Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Uh-oh. What's the PROTOCOL for THAT?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Debut author day! And what fun to find a brand new author with a brand new book—not only the reading-of-it part, but the idea that there’s a person who now knows the joys and the delights, the terrors and the fears. The hugely satisfying moment when that new box of books arrives—and your dream has come true.
And you also know that inevitably, someone will ask: where did you get your idea? But ha! Kathleen Valenti has a terrific and tantalizing (and terrifying!) answer. Whoa. What would you do if this happened to you?

(There’s more about her book PROTOCOL below. And an ARC to one lucky commenter!)
(And yesterday's winners below!)


Technobabbling
By Kathleen Valenti

My husband and I recently watched Apollo 13 with our two children. The film’s a favorite of ours and was a natural inclusion in our self-designed list of Films the Kids Must See. (Last month’s showing: The Princess Bride.)
Our pre-teen son is a movie mimic, so I knew he’d love the zippy one-liners. His favorite line wasn’t the iconic real-life utterance, “Houston, we have a problem,” but rather the reference to technological advances “like a computer that can fit into a single room.”
Forget space travel and rockets and astronauts stranded in a flying life raft. The idea of
a room-sized computer was what captured his imagination.
It made me think of how far technology has come.
That computer that guided the astronauts’ journey? It can now fit inside a cell phone. And that cell phone? In a recent survey, eighty-four percent of Americans said they couldn’t go a day without it.
It also called to mind the genesis of one of my book’s primary storylines.

Technology has a starring role in my debut novel, Protocol, not because I’m super-techy (understatement alert), but because its omnipresence, with all of its attendant risks, gave me an idea for a murder mystery after I had my own technology puzzle to solve.

Several years ago, I sent my laptop to the manufacturer for repair. It came back with someone else’s hard drive, complete with all its digital contents. Turned out the computer snafu went both ways. My hard drive had been swapped into the computer that once housed the stranger’s hard drive I now possessed.


The mix-up left both of us vulnerable and me with the seed of an idea for a hook for the book I always wanted to write.

Houston, I have an idea.

Ideas, as they say, can come from anywhere. Evidently that includes computer problems.

I have a love-hate relationship with technology, and I think many of us can relate. After all, it’s responsible for both important advancements in science and medicine (and cute cat videos) and a crack through which danger can crawl, whether by hacking, identity theft or something much more nefarious.
So what is technology for you? Blessing? Curse? The font of awesome BuzzFeed quizzes? (I just learned that if I were a sandwich, I’d be a PB&J.)

And what real-life events have inspired you creatively? We may not be astronauts stranded in space, but we all have moments—big, small, happy and tragic—that inform the stories we tell.

 HANK: Wait wait wait! What happened about the hard drive? 
(I admit I always take those tests, too. Except for the ones that make it clear they’re swiping your entire email list. Plus, it’s fun to take them twice and see how you can make them come out the way you want, right?)

And you know every one of the inciting moments of my books is a version of something that really happened to me.

But technobabble! The things that come out of  our mouths—the two years ago we’d have no idea what meant! (How many gigs of ram? I store it all in the cloud?)  

What have you said recently, Reds and readers, that surprised you with your techno-knowledge?

Or else: what's on your list of must-see movies for kids?

 (And see below for yesterday's winners!)
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Kathleen Valenti is the author of Protocol, the story of freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley who embarks on a pharmaceutical career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. Yet on her very first day of work, Maggie’s pulled into a world of uncertainty as reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.

When Kathleen isn’t writing page-turning mysteries that combine humor and suspense, she works as a nationally award-winning copywriter. She lives in Oregon with her family where she pretends to enjoy running. Protocol is her debut novel and the first of the Maggie O’Malley mystery series.
Pre-order Protocol here:
Amazon: amzn.to/2su4eq0
Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/2sUHKvQ

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Kobo: bit.ly/2s6ZnIJ


(Winners from yesterday--tell us your addresses via our websites or Facebook! Hurray--and thank you!)
!

