Saturday Share - Great Dip for 4th of July

Happy Independence Day!

If the weather is good, and not so hot that it cooks your skin, you'll probably be outside grilling chicken, smoking brisket, or doing both along with sausage on the grill and cold drinks in the cooler.

The kids may be outside if you can get them away from video games and their phones to play touch football, toss a softball, or maybe a game of hide and seek if they're still young. 

What better way to celebrate this holiday than a recipe that reflects the melting pot we proudly are in this country.

I give you my recipe that will make any party great and will serve as an appetizer to keep hunger at bay until you toss that delicious BBQ on a platter.

OLD FASHIONED TEX MEX DIP

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce can of refried beans
• 1 4-ounce can of chopped green chiles
• 1 4.5-ounce can pitted black olives, chopped
• 3 medium green onions, finely chopped
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 1 package guacamole mix, any brand that you like
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 large avocado, pitted and mashed
• 1/2 cup Picante Sauce, of course, my choice is always Pace's
• Tortilla chips

Directions

1. Mash the avocado and combine with the guacamole mix. Refrigerate at least an hour until it's "set" up.
2. Prepare the rest of the ingredients while you wait. Drain and chop the green chiles. Chop the black olives, green oinions, and tomato. Combine the olives and green onions in a small bowl and mix the tomatoes and chiles in another bowl.
3. Shred the cheese.
4. When the guacamole is ready, remove it from the fridge. In a large shallow dish, layer the ingredients in this order: beans, guacamole, olives and green onions mixture, chiles and tomato mixture.
5. Finally, sprinkle the cheese over the mixture.
6. Using the sour cream, frost the mixture. Next, drizzle the picante sauce over the layered dip.
7. Serve with fresh tortilla chips.
8. Here's a little tip. Warm the tortilla chips. It makes the dip even better.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Happy July 4th. Have fun. Be safe.

Prefer to stay inside and read? DECEPTIVELY YOURS is on sale for 99¢.

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Difference Between Art and Craft of Writing

What is the difference between the Art of Writing and the Craft of Writing?

THE ART OF WRITING

What is this? It's the creative process of translating emotions, abstract thoughts, and ideas into words that convey meaning to the reader and helps the reader connect with the written text. 

I think this could conceivably be viewed in part as the author's voice. How one author conveys an idea is different from other authors. Maybe that certain something some authors seem born with that enables them to easily master the art of writing is akin to being born with artistic talent.

THE CRAFT OF WRITING

This is much easier to define. It's the grammar rules of punctuation, spelling, choosing the correct word, sentence structure, plotting, scene development, dialogue, characterization, and mastering the narrative elements of writing, just to name a few, in order to properly create text that connects with your readers.

Good writing requires both Art and Craft. Learn your Craft and then use what you learned to write 1000s upon 1000s of words. Why? Because Craft can be learned from outside oneself, but Art can only be learned within by writing.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Want to be a great writer? Learn everything you can and then write, write, write.

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NO POWER & CENTERPOINT'S AI CUSTOMER SERVICE

July began yesterday with the thermometer on our garage hitting 100° F. I think there was also 100% humidity.

This was the week that the power company began replacing underground power lines in our section of town. What fun this has been!

Since Monday, the power goes off at unexpected times. Usually this happens when I'm frantically typing away, trying to get the words done before I lose the thought.

When does the power return? I guess whenever the heck Centerpoint decides it's time. We're on the text message list for Centerpoint. When they first starting this text alert system, they would actually send texts saying, "We see that the power is off at or near your address." Another text would follow saying why it was off, i.e. "damage to the lines is being repaired."

A while after that, we'd get a text saying, "Power is estimated to be restore by 4:00PM today."

AI OLIVIA

Now, we get no text alerts when the power goes out. We call Centerpoint and get OLIVIA, the AI in charge of customer service who asks why we're calling and gives a list of reasons. 

We select Power Outage. Olivia thinks and then tells us she sees that the power is out at our address. Then she asks if we are on their text alert system.

We answer yes. Then she asks if we received a text alert. We answer no. Then the all-knowing Olivia tells us we should manage our text alert settings at Centerpoint dot blah blah blah—which we've done countless times only to discover each time that the proper settings are still in place.

No explanation of why the power is out. No information, estimate, or guess about when power will be restored. Nothing but generic drivel by an AI named Olivia.

The first day the power was off almost 8 hours. We had an electrician working here on our construction. Of course, no power means no power tools. 

I went outside to report what I'd learned from Centerpoint aka AI OLIVIA. 

As an electrician, I'm sure he has had more interaction with Olivia than I have because he said, "I hate that AI BITCH."

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Laughing, I agreed. I hate that AI BITCH too.

Do you love to read? I do. Reading a book is saving my sanity during all this construction. I'm happy to invite you to sign up for my free newsletter, I LOVE READING. You'll receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Voicemails For Isabellle - Netflix

What can I say about VOICEMAILS FOR ISABELLE, now streaming on Netflix? Well, grab a box of Kleenex before you sit down to watch the film.

(I apologize for the typo in the Post Title.)

This 2026 American movie, billed as a romantic comedy drama, is sweet and heartwarming with a touch of heat, but there are scenes that will make you weep.

Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, the movie stars Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Harry Shum Jr., Lukas Gage, and Nick Offerman.

