She Waited in the Rain… | A Cinematic Irish Ballad of Quiet Grace

Ever since I began the BryonySeries blog on Aug. 1, 2010, most Saturdays have been dedicated to Ed Calkins and all things Irish.

May your day be as lovely as this piece.

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 14 through March 20

Good morning!

I have just five stories online to share with you today, less this week than usual becauseI'm working on a couple of large projects for the Shaw Local News Network's regional health team.

More stories will go live over the weekend, especially since I'm working this weekend. So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

To see the stories that ran in print this week and aren't online yet, click on the e-edition option at the top of The Herald-News website.

Before the stories, I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Calendar

The BryonySeries calendar offers links to games, crafts, music, activities, science experiments, and  recipes that pick up themes to one or more of our books.

To participate, visit bryonyseries.com/ourcalendar.

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries) - so far:

April 18: "Shades of Noir" at 2 and 7 p.m., April 18, Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Eight members of WriteOn Joliet (including me) will original radio-style stories and poems for the fourth year in a row. The first ten attendees at each performance will receive a FREE 2025 WriteOn Joliet anthology, courtesy of the BryonySeries creative group B.L.O.C.K.S. The first ten attendees at the BryonySeries table will receive a FREE booklet called "Angel or Demon" (source material for one of the show's pieces), courtesy of The Raven's House, who will be seling select noir pieces at the BryonySeries table. For tickets and more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Also, please check out our books by popping into The Book Market in Crest Hill (if you live in the area) or bookshop.org or Amazon if you don't. 

Also, many titles are available at the Joliet Public Library and the Downers Grove Public Library.

Please note: Bookshop and the libraries do not carry all of our books.

What is the BryonySeries?

Please read "Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview"

For more information on the developing "parent brand" that is removing some of the heavy marketing lifting from me, visit bryonyseries.com/blocks.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is finally begun, although albeit very slowly. I'd like to get enough done over the next month or so to finally give Sue Midlock (our artist for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer) some ideas for the book's cover and chapter heading illustrations.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and four chapters are written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright has finished the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But the goal is to release "Brainy Ann" in 2026.

Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for "Lycanthropic Summer."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But I have an idea for a BryonySeries Christmas anthology that I'd like to release in 2026. We also have a prologue/first chapter sampler of all the BryonySeries novels that's only available at certain events.

Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

Check out the weekly recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

QUESTIONS

Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

FEATURES

Pritzker administration opens down payment assistance program to spur homeownership

https://www.shawlocal.com/news/2026/03/20/pritzker-administration-opens-down-payment-assistance-program-to-spur-homeownership/

Crest Hill’s Columbian Sumercé Roasters believes coffee and community go together

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/14/crest-hills-columbian-sumerce-roasters-believes-community-and-coffee-go-together/

Joliet Public Library hosting Marvel comic book artist

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/09/marvel-comic-book-artist-coming-to-joliet-public-library/

Temporary lane closures begin Monday for Seil Road Bridge project in Shorewood

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/15/temporary-lane-closures-begin-monday-for-seil-road-bridge-project-in-shorewood/

Will County Pets of the Week: March 16, 2026

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/16/will-county-pets-of-the-week-march-16-2026/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Duanne Walton

Good morning! 

In the couple of weeks leading up to showtime, I'll be introducing you to each of the 2026 WriteOn Joliet Radio-Players and flooding this blog with show details.

Eight members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Shades of Noir." an original radio theater production, at 2 and 7 p.m. April 18 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Duanne Walton.

Duanne, who is working on a mystery thriller, is known as an intrepid videographer and writes nicely structured stream of consciousness pieces.

He said, "Writing is my gift from God and it's been with me forever. It's seen me through rough times and brought me to WriteOn Joliet where I've found support, encouragement and friends. 

"I've also discovered other talents as an intrepid videographer, interpretive dancer or mime, and comic strip writer artist. I am blessed and thankful."

