Good Luck or Bad Luck?

Today when I pulled into the drive-thru line at my first stop of the day to get my daily dose of caffeine, a black cat ran across my path.  Me, being an animal lover, am always taken off guard when a domestic animal of any sort is out roaming around.  I have to quell the urge to stop my car immediately and try and rescue them.  I once stopped my car and picked up a German Shepherd that was standing in the middle of my street.  I took him home and my husband said, "Why did you kidnap the neighbors dog?"  I took said dog back and deposited him right where I found him, but on the side of the road.  I didn't want my good intentions to get me in trouble for dog-napping.

Anyway, after the black cat disappeared into the night, I started thinking about black cats and why some people think a black cat crossing your path is a sign of bad luck.  Of course I knew nothing on the subject so I had to do a little research.  Turns out it dates back to the 1560's when stories of witches and trickery were running rampant. 

One story stated where a man and his son were walking and a black cat crossed their path.  They threw stones at it and finally, it limped away to find rescue in its owners house, who was a well known witch in the area.  The next day, the witch came out of her house, bruised and limping which started the rumor that a witch can transform themselves into a black cat so they could go unnoticed as they prowled the streets during the Salem Witch Hunts.

Today I don't think many people buy into the superstition but I have heard animal shelters refuse to adopt out black cats around Halloween for reasons I'd rather not think about.  It is interesting to note in some cultures a black cat is given as a wedding gift which is thought to bring good luck to the bride. 

Regardless, I personally believe a person creates their own luck.  I has nothing to do with a black cat, a lucky penny or breaking a mirror.  I hope your day is filled with happiness and a little luck.

R. K. Avery
www.rkaverybooks.com

Best Laid Plans

Yesterday I started my day at 4:30 when the alarm went off.  I drug myself out of bed and got dressed and ready for work.  I always try to stop a moment in the morning and give our 4 dogs a treat of some sort.  They don't eat breakfast until my husband gets up a couple hours later.

On my way to work I was yawning and exhausted.  I promised myself when I got off work later in the day, I was going straight home, putting on my pajamas, curling up with a good novel, and taking it easy, maybe even falling asleep early.  The perfect evening in my book.

Shortly before I left work my son called and said he needed two pairs of basketball shorts by today for Gym class.  Okay, I can swing by Champs, get the shorts and still be home in plenty of time to do what I planned to do.  Of course once I went to Champs, which was next door to Cold Stone Creamery, it would be a sin not to stop in and get an ice cream, wouldn't it? 

Okay, back in the car on my way home.  My phone rings.  It's my daughter.  She is searching the house high and low for something and asked if I had seen it.  Of course I hadn't.  She said it was laying on the counter top in the kitchen and now it was gone.  She asked if I could help her look when I got home.  I told her I would help and we looked and looked and looked and some time later she found the item, up in her room, where she left it. 

By now it was late and my plan of putting on my pajamas and curling up with a good book seemed to be a mute point.  I finally climb into bed around 9:00, exhausted and drained certain as soon as my head hit the pillow I would be out.  My daughter comes into my room, turns on the light, and is holding our dog Boo.  Boo is the matriarch of the hounds.  She will be 10 in October.  My daughter asks me if it looks like Boo's face is swollen.  She has a lot of hair but sure enough, after an examination, her face under all the hair is HUGE and her right eye is almost shut.  She looks like a hedgehog.  We wrap a Benadryl in some bologna and she eats it but she can't relax; constantly digging and rubbing all over the furniture and floor.  Something is bothering her that's for sure.  Did she get stung by a bee?  Bit by something?  Whatever it was, her face was getting bigger by the minute.

I'm still exhausted but now I can't seem to sleep thinking her windpipe might close up and cause her to suffocate.  She finally settled down and slept by my legs.  All night long I kept reaching down to make sure her body was still warm.  This morning, you will be happy to know, her face isn't nearly as bad.  I think she's on the mend.

Tonight when I get off work I'm going to ... never mind.

Best laid plans....

R. K. Avery
www.rkaverybooks.com

Special: Excerpt from Not My Mother's Son

Special treat today.  I am going to provide an excerpt from my second book, Not My Mother's Son.  I've been doing so much publicity and press for the first book, the second one is feeling neglected :)

"David and Rich were becoming really good friends, and he shared with Rich he had started reading the journal, which seemed to make Rich really happy.  David learned that Rich decided to become a police officer after he saw his best friend, Buster, shot and killed in Detroit when they were in high school.  They had gone to the movies and were laughing and talking about the antics of Axel Foley, the main character on the big screen.  Waiting for their ride to pick them up, without thinking, they started walking down the street, and when they crossed at an intersection, Buster was gunned down, simply because he put his foot down on the wrong side of town.

Rich wrapped his arms around Buster and pulled him back across the street, cradling his head on his lap, holding and rocking him until the ambulance arrived, but by then it was too late.  Still, after all these years, when Rich spoke about it, he could picture the chain of events so vividly in his mind; Buster walking about two feet in front of him holding a white paper cup from the theatre filled with ice and what was left of his root beer; the old red and brown graffiti-laden brick buildings; the flashing 'walk, don't walk' sign; the steam coming from the manhole covers; the tiny twinkling lights going around and around on the marquee above the entrance to the movie theatre; sound in the distance of dogs barking, babies crying; sirens off in the distance; and people yelling.  Then the bang and the sound of Buster's head hitting the concrete.  He hit the ground so hard, blood actually splattered backwards, hitting Rich smack dab in the face.  Buster's cup hit the ground as the lid came off and ice scattered across the street and sidewalk.  It all happened so fast, at first Rich wasn't sure what had happened, but when he realized, it didn't take him long to figure out if he would have been the one in front, it would have been him killed that night, instead of Buster.  Because of that brush with death, and lack of closure and prosecution since the person responsible for Buster's death was never caught, Rich knew he was meant to do something meaningful with his life.

