magick musings…

…to all you ghosts and goblins! And batmen, spidermen, sponge bobs, rockers, jasons, freddy kruegers, princesses…just a few that the little ones have shared with me that they will dress up as tonight.

It’s funny how we mark the time by certain things that happen on an annual basis. What were you doing last halloween? Last birthday? Last Thanksgiving or Christmas?

I am trying my best to take one day at a time and cherish each moment. Not let it pass by and miss what joy, happiness, beauty, or blessing it brings.

And today I will enjoy Halloween of 2007.

Hope you will also.

Have a great one!

This pumpkin sighting may be a little gross, but very creative.

~Sandy

…of nana-bithia!

If you haven’t seen the movie ‘Bridge to Terabithia’, I am not even going to try to explain what I just said. Needless to say, I spent the weekend with my grandtwins and we watched the movie and then made up all kinds of sayings like the above phrase.

Silly, yes. Ridiculous, even more so. Fun, absolutely! It really rocks to be a NaNa. Should’ve had grandkids first.

And the funniest thing was the last night I was there. While the twins and I watched movies and played and danced and laughed until we literally lost our breaths, my son was in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove making homemade meatballs and spaghetti for our dinner. 😈

That. Was. Different. Me playing and him working. But he said he enjoyed it and had a wonderful time listening to us having fun. He is such a good father. And the twins’ mom is a very good mom.

Was able to have a long visit with two of my sons and my daughter-in-law (I will always love her) and came to an understanding for events of the past year. We won’t always agree, but will respect each other and each other’s wishes.

I can live with that.

My oldest son loves to go all out for Halloween. He has his backyard decorated as a graveyard that would make any movie maker proud. Headstones, bodies coming out of the ground, fog machines, lanterns, statues, lightening and sound effects.

Very scary.

Not to mention inside the house. He has one bedroom that is all in black with a ‘Jason’ type figure that pops out amidst more lightening and sound.

Very, very scary. In fact, at his party Saturday night, one guest admitted he ‘screamed like a girl’ when he saw it. His words not mine.

He hosts two parties every year. He explained that police officers find it difficult, for reasons we can all imagine, to party with civilians so he holds a different party for each group of friends.

The trip was long, but worth it. Came home and walked two miles, unpacked and got settled before Dancing with the Stars, so will leave you with another Halloween pumpkin carving. I should be so artistic.

~Sandy

…my favorite weather…my favorite time of year!

Got some rain on Monday, but so far the rest of the week has been just wonderful. Cool days with lots of clear sunshine. Cooler nights that have you snuggling deep into the blankets and hitting the snooze button a time or two in the morning.

Halloween is next week and Thanksgiving right around the corner. And with Christmas on its heels! OMGaw! It was just the holidays a few weeks ago.

Wasn’t it?

Got my pumpkins and scarecrows ready and will stock up on candy in a day or so. I heard the neighborhood is big on halloween night here and need to get ready for the masses. There is evidently a huge block party here to celebrate.

I have sons. Each one is going through some trials. But when I tell them I worry about them, they always tell me not to, that they will be alright, that it is just part of life.

Makes me feel good knowing they are grown and they realize that, although life is tough, tomorrow is always a chance for a better day. Sometimes we don’t think so, but like the Texas weather… just wait a minute. It will change.

Today, after running some errands, I headed back to work and decided to run through KFC to grab a grilled chicken sandwich. The drive through line was loooong so I parked thinking going inside would be quicker.

Can you believe the door was locked?

No sign on the door. No explanation.

Guess that is why the line was so long.

Just rambling tonight. Went and had a pedicure after work (why are those so relaxing and wonderful?) and then came home and watched Criminal Minds and CSI New York. Nothing exciting or earth shattering at the moment. And, after last week, that can be a good thing.

This one is creative:

~Sandy

…makes you stronger!

Last week started out with a few minor irritations but then churned into full blown exasperation!

