Monday, May 25, 2009

Happy Memorial Day, Everyone!

Normally, I would have a vet bio posted for Memorial Day, but I wasn't able to get one edited in time to post it. So, I'll get it up in the next few days. In the meantime, I do want to make some observations.

If you haven't yet watched the film, The Fighting Sullivans, you must do so. It's a true story about the 5 Sullivan brothers who enlist in the Navy following Pearl Harbor. They sought and received permission from the Navy to serve on the same ship, and in doing so, established new protocols for brothers in the armed services. In fact, they had such a profound impact on the Navy that TWO ships have been christened "The Sullivans" in their honor. This is an important film, and it is a must see. Please add it to your netflix list and make it happen!

Now, in my efforts to celebrate and remember those who gave their lives to protect my freedom, I want to offer a special deal to veterans and to those currently serving:
I will give each soldier an autographed copy of my book. They only need to send me an email with shipping directions. traviswinman{at}yahoo.com.

When Love Calls is a Christian based love story, but more men have read it than women, so don't let that be a deterrent. I have included helicopter evacuations, fist fights, emergency ICU surgeries, stellar car crashes, and moments of desperation. I also added varying levels of mushy stuff, so I could keep my target audience happy... But ask anyone who's taken the time to read it, it is an exciting love story!

Whenever I travel, I try to keep some copies on me to give to soldiers. Normally I target the females in uniform, but soldier beware!, if I see you, you will probably get a book! It's the least I can do for those who are standing between me and those who wish me harm. Thanks for all you are doing, for it is much appreciated.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Grandma's Eye

I'm trying to get you in the mood for the upcoming Iron Poet contest, which will soon occur. So, I'm going to open the vault let out another non-sensical poetic masterpiece, dubiously speaking.

Remarkably, this is based on a true story!
_____________________________

Grandma’s Eye

When Grandma sneezed
Her eye popped out
And rolled to the back of church.

When the preacher heard
The sound
It left him in a lurch.

Never before
Had it happened;
Her eye was made of glass

And if you saw her
On the street,
She’d show it if you asked.

When it stopped
They picked it up
And passed it back to her.

She thanked them kindly
Grabbed a rag,
And cleaned it as it were.

Back it went
Into her head
She gave it little thought.

So waste not time
Dwelling there,
It came to all but naught.

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Camping Trip

I don't publish my poetry very often. There's no good reason why, except I don't really enjoy reading most poetry, and so I assume that most people don't care for it either. I've never been the kind of person who "gets" Shakespeare. I enjoy reading some of the older poets such as Poe and Frost and the like, and I really like Eugene Field. But, for the most part, I won't go out of my way to read a good poem. That being said, I'm going to offer you one of my own. The Camping Trip was never intended to be anything other than a documentary of my son's first camping trip. But, it's a fun poem, so I hope you enjoy it. Please, there are no hidden messages within these words. I know, for me that's an accomplishment, but this is nothing short of mindless amusement.

The Camping Trip

Little Seth was one year old
He knew neither hot nor cold.
He ran around inside the camp
Whether it was dry or damp.
He ran in the grass and through the rocks
Took off his shoes and ran in his socks!

His mama chased him everywhere
Always scared she heard a bear.
But no bears were ever found
And little buddy ran around and ‘round.
He picked up sticks to eat them whole
He even put them in a bowl.

He wouldn’t ever stop to rest
Even when the sun did crest
The mountains on the eastern slope
He faced the darkness with new hope.
He hoped to count the stars above
The sleepiness away he shoved.

The threw his dog into the flame
His franks would never be the same.
His marshmallow glowed in the dark
When it finally caught a spark.
He ate it up very quickly
But his fingers still got sticky.

His mama tried to put him down
So he could sleep safe and sound.
But he had no desire
To leave his place by the fire.
But once she had him in his bed
He became a sleepy head.