Taking Donations

Well it has almost been three months since I moved here and the struggle continues. The future x loves to call and harass me but I take it in stride. I started filling out the paperwork for the divorce and the burden is on my shoulders to file. I found a great web site and for the low cost of $200 I can do all the paperwork online then head on over to the court house and pay the $300 filing fee. So for a mere $500 I can file for a divorce. That is 1/3 of what a lawyer wanted when I talked to him months ago. Wow a divorce on a discounted plan is just as good as one on a layaway plan. What next you buy your divorce papers at Wal-Mart? Hey then I think I would at least get an employee discount. It doesn’t matter I am trying to scrimp and save after paying rent and bills so I can be the free woman I want to be. I made sure I put in a clause that says that I get all rights and royalties to all my creative work meaning books, art work and ideas. He can keep the money he has hidden away I don't want it. I will at least have the comfort in knowing I did this the right way. He has been chasing after some woman who I personally feel sorry for. She doesn’t realize what she is in for. To each his own. I am happy here in my little trailer with my two sweet dogs with the life that I am carving out for myself here in the Texas Hill Country. I don’t want to sound bitter because I am not I am happy to be free from the abuses he put me through. It takes a big person to forgive and forget. I have forgiven but I don’t have to forget. I am happy and ready to move on. Woo Whoo Life is good!

Day at the Lake

Today being my day off from the Salt Mine I call Wal-Mart I decided that I needed some sunshine and fresh air. I put Mater and Bridgett's harnesses on and tied on matching bandannas before throwing on an old pair of jeans that kept sliding off my hips so I grabbed a belt and tightened it up so I didn't show my underwear even though this is the fashion to some. Once we headed out the door Bridgett was excited to ride in my truck. She hopped right in but Mater still has a bit of a problem with riding in my truck. I don't know what his problem is with riding in the seat with me but he gets upset. Once Bridgett was in and ready to go Mater seemed to settle down and relax. "Well what do you know" I exclaimed as I looked over to see Mater sitting there next to Bridgett all happy and smiling. Since we don't live very far from the lake the drive was short but enjoyable. I had put my Rascal Flats CD in and was singing along to "Here" as I drove. Bridgett didn't seem to mind the sing along but Mater was looking at me like I had lost my mind. When we arrived at the Park we all jumped out of my little red truck and headed to the water. I warned them to hold off on the water until I got a couple of pictures. Mater started to get impatient because he had never seen a lake before and he wanted to feel the water on his toes. Bridgett was more interested on the cypress trees that lined the bank. Once pictures were over I let the kids explore and sniff around for awhile until it was time to leave. I wasn't sure which way to go when we left so I said "Let’s just let the road take up somewhere new." I followed the road as it twisted and turned went down and up and curved. I didn't know where I was but the scenery was beautiful and I had a tank of gas. I figured I would come out on a road that sounded familiar so I kept driving and following other cars as they turned in front of me. I was surprised that I wasn't lost when we finally hit 1431. I can say we had a great time and an adventure.

I have a new daughter

I have a new daughter and her name is Bridgett Bardot. She is not a Boston Terrier she is much larger but she came into my life for a reason. I have this habit of visiting the Utopia Animal Rescue's web site and just looking at the pictures of the dogs that they have rescued. Last year I remember seeing one dog with the saddest eyes ever so I clicked on the picture to read Bridgett Bardot is back. It told that she was returned because she had torn up the seat on a four wheeler. I was so outraged that some one would return a dog for a stupid reason like that. I remember telling my daughter Kikki that I wanted to be Bridgett's mom. At the time I was still living in a bad place and Mickey and Domino was still there at my side so I guess it was more of a wish than a plan. I did say that once I was moved and had my own place that if Bridgett was still available I wanted to go to the Utopia Rescue Ranch and adopt her. Well as I have mentioned in my previous post I ended up escaping the bad situation I was in and moved closer to the rescue ranch. Not close enough to volunteer like I would love to do but still much closer than I was before. I moved into my own place on July 9th and two weeks later I drove up to the Rescue Ranch with my friend Sharon for a visit with Cousin Nancy and Tony. Before I left I had adopted Bridgett Bardot and had a new daughter. Bridgett is the sweetest thing and lays by my feet no matter where I am in the house. Mater is a little terror running wild from room to room and she is so laid back and quiet I'm wondering if she will ever play like Mater. I called my kids to tell them they had a new sister and my daughter was ecstatic. She said Mom I'm so glad you adopted Bridgett. That is one more thing that you said you were going to do that actually happened. I can't wait to meet her. Nancy gave me a signed copy of her book The Road to Utopia How Kinky, Tony and I saved more animals than Noah. I was estatic to receive a signed copy and laughed once I got home and saw that she had signed it to Cindy Windy after me telling her the story of how the x had called me that to irritate me. I love Nancy and Tony and all that they do at the rescue ranch. If you have the space for a needy life then go to Utopiarescue.com and look at those beautiful animals that need forever homes. You will never regret opening your heart and your home to a rescued pet.

