Top Alcohol for a Great Night In

 The Japanese say that eating together makes the food taste better. Along with great friends, food and fun, there is no meal that doesn't taste better with an excellent alcohol accompanying it. You don't need to buy expensive alcohol either. Some of the best tasting wines, whiskeys, and vodkas I've had have been very inexpensive. Today I'm going to list my top few to add to your table.

1) Black Box Merlot- This wine is dry just as I like it. It has a rich fruity taste, but is not sweet. I think that a good red pair with everything, but if you are particular about wine and food pairings this one works very well with a steak. I highly recommend cooking with it, perhaps you can even use it in the food.

2) Fireball Whiskey- This is a favorite of my fiance. I personally don't like the hot cinnamon flavor, but it is easy going down. It is a great sipping whiskey. If you were a fan of fireball candies in your youth this will be a great choice for you. I believe it can also be a great addition to add a little spice to chocolate desserts.

3) Woodbridge Mondavi Chardonnay- A rich oak can be tasted in this wonderfully dry chardonnay. I use this is my one of my new favorite recipes that mimics Chicken New Orleans. You can find the recipe here. Although I believe it can be used as a base white wine for almost any recipe it is excellent to simply drink and relax into.

These are my top three choices, but there are many more out there that I wish to try. Gallo is a cheap wine, but it's White Zin will do in a pinch. I would suggest spending the extra two dollars to get a bottle of White Zin from Beringer. Tell me about your favorite wines in the comments and don't forget to type in your email to follow my blog for more interesting things.

The Great War Has Begun

      Trying to use war to bring about an era of peace is as a thought as old as time itself. My character is struggling as she tries desperately to overcome the tremendous army that stands beyond her walls. Led by the Djinn that killed her lover she is flooded with fear, grief, desire, anger, and confusion. She is lucky that she has so many others supporting her.

     I'm currently experience a war in my every day life. I'm not a soldier, but I believe each day we all have our own battles that we are facing. In my dream last night there was no symbolism, I stopped in the middle of my dream to say, "I am feeling overwhelmed and I need a minute. All of this is happening so fast." It is of course in reference to my engagement, moving out, and my life in general. After being at a stand still for so long, it feels hard to take that step into adulthood especially because my parents do not want to acknowledge that any of the changes in my life exist.

     These are my battles and the Princess is who I desire to be. A woman who is strong and capable. She does not need a man and is limitless. She will raise the dead to consume the living is that is what it takes to protect her men and save her kingdom. I wish I had that strength. Oh, remember to type in your email to the right to subscribe if you like what you're reading!

Mursili received the message quickly after he had assembled the troops to recall. It was much quicker to travel through the city streets on horseback.

“The princess has given us our orders.” He turned to his men. The twenty to thirty ranks stood awaiting their orders. “A few of you must remain behind.” He pointed to five groups. “Do not lose formation. You have fought under me long enough to know how I would like you to conduct yourselves. The princess orders that a few of us remain behind to deal with stragglers. Conceal yourself within the clay walls of the city. There you will remain until it seems the others have passed.” He pointed at two or three other groups of men. “You will lead those who enter through this gate into the middle of the city.” He then looked all his men. “The rest of you will follow me. You have your orders now break.”

His men moved quickly. It was not surprising. These were the best men the city of Hebat had to offer. He sighed and vaguely wondered how the baby was doing in all this excitement. Sooner or later she would no longer be able to lead the men into war. He prayed that would be sooner. Not that they would lose today, that was not an option, but he hoped she’d come to her senses and rest during her pregnancy. She had already almost lost the baby once.

He had always felt a fatherly and loving nature towards her. She had asked him to train her in the ways of survival and fighting tactics. She had wanted to be a warrior, yet he couldn’t help but want to shield her from the world. He would have never thought he would end up feeling this way seven years ago when she approached him for the first time.

He was entrusted to watch over this precious daughter of his highness. He knew however the tragic fate of Hadad’s mother. He had always included protecting her and her mother from the King himself. Her mother would be so proud of her daughter.

