Tour was up, middle of June She was plannin’ a welcome home barbecue Green bean casserole, Grandma’s recipe There was a knock on her door ’round two o’clock Two uniforms and her heart stopped Yellow ribbon ’round an oak tree Blowing in the breeze
Here’s to the ones that didn’t make it back home The ones we ain’t seen in so long The hold up a beer ones, the wish they were here ones The not forgotten but gone They’re in a better place up there But they sure left a hole down here We just go on livin’ and go on missin’ the ones The ones that didn’t make it back home
The whole town shut down, the whole town showed up Sang Amazing Grace, watched a slideshow of His twenty-two years There was laughs and there was tears And that preacher talked about sacrifice And traffic stopped for them Cadillac lights Johnny sold beer half price that night And everybody raised ’em high, singin’
Here’s to the ones that didn’t make it back home The ones we ain’t seen in so long The hold up a beer ones, the wish they were here ones The not forgotten but gone They’re in a better place up there But they sure left a hole down here We just go on livin’ and go on missin’ the ones The ones that didn’t make it back home
Back to that front porch Back through that front door To the life they were fightin’ for
Here’s to the ones that didn’t make it back home The ones we ain’t seen in so long The hold up a beer ones, the wish they were here ones The not forgotten but gone They’re in a better place up there But they sure left a hole down here We just go on livin’ and go on missin’ the ones The ones that didn’t make it back home
I can be found at the book festival in ‘roughly’ three weeks. I will not be a participant, though! I will meet fellow authors, check out how the program is structured and what is expected from the authors, listen to some public speaking, wander around between the tents, and meet authors from my friend list and new ones.
Since I am an HSP, as addressed in an earlier post, I particularly picked a smaller event to look into rather than being surrounded by a vast mass of people and noises.
However, would you mind letting me know if you will be there? I’d be delighted to meet you in person!
Many of my friends, followers, relatives, and readers, are amazing and wonderful Moms. Today, May 14, 2023, is their day of celebration and recognition. This is a day where people tell their Moms ‘Thank You’, and let them know how happy they are, their Mom’s are in their lives. For our 2023 Mother’s Day I wish all Mom’s out there:
Picture courtesy of Google.com
But let’s not forget the Mom’s who have fur babies instead of human ones. They too are taking care of their ‘little ones’ and make sure they’re fine. These little ones cannot say ‘thank you’ the regular way. But I thought they need a thank you too.
We, humans, enjoy abbreviations. (Which reminds me: Why is ‘abbreviation’ such a long word?)
But humor aside: What is an HSP? People who have never been diagnosed as an HSP probably won’t know unless they are connected or related to an HSP.
An HSP is a Highly Sensitive Person.
I can see some people giggling right now. But I assure you, I’m not joking. Being an HSP has its disadvantages, and it can cause a person to quietly suffer a miserable life if the circumstances are against them. I’ll get back to that in a minute.
Let me describe to you what defines a Highly Sensitive Person:
A highly sensitive person (HSP) is a human being who reacts with an increased or ‘deeper’ central nervous system sensitivity to stimulating influences, be they physical, emotional, environmental, or social.
American psychologist Elaine Aron invented the term in the mid-1990s, continuously developing knowledge of the concept in the past few decades. According to Elaine Aron, HSPs show increased emotional sensitivity and stronger reactions to external and internal stimuli than the rest of the population.
Try to find out if you’re an HSP on Elaine Aron’s website, but definitely start with asking yourself these questions:
Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?
Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?
Do you make a point of avoiding violent movies and TV shows?
Do you need to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or some other place where you can have privacy and relief from the situation?
Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?
Do you notice or enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?
Do you have a rich and complex inner life?
When you were a child, did your parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?
If you’re looking for other tests to take than this one, there are quite a few you can find, one of them here. But careful. Most of the currently available tests online are at least based on Elaine Aron’s findings and tests.
According to ‘Healthline.com’, HSP isn’t a disorder or a condition but rather a personality trait that’s also known as sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS).
Julie Fraga, a licensed psychologist in San Francisco, CA, describes her life as an HSP quite precisely within only one article.
One particular paragraph of hers caught my attention, and I moved it here for you to read:
3 things HSP people want you to know
We feel things deeply but may hide our emotions from others because we’ve learned to retreat.