1. Washed the car. It rained.

2. Misplaced cell phone. Cell phone in silent mode.

3. Wrote two blogs. Server didn’t publish them.

4. Unable to access blog or website. Unable to receive/send emails. 😯

5. Worked hard on very important presentation for work. Skipped lunch. Missed another important meeting to prepare. A short time before presentation due, was told that it wouldn’t be needed during the meeting.

6. Had two episodes at work that ended up in closed door meetings with my bosses.

7. Saturday morning car wouldn’t start. Got neighbor to jump start it. While he was kind enough to do perform this service, his wife returns home and sees their garage door open, house unlocked, yard tools spread out all over the lawn and assumes something horrible has happened. She runs into the street screaming his name. The cute, little old neighbors that watch over the neighborhood (see story here) come running out of their house and, seeing me in the garage with said kind neighbor, yells “Saaannndddyyyy? It’s Saanndyy! Something is wrong with Sandy!!!” Caused a commotion I didn’t need. 😳

Car started. Wife consoled. Elderly neighbor’s blood pressure back to normal. My stress level, however, through the roof.

8. $210.00 worth of battery replaced. But car needs a new starter. Refuse to pay the $400.00 for new starter since have the extended warranty. But can’t get car until Monday.

9. Denise has just the right therapy. Trip to mall.

But thanks to good friends, good neighbors, good bosses, extended warranties, trouble tickets to server, car rental places opened on Sunday, and White Zinfindel – all is well now.

This pumpkin carving somehow just says it all:

~Sandy

…having trouble accessing my blog from home to post. Lost two postings already.

Will figure it out over the weekend hopefully.

~Sandy

…weekend. A gorgeous weekend.

Thanks to Geri and Brenda who met with me at lunch to help me! You girls are so much fun! I have been needing that extra oomph and you were just what the muse needed.

Michelle and I went to the mall Saturday and were fairly good girls. We balance each other out. I normally don’t spend money and she does. I like clothes, she likes shoes. I like casual, she likes dress up. So, we found her a dressy dress for a special function coming up and I bought a blouse. Both were on sale. Happy us.

Came home and scraped dirt dauber nests off the eaves of the roof. Then got the bug spray out and sprayed all around the house.

Chased a huge spider (ugh!) away and three wasps chased me. What is it with me and insects lately?

I imagine I looked pretty silly running down the sidewalk with the bug spray shooting a stream all over the place. And on me. Had to wash up thoroughly after that little episode.

Went to church Sunday.

Did some desk work.

Cleaned spots out of the carpet.

Got a sluggish drain working.

Bought groceries.

Since I had a big lunch with the girls, I fixed a baked apple recipe that Brenda shared with me. Sugar free and delicious!

Now sitting here working on the story waiting for Cold Case to come on.

Speaking of bugs…

A woman was having a passionate affair with an inspector from a pest-control company. One afternoon they were carrying on in the bedroom together when her husband arrived home unexpectedly. ‘Quick,’ said the woman to the lover, ‘into the closet!’ and she pushed him in the closet, stark naked.

The husband, however, became suspicious and after a search of the bedroom discovered the man in the closet. ‘Who are you?’ he asked him.

‘I’m an inspector from Bugs-B-Gone,’ said the exterminator.

‘What are you doing in there?’ the husband asked.

‘I’m investigating a complaint about an infestation of moths,’ the man replied

‘And where are your clothes?’ asked the husband.

The man looked down at himself and said, ‘Those little bastards…..’

And the latest pumpkin sighting:

~Sandy

…about fall weather? After work, I walked two miles every day this week except Monday. Tonight I also cleaned house, did laundry, made a few phone calls, made plans for Sunday afternoon, cooked dinner, and made my list of things to get done this weekend.

I :heart: clean sheets. I am probably the only person I know that changes them religiously every Saturday and even sometimes during the week. And I have my favorite ones I love to use. 500 count (or is it 600? I forget) Egyptian cotton in a pale yellow. There is just something so comforting when I slide into them at night after my bubble bath.