Her mother must be with the other women down below in the Serail. He prayed the sickly Tawananna was being cared for properly. He listened to the footsteps of his men as they marched along the dusty streets of their desert village. The lotus blossoms were in full bloom and small patches of grass lay here and there. It was in this place that his journey… his emotional journey began and it was here that it must end.

“What?” Hantili was taken aback at the brazen plan. It was an all or nothing scheme. He smiled to himself as he turned to his men. He would expect nothing less from the great warrior princess. She was delivered by the hand of god after all to give these men victory over their enemies.

“Our Princess has issued our orders.” He proudly looked at the men around him and began to break them into the groups they would need to fulfill her orders. He could not believe the tragedy and luck fate had bestowed upon him in the past few days. Everything had happened so fast. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

A cold wind blew across his dark hair. He looked up to see the darkening sky. It loomed overhead almost as a sign. Rain was a rare but welcome addition to the dry desert city. He had heard Hadad speak long about the irrigation tunnels that were built to store and bring the water from the rain to the people of Hebat.

There was nothing about this city or her that he didn’t love. He only wished Hadad would be here to see their victory. The day would come though when they would meet once more.

“All or nothing men! We will hold our ground till our legs go out from under us. Fight to the death Hebat will not fall today!” He issued a war cry as he went to join his Queen.

Life

Life could be cruel back in the day. Not to say it's any easier now, we just face different difficulties and stressors. My character is feeling the pressure as marriage looms ahead.

“What is your mother like?” Baffled she stared at him for a moment.

“What a strange question. She is an excellent Tawannana by all accounts. She is honest and loyal to the King. They are very much in love. She is beautiful and warm as the summer sun. There are those who have tried to have her murdered many times. I'm sure you are aware of the rumors surrounding her lineage.”

“Yes, your mother rising to be Tawannana was a very strange ordeal.”

“I know. That is how I came to be promised to you. I will pay for my mother’s love.”

“In Hebat the daughter succeeds the mother as Tawannana unless she is exchanged to a foreign land. In return the daughter of the Tawannana in the foreign city becomes the successor to ensure peace.”

“Yes." Astarte thought for a long moment. "I suppose asking for Mursili to teach me about war was my final way of trying to not be treated like live stock.”

“What?”

“Woman are traded every day for money or political gain. We are like animals that are traded to create a bond between men. Woman are raped, sold, and forcibly married. I have no choice but to marry you to restore the order that my father disturbed by making my mother a second Tawannana.”

“Until then though, you have your freedom.”

“Do I? I am expected to remain loyal in the promise. Even in freedom I am still confined. If I fall in love with another…. What then?”

“I see. Then let us look to the future together for now. You and I. I wish to live in a world where you love me. I will work hard to win your heart.”

“I want that.”

The ancient land of Pangea could be a cruel place to be a woman born into privilege. Unlike any fairy tale she finds herself leading an army into a battle well fighting not to be forced into a loveless marriage. She wishes to change the world, but her feelings waver along the way. It's scary to leave the security of the palace. To walk out and not know if you will be alive to return. Please leave comments! 

New Day!

I apologize for not being around for a while. I've been taking some time to work on other side projects as finally editing the book I wrote a year ago. Submitting a list to listverse to see if I could finally get paid for writing something. And working on a new manga comic strip. I am going to place out there a small excerpt of what I'm working on. I would love constructive criticism, but please make it constructive.

Let's get the comments going!

In front of him sat a pool of his own creation. He could sit and bathe until he felt settled enough to return. This was his private spot. Often you could find natural water here, but during the drought season it had dried up. It was a man dug hole that he and Hadad had dug when they were younger. During the hot rainy season it would fill with water and they could swim. Hantili had learned the water spell so they could bathe together even when the rains had not fallen. He quickly removed his furs and sank into the cool water.

"Good morning." A voice called to him from nearby. How had he not noticed someone else was here. It wasn't like him to be unaware of his surroundings. His hand reached instinctively toward his sword which remained near him at all times. "No need to be alarmed." Now he could hear the sound of hoof beats trotting forward. Coming out from beyond the trees was a creature with the body of horse with the chest and head of a man. Han had spent many hours in this forest yet he had never come across an animal quite like this before.

