2023-01-23 16:24
1. Learn how to use public transportationLearning how to use and be comfortable taking public transportation is a skill. It means that no matter where you go, you'll have no problem getting… Read More
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H.a. Larson - Author Blog
halarsonauthor.com
Tags:
scenic byway
shitty things
connecting flight
monthly budget
happen
postcards
winter
meteor showers
mental health
national park
H.A. Larson is an author living in the Midwest. A self-publisher of several paranormal thrillers, she waxes poetic on writing, life, traveling, photography, and other pursuits.
2023-01-05 21:43
Alright, folks, new year new me. Right? Right! This year is shaping up to be great (no matter what that nagging little voice in my head tries to tell me) and it's high time I get some goals… Read More
2023-01-04 20:32
For various reasons, the last three years of my life were hard. I mean, they were fucking hard. So many shitty things happened. Okay, more like a handful of shitty things, but still, they we… Read More
2022-12-15 20:56
The days are shorter, the nights are colder, and I can't wait to get home every day after work, put on something comfortable, and either make a drink or a cup of tea. Whichever one I choose… Read More
2022-11-22 22:06
Thanksgiving is nearly here; after that, we only have a month before Christmas arrives. During that time, the air will get colder, Fall will officially turn to Winter, and snow is likely. De… Read More
2022-11-09 20:20
Back in September, I made my annual trip to Portland - with a twist. This year, I met my bestie Lisa in Portland where we took the train to Seattle for a few days. Before I get ahead of myse… Read More
2022-11-03 13:49
It's been a while since I've posted about the night sky but with the upcoming Taurids meteor showers active through early December, it's a good time to post about it. What are meteor sh… Read More
2022-10-24 17:13
Learning and mastering your finances takes practice and time. Over that time, we evolve along with our finances, myself included. Recently, I realized that I've been going about some things… Read More
2022-10-16 13:37
I love nothing better than a good passport. My U.S. Passport has taken me out of the country and I love it for that, but there are so many touristy-type passports you can get for a variety o… Read More
2022-09-29 13:21
I love postcards, I really, really do. My love of postcards began when I was a young child and my mom would send me postcards from her world travels. My love of the hard, rectangle-shaped ca… Read More
2022-09-25 18:16
It's another beautiful day here in the Midwest! The temperatures have cooled down and the leaves are starting to turn. This means, of course, that Autumn is here and you all know that it's m… Read More
2022-09-14 13:24
I was out at one of my favorite spots this weekend when I snapped this picture. While the foliage is still quite green, you can see that it's touched with a hint of brown. Soon, the leaves w… Read More
2022-08-23 10:02
Several years back, I was rediscovering a love for hiking that I hadn't experienced since I was a kid. As I was learning and growing as a hiker, I heard about the Appalachian Trail (or AT fo… Read More
2022-08-05 19:29
Life is grand, my friends, and I've made good on a promise to myself to get back out and live life again. You know, like I used to. Recently, I drove out to one of my favorite nature spots:… Read More
2022-07-21 11:13
"Seasons change and so do we."Hello old friends. Your weary author is back and change has finally smiled upon me, but first, let's catch up.The last time you heard from me, I was in the thro… Read More
2022-05-28 12:04
Back in October of 2021, I was supposed to attend a concert in Denver with a friend of mine. Earlier in the year, I had hesitated to buy a plane ticket because...well, you know...Covid. Ever… Read More
2022-05-20 14:02
A handful of weekends ago, I was relaxing at home when I realized that for the first time in a long time, I felt that the huge weight I had been carrying on my shoulders was lifted. Even bet… Read More
2022-04-16 12:33
In 2002, avid Clear Lake kiters, Larry and Kay Day, started the Color the Wind Festival. Held on the third Saturday in February each year, this colorful festival of kites has been a traditio… Read More
2022-04-10 15:30