We may appear uncomfortable in group situations, like work meetings or parties, because there’s too much stimulation, like loud noises. This doesn’t mean that we don’t value relationships.
When starting new relationships, like friendships or romantic partnerships, we may seek out reassurance because we’re hypersensitive to any perceived signs of rejection.
And after all this information, I’ll get back to what I said in one of the initial paragraphs: I’m getting back to the ‘miserable life’…. Consider you’re a person who feels deeply disturbed by loud noises, constant disturbance, interruption, demanded multitasking, demanded work within a field that you don’t like, surrounded by the noise of fans, voices, emotions of other people, no daylight, the entire day, no sunshine, warmth, comfort, or anything positive, day, by day, by day, no possibility of retreat, or peace and quiet for even one single minute of the day… You’re humiliated, insulted, and hurt by having to be sitting in an environment, out in the corridor, in front of the ‘bosses’ office, like a 50s stenotypist…
If you’re an HSP, strongly reacting to the influences around you, then this is your personal nightmare… And at this point, it’s mine.
Every single day, I get up to get tortured for another 8 hours… I can’t sleep anymore. For 16 to 18 hours a day, I’m fighting against the tears and a depression that even scares the living daylights out of me!
James Killian, LPC, Principal Therapist & Owner of Arcadian Counseling in New Haven, CT found a few things HSP people can do to make life easier for them:
See your sensitivity as a positive, not a negative
Remember: there is nothing wrong with you, and you are not alone.
As much as possible, avoid negative people, places, and situations
Set firm boundaries with people who take advantage of your compassion and empathy
Practice regular self-care through exercise, meditation, and mindfulness
Give yourself the same empathy and kindness as you do others
Nice list, James… what, if you can’t say anything and cannot avoid your current environment because you need the job – and the money?? Then you’re going on… further and further… day by day, with no perspective, no way out, until one day it might be too late? You pray and beg for help – and there is none… picture that….
And then… people are wondering why you’re fighting a deep, darkening, paralyzing, overarching depression…?
It’s getting spring, warmer weather is on the horizon… According to the world, today is this one day in the year, where an unusual species is visible: a multi-colored egg laying bunny!
To the ones who look at this day with the eyes and thoughts on it’s origins: I’m with you there. I know, what’s celebrated today. I keep these thoughts to myself, and also, the prayers. They’re stored in my heart, and that’s where they will remain.
Life is going on… like so many others, I get up, I go to work, I live, I smile, I laugh… and still, I’m in a waiting position. Waiting for what’s to come. In the middle of life, there’s a trace of love, a trace of hope, and a trace of change still.
But today, I’ll celebrate spring, the sunshine, and smiles…
It’s been a couple of days back that I experienced romance at its finest… and since that day, I’m a bit ‘upside down’ at times… Of course, reading the title of this blog post, you’ll probably think I lost some of my marbles… but I assure you, I’m fully here. Still, there’s no denying: I got ‘Butterflies’ in my stomach, and not ‘flutterbies’, but I never thought I’d hear anything cute and sweet as what I was told not too long ago…
We’re talking about a conversation over the phone, which I think is remarkable since, nowadays, kids are mainly texting, ‘PM’-ing, ‘Messeng’ing, ‘WhatsApp’-ing, and a few other ‘-ing’-thingys. But my conversation partner that day and I keep talking on the phone, generally once a week (even though I’d love it to be more often… I’m still working on that)…
That day I heard him say, “Whenever I dream about you, I don’t want to wake up, because I don’t want to lose you.”
I was speechless (and believe me, that doesn’t happen very often)… I think I blushed, which is remarkable, over the phone… I had no idea I would hear something romantically wonderful like that… in particular at my age.
Isn’t romance something that you write in capital letters? ‘ROMANCE’, that happens to couples in their twenties? Sweet words, whispered in the secret hours between waking and dreaming, in the secret places between hearts, where the harshness of reality has no place to stay?
And here I was, hearing these sweet words that made my heart miss a couple beats… my breathing paused for a moment, and after a slow start of my ‘engine’, I could feel myself smile…
Sometimes I would love to use these words in one of my books, but then, I’m selfish… these are the words I got as a present… a gift I appreciate beyond measure! Why should I share it with one of my characters? (One of the only answers to that question is that these very same words would be written down in one of my books, kept for eternity, and read by readers who might enjoy them…)
But right now… I just keep them in my heart and memory, and I’ll carefully store them forever because they’re unique, extraordinary… and mine!