"Good morning." His hand had gripped his swords handle. "I would stand to shake your hand, but I'm afraid you may view more than you were hoping for. I hope you'll forgive me for not rising."

"Yes, that's quite alright. I appreciate the thought. I am sorry for startling you, however, you came and sat down in the pool I usually drink out of."

"I apologize, I did not realize anyone else used this pool."

"It's of little consequence." The man's features were sharp, but his voice was calming. It seemed to Han that the man's skin, fur, and hair were all the same color of light tan. His black eyes were eerie to look into and gave Han a chill. His body looked strong though he appeared to have no weapons. There was little Han feared, but something told him to remain on guard. The creature gracefully placed his legs behind himself and sat by the edge of the pool. "In truth I followed the party that arrived last night. I was curious about the girl who rode on the black winged horse."

"Forgive me, many women arrived last night, but I do not remember seeing one astride a winged horse." Han knew he was speaking of the Princess. He had not lied though. When the gates had opened she had no longer been on her horse. What had she done to get this creatures attention? "Perhaps you could be more specific."

"The one with the long, black hair and violet eyes. Her skin looks soft and glows as the sun." The creature smiled. "It seems I have struck a cord in you." Could his face have given him away?

Hantili stood holding his sword. He walked backwards out of the pool and reached slowly for his furs. He wrapped them back across his body without ever taking his eyes off his enemy. The creature remained seated as he dressed. Without a weapon it would be unlikely this animal could beat him. "Yes, there is no mistaking whom you are speaking of. She will be the next Queen, Tawannanna. What is the nature of your query? Do you have some relationship with her?"

"Ah, I came to see the girl who has a friend smitten. The Queen you say. I had heard previously that the djinn's Princess was lovely, but it seems none of the rumors did her justice.” He kept his eyes on Han as he slowly rose to his feet. “I did not come here to fight. Relax your sword. I shall take my leave of you. Enjoy the morning." He bowed low on his legs before disappearing into the forest. Perhaps Han would journey behind the group. Their Princess was attracting the attention of many people. Something big was coming and he now believed he would see it if he followed her.

Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to find my blog amusing!

Retail's End?

     I came across an article on LinkedIn this morning that posed the question are we nearing the death of desktop based retail? I thought to myself how are we nearing the end of desktop based retail? In my world we are just at the cusp of the consumer online experience. Perhaps I am bias. After having spent 10 years in a retail store with the monumental expectation of selling 1,000 dollars or more a day I can confidently say brick and mortar stores are becoming obsolete.

     Just last night I was having a conversation with a manager from another store. I asked how it was going and she replied not good, I am extremely stressed tonight. We had three customers walk in. I asked her, for the night? No. For the entire day.

     Forbes posted an article last year confirming my notion that people are not buying things when they walk into establishments. I have to admit I was worried I would not have a job if companies caught on, but while Forbes did suggest that people were not buying as much from the physical locations they confirmed that the brick and mortar stores still had a purpose. Hence I would still have a job.

      People who go into retail stores are looking for the experience of shopping. They want to touch and feel things even if they go home and then purchase them online. Looking back, I can understand that. I am guilty of it myself. How many times have I gone out to best buy to look at phones or computers, to interact with the product, only to go home and compare prices online and then have it shipped to me? Well I still only do this for major purchases. It seems people chose to do this for a lot of the smaller things today.

     So back to the article that first got my attention. Clicking on the link it seems they are talking about the death of the desktop based retail in India, because studies show people are moving to mobile only ordering systems. I, personally, can't imagine ordering everything on my phone, even though I have a fablat. I feel that the screen is still to tiny for me to make a proper assessment of images on the screen. The author did note that he believes this trendis specific only to India. Thank goodness for that. I need my big screen websites!

     With the downfall of physical stores I know that I will need to rely on web-based ordering in the near future. The idea that all ordering will be done through apps on a mobile only base is frightening. Everything is moving to apps. (I know I sound ancient I'm not even 30). I just find apps to be a real pain in the... you know. I hate searching for them on my phone. I must flip through the pages at least 20 times before spotting the app I'm searching for. I tried to combine them into categories, but that doesn't help much. 