Unlike many of us, Duanne is extremely relaxed and confident in front of a microphone. Give him any piece and he can execute brilliantly on the first read. Come out and see for yourself - and check out his YouTube channel at 4thtroika (@4thtroika), where you'll his recordings of WriteOn Joliet live events along with a wide assortment of Duanne's videos on varied topics.

The other authors and performers on April 25 and April 26 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Ed Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, and Jenny Russ.

Director is Jake Thomas.

Production assistant is Rebekah Baran.

Cast T-shirt sponsors are Coops Bowsmith and Holly Coop Books.

Cast supplies provided by Edward and Nancy Calkins.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

In addition, the first ten attendees at each performance will receive a FREE 2025 WriteOn Joliet anthology, courtesy of the BryonySeries creative group B.L.O.C.K.S.

The first ten attendees at the BryonySeries table will receive a FREE booklet called "Angel or Demon" (source material for one of the show's pieces), courtesy of The Raven's House, who will be seling select noir pieces at the BryonySeries table.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Sue's Diner: Homemade Dye for Easter Eggs

Once again we are sharing our recipes for homemade food dye for Easer Eggs.

This recipe is not featured in any of the BryonySeries cookbooks, including Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from "Bryony," which is a permanent fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties and features all the recipes referenced in the novel Bryony. 

However, we are sharing these recipes with you on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website.

The recipes will remain on this page until after Orthodox Easter on April 12.

We do not have a good recipe for green dye. But Timothy came up with a work-around a few years ago, which we are also sharing at Sue's Diner.

For more photos, check out this story I wrote for The Herald-News in 2019 on the same topic (and a couple more at the bottom of this blog, which are showing up way better here than on the website). 

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

And have fun! 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

Video archives: St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, 1954

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Who's wearing green today?

Of course, the major Irish-themed holiday in the BryonySeries world, is not Saint Patrick's Day, but Calkins Day, which is celebrated every year on February 13.

And in Denise's world, we're not even corned beef until it goes on sale (we're having bacon burgers while we deep clean this evening).

Still, in keeping with the spirit of the day, I'm sharing a short vintage clip of a 1954 Saint Patrick's Day parage.

The year is one of the time settings in "House on Top of the Hill." And "Savannah" is a place in "Cornell Dyer and the Necklace of Forgetfulness" and a person in first and fifth installements of "Before The Blood" and "A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, Of Gathering Blooms in the Woods."

Enjoy the 1:01 minute trip back into time. And enjoy your day!

My New Yoga Partner

So on a good day when I'm on top of my routine, the yoga mat comes out of my closet three times a day.

That's because I have physical therapy exercises twice day and yoga (which has been incorporated into part of my actual PT) once a day.

Rebekah's rescue tabby Senna started joining me for at least one of those sessions. She even wanders into my room at the usually scheduled times and waits for the exercises to begin.

I have some great - but far too blurry - photos of her trying to imitiate stretches and poses. So I didn't post those.

Still, you'll see the idea as you scroll through these seven photos. 

Enjoy!

Ghost of a Rose- Blackmore's Night Piano Cover

Anyone new to the BryonySeries blog might wonder why I post piano music on Sundays and how that fits into the BryonySeries world.

That's because one character - John Simons - was a nineteenth century world-renowned pianist and composer before he died and became a vampire.

This is a brisk, haunting piece that fits the mood to "The Phoenix," I think.

Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QaoS6Obfe4

All On St Patrick's Day, The Irish Rovers

Ever since I began the BryonySeries blog on Aug. 1, 2010, most Saturdays have been dedicated to Ed Calkins and all things Irish.

Keeping that in mind - and with St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday, I'm sharing this foot-tapping piece today.

Enjoy!

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 7 through March 13

Good morning!

I have seven stories online to share with you today, less this week than usual because I had a minor procedure on Tuesday and finished a huge project this week, too, for the Shaw Local News Network's regional health team.