Lucy's winner   Idteacher 14
Ingrid's winner  Hulamom
Hank's winner   Karen M from Kentucky
Rhys' winner .  Raquel Muniz 
Hallie's winner .Sally from PA. 
Jenn's winner  Coralee 

Debs' winner: Marni 

92 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Kathleen . . . what an exciting time for you!
    “Protocol” sounds so intriguing, especially since I am not particularly tech-savvy. I’m looking forward to reading it.

    APOLLO 13 is one of my favorite movies, too. It boggles the mind to think about the technology that took the astronauts to the moon . . . .

    I have to ask: what happened about the hard drive mix-up??

    My thoughts on must-see movies for kids: “The Velveteen Rabbit,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “October Sky,” any Disney movie . . . .

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    1. Joan, what is October sky? I have never heard of it

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    2. Hank, October Sky is a movie based on the true story of Homer Hickam, who worked for NASA. It's a spectacularly well made movie. My dad actually wrote and got an answer back from Hickam after seeing the movie and reading his books.

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    3. Hank, it's based on a book by Homer Hickam called "Rocket Boys" (which is an anagram of October Sky), a fictionalized account of his boyhood in coal country in the Sputnik era.

      My youngest daughter was obsessed with him and his books, and we got to meet him when he came to Cincinnati for a book signing at Joseph Beth.

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    4. I love the movie and his books, and I highly recommend them all.

      DebRo

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    5. Me, too. LOVED this movie and Homer Hickam's books.

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    6. Well, that's quite the list of recommendations! Must do. And it's an ANAGRAM! Love that.

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    7. Thanks so much, Joan! And I absolutely love your list of must-see movies. (October Sky is definitely a fave.)

      The hard drive: OY. So the short story is that the computer company said, "Aw, man. That is a bummer!" And did nothing else. (Blink. Blink.)

      We tried to get in touch with the folks who had our hard drive, but weren't able to find current contact information, despite the fact we knew so much about them. In the end, we had their hard drive wiped and disposed of and hoped they did the same for ours. I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend many sleepless nights wondering what the fallout would be. So far, so good. But you never know!

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    8. Wow . . . that's not at all what I thought you would say about the hard drive mix-up, Kathleen.

      Hank, sorry to be so slow to answer . . . brand new grandbaby Mia is keeping us busy.
      Homer Hickam did not like the "October Sky" title for the film; I guess writers don't have too much input when their books become movies. At any rate, it's definitely a movie to see and “Rocket Boys” is a book to read . . . .

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    9. I know, right?! It was a strange response from the computer company and a very weird experience over all. BUT it did end happily since it gave me some mysterious fodder. :)

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  2. Kathleen, congrats on your debut novel! I am sure that it is quite the heady experience. I'm sure when you walk into a bookstore and see the book on the shelves you'll be even more blown away.

    As for what I've said that surprised me regarding my techo-knowledge, I would say that starting to text is surprising enough.

    Kids movies? Well, I guess it depends on what you think is good. I know animated movies get a lot of love but I always try to think of movies that won't make adults cringe with the stupidity of plots. And that tends to rule out most cartoon movies these days.

    The Wizard of Oz is always a great choice though.

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    1. Do you think it is too scary? I had some concerns when I was growing up :-) about those winged monkeys…

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    2. I didn't think they were scary, though I guess that is up to everyone's comfort level.

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    3. The Wizard of Oz gave me nightmares for years. In fact, every couple of years I have another nightmare related to the movie! The monkeys and the tornado are the worst causes of nightmare for me!

      DebRo

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    4. the TORNADO! I used to sit in the wayback of our station wagon, when I was maybe six, and intently watch for tornados, simply because of that movie.

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    5. I don't know what's wrong with everyone about this movie, I never had any kind of nightmares from it.

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    6. Thanks so much, Jay! Heady is exactly right!! It's absolutely thrilling, and more than a little nerve-wracking, to send your book baby out into the world. I liken it to taking my first-born to the first day of kindergarten. :)

      Wizard of Oz is such a classic! Love that movie. My daughter was terrified of the monkeys (sounds like she's in good company), but was soothed by the ruby slippers. :)

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  3. Kathleen, welcome! yes we must hear what happened with the hard drive--that gives me the shivers. And also tell us more about this new book!!

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    1. Thank you, Lucy!!

