LoveRundle

We had the best weekend! We took Mozart to Solvang and I went to my favorite tasting room and bought two bottles of red and Sue bought me this horror icon bookbag that says, "I'd Kill for Coffee" which is absolutely perfect! The Scream Mask is gaining some traction in popularity and I'm here for it! I managed to take many photos for the tourists who needed an extra hand with group photos, which is one of my favorite things too do. I love tourists and seeing the world through their eyes. Maybe because I haven't really been to many new places, so to see the same location through someone else's eyes makes it new again.  That said! Everything was in bloom.  We had lunch and then went to another winery. We were going to bring our expert some chocolate, but found out that she doesn't work weekends any more. So boo! Sue thinks she'll cancel that membership now because she doesn't like driving it. Two tasting and then Sue got a glass of wine at both places...

We went to Venture for the weekend. The commune told us to go out on the water, but we ended up going to Main and spending the entire day with Mozart in his little buggy. We met a couple who had a little poodle and we talked for while. They volunteer for most of the events up there and said that the Winter Wine Fest is really fun. I think we're going to have to go! We love that beach house because it looks out on the water. It's really peaceful and everything is gorgeous.  I did spend the day with Sue as well. She loves this little candy store and I sort of really like it too. I got two rootbeers, knowing that the place is a little pricy, but when we looked up the price of a pack.... $44.99 for one brand and $34.99 for the other. Yep, I guess I can afford to splurge on 1 rootbeer at a time on occassion, but I can't buy a pack of these rootbeers.  We went into a refill shop and I got the bars of shampoo and conditioner. I really like these a lot. Ann said that she likes liqu...

We got up early to drive to Arizona.  By the time we got there, Ann was getting ready to show some houses to Steven and Blanche. They invited us along and Emory loves looking at homes so he said yes. The houses all had wonderful kitchens which really excites him. Plus we have a LOT of kitchen things. The trip was so much fun. We went to the Scottsdale commune and boy, everyone was there! My favorite bartender showed up with her boyfriend. She made a vegan version of the cowboy caviar, which everyone kept grabbing.  She made food for everyone's tastes. One of the people present was about to have a birthday so she had made a really delicious pie too, but it went so fast.  It was HOT in Arizona. We brought our swimsuits, but we were running the whole time, so we didn't get a chance to swim. Emory had a lot of beers and I had two bottles of wine, but not in the same day, lol. We had a little wine here and there and only at night when we were sleeping over.   I think...

I didn't expect to see rummage sales this early in the morning, but I stopped at a sign that said 40+ homes were participating in this yard sale. I came back at 8am when they were actually supposed to start, and I had the BEST time ever!  For $3.00 I bought a see-through purse for the events that are out here that require see-through purses. I bought 3 puzzles for $1.00 each. I bought Ann some glass watering bulbs. Apparently, I say the word "bulbs" weirdly because she had no idea what I bought when I told her. She might be right, because I called Sue and told her what I bought, and she suggested I buy fake plants to put in them. It took me a little bit to realize that neither of them understood what I said.  This woman wanted to sell me this BEAUTIFUL dress that would be perfect as a fairy princess at a bookcon or fairycon. I wanted it so badly, but it wasn't my size. The woman who was selling it had the body of a goddess, and I'm more like the sidekick in this s...

Mozart and I decided to enjoy the nice weather, so we went for a stroll. At his age, we aren't really running anymore, but if he wants to walk, I let him. I have a real hard time telling him no.  We ran into a young man who is 28 years old. I'm a bit standoffish with new people. I am a recluse for a reason, and I enjoy my inner circle, but with new people, you just have to accept what they come with, and you have no idea what energy that is going to be. This young man was super pleasant.  He couldn't believe Mozart was 15 years old. He also couldn't believe Mozart loves everyone, including children. He said, "Children pet dogs too hard," and I said, "Mozart puts up with it. He'll lie down and let them pet him as long as they want." Heck, I even have pictures of children lifting him, and he'll just dangle in their arms and not try to escape. We do try to discourage him from dangling, though.  We talked a while. He's lonely. I get it. I wou...

We have a neighbor who feeds the squirrels when she takes her dog on a walk. I personally do NOT like squirrels, and that goes back to having to deal with them when I worked at SeaWorld. They are so aggressive, and their little claws hurt when they scratch at your legs to get your attention. They nip, too, if you ignore them.  Education Department at SeaWorld  Anyways, I've noticed that when I walk Mozart, there are squirrels that approach us, and I'm so worried they'll try and attack Mozart. In the last couple of years, I don't remember them being this brave. They might be small, but that doesn't stop them from approaching! I just went to Dollar Tree and had a great time finding things that I was looking for. I almost didn't grab the makeup cleaner tray, but for $1.25, why not? I've never tried it before, but it's supposed to clean your brushes better than what I've been doing. I also got this pen for my eyebrows, and I didn't know how it worked...

May the 4th be with you! Yes, I like to celebrate with comic books and see who is dressed up for photos! I finally got all the puzzles from the trade organized. I opened them up to make sure they were in bags. It was 50/50, but I have tons of gallon bags to put the puzzle pieces into. This makes traveling with them so much easier. I think we received about 50+, and I'm keeping all the Halloween ones, though some of them look super hard.  I had to wear EEG electrodes on my head for three days to see if there was anything wrong with my brain patterns. Something is causing me to faint, and it's not pretty. I feel sick for hours, a little confused, etc... People keep saying I'm having seizures, but the doctors keep saying nothing is wrong. I have a mystery illness, I guess.  Last time I fainted (March) I scraped my toes pretty badly. It looked a little like a crime scene with all that beautiful blood everywhere! It took weeks for that to heal, but it's not the worst I'v...

