LWZPsAjCjtfFewcx4wC7o1VIQUP169wRM996AT45Tl-AiqrKrtoGHR-h85XqaWdWjdezFT5CRrbo/s400/Anniversary9.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We come in peace!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktr9YECJXXiWR0lEyRqp5vG2KxyONuCH8vPuFES1QZlPvdeBjEcjtR9605Qr_4QoWiRFdfk93UkAWsUTQ1erHOHVyczJEQALsLxr16l1IFXvUY6o2a5aNVdjT5qkstFV5XGZegbzb6cM/s1600/Anniversary13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktr9YECJXXiWR0lEyRqp5vG2KxyONuCH8vPuFES1QZlPvdeBjEcjtR9605Qr_4QoWiRFdfk93UkAWsUTQ1erHOHVyczJEQALsLxr16l1IFXvUY6o2a5aNVdjT5qkstFV5XGZegbzb6cM/s400/Anniversary13.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes ya gotta adult.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholwCPLkcLPj53FzPNZhnmnMeyQlDqtfapnFmk769lH_CkLQrLuMvkRuVomV9KboXr2eyeQsa70pZC3kY0sSNBdl3iOLFYfB4n5lovefTf9xKkJrni7rvzzfwqAMZRL8nwWJkrkGUnWvU/s1600/Anniversary12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEholwCPLkcLPj53FzPNZhnmnMeyQlDqtfapnFmk769lH_CkLQrLuMvkRuVomV9KboXr2eyeQsa70pZC3kY0sSNBdl3iOLFYfB4n5lovefTf9xKkJrni7rvzzfwqAMZRL8nwWJkrkGUnWvU/s400/Anniversary12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasquatch has lost his head!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe4804IruyuGm0hqYfllz_TvBmI2MwS6aBOmwSqJvHwICkZ8aZIC5t0LKqEo1yIrAsRNC35RJo_Y20U-TIkM_yTCy-ed8jpLeagDOkvpPIXqO5KW79vmMKClMVjUVjuVhBRTrrhWj8kg/s1600/Anniversary11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="960" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe4804IruyuGm0hqYfllz_TvBmI2MwS6aBOmwSqJvHwICkZ8aZIC5t0LKqEo1yIrAsRNC35RJo_Y20U-TIkM_yTCy-ed8jpLeagDOkvpPIXqO5KW79vmMKClMVjUVjuVhBRTrrhWj8kg/s400/Anniversary11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our favorite Chinese restaurant in my home town!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKYV2vcSRkhi12_bB_KFt6xiTESE4wzZFHpm8QBaEbf8ckbIKRG3ELY8cWSPqII2BIvs5VycDRSzgxY-k3mSu6hDAbQI1ojdUtqq6vckKtL0o_gvLfnqqF0e-Mj9KkJjz2eX8EgT4iMM/s1600/Anniversary10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="960" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKYV2vcSRkhi12_bB_KFt6xiTESE4wzZFHpm8QBaEbf8ckbIKRG3ELY8cWSPqII2BIvs5VycDRSzgxY-k3mSu6hDAbQI1ojdUtqq6vckKtL0o_gvLfnqqF0e-Mj9KkJjz2eX8EgT4iMM/s400/Anniversary10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There HAVE to be aliens around here somewhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDsvXgHTxuJsWdKv6INIE24oE0emfyWNyLGd-sM9R9ovQ8qE_roQa8sBlg8AYlJLLhty4ohfzEeY-6p-vLOPlai1KP071MBM9Jqns3Q0ik91UauZQrffbGcDolXvtn_0k5UyHLcq0lrs/s1600/Anniversary14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDsvXgHTxuJsWdKv6INIE24oE0emfyWNyLGd-sM9R9ovQ8qE_roQa8sBlg8AYlJLLhty4ohfzEeY-6p-vLOPlai1KP071MBM9Jqns3Q0ik91UauZQrffbGcDolXvtn_0k5UyHLcq0lrs/s400/Anniversary14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, Dutch Brothers, how we love thee!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VcXOkVQjOBHYYPjTo5dbuPCvOylCMf8xDCcrdbAtCaLMZZo3Hf95i5vFJi-gITv4CqnR3B_YR4dCp1q94QWrwbmJjICOiNQfBtrmBtwnd8VSjXooAQRETL1xXgyP2ivOxZwc_ZaP4gY/s1600/Anniversary15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8VcXOkVQjOBHYYPjTo5dbuPCvOylCMf8xDCcrdbAtCaLMZZo3Hf95i5vFJi-gITv4CqnR3B_YR4dCp1q94QWrwbmJjICOiNQfBtrmBtwnd8VSjXooAQRETL1xXgyP2ivOxZwc_ZaP4gY/s400/Anniversary15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a little hug on in front of the founding fathers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr7PVenOsnbvFgwdfFurKB6fXYFwYv5fFxaHaYI9hY3xmlzpVU_SHts-cL5fo5ChxcACnVkWtlVE1DEgfhbfAqZs0HqZqcUshuC6oPNh_V4vbMRb4HR7F4rfE7L63BdYkjh7mKPvsTj4/s1600/Anniversary16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjr7PVenOsnbvFgwdfFurKB6fXYFwYv5fFxaHaYI9hY3xmlzpVU_SHts-cL5fo5ChxcACnVkWtlVE1DEgfhbfAqZs0HqZqcUshuC6oPNh_V4vbMRb4HR7F4rfE7L63BdYkjh7mKPvsTj4/s400/Anniversary16.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stick 'em up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnr5Fjcba7kbzteM5gK1YJFNaN7hcUmJyI0oXZEMIq3B-i9tHfC0neaiLAjWXzcobK33ye71qQg4yjYN-OT0JuGbAhxhStosobpjskpa05G9KJG_-TG0Fh7aGlW2bbTE898c_DC3PRbY/s1600/Anniversary17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnr5Fjcba7kbzteM5gK1YJFNaN7hcUmJyI0oXZEMIq3B-i9tHfC0neaiLAjWXzcobK33ye71qQg4yjYN-OT0JuGbAhxhStosobpjskpa05G9KJG_-TG0Fh7aGlW2bbTE898c_DC3PRbY/s400/Anniversary17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turns out, Virginia is indeed for lovers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcqMIP59VeAyhXnojsaSUwiWpmRNtr7_QXjB4cYS_TlGo_DAHEzuQjJKOwlo5y7TgVA9qEUc-aOTT-sM8zwh_G58od51BEQBgPTJFGBxjsoin9_1IDGJJUUOt3QJR7EOqK87HG_GiFZI/s1600/Anniversary22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcqMIP59VeAyhXnojsaSUwiWpmRNtr7_QXjB4cYS_TlGo_DAHEzuQjJKOwlo5y7TgVA9qEUc-aOTT-sM8zwh_G58od51BEQBgPTJFGBxjsoin9_1IDGJJUUOt3QJR7EOqK87HG_GiFZI/s400/Anniversary22.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking dapper in an R2D2 jacket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrT628pnoF0pelftdZt2O4fY1q86eyMyeFjL3IDZyJC9JM0XfbDc-F9pHA1de_ltiSeheBVWKepvoHFGCTZCGkLDyTNZT2iEJWmykMyx1HdUTfvqqLItorB5AjL-L7XE9F-SuKsMbIDI/s1600/Anniversary21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrT628pnoF0pelftdZt2O4fY1q86eyMyeFjL3IDZyJC9JM0XfbDc-F9pHA1de_ltiSeheBVWKepvoHFGCTZCGkLDyTNZT2iEJWmykMyx1HdUTfvqqLItorB5AjL-L7XE9F-SuKsMbIDI/s400/Anniversary21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the heck is that?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkThy0oXPNfxBJJzDFHZEdMDOaUKbG2i0Y5F_nFxt6hDAb51W90oxdnh_Yo-7egxhHG8j-_4Wz9ZzJhQrcX2m34nzipwJ0wXkxJNufWyE52TJVCUv3K5OPWCtF-J_UkwapUh4II59q8Ec/s1600/Anniversary20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkThy0oXPNfxBJJzDFHZEdMDOaUKbG2i0Y5F_nFxt6hDAb51W90oxdnh_Yo-7egxhHG8j-_4Wz9ZzJhQrcX2m34nzipwJ0wXkxJNufWyE52TJVCUv3K5OPWCtF-J_UkwapUh4II59q8Ec/s400/Anniversary20.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love on the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9s1JLdNylNrx_mO6XWw-9hlJmmGMqDV04zqide6O2ndY3n0BazqoJAqBl6OdgD3g7HAsaQZFb0Th3ywLgF2EkaWMhb6BGnlm7Z7RRMk7WdBvxEqcYBOfr6HuwDSmwjWZtKjuS2J9V2k/s1600/Anniversary25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9s1JLdNylNrx_mO6XWw-9hlJmmGMqDV04zqide6O2ndY3n0BazqoJAqBl6OdgD3g7HAsaQZFb0Th3ywLgF2EkaWMhb6BGnlm7Z7RRMk7WdBvxEqcYBOfr6HuwDSmwjWZtKjuS2J9V2k/s400/Anniversary25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing in the new year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInb4xoRuEfNT-WpXbEDXBYLYxrwdxD5gfRoUOTxw9Cpg6jRrnKTXgV9caFPqoTnadfp5Wd9YTFZJgXjaIUCtITnCtTfEP7DtIiplG5mbKTtcsAaKEUMeA97Pidj1M9tn2p3O5j7hOieE/s1600/Anniversary19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInb4xoRuEfNT-WpXbEDXBYLYxrwdxD5gfRoUOTxw9Cpg6jRrnKTXgV9caFPqoTnadfp5Wd9YTFZJgXjaIUCtITnCtTfEP7DtIiplG5mbKTtcsAaKEUMeA97Pidj1M9tn2p3O5j7hOieE/s400/Anniversary19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a little neck smooch and some giggles from my gal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB8lyyHaDWQ4uOwDsdQ-CGWCbmIdXnVW1faTF5BAVTmv0icuWiBmcSPk3pbCs1UQ631jG1pAgLl3CuT8arEX1oGEqc_Lp5v1goIzp78svDBwkDpvbMTuKuGg4q10PHpEK74n5MUA0a84/s1600/Anniversary18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB8lyyHaDWQ4uOwDsdQ-CGWCbmIdXnVW1faTF5BAVTmv0icuWiBmcSPk3pbCs1UQ631jG1pAgLl3CuT8arEX1oGEqc_Lp5v1goIzp78svDBwkDpvbMTuKuGg4q10PHpEK74n5MUA0a84/s400/Anniversary18.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think we both pull off the bearded look quite nicely</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XEHQDQ_YMHkDNT9wUJcbahCsGFl74UPUbtL_juGbZj8qt92reQkK5tch3Z_96I-NJt-f1OHJtsQGsmMRJgZNn_gBjGsvV1-C7H4p2hnguB9adKGfEs3U4M0IfLlklw95JXciYyEuR54/s1600/Anniversary23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XEHQDQ_YMHkDNT9wUJcbahCsGFl74UPUbtL_juGbZj8qt92reQkK5tch3Z_96I-NJt-f1OHJtsQGsmMRJgZNn_gBjGsvV1-C7H4p2hnguB9adKGfEs3U4M0IfLlklw95JXciYyEuR54/s400/Anniversary23.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Date night! It almost always includes a trip to our favorite coffee place (besides Dutch Brothers I mean).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1unQzvpupLf4LdfBhEKvONhB4U9Dg5R92UKLUTBt44SCySfv0Wy2O6Hc2-Wye3D9ytTAuZCOyG_vKKihyphenhyphenkU2KIgsQ_Z575XECGu5FagjWmzoI5ecB4zZoXg0kPIqj7EdFodQozTiyYPk/s1600/Anniversary24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1unQzvpupLf4LdfBhEKvONhB4U9Dg5R92UKLUTBt44SCySfv0Wy2O6Hc2-Wye3D9ytTAuZCOyG_vKKihyphenhyphenkU2KIgsQ_Z575XECGu5FagjWmzoI5ecB4zZoXg0kPIqj7EdFodQozTiyYPk/s400/Anniversary24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter time smooch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrE389N99XR_yA3WZXBOsXmNVd0N6Eieks-Sxi_KbLu0EKVEUHDNNzkKSE2eN4rJ56LBjLwAcl_7IsAlbWgI0-lKCu38CL8ADdipaFff_WlGwCNb1zmYHyYkixh0RveTl1A3mUqqGppo/s1600/Anniversary26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrE389N99XR_yA3WZXBOsXmNVd0N6Eieks-Sxi_KbLu0EKVEUHDNNzkKSE2eN4rJ56LBjLwAcl_7IsAlbWgI0-lKCu38CL8ADdipaFff_WlGwCNb1zmYHyYkixh0RveTl1A3mUqqGppo/s400/Anniversary26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing...always! :-)</td></tr>
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I'm incredibly blessed to have such an amazing partner. Erin is the mortar that holds the foundation of my world together. When there are problems or a battle needs to be fought, I take her hand and we face it together.</div>
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When the sky is clear and the water smooth, I take her hand and we adventure together. Storm or calm, we are building memories and sharing experiences. We've been married four wonderful years now and everything that came before seems distant and hazy.</div>
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In a way it feels like we barely found each other,</div>
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but it also feels like we've been together for decades.</div>
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I wish every one of you to find your Erin. To find your happiness.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqhmtzSbbN-DxHAjI034O2nnsXY1sgxHf286hT_3Kv4A6nnVt71rn83LMuXL_x1G7VMKGen_HmjSRihsilgSt-dndscs1PKBRQc-GO7naGXKY3mpk4FzPKbLgCZnDznhtcwHFlKJ-5Mk/s1600/Anniversary27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqhmtzSbbN-DxHAjI034O2nnsXY1sgxHf286hT_3Kv4A6nnVt71rn83LMuXL_x1G7VMKGen_HmjSRihsilgSt-dndscs1PKBRQc-GO7naGXKY3mpk4FzPKbLgCZnDznhtcwHFlKJ-5Mk/s320/Anniversary27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin Rhew</td></tr>