      Oh the poor hard drive. The switcheroo was never switched back. We tried to no avail to find the folks whose drive we had (which is in itself amazing) and the computer company refused to help us switch back or put us in touch with one another. Strange, eh?

      We had their drive wiped and disposed of and hoped for the best with ours. So far, so good, although I gained some (more) gray hair in the process.

      The book is a combination of this inspired-by-my-own-experiences technology angle, plus a medical mystery/thriller, which begins on my heroine's first day of work. It's twisty, turny and a little funny, which is my favorite kind of book to read. :)

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  4. Isn't it great the way life has a way of dealing you great story ideas... if you're listening. But what a pain! How did you get it resolved, and did you meet your mutual victim?

    My big techno challenge recently was getting a new Mac... transferring files and especially email which I was dreading. Which brings to me to Facebook, which I never thought I'd like, but I posted a picture of my new computer piggybacked on top of my old, and moaned about having to figure out having to transfer email, and just like that a link and advice came from Jane (whom I've never met other than FB) and I was home free.

    I love texting... but I only text with my kids. It makes me feel connected to them and my grandkids even though we're miles apart. And we can find each other on street corners, bus stations, and airports.

    Which brings me to... Kathleen, did that stranger get your text messages, too? What does happen when you get someone else's hard drive... other than having all their files?

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    1. Hi Hallie!

      It was SUCH a pain and caused tremendous anxiety. It's sort of like losing your purse--on steroids. You can't "stop" the flow of information like you can cancel credit cards, and you wonder how much personal data is visible and usable.

      Sadly, there was no resolution. We tried to find the folks whose drive we had, but weren't able to track them down, despite all of the info we had about them (courtesy of their hard drive, naturally). Worst of all, the computer company didn't do anything other than proclaim it a darn shame. It was frustrating, to put it lightly.

      The good news is that there hasn't been any fallout. (Knock wood.) AND I got a hook for my book. So maybe a happy ending? That's how I try to look at it. :)



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  5. I am obsessed with this story! It would just be so upsetting…

    As for must see movies for kids, so funny… My stepson and I were talking about this last weekend, and for our 14-year-old grandson, I suggested the last starfighter. Which I love. Paul laughed and said he had tried to show that very movie, and that it turns out it is kind of… Boring. How can that be?

    I am off to the doctor for a check up, back soon and back to chat! You guys hold down the fort.

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    1. I've not heard of The Last Starfighter! I'll have to gird my loins against potential boredom and check it out. Sounds like something our boy would love. :)

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  6. Swapped hard drives? Color me interested. What happened?

    My brother-in-law gave me his iPad. I couldn't figure out what all these calendar events were until I figured out it was linked to his Facebook account. Since I've worked at computer companies for almost 20 years, I'm pretty tech-friendly, but if I looked at the thing from my husband's POV, instant mystery fodder.

    Not much has ever happened to me that I could turn into book fodder (I'm so boring). And every movie we say the kids "must watch" turns into 90 minutes of listening to them complain, so we gave up on that one. :-/

    Mary/Liz

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    1. Really? Sigh. I don't know what's wrong with these kids today.. (singing)

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    2. Bye, Bye, Birdie!

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    3. Hank, I know. My 17-year-old just would rather spend time with her friends and The Boy only wants nonstop action.

      Mary/Liz

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    4. Hi Mary!

      I hear ya on movie recommendations. The kids usually groan when we invite (okay, force) them to watch our favorites. They usually end up loving them, in spite of their best intentions. :)

      The hard drives remained swapped! We could never figure out how to get a hold of the swapees, and the computer company offered their condolences but little else. The biggest loss (other than many nights' sleep!) was photos that I'd put on the hard drive and hadn't backed up. Boy, did that teach me a lesson!

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  7. Kathleen - Congrats on your debut novel. That is thrilling! The premise of your book sounds terrific. I love the immediate feeling of vulnerability the description conveyed -- to have appointments show up on your phone with people you don't know only to discover they've been killed. I must know what happens!
    I'm a techno junkie with a weakness for apps - current fave is Pixomatic! Our latest family movie night was The Big Lebowski - but my boys are teens so we may run a bit older. I haven't taken the sandwich quiz yet but am pretty sure I'd be a ham on rye. LOL.