When you ask me who the man is, who said these words to me, I will answer: That is my secret, and that’s how I want it to be.
Don’t think he doesn’t exist… because he does… very much so. He’s dear to my heart and someone very special.
(And of course, him being that romantic, I’m going to do hell and send competition his way! I might be a bit confused at times, but I’m not completely stupid.)
Sometimes I wish, what to do or say next… For a writer I’m remarkably limited in romantic expressions… *sigh* Any suggestions? Let me hear them in the comments!
On April 25, 2019, I posted 10 weird facts about me. Today I thought, I cannot let that wealth of information run dry. *chuckle*. So, here we go… find out more about A. J. Alexander.
Sometimes it’s difficult to talk about myself, so I figured I needed help with this post. I asked my wonderful friend Wendy to describe me… and this is what she said about me.
I’m silly
I’m spontaneous
I’m goofy (= a good sense of humor)
I will always be young at heart
I like to experiment with cooking (And some other things too)
I love my cars like my men: strong and big
I’m willing to try almost anything
I’m a movie buff
I’m flirtatious (I have a massive crush on a particular New Jersey gentleman I talk with once a week… and I love it!)
I’m adventurous
Describe yourself to us in the comments. Come on, don’t be shy. We’re curious!
I got this ‘Achievement’ badge from WordPress, informing me that my blog was started 8 years ago!
I started this blog when told I needed more ‘exposure,’ networking, getting my name out there, and promoting my ‘future’ books. Demon Tracker was just in the works back then, and Soul Taker was not published yet. (And yes, that might sound weird, but I wrote the third book in the series before the first. After you read the series, let me know, and if you’re still curious and interested, I’ll let you in on the secret.)
I want to say ‘Thank You.’ Thank you so much, you all, for your loyalty, for becoming my readers, for your regular comments, and for all your encouragement and support! You make this blogging journey for me an easy and fun one! If it wasn’t for all of you, ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’ wouldn’t be where it is today!
After long years in the line of duty as a ‘Soul Taker’, Kate is worn out.
When she gets a new job offer from the ‘Powers Above’, she accepts her new job as a Guardian gratefully without knowing that her teacher is one of the most powerful beings in existence, the Archangel Raphael.
Along with Raphael, she takes on her new task and the connection between them grows.
Raphael helps, protects and supports Kate, but suddenly, she becomes a target for the Demons of Hell.
Raphael realizes that Kate means more to him than he expected, which causes him to fight furiously against danger. If he fails, Kate’s future will contain eternal darkness, evil, and torture.
Sundance is a promising young Warrior Angel, the first in centuries to join the Divine Army. With the help of one of the most powerful Archangels, her skill and talent develop, allowing her to master some of the most difficult tasks that face her kind. Sundance, under the supervision of the ‘Council of Twelve’ seeks to prove that she deserves her unusual gifts in the eternal fight between good and evil.
Follow her adventures as she discovers love, fights the good fight, and finds herself in the heat of battle trying to keep her wings from being singed.
Zepheira is the best Demon Tracker working for the Good side. With her unusual looks, her phenomenal sense of smell, and her bravery, she quickly draws ‘The Big 7’s attention to her talent. They hire her to find one of them. Leaving her familiar surroundings and regular work environment unsettles Zepheira at first. But the challenge to prove herself and to increase the reputation of her infallibility tempts her.
She is convinced she will be a great asset to ‘The Big 7’. Little does she know she will be a much greater asset in Heaven’s fight against Evil. Zepheira suddenly becomes more than a hired tracker. She finds herself an important pawn in the game of love, heat, and fire. Will her courage and sacrifice be sufficient to dance with the flames?
When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.
Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.
Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…
Koyu thought she had done her duty, but deep inside she knows it will never be over. She is bound to her master forever and will have to execute his every command. But when he demands she’ll invade his sworn enemy’s dreams, she chooses to rebel.
Koyu risks her existence to help the ‘other side’ by purposely disobeying her master’s orders. Koyu knows she’ll pay with her life for her impertinence. Is there, indeed, no hope for her?