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To my Erin, I love you with all my heart. Thank you for saying "yes" and for all our wonderful times together. I'm thrilled to get to spend my life with you.<br />
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To all my friends out there, laugh a lot, love a lot, and adventure on!Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-28547471161011993772018-10-23T18:08:00.002-07:002019-04-23T09:22:20.353-07:00The Amazing World of KetoLet me begin by saying that I fell off the wagon. Yep. There was a time, not that long ago, that I lifted weights five times a week, did cardio in the mornings three times a week, and rode my bike on the weekends. I even ate almost 4,000 calories a day (Yes, 4,000!), yet I had no problems with my weight. My clothes fit, and I almost never got winded.<br />
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But shortly after Erin and I got married, I fell off the fitness wagon.</div>
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Deek Falls off the Wagon</div>
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It didn't happen all at once. One day, a pair of pants felt snug. Pretty soon they were uncomfortable, and then they were banished to the back of the closet. On to the next size up. Lather, rinse, repeat. While I didn't pack on hundreds of pounds, I put on a lot more than I was comfortable with.<br />
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Over the years, Erin and I have tried a lot of different diet plans--most of them centering around Paleo--with varying degrees of success. A few months ago, Erin suggested we try Keto.<br />
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To get up to speed on what Keto is, check out this article on <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101#weight-loss">HealthLine.com</a>.<br />
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I'll admit I was skeptical at first. The idea of eating MORE fat to LOSE fat made logical sense, but emotionally, I had trouble breaking through all the junk I'd been taught about nutrition. But Erin started it, and after a couple of months, I couldn't argue with the results she was getting.<br />
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<b>FYI: Everything we learned in the 80s and 90s about nutrition is wrong.</b></div>
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So for the last 149 days, I've been hitting Keto hard and could not be happier with the results. I am back in the gym, lifting three days a week, and Erin and I walk--a lot--on the weekend, and even sometimes during the week.<br />
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Back in the gym!</div>
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So far, I've lost 22 pounds and dropped my body fat percentage to 19.8%. More importantly, I fit into ALL my clothes, even the "I'm too fat to ever wear these again" clothes that got put into the closet. Even <i>more</i> importantly: I feel a ton better. In a few months, I'll be going into the doctor to get my blood panel done to check my cholesterol levels and all that, but from what I've read, those should be down too.<br />
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<b>The Rhew's Diet Plan</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The plan we follow is simple:<br />
<br />
* I lift weights 3 times a week, and Erin runs and does various forms of cardio.<br />
* We walk a lot on the weekends.<br />
* We track what we eat and ensure our macros are right.<br />
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I cannot emphasize this last bullet point enough. To be successful, I <b>have</b> to track everything I eat. Fortunately, that's easy. There's an app for your phone called <a href="https://www.myfitnesspal.com/">My Fitness Pal</a> (I use the free version). Every day I enter my food as I go. As the day progresses, I flip over to this handy little Macros page to make sure I'm in the right percentages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc3xllxRLq6MyZMx3WPKYsTNzNSONCowLX5OTOSHkGM5Fh7AmN6RW39nyCVE5vXeDcMJdDEHR_oFxmYJyO75lXwW7IQyM4cj1lWDTKDWyLDaufhTGE4FwTTAmbS5hbXGXqFEOjU04GDI/s1600/IMG_7192.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGc3xllxRLq6MyZMx3WPKYsTNzNSONCowLX5OTOSHkGM5Fh7AmN6RW39nyCVE5vXeDcMJdDEHR_oFxmYJyO75lXwW7IQyM4cj1lWDTKDWyLDaufhTGE4FwTTAmbS5hbXGXqFEOjU04GDI/s400/IMG_7192.PNG" width="222" /></a></div>
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<b>Don't Forget the Scale!</b><br />
No, not your bathroom scale. A postage scale.<br />
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When calculating portion sizes, more often than not portions are by weight--here in the States, typically in ounces. I want to seriously emphasize that if you are going through all the work of tracking your calories, be sure you know how much is in a serving. You may be surprised at how small a serving of meat, pork rinds, etc. really is.<br />
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Fortunately, that's easy and inexpensive with a simple postage scale.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077ZST91B/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B077ZST91B&linkCode=as2&tag=rhewination01-20&linkId=2cdb8fc25969381d301020dadaa1b73f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B077ZST91B&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=rhewination01-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=rhewination01-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B077ZST91B" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
This <a href="https://amzn.to/2UB1Ojk" target="_blank">guy on Amazon sells</a> for less than $14 bucks.<br />
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There are no substitutes for having the right diet. There are pills and drinks and powders that are supposed to "put you in ketosis," but as they say, there ain't nothing like the real thing, baby. I personally don't know of anyone that's been successful with these expensive gimmicks. Maybe there are people who've really succeeded, but of those I know who've tried it, the only thing that has gotten thinner is their wallet.<br />
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<b>Macros</b><br />
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According to the Keto sites, the standard ketogenic diet consists of 75% of your calories coming from fat, 20% from protein, and 5% from carbs. Since I lift, I have a higher percentage of protein in my diet. So, I generally shoot for 60-65% fat, 30-35% protein, and 5% carbs.<br />
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<b>Cheat Days!</b><br />
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To keep Erin's thyroid in check, we have one high carb (cheat meal) day a week. We follow our usual diet all day up until the late afternoon, then we walk to Starbucks--a 5 mile round trip--and treat ourselves to a higher carb coffee treat. Some of the drinks are over the moon with carbs, so we avoid those.<br />
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My skinny grande cafe mocha with whip has 26 carbs, but man after a week of no sweets, it tastes amazing. Erin seriously loves her Iced Cinnamon Almond Milk Macchiato with 36 carbs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYDa48QOYfGUtvA2CIDK4LI5aCzy2UWRJv8aVEJ2-68gFK25QeK40tYAtWWa-maeLz7h5wJYNtQkFiP0RwSJE27NgDnjUO0rUYPu9waIira_dPOsNCkgpPkUdzCX77JJSVA4UEwuwVgU/s1600/IMG_6711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYDa48QOYfGUtvA2CIDK4LI5aCzy2UWRJv8aVEJ2-68gFK25QeK40tYAtWWa-maeLz7h5wJYNtQkFiP0RwSJE27NgDnjUO0rUYPu9waIira_dPOsNCkgpPkUdzCX77JJSVA4UEwuwVgU/s320/IMG_6711.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin Cheat Day Coffees!</td></tr>
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After we walk back home, we go get a pizza. Talk about tasting amazing! #NomNomNom<br />
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<b>Dining Out</b><br />
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We still dine out, but granted, our choices are more limited. Most restaurants should be renamed The Carb Cafe. Fries, potatoes, chips, soda, while all delicious, are really cheap and loaded with carbs. So we opt for steak and chicken fajitas (hold the chips, tortillas, and salsa) at our favorite Mexican place.<br />
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We've also discovered that we can frequent Wendy's. Two Jr. Bacon Cheese burgers, hold the sauces and bun for Erin, and a Triple Bacon, hold the sauces and bun, for me. No fries though. :-( Subway works too, just hold the bread and the sauces.<br />
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Almost everything at any restaurant, in every possible configuration you could image, is in My Fitness Pal. So again, highly recommend it!<br />
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<b>The Results</b><br />
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While Erin has reached her goal weight, Mr. Keto Holdout (that would be me) is still a couple of months away from reaching his (that's what I get for not starting when my wife did). As I said before, I can finally fit into all my clothes and am beyond pleased to feel healthy again.<br />
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But the proof is in the pudding, or in our case, the before and after pics:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28b5f0b0I06sSzplU8uvyfyqxwh5JUjNPGWUcrgPyWH5p_UscuF_C-m7hMuoxjbaqA6swVyicGKgM3mqMYdu8h-lPsPclEu7bV4RTIhKFSof9R5FFn-RfCXD0LHlQ5mlZwbDQmSizTh4/s1600/Before.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28b5f0b0I06sSzplU8uvyfyqxwh5JUjNPGWUcrgPyWH5p_UscuF_C-m7hMuoxjbaqA6swVyicGKgM3mqMYdu8h-lPsPclEu7bV4RTIhKFSof9R5FFn-RfCXD0LHlQ5mlZwbDQmSizTh4/s320/Before.png" width="195" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJVYNRLzCp40CtksqNYlcRrU5MZP9E7afQBOWMwu5GJpDAsgiEb-n2ybfrAk2dy4oziK9tkXiLgT7RPQpciJUEkL9xPiEPNgvOhLFBteSgiBMYmb-7FC238v1qL4PnVCJjMDlW64uTYc/s1600/after.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJVYNRLzCp40CtksqNYlcRrU5MZP9E7afQBOWMwu5GJpDAsgiEb-n2ybfrAk2dy4oziK9tkXiLgT7RPQpciJUEkL9xPiEPNgvOhLFBteSgiBMYmb-7FC238v1qL4PnVCJjMDlW64uTYc/s320/after.png" width="231" /></a></div>
