Monday, March 26, 2018

A Meme

Happy Spring and Monday All - It has been a wicked busy week again and I couldn't stay focused long enough to write a story.  I found this meme that PK sent me and judging by the answer to the first question it was five years ago so chances are it's new to most of you.

Enjoy and I'll try to stay focused enough for a tale next Monday.  In the interim and if you just need to have a story to start Monday click here.



1.  AGE : Really or in my head - 74 -40 on some days

2.  BED SIZE: KING

3. CHORE YOU HATE: Housecleaning

4. PET"S NAMES: Sunny Girl, Lancer, Baylor, Ms. Stripe (past - none present)

5. ESSENTIAL START TO YOUR DAY (ITEMS): Glasses and computer

6. FAVORITE COLOR:Turquoise

7. GOLD OR SILVER: Both

8. HEIGHT: 5'6"

9. INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY (IN HEAD OR REAL) Guitar, I guess - in my head, of course)

10. JOB:Retired - part time writer when I'm focused.

11. KIDS: 1

12. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: with my husband

13. MUSIC YOU LOVE: Except for rap, I like all music.

14.NICKNAMES: Lee

15. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY OTHER THAN BIRTH: None

16. PET PEEVE: tRUMP

17. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: "Asshole, now there's a word." Pretty woman

18. RIGHT OR LEFT HANDED: Right handed

19. SIBLINGS: 2 brothers and a sister

20. TIME YOU WAKE UP: Usually between 6:30 and 7:00 am

21. UNDERWEAR: Most always - not necessarily a bra.

22.VEGETABLES YOU DISLIKE: Brussels sprouts

23. WORKOUT STYLE:  Water aerobics, walking

24.BEST DISH I MAKE:  Veal Picatta or Osso Bucco (it's a toss up)

25. BEST PLACE TO VISIT:A beach, any beach.


Can't wait to see how many participate.  See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.







Monday, March 19, 2018

Monday already.

Happy March and almost spring.  It's also March 19th, the day the swallows supposedly come back to Capistrano.  It's an old song and Capistrano is San Juan Capistrano, an old mission and now town on the So.California coast. It's also the feast of St. Joseph and was my grandmother's birthday.  Isn't that more information than you wanted or needed?   Lots going on here - it seems to be the norm anymore. My friend came and I swear I don't think we did anything but shop for the entire time she was here.  Mind you, that's not my favorite thing to do but...

Went to an Eagles tribute band concert the other night.  Are any of you Eagles fans?  I was and still am and rocked to all of my favorites - the band was pretty darn good.  Eight oldsters movin' and groovin' to the beat.  Of course, the Eagles (who started in 1972) and tonight's players are no young things either.  

We live close to Luke AFB and this weekend is their air show.  They're close enough that we can watch the action from the house but I think Ray wants to go anyway.  It's supposed to rain in the AM and clear in the morning, so we'll see.  There's also a St. Patrick's party going on - as I said lots going on.

During all this, I managed to write a few lines.  A few of you have been asking about a new cowboy book - well this story might just be the start of one.  Let me know what you think?

Without any further ado, here we go.  I'll need a title if it becomes a book, so suggestions please.





When he rode through the gates of Milestone Ranch he felt he was coming home.  In essence, he was.  Steven Connor had lived on this ranch until he was ten.  Miles Sanderson, the owner of the ranch, was a friend of his father’s.  They’d met when they served in Viet Nam and when Jay Conner didn’t make it back, Miles Sanderson took it upon himself to look after Jay’s family.  He offered Chrissie Sanderson a job as the housekeeper and cook for the ranch, she readily accepted and they moved to Wyoming. 

The ranch had belonged to the Sanderson’s for generations, located in an area known as Shell Valley at the base of the Big Horn mountains. Shell Valley was once the winter hunting grounds of the Shoshoni and Arapahoe Indians and so named for the abundance of fossil shells in the area. The area was great for raising cattle and that’s what the Sanderson family did – raise cattle.

Miles’ father died shortly after he returned from overseas, and his brother Randy had no desire to be a rancher, so hiring Mrs. Connor was an easy decision, he needed the help. Steve took to the life immediately, what little boy didn’t want to be a cowboy.  Miles loved Steve like his own and was devastated when Chrissie fell in love with Chance Slocum, a wrangler at the ranch, and moved them to Colorado.

