CHECK . . . CHECKMATE Ray Bradbury
When I was tiny, we’d watch movies at the Drive-in Theatre. We’d go early, while it was still light, to get the best spot. Not too far from the snack bar and bathrooms.
Giant Popcorn, extra butter and salt, a coke for Mom, a thermos of something for Dad, a baggie of home-packed candies for us kids.
My brother and I, in our jammies, loved playing on the playground—with one eye on the cartoons barely visible in the dusk.
Our parents picked the movies. They did not expect us to watch the movies. (After all, in the summer it didn’t get dark until way past our bedtimes.) They expected we’d last through the previews, and the cartoons (drive-in movies always started with a cartoon or two.) That’s why we went to the drive-in in our jammies. Nighty-night kiddos.
Hello “Illustrated Man.”
Hello memories seared into my brain. (Maybe the one time I didn’t fall immediately asleep.). Dang it was freaky.
Hello Ray Bradbury!
Ray Bradbury published more than 30 books and 600 short stories in his lifetime, Illustrated Man being one; Fahrenheit 451 being most banned . (He passed in 2012). Even now his books are edgy, funny, timely, infinitely readable and relatable.
And get this: Ray Bradbury, NEVER WORKED A DAY IN HIS LIFE!
That Inspires Me! (read on)
"I’ve never worked a day in my life. I’ve never worked a day in my life. The joy of writing has propelled me from day to day and year to year. I want you to envy me, my joy. Get out of here tonight and say: ‘Am I being joyful?’ And if you’ve got a writer’s block, you can cure it this evening by stopping whatever you’re writing and doing something else. You picked the wrong subject.” — Ray Bradbury at The Sixth Annual Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, 2001
“I want you to envy me, my joy. ”
Postscript: After this blog post published, I received the following note from Kevin Kane, an author, playwright, musician—baseball historian etc. etc. whose life reads like adventure. Bradbury fans read on:
What Inspires Me #88-Lighthouse Keepers
It’s the dead of winter, the wind is truly howling, I am sure the seas are churning. If I were a boat…
Lighthouse Keepers inspire me. Think about it, they live, often on isolated islands, sometimes alone, with the full time mission of shining light. Light to guide. Light to reassure. Light to point the way.
Sally Snowman was the only female lighthouse keeper in the US. (I don’t know about now.) She had been the keeper of Boston Light, in Boston Harbor for 17 years when this photo was taken in 2020. (Read more about Sally in Natasha Frost’s Atlas Obsura article, click on the picture)—but not this second! Read on first!
Sally connected with her husband James Thomson through their mutual love of lighthouses and maritime history
If you like lighthouses, you’ll enjoy it!
But this post is about another kind of lighthouse keeper, one that, while she does live on an Island, is definitely not isolated, but she sure does shine…
Mary Ellen Sherlock is more “Light Keeper” than Lighthouse Keeper. She is a source of light. I first met her at a book fair—her table was across the aisle and down from mine. She glowed, her table of books all with stuffies beckoned, and pulled me and everyone else in. As I soon found out, Mary Ellen was glowing because she stuffed with ideas, interest, curiosity.
Find more about Mary Ellen the author at her website: Mary Ellen Sherlock.com
Mary Ellen’s curiosity, and wonder—and gumption—compels her to seek out creatives. To unearth their stories, and to share them. When the opportunity to host a podcast of her own was presented, Mary Ellen glowed.
Recently, about 20 episodes ago, Lighthouse Keepers Podcast, went live. Mary Ellen goal: “amplify stories of compassion, resilience, and service.” Here’s the mission: “Through heartfelt conversations, she spotlights the individuals and organizations working tirelessly to make the world a kinder, brighter place.”
The Lighthouse Keepers Podcast is on YouTube—Subscribe!
In December (hence the holly-jolly everywhere) I was delighted, and privileged to be one of her guests. What’s even more fun is that we filmed the session in A Book Place Boutique, with our buddy, Jocelyn (the owner, curator of this delightful so-much-more than a bookshop) looking on, laughing occasionally, ahem…
Mary Ellen and I had a blast chit-chatting (not sure about what, I’m too icked out to watch)
—check out all the episodes of the Lighthouse Keeper Podcast, they will all brighten your day!
This is a snippet of Mary Ellen Sherlock’s Newsletter with links to episodes (yes, mine too). I don’t think the links will work, but you can type them and find them, or you can click on the picture or here to visit the podcast.
Keeping the light, shining the light, spotlighting service and kindness and joy—That’s Inspiring!
What Inspires Me #71-Driveway Art
It’s been a while since I’ve shared what inspires me here at the Fishbowl. That doesn’t mean a thing. Finding inspiration in the world—at least one thing a day—is what keeps me going! To kick off 2026, I’m sharing one of my go-to sources of vitamin I. Read on:
You know the saying, “Want something done? Ask a busy person to do it.” My writer-buddy-friend Jim Smolski is one of the busiest people I know. And one way “cool” dude (yep, that’s Jim with his long board back in the day. Get this, while he now lives in the Houston area, he hails from Long Island, just up island from me, now—same sand, same waves, same haircut my brother, Joe, wore.)
