magick musings…

…a four legged kind. A four legged kind who has tiny ears and a long tail. Who industrially chewed open the bag of landscaping rocks and a bag of sand and built a little home in our garage. Who went grocery shopping at the All You Can Eat grass seed bag located between the aforemetioned landscaping rocks and bag of sand in the garage and…ate all the grass seed. Which was a lot considering the bag was full. I hope he/she (please God don’t let it be a ‘she’ nesting for future little four leggers) saved some for a rainy day or else I really don’t want to see the size of him/her now.

So, in honor of our new guest, I made GW take me to the nearest Home Depot (like that was a real chore for him, LOL) and we loaded up on supplies to encourage our little boarder to find another place to reside.

Forty dollars later…

Broom
Dustpan
Goggles
Face masks
Sticky traps
Gloves

…this little critter has turned out to be an expensive guest!

The traps are set and now we wait!

Happy Birthday to my youngest son, Jacob! I wish you happiness and health, love and wealth, and the wisdom to handle it all.

~Sandy

…don’t you just hate them?

There is always so much I want to do. And only 48 hours to do them all.

We visited with out of town friends and showed them the Fort Worth ropes. Took them downtown to the Sundance Square where we toured the area pointing out the Bass Hall, the two-story Barnes & Nobles (which GW had to drag me out of there) and, since there were some in the group that had never been to Texas before, stopped in a few of the shops that specialized in Texas souvenirs. Which they got a big kick out of. Or maybe they were making fun of, I really couldn’t tell.

Of course, all this walking worked up a thirst so we stopped into the Flying Saucer for a beverage. It took us awhile to decide what we wanted as they carry 230498 kinds of beer. At least it appeared they do. I meant to snag a menu to carry home, but forgot. It named all the different beers and categorized them with an explanation of what they were and what was in them. Great resource just in case you wanted to become a beer connoisseur.

I stuck with my White Zin, but the waitress heard me say I have always wanted to try a Guiness, so she was kind enough to bring me a sample. It wasn’t bad at all and I was pleasantly surprised. Now I can check that off my ‘Things to Do Before I Die’ list.

The biggest excitement for the college girls in the group was while we were standing outside a well known hotel in the middle of downtown. They were looking up at the building and some guy walked up to the window with the drapes open wearing nothing but…well… nothing!

Welcome to Texas, girls!

The rest of the night was spent at the Stockyards, eating Riscky’s Ribs and making the required Billy Bob’s visit.

Sunday I was able to visit with the grandtwins. And they are just wonderful. So funny. So smart. So beautiful! I didn’t have time to bake any Nana cookies for them and they were so disappointed.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been getting some writing done. The only thing I am discovering is that it keeps me from doing other things I need to do and want to do.

Oh, well…priorities first.

~Sandy

…I complained to GW that I had all but 300 words done of my daily goal and I was tired.

He started making sounds like a table saw.

Brat!

So I wrote some more.

~Sandy

…has been thrown!

I have a bet with GW. If I can get my first draft done by June 1, I get a Kindle! Now, if you have no clue what a Kindle is, check out Amazon.com and read all about it. It is awesome!

I love electronics. I love books. So put the two together and…thereyouhaveit… the Kindle!

What I love about the Kindle:
1. You can download a book in under 60 seconds flat and have it right at your fingertips.
2. You don’t need internet access to do it. It works on Whispernet. Which also means you do not have to connect to the computer.
3. There are over 240,000 books that are available on Kindle and more added each day.
4. Holds up to 1500 books and Amazon backs it up for you should you need to download something again – for free.

I could go on and on, but you can read it for yourself.

I have heard several arguments that e-readers will put the brick and mortar bookstores out of business.

Not so.

Most (me included) still love the feel, the smell, the look of a printed book and an electronic gadget will never take the place of that.

But think of the possibilities. I am a big believer in resource books and to be able to have all of them at my fingertips anytime, anywhere would be very convenient. To have my TBR at my fingertips would enable me to pick and choose which book to read and, if not in the mood for that one, pick another. All without having to lug several books around.

I. Can’t. Wait. Oh, and if I don’t complete it? Well, GW gets to buy a table saw thingy. Too bad he is going to have to wait for Christmas to get it because I am going to WIN!

~Sandy

~Sandy

…to a cold, icy world.

We’d heard about it, read about it, watched the skies for days and finally the ice storm reared its ugly head.