In January of 1959, some of the biggest stars of Rock 'n Roll set out on a whirlwind 24-day tour called the "Winter Dance Party". The headliners of the show were 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 17… Read More
2022-03-31 10:55
You'd have to be living under a rock not to notice the increase in price on almost everything. Seriously, literally, everything has gone up in price - often by a LOT - since last year. I typ… Read More
2022-03-23 10:42
In early January, my friend Rebecca and I took a day trip over to Council Bluffs. We tried to visit the Union Pacific Railroad Museum that day but, as it was a Sunday, the museum was closed… Read More
2022-03-13 14:32
Last month, amidst a long spell of not blogging regularly and not having published a book in four years, I declared that I wasn't much of a writer anymore. Well...I'm a liar. Sooo, whil… Read More
2022-02-27 14:10
Not long after the 2021 Holiday Season was over, and life returned to a normal pace, I had a hankering to do a day trip. Around the same time, I was visiting my friend Rebecca one evening an… Read More
2022-02-13 13:38
In life, the future is always uncertain. Stock markets, relationships, jobs, kids, even our own demise, can never be predicted with certainty. Sometimes we can come close to figuring it all… Read More
2022-01-28 12:13
Getty Images/iStockphotoBefore I begin, I need to say a couple of things:1. I make more than the poverty level. Before taxes and other deductions, I make a little over double the poverty lev… Read More
2022-01-24 12:09
Another week begins and I completely forgot to post this blog entry this weekend, even though it was ready. Admittedly, I had a busy weekend mixed with a lazy weekend - if that's a thing, an… Read More
2022-01-19 12:09
Now that I have a home that I love, I've been enjoying the time that I spend there. Sure, I like to get out and about as often as I can, but in the evenings, either after work or after a day… Read More
2022-01-15 14:44
Back in April of 2018, prompted by a need to get healthier and get some regular exercise, I started keeping track of the steps/miles I walked every day. At the time, I had an old step counte… Read More
2022-01-13 12:18
Brownville, NE, circa 1907. Brownville, Nebraska, is a small town in the far southwestern part of the state. Once the largest town in the Nebraska Territory, with a population of 1,309… Read More
2022-01-08 13:20
Believe it or not, I labeled this post for later writing in mid-October of last year. By the way, it still feels weird to say last year when last year was literally just days ago. Anyw… Read More
2022-01-05 12:57
Good morning! I have a cup of coffee in my hand, per my usual morning routine, and I'm ready to sit around the table and have a chat with you. So, grab your own coffee (or whatever motivates… Read More
2022-01-01 12:38
2021 started off quietly and different than in past years as covid turned my life upside down (like it did for everyone else). I had been divorced for a few months but was still living as ro… Read More
2021-12-16 11:49
One of my best friends from high school, Amy, and I are doing a section hike on the Appalachian Trail in June (of 2022). Because of this, we've been getting together every three weeks to tak… Read More
2021-12-11 14:48
Once upon a time, I liked to cook. I spent my 20s single and eating gas station food, so as I neared 30 and started a family, I began cooking. I discovered that I liked it so did it fairly o… Read More
2021-11-30 17:26
Last month, my friend Rebecca and I took an overnight trip to Western Nebraska to visit some wineries on the Nebraska Passport Program. We spent the night in North Platte, NE, which is… Read More
2021-11-16 11:09
It's hard to believe, but this is the 6th year of my annual Shocktober! In case you are new around here, Shocktober! is where I watch horror movies (based on a theme of some sort) just for y… Read More
2021-11-10 11:01
Back in late July, my friends Jayne, Keith, and I loaded up into my car to head north. Our destination? An out-of-the-way winery and a tasting room. The winery in question was Native 32 Wine… Read More
2021-11-05 20:09
Remember when my whole life was hyper-focused on walking and hiking? Yeah, well...me too.See, here's the thing. Last year was a bitch and, as a result, I got lazy and put some weight back on… Read More
2021-10-31 18:37
Image courtesy of https://westnebraska.com/When I first embarked on my Nebraska Wine Passport journey at the beginning of the year, I knew a trip out West with one of my participating f… Read More