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    1. Oh my GOSH. The Big Lebowski is one of my all-time faves!! I'm waiting for the day to introduce it to the kids. So good--and so quotable!

      I'll have to check out Pixomatic! I'm a bit of an app junkie myself, but end up forgetting to use what I install. DOH!!

      LOL ham on rye. I'm not sure what made me a PB&J. I should retake the quiz to see if I get a different response.

      Thanks for the kind words and congrats on the book! xo

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  8. In the bank where I worked when I first graduated from college, the computer room WAS the computer! And now I carry one around in my pocket!

    With my cell phone I still do all the things I did before, but now I do them on the cell phone: reading the news, checking the weather, writing to family and friends, looking up movies at the local movie theater, etc.

    The first movie that pops into my head that I think would be appropriate for kids is It's a Wonderful Life. I saw it for the first time when I was in second grade, and it was the first movie where the ending made me cry tears of happiness. My dad said to me "See? Every life is important." I think all people, not just kids need to know that.

    I'm probably the only person around who has not seen the movie Apollo 13. I did see parts of it on TV, but even though I know how it ended it it was too intense for me!

    DebRo

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    1. Well, it's fabulous...it really is. I actually think about it all the time!

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    2. Hi Deb!

      Apollo 13 is incredibly intense, but so darn good. And I love It's a Wonderful Life. I cry every single time. (sniff) I get emotional just thinking about it!

      I love that you experienced the computer-as-room phenomenon! That is so cool. I remember getting email at work. I was like, "What is this e-thing you speak of?"

      :)

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  9. My first exposure to computers was in 1974, when I worked for a large developer in Cincinnati. They owned the building, and various parts of the business were tenants, including a big commercial construction company. I worked in the accounts payable department, and once in awhile I had to walk over to the computer room to hand something off to Jerry, who was the only person who worked there. He was the king of the punch cards.

    What I remember most clearly was the noise, and the icy temperatures in that room. He had a big window so he could see who was in the hallway, and we could see him, but the door was only opened a couple times a day, and we rarely saw Jerry outside of it. Thinking back on this now, I wonder about that!

    It's astonishing how much technology has evolved since then. Not only do we have a computer that fits in the palms of our hands, but it's also a phone (with no long distance charges!), a very good camera that needs no film, a music- and movie-playing device, a news source, weather alert system, entertainment and games delivery, library, financial resource, and connection to the entire rest of the world.

    I got chills just thinking of losing my entire hard drive to someone else. This is the ultimate thriller, I'm sure, because we can all relate!

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    1. Exactly! ANd you are so right--a few weeks ago, I was walking down Congress Street in Boston, watching, on my phone, streaming live video of my husband giving his closing arguments in a case i a courtroom across town.. WHoa.

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    2. I think King of the Punch Cards would make a great book title! :)

      And it is so astonishing how technology has evolved. Remember having to go to the library to research anything? Now everything is a swipe or a tap away.

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  10. When I was in college in the '80's, we had to use a computer for a political science statistics class. Back then, few, if any people, had their own computer, and we had to sign up to use the university's computers in the computer lab. Of course, whenever I got there, the only available times were 11 pm to 3 am, AND we had to use DOS and BASIC and write our own programs. I got a job on Capitol Hill as a legislative correspondent after graduation, and we had to handle all of our correspondence on our IBM memory typewriters -- no desktop computers ~

    I love the part in Apollo 13 where they are trying to figure out a trajectory course or something, and they all pull out their slide rules!

    My must see movies for my daughter were the old Disney ones, including all the Haley Mills movies (especially The Moonspinners and Summer Magic), old movies like Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell (one of her favorites), Desk Set, Oliver, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (another favorite) and Swiss Family Robinson. RE: Wizard of Oz, those monkeys still freak me out!

    Congratulations, Kathleen, on Protocol -- I can't wait to read it!

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    1. Auntie Mame! Love that. With the Upsons, of Upson Downs. Fabulous.

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    2. OMG slide rules! We were supposed to learn how to use them in high school chemistry. I had issues with that. A slide rule just didn't seem accurate to me.