     I know that it would take a lot of the stress off of retail associates to move to Forbes vision of stores where no retail item is expected to be sold. However, I am conflicted as one of the last members of a generation that remembers a time before phones and apps were a part of everyday life. I like buying at the brick and mortar establishments. I idealize the concept of human interaction. I love walking into say, autozone and knowing that the workers there have a knowledge and expertise I cannot get from a computer screen (minus youtube videos), This goes for every retail resource. Those workers work hard to deliver quality service and information to the consumer. 

     Then the thought of app only ordering. How would I ever shop again? It's an ever changing world, but does it have to evolve so quickly? Why do we keep moving away from interactions with others? We are a social creature right? Depression has become more prevalent in recent years and I can't help but wonder if it's because we are defying our nature with our reliance of hiding behind a computer screen. But that's just one persons opinion. The world, despite my objections, will keep on turning. I will wait for the day to come when it finally stops.

Donald Trump Vs Starbucks?

      Donald Trump, one of the GOP candidates for the Republican nomination, has weighed in on the Starbucks red cup crisis and it really grinds my gears. You would think that a GOP candidate would have better things to do with his time then comment on something as silly as a red cup. “If I get elected we'll all be saying Merry Christmas again, I can tell you that much.” “No more Christmas at Starbucks.” At least he's an honest candidate, albeit a bigoted and short sighted one.

     What was the original complaint? A video that went viral the day before. The complaint, “Starbucks removed Christmas from their cups because they hate Jesus.” ... Thinking about the designs of Starbucks' past I remember them being cluttered with snowflakes, ornaments, maybe trees, and that's a big maybe. General holiday/winter themes decorated the cups like garland. Let me make that clear. They erased snowflakes not a giant picture of the Messiah off their cups.

     So why has this become such a big deal? If you ask my father it's because Christmas is American. He's partially correct. Many of the traditions we associate with the Holiday started in America, but it wasn't always a prominent American holiday. In fact, when the Puritans came to this country, they banned Christmas. “The concept of holy days implies some days are not holy.”  It did not become a national holiday until 1870 long after the days of our fore fathers.

     Where to begin with the list of people who made Christmas the grand celebration it is today? Let's start with Washington Irving. In response to political and socio-economic turmoil that plagued the US in the early 19^th century, he wrote a work of fiction depicting Christmas as the joyous, warm hearted holiday we know today. Back in Europe there was the old carnival that took place each year where the wealthy would switch roles with the poor for a day back in Europe. They would have to serve their servants, lick their boots, it was a day of heathenism. This day was designed to keep the masses from revolting.
     Instead of keeping that tradition in America, Irving created the myth of a holiday that brought people together across all boundaries not by switching ranks, but by celebrating “ancient traditions.” These traditions brought together the rich and the poor. Christmas was a magical time where good will existed towards your fellow man. Peace, humility, and kindness prevailed. Christmas existed to quell the wave of mass discontent of poor working conditions and large social and fiscal gaps in America. Many believe that Irving actually created Christmas as we know it today with his piece.

     The second part of Christmas, the myth of Santa Clause. Well, I should say Sinterklass. We all know he is a depiction of St. Nick, the artistry behind his works looks a lot like the green man surrounded in wreaths and garlands though. Doesn't it? People would always take myths or iconic images and transform them to serve a purpose. In this case the familiar iconography helped people to feel comfortable putting a face that they recognized to the man who came into their homes once a year. Scientists believe that you remember every face you see, even those you only glance at in passing, so all those random faces you see in your dream you have glanced at them once before.
      Santa Claus himself was not brought to us by any of our fore fathers. He was given to us by the Dutch. The Dutch in America celebrated St. Nicholas' day each year. They would wait for gifts in stockings or shoes. America ran with the idea of St. Nicholas. Clement Clark Moore (1823) The Night Before Christmas, Santa Claus drawn by Thomas Nash (1862), and Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus by Francis Church to name a few. Christians would soon adopt these traditions to Christmas day on December 25^th, or as it was before that, the solstice.

     Everything we know about Christmas traditions today started in the 19^th century. They are new traditions and none, (minus moving all the other traditions to December 25^th) had anything to do with Jesus. They were just a way to calm the social unrest in early America. Alright, then let's bring it home.

