magick musings…

Stole this from Wordnerd. Just think of one word answers. Not too difficult.

Good friend and fellow Rosebud, Queenbee, lost her beloved pet dog, Murphy, yesterday morning. Murphy was such a sweetie and I will forever remember him being so excited when I visited. And how he would sit and watch patiently while I went to the snack jar and got him one of his favorite treats. Murphy would always wait for me to bring it to him, never jumping on me or barking impolitely. Not sure who was the trained one – he or I, but he was a wonderful animal and I will miss him.

Queenbee, our thoughts and prayers are with you as it is never easy to lose a loved one, be it two legs or four.

In his honor, here are some quotes I found about dogs:

‘I can tell you I’d rather be kissed by my dogs than some people I’ve known’ ~ Bob Barker
‘The more I see of men, the more I like dogs’ ~ Clara Bow
‘Dogs come when you call. Cats take a message and get back to you later’ ~ Mary Bly
‘The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants’ ~ Johnny Depp
‘Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole’ ~ Roger Caras

and my favorite:

You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us’ ~ Robert Stevenson

~Sandy J

Happy Fourth of July to everyone! And many, many thanks to all those past, present, and future warriors who help to keep this nation free.

And many thanks to all the prayers and thoughts regarding my son and daughter-in-law, but with much sadness and heartbreak, they have decided to file for divorce. Hence, the song of the day.

For several days I was in a big, black mire of pain and tears, but due to the diligence of several wonderful, wonderful friends, I am now slowly pulling myself out of the life sucking quicksand. Everyone that knows me knows how much I love them and how close we all were. So, this totally knocked me out of the ballgame of life for awhile.

But I am a big girl (not literally, LOL), and they are grown people and have to make their own decisions and learn to live with those decisions. My wonderful daughter-in-law assures me that I will always have access to my three year old twin grandsons and as long as the twins can adjust – so can I.

It just hurts so bad.

We all have things in our life that motivate us, inspire us, and helps us through the hard times. And for me, it is music. And when I heard that song the other day, it was a wakeup and smell the vanilla latte for me.

We just might make it through this hell before the devil knows we’re there

~Sandy J

…not groovy, but guilty. At this time, I cannot blog every day or quite as regular as I used to. But I will get into the swing of things. As of today, I am into my third week on my new position. Last Thursday I attended five meetings. FIVE! The last one ended at 8:00 pm. How does anyone get anything done? But, hey that’s corporate, I hear. But I am really loving it. The people are great and I am learning a lot. It won’t be long until I am knee deep in a project that I am really looking forward to getting involved in.

Working on Jarad’s Song a little at a time. My Shadow Warriors are still there, but something seems to be holding me back from working on it right now. But I am not going to worry about it and will just keep plugging away.

Need prayers for my son-the-father-of-the-twins and my daughter-in-law. Having some problems I am not a liberty to talk about but my heart is heavy for them.

Since I don’t have much to blog about~although my life seems fuller than it ever has~I will leave you with these one-liners:

Don’t let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

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Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pews.

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Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

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It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

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The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

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When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.

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People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

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Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

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Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn’t belong.

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If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

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God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

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Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

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Peace starts with a smile.

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I don’t know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?!

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A lot of church members who are singing “Standing on the Promises” are just sitting on the premises.

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We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.

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Be ye fishers of men. You catch them – He’ll clean them.

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Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.

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Don’t wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams.

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God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

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God grades on the cross, not the curve.

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God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over “religious nuts!”

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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

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He who angers you, controls you!

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If God is your Co-pilot – swap seats!

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Prayer: Don’t give God instructions — just report for duty!

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The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

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The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

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We don’t change the message, the message changes us.

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You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to……….discourage him.

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The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails= 4 given.

~Sandy J

Busy with work and writing so thought I’d play for a minute!

But first, run – don’t walk, don’t linger, don’t hesitate, don’t drink anything while reading it – to Bailey’s blog and read the most hysterical post titled ‘medicine’ that I have ever seen. Guaranteed to have you weep with laughter.