Steve returned to Milestone Ranch every summer until he went off to college.  After college to took a tech job in California but longed for the wide open spaces of Wyoming. So when Miles suggested he come for a visit, Steve jumped at the invitation. Instinctively, he knew he wouldn’t be returning to California, so he took a leave of absence and sublet his condominium and arrived at Milestone with his belongings packed in the back of his Jeep Cherokee.

When he arrived, Miles was sitting on the front porch in one of the rockers he remembered from his youth.  The two of them would settle into the rockers after dinner while Chrissie cleaned up the kitchen.  Here he learned to whittle and play the harmonica – his lips curved up into a smile as the memories came flooding back.  As his Jeep rounded the drive, Miles stood and Steve gasped at the state of this man he loved like a son does his father.  His hair had gone grey and there were large dark circles under his eyes.  This was no longer the stocky frame that Steven remembered, but a hunched over thin rail of a man.  Steve sucked in a breath and took a moment to hide his expression before he stepped out of the truck and into Miles loving arms.

“Welcome back, son.  So glad you came.”

“Me too.  How long has it been?”

“Way too long.”  They hugged each other like two starving men and held on, each hesitating to break the connection.  Finally, the front door opened and a voice called out.  “Hey, you two cowboys, are you ever going to quit hugging?”

Miles broke away and turned to Steve.  “Steve, meet Cassidy.”

Steve extended his hand.  “Oh, so you like hugging guys but not girls, huh,” Cassidy said. 

 “I’ll fix that,” and grabbed hold of him and hugged him tightly.

Although surprised at the strength that came from this slip of a girl, he hugged back.  “No, I like hugging girls just fine, it’s just that where I’ve been a guy can get in big trouble for being so forward.”

She laughed then – a full throaty laugh shocking him that such a little thing could laugh so heartily.

“Steve, Cassidy is Randy’s daughter.  You remember my brother, doncha Steve?”

“Sure do.  How is Randy?”

Miles avoided the question and Steve watched Cassidy turn away.  “Let’s get you inside and settled and then we can catch up,” Miles said.they

After settling in, Miles and Steve went back out onto the porch.  They were both into their own thoughts when Cassidy joined them bringing a tray of cheese and crackers.  There was always beer in the cooler Miles kept on the porch and everyone partook of the cold golden liquid. After a long swig, Miles began to talk.  Steve learned that Randy had died or at least it was assumed that he was dead.  He was an NTSB investigator and en route to a helicopter crash he went to investigate, his plane went down somewhere deep in the jungles of South America.  Investigators at the crash site found no human remains. The case remained open but Miles was suspicious of the findings and decided there had to be more to the story.  He and Cassidy went down to search on their own. They were there about a month when he became ill with some sort of bacterial infection that explained his current condition.  He was getting better all the time but the stress of not finding his brother weighed on him and Cassidy.

Steve had a million questions but could see the toll the talk was having on Miles.  He decided he could research the crash online and talk to Cassidy rather than wearing out Miles. 

“So how long do you plan to stay Steve?” Cassidy asked.

He knew the reason she was asking.  If he stayed Miles had someone to look after him and the ranch.

“As long as you can put up with me “ Steve answered. Steve looked at Cassidy and couldn’t quite read the look on her face.  He didn’t know her well enough yet.

Miles spoke up then and told Steve he could stay forever if that was his choice. Steve looked at Cassidy. Did that look mean she felt threatened by his presence - he didn’t know her well enough yet to make a judgment.  Steve knew that Miles meant every word but he didn’t want to cause any family problems.

“Cass, if Steve is committed to staying for a while you can get back to your life.”

“Are you kicking me out because of him?  Is it because he’s a guy and I’m just a girl and you don't need me anymore."  Once again,  Steve couldn’t tell if she was teasing or not.

“You know, little girl, you’re not so big as I couldn’t take you over my knee,” Miles replied

“Unca, I hate to tell you this but you don’t have the strength to do such a thing,” Cassidy answered.