2021-10-25 14:55
Another week is upon us, so before I get too deep into it, I want to reflect on the last one.Fall is here, a bit delayed, but you can finally see it in the landscape.Because of this, I made… Read More
2021-10-20 10:58
By now, my dear reader, you are no doubt aware of my love for all things Renaissance, particularly Renaissance Faires/Festivals. Every year I go to the Nebraska Renaissance Faire (rivals any… Read More
2021-10-11 10:44
Early this summer, I really began to notice how many things I was avoiding....err, evading. Sometimes when we get stuck in a rut and just aren't feeling ourselves, it's easy to avoid doing t… Read More
2021-10-08 10:13
Now that I'm all settled and have a bunch of debt paid off, I figured it was time to start aggressively working on paying off my student loans. Granted, I do have a loan on a new car that I… Read More
2021-09-27 16:29
Well, well, would you look at that? It's FALL! To say I'm excited is an understatement. It's my favorite season and I always look forward to all the Fall things that I love: the colors of na… Read More
2021-09-23 19:04
I think it's fair to say that I've been going through some shit these past few years, a fact that has played out here in my blog for the world to see. I chalked it up to this, that, or the o… Read More
2021-09-20 15:34
It's no secret that I like wine. I have a dedicated 20-bottle wine rack at home and I love nothing better than having a glass or three with friends - as any Woman of a Particular Age could a… Read More
2021-09-16 20:34
I was on vacation the week of Labor Day and, except for my brief trip out to Western Nebraska, I stayed around home this time. Yes, I took a bonafide staycation. Why? Well, I'm a single-inco… Read More
2021-09-11 13:42
On Labor Day weekend, I took my daughter out to Western Nebraska for what I hoped would be a fun, bonding mother-daughter trip. We packed up the car early on Saturday and headed just shy of… Read More
2021-09-08 12:02
Not too long ago, I talked about the reasons why I quit using my debit card. Today, I want to talk about how I've already benefited from that decision. Last year, I got a Discover… Read More
2021-09-02 11:14
Not meA handful of years back, when I really started getting into hiking, I read a good article about the Appalachian Trail (aka the AT). It triggered an idea in my head that I might like to… Read More
2021-08-25 10:39
I don't know why, but sometimes I give up too easily and it needs to stop. It's nothing more than an act of self-sabotage that gets me with my second, third, or even last option....for every… Read More
2021-08-11 10:32
I'm not going to lie, the past few weeks have been pretty great. I've gotten out and done more things during this time than I have in literal months. Of course, I've taken plenty of photos… Read More
2021-08-04 10:58
Last year, I started credit card churning when I learned of it and have been paying all of the bills that I can, using points credit cards, ever since. A couple of months ago, I was loo… Read More
2021-07-26 10:53
I was hiking the other day when I snapped this lovely photo and I thought about how beautiful it was. It was slightly overcast but the clouds couldn't hide how blue and bright the sky looked… Read More
2021-07-22 09:42
Good morning! The mornings are still cool, even if the afternoons are heating up, so I'm sitting here at my desk with my cup of coffee and a light, cool breeze. Have you got a cup of coffee… Read More
2021-07-18 12:37
It's been a while since I last posted one of these, so I figured it was overdue. Bearing that in mind, where do I even begin? Well, I guess we can start with the fact that I recently have ha… Read More
2021-07-11 16:16
The first weekend of May, Mother's Day weekend, I took a break from all the chaos that was moving to spend a fun couple of days in Des Moines. The goal was to attend the Des Moines Renaissan… Read More
2021-07-08 11:38
Not long after I moved into my own place, I was sitting on the couch after a long day and I noticed something: my body was tense and my mind was racing a mile a minute. And you know what? It… Read More
2021-07-05 14:09
Anytime now, 2021 can just slow down a bit. I mean, we got past Winter, barely had a Spring, shot off some fireworks, and in looking at the calendar, school starts back up next month. What t… Read More
2021-06-30 20:28
