magick musings…

…that two weeks ago, we were under winter storm warnings, iced and snowed in, and wearing tons of layers to keep warm.

Today, I have on a t-shirt and shorts and itching to go outside to start the spring gardening!

This last week, got critiques completed that were due and…um… I know tons of other things done because I was extremely exhausted Friday night. Unfortunately, it just all runs together and I can’t remember what so it couldn’t have been much fun. I totally hate those kind of weeks.

We were invited by M and L to Billy Bob’s Friday night to see Miranda Lambert, but by the time I could order tickets, the show was sold out! Never crossed my mind that could happen. Very disappointing. I wished we could’ve gone. Next time, I’ll get right on it and not wait.

My artwork that I’d ordered weeks ago came in! GW hung it for me over our bed and the colors and the patterns match our comforter and I love it! Now I have to work on the accessories. Isn’t it all about accessorizing, LOL? Before I do, I’ll ask M to come over and get her opinion. She is so awesome at that kind of thing and finds the neatest places and items that always work so well.

Last night at the last minute (which is so totally not like us. we like our routines), we went to the movies and saw ‘Unknown’ with Liam Neesom. I thought it was very, very good and kept me at the edge of my seat. A couple of times, GW had to shush me because I’d start talking. He said it was probably because I was so used to our chair and movies at home that I forgot where I was.

I talk that much at home during the movies? Babe, why haven’t you told me? Maybe I need to get out more, LOL!

Well, still have lots on my to do list for today and then we’re fixing homemade pizza for dinner. YUM!

~Sandy

So how did everyone spend their Valentine’s Day today?

The blogs and the tweets ran rampant on the pros and cons of celebrating this particular holiday. My only opinion is that it depends on how you and your special loved one views it. Sometimes compromise has to come into play, but isn’t that what life is all about? Me? I’ve found my Prince Charming and not gonna share, LOL!

In fact, the Prince (GW) surprised me again (don’tcha just love surprises? I do) and fixed a special dinner of pork ribs and sauerkrakut and stuffed mushrooms. Yum! I’ve never had them before and they were fabulous, Dahling, just fabulous! I tried to eat like a Princess (which equals not much), but everything was so good! And we still have enough for leftovers!

Here’s a picture of the stuffed mushrooms!

My card was beautiful and meaningful and made my day wonderful! Hmmm…maybe I need to promote him from Prince to King, LOL!

On the writing front, I finished the chapter I was working on and hope to start the next tonight. Kicked around a few ways to start it with Brenda this morning, so going to see what works. Brenda is so very funny and can come up with great ideas. Brenda is hilarious and makes me laugh alot. Brenda also needs to get busy on her writing!

~Sandy

So, last night GW surprised me by taking me to the new Japanese Hibatchi House in town. It was the first time I’d ever experienced having a Japanese chef cook right in front of you and it rocked!

We sat at the U-shaped table between a family of four and a younger couple. A waitress took the food orders and brought out a soup that was clear with a few bean sprouts floating around and a salad of lettuce and cucumbers that had a special dressing on top. Both were very different and very tasty. I had a glass of White Zinfindel and GW tried some kind of Japanese beer. The wine was very cold which is just the way I like it and the soup hot, the salad cold and crisp.

The chef comes out and introduces himself and then starts the show. He was pretty funny and entertaining, but our table was kinda of dead and not interacting so we just watched and talked to each other.

Food was fabulous! Great flavor without leaving you so full you’re miserable. We had a $10.00 coupon off, but they don’t take it off the bill, they give it to you in a gift card. Very clever. Now we have to go back to spend the gift card.

But I don’t mind. At all. One of my favorite things is to eat with chopsticks. And drink good wine.

Not necessarily in that order.

Thanks, Babe! Had a great time last night!

~Sandy

…as so little time to do it!

There is so much I want to accomplish. Write, get published, manage two blogs, write, get published, learn more about networking and marketing, write, get published…

You get the drift.

Today I went to my local chapter RWA meeting and it felt so good to be back. We’re a small group and, being a charter member, I’ve known everyone for so many years. It is amazing how much we have grown and accomplished. So many in our group have become published authors. Although they are all very talented, they worked hard to get there.

We had two wonderful speakers, a husband and wife team, who spoke on E-marketing. Wow! Totally learned so much!

Now, I’m back home and writing and just finished a chapter that was given me a hard time. ‘Take that, difficult chapter! Eat my dust!’

Tonight, GW and I are going to stay home, fix pizza and drink wine. And maybe watch a movie. Or play on the PS3. Time to kick his butt in bowling and archery. I bet he was home practicing while I was at the meeting…

~Sandy

I’m sitting at home today. Again.

Snow and sleet hitting the windows and covering the lawns, icy and white. Again.

Old man winter and mother nature either joined forces to wreak havoc or are battling it out to see who wins. Not sure who to place my bet with.

Last night, I felt overwhelmed. And a little lost. So much to do and so little time to do it. In today’s publishing world, it’s up to you (unless you are Nora Roberts, James Patterson, Dan Brown, etc) to promote and sell yourself and your books.

How do you build your platform (according to the pros, it needs to be done BEFORE publishing) which includes promote, blog, facebook, twitter, read (read craft books, read to stay up with the market, read for pleasure and relaxation). And find time for family, friends, Critique partners, Yahoo groups, work, housework, yardwork… and most important – WRITE!

I decided I needed help.

Twitter? joined awhille back, but was scared to death of it. Didn’t know the rules or how it works. What if I did something wrong and looked like a doofus?

