January is now behind us, although it closed with a huge storm, dumping at least six inches of snow on our area. It’s cold, too–16 degrees, although it’s supposed to reach 35 and be mostly sunny, so that should start melting some of the snow. By the end of the week, it’s supposed to be in the lower 50s. We had quite an array of wildlife visitors this week–several wild turkeys, seven deer, eight squirrels, and a myriad of cardinals, blue jays, robins, sparrows, black birds, and pigeons. As we always do during inclement weather, we did put out seed/corn for all of our visitors.
The Detroit Pistons played four games this week, winning three and dropping one. They are now 35-12 in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division, with a 7.5 game lead over 2nd place Cleveland. Hopefully, their winning ways will continue throughout February!
The Michigan Wolverines (3rd in the NCAA, 19-1) and the Michigan State Spartans (7th in the NCAA, 19-2) faced off in East Lansing on Friday night. The Wolverines didn’t have any problems dealing with the Spartans, beating them 83-71. They’ll take their 20-1 record against Penn State this week while the Spartans will try to return to their winning ways against Minnesota.
“All readers come to fiction as willing accomplices to your lies. Such is the basic goodwill contract made the moment we pick up a work of fiction.” — Steve Almond, WD. Compliments of https://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/72-of-the-best-quotes-about-writing.
So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on February 1st, the 5th Sunday of 2026 and the first one in February. (Compliments of https://www.onthisday.com/birthdays/).
Johannes Trithemius, German Benedictine Abbot of Sponheim who amassed a monastery library of 2,000 books; Elkanah Settle, British poet and playwright (The World in the Moon, The Empress of Morocco); Abraham Emanuel Fröhlich, Swiss poet and fabulist (Ulrich von Hutten, Hundert neue Fabeln); ames A. Herne, American playwright (Hearts of Oak; Margaret Fleming); Paul Fort, French poet (founder of Vers et Prose); Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Austrian poet, dramatist and essayist (founded Salzburg festival); Yevgeny Zamyatin, Russian writer and Soviet dissident (We); Charles Nordhoff, British-American author (The Bounty Trilogy, The Hurricane); Denise Robins, English romantic novelist (1st Long Kiss); Stephen Potter, English writer and humorist (School for Scoundrels, Shipbuilders); Langston Hughes, American poet (Weary Blues), playwright (Mulatto), and librettist (Troubled Island); Georg Rendl, Austrian writer (The Bees Novel), beekeeper and painter; S J Perelman, American author, humorist and screenwriter (The New Yorker, Around the World in 80 Days); Michael Kanin, American director, writer and actor (Woman of the Year, Teacher’s Pet); Zhang Chunqiao, Chinese politician and writer (member of the Gang of Four); Muriel Spark, Scottish author (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie); Ben Weider, Canadian businessman and author (The Murder of Napoleon); Douglas Johnson, British historian; Galway Kinnell, American author (Body Rags, Book of Nightmares); Reynolds Price, American writer (A Long and Happy Life; Kate Vaiden; Strengthened By a Pale Green Light); Jerry Spinelli, American children’s author (Stargirl, Wringer); Kevin McCarra, Scottish sports journalist (The Guardian, Scotland on Sunday, The Times); Andrew Upton, Australian playwright, screenwriter, and film director (Riflemind, Little Fish, Gone); and Meg Cabot, American author.
Any names familiar to you? There was one for me this week: S J Perelman. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one!
My Work in Progress
Work slowly continues on Temples of Abydos as I’m dealing with multiple external activities. Over the past week, there have been an additional fourteen chapter reviews, bringing the total to fifty-five. As always, plenty of positive suggestions to improve my writing.
Here’s the next snippet:
Two weeks later, the Lufthansa Airbus 321 Neo touched down on time at Cairo’s International Airport. After the plane bounced once, the tires gripped the tarmac and began to smoke. The pilot weaved through several aircraft taxiing toward their gates or preparing to depart.
When they arrived at their gate, Charles, Isabella, and Finley waited for the aircraft to come to a complete stop before unbuckling their seatbelts and climbing out of their seats. Charles slid into the center of the aisle to block the flow of passengers pushing forward while Isabella and Finely retrieved belongings from the overhead bins.
“Uncle Charles, I was disappointed we didn’t travel first class, as you mentioned, but business class was perfect.”
Charles grinned. “The only way to travel first class from Edinburgh to Cairo would have taken twice as long and meant two additional stops. I think you’ll find our hotel will make up for it.”