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Before and After</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2G19-QqGI9UU3mTOGW_kPoLUjIDdM3OIDcgiHUkr0wRq_XXcZSPbo0HAARxEomabQkOtmiPXkpKPZXTArj24zadrMdxY07grF8QALNi93BE2yJPlDP77N3gBUsWdl9zoIYhuFYWbNQQs/s1600/IMG_2206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="640" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2G19-QqGI9UU3mTOGW_kPoLUjIDdM3OIDcgiHUkr0wRq_XXcZSPbo0HAARxEomabQkOtmiPXkpKPZXTArj24zadrMdxY07grF8QALNi93BE2yJPlDP77N3gBUsWdl9zoIYhuFYWbNQQs/s320/IMG_2206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Keto may not be for everyone, but it's completely changed my life. Even after I reach my goal weight, I'm going to keep on it. My body runs so much better than it did when I was on carbs. The mid-afternoon crash is gone, and my energy is way up.</div>
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I'm totally grateful that Erin found this plan, and I'm especially grateful that we get to do it together!</div>
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Until later, my friends. Adventure on!</div>
<br />Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-32013391528616824092017-12-28T01:00:00.000-08:002017-12-28T01:00:11.197-08:00Writerly WorldAs I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been MIA heads down working on a new book. Well, the world still keeps on turnin', churnin', and burnin'. So what else writerly has been going on?<br />
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In July Erin and I got to be guests at Raleigh Super Con! Woop! Slacker me didn't write a blog post about it. Fortunately Erin came to the rescue (cue superhero music) and <a href="http://blog.erinrhewbooks.com/2017/08/raleigh-supercon-recap.html" target="_blank">wrote about it</a>!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA319i0Gfa3p23-ra_egYziXv5z9DtYY7_0Uaz1FEjU7uCM0hXZu58O0s3s_NdfN-OWh3PYbEi_ydNRMS8lQYoxlPnWfingMBvLiG2cgGPqFXzQ2TfKejEj3_Ay9w9fQjaD9B8NFtjjI/s1600/Supergirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA319i0Gfa3p23-ra_egYziXv5z9DtYY7_0Uaz1FEjU7uCM0hXZu58O0s3s_NdfN-OWh3PYbEi_ydNRMS8lQYoxlPnWfingMBvLiG2cgGPqFXzQ2TfKejEj3_Ay9w9fQjaD9B8NFtjjI/s320/Supergirl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin is my very own Supergirl!</td></tr>
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<br />
Here are a few moments from our adventures!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs8uLfkuFTyG_-myCh1KVgW51r6DTCgB4z__Hm0Dpmlh3M-1DiqTNatrKzQy8wEcpWYudht60QS5LoHIGsAtz1a9d0Gk8AY8XRpYhIVju8wHUQmCgGQI9jSsNO_Acv6K3CEKEAVUf_SA/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs8uLfkuFTyG_-myCh1KVgW51r6DTCgB4z__Hm0Dpmlh3M-1DiqTNatrKzQy8wEcpWYudht60QS5LoHIGsAtz1a9d0Gk8AY8XRpYhIVju8wHUQmCgGQI9jSsNO_Acv6K3CEKEAVUf_SA/s320/IMG_0882.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm no dummy. Sit next to the most beautiful<br />
woman at the con and people will flock to you!</td></tr>
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<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/AVvXsEj4OD2TcF4XipXExC1rSRGPotwS9chwz-kZZw7Moq-QqmoS8BeiHKkZN5iH4tj7TieYBMAAvMXSOAz_jvV-Ygq6ePajscCGB1-zxrWo9RUUlmMHm882byTTmpOepbT8-QClfxF9TSmbdk0/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OD2TcF4XipXExC1rSRGPotwS9chwz-kZZw7Moq-QqmoS8BeiHKkZN5iH4tj7TieYBMAAvMXSOAz_jvV-Ygq6ePajscCGB1-zxrWo9RUUlmMHm882byTTmpOepbT8-QClfxF9TSmbdk0/s320/IMG_0912.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">OMG! Lady Vader not be cuter!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7et1CjrHZT09NOaYEANxkbl1aFZnOenVnQcWfHzECnoX1ag_YCYZthCuYh0z8KP02XtSnHtT6Mh7vvo-93nMWIVuycYpF0sy-CXA8S7j_UN0djtEI_C3EpDia3YZBpLmkzIBAfsA0kA/s1600/IMG_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7et1CjrHZT09NOaYEANxkbl1aFZnOenVnQcWfHzECnoX1ag_YCYZthCuYh0z8KP02XtSnHtT6Mh7vvo-93nMWIVuycYpF0sy-CXA8S7j_UN0djtEI_C3EpDia3YZBpLmkzIBAfsA0kA/s320/IMG_0968.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">LOL! Erin didn't see Thor but then this gent strolled by.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl8g0rXG-Mn7nQOUIj3aDAGpTfNiAk2Z9pMBZ-4OEokrNxVjBpa1aWMjpyaeaQt6UP_wB4SvsIocJba1sD94I5FCT_694R2vZ9T8CwHv8vn5g2mgYM5uUrYtze90cZRM492kp86m4x2c/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl8g0rXG-Mn7nQOUIj3aDAGpTfNiAk2Z9pMBZ-4OEokrNxVjBpa1aWMjpyaeaQt6UP_wB4SvsIocJba1sD94I5FCT_694R2vZ9T8CwHv8vn5g2mgYM5uUrYtze90cZRM492kp86m4x2c/s320/IMG_1828.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Iron Man rocks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_VIovDDx-_c4kZnHVPy3X5yJi0EsJzik8ql5LfMgNAKUH8iKiVHBTB7RmP55VIhDNwLV0nS9RYM6Z8lreS7ha8UfMIRFVnVaMNpteh2se_jyim4m1xv7EF-h0nBqfwC4j9Kb-0xRQpo/s1600/IMG_1832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_VIovDDx-_c4kZnHVPy3X5yJi0EsJzik8ql5LfMgNAKUH8iKiVHBTB7RmP55VIhDNwLV0nS9RYM6Z8lreS7ha8UfMIRFVnVaMNpteh2se_jyim4m1xv7EF-h0nBqfwC4j9Kb-0xRQpo/s320/IMG_1832.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I loved getting to meet Captain Hobbes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYbMsgzl10WhNNUy0DevBrjsD8GJWvwe-Zrh2FFH81TdheoQIyN0_-aWI-GmuNej9afGy6hQ4Gaq3gt7kr-4B-pAD1Bn_f5idSFw_j89frLT6BJ2y7JtENGpaloXUuyI7Wr3duEEk62c/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYbMsgzl10WhNNUy0DevBrjsD8GJWvwe-Zrh2FFH81TdheoQIyN0_-aWI-GmuNej9afGy6hQ4Gaq3gt7kr-4B-pAD1Bn_f5idSFw_j89frLT6BJ2y7JtENGpaloXUuyI7Wr3duEEk62c/s320/IMG_1863.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Aaaaahhh! Barf! One of my favs!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1DqnyB_ldWXoJfTSLEXekwZFliATKyet-oiB3QkrMCH094xWw3r062HTz4-z1EnBSlL107Bj9U29ahKjjdmRxwJWlQzaFEQmsNpBqyb-lOYM5GTN0w0oskkQd1qboaGG9U2VvcaZ-OM/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1DqnyB_ldWXoJfTSLEXekwZFliATKyet-oiB3QkrMCH094xWw3r062HTz4-z1EnBSlL107Bj9U29ahKjjdmRxwJWlQzaFEQmsNpBqyb-lOYM5GTN0w0oskkQd1qboaGG9U2VvcaZ-OM/s320/IMG_1867.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This three-foot Storm Trooper might stun<br />
you with her adorableness!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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/AVvXsEhme2PGtU5DjDb4-on3y19ieKUXbjU2X9QsNEZ8TZjgu90UpZ-6xrvbAiNQGl-SwJuBWbfnYV9yt8xCXqxo92KeIIvg2xPoOi_JOREapRCy4CCAg-uoykCqXHnNkv0zvUXkw_4HL-oOKxo/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme2PGtU5DjDb4-on3y19ieKUXbjU2X9QsNEZ8TZjgu90UpZ-6xrvbAiNQGl-SwJuBWbfnYV9yt8xCXqxo92KeIIvg2xPoOi_JOREapRCy4CCAg-uoykCqXHnNkv0zvUXkw_4HL-oOKxo/s320/IMG_1886.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Groot and Rocket! OMG! Such amazing costumes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The cons are awesome because you get to meet a slew of great geeks, there's tons to see and do, but mostly what I like about them is that I get to do them with my best friend. She's the one that makes all things awesome!<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz3xEwfOA9aB9kQbAXr20TBL8TONQQZJ4bSyEGhwLNxUBmZsRb51ZGVOsMq1D6U40qOXJFJpcbvfpNAH3NVStqd40TZxMknr3AnnobAJzEavWtnb71EpBwQEutr110zchEZIpG9BdZXo/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFz3xEwfOA9aB9kQbAXr20TBL8TONQQZJ4bSyEGhwLNxUBmZsRb51ZGVOsMq1D6U40qOXJFJpcbvfpNAH3NVStqd40TZxMknr3AnnobAJzEavWtnb71EpBwQEutr110zchEZIpG9BdZXo/s320/IMG_0905.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hangin' with ma best friend at the con!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Erin's New SciFi and Her Company</b><br />
In our long-term plans we are to become professional vagabonds and hopefully be able to support ourselves with our writing. To that goal, Erin has started an editing business, <a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/editing-and-design.html" target="_blank">Erin Rhew Editing and Design</a>.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/uploads/5/7/6/2/5762130/erin-rhew-editing-logo-3_orig.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.erinrhewbooks.com/uploads/5/7/6/2/5762130/erin-rhew-editing-logo-3_orig.png" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="531" height="268" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Erin Rhew Editing and Design</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm working on sharpening my content editing skillz to be part of her company. For practice--and because I REALLY wanted to get to read her newest novel--I got to be the first to read and edit her new book!<br />
<br />
At the beginning of November, Erin sent me her recently-completed rough draft of her new SciFi, code named <i>Molly and Ryder.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3hITNBDWKxQW439r8V9KSMa-Ftvoq6UKmcF8iXpnOLVpdNbC285TObsicwZQvf31aCaydkuMg7x5n3uH29vr_BNYZTGARUIhRsFeN-vJ2X0lA7DoLWHwWUY6Ho5oAT8PfXESv4GEQWM/s1600/iStock_89821207_LARGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3hITNBDWKxQW439r8V9KSMa-Ftvoq6UKmcF8iXpnOLVpdNbC285TObsicwZQvf31aCaydkuMg7x5n3uH29vr_BNYZTGARUIhRsFeN-vJ2X0lA7DoLWHwWUY6Ho5oAT8PfXESv4GEQWM/s320/iStock_89821207_LARGE.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin's new SciFi<br />
Code named: Molly and Ryder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Friends, y'all are in for an awesome treat. Her story of what happens when social media takes over a nation, has a riveting storyline, great characters, and a page-turning pace. I'm unbelievably proud of my bride for her brilliance and creativity. I can't wait for her fans to get their hands on it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>My New SciFi</b><br />
