Uber and Lyft and Bears Oh My!

So, in case you had not guessed by the title I have decided to do driving part time during this fabulous year I have decided to try to make my writing and publishing company work.

I had a weird thing happen as I set myself up for this endeavor. Reading a lot online I decided to include water, hand sanitizer, gum, barf-bags and a small trash bag as part of the features of my car.

I also made sure to re-scotch-guard my seats just in case.

The weird thing was that I was nervous about starting to drive people around. This is totally not normal for me. I have almost no fear when it comes to being in public. I have acted on stage, done conferences and spoken in -front of thousands of people and yet the thought of someone getting in my car kinda freaked me out.

I was lucky. A very good friend of mine needed a ride to the airport. So, I was actually able to pop-my-cherry, so to speak, with her which for some reason made the whole thing easier.

She also recommended that I get some business cards so that if people needed to arrange rides with me they could. I ordered them that day.

So, I have driven for two days now, about 10 rides in total and it was fun.

I haven’t any truly interesting stories yet, but I am sure I will.

I had a mother and son (he was about 7) that I took to the airport. He wants to be a pilot and told me all about it on the ride. She ended up giving me a 5-star and compliment. Yay for me.

I also picked up a gentleman that needed to get a money order from Wal-Mart, asked me to wait for a min, then requested and Uber and I drove him back home. Bonus!

Mainly however, they were people needing a ride home from work. I remember when having a car, riding a bus or taking a taxi were the only options. This made me appreciate this service I was providing even more.

So… If you follow me, I promise you will hear many more tales from behind the wheel!

~ Erika

 

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Irrational Fears

So I had a realization while taking friend to get teeth pulled today. He is going under because the dentist is pulling four teeth. 😳

He told me that he has the fear that he is actually being euthanized. He knows it is irrational but the fear is still very real, to them!

My realization was that it is easy to point to larger fears like Clowns, Snakes, Spiders or the Dark, however there are little irrational fears that haunt us. I am not sure most of us even realize we are carrying these fears or that they play a factor in our lives.

We are built, well most of us, to know how to instinctively survive. Don’t stick your hand on a hot stove, stay out of a polar bear cage, don’t eat a box marked poison, don’t swim in ponds in Florida (Alligators 🐊). I could of course list a ton of examples, but what about when there is not a survival reason for the fear and when nothing has ever happened to warrant it?

How is this explained other than irrational?

I know there are even layers to these kind of fears.

If asked, I would say that I don’t have any fears. But I know there are times I have become uncomfortable, ill at ease, jumpy, or even afraid when certain circumstances occur. A weird noise when walking down a dark hallway at work. The building is secure, others are working, so why is the immediate emotion towards fear instead of curiosity?

It is something that definitely has me looking at things differently today.

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Broken Computer – Life is over

So… as I started out my amazing 2018 with the decision to see if I could make writing really work I was met with a potentially disastrous situation: My computer wouldn’t connect to the internet.

I know, I know, total freakout.

Now before you think I am an idiot that it a wrong button, or let a virus in, I can assure you that wasn’t the case. It was a registry issue that one of my dearest friends, and a computer god within his own right, helped me to resolve.

My life was also not over. Far from it.

The reason that I am sharing this is because, when the main tool you have, and use, for something is no longer available to you, it is interesting how easy it is to have your world rattled and slide into ‘panic mode’.

What this forced me to do while waiting for the fix, was to find and use other tools to get the job done. Did I mention I had a story due for a contest? Well I did.

It also reminded me that no matter what happens, you can choose how you handle it. Yes, an impaired computer isn’t the end of the world, but no matter what the problem is, there is a solution. It just might take some time, help and very creative thinking to get there. But you can win.

I know I intend too!

 

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Brandishing his Sword – an ISG Writing Exercise

Fun writing with my Ink Slingers!

Ink Slingers Guild

On 13 December 2017, these three words were chosen:

  • Blow
  • Infatuated
  • Streak

And these blurbs were written within five minutes….Enjoy!

FEATURED AUTHOR

JM PAQUETTE:

“Only a word?” he recited. “Why not couple it with something? Make it a word and a blow!” At this, Christian stood up, brandishing his sword at Bryan, who was supposed to leap back in a display of cat-like ability. Bryan was playing Tybalt, after all, prince of cats, and he needed to show that he deserved the title. The audience would need to see it.

Of course, Bryan’s reflexes were more dog-like than feline at the moment, and he stepped back awkwardly, knocking over the table where Christian had been resting his feet, lounging as his character Mercutio was supposed to do until he jumped up and Romeo arrived and the real fight started.

The table fell with a crash, a few drinks spilling…

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All Downhill From Here by Erika Lance

Stories My Friends Started

For Crystal, I truly do hope you enjoy this.

All they could see was the open ocean and fluffy clouds of cotton candy🍭

Marcie looked around and it appeared that she was on this beach with ten other people.

She did not know any of them.

She looked into the sky again and the clouds in fact were swirled with pink and an almost unnatural blue.

There was coughing coming from one of the other people. He was an older gentleman, looked like he was in his early sixties. He was on his hands an knees and his entire body spasming.

As she tries to stand a wave of dizziness hits her and she feels herself land back on the sand.

When her vision cleared she realized there was a marking on her forearm. It said: 17GHT433GFS. What the hell is going on? she thought.

She looked over at…

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Have you read my latest?

Super Useless! It is only $.99 on Amazon and you can purchase it here!

Have you ever dreamt of being a Super Hero?

Did you want the ability to fly? Be incredibly strong? Turn invisible? Control minds?

For every amazing superpower, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, that are not nearly as amazing.

What if you had wings but they were literally the same size as a chicken’s? What if your hair was made of tinsel? These are the types of powers sadly handed out to the heroes contained in this set of short stories.

Join us in these adventures, where even the slightest power can help save the world. Or just be Super Useless.

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My Latest Book is Released!!!!

I am super lucky to be apart of this fun project. My friends gave me the start to my stories. Check out what I did with them here.

And as always… any reviews are Super Appreciated!

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