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    3. The slide rule scene! So awesome!! My dad, who was a petroleum engineer (no, really) tried to convince our son to use one when doing calculations. He got blank looks all around. :)

      And I totally remember doing everything on typewriter! I was an English major and not a very good typist. I think I spent more time retyping than actually writing! Fortunately, my best friend is a medical transcriptionist and lightning fast on the keyboard. She took mercy on me many a time.

      Thanks for the congrats on Protocol, Celia! (Have I mentioned that my daughter is a Cecilia, whom we often call Celia?!) I appreciate it so very much. <3

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  11. Oh man. What possibilities. The idea of having someone else's hard drive is scary for what secrets might be lurking there. And what someone could do with mine. Yikes! Must read this book to find out what you did with it.

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    1. HANK here: I know, right? I wonder if they would see all my shoe orders...xoxoxo

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    2. Thanks, Mark! :)

      Ha ha on the shoe orders, Hank!!

      Yes, it was very much a feeling of exposure. I mean, we didn't have anything--ahem--untoward on there, but STILL. You hope whoever is on the other side won't take your personal information and use it to steal your identity--or pictures of your children to go steal THEM.

      The possibilities were endless--and terrifying.

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  12. Wow! I used an overheard conversation in an airport as a jumping off point for my first novel. Don't include me in the contest -- I just pre-ordered.

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    1. HANK here: Oh, cannot wait to hear about that! When you com back to JRW to tell us about the book, you'll talk about that, right? xoxoxo

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    2. Ooooooo, Sherry, I love that!! I can't wait to read it and find out about the conversation. xo!

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  13. Years ago a backup computer was stolen, along with other stuff, from a storage shed we were renting. I know my husband was very perturbed about it. It had a manuscript saved on it that he was working on. As far as I know there were no repercussions. Movies for kids? Well, we don't have any of those around anymore. Our granddaughter is 17. I avoid animated movies as so many of those are just bone-aching boring. How about the John Candy/Dan Ackroyd movie The Great Outdoors? That one makes me laugh every time. And it certainly has enough "juvenile" AKA male humor in it to crack up the kids.

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    1. Ugh. How awful!! The manuscript part makes me want to weep.

      The Great Outdoors is wonderful! I loved John Candy. <3

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    2. HANK here: Okay, I've never seen that...but, um, okay. If you say so!

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    3. I'm guessing it won't make the AFI's list of 100 greatest films, but it's entertaining! Plus...John Candy. :)

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  14. Congratulations Kathleen! My tech immersion was forced. I joined the Marines in 1974, thinking somehow I was joining the Merchant Marines and thinking I'd be working on a cruise ship... –my excuse? My family was girl-heavy, all aunts and sisters and female cousins, never saw a John Wayne movie. After many rude awakenings in bootcamp, (August in SouthCarolina -only a clueless NH girl would choose that month) I got my orders to electronics school in the Mojave Desert... I sat on my bunk and cried -I stared at a wall outlet and imagined it was full of electricity and wanted nothing to do with it. Part of the school was taught on computers (yes in 1974), since they were so fragile and the desert so hot, our classes were held from 10 pm to 6 am. Basically, I remember spending the days at the pool and wondering how I got myself into the military. I ended up excelling in electronics and working in a USMC TVvan as the sound person. I went on to major in Biology and worked in cancer research labs. My only regret was not falling in love with technology and science sooner in high school -girls weren't even allowed to take these classes; unless, like me you got thrown out of home ec and dumped into geometry as a punishment (loved it) I am so happy to see STEM and STEAM classes but still -way over due!

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    1. What a great story, CJG! So agree about the classes. I was a biology major, too, but certainly wasn't encouraged in that direction by anything I took in high school.

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    2. CJG, I love your story!! What an amazing journey. It's so cool how what began as a mistake turned into a wonderful opportunity. And, man, the part about girls not being "allowed" to participate in these classes blows my mind. Definitely glad to see STEM/STEAM opportunities for EVERYONE. xo

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    3. CJG--that is fabulous. And SO funny about the Marines/Merchant Marines. Oh, well....xoo

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  15. Yay on the book, Kathy! A hard drive mix-up would freak me out; you've taken a very zen approach! I'm lucky in that I have an in-house tech guy in the form of a hubby who's a software engineer. I get instantaneous tech support and upgrades without even having to ask for them!

