magick musings…

Last week, after the third time my son asked if a package had arrived for him, being the astute mother I am, I inquired as to what exactly he was expecting. A few hem and haws later, he spilled the beans that he had taken defense driving from an online company after receiving a speeding ticket. And to complete the process, he had to have proof of taking the course and a current certified copy of his Motor Vehicle Record to bring to court with him to make sure his exorbitant car insurance fees stayed exorbitant and not uber (borrowed that word from Dennie thankyouverymuch) exorbitant.

Well, to make a long story short, he waited a tad too long and needed to have them overnight it to him as they advertised they could for a nominal fee of $50.00. He was given a tracking number and believed all was well. So upon discovering, via checking the tracking number online and finding it had not even been shipped yet after three days, I did what any good mother does. I got my husband to call and find out where the heck it was.

And discovered it hadn’t even been shipped yet.

The lady of the online defensive driving course said that their normal process is that they DO overnight it – as soon as they receive it from the state.

Not what they advertised, I must say.

So, we got our insurance agent to download a copy of the MVR and this next week, my dh and son will visit the court and hopefully get them to accept that copy until the certified copy that was overnighted for $50.00 and took a week to arrive, in fact, does arrive.

Wish us luck. And beware of companies that provide overnight service.

~Sandy

…BIRTHDAYS! :party:

So many of my friends and family have birthdays in the month of September! Not only is today my birthday, but my boss’s birthday! And I marvel at the fact that she and I were born on the same day, same year, only about 6 hours apart. How strange is that??? Since I am only 29, she definitely must be also!

Happy Birthday to those who have September birthdays: Carolyn C, Ashley, Sandy S, my brother Fred, my stepmother Judi (so sorry I forgot to call! love ya!), my aunt Beth, my friend Peggy, Lynda M,.

If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me!

Just finished Susan Elizabeth Phillips ‘Match Me if You Can’ and loved it! Laughed out loud in several places. Now working on Candace Havens new ‘Charmed and Ready’. Got about a third of it read last night. Both of these writers have such definite ‘voices’. Having heard both of these talented authors speak, I can actually ‘hear’ them in their writing.

Yesterday I spent about an two hours helping Michelle with her new house. Talk about cute! Felt bad because I didn’t have any more time than that to give, but hopefully helped a little.

Off to celebrate today. My dh asked what I would like to do and didn’t cringe or comment negatively when the answer was ‘shopping’. Will let you know what I come home with!

~Sandy

These last week has been a blur. So much happening at work and at home.

But everyone else has been busy also:

Brenda emailed everyone from St. Moritz, Switzerland. I am so jealous!

Michelle bought a house and closing on Friday!

Dennie’s new book out TODAY!

Amie, Dennie, Michelle, and Raine have a new blog ~ Southern Fried Chicas!
Sandy S has a new cool blog look!
Bailey is having a contest for Jill Shalvis’ new book, Out of This World! Have heard it really rocks and can’t wait to get my copy.
If you ever want to see some really original and great pics, check out Carmi’s blog.
Daisy Dexter Dobbs has sworn never to take another vacation. Check out her story!
Devon has been writing, writing, writing! She has a fascinating job also.

Still waiting for my birthday-present-to-me. Supposed to be delivered tomorrow.

Anything else going on I missed?

P.S. That’s right! Rene is going to Hawaii! Gaw, I am so jealous!!!

~Sandy

Every other week we have orientation for the new hires. My job is to educate, train and check off the new clinical hires that will be going out into the offices and on the weeks there is no orientation, I am part of a team that is designing and building an electronic charting system.

As I stood in front of the class today, it struck me how a year ago, or even four months ago, I would have never believed I could be doing what I am doing now.

I am nervous in front of people. But over the last 90 days, I have learned to stand up in front of a class and teach the policies and procedures that they will need in their new positions.

I had designed a basic website before, but never would I believe I would be involved in such a large project that will impact such a huge community of doctors, nurses, and patients.

Wow! Talk about getting out of my comfort zones!

But I really am loving it.

I bought myself an early birthday present! Last Saturday at our chapter meeting, we had a new visitor that had the coolest playtoy and I decided I wanted one.

Check it out!

It is an NEC Mobile Pro handheld 790! It is only 9.64 in wide, 5.2 in long and weighs 1.69 lbs.

It is perfect for fitting into your purse on backpack or briefcase. The keyboard is 94% of a regular laptop.

I can’t wait to get it! I figure if it doesn’t work for me, I can sell it on ebay or something.

~Sandy

I am so blessed to have such good friends!!!!

~Sandy

…on September 11, 2001?

A friend of mine and I were talking, just as so many others are this day, about where we were and what we were doing on that fateful day that our country was so brutally violated.

As we looked back with sadness, we wondered what the brave men and women who died that day, if given the chance, would have done different the last month, week, day of their lives. Then we asked ourselves what would we do different today if we knew next week would be our last.

Would I worry about how the house looked? Would I be sad that I never wore that new outfit I was saving for something special? Would I sigh with frustration when my DH or the boys asked me to come into the other room so they could show me something (for the upteemph time)? Would I make those calls to my friends and family I keep putting off?

