magick musings…

“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about”

~Albert Einstein

..it’s been awhile since I posted. I fully intend on posting several times a week, but somehow life just gets in the way.

Things like…

…getting my iPhone (still happy dancing!) and having to spend HOURS getting it set up just the way I want. (so many apps, so little time!)

…planning a couple of trips we’re taking this summer. (the scoop when we get back)

…catching up with some old and dear friends. Meeting and getting to know some new friends. (A funny thing happened on the way to the Rangers/White Sox game…nah! Better not tell that one!)

…decorating the house. Still have tons to do. I’m very picky (maybe indecisive is a better word but I’ll deny it till I die) so it is slow going. But now I am SO addicted to HGTV! Cannot get enough of it. It gives me lots of ideas and many late nights watching it. I think GW is glad I haven’t figured out how to record on the DVR yet.

…watching the entire second season of True Blood. Oh. My. Gaw! Another thing that has kept us up late past our bedtime.

…not getting much writing done. Not sure why. Somehow, I have closed a vein and having trouble re-opening it. Hoping with all my heart the trip to Nationals will inspire, motivate, and just plain kick me in the butt. If not, I will find a scalpel and slice at it until it bleeds the words.

…and just generally staying so busy I have a heck of a time finding the time to get everything done. The older I get the faster my life whirls by.

~Sandy

“I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.”

~W.C. Fields

Last week, GW and I were invited to attend a private dinner party for twelve hosted by the world renown chef Kent Rathbun.

At his private residence, no less. (Probably just one of his many if the truth be known, LOL).

But Wow!

What. A. Night!

Owner of the fabulous five star restaurant, Abacus, and Jasper’s “Gourmet Backyard Cuisine”, winner of The Iron Chef, and way too many accolades, accomplishments, and awards to mention here, he has created an outstanding culinary legacy all over the world.

And he is a pretty durn nice guy also!

We traveled via limo to Abacus where we met Kent and sat with him at reserved tables drinking cocktails and sampling his famous and signature ‘lobster shooters’ followed by chicken empanadas. Never had a lobster shooter before, but will definitely try them again. Think lobster ball cooked with some kind of sauce. Think shooters. Delish!

Back in the limo and off to his condo where we mingled on his humongous outdoor sitting area overlooking downtown Dallas. White wine flowed and servings of different kinds of sushi was served.

Sushi? you ask. Don’t like it? you say. Well you would this. GW and I both tried the salmon ones and the tuna and avocado ones and it rocked! We thought we were not fans of sushi, either. Silly us.

Next, we were escorted into the dining area and served a special recipe of salad, the most tender, tasty filet mignon this side of the universe, the best mashed potatoes we have ever eaten (even GW scarfed them down and he HATES mashed potatoes. I so wish I could get my hands on that recipe), seasonal veggies of various sorts, and then a dessert that literally melted in your mouth.

Unfortunately, I am not able to do the meal justice with my descriptions. But it truly was to die for.

And I cannot say enough nice things about Kent Rathbun. Besides being extremely supportive of the arts and other charities, he is nice, he is funny, he is sweet, and, judging by the wonderful five star meal he rustled up for us, he is definitely deserving of the national recognition as a chef who defines innovation in the world of fine dining.

I plan on visiting both his restaurants in the near future. Soon.

~Sandy

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.”

~–Western Union internal memo, 1876.

GW and I went to Best Buy and I preordered my iPhone!!!

Time to retire my flip phone to the old phones home.

~Sandy

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

~George Bernard Shaw

The beauty of the internet is that there is so much you can do from the comfort of your home. You can ‘window’ shop, buy, sell, keep in touch, make new friends, find old friends, play games, take classes, all in your comfy clothes and bunny slippers.

Occasionally, I will sign up for a writing workshop that many of the RWA chapters offer, but being so busy, will just print the lessons off and put them in a binder (I’m very organized, ya know). My intentions are to read through them and learn and apply what I can to my writing.

Recently, for the month of June, I signed up for C.J. Lyons workshop called Character Driven Plotting. This time, I decided to be an active participant and actually do the lessons and the homework and -(gasp!) – send them in for review.

I cannot stress how much more I’ve learned by doing this. Like many, I can read something and THINK I have the concept and then just move on down the road. But, by participating, you get such informative feedback that helps take it to a new level. And CJ makes you really think hard and dig deep for motivations and conflicts and emotions.