More stories will go live over the weekend and next week. So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

To see the stories that ran in print this week and aren't online yet, click on the e-edition option at the top of The Herald-News website.

Before the stories, I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Calendar

The BryonySeries calendar offers links to games, crafts, music, activities, science experiments, and  recipes that pick up themes to one or more of our books.

For January, all activities center around becoming your best self.

To participate, visit bryonyseries.com/ourcalendar.

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries) - so far:

Due to a recent slew of family (human and pet) emergencies these past few weeks, we have not (yet) scheduled another appearance. But that doesn't mean we aren't planning any and will update you soon.

In the meantime, please check out our books by popping into The Book Market in Crest Hill (if you live in the area) or bookshop.org or Amazon if you don't. 

Also, many titles are available at the Joliet Public Library and the Downers Grove Public Library.

Please note: Bookshop and the libraries do not carry all of our books.

What is the BryonySeries?

Please read "Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview"

For more information on the developing "parent brand" that is removing some of the heavy marketing lifting from me, visit bryonyseries.com/blocks.

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is finally begun, although albeit very slowly. I'd like to get enough done over the next month or so to finally give Sue Midlock (our artist for The Adventures of Cornell Dyer) some ideas for the book's cover and chapter heading illustrations.

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and four chapters are written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright has finished the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects. But the goal is to release "Brainy Ann" in 2026.

Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for "Lycanthropic Summer."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But I have an idea for a BryonySeries Christmas anthology that I'd like to release in 2026. We also have a prologue/first chapter sampler of all the BryonySeries novels that's only available at certain events.

Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

Check out the weekly recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

QUESTIONS

Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

FEATURES

These Joliet area industries unlikely to see tariff relief soon, despite Supreme Court’s ruling

Home prices have been directly impacted, builders group says

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/06/these-joliet-area-industries-unlikely-to-see-tariff-relief-soon-despite-supreme-courts-ruling/

Developer building 365,000-square-foot industrial facility in New Lenox

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/12/developer-building-365000-square-foot-industrial-facility-in-new-lenox/

Pickleball fundraiser raises $10,000 to help people with disabilities supported by Trinity Services

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/08/pickleball-fundraiser-raises-10000-to-help-people-with-disabilities-supported-by-trinity-services/

Country Club Hills’ Baby Cheesecake expands into downtown Joliet location

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/05/country-club-hills-baby-cheesecake-expands-into-downtown-joliet-location/

Marvel comic book artist coming to Joliet Public Library

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/09/marvel-comic-book-artist-coming-to-joliet-public-library/

Joliet City Center Partnership businesses recognized at Chamber awards celebration

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/11/joliet-city-center-partnership-businesses-recognized-at-chamber-awards-celebration/

Will County Pets of the Week: March 9, 2026

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2026/03/09/will-county-pets-of-the-week-march-9-2026/

 

 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

WriteOn Joliet Open Mic Night 2025. Round 2.

On September 25, 2025, WriteOn Joliet held its first open mic night at Critical Grind in Shorewood.

Charter member Duanne Walton emceed and videotaped the entire event.

Here is the video to the final rounds of short performances, which includes some spontaneous readings from WriteOn Joliet's 2023 radio play.

Enjoy!

Sue's Diner: Homemade Pierogies

This week we are featuring a recipe that is a favorite in our family: homemade pierogies.

A pierogi is simply a stuffed dumping. Pierogies are popular in Eastern European cuisine. Some cultures call them pirohi.

Traditional pierogi fillings include potato and sauerkraut, but you may use any filling you like.

I learned how to make pierogies from a cookbook when my oldest son, now forty-four, was about eighteen months old. I always included the kids in making them. 

The ones from the cookbook were dry and heavy, so we adapted the recipe through the years.

My two preschoolers (Sarah and Joshua) helped me make two hundred of them one afternoon in the 1980s when one of our friends was being ordained to the priesthood.

I even had a regular customer for a short time, which provided some extra money for me.

