magick musings…

I have been doing a lot of research on my YA Fantasy (hey, note that the word meter is moooving…!) on faerie tales and came across the above site. I kept putting in everyone’s name I could think of and was laughing at the different names/descriptions it kept coming up with. If I can’t have fun doing something, then I am just plain not doing it! I really like that it says I am a ‘bringer of riches and wealth’. The only thing it doesn’t specify is to who (whom?) I bring them to.

Might just be a good thing to stay on my good side. 😉

Try the generator yourself and see what you come up with. Might make you smile.

I have been hard at work on my WIP. ( That stands for Work In Progress for you non writers.) I am not quite at my word count yet for this week, but will get there. I have also done tons of research and plotting and I am very excited about the story. And I am excited that I am excited. It was a long, dry, non-productive, un-creative year last year.

Did I mention we got snow last week? Some friends from up North were laughing at the way us Southerns go wild over a little snow. That’s okay, we don’t mind. We don’t listen either. :rotfl:

Gaw! I crack myself up. Today, I am in such a good mood. But it is early and that could change.

Have a good Wednesday!

~Sandy

…I still love that song by Dusty Springfield. And this quote by Teddy Roosevelt. Wow!

For some reason, it always gives me inspiration.

Inspiration in the form of ‘if you want something bad enough, it is not going to happen unless you put heart and soul, and blood, sweat, and tears into it’. Wanting it, wishing for it and doing it are different things.

And, folks, the question truly is ‘how bad do I want it?’

I have made it my goal to write every day. I want to have 50,000 words written by September 1. And, yes, I mean September 2008.

Only 2000 words per week.

I have friends that write that in a day. Yet, they assure me they had to work hard to get to that point. I will just have to work hard also.

Stay tuned. And don’t accept any excuses.

Went to see Fool’s Gold awhile back and loved it! But, I am an adventurer and romantic at heart. Just as long as my adventure takes me back home to my bed and my bathroom by the end of the day, LOL! And the romanticism doesn’t get lost in the day to day problems of life. Like writing, you have to work hard for it.

Also saw Vantage Point and all I can say is ‘Groundhog Day!’ When you see it, you will understand and get the joke.

Last night we had snow, sleet, tornado warnings, and cold. Today is balmy, sunny, and beautiful. That’s Texas for ya.

~Sandy

…a serial killer?

What are they thinking out there?

Last night, I watched the beginning of a new series called “Dexter”. Yes, I had seen the previews. Yes, I knew it was about a serial killer. Yes, I didn’t have to watch.

But, as a writer, curiousity got the best of me and I wanted to see who/what/how they could pull it off.

Talk about dark and gritty! Talk about warped!

The ‘hero’, if you call him that…in fact, let’s don’t…let’s just say main character… is a serial killer.

Started out killing animals as a child. He was a foster/adopted child whose foster/adoptive dad was a cop. Dexter cannot remember anything about his life before being adopted. When the cop/dad discovered his son’s propensity for this atrocity…the dad puts him to ‘work’. After all, there are people out there who are evil and society needs to be rid of. So he lets his son satisfy his urgings by killing only the ones that deserve it.

Other serial killers.

Do I detect a tad bit of irony here?

The adult Dexter works in forensics, specializing in blood splatters. Why? Because blood is his hot button. What turns him on. What excites him. In fact, as most serial killers do, he keeps trophies of his ‘victims’. Blood samples between glass lab slides in a locked boxed in his locked home.

They say if man can find something he loves to do and make money at it, then man is blessed.

I’d say Dexter is a very blessed man.

This week’s show ended ‘to be continued’ with a serial killer breaking into Dexter’s home and leaving a ‘surprise’.

And, what is sad is that I discovered I have a morbid sense of curiosity. You know…it is a train wreck and you can’t look away type thing. Do I watch next week to find out how, or if, it ends? Or do I not watch, therefore not endorse, a show that sends the wrong signal by sanctioning a serial killer as a hero?

As a compassionate caregiver, a mother of sons, a human being.. then I say absoutely not.

As a writer, I ask… why I didn’t think of that.

~Sandy

…I complained about the warm and humid 70 degree weather.

yesterday…

…I complained about the spring like rain and thunderstorms.

yesterday…

…I complained about Ole’ Man Winter forgetting about us.

today…

…he showed up!

I was sent on special assignment to one of our offices the other day and have to admit they tried to kill me, LOL! But, no matter how hard they tried, I never let them see me sweat. Forgot how bad it could be in the offices this time of year. So, next time I complain about my job at Admin, just shoot me.

Just in case you were wondering, the crock pot dinner came out wonderful! I have been told that I can fix it any time I want, it was that good.

Now need to work on a few more ideas I have for meals.

And plot lines for my story. And characters. And getting this frickin’ book written.

Have a great hump day today!!!

~Sandy

…on lost.

This last week was the season premier of Lost and, I have to say, I put everything on hold to watch it and now I am so totally…lost.