      Starbucks released a statement about it's cups. Starbucks, “wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all our stories.” “Embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it.” Knowing the history of our current traditions I couldn't agree more with their vision. I find peace in the plain red cups uncluttered with winter paraphernalia. I believe there is a quiet sanctuary as I stare at my pure red cup that encompasses the the desire to bring people together from all walks of life. It, like Christmas, breaks the barriers of religion, class, and economic disparities if only for an hour. It truly embraces the reasons behind the tradition. So I completely support their decision to have pure red cups.

     Also as a last side note. Howard Schulz is Jewish… perhaps instead of throwing him to the lions for removing snow flakes, which clearly means he hates Jesus, you should thank him for the social correctness of including Christmas Blend and celebrating traditions that are not his own with all of us. Just a thought.

The New American Dream

     Like many millennials who have recently (or not so recently) graduated from a university with a bachelors and are seeking a first “real” job formatting resumes and cover letters have become an area of personal contempt. I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of response from corporations. No matter how proficient my cover letters appear or how I revitalize my CV I never seem able to get a first interview.

     So I have to ask, not only what I may be doing wrong, but how did scanning a one page paper become adequate to determine someone's value to a corporation over the next 20 years of their life? Also, are cover letters necessary and how do I prove my value through these limited means?

     So I went where you would imagine any millennial would go to seek answers to life's questions: The internet. It offered me a variety of options and I in turn attempted all of them. Each option yielded unsuccessful results.

     I re-examined my resume first. Many advise keeping your resume short, sweet and to the point. My resume when I first left college was approximately two pages long. I had gone with an antiquated model of resume building placing a headline, mission statement, education, experience, skills, and references in that order. I have come to realize how unprofessional my first resume looked. I was tried to to appear more experienced by over expanding about my few part time jobs. Like Shakespeare I have come to realize brevity is the soul of resume writing. I try to use more proficient words to help cut down on the length I am writing.

     Also, I no longer include every job I have ever had. In the last two years I have been with two companies, both in retail. The only other jobs I had were temp jobs through college. Unless it contains a specific, qualifying experience that would be applicable for the job I am applying for it seems unnecessary to list them all. List of resume updates accomplished. My next task cover letter writing.

     I have been given many opinions on the best ways to write a cover letter. Write it in your own voice was the first recommendation I was given. Well, my own voice speaks at an eighth grade level. This is because an eighth grade level of verbal and written communication is the standard that you can assume the majority of the public can comprehend. Teachers also deliver notes home with this concept in mind. Cover letters however, should be more ostentatious in nature, or so I am told. My fiance (who found a good “real” job in only four months of searching) would sit and laugh while writing his cover letters. He would work with the built in thesaurus and after a while stopped writing cover letters altogether. How did this man get ahead of me?

     So my question becomes, what now? I am still struggling just as many millennials are. Its not a lack of desire for a well paying job that leads me to work retail. It is not laziness, peter pan syndrome, or a even a lack of opportunities, but something still isn't connecting. Not just for me, but for many in my generation. Can anyone tell me where we are going wrong? What part of the application process are we getting incorrect?

Is it the economy? Although economists say that unemployment is at it's lowest there are other studies that say America has the highest rate of low paying jobs across the globe. As Bernie Sanders pointed out the American public is paying for the healthcare of the Walton family. Ultimately, I believe it is a combination of factors that created this perfect storm; A lack of real world preparation, a recovering economy that forces older workers to work longer, and a bias against our generation as lazy and unmotivated workers. I have read many articles complaining about recent graduates and would like to set the record straight.

     Yes, I would like to have a job out of college that pay 40,000 dollars a year. I would like to leave my parents home, start a family, and live the American dream before my late 40's. I do wish to move into a more prestigious position not because I have a delusion of grandeur from being raised in the “everyone's a winner” America, but because it's what I need to earn a living wage. Many prestigious jobs are offered 40,000 dollars a year compensation, which is the minimum needed to live near my family. The family I will need to assist me when I have children and will have to continue being a working mom. There are some passionate youths out there being missed by recruiters and algorithms alike. I will keep hoping and improving. Maybe by my thirty-th I will have a “real” job.