I don’t know about you, but the world seems to be getting pretty (insert your favorite colorful word here) intense. While I like to stay informed, I also like to laugh to deal with stress. And, I need some chuckles these days.

Today, the wonderful Jackie D is here to help us laugh with an embarrassing story. Also, Jackie is giving away 1 ecopy of Elimination. Below the guest post, you’ll find more details about the giveaway.

Take it away Jackie.

Singapore Sling

Ever wonder where the term “drunken sailor” comes from? I’m sure there is a “real” answer to this question, but I’m going to regale you with my version. I was stationed onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, headed to my second tour in the middle east when we stopped in Singapore. Three glorious days of fun and relaxation before we were to reach our destination in the Persian Gulf. The first two days were uneventful—I had duty, and for this reason, I wasn’t able to leave the ship.

Once my duty section was relieved, I practically ran down the gangway to kiss the cement dock. My friends and I headed into town with one objective in mind…fun.

The small alarm clock I kept in my six-foot by two-foot rack (bed) was blaring in my ear, and I had a brain splitting headache. I sat up and was shocked to find my face bruised, dried blood on my shirt, and on my face. I tried my best to put the very fuzzy pieces of the night before into a logical order. I came up with nothing. I’ve seen enough crime tv to know that I was going to have to talk to a few witnesses to find out what the hell happened.

My first stop (after I showered obviously—don’t be gross) was the yellow shirt locker to talk to the guys I went out with the night before.

I sat down on the bench, and my friend, Shawn Riley, handed me a bottle of water. “How was your night?”

I guzzled the water, not caring that it coated my shirt. “What the hell happened, Riley?”

He shrugged and poked the bruise on my face. “I left early to talk to my wife on the phone, but last time I saw you, you were headed to that Irish Pub with Soul.”

I headed to the Fly Two work center to find Tamara Soul. At least I had a location of where I was last seen and a person to help put the pieces together.

Soul was lying on the bench with a washcloth over her eyes. I flopped down next to her and lifted the cloth off her face.

She grunted and pulled it back down. “I can’t believe you’re awake.” She laughed at the end of her statement.

“Why do I look like I got in a fight with a wild goat?”

She laughed again. “You drank like five Singapore Slings. After that, you left with Hinkle. Not sure what you two got into.”

“Singapore Sling? What the hell do that put in that, jet fuel and Red Bull?”

She lifted the cloth again and smiled at me. “I’m not sure but you kept telling the bartender that it should be the international drink of happiness.”

“Helpful,” I said as I headed back out to the flight deck.

Kali Hinkle was walking toward Flight Deck Control when I caught up with her.

She gave me the “ouch” look when I approached her. “Damn, I thought your face would be in worse shape.”

“Worse shape than this? What happened?”

“Well, let’s see. After we left the bar, we decided we should probably head back to the ship. You talked one of the security guards into giving us a ride back on a golf cart. You climbed onto the back and kept yelling for him to go faster. He took a turn too hard, you fell off the back, and hit your face on a rock.”

I could feel my eyes blinking in shock, trying to put everything together.

She shrugged. “We got off to see if you were okay, but you sat up, laughing hysterically. Then, you kicked the rock for ‘punching’ you.”

I smacked my lips. “So, I got drunk on Singapore Slings, in an Irish Pub, in Singapore. Then I fell out of a moving vehicle and hit my face into a rock. I decided that it was said rocks fault, and then went about my drunken business.”

“Right.”

Our Chief walked up a moment later. “Everything okay, Dwyer?”

Unsure of how to answer the question, I said the only thing that popped into my head. “Yes, Chief. Got my ass kicked by a wild goat last night.”

GIVEAWAY

ELIMINATION

After Dark Series: Book 3

by Jackie D

Dylan Prey is willing to risk her life and her cover to help Homeland Security and the CIA bring wanted terrorist Carol O’Brien to justice. Deep undercover inside the Russian mafia, Dylan does whatever it takes to secure her place in the mafia’s upper ranks. Finding love amidst the lies, manipulation, and violence isn’t easy.

NSA cyberstalker Emma Quinn has just joined the team responsible for taking down O’Brien’s top lieutenants, but they’ll need every ounce of her genius to find and capture O’Brien herself. Emma is shy, awkward, and brilliant. Dylan is fierce, charismatic, and unyielding. Their dynamic is exactly what the team needs to complete the mission, but it spells disaster for the attraction that simmers between them.

The race is on to bring Carol O’Brien to justice before more lives are lost. Friendships will be tested, relationships strained, and one of the team may pay the ultimate price.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jackie D was born and raised in the San Francisco, east bay area of California. She lives with her wife, their son, and their many furry companions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration and a dual master’s degree in management and public administration. She is a Navy veteran and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a flight deck director, onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

She spends her free time with her wife, friends, family, and their incredibly needy dogs. She enjoys playing golf but is resigned to the fact she would equally enjoy any sport where drinking beer is encouraged during gameplay. Her first book, Infiltration, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award. Her fourth book, Lucy’s Chance, won a Goldie in 2018.

Jackie is also the co-host of the Podcast, The Weekly Wine Down – which can be found on iTunes, Stitcher, or Podbean.

CONNECT WITH JACKIE D

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Thanks so much for stopping by today.