magick musings…

…was torture. Literally twelve hours with the group from Minnesota going over the electronic record program they sold us and we are building to fit our system. Haven’t quite figured out how that works. We pay them money and we do all the work.

There are parts of it I am not happy with and don’t trust.

Hard to believe it if you really know me, but, today, I had no trouble speaking my mind about it as I am partly on the line with it and will have to answer to my supervisor, my boss, my boss’s boss, and his boss. And I don’t even want to think of the food chain above them.

And the worry about allowing something to be put out there in the field that affects an entire system of physician offices and speciality clinics consisting of over 800 employees. If I can’t trust something, how can I teach and train doctors and nurses to use and rely on it?

I am not making it out to seem I have the whole monkey on my back. Far from it. It is a political hot potato that goes all the way to the top. But I work very closely to see that it works with what is needed out there since I have worked in the field for so long and know what works and what doesn’t.

Gaw, can you tell I am tired? Too many ‘works’ in that last sentence and too tired to rephrase it.

But there were several highlights to my day and I will treasure them always. 😉 Makes everything all worth while.

Tomorrow we do a dry run, showing what we have so far to some pretty important people and anxious to see if they agree with me…or the dark side.

~Sandy

…I wished upon a star.

A special wish. A selfish wish. I will give it time to come true. And I have the faith to believe it will.

On to business:

Today I got a glimpse at both of my muses. I have two of them and I blogged about them awhile back here and must have ticked them both off as I haven’t seen them in awhile. They both stuck their heads into the room, tested the waters, so to speak, and spoke. It felt good to see them again. For those of you who do not understand muses, it is a writer thing.

The holidays are over, my term as President to my RWA chapter is done, and, although work is going to be getting very, very busy, I plan on leaving work at work.

This week I am going to be clearing my desk and getting things caught up. I received the most beautiful pure alabaster bookends from a dear, dear person and have already started cleaning out bookshelves. They are globe halves that have a special meaning to me and I will have them within eyesight to give me the motivation I need to chase my dream.

Next I will pull out the WIP’s (Works in Progress) and see exactly where I am and where I need to go. Which one needs the most attention. Figure out what story is speaking to me.

And get back to work.

It will feel so good to be creative again.

~Sandy

…and thanks to M. da Bear for that quote. Not that he reads this blog or even knows how to find it, but thanks anyway.

And, Brenda…don’t you dare. I. Will. Find. You.

We spent all day at the ‘da Bears’ yesterday. And, as usual, had so much fun. Mrs. J. ‘da Bear’ is adorable and so hospitable and fun. She and my youngest son have a thing going where they always try to beat each other at games. I think he won last night. Too many wine coolers for me to remember. M. ‘da Bear’ is just plain wonderful also. They are really and truly fantastic people.

We ate, drank, played games, played in the hot tub ~ and if you have never done the hot tub thing under the clear and starry sky when it is COLD outside, you don’t know what you are missing ~ they had to pry my pruny butt out of it.

Note to self: Exercise said pruny butt.

And then we didn’t get home till 4:30 this morning. Can’t remember the last time I stayed up all night.

Thanks, again, to the ‘da Bears’ who are probably still hibernating this morning.

It’s that time of year again. Where New Year’s resolutions fly through the air. Some to land and become accomplishments and others to fade like fairy dust before hitting the cold, hard ground.

It doesn’t matter if you believe in resolutions or not. Or will have fulfilled even one of them by year’s end. It is a matter of believing in yourself. Then what you need to accomplish will happen. See favorite quote on sidebar.

I hesitate to make any this time because the troll gods of resolutions seem to find a way of sneaking in and ruining everything. But I will work on some goals and make a plan. And see where the journey takes me.

Have any New Year’s thoughts you’d like to share?

~Sandy

…that with the new year looming around the corner, it must bring out sentimentality in people. Strangely enough, I have received many emails this week from friends and email buddies who have shared their thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams and beliefs and have asked me about mine. In fact, I get more emails than I do comments on my blog. Not sure why, but believe it might be because of the not wanting to share these things of the heart in public. And I thank you for trusting me with what you have to share.

You asked for it so here goes:

My thoughts:

I believe in dreams. I wish on stars. I believe there is magic everywhere and in everything.

I care for many, but only truly love a few.

I believe in God.

Plan ahead, but don’t let it keep you from living now.

Give it your best shot and let others do the same. And help each other pick up the pieces when and if it is needed.

Learn to laugh at yourself.

Never, ever judge. You cannot know what goes on behind closed doors or how it feels to walk in someone elses shoes.

Learn from the past and take a chance on the future.

Find a passion and follow it.

Life is tough and that is okay. Disappointment and hurt. Skyrocketing highs and despairing lows. Broken hearts. Just remember, under no circumstances, let it keep you from trying again.

Never, NEVER quit. Tomorrow may the day your dreams come true.

And lastly, don’t just exist. Make the most of your life. It is a gift to you and what you do with it is your gift back.

Email me if you don’t want to comment and let me know what you think.

~Sandy

We lost our precious little dog, Misty, tonight.

She fought hard and bravely, but there just came a time where she couldn’t fight any longer.

We will miss her.

~Sandy

…includes:

Happiness
Health
Wisdom
Wealth

But most of all I wish you Love. For without it nothing else means anything.

Merry Christmas!

~Sandy

…probably not as it is complete silence tonight. Everyone in the family is gone for the evening. And I have the whole house to myself. All by myself.

Hmmmm….Not sure what I want to do first.

Watch a favorite movie…
Turn up my music a little louder than normal…
Call a friend and talk without interruptions…
Read…

It’s like being in a chocolate store. So many delicious options.