“No, but I do,” Steve spoke up.  “You just say the words, LT, I’ll be glad to do the job.”  He smirked at Cassidy as he watched her face redden.  She was feisty and cute as a button.  Picturing her over his knee gave him feelings he hadn’t experienced in a while.

“I’ll let you know, Steve.  You know, I think you’re old enough to just call me Miles, I haven't been a Lieutenant in a very long time.”

Steve grinned and told him that he’d work on it but it make take a while.


See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Facing the Past IV

Hello - I have been running my tail off all week long.  Silly me, I thought that once you were retired you had all the time in the world available to you.  Wrong, I don't know how I got everything done when I worked.  Oh, I do know, I was younger and slept less.

Anyway, I need another vacation.  I think I mentioned that Ray and I were thinking of a visit to Texas.  Let me just say that San Antonio was lovely but it wasn't long enough and since returning home it has been one thing after another.  My friend from Colorado came yesterday and so I will be running around all week again.  She leaves late Wed. afternoon giving me a day or so to just be. We're going to see an Eagles Tribute concert with some friends on Friday, Saturday is another one of the community events in which I am involved and Sunday is a St. Patrick's Day party, one day late.  Who says older people can't have fun?

Anyway, luckily I had written ahead so there is a continuation of the story for today. 



Daniel took her words to heart.  She was right, he had to do something with the rest of his life.  Right now, music held no luster for him.  Several times he picked up his guitar, would play a couple of chords and would put it back down.  He’d tried writing and the notes just wouldn’t come.  It was no use holding the others hostage while he waited for the music to return.  He called his remaining bandmates and told them to make their plans without him.  He contacted the rest of the people involved in his music life and let them know he was retiring.

When he’d settled his music business, he arranged a romantic weekend with Callie.  Callie needed some romance in her life and so he arranged with Lila to take Danny for the weekend, cover Callie’s diner shifts, all before he approached Callie with his plans. He even got Danny’s permission to take his mother away for a weekend.  After some initial hesitation, she agreed.

They would fly to Palm Springs and spend three days doing whatever she wanted to do.  He booked a suite at Desert Inn, arranged for a spa day for Callie and then a romantic dinner at the Sultan’s Table where he planned on presenting her with his ideas for life going forward.  If she agreed, they would return to Newton as an engaged couple.

Callie and Daniel hadn’t yet slept together since his return to Newton. Their first night in Palm Springs found the two of them as nervous as when they were as teenagers and their first exploration into sex.  For Daniel, he’d had many sexual encounters since then but Callie didn’t.  Daniel was more than ready.  He had been tamping down his urges – Callie had and still did raise his libido.  He wasn’t the randy teenager anymore, and he wanted this first time to be good for Callie so he had to mentally keep talking himself down. 

Whispering in her ear all the things he had fantasized about doing to her, his hot breath gave her body an electric jolt.  He kissed her neck as his hand cupped her head, then brought her head down to kiss those perfect lips.  He moaned as he felt her lips part and her tongue meet his. Her arms circled his neck and she rubbed her body along the length of his.  She could feel his hardness and began a bump and grind.

“Honey, if you want this to be over in thirty seconds, please back off.” She giggled. 

“Am I getting to you, Mr. Big Shot Musician?”  She circled her hips against his body and he groaned.  He slapped her behind. She oohed at the sharpness of the spank and the feelings it ignited in her nether regions.

“Don’t be naughty” he admonished.

“Why not?”She asked with all innocence.

“Because naughty girls get spanked., doncha know.”

“No, I didn’t know. Did you spank all your girlfriends if they were naughty?”

“Sometimes, even when they weren’t naughty.” 

“Ooh.  How about naughty boys?  Do they get spanked too?” With that, she landed a hard swat on his backside.

“Callie, I’m warning you.  I can’t take much more of this.”