You can try our pierogi recipe on the Sue's Diner page on the BryonySeries website. 

This recipe does not appear in Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles From "Bryony" which benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.

But try the recipe this week. It will be gone some time next week. A new recipe will take it's place.

If you have any troubleshooting questions or comments, email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. 

By the way, Sue's Diner is only real in the BryonySeries world. But didn't Timothy do a great job making the page look like a real menu at a vintage diner?

Here is the full diner page: bryonyseries.com/sue-s-diner. You can't really order, of course (wouldn't it be great if you could?).

For more BryonySeries recipes, check out our three cookbooks at our BryonySeries bryonyseries.com/general-store.

About the BryonySeries: McSorley’s Old Ale House

Cindy, who makes our Ribbit-Ribbits, announced at our marketing dinner in December that she and her family would be spending New Year's Eve at Times Square and a few days in New York, seeing "the sights."

At the time, Cindy didn't have any "sights" in mind. So I suggested a few.

Because the BryonySeries prequel "Before The Blood" is part historical fiction, I created the "feel" of the time and locations by lightly blending real landmarks and events into the overall story.

One landmark was McSorley's Old Alehouse, which was established in 1854.

McSorley's Old Alehouse appears twice in the first installment of the BryonySeries prequel "Before the Blood" (excerpts to follow below the photos).

But first, a few facts about this old establishment, which was closed to women until 1974 and opened its first women's restroom in 1986.

 

The floor is covered with sawdust, the bar has no stools and no cash register, and the space is frequently standing room only. And no beer: only light or dark ale.

The menu still has original items, such as turkey and the famous cheese, cracker, and raw onion plate. 

Cindy actually went back a second time for the wishbones, which she didn't notice the first time. 

The legend is that McSorley's gave patrons off to fight in World War I a free turkey dinner before they left. These patrons hung their wishbones, to split when they returned.

Legend says these old dusty McSorley wishbones are from soldiers who never returned to claim them.

Now for the excerpts:

Excerpt No. 1

Helsby looked at John.

            "The ladies of the church are hosting a tea in Miss Bartlett's honor this afternoon. When I return from escorting her, would you accompany me to McSorley's? The ale, raw onions, and turkey all are first rate, I promise you. It's just we two. Tommy is busy with his studies."

            "The villa's host is scorning the toque?"

            "Alas, the host's culinary skills are so poor, even the lads on the roof won't touch his dinners."

            "Then McSorley's it is."

            "I shan't be long. If you like, you may play piano in the parlor. The music won't disturb Tommy. He's deaf in one ear."

            The door closed, and John, deliberately ignoring the leaning floor and the scrabbling behind the faded wallpaper, wandered into the parlor. For all its shabbiness, the flat was clean. Poverty, at least for the future Mr. and Mrs. Helsby, didn't equal substandard housekeeping, although the abode could have used a picture here and there and perhaps a potted plant or two to lighten its bleakness.

            A small upright that shouted "scrap heap" pressed against one wall. John plunked a yellow key and winced at its reply. Taking a pass on torture, John gazed out the window and tried to envision what Savannah might be doing. Next year, John vowed, Helsby and his wife would spend their summer at the farm. He wondered if either of them could ride. Well, no matter. Between him and Savannah, it would simple to teach...

            "Well, this is truly a first: Master John and a silent piano occupying the same room. I'd not have believed if my own eyes hadn't witnessed it."

            John started from the reverie and turned from the window. "I didn't hear you come in."

            "I'm quieter than mice. Ready?"

            "Yes. Are we walking?"

            "No, it's too far. I've called for a cab. And no, you shan't pay for it. It's my treat. I've been saving for it."

            Lined up on the sidewalk outside the pub at 15 East 7th Street were empty barrels, all bearing the lettering McSorley's. The sign above the door extended from  one end of the building to the other and read, McSorley's Old Ale House: Established 1854. Inside, sawdust covered the dark wood floors; tintype photographs and Harrigan and Hart playbills lined the walls. After inquiring if John would prefer the porter or the cream ale, Helsby ordered for them both and found a table.

