Laurel McHargue — Author/Podcast Host

Category: Laurel on Life

Laurel McHargue talks about life with an eye toward humor in essays and podcast episodes on the human condition.

My Bizarre and Beautiful Visit
With friends breaking quarantine!

Khaki Campbell duckling image from: https://images.app.goo.gl/wy5yanh2Hv1A87hV8
Five of these little gals will arrive in the mail next week!

Listen here for more mental health wellness tips and an unusual quarantine-breaking visit!

Show Notes
- More mental health wellness tips during quarantine from Dr. Donlon
- Mental and physical preparation I did before my friends arrived from Leadville
- Discussion and laughter about living under social distancing restraints and with face masks
- Things we take for granted
- Choices we can make!
- Link to my latest newsletter: How Are You All Doing Out There?
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
May 14, 2020
Buzzfeed

You know you like it!

Yup! I did it! I submitted my first Buzzfeed post and it was really fun! Check it out here and tell me what you think!

Popcorn–It’s What’s for Dinner (or Lunch, or Breakfast)!

Dinner for two!

Mmmmmm! Smell the aroma of fresh, hot popcorn!

May 6, 2020
Q Diaries 35: Cinco de Mayo and Fractured Ankles
Sounds like a party, am I right?

Happy (?) Cinco de Mayo!

It’s just a lateral avulsion fracture of the malleolus!

Show Notes
- I discuss why I’m clearly not yet a pro at walking, although I’ve been practicing this specific ‘sport’ for 60 years!
- Props and sincere thanks to the entire ER staff at HRRMC! Thank you!
- I talk about Cinco de Mayo parties with hopes that with life in the grip of a global pandemic, people will stop finding things to be offended about.
- More mental heath wellness tips and confession about my own OCD tics.
- Not sure where those Cinco de Mayo photos are…perhaps in the attic of our Leadville house!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
May 5, 2020
Q Diaries 34: My Scary Adventure into COVID-land
(with an eye toward the humorous nature of it all!)

I moved 20 cinder blocks a distance yesterday, for our outdoor duck coop. Felt good after being ‘cooped up’ in protective gear for my Safeway adventure!

Show Notes
- I finally do it. I make the trek to Safeway for the first time since mask-wearing during social distancing became a requirement.
- I do not forget the cheese.
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
May 3, 2020
Q Diaries 33: My New Life
Dumplings and Ducklings

The duck coop, almost finished! Still have to dig it in (for critter control)!

More mental health wellness tips during quarantine and a changed perspective. Oh, and pumpkin dumplings!

Setting up the coop from McMurray Hatchery

Show Notes
- More mental health wellness tips during quarantine from Dr. Donlon.
- How COVID-19 has changed my perspective on where I live.
- New recipe ideas (pumpkin dumplings) and excitement about becoming a duck wrangler.
- CCWE writing prompt about home and belonging
- DO NOT DRINK, GARGLE WITH, INGEST, or INJECT household cleaning supplies! (still can’t believe the man in charge of the United States–the “person who has a good you-know-what”–thought this might be a good idea to test). (Well, yes, I can).
- Be safe. Be hopeful. Be kind to yourself and to others.
Pumpkin dumplings with shredded Pecorino Romano cheese!

NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
April 28, 2020
Q Diaries 32
More Mental Health Tips and Writing Inspiration

Read my story “Tanked” in my Dark Ebb: Grim Tales collection!

Listen here, y’all! And please click “LIKE” if you enjoyed it!

Show Notes with Links
- I share a few more of Dr. Donlon’s Mental Health tips for quarantine
- I share my guest blog post about “How Tanked Evolved”
- NYCMidnight.com writing contests
- My latest collection of short stories: Dark Ebb: Grim Tales
- I set my short story in Boston’s New England Aquarium
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
April 21, 2020
Q Diaries 28-31: Ducks and Pea Soup
There are some seriously Medusa-like weeds in our garden!

Listen here, and please hit “Like” if you like it!

My 2000-piece puzzle…I’m maybe 1/4 done? Still can’t find two side pieces :/

Show Notes and Links
- A catch-up episode of gardening, duck research, fruit tree research, puzzle progress and pea soup sickness!
- These are Khaki Campbell ducks, and we’re going to have 5 next month!
- More mental health tips from Dr. Donlon, which I needed this week because I’ve been feeling uninspired…
- But I do have some great new ideas for my next book!
- By the way, have you ordered your copy of DARK EBB: GRIM TALES yet?
- I’ll be going back to weekly episodes again. Next one on Monday!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
April 15, 2020
Q Diaries 26: COVID-19 Fatigue
So tired!

The toilet paper square challenge!

Puzzles, seeds, graphic novels, Crow-Magnum, fatigue . . .

Show notes
- Quarantine fatigue and mental health tips
- Planting seeds (14 varieties!)
- Puzzle mania
- Artist Becky Jewell‘s live Instagram episode, creating the graphic novel for “Crow-Magnum”!
- I’ve started my next book!!!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
April 9, 2020
Q Diaries 25: My 100th Episode!
The day Bernie drops from the presidential race (4/8/2020)

My 100th epidode!

Can’t wait till these beauties bloom!

I repaired the fallen grave (death?) marker.

Show Notes
- Hard to believe this is my 100th episode (not including my short story episodes).
- I share a few quarantine mental health tips provided by my Michigan bestie Nadine Collier, who sent a list of 25 from Dr. Donlon.
- Election news…please don’t write in Bernie Sanders…respect his decision to stop his quest for the White House.
- Denver Pop Culture Con 2020 update
- Started my new book!!!
NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
April 9, 2020
Q Diaries 21-24, Weekend Edition
Me and my new neighhhhhhbor, Louie L’amar!

My Weekend “Plus” edition, including another Q Tip

Worlds Fair 1893 handkerchief!

Show Notes:
- I followed my own “Q Tip” and stayed off of my computer all weekend!
- Also, I’m just saying “NO” (thank you) to “chain” requests
- Worked on my puzzle, started book 10 of Bernard Cornwell’s Warrior/Saxon Chronicles, dug in the garden, met Susan’s horse–Louie L’amar, caught up with friends and family
- Found and washed a Worlds Fair 1893 handkerchief
- Uprighted a fallen grave marker cross
- Encouraged Willie to eat weeks in my garden (didn’t take much encouragement!)
- Registered for NYCMidnight microfiction contest
- Transfered DPCC 2020 registration to May 2021
Susan and Willie (Nelson!) in my garden!

I’ll do a little more work on this next time around.

Quite ‘fragrant’ compost!

NO TOUCHING!

If you enjoy my podcast episodes, you might enjoy my books!
- Laurel’s Amazon Author page
- https://leadvillelaurel.com/writing-tips/
- https://www.facebook.com/LeadvilleLaurel/
- https://twitter.com/LeadvilleLaurel
- Intro/outro voice by Nick McHargue,
  Podcast music from Jamendo Royalty Free Music
If you enjoyed this episode and others, please subscribe to Alligator Preserves on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends about it! I’d love it if you “liked” the episodes you listen to, and I’d love it even more if you’d post a quick comment!
April 7, 2020