And for us who are such visual creatures, she provided the script to the movie Die Hard and is using the lessons to dissect the movie which is kinda cool. Unfortunately, now I am dissecting movies even worse now. Poor GW!

But try dissecting Shutter Island. Talk about weird!

Great workshop, though!

I recently reconnected with some old friends whom I have not been in touch with for several years and talked on the phone to one of them for TWO hours the other night! It was great catching up and hearing what everyone has been doing. Hard to believe that their kids are now grown, out of the nest, college graduates, and some even married. Wow! Do I feel old! (Not really, LOL. They may all be older, but not me! Although, I do wonder who that woman in the mirror is sometimes…)

Not much to tell on the cooking front. Haven’t been in the mood to try anything special or different.

Later!

~Sandy

“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude .”

~Amy Tan

…is my new mantra.

I keep thinking things are going to slow down, but no cigar.

We had a wonderful busy, busy weekend.

Saturday, GW took my car in and had the oil changed. AND got it washed. What a guy!

And then he took me shopping for clothes! Yes, girls – for clothes! We actually had fun doing it! There was no whining, no griping, no ‘are we done yet’?

And GW never complained either, LOL!

Yep, I can hear all the women out there gasping with jealousy. Sighing with envy.

Sorry, girls. But he’s mine.

After shopping and having lunch, we rented a few movies and piled in our chair the rest of the night to take a rest. Trekking from one end of the mall to the other is rather quite taxing you know.

Movie #1: Whiteout
Don’t waste your money. Premise was good, but couldn’t carry it off. Boring.

Movie #2: Legion

***Spoiler Alert****
Okay movie. Did not EVER explain why the child was the chosen one to save humanity. GW and I got into a debate about it. He related it to the Terminator movies. I debated back saying that at least you knew John Carpenter had to be saved because he was going to lead the rebellion against the machines, but in Legion it never said why the waitress’s child was THE one. No clue whatsoever. I personally think that God was testing both Gabriel and Michael. But what do I know. If you see the movie and figure it out, please enlighten me.

Movie #3: Paranormal Activity:
Okay movie. Had some scary moments. Predictable ending.

Sunday we went grocery shopping and then to Lowe’s where we bought a trellis and a pink mandeville. Had a special place in mind to plant it and if it covers the area I want, it is going to be beautiful. I so love tropical flowers.

Monday, I had to bring my netbook to Comp USA for some work on it. It became so sloooowww that it was driving me crazy. I almost cried as they pried it out of my hands so they could take a look at it. I am not sure what was wrong with it, but now it works at the speed of light.

loveit, loveit, loveit.

I had to purchase a new Norton internet security program for it because it was expiring in a few weeks, but Symantic offered a $50.00 rebate so I got the newest and greatest for only $29.00. Not bad.

While my netbook baby was at the shop getting a check up, we were invited to some friends for the rest of Memorial Day where we swam and cooked sausage and veggies on the grill. GW grilled the corn after I got those puppies all lathered up with my special herbed butter and they were the hit of the party! He didn’t have any charred spots like yours truly seems to get occasionally and it was so crisp tender and tasty. Yum!

Yesterday, I was like a cleaning machine. Moved the furniture around and swept and mopped and dusted and scrubbed and laundered and now the house is rockin’ clean. Cooked a pork tenderloin on the grill with roasted asparagus. I just love days like that. Clean house. Great dinner. And then watched 2nd day of America’s Got Talent tryouts. Gotta love that Howie!!!

~Sandy

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. .”

~From a headstone in Ireland.

Thank you to the millions who have died so that I may live my life in peace and safety.

(Sorry this is late. Had it set to post and it didn’t).

~Sandy

“Everything is funny as long as it is happening to someone else.”

~Will Rogers

GW: Hey, Babe, we just landed. Don’t know which gate we’ll be at so I’ll call you as soon as I know.

Me (looking up airport address on the internet and plugging it in the GPS): Okay. I’m at Geri’s which is not far. Won’t take long.

GW (5 minutes later): Hey, Babe, here’s the gate number.

Me: (following the GPS instructions) Okay, I’m only about 15 minutes away. Will meet you at the baggage claim.

GW (15 minutes later): Babe? Where are you? I’m waiting in baggage area.

Me (as I notice the airport is behind me but GPS telling me I’m going the right way): Um, I’m on my way. Will be there soon.

GW (5 minutes later): Babe? You okay? Don’t worry about parking and getting out. I’m waiting out front now.