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    1. Regarding your in house tech support, all I can say is: "Brag, Brag, Brag!"

      LOL!

      But seriously, that is a great thing to have on hand.

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    2. Ingrid, nice on the in-house tech support!! That sounds like a dream. :) Closest I have is a brother-in-law who is in IT. I'll take whatever help he offers!

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  16. Congrats on the book, Kathy!! Love the premise! What a great start.

    As for kids movies, I'd say Field of Dreams is a must see. It's still my grown-up daughter's favorite film. Maybe after Love Actually:-)

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    1. Field of Dreams is a great movie. But I don't know that I would say that is a kids film, there's too much going on that they really don't get until years later.

      But James Earl Jones has a great speech in it that gets reposted at the start of every baseball season on a board that I take part in.

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    2. Thank you so much, Deborah! I appreciate the well wishes. :)

      Those are both great movies! I know my daughter would lurve Love Actually. I'm putting it on the list! xo

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  17. Congratulations, Kathy! Your book sounds really interesting. Actually, it's similar to the book I'm SLOWLY plugging away at, in that it involves a text received by mistake. Other than that, it doesn't sound similar at all -- just intriguing. Can't wait to read it!

    Our family loves Apollo 13, too. And Field of Dreams (My kids are older). Also, A League of Their Own and You've Got Mail. Gotta love Tom Hanks!

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary! Definitely a lot of potential with anything technology-related these days. Such a part of our lives!

      Tom Hanks is the best! Even with Joe Vs. The Volcano, he's one of my favorite actors. :) (And A League of Their Own is so sooooooo good! Ditto You've Got Mail!!)

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    2. You've Got Mail! I watch it whenever it's on. It is ALWAYS great. (Although not quite sure about that ending. Wonder how they'd change it if they made that movie now?..)

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  18. Technology and especially computers is a perfect topic today as I am faced with a laptop that won't come on today. Having my phone isn't as good for me, and I have a blog post for my review of Rhys' latest Georgie to put on. Not sure I can manage that through my phone. How helpless and lost I feel not having a computer at the ready. Maybe too dependent. I'll see what the Geek Squad has to say.

    Kathy, your experience with getting back someone else's hard drive is so scary, and I'll be thinking about that as I take my computer in for repair. I would think that whoever made that mistake would be falling all over himself to make things right with you.

    Congratulations on your debut, Kathy. Protocol is definitely going on my TBR list. What a great idea for a story.

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    1. Thank you so very much, Kathy! Your well wishes mean the world. <3

      I am very un-techy. I love apps and all of the things technology offers, but more often than not, I have to have the children help me. They're naturals! And thank goodness for Geek Squad!

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    2. OOoh, Kathy, villain at the computer repair place. LOVE that!

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  19. Congratulations on the new book. About movies -- it's been 50 years or more since I've seen it I still cry thinking about the ending of The Incredible Journey.

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    1. Oh, no no no..I would never watch that! You are so brave--WAY too sad!

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  20. Oooooooooo...that's a great movie. What an amazing story. And a tearjerker for sure!

    Thanks for the well wishes, David!!

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  21. WHAT I WOULD DO IF MY HARD DRIVE WAS SWITCHED...
    Being "paranoid" of others, I would copy the others' hard drive, immediately call the service, yell at them, demand my hard drive back - that they contact the one who has mine and drive over there if necessary to get it, etc. And get it and replace mine back. The reason I would have a copy of his/her is to have a quid pro quo in case they had copied any of my contacts or IP. I would want to be able to dicker, or whatever :) in order to make them stop using my data.