BLURBING THE FLICK

Jill copes with the tragic death of her sister Isabelle by leaving voicemails on Isabelle's phone number. The only problem is that  Isabelle's phone number was reassigned to Wes, an upwardly mobile young man who finds Jill's voicemails hilarious. As time passes, Wes begins to fall in love with Jill.

Truly, the movie is delightful. It was funny and poignant and romantic. What more can you ask for in a contemporary romantic comedy, or dramedy, if you prefer?

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The ending of the movie is exactly what the viewer wants. Definitely watch this film if you're a Netflix subscriber.

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Monday Magic - Identify Fonts

Have you ever seen a font on a book cover or in an advertisement and wondered what it was?

Now you can find out easily with What Font. It's a free website app that's easy to use.

At the search box, simply post the URL of the image or upload an image showing the font used in words. 

You can even drag and drop a text element onto the page. The app will give you the results which you can click on.

The app works online with your computer and also on iOS and Android too.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Using What Font is that easy. Try it. You'll like it.

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How I'm Spending My Summer

Maybe you knew, but I didn't realize that the last post I made on SlingWords was 11 days ago.

How did this happen? Because we're in Phase 1 of home renovation and also building a workshop as an extension on the garage.

At the same time, we completed our landscaping project in the front yard.

Oh, and we now have a second home. We call it—Home Depot. Not a day goes by that we don't visit our second home at least once. Some days, we're there 2 or 3 times.

WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT HOME REMODELING?

Absolutely nothing. Then again, every joke you ever heard about home renovation and contractors is true. You'll just groan as you laugh.

You pay contractors bundles of money, and wonder why. They start work, and then disappear. 

To be fair, I do understand their process. They bid a job, schedule a team to show up, and they do. You're thrilled that soon your project will be completed.

Then, two days later, one or more takes off early. The project manager disappears, and you don't see him again. 

He's delegated the project to his main man who works with the crew but more or less oversees the project.

A few days later, no one shows up. You start calling to see when someone will arrive to continue work. After that, it's always a surprise when significant progress gets made.

Why? Because the project manager you hired only bids projects. He has to keep new projects in the pipeline in order to have a secure income stream.

The men who do the actual work also bid projects so they'll have something lined up when they finish your job.

MY TIME

Unfortunately, my time is not my own. That book I'm trying to finish? It's not happening. Eeach day, I head to my office. 

About 15 minutes later, Darling Hubby dashes into the house to ask me where I want a light fixture positioned or will I go to Home Depot and pick up some screws with "star" heads to attach OSB to studs.

Eventually, I get back to the office, but the rest of the day is much the same. I've just given up doing anything that requires a dedicated block of time longer than 15 minutes. 

Eventually the workshop will be finished—by mid-July I hope—and Phase 1 of reno will be completed too. 

We'll breathe a sigh of relief, and I'll get back to my daily routine and get this darn book written. 

Time will pass, and we'll forget all the disccomfort and frustration we endured.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

  Time will pass, and we'll  begin to talk about Phase 2 of our home renovation. I can only hope someone talks us out of it!

Do you love to read? I do. Reading a book has saved my sanity during this reno. I'm happy to invite you to sign up for my free newsletter, I LOVE READING. You'll receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - NOPE - Netflix

 If you're looking for something completely different in the science fiction genre, you must watch NOPE, a 2022 American film that was written, directed, and produced by Jordan Peele.

This movie, an interesting mix of science fiction and horror, stars Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yaun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.

Now streaming on Netflix, this film will keep you guessing until you realize what's happening. It's almost like a detective story with bits and pieces of clues that end up giving a picture of what's going on.

Set in the modern west, siblings Otis—OJ Junior— (Kaluuya) and Emerald (Palmer) are horse wranglers trying to carry on their father’s tradition of training and handling horses for film productions.

But there’s something strange going on at their dry-as-a- bone California ranch.

Honestly, I don't want to say too much because the film is mesmerizing as OJ and Emerald, struggling to stay afloat, realize something way out of the ordinary is stalking their ranch.

When their father is struck dead by a small object falling from the sky, everything takes a turn for the worse.

Throw in some secondary characters with their own life crises, an electronics store camera installer, and a documentary film maker, and you have the kind of movie where you know everyone is going to end up dead.

The movie is—I don't want to say slow-paced. I'll say methodical, like when Sherlock Holmes is gathering all the evidence. 

It’s subtle, but it will grab you and make you keep watching to find out what the heck is going on. You have to pay attention to understand what’s actually happening.

NOPE was Peele’s 3rd directorial film. When asked, he said his inspirations were King Kong, 1993; Wizard of Oz, 1939; Jaws, 1975; Close Encountrs of the Third Kind, 1975; Jurassic Park, 1977; and Signs, 2002.

If you think about all of those movies, you'll realize they're all characterized by a sense of wonder and an element of dread.

Released in July 2022, NOPE was a box office succes, capturing $171.1M after a $68M budget. It has been named one of the top 10 films of 2022 by the American Film Institute and has been included in lists of the best science fiction films of the 21st century.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Watch NOPE and come back to this post to leave a comment with your thoughts about the movie.

None of my books have been made into movies yet, but they're exciting stories full of passion and romance. Sign up for my free newsletter, I LOVE READING. and learn more about my books. You'll receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. SIGN UP TODAY.