The Writer's Life 1/21 - Day After

Michelle Malkin made valid points in her op-ed piece in today's NY Post. Commenting on the controversy surrounding the absence of black nominees for Oscars, she asks if the politicians that have chimed in on the issue are going to boycott the millions Hollywood types fork over to them in donations. Will Mayor Bill deBlasio end the tax breaks to millionaires who film in NYC? Kudos, madam.

Last night I watched episode two of Fox's Second Chance. Since I missed the premiere, I don't know how the hero was reincarnated. I'll have to catch the rerun. In his previous life he was a corrupt sheriff who violated rights in order to catch bad guys. His grandson is now a detective, and they are approximately the same age. I enjoyed it and will give it another look.

After yesterday's near miss on the road, I had a tough time sleeping. I was so wired when I got home I didn't need my regular, one-hour nap. I had the TV on at low volume throughout the night and dozed on and off. Looking back, I find a couple of aspects of the incident fascinating. Fortunately, the car didn't spin out until I was into the intersection, otherwise I might have banged into cars that had stopped in Ocean Parkway's right and left Coney Island bound lanes. I was in the middle. I was so lucky that the ambulance driver was cautious. Perhaps he heard the skid. I don't want to make it seem like I was nearly struck. The ambulance was stopped approximately 20 feet to my left. One would think that such near peril would negate all emotions but fear. It did not. Sitting there for a moment in the intersection, I was embarrassed, certain everyone assumed I'd been speeding. I was doing 35 or less and had enough room to come to a stop no further than the crosswalk had the brakes not failed. The line, rusted after 13 years, ruptured. It cost $430 to repair, much less than I'd expected. Although I certainly did not come out ahead, it was good news. And the problem has been addressed. I dread to think what might have been had it happened during one of our family excursions to south Jersey via the Verrazano and the Garden State Parkway.

Since the car was in the shop at the time I set up the floating book shop, I couldn't venture to Bay Parkway. And since I had time to kill before the pickup call, I brought out two bags full of books to my usual nook, despite knowing it would be as windy as usual there. I counted less than 30 books, including mine. With so limited an inventory, the odds of a sale are even longer, especially since I have no Russian books at present. I did get to converse with several acquaintances, so it was well worth it, despite the absence of sales. People had been asking about Steve, aka Mountain Man, who had been MIA until today. Facing a health issue that proved to be a false alarm, he'd limited his excursions to accompanying his wife on early morning shopping trips. He's as cynical as ever about politicians, infuriated by the corruption, which I, who have the lowest expectations regarding the elected, simply shrug at as standard operating procedure. He vows to never again vote. "Where are the statesmen?" he pleads, appalled. Where, indeed?

Vic's Short Works: http://tinyurl.com/jy55pzc

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Website: http://vicfortezzaauthor.my-free.website/