It wasn't planned that way, but both Erin and I have been working on SciFi's at the same time. My book, <i>The Extractor,</i> is about a virtual reality gaming company that murders people so they can steal their memories to enhance their video games. (Dang, still need to work on the elevator pitch).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFIjk-4z_Q1MFjWhV5symSrKTYgWl_-kZuyq6qjGEmfqI1RF8UFzUzYE-U-svyw7Hfz94zLm82w9kUdsR7recMHLZl9Eh2hi6UB1GJs_MsR7KcgJm8ReHuRbYFhiGmRjME7S_iRlADgA/s1600/brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="630" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFIjk-4z_Q1MFjWhV5symSrKTYgWl_-kZuyq6qjGEmfqI1RF8UFzUzYE-U-svyw7Hfz94zLm82w9kUdsR7recMHLZl9Eh2hi6UB1GJs_MsR7KcgJm8ReHuRbYFhiGmRjME7S_iRlADgA/s320/brain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After writing myself an editorial letter (<a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/04/first-editing-letter-for-xtractors.html" target="_blank">read about it!</a>) I finally finished the first round of self-edits and am getting ready to dive into the follow-up novel, <i>The Injector. </i>I have the first line written (I've texted it to myself after it came to me while I was trying to fall asleep) and a vague idea of where it starts and what happens. At the end of <i>The Extractor, </i>Lincoln Grey, our hero, is arrested for treason and a series of murders he did not commit. He's really hoping my pantser writing style will get him out of the fix he's in. :-)<br />
<br />
These stories explore your right to privacy and not just in the traditional sense, but when you die do others have the right to download and relive your personal memories? Does those memories become part of your estate for your family to do with as they please? What about celebrities or presidents? Would you want to relive some of the key moments in the life of Winston Churchill or JFK?<br />
<br />
While my books explore the fight for your rights to memory privacy and piracy, Erin's story is all about people willingly giving up their privacy for ratings. Would you give up your privacy to social media--making every moment of your life available for anyone to peruse--for fame and power? Needless to say, Erin and I have had a lot of discussions about these two differing potential futures.<br />
<br />
Also, just for fun, I put in a couple of goose eggs for my bride to find. Let's see if she can do it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Birth to be Rebirthed in Audio</b><br />
Just connected with a narrator who will begin recording and audio version of <i>Birth of an American Gigolo</i> at the beginning of January 2018!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/uploads/5/7/6/2/5762130/248355_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/uploads/5/7/6/2/5762130/248355_orig.jpg" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="528" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birth of an American Gigolo Goes Audio!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Out of over 100 audition clips, I got the narrator I wanted the most and am completely stoked for you to get to experience Lindsey, Dios, Angel, and Stewart! Stay tuned. <i>Birth</i> will be reborn in the first bit of 2018!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6n7SLj-wnnU9QSyZ5mfencfosTuDwQ6FG5IDcFi17GUqkOZnVWH9YmSazepjX33j1ZoRwTbVff8aVbeEQInwmxso7usXGk-6oshgKSqwjUTX6JIUgOO1RBVQhWVvGkvMb5taTbDrPaE/s1600/IMG_2449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="782" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6n7SLj-wnnU9QSyZ5mfencfosTuDwQ6FG5IDcFi17GUqkOZnVWH9YmSazepjX33j1ZoRwTbVff8aVbeEQInwmxso7usXGk-6oshgKSqwjUTX6JIUgOO1RBVQhWVvGkvMb5taTbDrPaE/s320/IMG_2449.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three years! Insanely lucky fella!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Erin and I have been been married three years now. We do everything together--even write!--and it's more incredible than I ever imagined. I can't even begin to tell you how happy this vibrant, smexy woman makes me. What's greater than celebrating our third wedding anniversary at a Tim and Faith concert? Getting to celebrate our third anniversary AGAIN in May! Yep, I'm no fool. Marry the girl twice!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's to three more years and three more and three more!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Until later, my friends, adventure on!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-54498859373997864892017-12-21T10:02:00.000-08:002017-12-21T10:21:03.278-08:00Rising from the Depths...For Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/y1LY0ajU4H5hC/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="229" data-original-width="394" height="185" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/y1LY0ajU4H5hC/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's been a few months since my last blog post. Partially because Erin and I moved, partially because of life, but also because I've been head's down writing a new book. I got the rough of my new SciFi, <i>The Extractor,</i> done in May and hunkered down in the Bat Cave for editing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://poster.keepcalmandposters.com/142.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://poster.keepcalmandposters.com/142.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
But I'm rising up from the depths, to say howdy and fill you in on what's all been going on!<br />
<br />
<b>New Home!</b><br />
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLXqPzf4rVEpzoKR5PI1cMmKYKnz3UZZ6muUfnF2XIfevczVUuyiAl4mFcgDVsq4E2RlptiR15hnUDpcNheru4tAbAdyGt4WUHPOAHCpMU4NzF7kATMNTc6PzHNdDXXr9qyKAM8NXWC4/s1600/TajMahal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLXqPzf4rVEpzoKR5PI1cMmKYKnz3UZZ6muUfnF2XIfevczVUuyiAl4mFcgDVsq4E2RlptiR15hnUDpcNheru4tAbAdyGt4WUHPOAHCpMU4NzF7kATMNTc6PzHNdDXXr9qyKAM8NXWC4/s320/TajMahal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin get a new home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So what's been going on? Well, to start with, this last June Erin and I bought a house! My bride is better at multi-tasking than I am and <a href="http://blog.erinrhewbooks.com/2017/06/where-is-erin.html" target="_blank">wrote about our new digs</a>. I love our house. It's a small townhome and, while not extravagant, it's simple like me, but cute and sweet like Erin. It's a good mix of the two of us. No yard to maintain, no outside work--painting, roof, etc--either, so nice and easy to keep up.<br />
<br />
Erin did a heck of a great job decorating it--Heeeeellllooo, Craigslist!--and it looks amazing decked out for Christmas. :-)<br />
<br />
<b>Heartbreak</b><br />
At the beginning of July, we lost a wonderful man when Erin's PaPa passed away.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_j3OcLqWwHOqRY8u0vtDKdjxtNaJHIQMr122QzYw9hyphenhyphen-J_bffEmEia0lSUk8jikfJYDjeh4VMJRMi4YFmn0I_s7wCQvDUrtv9_rVkSMSuG6aj7EVt2NbWgzQDWiTFkCTBZwJQtBOEI0/s1600/FullSizeRender+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="632" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_j3OcLqWwHOqRY8u0vtDKdjxtNaJHIQMr122QzYw9hyphenhyphen-J_bffEmEia0lSUk8jikfJYDjeh4VMJRMi4YFmn0I_s7wCQvDUrtv9_rVkSMSuG6aj7EVt2NbWgzQDWiTFkCTBZwJQtBOEI0/s320/FullSizeRender+10.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PaPa and his Babydoll!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
He'd been a huge part of her life and one of the best storytellers ever. I'd am incredibly blessed to have gotten to know him over the last few years and get an inkling of what a special person he was. Erin, PaPa's Babydoll, wrote an touching <a href="http://blog.erinrhewbooks.com/2017/07/a-tribute-to-papa-and-family.html" target="_blank">tribute to him</a>.<br />
<br />
Since July, it has been a series of firsts without this wonderful man. PaPa's first birthday, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas. Erin's incredibly strong and is working through these firsts one at a time. I'm so very proud of her. She wrote about missing and <a href="http://blog.erinrhewbooks.com/2017/11/thanksgiving-and-loss.html" target="_blank">loss at Thanksgiving</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm honored to get to stand beside her and hold her hand as she faces each day.<br />
<br />
<b>Across the Country</b><br />
At the end of June my parents made the trek across the country for their first visit! Of course we had to show them the land and introduce them to some of the finer things in the South. We started with a trip to <a href="http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Motor Speedway</a>!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH2E6DIcD8eSt5Eq3UY0Tgs0DEa69KrmcZdhZX1jzm5k6UtOHsb5PL3zMaNgW0m_lCJBr2HOaFBAjzsg7wdvpi9ClaF-mAkH3hQtIJA59TBel5UzpYThyfwj6-4G6N1ebJXKTMVr9_jA/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH2E6DIcD8eSt5Eq3UY0Tgs0DEa69KrmcZdhZX1jzm5k6UtOHsb5PL3zMaNgW0m_lCJBr2HOaFBAjzsg7wdvpi9ClaF-mAkH3hQtIJA59TBel5UzpYThyfwj6-4G6N1ebJXKTMVr9_jA/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte Motor Speedway!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2NHRxn634xcx1h61-SntqOsX3lctYgA7DRurSv_skg6YNSHXEPweld5aOrWyrV1E46PQBRZi6Ud0NkJaaA9S9A5lWHZlPvYROf2o5KmGcG6I_QyGbKsV0F7mUb-SpBs9Et3e9Iyv_Gw/s1600/IMG_0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2NHRxn634xcx1h61-SntqOsX3lctYgA7DRurSv_skg6YNSHXEPweld5aOrWyrV1E46PQBRZi6Ud0NkJaaA9S9A5lWHZlPvYROf2o5KmGcG6I_QyGbKsV0F7mUb-SpBs9Et3e9Iyv_Gw/s320/IMG_0531.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Speedway</td></tr>
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We got to take a bus tour of the grounds. Charlotte Motor Speedway has been the filming location of a ton of movies, including one of my favs <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby</i>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFwgtzGCKVmcAHfxa7G1gcyIwXbPsdVcoxux-R1_XSfU9B4nRqlbk9kDe-gw9fRb6iKc-0Y6orQ-nkBjDVowg6p0VAHQhLKM_9cPU43zP6Fu91_n3Ct56UX9wt21G82TmWvr_81gO9Gc/s1600/Speedway.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="599" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFwgtzGCKVmcAHfxa7G1gcyIwXbPsdVcoxux-R1_XSfU9B4nRqlbk9kDe-gw9fRb6iKc-0Y6orQ-nkBjDVowg6p0VAHQhLKM_9cPU43zP6Fu91_n3Ct56UX9wt21G82TmWvr_81gO9Gc/s320/Speedway.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin and Deek get to tour the track where<br />
Ricky Bobby drove!</td></tr>
