What happened? How to prevent it from happening again?

This is in answer to some questions I'm getting about the short disappearance of Meanderings and Muses, and how it was retrieved.

 Chances are you received a newsletter or saw my post at Facebook regarding the short disappearance of Meanderings and Muses

At the very real risk of being very repetitive, here it is again -

Hi, everyone!

You may have noticed that my blog of 16 years, Meanderings and Muses, disappeared.

Sixteen years.

That blog has served a lot of purposes over the years.

I’ve shared good news and bad. Shed tears. Shared laughter. Pitched a few fits. Hosted good friends. Recommended a few books and authors. Shared some beauty and spotlighted some ugly.

The thoughts of losing it were devastating and incomprehensible.

But—it’s back!

With the help of Maddee, Ryan, and Riley of the amazing and magic-making xuni.com, my Meanderings and Muses is back. I can get back to using it as my journal, my conscience, the place for spreading my news and I hope you will continue to pop in from time to time.

It’s now accessed by this link: kayebarleymusesandmeanders.com

Please bookmark the new link! See you there!

Take care,

XXOO

Kaye

I have received notes from some of you asking what happened - My friend Ann sent this:  "Kaye—What a nightmare. What the hell happened and do you have any advice to others to avoid such a disaster? If my website went down it would be… can’t even go there."

So.

the question "What the hell happened?"

The short answer to that is "I'm really not sure."

Last Wednesday, Feb. 28, I was just working on a post, closed it out for awhile, went back about an hour later to complete it and was met with an ugly screen telling me that Meanderings and Muses had expired.

No prior warning.  

None.

 the question "do you have any advice to others to avoid such a disaster?"

HA!

I jumped through all the hoops placed in my path to no avail.

Each hoop directed me to a different hoop etc etc etc and around and around we went.

And here's where I say, "Thanks Be For A Woman Named Maddee James, her amazing team of Ryan and Riley, her adorable pup Ripley, and the magic of xuni.com.

Seeing as how I successfully managed Meanderings and Muses for 16 years pretty much problem-free (not totally problem-free, but I was able to work through most of them by myself), my best advice to other bloggers is this.  Turn it over to an expert to watch over.  

Find you an expert!

I will continue doing the writing and the publishing, but now I know if I ever see that hateful ugly screen telling me I'm expired (don't you hate that word?!) I can run to Maddee and crew for a fix by experts.  Yay, xuni.com ! 

Y'all, blogging technology has changed.  I now know I am not qualified to troubleshoot, let alone fix, problems I might have been able to do a few years ago.

Find you an expert.

(Speaking of my friend Ann, that would be Ann Medlock, who I ADORE.  Ann is a poet, a novelist, an essayist, a speaker, a storyteller, and a woman who, at age 90, is someone  we can all look at as a role model.  If you haven't read her SILENCE OF THE SEAMAID, I encourage you to do so).

Bouchercon 2016 - New Orleans, Part 2

This is Bouchercon, Part 2 --

click here to see Part 1

This kind gentleman was right there to open the door for me on Wednesday when I returned to the hotel from my Voodoo Cemetery Tour (well, 1/2 a tour).

Thankfully, I made it back without incident.  No faint, no face plant, just a bit wobbly.  

I went to my room and rested.  Took a cold shower and a nap.

Then wandered down the street just a ways to the Voodoo Mart & Liquor Store so I could pick up some voodoo dolls.  (I was obviously not too sick to shop).

And a mask.


One of my little dolls is a Voodoo Bitch, one is a Voodoo Sex Goddess and the other just seems to be dragging around a gris-gris bag, maybe trying to decide what she wants to be.  We'll keep an eye on that one.

And my roomie, my friend and sister of the heart, Lesa Holstine finally arrived and we wandered down to the Palace Cafe for dinner.

I had this scrumptious Crabmeat Cheesecake - Pecan crust, mushroom sauté, Creole meunière.​ 

Divine!

Recipe can be found here.

We both had some gumbo.  Delish!!!

We spotted Kathy Boone Reel as she was on her way out, but tempted her back for a taste of crab.

And Lesa and I went back later that night for dessert.

Her Creme Brulee was exceptional.

The Bananas Foster?  not so much.




And we were joined by David Chaudoir.

The internet has brought some pretty special people into my life. David Chaudoir is one. He attended his very first Bouchercon this week, and I think it was a hit for him. I'm also pretty sure he was a hit with everyone lucky enough to meet him.

And we were joined by Kathy, again, and by Diana Chambers and Terry Shames.

And my friend from Oz, Sarah Byrne

And then.


The Bar

Where we met up with Gigi Pandian

And Kathy (again) and John Purcell

And, M'Lou Greene

And the table grew.

Judy Bobalik found us, as did Maddee James.

And James Ziskin

And David Magayna

It was a fun evening (or, maybe you could tell that?)




and then, by golly, it was Thursday already.

Good Morning, New Orleans!!

And I went to my first Bouchercon 2016 panel.

I loved this panel. "Do You Feel Like I Do?"
Listening to these guys talk "books." Their book collections would have any book lover drooling. Their love for the written word, and respect for books came through loud and clear during the discussion led by Ali. To sit and listen while they shared their knowledge, along with many stories, was a highlight of my week. Treasures, these guys - Bill Gottfried, Marv Lachman, Ali Karim, Art Scott, and David Magayna

Also enjoying it were my pals Annette Dashofy and Lesa

And Annette captured a typical "me" picture when I wasn't paying attention.  Turns out, it's one of my favorite pictures from the convention.

photo by Annette Riggle Dashofy

and after this fun panel we moved on to another fun panel!

And we had the best time

 

My pal John Purcell supplied the beer (how sweet was that?)

John Thomas Bychowski took the panel pictures (thank you, John!!!!)

and M'lou managed to capture me with my mouth wide open - imagine that!

photo by M'Lou Greene