Seems Jessie Rae’s just did this for the hospital folks. Then, I asked him how we help pay for the efforts, and the conversation went something like this:
Author: So, how can I contribute some money for the effort?
Mike Ross: Actually, we didn’t ask for any. I don’t feel comfortable asking.
Author: You didn’t ask, I did. So, how do I do that?
Mike Ross: I don’t know. We aren’t set up to do that. We aren’t a non-profit.
Author: Mike, it’s pretty easy. I come in and you charge me $100 for some French fries, and I buy five of them. I’m not expecting a non-profit receipt here, buddy.
<pause while Mike R. thinks this over.>
Mike Ross: Well, my mom is taking orders and she knows you, so if you want to do that, thank you.
Author: You are welcome. Plus, you know, I’m going to order a pound of meat. But that’s just because I want to support you guys, too. It has nothing to do with the fact I need some <redacted> BBQ in my life.
Mike’s mom allowed me to order the meat, then gave it to me free. That’s the type of people Mike and his folks are. I made a non-tax-deductible donation, and we all feel a little better in life during these annoying times.
If you want to buy some “James Brownstone French Fries for the Medical Professionals” (That’s a mouthful) number is below – but do NOT feel any obligation. You will count under the donations I push on him.
Jessie Rae’s Phone number is: +1 (702) 541-5546
You might have to explain this to whoever picks up the phone. I haven’t told Mike Ross about it yet.
Hehehehe.
Here is how I suspect a call would go:
“Hello, Jessie Rae’s.”
“I would like to buy Brownstone Fries.”
“What? We don’t sell Brownstone Fries.”
“You know Brownstone, the signed books you have in the restaurant to give to fans of Michael Anderle?”
“Yesssss? (maybe no?)”
“Well, I want to buy some Brownstone Fries for <donation amount.>”
“So, you want <donation amount> of French fries?”
“Sort of. Except, I’ll never pick them up as I don’t live in <your city>, so I hope you don’t actually make any Brownstone fries. It’s just a donation to help you guys pay for the effort and food to help medical professionals. Take my credit card, charge me <donation amount>, use the money for providing food for the medical professionals, and we all do a little better during these times, man.”
I’m going to have to try this phone call on them this week. BWAHAHAHAHAHA.
Mike’s Diary: “Sometimes life just is.”
So, my company is testing new software to allow us a virtual experience while we work. As of now (4/13/2020), it is performing better than I could have hoped in bringing those who collaborate with LMBPN together, no matter the location or time of day (or night.)
This same software, I hope, will allow us to create virtual meetings with fans, and (I’m trying, but I’m not sure the company behind the software will make it affordable) I want to create a place for fans to get together and create all sorts of fun stuff with LMBPN.
And frankly just have a place to hang a while.
If you would like to know more (and are on Facebook) join us on the Kurtherian Gambit Facebook Group For Fans and Authors
Link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=127989844503323&ref=br_rs
I hope to have something up to start testing this in the next week or two. We will start with small groups, and possibly move up from there.
Clean is the New Dream
My office isn’t messy… exactly. It is lived-in chic.
Honestly, a whole lot of the lived-in part. (If you add chic to the end of any descriptor, you immediately sound artsy. No, really, try it.
“That’s ugly.”
“No, that’s ugly-chic.”
“That man-cave crap has got to go.”
“No, that’s man-cave chic. It stays.”
“That’s hideous.”
“No, that’s hideous—”
“If you end that with ‘chic,’ I will shove my cottony house slippers so far up your ass you will be burping tiny clouds.”
“Right. So, what now? I lost my train of thought with that visual.”
(You thought ‘Hideous chic, and that would have worked, #AmIRight?)
I will have to take another set of boxes to the storage room tomorrow after our meetings, and maybe then I’ll have a bit of “clean” in my office. Judith cleaned the living room and Kitchen (both places she works from) yesterday, and believe it or not, I am a bit #Jealous of her clean areas.
(Don’t worry, I’m having trouble believing it too.)
I’m So Going to Regret This.
So, I have the new 2020 iPad (#SupportApple and #ItsGoodToHaveAppleEmployeesWithDiscountsAsFriends along with #SupportFriendsByBuyingApple), but I don’t like using it just as it is.
I want either a Smart Keyboard Folio or the new More Magic Keyboard for the iPad, or maybe something clamshell (but won’t that effectively make it a Mac?).
Have I mentioned I’m seriously impatient? I work six often seven days a week (#ThankGodILoveWhatIDo), and when it comes to my technology, I splurge on myself. It’s the one thing I can point to my wife and say ‘it’s a write-off’ and ‘Don’t harsh my (writing) buzz, woman.’
(Actually, only one of those responses works on Judith. #ThankGodAppleDoesn’tRefreshOften and #IReallyDoWait2YearsBetweeniPhonesNow.)
I swear Apple better not upgrade their keyboard on the larger MacBooks in 2021, or I might have to try therapy to hold-back on an upgrade (yes, I have the 2016 MacBook 16”.) If therapy is more expensive than my purchase, doesn’t that make it smarter just to purchase the product?
I think it does.
Are you paying attention, Steve? (#StephenCampbellNeedsaNewMacbook13Pro)
Anyway. My iPad is sitting in its box unopened because I don’t have a keyboard for it. I can’t get the Magic Keyboard until May at this point, or maybe later. Since I suffer from #ImpatienceIsAThing, I am looking to see if anything cool is out for my iPad that includes a touchpad for mousing around.
You know, if—and this is for the benefit of my fans who might wish to know—I buy a clamshell with touchpad and report that information back here in a future Author Note,
