My Top Five Allergies to Avoid in 2018

January 5, 2018January 5, 2018 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

The Daily Post Prompt – Allergic (A reaction to or strong dislike)

When we hear someone is allergic to something, we tend to think of bee stings, medications, seasonal, or food allergies. But, I have another list. A whole new list of allergies. Below is my top-5 list of allergies and the things I plan to avoid in 2018!

Social Media Trolls– you know, those that have nothing good to say.
Fake News – Need I say more?
Stupid Movies – you know those that are all special effects and No plot.
Department Stores with Crazy Sales – Because sales bring out the crazies and I don’t do crowds.
Spicy Foods and Hollywood Actors – who think they’re multi-million dollar salaries, multi-million dollar homes, and poorly written movies make them smarter than the rest of us – both give me intense heartburn.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. I’m all ears and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram. You can follow my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

The Rookie’s Treat

January 3, 2018 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

The Daily Post Prompt – Treat

The young officer found a single object on which to focus. He’d heard it’d help him maintain composure at times like these. He wasn’t buying it, though and neither was his stomach.

The older, seasoned detective looked over his shoulder at the young man in the starched new blue uniform. “First one, huh, Rookie?”

“Yes, sir, “ the young man said, swallowing hard.

“Well, you’re in for a real treat, my young friend. He tossed a pair of latex gloves at his new partner, “No time like the present to learn the basics of a crime scene. Here, put these on, and come closer,” he said, crouching beside the still form. The woman, still dressed in her elegant, masked costume, lay on a bed of cigarette butts, fast food, and candy wrappers. Must have been some party. “See all this trash? Most of its recent. Looks like the lady interrupted a party, or coulda been, she was the party. You gonna need to bag every last one of these things for DNA. So, dig in.”

The young officer gulped, “Sir?” He stared wide-eyed at the older officers gloved hands as they reached forward, shining a light on the woman’s lifeless face.” He brushed the wet strings of hair from her grey face. He turned her head ever so slightly. “Find any identification?”

The young officer gulped. “No, sir… Cloudy, vacant, steel-grey eyes stared up at him, “none…” Too late.

“Aw, jeez, Mac!” The senior detective jumped back, his feet now splattered with his young mentor’s supper. “Get that greenhorn outta my crime scene.” He stared at his shoes and at the jumbled mess of evidence before him.” Damn rookies! And, swab his ass for DNA while you got him.”

Dare to be Free

January 2, 2018 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 8 Comments

The Daily Post Prompt – Reservation

She stood off the periphery of the wide-open beach beyond the willowy weedy dunes, and the fading painted sign with its tattered lettering, Dare to be Free.

Her face flushed, she stepped timidly into the clear and sighed as her bare toes sank deep into the warm, gritty, sand. Her pulse beat daringly as she opened her arms wide to the rush of heat. With the wind at her back and the sting of the sun on her virgin skin, she ran discarding the tiresome reservations of her life like worn-out clothing tossed onto the disappearing footsteps in the sand.

Conversations – A Lost Art

January 1, 2018 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 9 Comments

The Daily Post Prompt – Conversation

Conversation, aw, such an old word with an antiquated meaning, and almost extinct in practice. The dictionary defines it as a talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged. What a novel idea.

We used to enjoy these on a regular basis. We talked to people we met on a bus, in a store, theatre, museum, class, and sometimes over the dinner table; another antiquated practice.

We got to know the people we met by the conversations we enjoyed with the nuances of language on full display. We understood it was more than simple words. We listened to the tone of the other’s voice, paid attention to the subtle languages of the body, and read the eyes like a roadmap to the soul. Once upon a time, we enjoyed the give and take of thoughts and ideas; even the occasional debate.

Unfortunately, we’ve replaced conversation with cryptic text messages and snap chats; emotions with emojis, and the subtle art of courtship with photo swipes, no dialogue needed. Who needs to talk? It’s so much easier to hide behind a message board, filtered photo, or a digital world void of nuance and feeling.

No longer in vogue, we’ve lost the art of conversation. It’s backward, old-fashioned, outdated, too mundane, and requires too much effort; texting is so much easier. Is it any wonder our country, our families; our genders are so far apart, so torn asunder, or in such strife?

We used to enjoy a lazy afternoon conversation with our friend over lunch, our kids after school, around the dinner table, or after dinner with our husband, wife, or significant other. We used too, but no longer.

Conversation is a lost art, a treasured skill, and without it, we are doomed.