Got a lot done, but didn’t kick any butt today. Unless you count refereeing my two almost-out-on-their-own sons. Awfully close to Christmas right now to not be getting along. Don’t they know Santa is watching?

My soon-to-be-Marine son is feeling the anxiety and crunch of leaving in a few weeks and his little brother was just not getting it. After a long talk with the irritating little brother, I could almost visually see the light bulb go off when he realized the enormity of the situation. There is only a year difference in age and have never been apart like they will be soon.

I must have done a good job with the love-your-brother-and-give-him-a-break-and-try-to-be nice guilt trip because he went to the mall and came back with a nice gift for him for Christmas and plans to apologize for their disagreement this morning! :thumbsup:

The weather here has been nice with cool days and colder nights. Very nice.

Almost set for Christmas now. Have to finish the wrapping, get a few stocking stuffers yet, buy a few groceries.

But tonight I have a pot of homemade soup simmering on the stove for dinner tomorrow and have candles burning everywhere with only the Christmas lights on. Nice. Very nice.

I feel a movie, a warm, cozy blanket, and the couch calling my name right now. Wish I had someone to cuddle with.

~Sandy

…kicked butt today.

Not up to dealing with anyone today so kept my head down and tail in gear.

Got two spreadsheets done. Built 60 queries for the electronic record program. Dealt with an alarm response in one of the clinics. Attended two meetings. Had lunch with my boss after we ran some errands she needed to do. Finished a project I had going and started another when my boss walked into my office at 3:00 pm and said everyone could go home.

Got my car washed. Dropped a new pair of pants off to have the hems taken up (it’s tough being only five feet one and one half inches and petites are too short for my taste and average is too long). Made it home and have been a cleaning demon ~ dusting, mopping, scrubbing, stripping beds. Washing, drying and folding 5 loads of clothes (so far).

Now working on the mail on my desk. (The part I really hate.)

All to the tune of DH repeating over and over ‘why do you have to clean? No one is coming over, don’t worry about it.”

Why? Because of three overgrown and overaged frat boys and three bathrooms.

And he hasn’t seen my two page list of things to do tomorrow. :page:

One errand my boss had to do was pick up some cookies at a bakery in town that she claims is the best one there is in this area. I didn’t believe her until I walked in.

Oh. My. Stars!

The smell alone shot my glucose to astronomical levels. I can’t even remember what all they had. I just remember her breaking my will power down and I bought some. Christmas trees with icing. Christmas stars. Sugar snowmen. Christmas ornaments with icing.

But as much as I like good, fresh soft cookies ~ I haven’t eaten one. Not one. So proud of myself.

I need a vacation. Think I’ll go to Vegas in February. :thumbsup:

Christmas is only 3 days away. Are you ready?

~Sandy

…well, actually the queen Hatshepsut rested in New York, but that didn’t stop us from visiting her ‘things’ at the Kimball.

And it ended up being Starbucks instead of tea ~ care of M. ‘daBear’ which I definitely thankhimverymuch.

And it was FUN! I have never attended a Museum Exhibit before. It started out Brenda and I and ended up with Brenda and I and ‘da Bears’. DH said thanks, but no thanks and no amount of asking, begging or shaming could get him to the culture event. I even got Mrs. da Bear to work on him. Says the only museum he wants to visit will contain ‘manly’ things ~ sports, fishing, or hunting. In other words, the sign on the outside has to say ‘B.A.S.S. Shop’ or ‘Cabelas’.

But, have to give it to M. da Bear. He hung on to the end with three women under his wing. And kept us entertained the whole time. One funny, sweet man. Haven’t laughed like that in awhile and wish I could remember half of what we laughed about because he’s that much fun. I think even Brenda had a good time.

Viewed a sphinx, a sarcophagus (looked like brick bathtub with cool etchings) and beautiful jewerly with etchings and some tiny bug looking things called scarabs. They were nothing scary like in ‘The Mummy’ movie. M. da Bear convinced me they weren’t real bugs.

I believe him.

These scarabs were pretty little things. With etchings. Back then, I swear they must have had full time workers that did nothing but etch (is that a word?) all day long.

It was a great time had by all and the only stoopid thing I did was asked what language they spoke back then. Duh! But he was too kind to laugh at me. At least while I was looking.

After leaving Queen Hatshepsut, he asked where the nearest Starbucks was. Hey, doesn’t he realize that ALL roads lead to Starbucks? He may not have remembered how partial I am to Starbucks. :heart:

So, after seeing my first Museum Exhibit, my first Picasso, and my first Rembrandt (these are the real things folks!) we followed the yellow brick road to Starbucks where the poor man was stuck with the gaggle of women and vanilla lattes for another hour.

Note to self: Do not let Brenda alone with da Bears. EVER. Several of her conversations started with, “Did Sandy tell you when she…” or “Did Sandy ever tell you that she…” Darn, woman! Don’t you realize I have (had?) a good rep with them before you came along?

Note to Brenda: Paypacks. Are. Hell. 😈

~Sandy

…here tonight. But it’s Christmas time. Everyone knows I am usually so upbeat, but I can deserve a moment or two thankyouverymuch.

In spite of all the hustle and bustle and the parties and the food and drink and the presents, there are more important things we need to focus on.

Things that truly matter.

A very wise, loving man teaches me by his example.

To listen. To watch. To feel. To know.

If we still our souls for a moment we hear what is not being said. We see what is not being shown. We feel what flutters beneath the surface. And then we know what we should have known all along.

He is a very wise, loving man indeed.

&#169 Sandy L. Jones 2006

~Sandy