Shopping On-line

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

My apologies in advance. This post will contain some ranting and raving.

I’m not sure how you all feel about it, but I absolutely hate ordering things online! I understand the convenience factor of ‘letting your fingers’ do the walking (hahahaha, how many of you remember that advertisement for the Yellow Pages, which I don’t believe are in existence anymore), but I still dislike it. Doesn’t feel so convenient to me (the gentleman at Whole Foods, where they have an Amazon return booth, and I are becoming quite close as I’ve been there many, many times over the past couple weeks...he sees me coming and just grins).

I need to try things on before I purchase, you know? I like going to clothing stores (my favorite clothing stores are now closed, courtesy of the pandemic but there are other that are still around) and feeling the fabric between my fingers…is it soft? Or crinkly and stiff? Looks soft in the picture…looks can be deceiving, as I’m coming to learn. No, it isn’t perfect, standing in front of those dressing room mirrors (which lie…can’t convince me otherwise), but if something doesn’t fit right or look right, I don’t have to buy it to find out.

Also, the models are much taller (and thinner) than I. What looks lovely on a long-legged, wasp-waisted woman doesn’t look so lovely on me. I am short (and yes, I sometimes forget that) not coming anywhere near those five-foot ten-inch beauties (I do look for petite size dresses if they are available). Also, there is no way to stretch the imagination to say I have a wasp waist. No, ma’am. Not sure there is a corset strong enough to give me one, either!

So not having a good time buying things online only to have them delivered, not fit, and have to return them (thank goodness for free returns…I’d spend a fortune sending things back otherwise).

Hmmm, the only things I do not have a problem ordering on line are books. They always ‘fit’ perfectly. And the dogs’ Cosequin. Can’t go wrong there.

Okay, done ranting!

In other news, work on Wife By Surprise is…going fairly well. I had wanted the story to be finished by Christmas, then January, then February, but my characters had other ideas. I also wanted the story to come in at 85K words…again, my characters thought differently so we’re going with what my characters want and frankly, it’s better that way.

And that’s about all that’s going on here. Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Fear the Blinking Cursor

 

        Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

So, it’s my turn to post to Happily Ever After Thoughts and here I am, staring at a blank page in Word and a blinking cursor, having, once again, no topic. Or maybe, I just don't have the words. This is not unusual. 

As a writer, that blank page and blinking cursor is intimidating and the bane our existence, but it happens more often than I’m comfortable with. Sometimes, as I already said, there are no words and the cursor just teases us (or maybe, torments would be a better description). And it doesn’t only happen when you’re trying to write a blog. It happens other times, too.

Sometimes, the characters in your current story refuse to talk to you, leaving you to figure it out. Sometimes, our muses simply disappear for a time (Hmmm, I wonder where they go. Are there muse conventions where all the muses get together and laugh at us mere mortals? Are there classes where they’re taught how to torture us? My muse must enjoy those classes quite a bit, as he seems to take particular pleasure in leaving me hanging while he’s off galivanting).  

What does one do? I don’t know about other writers, but for me, physical labor does the trick to break that log jam and get those words flowing. I’ve come up with some really good ideas while washing the dishes or scrubbing the floor (I keep a pad of paper handy though writing notes with wet hands isn’t something I would recommend).

I have, at times, simply tried working on another story but then, that can get you in trouble, too, because what if you like the new thing you’re working on instead of finishing the original thing? Hahahaha, that probably explains why I have over thirteen unfinished manuscripts sitting in my computer right now although I always eventually go back to the thing that was giving me fits in the first place).

Walking also helps…just putting one foot in front of the other without any clear destination in mind (Hahahahaha, I’ve walked miles trying to figure out how to get out of the corner I’ve written myself into!). The only problem with that is 1) you could get lost, 2) you could find that you’ve walked too far and now have to go home and frankly, your feet hurt, or 3) you just can’t remember everything that went through your head while you were walking. I could use a recorder to get my thoughts down but I sound like Mickey Mouse (in between the huffing and puffing). It’s rather embarrassing!

Hmmmm, I think I’ll go clean out the fridge…maybe that’ll get those creative juices flowing! Wish me luck!

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

Dallas Trip Recap

 

Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

Oops! I missed posting when I returned from my trip to Dallas. My only excuse? I was recuperating. It was a whirlwind of places and sights and sounds! I was exhausted, but so very happy I had the opportunity to visit.

The Stockyards at Fort Worth was everything I hoped it would be and more. We did shop (how can you not when there are so many stores to wander in and out of?) and we ate (too much! I gained five pounds! Yikes! But that’s all right). I did not get to take that ride on a stagecoach but I did get to see that cattle drive down the street. That was exciting (and yes, a bit noisy). I never realized how big the horns on longhorn cattle are! They were huge! And in all different shapes and sizes.

The best part was staying at the Stockyard Hotel. Oh my gosh! It was beautiful and exactly how I picture the Possibility Hotel and Restaurant from my Wives of Bravado County series! Actually, stepping foot inside that hotel brought that fictitious place to life. I took a lot of pictures (lobby, saloon, restaurant, but unfortunately, my brand-new phone failed in that endeavor….it recorded one picture of every 10 I took….not sure how that happened). 

From my understanding, the Stockyard Hotel was built in 1907 and is
reported to be haunted. I didn’t see any ghosts, but as we were leaving at the end of our stay, the elevator kinda dipped a bit, like someone else was getting on though there was no one there. A spirit from another dimension leaving with us? Maybe.

        I didn’t get to see the Cowgirl Museum. Apparently, it has moved to Fort Worth proper, but the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame was fabulous. And we were able to take a tour of the John Wayne Exhibit (I’m a huge John Wayne fan! Love all his westerns!). Here’s a picture of me with the Big Man himself!

I did meet my friend for lunch. You know, it’s amazing when you haven’t seen someone in a long time and then you do, it’s like you’d never been apart at all. Yup, she and I picked up right where we left off and it really was so wonderful to see her! I think I miss her even more now!

The Tiki Cruise around the lake was lovely (there was a nice breeze coming off the lake, which was wonderful because it was so hot) then it was off to a slumber party! I haven’t been to a slumber party since I was a kid. It sure was fun! I even did karaoke, not something I would normally do (apparently, I can’t carry a tune in a paper bag, but you know what? I’d do it again. In a heartbeat!).

We also found time to visit David's Bridal and look for Mother of Groom dresses. Found one or two that I liked, but I'm still looking. I have time. The wedding isn't until April 2024 but we all know how times flies!

Just thinking about my trip and all the things we did makes me tired all over again. I think I’ll take a nap.

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie