Saturday, May 24, 2014

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Online Work Listing - Essays

Also, have a look at my other online works:













Late Update!!!

I know.  It has been about FOREVER since I last updated this blog.  I know; I owe you guys some answers.

So, what have I been up to?  Well...I'll share.

Let me tell you about homeschooling parenting!  Or not.  Yes, it is tedious, but it is not the reason why I've been staying away.  The reason why I've been staying away is laziness.  Also, I've kind of slowed down my fiction writing (but not my researching) in favor of writing essays.  Why? Well, fiction is fun, but there is something about writing short bits of real life, formative experiences with others.

I've been busy with some, but here's the latest one I wrote for Military Spouse Magazine.  Check it out:

http://militaryspouse.com/articles/hanging-up-the-sea-bag-as-retirement-quickly-approaches/


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Scenes From a Shopping Visit

With a ton of 20% off coupons in hand, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  I was looking for curtains in the clearance section, and found some.  Happy Dance!!  I also saw this number there:



Oh, no.  Surely they would draw a line somewhere before shower curtains.  Right?


No, they do not.  Sigh.  Moving along to the next store...


Oh, Bill!  You rapscallion, you!  


The boy and stopped at the deli within the store for some tasty chocolate chip cookies and popcorn.  They did not disappoint.  While there, we looked at the healthy snack selections offered at said deli.  Apple chips, sweet potato chips, and granola bars were there for the taking.


But then I looked at a small section within the rack that appeared to be devoid of any offerings.  What healthy treat was missing from it's rack?  



Oh.  $1.00 Doritos chips.  Ah, well.  How can "Food Should Taste Good" Multigrain chips compete with Doritos anyway?  

Still, who am I to criticize?  I was there for the chips and popcorn anyway (but did drink bottled water).



.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Conflicting Information

Hi folks!

I hope that you are all doing well.  SpouseBuzz (A Military.com website) gave me the awesome opportunity to blog for them.  Here is the link to that:

Reserved for Rank: Can Spouses Park in "Special" Spots?

It is a fun piece about parking that involves real research, an argument with my husband, and the promise to make him walk far the next time we go to Target (and I'm driving).

Still, I understand that it conflicts with this piece that I wrote for Military Spouse Magazine:

Respecting the Uniform

I will go on ahead and will highlight the conflict between both of my pieces.  Wives need to behave better, because service members (and other spouses) are not very forgiving when it comes to our lapses in judgement, and our loose tongues.  That is my "argument" for the Military Spouse Article.

For the SpouseBuzz article, I flirt with the idea of parking in a parking spot that is meant for my husband.  (IMPORTANT side note: My husband is not entitled to a special parking spot).  Personally, I am a-okay if a Captain's wife wants to park in an O-6 and above spot to buy groceries.  I'm not envious at all.  I don't think that she thinks that she is better than me if she parks there.  Actually, I don't care what she thinks.  Good for her for getting a good parking spot.  Lord knows that she'll have to contend with long lines once she gets to the cash registers.

Do other people disapprove of spouses parking in spots meant for active duty folks?  Yes.  They are entitled to their opinion.  Would I park in a spot meant for my husband (if I was entitled to do so)?  You have to read the article to find out.

Still, if you have a problem with either one of my stances, feel free to drop me a line.

Cyndia Rios-Myers

Friday, March 14, 2014

Respecting The Uniform - An Article About Military Bearing for Civilians

Oh, the uniform.  As some of you may (or may not) know, along with being a military spouse, I am also a veteran.  Both of those experiences exposed me to good and bad behavior when it comes to dealing with military folks (and civilians, too).

If you would like to read my article on Military Spouse's website, follow the link below:


Respecting the Uniform




Things I Wish I'd Known Before Buying a House - for Military Spouse Magazine

Hi Folks!

Every month or so, the wonderful folks at Military Spouse Magazine let me write an article/essay or two for them.

This article is one that I wrote about my family's two experiences with home buying, what I learned each time, and I think others should look out for.  Give it a gander!

Things I Wish I'd Known Before Buying a House


Cyndia Rios-Myers

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Another Cemetery Visit - Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary

So, our son likes visiting cemeteries.  Because it amuses me, we go.  He likes to comment on the ages of people when they die, the names, and how sad it is when he sees the graves of babies and children.  I agree.  I also like to use the opportunity to explain to him that life is short and so very fragile.  I hope that the lesson resonates with him.



A beautiful view for a final resting place.






What we discovered is that spouse and dependent tombs face one way, while veteran/active duty service member tombs face the other way.


The tomb of a female service member.  Do I want to be buried in a national cemetery?  I do not know.  


I love how much this interests my son.  More cemetery visits to come!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

More Gorgeous Skies

I do love taking pictures.  One of my frustrations with driving is that I cannot steer my car and take pictures at the same time.  There are so many funny things out there!  There are so many moving things, too.  Luckily, the skies around our home provide great scenes for me to photograph:





I was going to make up a blog post that discussed the types of clouds and weather that might come, but decided to settle for writing a post that talks about pretty skies.  Here they are.  They speak for themselves.

Getting a Bit Personal...

I try to keep a lot of my personal life off of this blog, as I want this blog to represent my works as a writer, and not my private life.  I used to have a blog where I featured events about my private life, but then acquired a creepy blog stalker.  I couldn't shake him, so I had to delete the blog.