A few weeks ago one of my best friends, Libby, had a birthday. To mark the occasion, and because she has a rambunctious five-year-old at home, she really wanted to get out for a day of girl… Read More
2021-06-26 12:38
Lately, I've been feeling stagnant. It's strange as this seems like the last thing one would expect me to be feeling. After all, I spent the last two years working hard to create a new life… Read More
2021-06-17 11:06
Summer is here and it's the time of year when we start thinking about vacation. But what if you can't afford to take that dream vacation or drive to some fun touristy spot? Well, that doesn'… Read More
2021-06-12 11:26
Tucked away in the northeast corner of Omaha sits Fort Omaha. Built in 1868, known as Sherman Barracks, it was a supply depot for various other forts along the Platte River. Today, four parc… Read More
2021-06-09 18:59
Finally, after months of working two jobs or being incredibly busy, I'm back on the walking/hiking bandwagon. Besides walking to work and back again - and at double the distance I might add… Read More
2021-06-04 13:31
I have a fresh cup of coffee next to me, and there's a cool, gentle breeze winding through my open windows and through my home. A heatwave is upon us but the mornings are still cool, so I ta… Read More
2021-05-31 13:12
We finally finished emptying and cleaning out the old house the other day, and it's simply the best. Turning in the keys to a place I lived in for so many years seems like it might be… Read More
2021-05-26 10:43
I have something to say: I'm over it. Having a month and a half to move into one place and out of another gives you plenty of time to move everything you want to keep into your new place and… Read More
2021-05-19 11:32
On our second day on our trip within our trip, we headed a half-hour north to Fort Davis, Texas. Fort Davis is named after an actual fort and our destination for the day. This is a view walk… Read More
2021-05-14 11:43
A view of the Chisos Mountains during daybreakWell, well...look who's back. And, yes, I do mean me. I'm at a place now in life where I'm ready to get back into the swing of The Write Life, a… Read More
2021-04-29 11:08
Courtesy Getty ImagesIt's been far too long since my last post, but, to be fair, I did warn all of you that I was heading into a busy period. I wasn't joking when I said busy, either, becaus… Read More
2021-04-08 10:46
I returned home this past weekend from a much-needed vacation and it felt great. Getting out for some travel and adventure is amazing but nothing beats coming home at the end. It was good to… Read More
2021-03-27 10:25
It's been a week now since I worked my last shift at my second job, and I have to say that it's been pretty great. It was nice to end my workday at my regular job and just deal with normal… Read More
2021-03-20 13:31
Recently, I talked about how I paid off over 20k in debt over a 15 month period. Paying off this debt was essential to my future as I embarked on a new life as a single mom of one*. But, tru… Read More
2021-03-18 18:26
I'm on my feet a lot. Between my walking goal of 100 miles a month and my obsessive love of hiking, my feet are, literally, put through their paces. Since I use my feet so much, I've been co… Read More
2021-03-13 13:17
Spring is upon us and, while it's possible to get that one last freak snowstorm, I'm engaged in Spring things. I started the process a few months ago, but I'm fully invested in Spring cleani… Read More
2021-03-11 17:21
If you have ever been in debt, or are currently in debt, you know how it can often feel like you're drowning. I was drowning in January of last year when I knew I wanted to get divorced and… Read More
2021-03-07 13:49
After the bitter cold snap that saw record, freezing temperatures and tons of snow, the weather warmed back up in a rapid 180. The past few weeks have been pleasant and the snow is nearly go… Read More
2021-03-01 00:12
There's been a lot of talk in the financial world, for months now, about whether a "Great Recession" will happen or not. There's no way to know for absolutely sure and experts are divided, b… Read More
2021-02-24 14:35
Books are often a metaphor for life, mine being no exception - maybe even more so seeing as I'm a writer. Having said that, I'm closing the chapter on the last twenty years of my life and st… Read More
2021-02-19 12:35
Good morning and welcome to the Write Life! It's been a few weeks since my last post, but working a lot of hours every week at two jobs doesn't leave me a lot of extra time. Fortunately, my… Read More