Last night, while tucked deep under the sheet, the blanket, the comforter, and wearing big fluffy socks and the longest warmest nightgown I could find, I heard it. Pellets of icy rain tapped at the window announcing its arrival. I snuggled even deeper in my cocoon and listened, my thoughts drifting as I tried to fall asleep.

As the sleet and rain streaked the window like tears, I thought about the past I’d learned so much from, the memories forever held deep in my heart. I thought of the present… which is this day, this moment…a chance to make new memories to cherish and love and look back on fondly. And about the future which always means hopes and dreams. No human being can exist without dreams and hope. I know I cannot. They may change or be adjusted, but they must exist.

Lulled to sleep by the storm, my last thoughts were to vow in the darkness of the night never take life – or love – for granted. And, no matter what, hold on to those hopes and dreams – and the love.

~Sandy

…and NINE remotes!

A few evenings ago, I found myself flying solo so I drove to the nearest Blockbuster and rented two movies I wanted to see. Chick flicks, of course.

So I arrived home, lit my favorite candles, poured a glass of my favorite White Zin, and planned on settling in with a warm comfy blanket in the favorite chair. I decided which movie to watch and walked to the cabinet that held all the wonderful, marvelous gadgets that someone from the 21st century wouldn’t be caught dead without.

I am not so sure I am smarter than a fifth grader when it comes to electronics. But I did manage to get it working and the TV back on afterwards. Evidently, I pushed the right buttons on the right remote.

Note: If you haven’t watched the movie ‘PS I Love You’ and plan to in the near future, make sure you have plenty of kleenex around.

~Sandy

…is no lady! Monday started the week with a vengeance – rainy and cold after a wonderful weekend, but I hear it is headed that way again for this next weekend.

Disappointed in myself that I did not get any writing done the last two nights, but will get with it tonight. Have to turn in my first chapter to the new critique group tomorrow so have some work to do. And something I realized this morning? I really missed it. The ‘not writing’ I did the last two nights, I mean. Felt like something was not quite right. And I agree with Sandy S – we have to treat it like a second job yet find that balance between our regular job while making adequate time for our family and friends and yourself.

Guess who has a new website? Check it out HERE! Lookin’ good, girlfriend!

No much to say. After all those days of vacation, work slapped me back into the realm of reality and it is like I never was off. Same old issues with a few new ones rearing their ugly heads. But, trust me, I can handle it and besides it pays the bills. I just hate it when I come home so beat, I can’t get anything done outside the office. That’s the rub for me.

BUT…like my scary boss at work always says: “If you own something, then do something about it.” Which means that if you realize the problem, find a way to fix it. Soooo…it always helps me to have a plan. I hate the floundering and the not knowing and the guessing and the what-ifs. Even if you have to adjust the plan, at least you have something to work towards. A plan gives me security and confidence. In myself, in others, in the future.

Have a wonderful hump day! I plan on it!

~Sandy

…to blog about today.

Woke up sunny and cold with possible storms coming in tonight. What happened to the 80 degree weather yesterday? Read Sandy Swanberg’s blog for today and see. She tells it like it is! Had me laughing out loud.

Yard is weeded, grocery shopping done, laundry laundering, dinner already in the crock pot, now trying to work some magic with my writing. Got about 1500 words done yesterday. Not perfect words, but getting the story down words.

Makes me happy enough.

Would be a great day for a nap, but must get words in.

Happy Sunday!

~Sandy

…and hard to believe that it is almost over. When the work force calls, we have to be obedient.

But we need to be thankful for both the jobs and the time off. One does beget the other.

It is fabulous here today. Not that I have been outside yet, LOL! But the blinds are open and the sun smiles in. I hear it’s going to be close to 80 today and then tomorrow plummet to the 30’s and 40’s. Brrr.

All morning, I have been writing. Yep, you heard me correctly. For the first time in forever, we haven’t had to rush out the house for errands, but lazed around until the guilt set in and I got to work at the keyboard. Today I tried something a little more creative. I unhooked the laptop from the big monitor and drug it over to the den where I set up shop.

Actually helps the creativity some to try something different.

If I didn’t think it would get me off track, I’d take a picture of how the den looks right now with all my ‘stuff’ spread out. It is so unlike me. But I can’t write unless I have certain things within reach.

Unfortunately, the TV is on and cooking show channels are making me very hungry.

Soon, though, we have to get up and get some work outside done. Have weeding to do and mulch to spread. The pansies were looking pretty ratty, until a good watering has now perked them up and they are looking bright and cheerful.

Have a great Saturday!

~Sandy