I believe, that from now on, I will do my best to enjoy each day, each minute of the rest of my life.

My thoughts and prayers today to the families of the victims of 9-11-01.

~Sandy

We had our chapter meeting today and it was absolutely fabulous! We were lucky enough to get to really great speakers, Evelyn Vaughn and Cindy Dees who spoke on the collaboration effort of their seven book series ‘The Madonna Key’. There is definitely a lot more to just getting with several writers and saying, “Hey, let’s write a series! You write one and I’ll write one and we’ll see if these other authors want to write one.” So glad they were able to come speak to us.

Then several, in fact quite a few, of us Yellow Rose members ran over to Barnes and Nobles to visit with Candace Havens and grab her new book, Charmed and Ready. Candace is so high energy and lots of fun. She had a pair of the coolest leopard print boots on! Wowsie! I loooooved them! And they actually matched the shoes her heroine is wearing on the cover! So cool! And Michelle mentioned to her that she was blogging over at Shoe IQ and Candy gave the info to her web designer, who was there supporting her, btw, and he was going to link it to her website. Michelle was so excited. It looked like a great booksigning, but Candy seems to excel in everything she does because she works very hard and is so talented. Run out and pick up the latest in her series. I plan on starting mine as soon as I finished Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts.

Michelle, Dennie, and Amie, Jen, Sandy S, and I hung around the bookstore for awhile just talking and laughing until we ached. Fun girls!

Afterwards, I came home and crashed for about forty minutes. DH took me to Joe’s Crab Shack where we pigged out on shrimp and then I crashed again for an hour. That’s why it is 12:30 am and I am wired now.

Oh, BTW, I won Jill Shalvis’ book Bad Boys Southern Style from Eve! Another one I can’t wait to get and start reading! Thanks Eve and Jill!

Think I’ll head up to the bubble bath with my book now!

~Sandy

Been so busy with work I haven’t had to blog. Slowly working on my new WIP but need some help plotting. Work is going well and I love it but it is sooo stressful. Always worried if I am going to say the wrong thing to the wrong people. Then it will end up in an email and the poop will start flying. Gaw! Can’t everyone play nice in the sandbox?

Talked to my grandtwins tonight. Well, actually, just Colby. Brady was too busy to talk. But my daughter-in-law (still is and always will be) said that Colby had been asking to call his ‘Nana’ all day. Sweet, sweet, wonderful boy. When he got on the phone the first thing he said to me was that he was ‘feeling grumpy all day”. So funny. I think it is safe to assume he was ‘grumpy’ all day because he missed his Nana.

Just finished The Dream Thief by Shana Abe. It was wonderful! As good as the first one in the series The Smoke Thief. Absolutely wonderful books. Had stopped The Rogue Angel: Destiny by Alex Archer to read it but went right back to it and finished it last night. Not a romance book, but a little on the paranormal side. All about Joan of Arc’s sword. Now started Nora Roberts ‘Morrigan’s Cross’. Did you know that Nora has two books on the bestseller list right now? She is definitely fantastic.

Gotta run. Woo Hoo! The weekend is only one day away!

~Sandy

~Sandy

Happy Labor Day, everyone! It felt heavenly to sleep in a little this morning. Woke about 8:00 which is pretty late for me. Saturday woke to the clock saying 6:25 and I panicked thinking it was Friday and I was going to be late for work. By the time I got my teeth brushed and the water hot in the shower I realized it was Saturday. A little stressed lately, perhaps, Sandy?

So headed back to bed and slept until 9:30. What a treat! The mall soon beckoned with its Labor Day bargains where I bought a few necessities that were on sale for a song. Bought hubby and youngest son a few of their favorite dress shirts that were regularly priced at $44.00 on sale for $4.97. And 15% off that if you used your credit card. How fast can you say ‘charge!’

Made the trip all worth while. I ‘heart’ sales.

Had lunch with a friend where we plotted a book for her and had the best time. What is it when we always get together and can’t stop laughing and getting into things that are just downright funny. Just call us the Lucy and Ethel act. And we plotted the coolest story for an anthology for her. I am so hoping this gets published. It would be shame and a waste not to.

We finally are getting the rain we needed. A soft, constant rain not a storm or deluge. Which is great for the brown grass and dead flowers, but is ruining a lot of Labor Day plans.

I wrote two pages last night on a new story. Couldn’t help myself. Something different I have never done before. It is very rough right now and not sure where I am going with it (imagine that…me…queen of the anal plotters) but it just flowed. I know it sucks right now, but I keep Nora’s mantra a constant in my head…’You can’t fix a blank page’! And who should know better than the Queen herself.

Oh, did you hear about Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, being killed by a stingray? My thoughts and prayers to his family. He brought a lot to the world in a very different and interesting way and he will be missed.

Sorry to ramble. It’s just a ramble kind of day. Think I will go work on this new story and find out what it’s all about,

Have a great holiday!

~Sandy