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The Speedway also offers bus tours, so we got to take my folks around the track and learn some of the history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_FiGY7e5xxk7_QpLX0CLzfVJeGm86jvjU_EYwuKCTPL9kMMuJPc5JHpp7dq1HlDAaoeQHujUTwICLoMsZz9CAyf26UcySuM-cE8LqrEaLHrvYBHnmq4KQ6cS0gKTeKsc-ZcJ6kTZg_U/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_FiGY7e5xxk7_QpLX0CLzfVJeGm86jvjU_EYwuKCTPL9kMMuJPc5JHpp7dq1HlDAaoeQHujUTwICLoMsZz9CAyf26UcySuM-cE8LqrEaLHrvYBHnmq4KQ6cS0gKTeKsc-ZcJ6kTZg_U/s320/IMG_0543.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busses from the annual school bus race!</td></tr>
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Our little town has an adorable Fourth of July parade and gets all decked out to celebrate our nation's birthday.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ipa5g287HF4lBrsuuen1CukHmkafw7ki4SC4ptzje0qlBqHL5_yqztv7W4UoGE6A0X26dvg9o93boxZb9-9hre22eOJVlry-hkcv8vIcezu8Pouj0gKCY9Zl7hvTMjtj95xLWAdlT3Q/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ipa5g287HF4lBrsuuen1CukHmkafw7ki4SC4ptzje0qlBqHL5_yqztv7W4UoGE6A0X26dvg9o93boxZb9-9hre22eOJVlry-hkcv8vIcezu8Pouj0gKCY9Zl7hvTMjtj95xLWAdlT3Q/s320/IMG_0594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and his mom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEQRIUXEBaqhF7Zw1dMzWBVUHOrDdvchfskL-VxEx9ilcPKE6IpR9ZRwO7J9FVcDsFbmFxTWTcwm0FpFkmI8YfcgytGrEhOXTe0tRrcYpT_d2cYarroMhEjA86bCvJF3mIibHlOuE-UU/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEQRIUXEBaqhF7Zw1dMzWBVUHOrDdvchfskL-VxEx9ilcPKE6IpR9ZRwO7J9FVcDsFbmFxTWTcwm0FpFkmI8YfcgytGrEhOXTe0tRrcYpT_d2cYarroMhEjA86bCvJF3mIibHlOuE-UU/s320/IMG_0601.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek's Parents</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLafafMUOc2D2edDrjnhWY0qiolcSwDxxgIZKzCKOklrZw1mq5yw-iNendunXZUCYP84D3OdCiqAOPWX4FlQYISYxMAhWo3wDxBmXWeLnYoL8uNvPt0Oj2q6FdepvmyZCdansFN9feXA4/s1600/IMG_0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLafafMUOc2D2edDrjnhWY0qiolcSwDxxgIZKzCKOklrZw1mq5yw-iNendunXZUCYP84D3OdCiqAOPWX4FlQYISYxMAhWo3wDxBmXWeLnYoL8uNvPt0Oj2q6FdepvmyZCdansFN9feXA4/s320/IMG_0655.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting cozy with my love for a little fireworks action!</td></tr>
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Since August is my mom's birthday, we took her to one of our favorite restaurants for some fajitas and a little birthday fun!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl3rxAmmTm7fcsnTmwem6qh9UCHBdWw-PUGKUU35awv4nt4iOfq4GAkHde7MBTknpsDgZV7Bbll3jLz83KjIWpJSEurzd_LgULQj9u1qLEBbO5_XIvGT28hW4dz40DVFr4QF_Dsf9PJE/s1600/IMG_1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl3rxAmmTm7fcsnTmwem6qh9UCHBdWw-PUGKUU35awv4nt4iOfq4GAkHde7MBTknpsDgZV7Bbll3jLz83KjIWpJSEurzd_LgULQj9u1qLEBbO5_XIvGT28hW4dz40DVFr4QF_Dsf9PJE/s320/IMG_1778.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting some sombrero birthday love!</td></tr>
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We are lucky that our parents get along so incredibly well. Check out this motley crew! They look like they could be up to all kindsa mischief!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRJyN0_de9n8YbkqsOxCpN-e9h4KmlFuR-oNiUZHPEeOiXAckp-HSTBAFqYYKXbPAxfK2jhy2fgyP2FraSJyu0gYFf-HcS8zL7IKsz1DgY0-ZEP-NuzfO6OseQdYCmWHE6Q8lw22eL_U/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRJyN0_de9n8YbkqsOxCpN-e9h4KmlFuR-oNiUZHPEeOiXAckp-HSTBAFqYYKXbPAxfK2jhy2fgyP2FraSJyu0gYFf-HcS8zL7IKsz1DgY0-ZEP-NuzfO6OseQdYCmWHE6Q8lw22eL_U/s320/IMG_0584.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deek and Erin's Motley Crew</td></tr>
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<b>My bDay and Christmas!</b><br />
I'm incredibly lucky to get to get to spend my days with my best friend. And this season Erin and I have been busy as monkeys at a banana factory! To kick things off, Erin surprised me with a day trip to the beach!<br />
<br />
I am a TOTAL beach bum and fortunately for me, my bride is a total beach babe. Like sand and salt water we go perfect together.<br />
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Deek and Erin beachin' it in the</div>
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PNW and again in the South!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihb6lEBIlbPvAbpBqGSD36WkycrxXdnnj44b2PQukxkrad1JHEQ4ptGNjO0Lhu7ZqtHk2bP4n__LyxY9FNfDJRS1qBlltt7DbMRElE2FJaEDITzpZ-uQCasG5iplS9zTgxXUBug94CvsQ/s1600/IMG_4207-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihb6lEBIlbPvAbpBqGSD36WkycrxXdnnj44b2PQukxkrad1JHEQ4ptGNjO0Lhu7ZqtHk2bP4n__LyxY9FNfDJRS1qBlltt7DbMRElE2FJaEDITzpZ-uQCasG5iplS9zTgxXUBug94CvsQ/s320/IMG_4207-COLLAGE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beach babe and some java!</td></tr>
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<br />
Time for some Christmas cheer!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhltk-ay3deF_hxY2dguWJIMQ-EQa33fLNCaXQI-qV4_nVe7kOCkgrDam2NX7xfdC2LbR_vrQM2-UWAtXKEhy4slDTC6T82ESfijeeVdMNbLWa_cUV-x12XADEzNd2W5aJWeDg5ngVM0/s1600/IMG_4313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="656" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhltk-ay3deF_hxY2dguWJIMQ-EQa33fLNCaXQI-qV4_nVe7kOCkgrDam2NX7xfdC2LbR_vrQM2-UWAtXKEhy4slDTC6T82ESfijeeVdMNbLWa_cUV-x12XADEzNd2W5aJWeDg5ngVM0/s320/IMG_4313.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the smile on the Bearded Sleigh Master!<br />
No judgement, having that beautiful woman on my lap<br />
makes me smile too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxGfqQNpTgHUvTVdtVt2h9HNjahnxe3SrtXNJTNFWXLTVv5JI4uLQit20GPspxxImGk4endlvcmIOMZ7v0nEfpBwUhfqGKAHzktvIvaG6JwsOHYhkQW0ZoeUhqGL6maJR6Cs3VoSOGD8/s1600/IMG_4158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxGfqQNpTgHUvTVdtVt2h9HNjahnxe3SrtXNJTNFWXLTVv5JI4uLQit20GPspxxImGk4endlvcmIOMZ7v0nEfpBwUhfqGKAHzktvIvaG6JwsOHYhkQW0ZoeUhqGL6maJR6Cs3VoSOGD8/s320/IMG_4158.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the lights in our neighborhood!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju36ysxJEbxXJNO2q0OjaqM85wxAs-wro6ZrUQc9kBDt-9MUPTSRtHO6letFvj6B_Kq53QBF8ZSJt2fNerIQoiCe16Bu972s7tcnYYV_q6tC8Qcohl0c-Nj3-gCm8tLu21d6XkmUJWeVs/s1600/IMG_4216-ANIMATION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="890" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju36ysxJEbxXJNO2q0OjaqM85wxAs-wro6ZrUQc9kBDt-9MUPTSRtHO6letFvj6B_Kq53QBF8ZSJt2fNerIQoiCe16Bu972s7tcnYYV_q6tC8Qcohl0c-Nj3-gCm8tLu21d6XkmUJWeVs/s320/IMG_4216-ANIMATION.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This woman is so much fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONuTZzih06ekDYzelr_hHrWGnsMXS_00junp5dyd1yENmJr0qTnRP9-WMTues_dFfa9zWBC1jnBd-lndEQYTT_UsyXvZwxF-YrxGAlEuwAU05WycaZ7TAzgUthjckWK-p9E-hIfjmOSU/s1600/IMG_4236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1028" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONuTZzih06ekDYzelr_hHrWGnsMXS_00junp5dyd1yENmJr0qTnRP9-WMTues_dFfa9zWBC1jnBd-lndEQYTT_UsyXvZwxF-YrxGAlEuwAU05WycaZ7TAzgUthjckWK-p9E-hIfjmOSU/s320/IMG_4236.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting on our dark side as we check out the latest Star Wars flick!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcrMEtdzIqsMNawEl1Sh6M8x5PQh1zWFVLICMcGfL3Rhp3dhFkGD77eeHtWhpbzbZRRh9f_BozLDxsZ8jEbIj5NmGPvmB7uHO3h0KiCORGd_-be6ILCI9EJ5ht5i9YbqRvBFuQsQxaBE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-21+at+1.06.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcrMEtdzIqsMNawEl1Sh6M8x5PQh1zWFVLICMcGfL3Rhp3dhFkGD77eeHtWhpbzbZRRh9f_BozLDxsZ8jEbIj5NmGPvmB7uHO3h0KiCORGd_-be6ILCI9EJ5ht5i9YbqRvBFuQsQxaBE/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-12-21+at+1.06.54+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insane light displays!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa8fPQWNJ8epBPXZ4buIk5cZiSnMJvjC1Hu_tGtDz5WhYvLgKHgqk_EhvXGziF73KWxbPzobsMZTo0sA2FXfjdpb_SX5iZzfXGUel6MlHqUV2FsBkJZvfDTpE0fbGHW2DpWheLxvG7v4/s320/IMG_4366-COLLAGE.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spending the holiday with my love!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa8fPQWNJ8epBPXZ4buIk5cZiSnMJvjC1Hu_tGtDz5WhYvLgKHgqk_EhvXGziF73KWxbPzobsMZTo0sA2FXfjdpb_SX5iZzfXGUel6MlHqUV2FsBkJZvfDTpE0fbGHW2DpWheLxvG7v4/s1600/IMG_4366-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzjD_gISAcB3LWRkFmVH_TYdnGgg6qVXjnF_jH0ycZPGDFpjDh823_hS-hghyphenhyphen2ggBcCQC9jaVnNsLJUQCYAkI1cPHvKUFlvVn3P7vdCCVgMSbnAzbQrvdYC8IlT_gjZzlEmCULu8NxNg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-21+at+1.06.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1084" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzjD_gISAcB3LWRkFmVH_TYdnGgg6qVXjnF_jH0ycZPGDFpjDh823_hS-hghyphenhyphen2ggBcCQC9jaVnNsLJUQCYAkI1cPHvKUFlvVn3P7vdCCVgMSbnAzbQrvdYC8IlT_gjZzlEmCULu8NxNg/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-12-21+at+1.06.25+PM.png" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simply breathtaking!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfnKBcuKMBp_llRvbbrJar7XVY_DErR2VKzp2ee6P30vPR_JVYjo2kd76r9xGc1FbAJ6GypVNwxfwnj6YJgqJZHi6fFpjfJPNnwQ8tmnun77l07IHv12W676K2s2-uBg59kXean0G13Y/s1600/IMG_4387-ANIMATION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="808" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfnKBcuKMBp_llRvbbrJar7XVY_DErR2VKzp2ee6P30vPR_JVYjo2kd76r9xGc1FbAJ6GypVNwxfwnj6YJgqJZHi6fFpjfJPNnwQ8tmnun77l07IHv12W676K2s2-uBg59kXean0G13Y/s320/IMG_4387-ANIMATION.gif" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin always makes me smile!</td></tr>
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I'm so beyond blessed to get to spend my days with this amazing woman. She makes my heart happy and has taught my soul to dance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvVtfrgtxJp3bBoNJngsyBURxmfGL7EinnUjuLybaQITrmGYxnOOUUMVcKZDfi-6-oM-IiirWJ1cHhvS2ZuxnhNnRmnqFHVhwea6QsKRDeMw5v1hBclvbEb-IBnpDI-Iqx15DumEvfOM/s1600/IMG_3424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvVtfrgtxJp3bBoNJngsyBURxmfGL7EinnUjuLybaQITrmGYxnOOUUMVcKZDfi-6-oM-IiirWJ1cHhvS2ZuxnhNnRmnqFHVhwea6QsKRDeMw5v1hBclvbEb-IBnpDI-Iqx15DumEvfOM/s320/IMG_3424.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#Happiness</td></tr>