1. “Vacuuming too often will weaken the carpet fibers.” Say this with a
serious face and shudder delicately whenever anyone mentions Carpet Fresh.

2. Layers of dirty film on windows and screens provide a helpful filter
against harmful and aging rays from the sun. Call it an SF factor of 5 and
leave it alone.

3. Cobwebs artfully draped over lampshades reduce the glare from the bulb,
thereby creating a romantic atmosphere. If your husband points out that
the light fixtures need dusting, simply say, “What? And spoil the mood?”

4. Explain the mound of pet hair brushed up against the doorways by claiming
you are collecting it there to use for stuffing hand-sewn play animals for
underprivileged children.

5. If unexpected company is coming, pile everything unsightly into one room
and close the door. As you show your guests through your tidy home, rattle
the door knob vigorously, fake a growl and say, “I’d love for you to see
our den but Fluffy hates to be disturbed and the shots are SO expensive.”

6. If dusting is REALLY out of control, simply place an urn on the coffee
table and insist that, “THIS is where Grandma wanted us to scatter her
ashes…”

7. Don’t bother repainting. Simply scribble lightly over a dirty wall with an
assortment of crayons and try to muster a glint of tears as you
say, “Johnny did this when he was two. I haven’t had the heart to clean
it…”

8. In a pinch, you can always claim that the haphazard tower of unread
magazines and newspapers next to your chair provides the valuable Feng
Shui aspect of a tiger, thereby reducing your vulnerability. Roll your
eyes when you say this.

9. Dust bunnies cannot evolve into dust rhinos when disturbed. Rename the
area under the couch ‘The Galapagos Islands’ and claim an ecological
exemption.

10. Mix one-quarter cup pine-scented household cleaner with four cups of water
in a spray bottle. Mist the air lightly. Leave dampened rags in
conspicuous locations. Develop an exhausted look, throw yourself onto the
couch, and sigh, “I clean and I clean and I still don’t get anywhere…”

~Sandy J

I haven’t been able to blog or even do my regular blog reading lately. And when you get back to it, there are all kind of changes going on. Daisy Dexter Dobbs has a new look, Eve has a cool new name, (changed in my blogroll for ya!) Mik is now doing podcasts, Dennie lost and then found her debit card (OMG, OMG, OMG) Rene has the most wonderful father’s day message about her hubby, Nienke has some funny excuses for not writing, Amie finally shows proof of Cuzzin Clyde, Flogging the Quill has a great post on ‘Doing without without’, Devon has been eating Lobster Salad in Maine (I’m jealous) …

And I survived my first week at my new position and really love the job! Went to BLS instructor classes to get my certificate so I can now teach CPR which is part of what I’ll be doing in orientation with new hires. Had this hilarious guy in class and when we had to get up a teach a topic, he spoke on the correct way to assess if a person really needs CPR. Because there is a difference in being dead and being dead-dead. So help me that is what he really said. And the class was literally rolling with laughter. So, sheepishly, he mentioned that he didn’t have time to prepare his speech because he was watching the Mavs play the night before. Gotta take care of those priorities ya know.

Went shopping this weekend and bought several new outfits. I like that part :thumbsup: I could get used to buying clothes and shoes on a regular basis. 😎

Gotta run and get ready for the next day. Have a great Monday tomorrow!

~Sandy J

…was a busy one. We had several places we had to go and things to do.

Saturday we had our chapter meeting and Candace Havens was absolutely fabulous! She is one of the busiest women I know with her day job and family, and still cranks out books. I have read her first one, Charmed and Dangerous and can’t wait for the next installment, Charmed and Ready to come out in September! She spoke to us about her Fast Draft. Write 20 pages in 14 days! No editing allowed and you are not allowed any excuses. Revision comes later. She is high energy with a capital ‘E’! Very, very positive in a way that you can’t help but get caught up in her enthusiasm. She plans on holding some online workshops starting next year and, if you ever get a chance, sign up for one. We are already making plans to have her back to do her ‘Revision from Hell’ workshop – the sequel to the Fast Draft.