We are all creatures of habit and routine. And I have a new one. I found a wonderful radio station I can tune into on my computer. It is 103.7 FM lite rock and there is a female DJ named Delilah who is great. She encourages people to call in and dedicate songs to their loved ones. Some of their stories touch the heart and soul. The music is an ecletic mixture of love songs, country, easy listening, and light rock. So at night, once I have watched the shows I can’t miss, I tune into her and listen as I blog, write, clean, answer emails, or whatever all the way up to bedtime.

Tonight is Ghost Whisperer and Moonlight night. I plan on coming home, lighting all my candles, pouring a glass of White Zinfindel and watching TV in my favorite chair. Couple of my friends and I will call each other during the commercials to discuss what’s happening. We are so silly, but…we…have…fun!

Someone asked me the other day how do I know what to write about? They don’t know me well because those who do, know I blog like I talk. About whatever is on my mind at the moment. About whatever is happening in my life at that time. Maybe not everything, but most. We’d be here forever if I did that.

Enough about me. I will leave you with a joke and another pumpkin sighting.

**There once was a religious young woman who went to Confession. Upon entering the confessional, she said, ‘Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.’

The priest said, ‘Confess your sins and be forgiven.’ The young woman said, ‘Last night my boyfriend made mad passionate love to me seven times.’

The priest thought long and then said, ‘Squeeze seven lemons into a glass and drink the juice.’

The young woman asked, ‘Will this cleanse me of my sins?’

The priest said, ‘No, but it will wipe that smile off of your face.’ **

Another scary pic:

~Sandy

Thirteen Things I like about Fall! 1. Days seem brighter without the glare. 2. Cool days 3. Cooler nights (I hate hot) 4. Scarecrows (always thought they were so cute) 5. Pumpkins (believe it or not, I tried pumpkin ravioli today. Yum!) 6. Candy (caramel tastes sooo much better this time of year) 7. Cookies (all kinds as long as they are chewy) 8. Fall scents (pumpkin, apple, vanilla) 9. Halloween (my favorite holiday for some weird reason) 10. All the new TV series start 11. Football (don’t actually get to watch it much but…go Cowboys!) 12. Baking is so much more fun. 13. End of daylight savings time (time seems more relaxed) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Check out this work of art!

~Sandy

…was wonderful!

But what truly happens at the retreat STAYS at the retreat! Right, Girls?

No mention of black lace panties (not me, but some one else we all know and love)!

And no mention of margaritas, hot tubs, 2:00 am laugh sessions, wine and cheese party, oodles of chocolate, wonderful speakers, lasagne to die for, fantastic gifts from the hostess, hunky guy card decks, yummy cheesecake and brownies, killer bunnies…

Nope, what happened at the retreat STAYS at the retreat.

Thanks to Carolyn whose hard work is appreciated by all of us!

~Sandy

…leaving for a writer’s retreat this weekend.

It’s a once a year escape where a group of writers meet to share ideas, talk out problems, laugh, talk, forge friendships, reinforce a bonding as only like minds can accomplish, share a glass of wine or two, and kick some butts that need serious attention. Mine in particular.

But I am happy to say that I have been able to get a little writing done.

Very little. But I will gratefully count what is there.

I can actually feel stirrings of the passion again which has been missing for so long.

It’s a wonderful feeling. Like an old friend coming to visit. This time I will hide its suitcase and demand it stay.

It is not easy to do something you don’t HAVE to do when your life is in turmoil. I need to get back to the things that excited, inspired, and motivated me about my writing.

I was listening to Mark Cuban (owner of the Mavericks and note to my youngest son out there: there better be an invitation to a Mavs game with you this year) speak on the radio and he was asked about his experience on ‘Dancing with the Stars’. He said that every week he and his partner decide what the goals are for the week. What do they want to accomplish and when they decide, they make it a definitive goal.

That is definitely a problem of mine. I just go with the flow although I really love making lists and adhering to them. I am flexible, but need to work on being just a tad bit more stringent. If it is important to someone like Mark (whether you like him or not) in dancing, then it is a good probability that is why he is successful in business.

Did you know he is 6’3″ tall? He looks so short on television!

See ya Sunday!

~Sandy