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Merry Christmas to all and until next time, Rhew on!Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-1996887081959016892017-07-26T01:00:00.000-07:002019-01-06T12:19:25.763-08:00KD Proctor - Meet Me Under the Stars<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23031" src="http://indiesage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MeetMe_Tour.png" height="236" width="640" /></div>
<h1>
Meet Me Under the Stars</h1>
by KD Proctor
<strong>Publication Date:</strong> July 18, 2017
<strong>Genres:</strong> New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-22947" src="http://indiesage.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/IMG_0613-645x1024.png" height="700" width="441" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Purchase: </strong><a href="http://amzn.to/2usMQms">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/2tkya9n">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/2vvwSop">Kobo</a> | <a href="http://apple.co/2t9mdz5">iBooks</a> | <a href="http://bit.ly/2ut77Zf">Smashwords</a></div>
<br />
When ratings for her popular DIY show start to circle the drain after the sudden death of her sister, Charlotte “Charlie” Conti has only one mission—to plan a comeback. But her sister had other plans. As part of the will, Charlie must work with *him* to create a memorial scholarship in her sister’s memory. The same *him* Charlie fell in love with three years ago while working at a summer camp.
<br />
<br />
The same *him* she dumped, to protect his heart.<br />
<br />
Sexy, British player, Nate Walsh, has sixty days to find a new job or he’ll be deported back to England where he’s no longer welcome. He doesn’t have time to work on a memorial scholarship with *her*. The same *her* who shattered his heart without explanation or warning.<br />
<br />
The same *her* he’s never gotten over.
Unable to agree on the specifics of the scholarship, Nate and Charlie challenge each other to a winner-takes-all competition. They both know the only way to win is to turn up the heat and tempt one another with the one thing they both want: each other. But as sparks fly, their true feelings resurface. Nate and Charlie must decide if their love is worth the effort and if they can overcome their disastrous past mistakes to spend forever together.
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34839486-meet-me-under-the-stars"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-708" src="http://indiesage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/goodreads-badge-add-38px.jpg" height="38" width="120" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
About KD Proctor</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w-K0sUZvEiNEdhzH4JBCx4yV0N8bSj-SiQA4zrRaw0iY7nkZ90HemZ4hBbZIhbbVHp9fs4clL8fK2HDdtyTyPD3MHaNLbRszqtmgcsEQZo3kigbGOHMLwtRlWPsxo_0CSHmKW-zU-_I/s1600/KD-Proctor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w-K0sUZvEiNEdhzH4JBCx4yV0N8bSj-SiQA4zrRaw0iY7nkZ90HemZ4hBbZIhbbVHp9fs4clL8fK2HDdtyTyPD3MHaNLbRszqtmgcsEQZo3kigbGOHMLwtRlWPsxo_0CSHmKW-zU-_I/s320/KD-Proctor.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
KD Proctor loved college so much that when it came time to graduate, she didn’t want to leave. Trading in her textbooks for student handbooks and policy manuals, she began a career in College Student Personnel and she fulfilled her wish to stay on a college campus forever. She always joked that one day she’d write a book about college students, never expecting that to come true!<br />
<br />
KD lives in West Central, Minnesota with her husband and fur-kids. She likes to write fun twists on the usual tropes that we all love. Her characters are smart, funny, and always swoony. And yes. They always get their happily ever after.
Before being accepted for publication, MEET ME UNDER THE STARS (formerly titled IF YOU’RE EVER IN TOWN) was the 2016 YARWA winner for the New Adult category.
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kdproctor.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kd_proctor/">Pinterest</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/kdpwrites">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kd_proctor/">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kelleywrites">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34839486-meet-me-under-the-stars">Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="5440a3541232" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3541232/" id="rcwidget_agbxluud" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://indiesage.com/reveal-meet-stars-kd-proctor/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15778" src="http://indiesage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IndieSageBlogger.png" height="143" width="600" /></a></div>
Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-42716707209019034192017-05-31T16:42:00.001-07:002019-01-06T12:19:46.898-08:00How to Create an Audiobook - Part 4Welcome back! This is the final installment of my How to Create an Audiobook series. If you haven't already reviewed the previous posts, check them out:<br />
* <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a><br />
* <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a><br />
* <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a><br />
<br />
By now, you have recorded your first chapter. Woop! Congrats! Let's see if we can make it even more interesting by adding in a bit of intro music. There are several places to get free clips you can use, but some of my favorites are:<br />
* <a href="http://soundbible.com/" target="_blank">Sound Bible</a><br />
* <a href="http://www.zapsplat.com/sound-effect-category/music/" target="_blank">Zap Splat</a><br />
* <a href="https://www.freestockmusic.com/article/free-easy-listening-raising-audio/" target="_blank">Free Stock Music</a><br />
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Make sure your clip isn't more than 7-10 seconds long. This is an audiobook, not a musical. Once you've found your intro, create a new track.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzwiuUUafnZl0ZsXfzEKjrzqGq7EcLTcAJXsUYNsVezgZEknwuSsqNr9_GXTDpvqlQMmCDeLns3yKq-WSFwEDpUPUTn0StAtZzcZLxu2JZn1wgVxJ4uGspR5uHY9o4T4yti0iOpLg6ZI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-31+at+12.25.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="1600" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzwiuUUafnZl0ZsXfzEKjrzqGq7EcLTcAJXsUYNsVezgZEknwuSsqNr9_GXTDpvqlQMmCDeLns3yKq-WSFwEDpUPUTn0StAtZzcZLxu2JZn1wgVxJ4uGspR5uHY9o4T4yti0iOpLg6ZI/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-31+at+12.25.14+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
For the Input type, choose <i>No Input</i> and click <i>Create.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
From Finder, drag your file to the new track.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_3fxxIg83DmLnojXNrMDO5JTMp3_w5h59NbJkuPwtsY2AZkhxociFCY8tOBEayxlJJB2BNyCf97InO9SmJf7U7URLdT__qFaX18xon6Jw7wbrG9yOdBEaXcdlljiK8W4ydKXTnCh2So/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-31+at+12.26.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="1360" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir_3fxxIg83DmLnojXNrMDO5JTMp3_w5h59NbJkuPwtsY2AZkhxociFCY8tOBEayxlJJB2BNyCf97InO9SmJf7U7URLdT__qFaX18xon6Jw7wbrG9yOdBEaXcdlljiK8W4ydKXTnCh2So/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-31+at+12.26.13+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
My file is called Intro-Wind-Mark (see the image).<br />
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Replicate the Chapter 1 track and create an introduction for your book. All that will go into the introduction is the name of the book and your name.<br />
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Here are the first few paragraphs from <i><a href="http://www.deekrhewbooks.com/uploads/5/7/6/2/5762130/deek_rhew_-_norman_and_the_demon.mp3" target="_blank">Norman and the Demon</a></i> complete with intro.<br />
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I didn't have a lot of time to create this chapter and when I go to make the final version, I'll do a couple of things differently. First, notice there's a lot of popping. This is because I'm too close to the microphone. Next time, I'll move it away a bit. Also, there are a couple of times I munged words. When this happens, pause, and reread. The munged words can be edited out.<br />
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Nothing quite like examples of what not to do! :-)<br />
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Okay, intro, music, and chapter 1 complete. Time to upload!<br />
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<b>ACX</b><br />
ACX manages the audio content that is sold on Amazon, iTunes, and Audible.<br />
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Create an ACX account:<br />
Go to www.ACX.com and enter your name or ISBN into their search bar:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDLWa52wxI5avSbLzP5E1Jof4DFeElBCrJI8wYd3JBjpeheiVFp4RLRoTuyDBcpmWpg0wDF3GheyH1PTDEDbxTNmMyhom2S7MP7DBFl6dxjhR8ZOVL3q59T7lCEkZzhjSSkLjQuztecw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.18.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDLWa52wxI5avSbLzP5E1Jof4DFeElBCrJI8wYd3JBjpeheiVFp4RLRoTuyDBcpmWpg0wDF3GheyH1PTDEDbxTNmMyhom2S7MP7DBFl6dxjhR8ZOVL3q59T7lCEkZzhjSSkLjQuztecw/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.18.54+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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With a little luck, they'll find your books:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR4Z2oNZ23N95vuyhbNzw6ygzwNMIxJNbbSfCFeGERME5BppNxo7sKRjLDYJmzEok4Szji35mQX-S3p6VBaNhR3lHupJ4KSNGFyNczT0BXH4LXkspIQyyqn6Aay1KjcP5ov13it1IAmM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.19.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR4Z2oNZ23N95vuyhbNzw6ygzwNMIxJNbbSfCFeGERME5BppNxo7sKRjLDYJmzEok4Szji35mQX-S3p6VBaNhR3lHupJ4KSNGFyNczT0BXH4LXkspIQyyqn6Aay1KjcP5ov13it1IAmM/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.19.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Choose your book and click <i>This is My Book, </i>then click <i>I already have audio files for this book, and I want to sell it.</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizetPzRquTZ6fA94jOUjdDDX-EMlu_B1BezGeDAqW_N7SVuqqKAENtsfjrgxTNibbt2RQrkCARIIn8RPc8lD5ppD65c4zI5FdFLZbQVo48Lk-36WSPqOyPFIjrGE9AzaZP0u2DACh_CiY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.19.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizetPzRquTZ6fA94jOUjdDDX-EMlu_B1BezGeDAqW_N7SVuqqKAENtsfjrgxTNibbt2RQrkCARIIn8RPc8lD5ppD65c4zI5FdFLZbQVo48Lk-36WSPqOyPFIjrGE9AzaZP0u2DACh_CiY/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.19.24+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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You will be prompted to log into Amazon. After that, complete the ACX registration. I was prompted to choose my book again, and I had to re-choose <i>I already have audio files.</i> Select your distribution preferences.<br />