Welcome to my annual Oscars-Fashion critics a la AJ. As usual, I’m not discussing movies, performances, or anything else. I looked at the participants and their gowns, and I’m presenting my personal opinion here, nothing more. Your taste might be very different, but we know this will happen. I hope you’ll have a little bit of fun with this post.
Let’s start with what I consider the most awkward dresses… there are one or two that are downright horrible, but generally, I think there’s either ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’… We’re going to find out soon what I’m talking about.
Not The Best
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Allison Williams, on the left, picked a lace dress with an awkward ruffle feathered hem and an oversized stuffy coat. All in all, she resembles an exploded Miss Piggy… too much laze, too much coat, too much fabric, too much – everything. Songwriter Tems, on the right, showed up in something that looked like two layers of a tulle curtain loosely wrapped around her. You had no idea what this creation was supposed to do: expose or cover. However, it was not very flattering.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Olivia Wilde on the left: the combination of black and white is normally a well-chosen classic – unless you decide to wear ‘almost nothing’ covered with a bed sheet… Too little on top and the left, too much on the right – and it’s ill-fitting. I’m curious if you actually fell out of this creation.
Eva Longoria, I’m sorry for being so blunt, but it seems very much like one of the straps and tapes might have loosened or given up… your barely covered breasts looked crooked… the right one was hanging a little lower. You’re breathtaking. I’ve seen you in the most beautiful dresses, but picking this one might not be the best choice.
.
Sandra Oh wore an orange gown with too many ruffles, too many layers, and too much fabric; it wasn’t very flattering on her, and it made her look heavy and bloated.
Jessie Banks, on the right, tried to impress with a strict, anthracite/purple gown covered in lace and sparkles, making her look like a 12th-century nun. Too much puff sleeves, too much lace, too dark… Her stylist must have been sleeping on the job.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Florence Pugh… I think you’re a very talented and beautiful young actress… and I’m very much for signature statements, but this combination, with black shorts under an insufficiently created’ coat-dress-sleeves-over-the-top-wrinkled-fabric-thingy’ is not a statement, unless, of course, you want to stand for really bad taste.
Fan BlingBling on the right obviously had a similar problem. She’s one of the most talented and internationally known Chinese actresses, beautiful, famous, and gifted, and the slimming and gorgeous silver dress would have been sufficient. The grass green sleeve fabric around her makes her look slightly like a human grasshopper.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Elizabeth Banks, my-oh-my… what happened here? It seems you got something like a dress designed, and when it came to the skirt, you realized there wasn’t enough fabric, and it was completed with a shower curtain. Not very flattering on you. It covers everything that could be pronounced and pronounces everything that should be covered.
Kate Hudson, on the right, wears a creation completely covered in sparkles, too many of them, to be precise, too many ruffles, too much fabric, too much sparkling, too much cleveage… You used to have quite a good taste – where was that today?
The Best
.
Jamie Lee Curtis on the left in Dolce & Gabbana convinces with a beautiful, age-appropriate, figure-flattering dress in blush, with just enough extras and sparkle, to make her look stunning and radiant. This I call excellent taste!
Halle Berry shows on the red carpet, donning a breathtaking gown in white, revealing just enough to be tastefully sexy and covered in just the right places to be elegant rather than cheap! Well done!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Angela Bassett looks breathtaking in a purple Moschino; every inch an elegant lady and the talented, beautiful actress she is. What a great choice!
Emily Blunt, on the right, looked angelic in a simple but classic figure-hugging dress. She’s stunning with the most wonderful, mysterious smile imaginable. Beautiful!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Nicole Kidman took a little risk with this black gown, but she rocks the frock! I heard quite a few voices who insist she belongs to the ‘worst’ dressed side, but I don’t believe so. I think, she presents her dress elegantly and with dignity. It might be a bit on the ‘sparklier’ side, but her calm nature still dons it in a classy way. Stunning!
Supermodel Cara Delevigne is the only one who could present this assymetric red princess gown with the high slit elegantly and classy. She reminds me of the sexy version of Audrey Hepburn. She clearly feels at home in this gorgeous creation. Well done!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Michelle Williams is another one of the ‘undecided’ ladies on the Oscars 2023 red carpet. I heard voices calling it ‘unflattering’ and ‘wrong choice’. I think, she wears the white gown with the sparkly top in an innocent way elegant and presents it as hers. It might be a bit ‘bridal’, but I don’t see why this would be a problem. It’s gorgeous and beautiful.