            "So don't be mum, Master John. What's her name?"

            "Savannah Holloway."

            Helsby leaned forward, eyes alight, the color rising in his cheeks. "The robber baron's widow?"

            Inwardly, John smiled. He had forgotten Helsby's fascination with society news.

            "The very same, Helsby."

            "However did you meet her? Through your father?"

            "You could say that."

            Their meal arrived. Each man bowed his head for a silent prayer. After swallowing a generous forkful of turkey, Helsby asked, "And you're actually engaged?"

            "Yes."

            He shook his head and cut another slice. "A pity she had a conflict, but I suppose she must be quite occupied with finances. Mr. Holloway had amassed a substantial fortune."

            "My interest is Savannah, not her money."

            Astonished, Helsby set the fork down. "I never meant to imply otherwise. I only wished to say her affairs must keep her busy. But, as they say, marriage requires many sacrifices, and they often begin well before the 'I do's.'"

            "So it seems, Helsby, so it seems."

Excerpt No. 2

Ticket sales remained high for days, despite the effects of an ice storm that lasted all week, another fallout from January's blizzard. One afternoon, soon after the temperatures rose, and as John had launched into his final practice piece, Henry walked up to him.

             "I dying to try McSorley's. Shall we?"

            They took a cab to lower Manhattan, with Henry chatting all the way about New York's cantankerous weather, how it kept him busy with news articles all winter, even as it ruined one suit after another. Despite Henry's fine manners, he seemed equally at home with the rustic McSorley's as he had been inside Delmonico's.

            Not until John picked up his ale and took a long drink, the type of drink Jackson would approve, did he dare ask, "So Lord Girard's ward enjoys reporting?"

            "I never said I enjoyed it." Henry raised his glass to his lips and sipped it. "Well, this is quite good."

             "Writing is not your passion?" John couldn't fathom why anyone as rich as Henry was would engage in business he did not enjoy, especially when he need not engage in business at all.

            "Journalism is not my passion," Henry set down his glass. "But writing most certainly is, the main reason for my marriage to Agnes King."

            "I don't understand."

            Henry held out the plate. "Soda cracker?"

              John shook his head, still watching Henry.  

             "I prefer shocking to informing." Henry grabbed another cracker. "Supernatural stories, not news stories.

            "I see."

            "But penning content for dime novels doesn't pay Fifth Avenue rent."

            "You're renting? On Fifth Avenue? But I thought..."

            "That I subsisted off Lord Girard's riches? Hardly."

            "And a reporter's salary covers those expenses?"

            Amusement on his lips. Henry took out a card, inscribed something on it, and then passed it to John. "This is my address. You're welcome to call on me."

             John read the card. His eyes widened. Henry merely cut another slice of turkey and said, "I see you recognize the address. My, did Mr. Russell have plenty to say about you when my story broke."

            "About?"

             "About how Little Lonnie, who's not quite so little anymore, would be so accomplished if you hadn't abandoned your commitment to teaching 'the dear one.'"

            Henry, John thought, for all his dandyisms, understood more than he showed.

            "So," John said, deciding no further remarks about the Russells were necessary, "you intend to use the King family riches to further your goals?"

            "Not exactly, no. I view it as an exchange of resources. Trust me, Agnes King is, and will be, amply compensated."

            "I still don't comprehend why you must marry Agnes when you have Lord Girard as a...resource."

            Henry waved for the bill and then leaned forward with a sly look.

            "Lord Girard is fairly young and healthy, making an early demise and acquisition of his inheritance unlikely for some time."

            "That's cold."

            "See here, John, don't act so coy. You and I, we are nearly the same."

            "How so?"

            "Similar resources, congruent goals, but..." Henry grinned impishly. "... different applications."

            John said nothing.