When Jim’s not constructing homes and woodworking—or maybe while he is—he’s crafting stories, poems, cartoons, and art. Impressive as that sounds (and exhausting) what Jim does in his “spare” time is what inspires me:
Driveway Art with “The Grandpa Man”
Some time back, a few neighborhood kids expressed interest in art Jim was making. Taking it as a sign, Jim invited them to give it a try.
It started with one table, a few children, and some art supplies…
The line of art tables just kept growing and growing…
“There are other kids and parents they come and go...
as kids grab an empty chair the other kids are coming down the block.
The party usually lasts about 4 hours plus.
And you know what.....?
I love it!!!! ”
The line of bikes and wagons kept growing as word of “Grandpa Man’s” Pop-up art classes spread. And get this, neighbors, watching the budding artists, have started donating funds and supplies to keep the classes going.
Jim never fails to try the weekly poetry-challenges. Here’s a recent one to kick off the new year. (Mind you this is less than 7-minutes poeming.) But it seasoned with a dash of Jim’s spirit!
Glad Tidings
I resolved to break my record.
Make my resolution last.
I decided I would stay on course.
Not give up on them, so fast.
We do have good intentions.
Our plan is to improve.
But life goes on and back we fall.
A needle in a groove.
I’ll find fortitude unmatched.
To escape from the misguidings.
My resolution for the year.
Is to wish you all glad tidings.
Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl). Here’s to being inspired, and inspiring others! Thanks, Jim!
Back to School Sale!
Friends! Can you believe it’s already August? Back to school time! Sending hugs to you teachers and parents (and kiddles) gearing up for a new school year! I know you’ve got plenty to do so this will be a quick post:
Familius is having a huge sale on “educational” titles—including The House That Ruth Built—and other great books too. This is a excellent time to stock up on gifts—birthdays, babies, holidays, teacher/library gifts... Check it out!!!
Thanks for your attention. Sending wishes for a joyful re-entry!
Come Fly With Me!
(I fully intended to send this update right after the 4th of July. But with the flooding in Texas and all those people lost…and the devastation, there was no celebrating. There was only hoping, praying, sending strength and energy.) We continue to hope with love and light.
Hello dear friends! If you are reading this, you are one of the reasons for this post. Because without you I would have given up writing—scratch that, don’t think I’ll ever give up writing…(I might have given up trying to get any of my scribbles published, though.) You inspire me! Imaging you reading my words, hopefully chuckling along the way I did when I wrote it. And maybe sometimes feeling that satisfied awwwwww.
So right now, I hope you’ll raise whatever your delight du jour and celebrate with me, because I have wonderful news!
At long last my newest picture book will be landing July 22nd!
Surprise!—it is not about baseball!
The ART! Let me tell you about the art illustrator K.M. Brown created to bring my words to life. It’s not like any of my other books—or many other picture books for that matter. It’s sort of got an anime vibe—as does K.M. (who goes by Katie.) Find out more about Katie from the Q&A she did a few months back. Katie spills secrets! Here’s the link to K.M. Brown’s Q & A.
There’s a lot of fun stuff on the Rainbow Kite page on my website. Along with K.M.’s interview there are book-in-progress sketches. And soon, there will be Activities, because my buddy, award-winning author Doris Fisher is creating them. And Doris is a puzzle wiz!
And YOO-HOO teachers and librarians…parents too. Coming soon is a Teaching Guide with crafts. Another buddy, award-winning author, Pinterest Guru Deb Gonzales, founder of PinLit, is bit-by-bit putting it together…
Rainbow Kite is available for Pre-Order now! (And if you’d like a digital copy to review—we need those reviews—pop me a note.
And mostly . . . . Thank you for your support! Kelly always and all ways!
Totally Cool
Cool to be Busy or Hip to be Boring?
Yesterday morning, on hold with a ticketing agent, while reading email and checking Instagram, this article entitled, Cool to be Busy, popped up. I didn’t have time to read more than the headline just then—the operator clicked on—had too much going on to get back to it, later, so I never learned where the article went. But, maybe I didn’t need to know . . .
California Dreaming:
As a teen in Southern California, in The Beach Boys 70s, in Huntington Beach, when “sunscreen” meant sitting on the shady side of Lifeguard Stand #5, it was cool to be busy. (Having nothing to do, nowhere to go, was just sad, dude.) We were totally cool, and kept ourselves totally busy—working on our tans.
Being tan was cool & tanning was a job. Job performance was judged by our tan lines. Fading was not an option! “Tanning” was a top item on our To-Do lists. An overachiever even then, I put in my hours and then some “working” on my tan. Which, even I’ll admit, was a pretty mindless task. As long as I minded the sun’s position, turned & basted accordingly, I was free to mentally pass the time doing whatever I liked: reading, dozing, people watching, daydreaming.