To my surprise, I ‘had to place’ Lady Gaga on the ‘best dressed’ list as well. The unusual design of the top of her dress is typical for her, but the classic elegance of the skirt makes up for it. She looks like a lady, beautiful and mysterious. Well done!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Michelle Yeoh wears a stunning ‘fringe’ dress in white that makes her look young, classically elegant, and every inch the breathtaking lady and talented actress she is. What a great choice.
Halle Baily wears her light blue Dolce & Gabbana gown like a princess. It makes her look innocent and debonair. She beams positively in this color. That’s how it’s done!
A Word About The Men On The Red Carpet
I hope you’ll permit me a few words about the men and their wardrobes tonight. We had a lot of ‘Back To The Traditions’ this year, which I wholeheartedly agree!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Both Gentlemen, Austin Butler as well as Brendon Fraser wore traditional tuxedos and both look elegant and classy presenting themselves. Excellent choice!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
We have Idris Elba on the left, wearing a blue jacket in combination with black slacks and shoes, looking classy, so does Oscar winner Ye Huy Quan in his traditional black suit with the white shirt and bow tie.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now to two gentlemen who have never been known for their traditional way… despite the two could easily pull it off, they decided on their own, unique style: Lenny Kravitz, in a non-traditional Saint Laurent combination, with wide-leg trousers and an open draped top shirt/jacket. And I’m the first one to admit: I got nothing negative to say… he’s one of the very few who can pull this off – and still looks absolutely great!
Dwayne Johnson, on the other hand: everything is a perfect fit… Suit and bow tie, shoes, shirt, watch, everything is excellently tailored… the only thing that I could mention is, that I’m not the biggest fan of the salmon/peach color. Congrats to his designer, Dolce & Gabbana are probably the only ones who could master that particular task!
This is it from my March 12, 2023 Fashion Corner on ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’. I hope, you had a little bit of fun reading this!
After long years in the line of duty as a ‘Soul Taker’, Kate is worn out.
When she gets a new job offer from the ‘Powers Above’, she accepts her new job as a Guardian gratefully without knowing that her teacher is one of the most powerful beings in existence, the Archangel Raphael.
Along with Raphael, she takes on her new task and the connection between them grows.
Raphael helps, protects and supports Kate, but suddenly, she becomes a target for the Demons of Hell.
Raphael realizes that Kate means more to him than he expected, which causes him to fight furiously against danger. If he fails, Kate’s future will contain eternal darkness, evil, and torture.
Sundance is a promising young Warrior Angel, the first in centuries to join the Divine Army. With the help of one of the most powerful Archangels, her skill and talent develop, allowing her to master some of the most difficult tasks that face her kind. Sundance, under the supervision of the ‘Council of Twelve’ seeks to prove that she deserves her unusual gifts in the eternal fight between good and evil.
Follow her adventures as she discovers love, fights the good fight, and finds herself in the heat of battle trying to keep her wings from being singed.
Zepheira is the best Demon Tracker working for the Good side. With her unusual looks, her phenomenal sense of smell, and her bravery, she quickly draws ‘The Big 7’s attention to her talent. They hire her to find one of them. Leaving her familiar surroundings and regular work environment unsettles Zepheira at first. But the challenge to prove herself and to increase the reputation of her infallibility tempts her.
She is convinced she will be a great asset to ‘The Big 7’. Little does she know she will be a much greater asset in Heaven’s fight against Evil. Zepheira suddenly becomes more than a hired tracker. She finds herself an important pawn in the game of love, heat, and fire. Will her courage and sacrifice be sufficient to dance with the flames?
When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.
Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.
Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…
Koyu thought she had done her duty, but deep inside she knows it will never be over. She is bound to her master forever and will have to execute his every command. But when he demands she’ll invade his sworn enemy’s dreams, she chooses to rebel.
Koyu risks her existence to help the ‘other side’ by purposely disobeying her master’s orders. Koyu knows she’ll pay with her life for her impertinence. Is there, indeed, no hope for her?
Writer's Treasure Chest 
You must be logged in to post a comment.