Thanks and it was Great

I have a lot to be thankful for. I have an interesting job that pays my bills, I have great friends, and I have great kids. I'm grateful for my truck, my intelligence and the two dogs that fill my life with love. My three children came to visit for the Thanksgiving Weekend and I had a chance to spend some time with my 8 month old grandson. Right when I didn't think that things could get any better I was asked out on a date.
Baby James is a cute little ball of energy that is into everything. There is no way you could get tired of him but the great thing about grand children is they have parents to hand them to when they cry or need changed. My daughter Kikki complains that Baby James is not a kisser but as we were standing in line at Wal-Mart waiting to pay for our purchases he looked at me sweetly then opened his mouth as he leaned in and kissed me right on the face. Kikki said "now what did you do to deserve that." I laughed then replied "I didn't have to do anything he knows his Baa Baa loves him" Mater and Bridgett thought Baby James was a puppy then followed him as he crawled around the house.
I guess I have to say I am thankfull for the full rich life i live and i am thankful that the X has decided to settle on the divorce which means when the papers come I get them signed then send them back. It will be over soon giving me more to be thankful for. Thank you so much I am grateful for it all.

Salute

I have to admit that I enjoy my job most of the time. I have a few favorite customers that I see on a regular basis and one of those we have dubbed the cookie monster because he jokes with us about hiding the free samples when we know he is in the store. Last week I had a cake order to do for the Marines 233rd Birthday. Since I love a man in uniform and respect people that belong to the military I put a little extra love into decorating the cake. On my day off I went into the store to buy some food and after a little ribbing by a few fellow associates about not being able to stay away on my day off Nickey called me over to the counter. She informed me that the Cookie Monster came in and he wanted to know who did the cake for the Marines. I replied " What did I do wrong?"
"Cindy they loved it!" she exclaimed.
Friday when I returned to work Nickey said to go to the Customer Service Desk. "I just got here how can I be in trouble already?" I mumbled.
"It's good I promise" she replied as I removed my apron and walked out the swinging door.
The CSM handed me a file folder and said congratulations. When I opened the folder I found a certificate proclaiming me an Honorary Marine. I thought this is so cool so when I got off work I immediately bought a document frame for the certificate then hung it proudly on my wall. Monday while I was working by myself Cookie Monster walked up. I thanked him for the certificate and we had a nice chat. We stood there sharing pictures of our art on our phones and I told him about Out of the Texas Mist then handed him my card. He promised he was going to Serendipity Books to order a copy and wanted me to sign it. I was so happy that I had met someone else from the Houston Area that now calls the Hill Country home and possibly gained another reader.Before he left he exclaimed "Remember once a Marine always a Marine" I'm happy to be a Honorary Marine because I didn't have to do it the hard way and endure all those push ups.

Am I in Love?

As I was sitting in the break room Sunday evening Alva from the Jewelry Department came in then hugged me real tight. I looked up then smiled at the sweet woman that had been reading Out of the Texas Mist.
“Cindy you have to tell me does Kinky know that you are in love with him? Has he read your book?”
Shocked at the question I replied “Well Alva I sent a copy before it was published and I gave him one that I had signed for him. He did say he read parts of it and he liked it so I hope he read the rest of it.”
“Does he know how you feel about him?” she demanded as she sat down across from me.
“Alva I don’t know how I feel so if he knows then maybe he should tell me” I joked trying to figure out why she was so excited that I was attracted to Kinky Friedman.
“What about that good looking Deputy Ben where did you meet him?” She inquired as she leaned across the table to whisper her question.
“Alva you do know the book is fiction and Ben is just a figment of my imagination right?”
“Yes I know it is fiction but I do know you have a thing for Kinky.” she admitted. Well that just blew my cover I guess it was obvious the Jewish Cowboy had caught my attention. After I sat there and explained that I had never been alone with Kinky and the most attention I had gotten were a few hugs she was still gun ho about the two of us hooking up. I then explained that Kinky was a playboy of sorts and had all types of women stashed here and there.
“Come on Cindy everyone knows you are taken” she offered as she stood up then left. Shocked I looked around the break room and realized several people were staring at me. Okay maybe I blew the discrete part of my little crush when I wrote the dedication to Kinky at the beginning of the book. I figured if Kinky didn’t know that I was attracted to him then maybe he needed a check up from the neck up. The funny thing about crushes is are they just an attraction or is there some real feelings there.
As more and more people read Out of the Texas Mist then approach me to ask if Kinky knows I am starting to wonder if maybe I need to get face to face with the Kinkster and see what he thinks.
I must admit I have a deep respect for the man and he is one great looking cowboy but am I really in love with him? Maybe that is why I haven’t met anyone.
I have been having so much fun writing these little fictional stories I have fallen in love fictionally and haven’t even noticed. So the big question is ....Am I in love with Kinky?

Hermits and Hismits

After reading Kinky Friedman’s article in Texas Monthly I thought it was weird that he thought himself a hermit. I figured a hermit never came out of their cave or cabin. He told of a cute tale he was told when he was a child and a camper at his families summer camp Echo Hill. Then the end of the article he admits that he was the hermit of Echo Hill. Frankly I do not see him as a hermit but who am I to argue with the Kinkster.

