This has nothing to do with writing and is definitely a first world problem, but it’s something I see so often now, I’m going to complain.  Hey it’s my blog! 

Why do we need new and shiny all the time? Went to the grocery this weekend – not something I love but has to be done and I’m very familiar with my store so I can get in and out quickly and find what I need. Except this time.  Some corporate marketing wiz decided that everything needed to be rearranged. No doubt there were studies done and there is an excellent reason that laundry detergent needs to be closer to the frozen food rather than leaving the snack foods where they were.  And cookies should definitely be kept away from the breakfast foods – no doubt they battle at night when the lights go out. The problem is, these marketing wiz’s don’t seem to be out in the field very often.

On Thursday (discount day for the elderly) the store apparently had a flood of truly exhausted and frustrated patrons who couldn’t find what they wanted – things that they had been able to find easily before. Their trip went from twenty minutes to over an hour and some of them cannot take that.

It happens on my computer on nearly a daily basis. The refresh icon (which was changed from word to picture that means nothing to me) keeps being relocated on the screen. Now the calendar is hidden in a tic-tac-toe icon and I found out I was far from the only caller to the tech desk to find out what happened there. I’m sure these people need jobs and in order to be thought useful to their companies, they have to keep things changing (maybe so we can’t find them without their help – job security!) but why not develop a “classic” for those of us who don’t crave new and shiny on an hourly basis? See how many people use the classic over the “oooh! new” version and make a decision from that data.  Maybe even (gasp) ask the users what they want – not the high tech users, us worker bees who are just trying to get the job done.

I’ll eventually relearn my grocery store terrain and I switched to Mac to get away from Windows 8. I know I’m not their target consumer and they don’t really care what I think, but I do spend money and I’ll go with classic when I do…

Well I have an excuse – a real one this time.  Unexpected root canal. Go ahead, shudder then come back. Was told to eat high fiber so I got some of that cereal with the sticks and rocks it in (I think it’s supposed to be nuggets and nuts, etc.) and bit down on one of the rocks. At least the procedure is nowhere near as traumatic as it used to be, but still not what you’d call fun. 

I guess what intrigues me about this is that it drives all ideas out of my head. I’d like to think I could escape to a happier place when something like this happens. Instead it throws me out of my head and into reality. Who needs that? I want all of my imaginary friends to be there to help me out instead of deserting me.

At least I’ve been writing long enough to know this won’t last long and I’ll get back to writing – hopefully by the weekend, but what do you do? How to you get back up on the horse and force real life away? Love some suggestions to get through tomorrow…

Remember this is part of the Words From The Heart hop with Rebel Ink Press – so be sure to check out the link below…

Have to admit this has always been a special day for me and not because of romance – though I do enjoy that. Valentine’s Day was Daddy’s birthday. Since he was without a doubt the best daddy in the world that made the day especially special.

I remember thinking when I was little that it just wasn’t fair that he had to give away presents on his birthday. It was an all-female house so the poor guy was really trapped. I do remember the incredible cards he would buy Momma every year. I guess you would call them pop-ups but they were the most romantic looking cards you’ve ever seen – lacy and delicate. I never did know where he got them, they weren’t in any Hallmark store I ever saw. Sis and I never got that kind but I loved looking at Momma’s. We always got a red heart-shaped box of chocolates. Momma got the chocolate covered Brazil nuts.

I guess I never thought of the man as especially romantic, but he did pull out all the stops out that day.

Since this is a special day for me, I want to give away gifts too – My new short story, Dance Partner was released February 3 and I want to give away a few copies. Just leave me a comment – tell me  what makes the day special for you and be sure to visit all the other Rebel Ink writers.  Stop by http://www.lilamunro.com/ to make sure you enter for the grand prizes –

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Kindle PaperWhite and a $75 gift card!  Click on the Rafflecopter link above!

I’m part of the Share the Love Blog Hop and we’re sharing info about new favorite authors over these few days. Today I’m highlighting Cyn Hayden – she’s a Rebel  Ink Press writer too, who specializes in Paranormal sea shifters – Seals of another type who work for Poseidon. I love paranormal and these characters are great fun – thank goodness there’s a series so I can watch them play more.  If you’re into shifters and some great LGBT characters – stop by her place!

I know there’s another book, not in this series coming out soon – can’t wait!!

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P.S.  I’ll be giving away a copy of my new short story – Dance Partner at the end of this hop, so be sure and leave a comment!!