Peeper -- A Novel by Paul Chandler

What if you had a special gift? One that you could use to make you almost limitless amounts of money? You'd use it, right? And pretty quickly, you'd have more money than you could spend. But then what?

That's exactly what Andrew Ash must decide. You see, Andrew can read minds. With just a peep, he can pick up your current thoughts and he can stroll around through your memories, too. And what he does with the information he gathers changes lives, not the least of which is his own.

Paul Chandler's novel takes readers on an adventure through corporate greed and criminal arrogance with style and guts. Actions have consequences--we all know this--but sometimes, justice needs a helping hand.

Forever Friends

The Colors of Childhood

I was tagged to do this post by my buddy Kate from MySpace. The idea is to share memories from childhood that are related to specific colors...

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Blue: When we visited her home, my Aunt Dot always made my favorite chicken and dumplings and served them on her fancy blue and white dinnerware. She knew how much I loved that dish (I’ve never tasted better, all these decades later) and every time I’d come, she’d grin and ask what I’d like for supper. When I’d hesitate to answer, she’d wink and say, “Okay then, maybe we’ll have pork chops or a nice roast.” We both knew, though, that a few hours later we’d all be seated around the table in her comfortable kitchen, bowing our heads in thanks for the meal and the love of family before Uncle Rich would stand to serve up steaming plates of savory chicken and dumplings.

Green: My favorite place to be during much of my childhood was perched high in the branches of the tree at the far end of our property. Up there, surrounded by the green leaves of summer, sketch pad or notebook in hand, the characters of my stories came to life in a world that was free of unspoken expectations, bitter fathers, or dying mothers.

Gray: The color of my mom’s eyes when she was very ill, pale gray represented deep sadness. When she was especially happy or feeling well, they would change to their previous bright blue and sparkle with a hint of mischief, revealing the presence of the high-spirited little girl who always remained very much alive within her.

Brown: Soft and warm, my mother’s mink coat was where I sometimes snuggled up to catch a late afternoon snooze, much to the chagrin of my dad.

Yellow: My grandmother favored pale, buttery yellows for much of her wardrobe and to this day, the feel of soft cottony fabrics in palest yellow can bring me back to the days when sitting on her lap with my cheek resting against her breast was the safest and most comfortable place on earth.

Black: Nights away from the city are often inky black, lit only by faraway stars. Lying on blankets and looking up to the night sky was a favorite summer pastime for me and my best friend Ann. We’d listen to the chirping of the crickets and vow to stay up all night, a goal that neither of us was ever able to meet.

Red: My mom loved red and the essence of the color suited her perfectly. Vibrant and outgoing, red still represents to me the possibility that lies within our dreams and the determination to triumph over life’s challenges.

Orange: Floating on the surface of our backyard pool, the hot summer sun burned orange against my closed eyes. I spent many afternoons in that pool, a spot that came second only to the nook of the tree.

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Investing for the Future

Say the word "money" lately and people get a little uneasy... say "retirement" and they get a misty, faraway look of longing... say "stock market" and they might get a look that would've had their mothers warning them not to make faces like that or they might freeze that way.

There's no doubt that in these uncertain economic times, folks are more cautious than in recent ears about investing, but those who can afford a bit of risk realize that some of the best bargains are had during the toughest stretches. Warren Buffet, who certainly has a portfolio to be envied, is quoted as saying, "We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful." Smart man.

Stock trading doesn't have to be an anxiety provoking experience. Most of the fear that we feel comes from the fact that the majority of us are playing blind, leaving the decision-making about our investing up to the holders of our 401K plans. Watch the news and you'll see how that's been working out. We don't have to put our financial health completely into the hands of others, though--there are other options. Online trading is more popular than ever, with people from all tax brackets researching and hand-picking their investments. Finding an online broker isn't hard to do, but can be an important first step toward retiring with a pocket full of cash.

Bingo -- Without the Hassle!

When I was a kid, my Godmother was a Bingo fanatic. In any given week, she played at least twice--at church and at the VFW. Most weeks, she found a few other local venues, too. As she got older and less able to get out a lot, the thing she missed most was her Bingo games. She would have LOVED playing online Bingo!

I like Bingo. My hubby and I go about once a month and join in the games sponsored by a church in the next town over, and while it's fun, playing internet Bingo might be even better. No parking hassles (the lot over there is crazy-full unless you get there really early!), no smoke-filled room, and the snacks are free!

I signed up to play free Bingo online and took a bit of video of my first experience there. The site is set up to be super user-friendly, with the sign-up process taking just a few minutes.



My first visit was a pleasant one -- no glitches and the site was really easy to maneuver. Free Bingo, right in the comfort of my living room... my Godmother would be delighted!