magick musings…

…was hot, hot, hot!

We have been in the triple digits for several days now and Texas heat can be miserable. It’s way too early to be this hot for the summer. Waaayyyy to early. Scary to think what August will be like.

Didn’t actually do much this weekend except run errands on Saturday and then come home and find ways to keep cool. Our subdivision has a cool pool with slides and other interesting toys, but we are just not much on sitting out and baking. Skin cancer, wrinkles, aging and all that, ya know. Not to mention the HEAT!

A week ago, we bought some more knockout roses to replace some bushes in our yard and only got two of them planted before we had to cry uncle. We ended up sitting on the front porch trying to cool down with water, vitamin water, popsicles, and other cool liquids to hydrate us. I think we may need to wait until midnight one night to try again.

For Fathers Day I was going to take GW to the Museum of Science and Nature where they have an interesting exhibit on Chinasaurs (were dinosaurs really any different in China?) and several iMax films he was interested in, but never made it there. Best laid plans and all that! We had an appointment with someone to give us a bid on landscaping our front yard, but he never showed up. Can you say ‘not too happy with that person right at the moment and wait ’till I see him again?’

So, instead, we went grocery shopping, cooked ribs (yum, the smell drove me nuts all day), watched movies, and generally vegetated. Even got a tiny bit of writing on my angel story (very tiny) and some on a short story I’m working on. Not a bad day at all just not what I had planned for GW for Father’s Day. Oh, well, he seemed happy enough.

Keep cool…

Sandy

Last summer, my stepdaughter became engaged. She is such a fabulous person and I love her dearly. When we got the invitation back in March for her shower, there was no way we were going to miss it so we booked our tickets and off to Chicago we went. The weather was cold and rainy, but it didn’t keep us from having a fantastic time. The shower was held at a wonderful restaurant with an upper floor that was made just for this kind of celebration.

I met GW’s mom and my stepdaughter’s mom and her side of the family. Everyone was super friendly and we had a great time visiting and eating and getting to know everyone. GW actually saw people he hadn’t seen in 20 years.

Soon, May rolled around and it was time for the wedding. My husband surprised me and flew us first class and from the moment we took off the to the second we landed, it was a blast. We arrived Thursday evening and spent the night with the kids and then Friday we drove the couple of hours to the Lodge where the wedding was to take place.

The Lodge and the Canyon was absolutely beautiful and a perfect setting for the nature loving bride and groom. We stayed in log cabins that were delightful and, since the place was quite a drive from the nearest town, we ate our meals at the Lodge restaurant where the employees were super friendly and the food was to die for!

Friday night after the rehearsal, we had a cookout and I got to visit with GW’s mom again and meet his two brothers. They were all funny to watch because they share the same sense of humor. Very funny men!

Saturday was wedding day! They were married in the canyon not far from a beautiful waterfall, and even with it being a little cold (okay a LOT cold to this Texas), you couldn’t ask for a more perfect setting for them. The bride was truly beautiful and radiant and I say that not because I am prejudiced or biased. She truly was. Elegant, relaxed, and I honestly believe she had as much fun as all the guests were having.

We partied with her mom’s family, my husband’s family, and the groom’s family with dozens of friends thrown in for good measure until the wee hours of the morning and all too soon it was Sunday morning and time to go. But first we had to have one more meal at the Lodge dining room.

Can you say best breakfast buffet ever? Yum! Everything from pastries to meats to all kinds of eggs to fruits to pancakes, waffles, and french toast to desserts. Yes, I said dessert. And that IS a whole different group from the pastries.

Trust me.

So, after stuffing ourselves silly, we headed back to the kids home. They soon caught up with us and we took them to the airport to head out for the honeymoon and then we went back to their house to rest and catch up on much needed sleep.

Monday, GW played tour guide (he lived there for over 20 yrs) and showed me his old stomping grounds. Places he worked, places he lived, played softball, played darts, and everything in between. I loved being able to see the places and things he has talked and told me stories about. My favorite was going to Woodstock, ILL where the movie Groundhog Day was filmed. I’ve always thought it cool and fascinating that while Bill Murray and Andie McDowell were filming a scene in front of the bowling alley, GW and his friends were actually inside the bowling alley playing darts and having a few beers. So, I guess you could say they were ‘extras’ in the movie. Silent, unseen extras, LOL! Once we got back to Texas, I made him sit through the movie again so I could compare the pictures I took with the places in the movie.

I am so easily entertained.

One of my mission while in the Chicago area was to try some of the foods that friends from the Chicago area say are much better up there and sucks in Texas. Mission accomplished. I ate an Italian Beef sandwich, a Gyro (pronounced ‘Euro’ up there), and an original Chicago Hot Dog. All were excellent! I totally forgot about the Chicago pizza! Oh, well, next trip!

Back at ya later…

~Sandy

Thanks to Denise for providing these!

A best friend is like a four leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have one ~ unknown

May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past ~ Irish Blessing

~Sandy

I am not much on playing games. I just don’t have the time. Oh, sure, I love having people over to cook out, visit, listen to music and play trivia pursuit and various board or card games etc. And, on the occasion, like to play PS3 against GW and whip the snot out of him. NOT! It’s very rare I beat him at anything, but I still talk smack that I will. One day I may surprise both of us.

But there is a game called Words with Friends that I love to play! It’s an app most smart phones have available and it is an online Scrabble game that is totally addicting. You can play against friends, enemies, children, spouses, bosses, employees…you get the drift…and you can even create a game with someone that the powers that be that run the game will link you up with. Sort of like a faceless, meaningless, online opponent that can’t get mad if you win or lose.

So picture this. GW and I sitting side by side in our chair watching TV. He on the iPad, me on the iPhone. Playing against each other. Trying to hide the game screen so there is no cheating. So of course, we accuse the other of cheating (I don’t, but he has to be. He wins ALL the time!) The other night we played a whole two games before calling it a night and putting the play toys away.

Right now, I am playing against six opponents. Like I said, I am so addicted.

~Sandy

…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