For some reason it just didn’t make much sense to me. Could have been I was been overly tired this week and a little stressed and busy at work and not in the best frame of mind for a television show but I must have missed something there. I couldn’t determine if Hurley was rescued or not. He left with the group to head back into the forest, but it appears he left the island. Oh, well. Will just wait until next week and I am sure that it will all come together. Still hooked on it and can’t give it up. 😳

This weekend got caught up on things around the house and slept a little more than usual so now feeling so much better. (Sorry, Dennie! Please call and ask again!) Now I have something cooking in the crockpot for dinner, laundry done, house cleaned. Now just waiting for the super bowl to start. Probably will not watch the whole thing, just go back and forth with the channels and catch some of it. Would love to see the Patriots win because they have worked hard and are undefeated, but would also like to see Eli Manning win a super bowl ring like his brother. Never said that I make sense! :rotfl:

I just finished Dark Fever by Karen Marie Moning. If you like dark fantasy/paranormal, this is an excellent read. I was hooked from the first page and it was hard to put it down. I looked at the book on the shelves for quite some time, but refrained from buying it as it is written in first person, which is not my favorite. The Michelle kept telling me how great it was, so I caved and bought it. The book rocks! Now I plan on going out this week and springing for the second in the series.

This last week, even with the stress and the ‘not feeling my cheery old self’, I got some writing in. Just a little, but it felt good. I found I have some very special people who believe in me and this is going a long way to helping me believe in myself.

I have been itching to redesign my blog again, but trying to hold off. One, because I would probably be on the phone begging Michelle to help or to fix what I broke and two, because I need to spend the time writing instead.

Remember, I have people who believe in me and will kick my butt if I don’t get it done. :typing:

I am so blessed!

~Sandy

…according to Sandy.

Warning: May differ from other critics.

1) sheep farmers wear high boots for a reason. Trust me.
2) don’t stand close to cows when they raise their tails. You won’t be happy.
3) they have beautiful horses, mules, and asses. The kind with the long ears so get your mind out of the gutter!
4) they bathe, blow dry, and style the manes and tails of the horses and cows. They end up looking very fashionable. In fact, better than I do on my best day.
5) get out of the way when the pigs get loose. Out. Of. The. Way. Some are larger than baby cows.

I so admire the kids that are involved in the stockyard show. They show such a pride and dedication in taking care of their animals. And it is fun to watch the camaradarie and fun they seem to have.

If you get a chance to go to one, it’s really worth the trip.

Sorry, nothing else to blog about today.

Have a Happy Monday!

by Michelle! Sorry to be so late!

7 Random Facts about Sandy:

1. Rod Stewart literally bumped into me at the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Accidently. If he hadn’t caught me by the arms, I would have fallen into the water.

2. I have secretly always wanted to learn how to pick a lock and hot wire a car. You think maybe in another life I was a thief?

3. I take bubble baths every night. And a shower in the morning.

4. I love White Zinfindel wine. Used to buy a box of it to keep in the fridge so I could get a glass occasionally. Until I came out of the closet and admitted it. After being laughed at and made fun of, I gave it up! The box not the wine, silly. Now I just open a whole day-um bottle!

5. Very few men in this world are drop dead gorgeous to me. Nothing wrong with me…just picky.

6. Will go to the ends of the earth to keep from arguing/fighting unless a) someone I care about is hurt or b) there is an unfairness involved.

7. Learned the hard way never to marinate a prime piece of steak with flank steak marinade. :yuck:

Now, I tag…Moe, Larry, and Curly. Or anyone else who wants to spill their guts about themselves.

Rats! We were supposed to have an ice storm come through. Pictures of not rushing to work danced in my head all night. Sleeping a little later than usual. Getting a head start on cleaning the house. Laundry in the wash, dishes all caught up. Two cups of coffee instead of one.

But you just can’t depend on the weather any more.

So my butt got drug out of bed as usual and now I am off to end the work week.

Have a Fabulous Friday!

~Sandy

I don’t necessarily agree with my quote today. I think the future is what you make it to be.

I have heard so many say they are glad 2007 is over with. Lord knows, 2007 has been one of the most tumultuous years of my life, but it is still a year of my life and I have to take it, learn from it, and move forward.

There is always a plan in the grand scheme of things. A path that our feet are set upon. And we just have to trust and have faith. Find the courage to go where it takes us.

Now. ‘Enuff with my New Year’s Philosophy.

I am so behind with blogging and visiting the blogosphere lately of which I am so ashamed. I had to find out I won a copy of Amie Stuart’s “Hands On’ ( which, BTW, won a Reviewers Choice award! Go Amie!) when she handed me the autographed copy at our last Yellow Rose meeting. Let me tell you that this is one hot book! Thanks, Amie!

Michelle got some really rocking reviews for her book ‘Nice Girls Do!’ Way to go, Michelle! She even tagged me in her blog post of which I will answer tomorrow so stay tuned.

Sandy S has been a wonderful inspiration to me to get off my keister and get back to writing. By inspiration, I mean a little kick in the butt here and there!

And Denise and a few others are ’bout ready to do a little worse than a kick in the butt. Don’t want to name names, but the initials are MB and KB. I mentioned that maybe I could do 1000 words a week (start slow, get back in the swing, ya know) and I was asked by they that shall remain nameless if I could at least do 1000 alpha numeric characters!!!

Gaw!

~Sandy

1. ……can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

2. ……are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.

3. ……do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

4. ……do people order double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet Coke.

5. ……do banks leave both doors to the vault open and then chain the pens to the counters.

6. ……do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

7. ……do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won’t miss a call from someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place.

8. ……do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

9. ……do we use the word “politics” to describe the process so well: “poli” in Latin meaning “many” and “tics” meaning “bloodsucking creatures.”

10. ……do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

Sorry…

…went and had my hair done so no time for coming up with something smart and witty on my own.

~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