Facebook? Only do I get on it occasionally.

MySpace? Forget it. Haven’t been on it in years.

Blog? I try to blog on this blog as much as I can, but it gets sporadic. The YA blog, I’m trying to find posts that are appropriate for well….a YA blog.

So I did a little research. Found Kristen Lamb’s blog. Kristen is a Social Media expert and teaches how to build a platform and an author brand. She also has a series going on the blog titled Twitter Tuesdays which she talked about the do’s and don’ts of tweeting. Very informative and helped me feel more comfortable and stick a toe out in the twitter ocean. In fact, I downloaded her book, ‘We Are Not Alone – The Writers Guide to Social Media’ on my nook. Hope to get some hints and suggestions that may help me get a handle on what I need to be doing at this point in my career along with the most important thing – WRITING, of course.

How to get this all done? Planning. Lots and lots of planning. And discipline to stick with the plan.

I just completed a course with Kerri Nelson titled Book Factory and she taught how to be productive and prolific using timed increments in both your writing career and day to day tasks. Very good. Check her out.

BTW! Our Napa Valley Vacation photo scrapbook we made and ordered from Photoworks is here! And it is awesome!!!!!

Still freezing out there so I’m planning on fixing a roast chicken tonight ala Emeril’s recipe. Will soon have the house smelling yumptious!

Hang in there and stay warm!

~Sandy

Not that I’m into that sort of thing, but love any kind of special day. Love the way so many are preparing for it. And with it being hosted here in Dallas, bad weather or no, the hoopla has been phenomenal! No way I’d be anywhere near the stadium today. I do hope for the sake of the tailgaters and fans, the weather stays warm enough for them to have a great time since it is so important to them.

The snow has melted some, yet it is still cold outside. Yesterday, GW worked hard at clearing off the driveway and sidewalk and now just patches that the sun doesn’t reach remain. The weather predictions still show some rain, sleet, and snow flakes, but the sun is shining right now.

Since being stuck in the house was starting to get to me, we went ahead and did the grocery shopping yesterday. Stopped at a local Mexican restaurant for late lunch/early dinner and then came home and didn’t venture out again. Did some writing, some reading and watched a couple of movies. I had seen The Saint with Val Kilmer years ago – so many I’d forgotten most of the plot – and GW hadn’t seen it all so we piled up on our chair and watched it and Jurassic Park.

Today, we are cooking a roast with veggies and I hope to get some more writing done. I’ve been able this last week, get over 6,000 words written on my Angels, Demons, and a Teenage Drama Queen and have written EVERY day!

I win, Denise!

Have a wonderful Super Bowl Sunday and I will be pulling for the Packers for some obvious reasons at our household.

~Sandy

For the third day, Old Man Winter has blown its icy breath on North Texas.

Slick roads, power outages, school closings (much to kids delight and parents dismay), bone numbing take your breath away cold, and record temperatures.

Yesterday I slipped and slid all the way to the mailbox, today almost got my car totaled. But, thank the good Lord, the green minivan that lost control on a patch of ice, missed me and hit a parked car. I was okay except for the falling on my butt in the ice when I got out to check on them. Once I saw they were all okay in the vehicle and I jump started my heart again, I came back home and called and cried like a girl to GW.

But the pity party for one soon passed and I got busy with writing (finished my chapter I was *this* close to completing), did some spreadsheets for record keeping, did a little face book time, made a few calls, and then started a new chapter.

Now the weatherman is predicting snow tonight!

Stay warm and BE CAREFUL out there!

~Sandy

Ouch! That quote hurt!

But so true it is. And it applies to everything in life, not just writing.

I know I have been so totally guilty of it. And, although I am probably on the top ten list, I’m not alone. When I really search my soul, I know the things I really want done, I get done, come hell or high water. Make my list of housekeeping chores and at the end of the day, they’re all checked off. But not when it comes to my writing. And I don’t know why. But I am working hard to overcome that.

Yesterday, I promised myself I would not worry about the house, the laundry, or any of the many, many things on my to-do list. And I got 2300 words in on my Young Adult I’m working on. And it felt SO dang good!

Lucy Moment of the Day:
Earlier this morning, before getting out of bed, I was half asleep and listening to the news about Puxatony Phil and, according to legend, if he sees or not sees his shadow, predicts an early spring or a longer winter. While his handlers held Phil and talked about today’s findings, I asked GW what kind of animal Phil was. He very nicely reminded me it was a Groundhog! Sheesh! After I stopped laughing, I explained I meant what ‘kind’ of animal a groundhog was. I just got that ‘yeah,right’ look from him.

Today I’m still not going anywhere so will see how much I can get done. Michelle, I did no editing like ordered!

Pack your bags, Teresa! Practice your words, Denise!

~Sandy

This morning, the sound of sleet hitting the house woke me. Well, once I got out of bed and walked to the front of the house where it was beating against the door and windows, did I actually hear it. Then I really did wake up.

And run back and jump in bed yelling ‘the iceman cometh’. GW laughed until my cold feet hit his.

So today, we have stuck around the house just doing what we want to do. Which is writing for me. (Yay me!) and ‘working’ on the computer (playing solitaire) for him. I have a big pot of chicken/sausage/okra gumbo on the stove and it smells so good. Except I burned my tongue taste testing it and now it is peeling. Can’t wait for dinner tonight. Yum! GW loves my gumbo!

I braved a trip to the mailbox and it is solid ice about 2-3 inches thick on the sidewalks, streets, and driveway.

Stay warm everyone and careful out there!

~Sandy