Category: Life in Central Florida
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Heat, Humidity, and the Never Ending Pursuit of a Better Book
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Reviews, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Books, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion: Coda, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, Writing and Editing, Writing as a CraftSunday, July 19, 2026 – Orlando, Florida It’s another oppressively hot and humid summer day in Central Florida. As midday approaches on this last day of the weekend, the mercury sits at 90°F (32°C), though the heat index pushes it to 101°F (38°C) under mostly sunny skies. In other words, a typical Florida mean‑season afternoon:…
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A Small Moment of Book Marketing at Aldi
Friday, July 17, 2026 – Orlando, Florida A Small Moment of Personal Book Marketing at Aldi Yesterday offered one of those unexpected, quietly meaningful moments that remind me why I write in the first place. I was at my local Aldi—nothing glamorous, nothing planned, just a routine stop with my landlady—when I spotted the young…
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A Writer, Not a Programmer, Battles the Subheadings
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Royalties, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two MoviesWednesday, July 8, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Happy Hump Day, dear readers! Well, here we are at midweek, and my little corner of Central Florida has apparently been set to “steam-clean.” As I write this, it is a torrid 92°F (33°C) under mostly sunny skies, with a heat index of 104°F (40°C)—the kind of number…
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All the Things She Taught Me
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, All the Things You Are, Creative Writing, Elizabeth Joan Owen, Elizabeth Joan Owen (Ms. Owen), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in Miami (1972-2016), Melodies and Memories: Music, Songs, and Singers, Music, Music & Concert Specials, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, South Miami High School in fiction, South Miami Senior High SchoolAll the Things She Taught Me Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Orlando, Florida On this exquisitely hot July afternoon in Central Florida, I find myself thinking about the lasting impact truly great teachers have on our lives—and how even the smallest things can bring their memories back. That feels especially true as we grow older, and…
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My Not-So ‘Glorious Fourth’: The Semiquincentennial That Fizzled
Sunday, July 5, 2026 – Orlando, Florida Hi, everyone. It’s already early afternoon here in my corner of Central Florida on this post-America 250 Sunday, and the weather is making its best impression of a steam room with palm trees. It’s a classic Florida summer day: hot, sticky, and flirting with rain. Right now, it’s…
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America at 250: Beyond the Powdered Wig Myth
Saturday, July 4, 2026 – Orlando, Florida “When in the Course of human events…” With those words, the Continental Congress introduced a document that would reshape the world — not by creating a nation overnight, but by declaring that the old bonds between Britain and its colonies had finally snapped. Setting the Stage Hi, everyone.…
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An American Musicale
Friday, July 3, 2026 – Orlando, Florida In honor of America’s 250th birthday, I offer this Independence Musicale! American Salute (Gould) Goin’ Home (Largo from Dvorak’s Symphony from the New World Yankee Doodle (Traditional) March from “Midway” (J. Williams) March from “1941” (J. Williams)
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A Quick Life Update from a Very Hot Spot in the Sunshine State
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in Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Creative Writing, Kindle, Kindle Create (Publishing App), Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Summer 2026, Summer in Florida, The Jim Garraty Chronicles, The Summer of Two MoviesTuesday, June 30, 2026 – Orlando, Florida “I believe someone made a grievous mistake when summer was created; no novitiate or god in their right mind would make a season akin to hell on purpose. Someone should be fired.” ― Michelle Franklin It’s another sweltering and – eventually – stormy summer day in Central Florida. The…
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Thoughts on a Hot Summer Afternoon: June 2026
On days when the heat settles over everything like a bright, shimmering veil, summer seems to speak in its own language: slow afternoons, sun-warmed memories, open windows, and the bittersweet feeling that every golden moment is already becoming a story. The quotes below capture that season in all its radiance—its ease, its longing, and its…
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You Are Already Moving
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in ACX, Alex Diaz-Granados, Amazon, Amazon Spain (Amazon.es), Amazon UK, Audible, Blogging, Books, College Life, Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen, Creative Writing, Life in Bogota, Life in Central Florida, Life in Florida, Life in Madison (NH), Life in Miami (1972-2016), Life in Miami….Again, Life in New Hampshire (December 2023 – October 2024), Life in South Florida, Life in the Tampa Bay area, Life in the United States, Love, Sex, & Relationships, Miami-Dade Community College, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Personal History, Personal Thoughts, Reunion Duology, Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, Sevilla (Seville), Spain, South Miami Senior High SchoolTuesday, June 16, 2026 — Orlando, Florida I don’t usually build blog posts around WordPress’ Daily Writing Prompt, but today the universe nudged me. Sometimes it leaves a note on the kitchen counter, and this one had my handwriting on it. Today’s Prompt:What is something you wish you could tell your 20‑year‑old self? Mid‑June in…
A Certain Point of View, Too 