ready to drizzle
tear the seal
unwrap
twist off
the cap
no
the glass
how
does
this
happen
do i
have
super human strength
and don’t know it?
—
‘it is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.’
–J.R.R. Tolkien
looks like it’s time to call it a day
sure was a hot one
no end to those squirrels
and loud kids
happy hour?
sign says otherwise
500$ fine ?
park your big rig
let’s head out.
—
‘fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you.’
-william shakespeare
—
ann arbor, michigan, usa – june 2026
a
This Sea Within is the second novel from author, Deborah J. Brasket following When Things Go Missing, and creator of the Writer on the Edge of the Wild blog. After having read her debut novel, I was thrilled when Deborah asked me to be a part of her blog tour, happy to have a hand in helping to get the word out about this intriguing book.
This Sea Within is a tale filled with passion, adventure, mystery, and rebellion. Follow along as Lena discovers her true origin story, and all that led to who she is now. It will keep you intrigued as she takes a path that leads her to places she never imagined and reveals secrets along the way. Lena will find a new inner strength and her rebel spirit will come into play as she rises to the many challenges in front of her. You’ll journey along the path of discovery with Lena and won’t be able to put this down.
Here’s a small taste from an early chapter:
(Lena is in her bedroom trying to decide what she wants to do when she graduates with degrees in journalism and art.)
‘The truth is Lena really isn’t ready to start graduate school. That’s why she could never decide which program to accept. She needs to get out of her comfort zone to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She’s looking for something momentous and irresistible to give her life purpose and direction. Maybe she’ll find that in San Balanque.
There’s a whole unexplored part of herself she knows nothing about. That inner fire and restlessness, that stubbornness and passion, didn’t come from her cool, collected, and tender-hearted father. Nor did her name.
“You were named after a Mayan goddess,” her mother told her when she was a child. “Malenque was beautiful and brave, like you. She saved her kingdom from the horrible tyrant Vucub, the Demon Sea-Dragon who ruled the underworld.”
“Tell me,” Lena said, and so she did, reading from a beautifully illustrated book about Malenque and her brother Balanque, the legendary Hero Twins. They were the patron saints of San Balanque, the heart of its origin story. Lena carries the name as well as the blood of a heritage she knows little about.’
—
Please bookmark this page and join us on the tour! You will have a chance to win a free copy of either This Sea Within or When Things Go Missing, my debut novel. All you have to do is subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already and leave a comment on the participating sites listed below. Three lucky readers will receive their choice of an ebook.
—Where to buy the book, available for pre-order now
This Sea Within –Pre-order on Amazon now. Release date June 15.
Tuesday, June 9 – Teri M. Brown, Author and Host of Online for Authors podcast: PODCAST
Wednesday, June 10 – Beth Kennedy, Author and Blogger, I Didn’t Have My Glasses On: EXCERPT
Thursday, June 12 – Vicki Adkinson, Author and Blogger, Victoria Ponders : REVIEW
Saturday, June 13 – Marie Bailey, Writer and Blogger at 1 Write Way and Substack Newsletter: EXCERPT
Monday, June 15 – THIS SEA WITHIN RELEASE! Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Bookshop.
Wednesday, June 17 – Dawn Pisturino, Author, Poet, Blogger, My Writing Journey: REVIEW
Friday, June 19 – Wynn Leon & Vicki Adkinson, Authors and Hosts of The Heart of the Matter podcast: PODCAST
Saturday, June 20 – Peter Springer, Teacher, Author, & Blogger at Pete’s Blog: REVIEW
found this new gift idea when visiting on of my favorite restaurants
now i can get everyone the same thing this year
no returns and it will fit all recipients
just check the box for the occasion
or write in your own
you’re good to go.
—
‘we buy our own toilet paper even here in the white house.’
-Barack Obama, 44th president of the united states
—
york ann arbor, michigan, uss
brew stands at the ready
on the bow of the ship
brave and steady
navigating our way
back to shore.
—
‘the winds and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigators.’
*edward gibbon
*18th century english historian and author of ‘The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’
—
irish hills, lake leann, michigan, usa – june 2026
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, collected more than 16 tons of reusable goods during spring move-out and kept landfill waste from major commencement events to just 217 pounds through coordinated waste reduction efforts.
The university gathered more than 32,000 pounds of clothing, bedding, shoes, household items and food from residence halls during the spring semester, redirecting them to campus programs and local nonprofits rather than landfills. The total represents the largest collection in the program’s more-than-25-year history.
Six commencement and end-of-semester events attended by approximately 9,500 people achieved a waste diversion rate exceeding 90 percent, with 1,850 pounds of compost collected during the celebrations.
“Many of the items students leave behind still have a lot of usable life left in them,” Alison Richardson, program manager at the UM Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation, said in the story. “By collecting and redistributing those materials, we can reduce waste while supporting students and local organizations.”
The 16.2 tons of donations included 5.6 tons of clothing, 4.7 tons of bedding, 4.4 tons of household items, 0.9 tons of shoes and 0.6 tons of food and personal care items.
Campus programs receiving donations included the Planet Blue Student Leaders FreeStore, University Career Center Clothes Closet and Maize and Blue Cupboard, which received more than 1,000 pounds of food and personal care items. Seven local nonprofits also benefited, which included Jewish Family Services, Ann Arbor Thrift Shop, Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop, House N2 Home, Gretchen’s House Foundation, Kiwanis and Goodwill. Some items will be stored over the summer and redistributed to students during fall FreeStore events.
Volunteers from Student Life Sustainability, Graham Sustainability Institute, Michigan Sustainability Community, Michigan Dining and LSA Sustainability helped organize and sort the donations.
—
‘uncommon thinkers reuse what common thinkers refuse.’
-j.r.d. tata
*Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata ( 1904-1993)was a French-born Indian industrialist, and aviator, who was the chairman of
Tata Sons and Tata Group.
—
source credits: advance media, photo: roger hart, um campus sustainability office
wordpress sent me my post from last year on this date and it still applies
*pro reader tip: my blog name origin story is at the end
—
it’s national eyewear day
so I’ll be celebrating
by scheduling my annual eye doctor appointment
life is good
as far as I can see.
until I get my new glasses
and then things might look different.
—
‘the reason things have or have not happened in my life is because i didn’t have my glasses on.’
– an astute observation about me by one of my triad of daughters
beth k. – mom/writer/many other things too
*origin story of the name of my blog – ididnthavemyglasseson.com
—
art credit: g. wilson
‘
noooooooooooo…
visiting friend’s lakehouse
woke up early
went to make coffee
looked on the shelves
this is what i found
a whisper of real coffee
and a full tin of decaf.
horror in the morning.
—
walking downtown
on a trip to the library
who should i meet,
but a giant squirrel.
maybe he’ll be a big star soon
i can honestly say
that i met him before he was big.
‘every day is the prime of your life.’
-amy krouse rosenthal
what happened here?
bear? flame? vehicle? meteor? dinosaur?
other?
—
‘wherever he saw a hole he always wanted to know the depth of it.
to him this was important.’
-Jules Verne, Journey to the Center of the Earth
I didn't have my glasses on.... 