Pd Michel

As we head into fall in preparation for the milder temperatures, if you are lucky enough to live in Phoenix, or the harsher and colder temperatures, if you live in the mountains or farther North, I realized that I haven’t updated this blog in far too long.

Life goes on. The last few months have been good ones. I have a new job, same as the old job, displaced by a handful of cubes from where I once sat. I just sent a new novel to my beta readers, and I just posted a micro story in the spirit of Halloween.

But this week has been a mechanical nightmare. Monday the Air Conditioning went out on my car. It is still in the high nineties here in Phoenix, and well over a hundred inside the car when I get off work. I am thankful that it lasted until milder temperatures.

Sometimes lemonade happens when life gives you lemons. I always drive when I go out to dinner with my wife, but she drove since I need to get my A/C fixed. We came out from the restaurant, she turned the key, and a clicking sound came from the starter. Her battery had gone dead. Phoenix summers are hard on batteries. They typically last one or two summers before they die.

The next couple out of the restaurant happily jumped her car. I drove it home. Tomorrow I will take the battery in to exchange it for a new one. She was happy I was there when it happened. I could be upset, but I chose to call it lemons from lemonade.

Things often happen in threes. The third is that yesterday my son, in college in Minnesota, sent me a text saying noises were coming from his 8 year old Nissan and he was taking it to the dealer. He texted me this afternoon the verdict: His transmission was about to die. The sentence: $3200 for a new one. He is calling around to try and find a cheaper transmission, and if we can’t get the repair costs less than the national debt, a good used car.

As I mentioned, I just sent a new novel to my beta readers. Its the first of my Science Fiction Novel of mine that is ready to publish. It’s titled “Fourth Space” It is a contemporary time travel novel set on a college campus. I believe it has some thought provoking uniqueness’s that will set it apart from the many time travel novels that flood the genre.

I hope you enjoy my Short, “Dinner Guest.” If you read the short remember, it is almost Halloween.

Pat

Much had been said about mankind stepping on the moon. All I know is it was the most fascinating and exciting time of my young life. It was a time when anything was possible. It inspired much of the modern technology we take for granted today.

I remember reading novels, such as Arthur C. Clark’s, 2001 A Space Odyssey, with firm expectation that the space station, moon base, and deep space probes shown would be there at the turn of the millennium. Yet after a handful of lunar missions, we let the dream die.

Fifty years after we landed on the moon, we have yet to see anyone else repeat the experiment, or better yet, fly farther out. In a few hundred years, our ancestors may debate why we stopped when we were so close. I hope they do it while sipping Champagne from a zero-G cup, or from a dome on another planet.

I wrote the short story Apollo’s Children as a tribute. I hope you enjoy it.

Pd Michel

Memorial Day is a day when we honor our fallen heroes; men and women, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, family and friends, who have risked their lives to preserve our republic, and paid the ultimate price. I am forever humbled and grateful for their sacrifice.

I am grateful for everyone who has willingly taken up the call to defend our liberty, whether currently on active duty, or veterans. Liberty is not free. It is a never-ending struggle. The red stripes on our flag symbolizes the blood shed to defend our nation and its ideals.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;

The first two statements, taken from the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States, would soon be relegated to the dustbin of history, if it wasn’t for the third, the oath taken by everyone on entering the military. The oath is unconditional. It is made with the knowledge that the price may be one’s life. It is an act of service that guarantees the life and liberty of those that didn’t serve.

I will spend some time this weekend, contemplating the men and women I served with in the military, and the many veterans I have met. A few died while on duty, many more lived a full life after they were discharged, and have entered into their final reward. Then I will enjoy my weekend to honor their sacrifice, knowing the price that was paid so I could.

Greater love has no one than to give his life for his friend.

Thank You, my friends,

Happy Memorial Day

Pat

The first day of May has long been considered the first festival of spring in many European cultures for centuries. It was originally brought into conquered territories by Rome, and adapted and merged with local celebration. I remember running around a May Pole when I was young, but I haven’t seen a celebration in years.

I wish everyone a spring filled with flowers and new life.

The short story is now a fantasy called War Queen. I hope you enjoy it.

Patrick David Michel, Pd Michel

Tucson Festival of Books was a lot of fun. I met a lot of great people. I was with a group of very talented, mostly indie authors. We had gone in together and rented a twenty by twenty foot booth. Almost every genera of fiction was represented. Many people I talked to were interested in a different genera. I directed them the best I could. Some bought my books, and received a complimentary autograph. Many took my business card. Some promised to buy my book on kindle. I’m curious as to how many e-book sales I will see from the festival.

As promised, I added a short story page. I plan to change the story out every month to six weeks. This one is Science fiction. It is titled, Back from War. I hope you enjoy it.

Life is an Adventure
Pd Michel

I wish to thank everyone who has braved the adventure of this new website. It is my first website, and was started about two weeks ago. Please forgive any “glitches” in this site. I am a novice and new to WordPress and website design in general. Changes, hopefully three steps forward for everyone back, are planned as I learn more. I plan to add a short story of the month soon after I get back from the festival to the website.

This weekend you can find me at the Tucson festival of Books in booth 155 with a group of amazingly talented authors. The weather should be beautiful. Come by and say hi !

Life is an Adventure. Enjoy

Pd Michel