Me (traveling down an empty side road with airport still behind me. FAR behind me. MILES behind me): Um, sure. I’m fine. Just ran into a bit of traffic.

GW (10 minutes later): Babe? What’s happening? Think you’ll make it here sometime tonight?

Me (arriving at an empty field. Nothing but weeds and dirt. Planes flying low above me. GPS keeps repeating I’m at my destination): Um, Sweetie, almost there.

GW (10 minutes later): Babe? Where are you? I’m waiting in the one hour parking garage now. Waiting.

Me (sweat rolling down the back of my shirt as I try to find my way to the airport by following the landing planes. GPS turned off after third annoying ‘turn around, you’re going the wrong way.’ ): I see the airport. I’m sure I’ll be there any second.

GW (15 minutes later as looks at me with that all knowing look): You got lost didn’t you?

Me (looking innocent): What? Of course not! Why would you even think that? Sheesh! Givemesomecredit….OKAY! OKAY! I got lost!

GW: Why didn’t you use the GPS? That’s why I bought it for you. All you had to do was turn it on, look up airports on it and click on the one you want and it automatically pops the directions right into it.

Me (banging my head on the steering wheel): You mean you don’t even have to look up the address and plug the address in?

GW (shaking his head): No, Babe, you never want to do that with an airport. That way will just get you lost.

~Sandy

“Not only must you renew your commitment to writing every day, you must work up your nerve again and again.”

~Paul Raymond Martin

…every year our local RWA chapter holds it annual awards luncheon.

This year was one of the best we have ever had.

Friday night was our members only get together and we met at Geri Foster’s beautiful home. The morning started out with strong thunderstorms in our area, so we all held our breaths and frantically checked flight information every five minutes to make sure the guest editors would make it and not be stranded somewhere they were not supposed to be. But they both eventually arrived as did one of our guest speakers Christie Craig.

It was wonderful getting to know Editor Laurie Rauch of Samhain, and Deb Werksman of Sourcebooks. They both were so nice and friendly and funny and it wasn’t long before we were all laughing and having a great time. Ya’ know, editors are real people just like all of us. Very approachable. And they like to talk and visit and meet people and have fun. So I hope they enjoyed it here as much as we enjoyed having them.

Christie Craig was hysterical and if you ever get a chance to hear her speak, don’t miss it. And just ask her the story about a pick’em up truck, a cowboy, and a mattress. But remember not to be drinking a beverage when she tells it. Or you will be snorting liquid out of your nose. I shared that story with GW and even he was laughing out loud.

Rachel Caine was awesome! She is a successful published Young Adult author, a super talented one, and I am so totally in awe of her now. I have read several of her books, but will be downloading some more on my nook for my digital TBR file.

A day of inspiration, motivation, fun, laughter, and a nightcap of the Cheesecake Factory. What more does a writer need?

~Sandy

“It takes a long time to become young.”

~Pablo Picasso

…to GW!

I love ya, Babe!

~Sandy

“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! .”

~Mark Twain

I love Spring, but not fond of Spring Fever.

This weekend, we worked almost the whole time in the yard. Planted 6 knockout rose bushes, 5 hanging baskets and 5 large plantars with various colorful plants. Killed weeds. Killed ants. Took motrin.

I don’t know if it is because we worked so hard or if Spring Fever plays a part in it, but I crash so hard at night. In front of the TV. And then don’t sleep well at night.

So not getting as much writing done as I should. Because I sleep when I should be writing, and then lying awake trying to sleep thinking I really need to be sleeping so tomorrow I can write and not sleep.

I know, doesn’t make much sense to me either.

But, I am writing a little. Very little. But there are words every day added to the story.

Must find more energy and time to write.

On the cooking front: last Friday night, I roasted some corn on the grill and it was awesome. After husking them, I mixed some herbs from the garden into soft butter, added salt, pepper, and a dash of garlic and spread it on the corn and cooked it over the fire for about 8 minutes or so. Even GW said it was pretty darn tasty. I also roasted some yellow squash.

Sunday was GW’s turn to cook and he grilled marinated flank steak and steamed corn in their husks on the grill.

I so love that gas grill!

Here’s a cute joke about Spring Fever:

Four high school boys afflicted with spring fever skipped morning classes. After lunch they reported to the teacher that they had a flat tire.

Much to their relief she smiled and said, “Well, you missed a test today so take seats apart from one another and take out a piece of paper.”

Still smiling, she waited for them to sit down. Then she said: “First Question: Which tire was flat?”

~Sandy