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After that the site walks you through uploading your book.<br />
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Congrats, my friends! You now have a published audiobook!<br />
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I hope this tutorial has been helpful. Let me know if you have any questions.<br />
<br />
Adventure on,<br />
<br />
DeekDeek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-70298242833949795842017-05-23T16:40:00.002-07:002019-01-06T12:20:01.120-08:00How to Create an Audiobook - Part 3This is the second post in my "Creating An Audiobook" series. If you haven't read <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2,</a> start there.<br />
<br />
In the previous post, we got most of GarageBand set up. There are still a couple of steps, then we are going to create some tracks and record your first chapter!<br />
<br />
Chapter 1<br />
At this point, there should be an <i>Audio 1</i> track and a <i>Master Track</i> in your GarageBand project. Double-click "Audio 1" and change it to "Chapter 1."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa2XFY2PFG68239LjHVzVorbvuAF83U7urGhtcu-7jInlWn_osu1n2bI6twGOMC4fIcuzI10lbtAuTOyweXElqKqZGLn9cv5EO0lOCwDcAgvYTfTju-_7Twxas-JVyxSZ5F6ZN7BYw9U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+5.56.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa2XFY2PFG68239LjHVzVorbvuAF83U7urGhtcu-7jInlWn_osu1n2bI6twGOMC4fIcuzI10lbtAuTOyweXElqKqZGLn9cv5EO0lOCwDcAgvYTfTju-_7Twxas-JVyxSZ5F6ZN7BYw9U/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+5.56.00+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rename the default track from Audio 1 to Chapter 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the controls section at the bottom, there are three buttons:<br />
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Turn off Master so that the button are shaded like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAho1WP82VTeFQqj3V7N3D24hoKMyTj_S73Q7ORansPbBBVuLxYbatJRVPZ2zdH9mf4nys6SbJnIN0_HqAgIgR0_xrIBosE9RjVUcW2PkegwPJGK2jvdfKxTwjaprTObMbXFG9_MqGxg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.00.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAho1WP82VTeFQqj3V7N3D24hoKMyTj_S73Q7ORansPbBBVuLxYbatJRVPZ2zdH9mf4nys6SbJnIN0_HqAgIgR0_xrIBosE9RjVUcW2PkegwPJGK2jvdfKxTwjaprTObMbXFG9_MqGxg/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-23+at+6.00.17+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
This will open up a whole new controls section:<br />
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<br />
Under <i>Recording Settings</i>, check:<br />
* Feedback Protection<br />
* Noise Gate<br />
* Master Echo<br />
* Master Reverb<br />
Click on the <i>Compressor</i> button too. When you are done, the settings should look like this:<br />
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<br />
Next, change the <i>Compressor, EQ, </i>and <i>Sends</i> to the following:<br />
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<br />
Woop! Okay, our chapter is ready to roll!<br />
<br />
In Part 4, we're going to walk through uploading your audio files to ACX. Let's make a couple of quick settings changes as per their requirements.<br />
<br />
Click the Master Track, and click the <i>Limiter</i> button. This will bring up the limiter settings.<br />
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<br />
Change the <i>Gain</i> to +2.0dB and the <i>Output Level</i> to -3.0dB. This will limit the peaks of your recording. Close the Limiter menu.<br />
<br />
Next, click the right-side of the <i>Exciter</i> button so the type menu pops up.<br />
<br />
Choose <i>Dynamics-> Noise Gate</i><br />
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<br />
Click the <i>Noise Gate</i> button and change it to -65dB (ACX requires -60 at least, so we'll go a little above and beyond. Click the power button next to <i>Factory Default</i> so that it is highlighted:<br />
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<br />
<br />
Alright, let's do this thang!<br />
<br />
<b>Recording</b><br />
In Part 1, we discussed practicing recording and listening. Here are a couple of more tips and tricks:<br />
* When whispering, try leaning into your microphone<br />
* When yelling either pull back or look off to the side.<br />
* If you need to, practice reading through the chapter before recording. Be sure you can pronounce all the words (names can be especially tricky).<br />
* Speak clearly<br />
* Try to make as few mistakes as possible.<br />
* Try and limit your breath and lip-smacking sounds. These will need to be edited out.<br />
<br />
If you make a mistake, it's not a big deal. Don't stop. Pause for a couple of seconds so that the mistake is obvious in the recording track, then try again. Mistakes will happen. That's what editing is for!<br />
<br />
Okay, you're ready to roll. Click <i>Chapter 1</i>, hit the record button!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Editing</b><br />
Woop! You've got your first track down and now we're going to make it purty!<br />
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Un-click the equalizer button and choose the editing button (the little scissors).<br />
<br />
When you first see the track, it'll look like this. Kinda squished and difficult to see what's what.<br />
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Fortunately, you can spread the track out. On the right-hand side, this little slider bar will let you expand and contract your view.<br />
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Make it nice and wide, so you can see the nuances of your recording.<br />
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<br />
This is the beginning of my recording where I was opening the beginning of <i>Norman and the Demon. </i>Highlight this section and delete it.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Drag the track, so that the audio starts at the beginning of the timeline. Now, listen to the track and find, and remove, inhalations, smacking, so forth.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Here's an example of me taking a breath. With this tool, add or remove blank space between words, adjust volume levels, remove mistakes, so on.<br />
<br />
That's it for this section. If you're ready, move on to the <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-4.html" target="_blank">final tutorial</a>.<br />
<br />
Have fun and adventure on!<br />
<br />
DeekDeek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2451704133427280745.post-64593993529324234432017-05-16T15:42:00.002-07:002019-01-06T12:20:16.303-08:00How to Create an Audiobook - Part 2This is the second post in my "Creating An Audiobook" series. If you haven't read <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>, start there.<br />
<br />
As I said before, I'm walking through how to do this on a Mac, and the recording software is GarageBand. So, let's get GarageBand all set up!<br />
<br />
<b>Create a new project:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Open the app, choose File -> New and choose <i>Empty Project</i> as the type of project.<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODUwsUV1NSy8lJqBFfM8_2YQOdSfW2orxCQMp2eucaJarVGnTN8AS7-q_GNhVG_SoTeXEKSahyvF5Bb5lDeP-yVZCpvPsfjzDqPISYgqGiQp8YkU9GwImb9mTeo1gUTffukMbMp2QRWU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.07.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODUwsUV1NSy8lJqBFfM8_2YQOdSfW2orxCQMp2eucaJarVGnTN8AS7-q_GNhVG_SoTeXEKSahyvF5Bb5lDeP-yVZCpvPsfjzDqPISYgqGiQp8YkU9GwImb9mTeo1gUTffukMbMp2QRWU/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.07.16+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Project</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
On the next screen, choose <i>Create.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uDUQc_K-PMeI9sMUH6mKfDjP_m-zUdLna-K4CY5Q0tM5CdslJKhSrbExrB-c3bjL0STFbVR9JuCpi5e82CBJ_UiJtwkBGchxqm02C0AwCIwyMf1av7zDWxfy3YScN1a9pxdRamA_OUI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.07.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uDUQc_K-PMeI9sMUH6mKfDjP_m-zUdLna-K4CY5Q0tM5CdslJKhSrbExrB-c3bjL0STFbVR9JuCpi5e82CBJ_UiJtwkBGchxqm02C0AwCIwyMf1av7zDWxfy3YScN1a9pxdRamA_OUI/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.07.40+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Create Project</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
