A Look Back at 2018
I wasn’t very productive as far as writing [or marketing] goes but I made a few memories and I ain’t mad about that. đ
Some of the books got a new cover, you can see them here if you’re so inclined, or you can look at a few of my pictures from 2018.
Man that flew by. Oh well…
Hasta la vista 2018, I’ll be back & here’s wishing all of YOU a HaPpY 2019!!
It was a cat very similar in appearance to pretty Kitty Puddin’ Jam [aka Jammin’ Jim, One-Eyed Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Jam and plain Jimmy] who played the character Strudel in the short A Hard Candy Christmas. The story is beautifully narrated by Julia Gayden Nelson.
Dolly Pardon’s song Hard Candy Christmas played in the background, fueling my imagination as I pecked out the words to the story.
Strudel was actually a stray feral cat who sought refuge with me through one rare snowy winter. Jimmy insists he could play the part and probably win a prestigious theater award. He would also totally love to hang out with Dolly.
I’m falling off my stool here. Would you just look at this cat!
No, seriously, look at him. Look. At. This Cat.
He won’t let me write or tidy the desk or clean the fabric on the chair. When I complained he said, “You’re fired!”
In May I introduced the newest member of our family, Pretty Kitty Puddin Jam.
In July I talked about Pretty Kitty Puddin Jam wanting to be a star and the attitude that ensued.
Now I have to tell youâŚ
Hold on, this has been a hard thing for me to understandâŚ
[sigh]
Pretty Kitty isâŚ
Pretty Kitty Puddin Jam (aka PKPJ) isâŚ.
Oh hell Jam is a Jim!
I know! I am so naïve⌠so unsophisticated!
I was also a bit distraught when I found out.
I tried to normalize the situation by calling him Jim but he refused to answer.  By this point I was so flustered I threatened to have him castrated⌠emasculated⌠de-dinglized.
He snubbed the threat and mewed, Pretty Kitty Puddin Jaaam.
âNo!â I argued, âYou are a tom â a Jim! Girls do not have tally-whackers!â
PKPJ then he purred two words that clarified everything â
Caitlyn. Jenner.
[Blubbering sigh]
I conceded to let him keep his male genitalia but no more news rags or television AND no more pretty bows!
I do love to write some mystery but after finishing Cloud Wrangler, The Sharecropperâs Son and Greed I decided to take a break from writing for a bit and since it is getting too hot to grow much here more than weeds yâall know that means Iâve been taking more pictures.
WellâŚ
I was telling a few friends (because, bless my heart, I only have a few) on my Facebook  page about Pretty Kitty Puddin’ Jam wanting to be a star.
You seeâŚ
I took a few photos of her and they were accepted at Dreamstime and now she thinks sheâs an icon!
I donât mind her being a little prissy about it, I get it. I was cute once. I have a beautiful daughter and granddaughters. Heck all the women I know are beautiful and sometimes we get a little âfull of ourselvesâ â it happens. BUT, it is not okay to be cheeky and mean. At least not to our own clan â our tribal members â our own sisters and that is what [not so] Pretty Kitty did. They usually play so well together. Usually.
So hereâs what happenedâŚ
I thought it would be adorable to get a few pictures of Mia Bella (aka Mimi or Mimi-fifikins) and Miss Puddin Jam playing in a basket outdoors. After all, who wouldnât smile at the image of a kitten and a Chihuahua playfully scuffling in a white wicker basket that just happened to be sitting in shade of jasmine ivy?
So I situated the basket, helped the two inside and told them, âjust have fun.â As I turned back to take my position for the shoot I heard a belittling remark followed by a peculiar plluuhh. I whipped around and snapped.
Oh my goodness, I snapped alright â in more ways than one! I told Miss Pretty Kitty Puddin’ Jam that she was the ugliest cat I had ever seen in all my life. A knock-kneed, cock-eyed, dull-witted, poor excuse of a pet! I gave her the âpretty is as pretty doesâ lecture and told her she should be ashamed for spitefully hurting her sister.
The truth is she has all the makings of a star and maybe on some subconscious level I am jealous? Maybe I expect too much from a kitten? Maybe I need medicine? Oh lord, we can analyze it later but I told her I would never [ever] take her picture again unless she kissed Mimi and said she was sorry.
Like most stars her apology appeared reluctant and less than heartfelt but what can I say? This is my crazy life… obsessed at the moment with cats and conundrums.
The Real Janna Hill in 