“Then, let’s quit play and get on with it.”  She laughed then and started removing his shirt.  She raked his chest hair as he practically ripped off her blouse.  He pulled down one cup of her bra and tugged at her already engorged nipple. He suckled as his hand tweaked her other nipple.  She was practically purring at this point.  They couldn’t get the rest of their clothes off fast enough.  They moved toward the bed - their clothes landing along the way.  He threw her down, landing on top of her.  Hands were everywhere and she reached for his penis and guided it to her waiting vaginal lips.  With one thrust, he was pumping into her with a passion he hadn’t experienced before. She met each thrust with a ferocity of her own. They rose and fell with each plunge of his rock hard penis until she felt an orgasm starting to crest.  She raised her body and grabbed his ass bringing it down hard against her while the waves of ecstasy washed over her. He never wavered his thrusts, continuing to plumb her depths until he too shattered into an explosive orgasm.

Their sweaty bodies mingled as they returned to earth.  He rolled off and braced himself on his elbow, looking at her, asked,

“Are you alright?  I didn’t plan that.  I planned on making sweet love.  That was pure raw sex, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.  I think it’s what we both needed for our first time together as adults.  We have the rest of the weekend to make sweet love.”


“Truth be told, I think I want to play. I read Fifty Shades of Grey and I want that – or at least I want to try it.”

“Fifty Shades of Grey, what the hell are you talking about.”

“The novel that has rekindled mainstream kinky sex.  Do you mean you’ve never heard of it?”

“Nope, but it sounds like I’m missing out.  Tell me about it.”

“I have a better idea.  Why don’t we see if it’s available on pay per view?  If so, we can order room service and you can see for yourself.”

“It’s a movie.”

“Yeah, not quite as juicy as the books but you’ll see what I mean.  Actually, there are two – maybe we can watch them both and then practice.  What do you say?”

Shaking his head, “Callie, what happened to my sweet girl?”

“I’m a woman now and I wouldn’t dare try anything like that with anyone in Newton.  I spent years living down my reputation as damaged goods.  Since you’re the one responsible for those damaged goods, I think I’m safe. What do you say?”

“Start checking those listings girl, while I order room service.  You want anything special.”

‘Yes, but it isn’t food.”  The look she gave him sent shivers of desire through his body.  He couldn’t believe this was his sweet Callie standing there before him talking like this way. ‘How'd I get so damn lucky’ he thought to himself.

He ended up ordering one of every entrée on the menu while Callie found what she was looking for on the tv. He watched her lounged on the bed and he ordered their dinner.  She was a beautiful girl who turned into a beautiful woman.  She hadn’t donned any clothes and laying there on the bed on her tummy he admired her ass – it was a work of art and made to be worshipped and he planned on doing just that.   He was salivating just watching. 

Callie felt his eyes on her.  She wiggled her bottom.  “You want some of this.”

“You’re damn right, I do.”

“Well, it’s right here, come and get it.” 

“Are you sure?”

“Would you ask that of one of your groupies?”

“Of course, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t”

“I don’t want a gentleman, I want sex.”                   

He pounced on her like white on rice. He grabbed hold of her and began to tickle her unmercifully.  She was squealing and begging for mercy when he suddenly pulled her across his knee and began worshipping her fine ass.  His hand roamed over every inch, grabbing and pinching here and there.


“Are you ever going to spank me?” she asked.  Her voice was dripping with want when he brought his hand down hard right in the middle of those gorgeous globes. He rubbed some of the sting away before bringing his hand down again and then rubbing out the sting once more.  He expected a reaction but it wasn’t what he expected.  “Again,” he heard.  He began spanking her in earnest and each time his hand met her flesh, he could feel the heat in her bottom and saw the honey trickling down her thighs. Her bottom had to be burning because his hand had begun to tire and his hand felt the sting of his efforts and she was still begging for more. 


There was a knock on the door.  “Room Service”.  He stopped the spanking and kissed both cheeks before getting up to answer.  He watched her grab the sheet to use as a wrap but she didn’t quite cover her behind.  He wasn’t sure if it was on purpose but seeing her red cheeks swaying as she walked to the bathroom almost made him embarrass himself. He hadn’t creamed his jeans since high school.  ‘Get a grip, Danny Boy, you're no kid anymore.’  He made an attempt at adjusting himself before opening the door.



See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Facing the Past - III

This past week struck me that I'm getting old.  I mean I know I am but on the first our grandson turned 18.  How is that possible, it was only last year that our daughter was sending us pictures of her baby bump.  We were so excited.  For seven years all we had was a grand dog and while Gwennie was a sweetie, it just wasn't the same. 