GarageBand will start with a single sample track.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw3_ihnUm6egRA-W2ftmfWa_UqYygmsoR73e0Io0dMZdG6bNSNqoECC44U6zf-XgChPMahoeugZiCl_g8lB3ViOe2FiS4OGkG5Z9fJZq50-Zw-n2-UMVajsZWn9WdcLYYXrdFHpujpIk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.09.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw3_ihnUm6egRA-W2ftmfWa_UqYygmsoR73e0Io0dMZdG6bNSNqoECC44U6zf-XgChPMahoeugZiCl_g8lB3ViOe2FiS4OGkG5Z9fJZq50-Zw-n2-UMVajsZWn9WdcLYYXrdFHpujpIk/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.09.18+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Sample Track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From the <i>Track</i> menu, choose <i>Show Master Track.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7agHJKXzfxdahJYMvWAYVH51baSxTkWqcLZ0iTrlACR_NGiFLj3-JYUhDn_-iErwjZGYKCDg7vmuNULMGyf7VXGWCHZ_uU8bU_BW6OzzUCiUKZ91I5Vy0fqGeMxhzCk_hV_Wk0qMuXho/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.10.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7agHJKXzfxdahJYMvWAYVH51baSxTkWqcLZ0iTrlACR_NGiFLj3-JYUhDn_-iErwjZGYKCDg7vmuNULMGyf7VXGWCHZ_uU8bU_BW6OzzUCiUKZ91I5Vy0fqGeMxhzCk_hV_Wk0qMuXho/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.10.41+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Show Master Track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From the <i>View</i> menu, choose <i>Show Smart Controls.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDwPWAgldfoPxXTD9yx4izEFbc2zhyphenhyphenJV5OBsO6VqQVZmcIfoi_TQLwlMwZdt_v0iY2cZZ9aoNKPUbPPAVMQk-zqV5VCayRZnn-Md-HyGlevT94gxBta0SWipgMxO7zmWEQaihzAUoYB8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.12.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDwPWAgldfoPxXTD9yx4izEFbc2zhyphenhyphenJV5OBsO6VqQVZmcIfoi_TQLwlMwZdt_v0iY2cZZ9aoNKPUbPPAVMQk-zqV5VCayRZnn-Md-HyGlevT94gxBta0SWipgMxO7zmWEQaihzAUoYB8/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.12.25+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Show Smart Controls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Click the music note / metronome icon, and choose <i>Time.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh7LdIff3YtwFwOVDQHaNPRaeMgxnGWd9T0G5dASajKvYssLT0f15MbJCz8YzkgBwHj2f7bUkPXDAV0_5nO0ZhskzZ8LPk_LGKCu1xYzGyjEx_xqYz_X3m1MQRFnlxKbZYqXLmbYZhl4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.16.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwh7LdIff3YtwFwOVDQHaNPRaeMgxnGWd9T0G5dASajKvYssLT0f15MbJCz8YzkgBwHj2f7bUkPXDAV0_5nO0ZhskzZ8LPk_LGKCu1xYzGyjEx_xqYz_X3m1MQRFnlxKbZYqXLmbYZhl4/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.16.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Show Time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Turn off each of the repeat, tuning fork, etc. buttons.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a7yKCa66NFC-F064U3bM46tX97-z-Reh-XD2UFnbp7riA11HBTSB3D52RwS2tFzTnDhd8cf3Jn0eX3nWEsIW4jQ1vOkSKZ3ut6Ng4LtWTpDgPDmlrxGUILT4OOXBHEB9Jdu2BuFK3FA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.18.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6a7yKCa66NFC-F064U3bM46tX97-z-Reh-XD2UFnbp7riA11HBTSB3D52RwS2tFzTnDhd8cf3Jn0eX3nWEsIW4jQ1vOkSKZ3ut6Ng4LtWTpDgPDmlrxGUILT4OOXBHEB9Jdu2BuFK3FA/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.18.30+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Controls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Click the <i>Mix</i> menu and choose <i>Show Automation.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTGrR6JNHM1PZkA5MLtDysUFclJFmYOfJW9Yt2B5RoghwT67SIyeY9cCob_uD-uAuQ4xocyaxPd9Ve2RDTI9JW0Vjb8jwgIOrUBN7Sy-ATAz_D8nLKPJrXJ03vFkHv286paNGJhP9IOQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.25.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTGrR6JNHM1PZkA5MLtDysUFclJFmYOfJW9Yt2B5RoghwT67SIyeY9cCob_uD-uAuQ4xocyaxPd9Ve2RDTI9JW0Vjb8jwgIOrUBN7Sy-ATAz_D8nLKPJrXJ03vFkHv286paNGJhP9IOQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.25.34+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Automation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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At this point, the top half of your screen should look like this:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorhm7JAEIZwlmxHMSPfTDU_u9fG-G0R5H6Xnz3iUd2jY8IhUuDc6AqGXPkBU0-5danCkQ6Tx91Bhxa0PRyyePMJFmI3Txad0-cLd4OqyNN_w1TRMITiukPYNItA0EpAdnBTr7xpj-jdE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.29.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorhm7JAEIZwlmxHMSPfTDU_u9fG-G0R5H6Xnz3iUd2jY8IhUuDc6AqGXPkBU0-5danCkQ6Tx91Bhxa0PRyyePMJFmI3Txad0-cLd4OqyNN_w1TRMITiukPYNItA0EpAdnBTr7xpj-jdE/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.29.56+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Ta Da!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Settings:</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Okay, let's start messing with the settings.</div>
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Click the <i>i</i> to show the <i>Smart Controls.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGabWRQ2A2QrYNJvIsz6PGGt0y_0uxvmnGWvMoiryL5xuS4TQ26OBtZ3LPL14GM7KRQwBMjR_dCV7LcLIkyjYhu7D-3SkGH4bU88BCdPi-sgvAiTDzLQP1a8i4G223iQGxsbwvGdGG8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.29.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGabWRQ2A2QrYNJvIsz6PGGt0y_0uxvmnGWvMoiryL5xuS4TQ26OBtZ3LPL14GM7KRQwBMjR_dCV7LcLIkyjYhu7D-3SkGH4bU88BCdPi-sgvAiTDzLQP1a8i4G223iQGxsbwvGdGG8/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.29.46+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Smart Controls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Click the Master Track and click the <i>Effects</i> button.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAgn_SbD_or5hjZN6yU_HYvVscTXqOOymWSI5owolOeN9ubfZZGYIwgscfZI1ztGHOUBoFNziaFiGEDL61uoSTY8BjI7hcgxWoy81deogCNwS7_8I0zMrSQrYkxKaMd6GuLHL97mHU5Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-14+at+5.42.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAgn_SbD_or5hjZN6yU_HYvVscTXqOOymWSI5owolOeN9ubfZZGYIwgscfZI1ztGHOUBoFNziaFiGEDL61uoSTY8BjI7hcgxWoy81deogCNwS7_8I0zMrSQrYkxKaMd6GuLHL97mHU5Q/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-14+at+5.42.54+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Effects</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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For now, set the <i>Time, Repeat, Color, </i>and <i>Volume</i> to the above settings.</div>
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Next, click the <i>Output</i> button.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGoDi8K0lFQ2B1oYC_kBBoCMZcwiYNVM4sxcmj6j6_X9Isyspn3cPU4Y4niEp8Y2cmJS4hCVVFFXihL5x5C8swvAEOkgmMdePqrsaMQIvZSxQNVsD7o2q9YFlZAwO1-7dWilqIlzgAXY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-14+at+5.45.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGoDi8K0lFQ2B1oYC_kBBoCMZcwiYNVM4sxcmj6j6_X9Isyspn3cPU4Y4niEp8Y2cmJS4hCVVFFXihL5x5C8swvAEOkgmMdePqrsaMQIvZSxQNVsD7o2q9YFlZAwO1-7dWilqIlzgAXY/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-14+at+5.45.34+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Output</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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For now, set the <i>Squeeze, Bright,</i> so on, to the above values. By default, the <i>Compression</i> and <i>Limiter</i> switches are turned off. Turn them both on.</div>
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Ready? Awesome! Let's do some sampling!</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Sample Recording</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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The rewind, fast-forward, stop, play, and record buttons are at the top of the screen.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJpPTjj-CwzcrsUhxUKJkLbfplMDWx7KzRM0BgIsCOdRAwIJ53noQ5hMj9CW6LWaIiMB1e2qW8GsZDt_hyCFf8Vdh7NgbS-r1saYSkTL1bkvumKGQFqIZbsQP5u_-it0V2tnzuPwknKU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.32.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJpPTjj-CwzcrsUhxUKJkLbfplMDWx7KzRM0BgIsCOdRAwIJ53noQ5hMj9CW6LWaIiMB1e2qW8GsZDt_hyCFf8Vdh7NgbS-r1saYSkTL1bkvumKGQFqIZbsQP5u_-it0V2tnzuPwknKU/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.32.44+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Control Buttons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Plug your microphone into your computer. Click <i>Audio 1</i>, and then click the <i>Record</i> bubble. Say a few words into your microphone and click <i>Stop.</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3KFpS1iTr1a4yAK58PsIV7DTZvkWWQrpdMRZte-WBMBefpI2v8jaEyCe3jqLVUWSdJtDGV_GdvgmgSCTszD1zFLj8XyQSp97v3YM1Z0IdJUu3Ldet7BlQF_n4CKwvmgKud9K0cJOyAY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.41.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3KFpS1iTr1a4yAK58PsIV7DTZvkWWQrpdMRZte-WBMBefpI2v8jaEyCe3jqLVUWSdJtDGV_GdvgmgSCTszD1zFLj8XyQSp97v3YM1Z0IdJUu3Ldet7BlQF_n4CKwvmgKud9K0cJOyAY/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-05-16+at+12.41.16+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GarageBand - Laying Down a Track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wut the wut? Did we just lay down a bit of track? Oh, heck yeah! Plug in your headset, drag the record needle back, and click <i>Play.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Woop!</div>
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Okay, now comes the fun part. Start tweaking the different levels until your voice sounds just right. You'll need to practice making your voice louder or softer too. Just be sure that anything you do during practice, you can repeat when you are recording your audiobook.</div>
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Delete what you recorded and now record a short passage from your book. Give yourself 30-60 seconds or longer of track to play with. Restart the record needle, and click the Master Track. Now start the playback and begin monkeying with the settings. Keep going until you are happy with the sound of your voice.</div>
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Also, try speaking at different speeds. Pay attention to the details and listen and re-listen to the track. Record a whole chapter and practice being the different characters. You don't have to overact, in fact, don't. Just don't. Change your inflection and tone, but unless you are a practiced actor, don't do any more than say the words as you hear your characters say them.</div>
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Alright, next we're going to add some intro music and record your book! If you're ready, move on to <a href="http://blog.deekrhewbooks.com/2017/05/how-to-create-audiobook-part-3.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>.</div>
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Until next time, adventure on!</div>
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Deek</div>
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<br />Deek Rhewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04478599534927509592noreply@blogger.com0