When my sons and their women came to visit last weekend I learned that I was considered a hermit. I found this a strange thing to tell me considering I had just read the article a week before. It was Sheena that told me this in passing as we were eating out at Justin’s favorite restaurant The River City Grill. Sheena’s mom Sharon and her Grandfather Roger said that all I do is go to work then came home. I have been accused of never going out or visiting with neighbors. I found this funny coming from a man that calls me Wal-Mart. I don’t visit because by the time I get home I just want to relax and spend time with Mater and Bridgett. I do not date because well no one has asked. Feeling a bit hurt I just tried to shrug this off but it bothered me. Yesterday I talked to my daughter Kikki and I asked her if she thought I was a hermit. Her answer was “Mom you have always been kind of a loner and yes you are a hermit. If you could find a way to make money from home you would never go anywhere. Face it mom you are just the female version of Kinky. If he could sell his books with out doing book signings he would never leave his lodge.”
“No Kinky would still go to Vegas he likes to gamble” I replied in defense of my favorite cowboy.
I guess my daughter opened my eyes so now I will have to work on getting out more. Sharon and Donald have convinced me that I need to move back into their house though because they are afraid I will become to depressed then isolate myself.
I have had a few phone calls from my ex-husband’s new girlfriend and the divorce is being pushed through because the two of them want to get married. I am happy for the two of them but mostly I am happy that he is no longer holding on and I will finally be free. The kids on the other hand are pressuring me to move back to the area so I can be in their lives again. I love the Hill Country and I don’t want to leave but for some reason I feel the Marble Falls area is not where I truly need to be. I would love to be closer to The Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch so I can volunteer. The wonderful thing is all my options are open so I guess I will go where the wind blows me. I will be submitting Case of the Dead Husband to the publisher next month so I will be busy making last minute revisions up through the holidays then I can focus my mind onto Case of the Missing Texas Star Who Took My Kinky. Maybe being busy will make me a bigger hermit in those neighbors’ eyes. The funny thing is I like being who I am. I entertain my co-workers and customers at Wal-Mart while I am there then I come home and spend time with the two dogs that love me for who I am.

On the Road Again

Well I can honestly say it sucks to be with out a vehicle. I had the day off Saturday Oct 25th and I loaded up Mater and Bridgett so we could head off on an adventure. Our destination was Fredericksburg. Just after we passed 71 my truck Firecracker made a weird sound then I lost compression making it hard to get over thirty five miles an hour. Heading back home I begged Firecracker to get us back safely. Well it just so happens that the electronic ignition system that I had put in Firecrackers distributor had worn out so had the distributor. Arranging a ride to work on Sunday I figured I would get the part on Thursday when I got paid. As I explained what had happened to my truck to Johnny in Produce on Sunday he offered to lend me the money to order the distributor so I could get my truck finished sooner. I was thrown that so many people were offering help in giving me rides. I must say my fellow associates at Wal-Mart are wonderful people. Finally with distributor in hand on Tuesday we attempted to stab it. Problem number three the rod that runs from the distributor into the oil pump had came undone. I was heart broken knowing I would have to drop my oil pan to try to fix the problem and I did not have the tools necessary to do so. Needless to say I was blue for a couple days then when Saturday rolled around and I realized that I had been without a vehicle for a week I spent my day in tears. I called Kinky Friedman to wish him a happy birthday while I was on break which did lift my spirits some but not even Kinky could pull me out of my depression. I did have a half of a smile for about a half hour.
Don went home then told Sharon that I had cried at work most of the day so she grabbed her phone then called my son Justin to tell on me. He called to see what my problem was. When I explained he told me he loved me and that they would come down next weekend to help me out. I was so happy that I would be seeing my boys soon which pulled me right out of my depression.
Sunday was a better day and as I walked around my yard waiting on my ride of the day to pick me up for work I picked up a little acorn, made a wish that my truck would be fixed real soon then placed it in my pocket. I spent most of the day feeling better. Josh called me around lunch asking me what I needed for my truck. I explained that we just needed to get that pin back in place. He reassured me that they would be there late Friday. I had a big smile on my face after I hung up then told all my friends there in the brake room that my boys were coming to my rescue. Later in the day as I was in the personnel office doing a necessary Computer Based Test over Hazardous materials in the work place when the door opened and Lupe from produce walked in and said some one was looking for me. I looked up and there stood Josh, Elizabeth, Justin and Sheena. I was flabbergasted. The foursome had driven four and a half hours just to come help me on the spur of the moment. Tears poured down my face as I rushed to finish my work so I could leave early. Needless to say josh had the pin in place, distributor stabbed and my truck purring within a half hour. The kids took me out to eat at River City Grill before leaving for the four and a half hour drive home. Now that is what you call love. I am so proud of my kids and the great adults they have become. I did learn one thing that weekend I found out that I am a hermit. I will tell you that tomorrow.