He is a joy and after some bumps in the road has turned into a fine young man -someone to be proud of.  He is articulate, considerate and brilliant.  Would you expect anything less?  Kidding.  He's been accepted into every college to which he applied and one of these days very soon he'll make his choice.  Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to be the one here in AZ.  Oh well.

Okay, okay - enough waxing poetic about my handsome grandson (couldn't resist that last plug) and onto the third installment of Facing the Past.

Here is the beginning of the tale.

Daniel spoke the truth.  He had every intention of being a part of his son’s life.  He had no idea what he was going to do with his own at that moment, but he didn’t need to.  There was enough money to carry him forward without doing a thing. The first thing he wanted to do was get to know his son and have his son get to know him.  It meant settling down in Newton – at least for the interim.  He wanted to keep his identity a secret as long as possible – it would make life easier for all concerned.

He hired a realtor to find him a place with a long-term lease.  A place that would be big enough to accommodate the times that Danny would come and stay.  Luckily, not too far out of town, a small ranchette became available that would be perfect. Part of the property was already sublet to a rancher who ran a riding academy, but the ranch house itself was empty.  Daniel brought Callie and Danny out to the property before anything was signed. Little Danny fell in love the minute he spied the horses.

“Can I ride the horses?”

“I’m sure we can make some arrangement.  First, though I want to know if you would like to live here sometime.”

“You mean all the time.”  He watched Callie and saw her shoulders tense.

“No, I’m going to live here all the time.  For the time being, you’ll only come on weekends and holidays, if that’s okay with your mom.” He watched Callie relax her shoulders.

He turned to his mom.  “Is that okay?”

“I think that will be okay.  Me and your dad will have to talk it over and work out the details but I think it will be fine.”

He and Callie walked through the house and discussed what he’d need to buy to make the place livable. 

“So you’re staying put?” she asked.

“For a while, I want to get to know Danny and I can’t do that if I’m on somewhere else.  I don’t think I want to tour anymore and frankly, the longer I can keep my identity and whereabouts a secret, the better for all.”

“I agree with that, Dan.  How am I going to explain you when people ask?

“I’ll leave that up to you.  Sometimes, it is just easier to stick to as much of the truth as possible, but it’s up to you.  Do you think the kids will give Danny a hard time at school?”

“No harder than he’s already endured.  I think short of revealing too much I’ll just say we just reconnected.  Hell, most people here in Newton will probably connect the dots in no time and your secret will be out.”

Callie was right – it was about two weeks later that the Newton Chronicle wrote a story about the celebrity living among them. It was both a blessing and a curse.

Newton’s population and geographic location helped keep the ruckus down. The locals' initial curiosity died down in a short time and he was able to lead a more normal life.  It had been a long time since he’d had that opportunity. The success of Full Speed Ahead dictated constant touring, so that he often didn’t get to bed until the wee hours of the morning and his days would begin around noon.  During his recuperation and rehab, there was a more normal pattern to his life but every day was an experience in pain and challenge. Now, life took on a pattern of normalcy.

Callie worked the breakfast shift at the diner. She would wake Danny, get him dressed and bring him with her to the diner where they’d share a breakfast before he left for school.  Dan began meeting them for breakfast and taking Danny to school. Callie’s shifts at the diner revolved around Danny’s schedule.  It meant she worked the lunch shift, would have the afternoon to herself until Danny was finished with school for the day.  Now that he was nine, he was involved in after-school activities, so Callie had more free time that she began spending with Dan.  Rekindling their childhood romance didn’t take long.  They had always been kindred spirits and they moved to the rhythms of small-town life.  They’d both pick up Danny after his school day and whatever activity he was participating in, then head over to the diner for Callie’s dinner shift.  Often, they’d have dinner there and while Callie finished her shift, Dan would take Danny home to do his homework and wait for Callie.

Lila corralled him one day in the diner and asked him what his plans were. He told her he didn’t have any.

“Well, you better make some.  If you’re going to stick around, marry my daughter.  If not, don’t dangle a carrot that is never going to drop.  She had a hard enough time the first time around.”



More to come.  See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.