DH and I broke down and bought new cell phones. Has internet, IM, advance message, multimedia, camera and video capabilities, which is totally cool, but the simple text messaging is not working! Go figure! Now we have to spend time on the phone or back at the store to see what the problem is. Frustrating to no end.

But I have already downloaded some cool ringtones and one neat graphic!

Tomorrow I start my new position. Excited. Scared. Can’t wait. Would any of you please remind me of this when I complain at any time of working full time now?

Worked some on Jarad’s Song this weekend and plan to get some more plotting done tomorrow night. Not much, just enough to fill in some holes. I finally figured out where I am going to target this one. That helps me in a big way.

Have to run! Wish me luck!

~Sandy J

…mostly. And usually never when I have dental work. Give me the nitrous oxide and I am a happy camper. But today I had to have some pretty major dental surgery and it got to me this time. I have faced a root canal and surgeries to remove an under the gum cyst and those were picnics compared to today.

If you have ever seen Jurassic Park, do you remember the little boy that got shocked on the electrified fence? And when he came to he was wild eyed and disoriented and unsteady?

That was me today. But with drool. Not a pretty picture.

I called my dh on the way home and later he told me that I sounded a little weird. Like I couldn’t finish a thought. Scary to think I drove myself home.

Tonight it is just pretty uncomfortable. :help: But I have some pain pills that I may break down and take. 😈

Working on three different writing projects right now. And have two others in the wings. Have talked to three different writer friends this weekend and we were all talking about how we have several projects going and if we get stuck or bored with one, move to another one.

Do most writers do that? Or am I just flighty and fickle?

Tomorrow is our chapter meeting. Looking forward to Candace Havens speaking to us on Fast Draft. Will be interested to know if I will be able to talk with my mouth full of stitches.

~Sandy J

My stepmother loves penguins. Thought I would send some cute pics her way. Thanks for sharing these, Kim!

~Sandy J

The people I will be working with are wonderful and, although it will be in a different capacity, the job duties are in line of what I have been doing since about 1994. Teaching, training, and orientating new nurses. Just on a full time basis now. And there is a new electronic automated record system we are developing and once that is up and running, I will be teaching, training, and orientating that also. Who knew that my little stint as a substitute teacher in the computer lab a few months ago was a hint of what was to come. My only concern is that now I get to wear office clothes instead of scrubs. I see a shopping trip in the near future.

I know I will have to reorganize my life to work full time and write. But, I am looking forward to it. In talking with a good friend the other day about it, she said the most writing she got done was when she worked full time. And that manuscript ended up a Golden Heart finalist. She scheduled the writing and stuck to it. Unless someone was bleeding or blue or there was smoke, her family was trained not to bother her during her writing time. My DH says I work better under pressure and with strict schedules. Several of my ‘duties’ in certain areas will end soon and will be one more thing off my mind. So the next few days, I will be working on said schedule and see what I come up with.

On the weekend:

Beautiful weekend weather. A little on the warm side. DH and I went shopping for groceries at Sam’s Food Club. If you are not familiar with this, it is like a huge warehouse where you can find good prices on items, bulk items, and have great meat and produce. DH loves to go there. I compare it to me going to a bookstore. Never want to leave. He browses slowly down each aisle spending a good amount of time on different things. And it has everything from food to automotive supplies to electronics to jewelry to clothes to books. So getting him out of there is sometimes a challenge.

And he loves Saturdays where the little elderly ladies are serving samples of different foods throughout the store. He will try everything, striking up a conversation with each person behind the table. And they just love him. He makes them laugh, and although he is nowhere near their age, will relate to him in some way and they will talk and talk to him thinking he is ‘just so cute’ as one quoted to me.

He’s not fooling me. He’s after the food samples.

Want to say congrats to Dennie for another sale to Samhain! Way to go, girlfriend!

Until tomorrow…

~Sandy J