Denise Versus The Cabinet Door

So my month of "horror" began on January 27 with this upper cabinet/pantry door.

It looks like a regular door, doesn't it?

And it is a regular door. Because you know the old saying, "Doors don't do stupid things. People do stupid things."

Keep that saying in mind as we scroll along.

Now here is a photo of that upper cabinet/pantry door in context. 

Forgive the food sitting on the counter, waiting to be put away. We're coming out of two weeks of sickness at our home, and we definitely set our priorities (cleaning and organizing fell off the list).

Now just beyond that "window" over the kitchen sink (near the paper towel roll) is technically a dining room. But we use it for our coffee bar area. 

Tiny likes to sit under the coffee bar (my grandmother's dresser repurposed). He also likes to eat near the coffee bar.

I suppose "likes to eat" is a bit of an exaggeration. Tiny does not (overall) like to eat, unless we're talking treats or grapes.

So mealtimes with Mr. Tiny are elaborate affairs, where someone needs to sit near him and coax him to eat. He loves food once he gets going. So that's not the problem.

We suspect Tiny, as the runt of his litter in a breeder home, also landed on the empty bowl side of mealtime, since he seems to be "saving" the food instead of eating it.

He also has some digestive issues, with all tests negative for all sorts of gastrointestional health things along with allergies.

Anyway, we have a trainer Tiny likes and a veterinarian we like sorting that mess out. That's just a little background for the fun to come.

So during this particular time in January, we were trying a special canned food for Tiny that he did seem to like and eat on his own.

The problem is that one could only put a bit in his bowl at the time. If one gave Tiny too much, he wouldn't eat it. If one dawdled too long in refilling the bowl, he walked away and wouldn't eat it.

Also, this particular food is quite sticky. One can't simply set a giant blob in Tiny's bowl for him to figure out (he doesn't). The blob needs to to be fork cut (or spoon or knife cut) into manageable chunks and then slid into his bowl before he quites finishes the previous blobby chunks.

So timing - and great speed - are key here.

Now for a little more background.

Faith was having her own challenging January. Although her blood tests were normal, she was eating and drinking more (a lot more) to keep up with her fluid and calories requirements (and failing).

Oh, and appliances were breaking in the house at record speed. This resulted in everyone running on fumes and reduced sleep just to responsibly address all the challenges (PS: All but one appliance is till not fixed).

So back to January 27.

Rebekah and I had just returned from a WriteOn Joliet meeting, and Daniel (who was busy with something in that moment) asked me to feed Tiny.

So before I even went upstairs to check on Faith, I took care of my tiny little adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgi. 

Remember that spot on the counter where the food and acorn squash are sitting? That space was bare, and I was using that space to cut up food for Tiny and rushing it around the corner before he ate the previous serving.

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, at - oh, I estimate twenty miles per hour.

On the final trip, my face smashed into the open cabinet door, just like in a Saturday morning cartoon.

I thought I'd broken my face. My glasses were twisted. I'm thinking concussion, retinal detachment etc. as I raced to the freezer for ice.

Rebekah, who was equally tired and even more dehydrated than Faith, had blearily gone into the cabinet for powdered electrolyte solution, which she set on the island to mix. She was going to close the door after she mixed the drink and put the solution away.

She never thought I would not see a cabinet door of that size open to its full width.

But I was in "Tiny Zoomy mode" and running on autopilot and paying attention to absolutely nothing else.

Daniel finished feeding Tiny while I iced my face.

Timothy reformed my glasses (my only pair, and I'm blind without them) while I iced my face.

Rebekeh checked on Faith and gave Faith her night meds while I iced my face.

Was it a God thing? My swiftness in grabbing ice?

Whatever the reason, I escaped the whole incident relatively unscathed.

No swelling.

No bruising.

Just slight tenderness above my left eyebrow to my hairline.

But before we embarked on a really rough February...

...Tiny meekly (more or less, mostly less) finished his food and brought me a toy, ready to play.