Grandboys at the Lake
I was trying to find a snap of my kids back when but the photos have all gone yellow—yes it was that long ago…
Lazy, crazy, hazy daze of Momming:
Later, as a mother in the 80s and 90s, in “Bring on those babies” Tulsa, Oklahoma, “Momming”—Play Dates, Swim Lessons, T-Ball, Soccer, Dance—replaced “Tanning” on my to-do list. While the name had changed, commitment-wise “Mom events” were much the same as Tanning: schedules chunks of the day during which, aside from tossing out cautions or cheers, depending, my job was to be there. And while I was there, mentally pass the time however I wanted: reading, dozing, chatting, people watching, daydreaming.
Fast Forward to Now:
If busy is cool, I am the Coolest! But, busy cool now doesn’t make me feel as chill as back then, it just makes me tired. Why?
Now, looking back on those golden unplugged days of yore, I miss having “Tanning” and “Momming” on my To-Do list! Not that I miss having to doing them. “Tanning” and “Momming” were definitely not Free Time. I wasn’t free to go or do what I wanted. (After all, my job was to minding my tan, or my children, depending.) Because the nature of the tasks, “Tanning” and “Momming” required me to be some place physically, while mentally leaving me free to do or think—or not—as I pleased, call it ME TIME.
(As I define it, ME TIME is some scheduled time in the day when I absolutely cannot Go or Do or Produce anything for any purpose other than to pass the time.)
So, if “Cool to be Busy,” is cool! It’s time I played it real cool by getting busy, getting in some ME TIME. How about you?
Scheduling Me Time:
Step 1: Take an honest look at your weekly schedule and find a slot for ME TIME. (How much time depends on you, your schedule, and your guilt threshold.)
Step 2: Don’t take NO! Find Time—15 minutes here, 10 minutes there, half-an-hour on a Sunday—Time you would, or could, or used-to reserve for _____________ (Insert your equivalent of “Tanning”).
Step 3: Imagine yourself laying on the beach, slathered in Bain de Soleil. Don’t move or you’ll muss your tan lines! Don’t touch or you’ll get sand in your device! Can’t scroll cause there’s sun glare on the screen!
Step 4: What’s left? List things you want to/enjoy/miss that you don’t allow time for now. For Example:
Reading for fun
daydreaming
baseball games
People Watch
Taking a nap
Organize photos
Stamp Collection
Write letters/cards
Build a model airplane
Work a puzzle
Watch the grass grow
Work on your non-tan (SPF 100 & hat mandatory)
Be Totally Cool!
Totally Cool Playlist:
Spring Fling Writing Contest
Call me an April Fool, but I can’t resist a fun challenge!
So when I learned that agent Kaitlyn Leanne Sanchez and her critique bud Ciara O’Neal were hosting a writing contest I leaped at the opportunity.
The Spring Fling submission window is only open for 3 days. No April Foolin!
Deadline for posting your story is April 3, 2025 at 11:59 pm CT. (That’s 12:59 am April 4th, in NY)
SO GET BUSY…. the challenge they’ve set, should you choose to accept it, is below: Scroll down down first to the gif I chose and then to read my entry.
(If that’s not incentive enough, the link to the writing contest there too.)
I took on the challenge by starting with a search.
I googled “Spring” GIF
Finally one stirred me. Below is the result:
.
No matter what comes of it, the Spring Fling challenge was fun, and inspiring—and made me very, very hungry. I’m off to the bakery!
Still a few hours left. Give it a try. (Or if you’re reading this after, go check out the various, inspiring, fun, silly, amazing, heartful, entries! Here’s the link:
Spring Fling Writing Contest Details
Now that’s inspiring!
What Inspires Me? The King of Swing
May 30, 1935: 712th! 713! 714th Home Runs!
Babe Ruth set a MLB Career Home Run Record in his final appearance as a MLB player.
And they said he was “too old” “washed up” “used to be” …”over the hill. . ..
And then he went and slammed it OVER THE WALL!!!
The Babe’s career record of 714 home runs stood until April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron slugged his 715th career homer. Ruth came out of retirement to play one game for the Boston Braves at Forbes Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Babe Ruth ended the game, and his career, with a triple crown: 3 hits, 3 RBIs, and 3 walks.
For more about baseball and Babe check out the SABR—the Society for American Baseball Research
“On May 26, 1935, at in a game against the Pittsburg Pirates, Babe went four for four, hitting three home runs—No. 712, 713, and 714 to set an MLB career home run record that stood until 1974—and driving in six runs. Number 714 was truly a “Moonshot.” It stands as the first ever hit over the right field grandstand at Forbes Field. The hit was measured to have flown 524 feet. Pirates Pitcher Guy Bush later recalled, “It was the longest cockeyed ball I ever saw hit in my life.” ”
Make that a big 715!
In the July 8, 1918 game against the Cleveland Indians, bottom of the 10th inning, with the score tied 0-0, and Amos Struck on first, Babe blasted a homer into Fenway Park’s right field stands. Because, as Struck touched home plate to score the winning run, the game was technically over, Babe was credited with an RBI and a triple but not a home run.
Friends—Don’t Miss Out!
55% discount on Amazon
That’s right! Right now, The House that Ruth Built is on sale. Limit 4 copies. Free shipping with Prime.
Get yours—and all your baseball fans a copy!