On Living Alone

Now that I am finally moved into my own place I truly feel independent. To me this is a big accomplishment. I know that I have been an independent person for a long time and had been sole provider for my family for a few years. I was the person that made sure we had a roof over our heads and food in the kids stomachs but for some reason it did not make me feel complete because Tom was always there telling me I was useless. I cannot tell you how good it feels to look around and realize that you are doing it on your own. It is like the first time you realize that you are riding your bike solo and no one is holding on to the seat to make sure you don't fall. Life is meant to be lived to its fullest and I am going to make sure that I live mine. Mater is a little lonely for the Poms that we lived with but hopefully when we go to the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch next week I will bring him home a brother or sister to keep him company while I am at work or busy cleaning house. I have a lot of unpacking to do and I wonder where I will put my collectibles and craft stuff but I will figure it out the same way I will figure out what to do about not having appliances. As long as I have the mini refrigerator to keep my milk and yogurt in and a microwave to cook soup in I am okay. Last night I chatted on the phone with my old neighbor and friend Alice Branton. She was happy to hear my voice and told me she had called the 1-800-wal-mart number to request they carry Out of the Texas Mist but ended up getting someones voice mail. She said she left a message and was planning on calling again today. You see it is people like her that keep me chugging through life. The people that love and support you because you are their friend. I have been there for her on a number of occasions and now she is there for me. All she ask is I make her a character in my next book. I laughed and said no problem I will need a sidekick to help me find Kinky. Oops I don't want to give away any story details but Kinky will be missing in the third book. Since Case of the Dead Husband is nearly through I have ended up coming up with the third book Case of the Missing Texas Star Who took my Kinky?
I am hoping that the Kinkster will help me on the third book unless he wants to put his two cents into Case of the Dead Husband I guess I can ask him this next week when I go to the Ranch to deliver his copy of Out of the Texas Mist I planned on taking Cousin Nancy a copy too because she has been such a great friend mentioning my book and myself in her blog and encouraging me every time we talk. She said she was excited that I was coming up to find a brother or sister for Mater. I am excited to see her and Tony again and of course I am excited to see Kinky again. I don't think he knows what an influence he has been on me. He is that big bright star in the field of blue on the state flag. Okay he would probably say "don't put me up on a pedestal." My reply would be "but you look so damn good up there on that pedestal." LOL
I just want to thank the Universe for pushing me in the right direction and bringing the right people in my life to make sure that I have the right influence I need to go as far as I can and accomplish all I need to accomplish in this lifetime. I am so grateful.
Now it is time to head off to work and enjoy another day of smearing icing on cakes and hoping they look pretty enough to satisfy the customers. Then I will come home to a sweet little dog that is happy to see me and chew on my arm because I left him alone in an empty house to have to play alone and snooze all day. I will continue to unpack and clean until I feel it is done. If there are boxes left then oh well they will stay packed.

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

I have been trying to get Wal-Mart to carry my new book Out of the Texas Mist so I can do a book signing at the store I work at. Well I have hit a wall with the Regional Manager. The Vendor that is in charge of buying the books can not do so with out Regional permission. Since the book features Kinky Friedman the Vendor wants to carry the book because it feels that it will be a good seller not just Regionally but possibly State Wide if not throughout the country. They have asked me to get the word out and ask everyone I know to call 1-800-wal-mart or 1800-925-6278 and request that Wal-Mart carry the book. I was told the squeaky wheel gets the grease so lets all ask our family, our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers,associates and any one else that will to call the hot line at Wal-Mart and request the book be carried by the store. I would appreciate all the help I can get. I don't care if you are calling from Timbuck Two there is a Wal-Mart near by so it doesn't matter where the friends or family lives. I know with the book in such a large chain more people will get the chance to read my crazy tale. I think that is what it is all about not so much selling the book but knowing that my little story is being enjoyed by people everywhere. Okay people they think I can't do it so lets show them it can be done. I want that book signing at my store because I have lots of excited associates just waiting to buy the book at work. Here are the particulars you need to know to request the book.
Title: Out of the Texas Mist
Author: Cindy Lou Ruffino
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 1-60563-916-8

Thank you for your support
Cindy Lou Ruffino

Murder in a Literal Sense

Murder in a literal sense
Sharon and I were discussing my current project Case of the Dead Husband when she advised me that I need to kill Tom to cleanse my id so I could heal from the years of heartache and abuse. I agreed but I told her that I didn’t want my character to be a bad person because she had at least two more stories to be the heroine and I wanted her to be a fair and decent person except for the lusting after Kinky Friedman thing that seems to work its way into every story. Maybe I need to seek psychiatric help on that avenue. It does make for a funny twist to the two characters friendship though. I’m not sure how the real Kinky Friedman feels about this because he hasn’t voiced any concerns. Maybe he finds it funny too or just realizes that it is a work of fiction. I have already prepared the speech incase he does ask me why my character insist on lusting after his character. “Kinky it is a work of fiction” I advise smiling as I add a wink in for good measure. I am positive this will throw him off and he will change the subject. Regardless the abusive ass of a husband must die in the story so I can rid myself of him in a literal sense. Then hopefully the bad dreams I have been having with him in my life will stop and I can get a good nights sleep. I like the dreams of Kinky better they are fun and full of adventure and I don’t mind missing a little sleep for the Kinkster.

Okay I'm not too old to blush

The crazy great woman I work with named Nicki is a blast to work with. She is teaching me all kinds of things about Cake Decorating. We spend most of our day laughing and she likes to pick on me about a certain man that has caught my eye. Today she and Sharon ganged up on me in Wal-Mart as Sharon and I were shopping and they plan on outing me on the whole attraction thing. I feel sorry for the guy now that I have these two encouraging me. The other day Nickie and I were talking about a certain sexual exploit that I had with a certain sweet fireman back when I was 20 and our supervisor Darrel walked up. The both of us burst out laughing and we turned red. He said "You two were talking dirty wern't you" I blushed immediately then he asked "Cindy why are you blushing?" I couldn't answer I just went back to icing the cake that I was working on. Today as Nickie and Sharon was planning on how to out me I started to blush and Nickie asked why I was turning red. I said because that is what I do. They think I'm ready to move on but I'm just afraid to unleash that crazy woman that has been locked away for nearly 30 years.