Randall’s Ramblings, April 3, 2022

After some seasonally-high temperatures during a good portion of March, we dropped about 20 degrees (F) during the last week and the first part of April. For the most part, there’s been plenty of sunshine, but we had hail and snow flurries over two days. Fortunately, no accumulation.

We did manage to get some more yard (garden) work done. During the recent wind storms, several of the trellis panels atop the back fence were broken and can’t be repaired. So far, I’ve taken down four of them–another four to go.

Here’s this week’s quote (Compliments of http://www.wisdomquotesandstories.com/): “Some relationships are like Tom & Jerry. They tease and irritate each other, knock each other down, but can’t live without each other.”

So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on April 3rd, the first Sunday of the month:

Lieven van der Maude [Ammonius], South Netherland poet; George Herbert, English metaphysical poet (5 Mystical Songs); Ferenc Verseghy, Hungarian poet and composer; Washington Irving, American writer (Legend of Sleepy Hollow); Anne Lister, English diarist; Ivan Kireyevsky, Russian literary critic and philosopher; John Burroughs, American writer and nature enthusiast (Burroughs Medal namesake); Frederik Willem van Eeden, Dutch utopian writer (Walden); Jose Juan Tablada, Mexican poet (El Florilegio); Margaret “Daisy” Ashford, British child author who wrote “The Young Visiters” (Mister Salteena’s Plan) aged 9; Neville Cardus, English writer and cricketer; Douwe Kalma, Dutch literary writer and leader (Young Frisian Movement); Henry Luce, American magazine publisher (Time, Fortune, Life); Peter Huchel, German poet; Isaac Deutscher, Polish-English historian (Stalin/Trotsky biography); Bert Bakker, Dutch publisher (Free Netherlands); Herb Caen, American columnist (SF Chronicle); Max Frankel, American journalist (Tables of Id of Organic Compounds); Jane Goodall, British primatologist, anthropologist, and writer (Through a Window: My Thirty Years With the Chimpanzees of Gombe); Reginald Hill, British crime author (Andrew Dalziel and Peter Pascoe novels); Jonathan Lynn, English writer and actor (Greedy, Bar Mitzvah Boy); Arlette Cousture, French Canadian writer (Les filles de Caleb); and Boris Miljković, Serbian TV and theatre director, writer and lecturer.

Any names familiar to you? I spotted two I know: Washington Irving and Jane Goodall. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one!

My Published Work

Colombian Betrayal and Revenge are participating in a Kindle Unlimited thrillers and killers promotion throughout April. Why not stop by and check it out? There are over 100 novels to choose from:

https://books.bookfunnel.com/aprilthrillersandkillers/ygd654x5xa

My Work in Progress

I was on a writing frenzy this week as I completed chapters thirty-one through thirty-three  of Ultimate Escalation. My manuscript received another eighteen reviews, bringing the total to 652. Once again, plenty of suggestions to enhance my writing.

I also updated my manuscript’s outline. Barring any necessary changes, there will be fifty-three chapters when it’s completed.

Here’s another snippet:

Ajit stopped the dinged green and white van in the parking lot. He climbed out and motioned for Vladimir and the others to follow. He pointed toward the towering monument. “We cannot drive any closer, so we shall mingle with others visiting the park.”

Vladimir glanced at his watch. “It seems quiet.”

“Yes. However, dhuhr prayers will finish soon. Afterward, more people will flock to the park to enjoy the multitude of flowers, lush greenery, and fountains. On most days, it’s very busy as families partake of the food courts.”

“I spotted two of the leaders I picked.” Grigori grinned. “They’re doing just as we rehearsed. They’ll wait until they get near the black wrought-iron fence surrounding the monument before opening their banners. The other three leaders and their men should be surfacing soon.”

Vladimir clapped Grigori on the shoulder. “Appears all the frustration you went through is paying off.”

“We’ll see.”

As they strolled through the park, the number of visitors increased. Children ran across the grass, shouting and laughing as they chased a ball or trying to launch colorful kites in the slight breeze. Others sat on benches, eating ice cream cones, licking the drips before they fell on the ground. The aroma of cooking meat at the food courts wafted through the air.

“Punjab for Punjabis. No One Else!”

Shouts erupted near the fence. Several men carried banners calling for independence from Pakistan and India. Someone banged on a rhythmic beat on a drum while patriotic music played through a portable music system. More banners appeared, with slogans such as Unite Punjab and Let Our Families Join Us amid calls for an independent Punjab.

People waved the green and white national Pakistani flag with its white crescent and five-pointed star, while others held aloft the Punjab provincial government flag, comprised of a white circular seal with an Islamic crescent on a green background. Dotted here and there was the Nisan Sahib, an orange triangle with three black, interlocked swords.

Ajit turned to Vladimir and chuckled. “I told you Pakistanis are curious. There must be five hundred people near the monument now.”

Tweeet! Tweeet!

Police officers blew whistles and chased after two men who had jumped over the barricade and stood at the base of the monument, waving flags to encourage others to join them.

An officer raised his baton, striking one of the demonstrators on the shoulder.

As he fell, someone rushed forward and resumed waving the flag.

Incited by what they perceived as police brutality, dozens of onlookers screamed and hurdled the fence, rushing to the aid of the fallen man.

Police vehicles screeched to a halt. Officers wearing riot gear jumped out of the trucks, creating a melee as they waded into the crowd, swinging their batons and striking men, women, and children with total disregard.

As the crowd continued to swell, the police seemed to lose control of what had started as a peaceful demonstration.

Blam! Blam! Blam!

More next time.

This brings us to an end for another week. I hope you found something of interest. If you have any suggestions for a topic you’d like to read about, please let me know. Until the next time, thank you for reading and hope you drop in again.