2021-02-04 17:14
A picture that does NOT make me unhappy.I was reading an article not long ago and a quote from it really stood out to me. I don't remember it exactly, but the gist of it was about being dist… Read More
2021-01-23 14:51
A good friend of mine is always on the lookout for Prince Charming. She's always hunting for that one guy who's going to swoop in, get rid of her problems, and make her dreams come tru… Read More
2021-01-18 16:37
Good morning! I realize it's been a while since I posted last, but that just seems to be my life these days. While there are definitive upsides to working two jobs, there are downsides as we… Read More
2021-01-05 20:41
I've always been a fairly frugal person, but after I leaped into the FIRE, my frugality has definitely ramped up. One of the discoveries on my journey is that there are always ways one can b… Read More
2021-01-01 16:57
It doesn't seem like it was that long ago when I sat down and wrote about my 2019 and how much I was looking forward to 2020. Yet, it's been a year ago now, and, man, what a year it wa… Read More
2020-12-25 18:23
Gud Jul, or Good Yule, to you and yours!I'm a Swede by heritage, 50% to be exact, so I grew up with Swedish traditions that I found fascinating as a child. While that fascination never left… Read More
2020-12-12 16:37
You and I both know how much I enjoy a good beer. I've talked about it here regularly and considering this whole series, it's not really a surprise. But, I've also talked about how I want to… Read More
2020-12-05 14:53
Recently, I decided to pore through my Google Drive in an effort to make more space. During the process, I came across so many pictures of things I had done and the places I had gone that I… Read More
2020-12-03 12:40
You all know that highpointing is a passion-hobby of mine, and to that end, I've reached 6 out of the 48 state summits I plan to conquer. So far I've attained:* Black Elk Peak - South Dakota… Read More
2020-11-29 15:19
As most of you already know, I started pursuing FIRE this year. My goal for FIRE is to retire in ten years, so there are many things to do and learn as I work towards that goal. One th… Read More
2020-11-26 12:50
Image courtesy of visitomaha.comI've lived in Omaha for seventeen, almost eighteen, years now, which is longer than I've ever lived anywhere else in my entire life. It's hard to believe this… Read More
2020-11-22 14:02
Good morning! Do you have a nice warm cup of coffee? I sure do. You know, when I think about it, I don't know how I'd ever make it through a morning without at least one cup of coffee. Even… Read More
2020-11-12 15:42
Last month, I took a wonderful, long weekend trip to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, with my best friend. The Grand Hotel is a piece of luxury from days gone by, but the little… Read More
2020-11-07 15:43
When I started my FIRE journey a few months ago, I realized straight away that I needed to bring in more money. Why you might ask? Well, the purpose of FIRE is to retire early, and in order… Read More
2020-11-05 15:22
A few months back, my best friend, Keith, asked me if I wanted to spend a weekend with him at the Grand Hotel. He's a world traveler, but with the pandemic, his international travel p… Read More
2020-11-01 18:19
It's that time of the year again! This will be the fifth year that I've done the Shocktober! series. Each year, I watch a selection of horror movies that follow a theme of some kind. The fir… Read More
2020-10-28 18:53
A lovely photo I took of Lake Michigan The last couple of weeks have been busy, to say the least, but also productive and wonderful. My best friend, Keith, and I had a whirlwind trip ov… Read More
2020-10-18 12:33
In my quest for FIRE, I've adopted a minimalist lifestyle. This has forced me to deal with all of the things I've kept and collected over the years, one of these being my classic dollhouse… Read More
2020-10-13 10:53
Hercules, the epitome of strength.A few months ago, I began working a second job in my pursuit of FIRE. I've gained financial strength from this choice, as it's allowed me to aggressively wo… Read More
2020-10-10 13:56
A little over three years ago, I did an investigation of local Elk City Cemetery. As is the case with cemeteries I have investigated in the past, my M.O. is to spend about half an hour gathe… Read More
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