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    1. I think paranoia is warranted in this case! I'm so with you. And a little leverage never hurts. :)

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    2. Yup. Exactly, Cynthia. In the nicest of ways ,right? :-)

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  22. I will be anxiously awaiting your release. Congratulations on this wonderful event. My youth was spent using a wall phone where you had two or three other people in your neighborhood all on the same party line. We took pictures with black and white film on a Brownie camera and it took weeks and weeks to finish that roll if film and then another few weeks to get this puctures developed. So now in my older years, I have this amazing smart phone, all my own, 😏, and can send messages and get replies back almost instantly from texting and email. Plus I take pictures and ten seconds later it is being viewed by friends and family a half a world away. My need for information has answers at my fingertips, no more waiting days to get to the library to find out things like in the 50's. Of every type of technology I live my phone so much and I find it very comforting to also know that if and when I need someone in an emergency that this will probably be what gets me through a bad situation or medical emergency.

    Best of everything with your new series. Count me in!!!

    ceblain(AT)tmlponline (DOT) net

    Cynthia B

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    1. Please excuse typing errors. Have had two eye surgeries in the past six weeks with lots of complications and still cannot see well. I apologize for not double checking my typing.
      Cynthia

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    2. Cynthia, I remember the wall phone! My mom had an avacado one to match her avacado kitchen. When she remodeled to orange and harvest gold, she felt the avacado provided a lovely complement. Ah those days!

      I do love my phone. I resisted getting a smartphone for ages. Now that I have one, it rarely leaves my side. It's one powerful, pocket-sized computer!

      Well wishes for your recovery! xo

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    3. Good luck with your eyes! I hope everything resolves beautifully… And you made me laugh with your party line and wall phone… I had exactly the same experience!

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  23. Kathleen, welcome to Jungle Reds. The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies of all time. For me, technology has been a blessing. I started with Wyndtell pager, then Motorola pager, then the flip phone from Ericcson. I had the flip phone for a long time until it broke when I dropped it. Bad timing! By that time, they were stating to sell smartphones. I did a lot of research and bought my first iPhone in 2010? The pager was the only way I could send text messages and the pager had a text to voice so I could send short messages to friends. However, my friends and relatives told me the voice sounded like a computer. Now almost everyone has text messaging which is great! It is funny that people still ask for my phone number and I say "sorry I do not talk on the phone".

    Adding your book to my TBR list. And congratulations!

    Diana

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    1. Thanks so much, Diana!

      I somehow missed pagers, but I remember when my dad got his "car phone." So exotic!

      I hear ya on dropping phones. My worst drop was into a puddle of slushy water. After that, my phone would spontaneously call one of my friends. Only him. And only when it felt like it. HEY, that could've been a book idea! :)

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    2. And talking on the phone is so odd, isn't it? I hardly ever do it! And if someone calls our landline, I hardly ever answer… I will admit that!

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    3. Kathy, thanks. The pagers were primitive compared to the current smartphones.

      Hank, I am surprised because I thought that news reporters on TV had to talk on the phone?

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  24. Whoa, Kathleen, you described my worst nightmare. Seriously. I have had dreams about things like that. I don't trust technology and I am convinced and evil genie lives inside my hard drive. Come to think of it, I'm not sure that my hard drive isn't an evil genie! Protocol sounds like a must read on my bookshelf. Best of luck with it.

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    1. Kait, I love the genie-in-the-phone/computer analogy. If only it were benevelent and granted wishes! Meanwhile, I wonder when our computers will turn against us like in Terminator. ;)

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    2. PS That should've been "benevolent." My fingers are faster than my brain, as usual!

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    3. Seriously! How does the computer always know when you're on a deadline? Because isn't that when it always crashes?

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  25. You are amazing! And kathy, thank you for a wonderful day! Kathy will email me when she picks the winner, and I will post it as soon as it arrives
    Hooray for PROTOCOL!

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  26. Thank you all so much for having me! It was wonderful to meet you all!! xoxo

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  27. The biggest tech thing I love is the instantaneous connection (with pictures) to my daughter and gkids in Calif.
    the book sounds REALLY good. But the in it ing incident is a bummer for you (& probably the other hard drive folks.)
    SPACEBALLS is one of the required movies in our family. 😉
    My mom loved GOONIES. And not long ago my son had his kids watch ET.

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  28. Goonies has a special place in my heart since it was filmed in my home state of Oregon. :) And you definitely can't beat the immediacy of the internet to connect to people across the miles! I confess: I do love Facebook!!

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  29. What an opportunity for someone in need of a new identity! I really want to read this.

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