BUSY BUSY BUSY

I haven't posted in quite awhile. I guess with taking college classes, working and dealing with daily life I have been too busy to reflect. I decided to take a little break from the whirlwind and post today.
I have really enjoyed my American Government class this session. My Professor Samuel Downs is a great guy. He has been in the Military for over 24 years and is now in the Air Force Reserves. I guess his life experiences have enabled him to be the great professor that he is.
Well Dead X's in Texas was released officially on December 5Th. I celebrated by sharing a copy of it with Santa.
I was visiting Cousin Nancy's Blog the other day and was saddened to hear Kinky's dog Gooie had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Gooie was a great dog. I know Kinky is very sad.
I was able to get some gifts for my family this years which made me feel good. I have not been able to give gifts during the holidays so this was really a boost for my moral.
I have also been able to arrange three book signings for the coming months. I will keep on a plugging until I get at least 3 more. You can check my web page to get a look at my upcoming events.
I have grown tired of the run around that Wal-Mart has given me about getting my books listed in their stores. They tell me it is Anderson Merchandising that is responsible and the representative for Anderson tells me that it is Wal-Marts fault. Well the way I see it they are both losing out.
Candy is growing and starting to learn a little more. Bridget is just as spoiled as ever. I still miss my Mater with every fiber of my being. That little guy took a huge part of me when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
I don't know what else to add so I will cut this one short. Happy Holidays to all and I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year.

Bucket List

I found this on Cousin Nancy's blog so I thought I would borrow it. This can be fun and I hope I get a lot of responses.


The Bucket List Instructions:
Hit forward and place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from all the ones you have not. Send it to all your friends including me. This is for your entire life!

() Gone on a blind date -
(X) Skipped school - I was a rebel
() Watched someone die -
( ) Been to Canada - Never been out of Texas
(X) Been to Mexico - may have been forced over the border to shop with my mom and dad when I was a wee child. All I remember is ALTO signs and lots of flies on the food
() Been to Florida -
() Been on a plane -
(X) Been lost - my sense of adventure kicked in and I found my way home
() Been on the opposite side of the country -
( ) Gone to Washington, DC - no thank you
(X) Cried yourself to sleep - and looked like you know what in the morning!
(X ) Played cops and robbers - my brother had walkie talkies and my sister and I were always the bad guys
( x) Recently colored with crayons - one of my favorite things to do
( ) Sang Karaoke - yeah right
( ) Sang in front of a large audience (200 or more)
() Spoke in front of a large audience (200 or more)
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only - hasn't everyone
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't - yes I had kids
(X) Made prank phone calls - Is your refrigetartor running?
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose -
() Caught a snowflake on your tongue. I'm a Texan we don't know what snow is.
(X) Danced in the rain -
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus - I just send him a message he is one of my friends on MySpace

(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe - he he he I loved it.
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about - many moons ago with my first and only love.
(X) Blown bubbles in your milk -
() Gone ice-skating -
(X) Wished upon a falling star - one of those wishes came true
( ) Swam with Dolphins or Stingrays- Does having a dolphin tatto and swimming count?
(X) Drove as fast as your car would go -again I was a rebel
(X) Laughed until you pee'd your pants..or sneezed, passed gas, puked, or fell down- Nearly did the other day when Nickie and I started laughing at work. She was on the floor and I had tears running down my face. Our supervisor Keith said quit having so much fun.

About you:
1. Any nickname? Yes, Honey,Keyloulou, honeybuns, and the dreaded Cindy Wendy and Windy Hill.
2. Mother's name? Wanda
3. Favorite drink? Water or an ice cold beer on a hot summer day
4. Tattoo? Boliver the blue dolphin, a heart in the center of the Hill Country and a weird star on my hand that is the result of being young and dumb.
5. Body piercing? Nope
6. How much do you love your job? It would be a delight with out the crap that comes with working retail.
7. Birthplace? Houston, Texas
8. Favorite vacation spot? I'll have to look that word up in the dictionary. I don't believe I have ever had one.
9. Ever been to Africa? If it's not in Texas I haven't been there. LOL
10. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? sad to say but yes
11. Ever been on TV? Yes, I was on a talk show when my Mickey and Pookie renewed their vows. I looked and sounded like a dork
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? No, but my kids have brought them home. I made them get rid of them. It is against the law to have stolen property in your possesion.13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes, when I was in the sixth grade. My brother spilled his cherry icee on my pretty white fur coat and the paramedic's thought it was blood at first. The coat never came clean.
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? yes, I love my truck but I have driven cars.
15. Favorite hobby? Writing, painting, creating
16. Favorite pie? coconut meringue17. Favorite number? 5
18. Favorite movie? Men in Black, Lady and the Tramp, all of Mel Brooks movies
19. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
20. Favorite dessert? anything with sugar
21. Favorite food? Fruits and vegetables
22. Favorite day of the week? Wednesday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? Dove
24. Favorite toothpaste? Crest
25. Favorite smell? Magnolia blossoms
26. How do you relax? sitting on the back deck with a cold beer watching Mater and Bridgett play
27. How do you see yourself in 10 years? approaching 60 and taking the world by storm
28. Furthest place you will send this message? that depends on who reads it
29. Who will respond the fastest?

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.

Out of theTexas Mist

Today the publisher sent me my cover art for Out of the Texas Mist. I am excited to see what the cover of my book will look like. Now I have to start pushing my book and myself to the local book stores. I am so excited but still no release date. I was told it could be anywhere from six to eight weeks so I am looking at mid July early August. I can't wait to tell Kinky and Cousin Nancy. Just one more step. Thank you Publish America. Thank you Kinky you're my hero.