But I thought that I would show you all a pictorial about something that happened in my personal life.






I am good. I am fine. We weren't planning on an addition, and weren't even "trying."  Still, it would have made for an interesting development in our happy little home.  

Thursday, March 6, 2014

San Diego Central Library

I have a confession to make.  I am not much of a library person.  I know, I know...  How can a writer say that?  E-Books, I tell you.  They are wonderful!  You can get great books for cheap or even free, and you don't even have to leave your house!  But of course, leaving your house is a good thing to do.  How else would anyone become inspired?  

I used to be a very avid library patron.  I had tons of books on hold and I constantly had new ones at home.  Some library systems are great.  The Anne Arundel County Public Library System is one of the best.  They always had every single book I wanted (even if I had to go on a waiting list here or there).  The San Diego Library is not that bad, either.  Still, we aren't huge patrons of it.  My husband loves e-books, too, and loves to buy reference books instead of checking them out.  And of course, we made a little boy who feels the same way about books - he likes to buy them instead of borrowing them.  Still, here's a few pictures of our visit to the wonderful downtown library:




I checked out a couple of magazines on homeschooling, and my son checked out a couple of books about Braille (a topic he is currently obsessed).  We walked around the gorgeous, three floor building and then left.  
It is definitely worth checking out.  

Gorgeous Skies

Hi Folks!

I know that it's been a while since I lasted updated my blog, so I thought that I would do so today.

What has been inspiring me?  Well, the interviews I've had for the book series I'll be writing soon.  That's exciting.  Other than that...not much.

But still, there is always something gorgeous to see if one simply chooses to take a moment and look:





So, stop and have a look around.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

About the Title - The Song of the Sleeping Grass - (What Is Sleeping Grass?)

The Song of the Sleeping Grass tells the story of Becky Medina, a woman who was dumped by her soldier husband, and replaced with a new wife.  It's sad.  It sucks.  It is kind of a true story, too.  

But the title - where did that come from?  I'll tell you.  Becky (the book's protagonist) is a music lover.  Every hard time that she has had in her life, she can identify with a song.  When she meets the person who will help her heal her wounds, she mentions the music that helped her get through the bad times.  

But what is the "Sleeping Grass" part about?  Well, Becky is Puerto Rican, and having been to the island on vacation, she'd seen the Morivivi plant: 





Like the plant, when stricken, Becky closes up tight to protect herself.  But not for long - as soon as time and sunlight allow, she spreads herself open again to live - again.

But you be the judge - read The Song of the Sleeping Grass to see just how someone can recover after so painful a heartbreak:


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Scenes from a Target Visit

On a very rare period of alone time, I went shopping.  I went to Target today in hopes of finding some slippers for my son.  They had no slippers in stock.  None.  I checked the shoe section, the baby section, the big boy section, and the little boy section, too.  I even asked an employee.  Sigh.  So, no slippers.  But I did see these cute boy shoes:


I didn't get them though, as my son's feet grow fast.

I also saw these cuties:

But I didn't get them, as they are made of pleather, and I really have no occasion to wear these cute boots in my favorite color - blue.

But then I saw these guys:
Very cute boots, but they also stayed at the store.  I have no use for cute, green/blue half boots right now.  In pleather.

So, I left Target empty handed.  I got in my Jeep and left.  However, I had to wait, as the RR Crossing Sign lights began to flash:


I watched as these two guys signaled the obvious (a train was coming):

Then, I watched the trolley go by:
San Diego has an excellent trolley system.  I'd ride it more if I wasn't so controlling with my time.


Watching and waiting...

I saw some interesting people inside of the trolley.  I took their picture, but it didn't "take."  

The shopping visit wasn't fruitful, but the time alone was.  When I'm alone and not distracted, so many interesting questions pop up in my head.  For instance, why in hell aren't there any slippers to be found in Target in February?  Or, why is that guy folding a blue blanket on the side of the street?  Or more interesting, where is everyone going?  Will they get to where they want to be once they arrive at their destination?


Cyndia Rios-Myers

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Scenes From a Bike Ride

I took my kid on a bike ride this morning and snapped a few pictures.  Nothing majorly inspiration jumped out, but a few garage doors did.  You see, we live in a 1960's California Rancher, which we like, but our garage door is falling apart and is in need of replacement.  However, we deeply dislike the look of aluminum garage doors, with their long rectangular sheets of metal that are devoid of character.

With that in mind, I took some pictures of "period" garage doors that appeal to me.
The bad thing about vintage garage doors is that they open out and far - like a few feet out.  But they look so nice!

Just a pretty flower whose name is unknown to me.

I love the details with this garage door.  You just don't see that with aluminum doors, unless you are paying a lot of money for them.

This white one is pretty plain.  I'd advise the owners to go ahead and replace it with an aluminum one.

Again, great detail with the contrasting colors, squares, and numbers going down the middle.


Love the rhombuses on this one.


Pretty flowers.  I do love pink.

And finally, our garage door.  I love the design of it.  I would HATE to see it replaced with a boring aluminum one.  


So, I don't know what we'll do.  Maybe nothing.  We do have to repair the cracks in our driveway, though.