"I promised Buster, when he lay dying in my arms, I would devote my life to protect innocent people from the same fate he had."

David, sensing the mood was getting way to heavy, blurted out, "Buster?  Are you seriously telling me the kid's name was Buster?  Are you sure you aren't talking about a dog?" David laughed.

Rich smiled and shook his head.  "That was his nickname, smart ass."  The trust and camaraderie between them was growing stronger every day.  Soon it would be put to the test."

Buy your copy today!

Link to Amazon! Only 2 left in stock and on sale for $11.66! 

R. K. Avery
www.rkaverybooks.com

Time is Running Out!

Only 5 more days until the virtual book tour that has been bouncing around cyberspace since August 5th comes to a close.  It is going really well and so many wonderful people have left such awesome comments.

At the time of the writing of this post, there were 14,615 entries to win either a $25 Amazon Gift Card or an autographed copy of my first book, Be Careful What You Wish For.

If you haven't checked it out yet, now is the time to do so before it's too late!  Virtual Book Tour Link

Good luck to all of those who have entered!

R. K. Avery
www.rkaverybooks.com

Summer is Officially Over

I used Grammerly to grammer check this post because I was too busy picking out just the right accessories for my outfit. 

Some parents love it.  Some parents hate it.  Some kids love it. Most kids hate it.  What am I talking about?  Why the first day of school of course.  It comes quick no matter how you look at it. 

I usually leave the house around 5:00 each morning but today, the first day of school, I left a little bit later so I could see my baby on his first day of high school.  I was curious what he would wear.  He got up and took a shower and brushed his teeth twice.  He blow dried his hair so it would have the perfect swoop in the front.  He put in his contacts, which is new from last school year; no more glasses.  He picked out his favorite new outfit (which, as a side note, he asked us to wash his shirt at 9 o'clock last night because he had worn it earlier in the week) gathered his school supplies and started filling his back pack.  This year his back pack is one of those small ones with the strings for handles.  I guess he is too cool for a normal one. 

It is bittersweet.  I want him to grow and learn and be successful.  Yet I want my little baby back.  The little guy who refused to talk in Kindergarten until after Christmas break.  The little guy who wore what we bought him and looked forward to carrying his new Spiderman or Star Wars back pack on the first day of school.  Now it's all about DC or Osiris shoes.  Only American Eagle or Aeropostle shirts will do.  And his pants have to be dark, none of this stonewashed or denim blue like dad wears.

Our job as parents is to love them and teach them and then let them go.  Enjoy every minute of it.  It goes by way too fast!

R. K. Avery
www.rkaverybooks.com

Going to Hell in a Handbasket

Do you ever wonder where sayings come from?  Things like 'going to hell in a handbasket' or 'kick the bucket'?  Why have these catch phrases become such a popular part of our language and when you say them, everyone knows what you are talking about but do we really know what they mean?

I am going to spend several posts highlighting catch phrases and common sayings.  I have often thought of compiling many (several hundred or so) and making a book out of it, just because I think it's interesting and I'm sure others do as well.

Today I am going to tackle 'going to hell in and handbasket.'

When you picture a handbasket, what comes to mind? I think of a cute little basket, maybe filled with fruit or something cuddly, like puppies or kittens.  Something like this:

So when did that image become associated with going to hell?  Let me do a full disclosure here and now.  Since I don't know all the answers, I have consulted the Internet and most of my findings were found on The Phrase Finder. 

Definition

To be 'going to hell in a handbasket' is to be rapidly deteriorating - on course for disaster.

Origin

During my research I found it isn't cut and dry why a cute little handbasket was chosen as the means to take people to hell.  One theory states decapitated heads were caught in baskets and the owner of the head was thought to be going straight to hell.  Others believe a handbasket was used to signify something done easily and quickly.    

Phrases such as 'going to hell in a wheelbarrow' and 'going to hell in a basket' were used early on but never gained the notoriety as 'going to hell in a handbasket'.  Many people seem to think it's because of the 'H' which added a little catchiness.  However, 'going to hell in a handcart' was also used, it also has the 'H' but never caught on.

The first example of 'hell in a handbasket' in print was in 1865.  It was used in Winslow Ayer's account of the American Civil War. I can understand the word 'hell' being used to describe war, but the use of the word 'handbasket' still baffles me.

I guess we will never know why a handbasket was chosen as the preferred vehicle to fire and brimstone but when I get to heaven, I'll make sure and ask the All Knowing Man Upstairs.

Have a great day!

R. K. Avery

www.rkaverybooks.com

Website

If you've never visited my website, www.rkaverybooks.com it's pretty cool.  It has a lot of information about me and how I started writing.  I recently added background music that is positively eerie. 

There is a tab that has book reviews posted so if you are thinking about purchasing one of my books, you can see what others have to say.  Speaking of purchasing a book, there is a tab with a direct link to Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Would you like to meet me in person?  Check out the Appearance tab and mark your calendar.  My next public appearance as R. K. Avery will be in September at the Bedford Heights Weekend of the Pooka event.  I went last year and had a blast!  If you click on the link, scroll down and click on the Meet the Authors link on the right side.  All the authors that will be appearing are listed and R. K. Avery is on the very top!    

Never seen my book trailers?  No problem.  There is a special tab for all my book trailers as well as a tab that has a link to all the press releases about me and my writing. 

That being said, if there is anything you'd like to know about R. K. Avery and you can't find it on my website, go to the Contact Me tab and send me an email. 

I appreciate you!

R. K. Avery
www.rkaverybooks.com