“Finley, Charles and I would like you to do something for us.” Isabella smiled at her nephew. “Please drop auntie and uncle—at least when other people are around.”
“Okay, Aunt—I mean, Isabella.” A grin etched across Finley’s face. “This trip is a dream come true.”
As they worked their way to the exit, economy passengers tried to push their way forward but were kept at bay by the cabin crew. Upon disembarking, Charles, Isabella, and Finley marched up the access ramp into the terminal. They followed other passengers heading to the baggage claim area.
“Finley, we better grab two trolleys.”
“I’ll get them Un—Charles.” Finley pointed to a sign over two rows of empty carts. “Be right back.”
Charles began pulling their suitcases off the luggage belt as they came by and stacked them on the floor.
When Finley returned, he assisted Charles in transferring everything to the trolleys.”
“Ready?” Isabella gestured toward the exit. “Follow me.”
After a quick stop to have their passports stamped, they headed out of the arrivals hall. Outside, a cacophony of shouts, screams, and laughter assaulted them.
“Look, Uncle—Charles, the guards are all armed.”
“Typical for this part of the world—nothing to be alarmed about.” Charles glanced around and smiled when he spotted Ali and another man heading toward them.
Dressed in a red tarbouche and Bedouin-style white thoab, both men looked as if they had just stepped off a film set.
“Ali! I love your fez and your robe. But, shouldn’t you be wearing a keffiyeh instead of the fez?”
Ali shook Charles’s hand and kissed him on both cheeks. “You mentioned Professor Burness enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Ark, so I thought I should look the part.’ He gestured toward the other man. “This is my cousin, Darius. He will be your head porter.”
Charles shook hands and nodded toward Isabella.
Ali had already approached her. After kissing her outstretched hand, he pecked her on both cheeks. “Professor Burness, welcome to the land of the pharaohs. Allow me to introduce myself.” He stood to attention and seemed to grow taller. “My honorable lady, I am Sheikh Mohammad Ali Mustafa Kafir El-Badawi, at your service.” He removed his fez and bowed. He removed his fez and bowed. “At your service.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Sheikh—”
He laughed. “I agree my full name is quite a mouthful, especially for people who aren’t used to Egyptian names. Henceforth, I shall respond to Ali.”
“I’ll call you Ali on one condition.” Isabella smiled. “You must call me Isabella. Professor Burness is too formal.” She turned to her nephew. “This is Finley. He will be with us most of the time.”
Ali shook hands with the lanky young man with light red hair and blue eyes. “Welcome to Cairo, Finley. I hope you will do me the honor of allowing me to teach you everything I know.”
“Thank you, Ali. I’m sure you will help me a lot.”
“I think we’re ready to depart, Ali.” Charles stepped behind one of the trolleys.
“No, Professor. I shall take one, and Darius will take the other. We have two vehicles outside, so follow us.”
Once in the baking sunshine, Ali led them toward a pair of battered once-white vans. A guard cradling an AK-47 leaned against the first one.
Ali shook hands with the guard and introduced him. “Professor Charles, this is Jabari. He lives up to the meaning of his name, as he is known for his bravery. Jabari is another of my cousins, and he will be in charge of your guard force.”
When Jabari smiled, sunlight bounced off his four gold front teeth. “Welcome, Professor Charles. Upon my family’s honor, I shall protect you, your wife, and your nephew.” He glanced at Ali and Darius. “And my cousins, should they require it.”
Ali turned to Charles. “Take only the luggage you will require during our stay in Cairo. Everything else will be placed in the second van. Darius will take it to the warehouse I rented to serve as your office and staging area.”
After the luggage was distributed, Ali opened a passenger door and gestured toward Isabella. “If you please, I shall take you to the wonderous hotel your husband has picked out for your first visit to Cairo.”
She laughed as she climbed inside.
Moments later, with everyone in the van, Ali leaned toward Charles, who sat in the front passenger seat. Ali whispered, “What is the name of your wonderous hotel?”
Charles grinned. “The Kempinski Nile Hotel.”
Ali whistled. “It is good for you I did not know this before we agreed upon my wages. I would have held out for more.” He rapped his knuckles on the dash and turned the key.
Nothing happened.
Ali tilted forward and mumbled a few words in Arabic and tried the key again.
A thick cloud of smoke blew over the van as the engine sputtered to life.
Charles glanced at Ali. “What did you say?”
“I told this son of a modern camel if he embarrassed me again, I would take him to the Nile and push him in.”
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.
© Copyright 2026 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved
