My art

 Spending some of my free time on painting. Here are some new pieces, and some oldies.

Tropical Island

 My new book in the Thaelia's World universe, "Soul of Steel and Fire" will be available on January 31rst. You can pre-order it as an ebook, paperback, or hard cover.

It is the story of Sir Aumery of Faucione, the hard-knocking knight we first met in "On the Trail of Yesterday's Rose".

I hope you like it. You can pick up any of the previous books via my author website on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/author/dianasprain

Soul of Steel and Fire cover

You're retired. Now what?

 What do you do when it is time to say goodbye to working? How do you make that choice? 

it wasn't easy for me. Health issues were the primary reason. If it was truly my choice, I'd continue working until I was 67, but the powers that be said otherwise.

So, now what?

Welcome Reno Rodeo 2024 Participants and Fans

 Hello, It's June and time for the annual Reno Rodeo. 

We love the grandeur of this event. Rugge cowboys & cowgirls, amazing clowns, fun acts, athletic rodeo stock, the carnival, and the shopping!

If you are looking for someplace to go, before the daily festivities begin, why not check out some fun stores? In downtown Reno, at First Street and North Virginia, is "Uncle Junkee". This is an antique mall. Dealers carry anything from video games, Breyer models, belt buckles, goofy clothing, art, collectibles, and crafted items.

At Plumb and South Virginia, at the Reno Public Market, is the Junkee Clothing Exchange (there is also a section of antique & collectibles). 

At Kietzke and Virginia, look for Toys N More. This is an independent toy store with a wonderful choice of toys. Most of their offerings are non-electronic (action figures, animals, puzzles, games, etc.).

Thanks for coming to Reno!

Don't tell me what to drive.

 

The Biden Administration wants me to give up my gas-guzzler. The environmentalists want me to use public transportation. Are you kidding me?

Here’s why I will not relegate my old-fashioned fuel vehicle for an electronic battery-powered vehicle (or use the transportation system).

 

Reclassifying Public Safety Dispatchers as First Responders

Public Safety Telecommunicators, also known as 911 Dispatchers job classification, needs to be updated. Again, legislation has been put before Congress to change our status from clerical to first responder. 

Why should we (as a group) care? 

Our jobs are important. We were part of the few groups who come to work every day, no matter what is going on. If we mess up, people can die. 

 APCO sent out the following email yesterday:

Pick a song - what are your favorites?

Variety is the spice of life, right? So, I challenge you to follow my lead. Pick 20 your favorite first run albums and 20 "best-of" compilations. It is not easy, and I had to pick and choose which ones to include. There were too many left off. Below are my choices. First, the list of albums. It is a mix of rock and new age.

 Blackmore’s Night: Fires at Midnight Ritchie Blackmore was formerly with Deep Purple) 

 Boston: Boston 

 Bruce Hornsby and the Range: The Way it Is (just love the piano) 

 BrunuVille: Fantastic Journey (I dare you not to tap your toes to Dance With Dragons) 

 Eagles: Hotel California (classic all the way) 

 Enya: Watermark (Enya started me on new age - the first and still amazing) 

 Foreigner: Feels Like the First Time 

 Alice Cooper: From the Inside (the album was crazy, and the songs dug deep) 

 Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (just WOW) 

 The Go-Gos: Beauty and the Beat (fun music from a great group - not just a girl s rock band) 

 Jimmy Buffett: Off to See the Lizard (my fav JB album and his best in my opinion) 

 Lesiem (wonderful instrumentals - powerful!) 

 Metallica: Metallica (San Jose Sharks favorite and they are hockey fans) Pink Floyd: The Wall (epic - movie just as good) 

 Styx: The Grand Illusion (I love "Castle Walls") 

 Loreena McKennitt: An Ancient Muse (Loreena has a way with music - she even performed for Queen Elizabeth). 

 Police: Synchronicity (it became a greatest hits) 

 REO Speedwagon: Hi Fidelity (great work - again, this could be a greatest hit choice) 

 Electric Light Orchestra: Out of the Blue (ELO had a way with the electronic music - hard to pick a fav song on this one) 

Wicked Tinkers: Banger for Breakfast (Bagpipes!! BTW, Wallop the Cat is just the kitty's name) 

Hits Albums: 

 The Babys: Anthology 

 The Beach Boys: Made in the USA (surf's up for a CA girl) 

 The Beatles: Number 1’s (hard choice to pick a Beatles album) 

 Heart: The Essential Heart 

 B-52’s: Time Capsule (alternative rock at its best) 

 The Bangles: Greatest Hits (who didn't want to "Walk Like an Egyptian"?) 

 The Cars: Greatest Hits (again, try to pick one album...the Cars are legendary) 

 Eurythmics: Greatest Hits (Sing it, girl!)

 Billy Joel: Greatest Hits Vol 1-2 (Which of his multiple greatest hits to select. Tough choice) 

 Journey: Greatest Hits (Bay Area music at its best) 

 Kansas: The Best of Kansas (classic rock) 

 Loverboy: Loverboy Classics (gritty songs) 

 Steve Miller: Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (smooth and essential rock) 

 Marvin Gaye: Marvin Gaye’s Greatest Hits (for getting down, who else?) 

 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: greatest Hits (long live a legend) 

 The Pretenders: The Singles (alternative rock) 

 Queen: Greatest Hits (Freddie was the Champion!) 

 Jethro Tull: The Very Best of Jethro Tull (flute in a rock band never sounded so good) 

 Van Halen: The Best of (the music throughout the career - hard to pick just one song) 

 Paul McCartney & Wings: Wings Greatest (Mull of Kintyre is my favorite the rest are epic)