I found a book at the little freebie library called "The Hello Fears Challenge" by Michelle Poler. It's a 100-Day Journal for self-discovery. I thought this was pretty cool, and someone had already written on the first couple of pages. It feels a little voyeuristic to see their answers.... their fears. They wrote something extremely intimate on the pages that breaks my heart. I wonder who they are. I wish I could comfort them. What do you say to someone whose inner demons are so loud that they can't hear anything beyond it? How do you comfort them? Would they even hear what you had to say, or would it be like a sandcastle too close to the shore? The waves sweep in, and suddenly, all that work is just gone?  I just want this specific person to know that I read your words. I heard you. I hope you are well. I pray the book was placed in the box because you realized that you are worthy of good things, and I hope you choose yourself every time. I hope you walked away from ...

Jeff Goldblum is an interesting actor. He's very quirky. He seems like the type of person you could say something extremely outlandish to, and he'd accept that it's your personality. I would love to pick his brain on so many things. May we all have a Jeff Goldblum in our lives. 👈 That is my prayer to Hecate!  I need to change my altar now that it's moving into spring. I wanted to do a cord-cutting to cut ties with a certain negativity that's been plaguing the soul of someone I love. However, I probably shouldn't meddle. But no good story comes from someone with logic. So I might do the cord-cutting for this person, or I may just wish wisdom on the person under spiritual attack.  I was reading an article that spoke about how we shouldn't close the door on bringing new people into our lives. That seems like a well-timed article because I am in the middle of cutting ties and closing my availability to others. I'm happy with my small circle. I have all the ...

My to-be-read list is growing so much. I have been listening to books on Libby and must admit, I get so caught up in the story that I'll forget what I'm doing. Ann and Sue are reading a lot of the same books and think I would enjoy them. I like more fantasy than suspense. They like the stories that don't have vampires and fairies.... I think that's nuts. The world is too real as it is. I want to be captivated by stories that are a little unrealistic.  I'm listening to Taylor Spratt's "Poison Penitentiary Series" book 2 right now. It's so good. When I listened to book one, I was thinking, "Is this a reverse harem?" Yes. Yes, it is. I really love the world-building. It's like Prison Break but with fantasy creatures. I am really enjoying the story, and I think Taylor Spratt did a really good job.  I believe Emory might like these books. He's the one who got me addicted to Laurell K Hamilton. He's reading a book right now that he ...

I had the craziest night! I was chilling at 11:20pm and thought I heard screaming. We're on a busy street, so there is always noise.... but it was late, and every once in a while someone needs something. I stood up to look out the window and noticed that I had left something on my patio that I'd rather bring in.   I opened the sliding glass door, walked out, and noticed the usually loud street was eerily quiet. I'm on the second floor, and the street we face is NEVER quiet, not even when you really wish it would be. Before logic pieced itself together in my wee brain, a very bright light zeroed in on me.  A police helicopter had me in its spotlight.  That's when I realized it was so quiet because traffic was blocked off. Cops were combing the area with K9s. A firetruck and an ambulance came onto the scene. Emory came stumbling out of the bedroom, half asleep, and asked, "What are you doing?"  I was still dumbfounded. I had no idea what I was doing, but when th...

Emory and I are going to have to get waterproof hiking boots for Alaska. I'm so happy there are so many options. We're going to need waterproof gloves, too. I can't believe I'm actually planning a trip where there will be snow and cold. I can't even stand getting into the freezer. I don't like the sound of ice crunching underneath shoes.... I'm thinking I might need my headphones for certain aspects. 👻 We got back from Sedona, Arizona. I bought so many crystals, and I bought a vortex rock. Apparently, vortex rocks have an aspect that makes them magnetic, so they are drawn to each other. Not all vortex rocks just stick to each other, so you have to look for a pair that are drawn together. I also bought oracle cards because you can never have enough.  I should have bought some sage. I want to get into drawing runes on my candles and need the supplies for that. I might also need to stock up on herbs.... I need a shopping list. We had a writing session outside ...

I am still building my Galentine baskets for my lovely ladies, whom I want to throw a party for. I was told that these Ioni tweezers were the best, so I bought six of them for my basket. I can't wait to use mine, but the point of these baskets is that you make one for everyone, including yourself, so I can't use anything until the party. I'm making the cut off about $5 a girl, so each girl would buy 6 items that are $5 or below. I think my gift is almost $10 a girl, but I really hope I'm doing a good job picking things out, because I'm really not good at making a theme.  I'm thinking of buying roses for the girls to take home and maybe a pretty balloon, as long as the prices haven't gone up at Dollar Tree. I think they said they might be $5 a balloon, which is a little too crazy. I'd rather put all that money towards flowers. I'm thinking of putting shot glasses at the door with something special in them, but I'm looking for non-alcoholic drinks ...

I had to really scour the fridge for chocolate. I think my headache is either from hunger, lack of coffee (only 1 cup so far), or I've been staring at screens too long. I have been trying to juggle a lot, so maybe it's also stress.  I finally wore the migraine mask that Ann got me, and it felt so good coming straight out of the fridge. I went to the commune and had to ask Sue where she keeps her migraine mask, and she keeps it in the freezer. That's the first time I had a brain freeze that started from the outside of my body instead of inside (when you drink something super cold). I keep my mask just in the fridge, NOT the freezer.  Next year, there are some book conventions in Arizona that I really want to go to. The High Priestess wants to go too, and she said that she'll plan it for us. I'm so excited.  I miss the Romance Times book convention. That was a blast. There were themed parties every night. At the end, we had tons of books that were constantly being giv...

 This is going to be a busy month. I have so many little meetings. I'm doing a writing session with my bestie. I love these moments because I get some of my best work done when I'm being timed. I'm supposed to be working on a short story, but it took 2000 words to get where I'm at, and I just don't feel like this is going to be very short. I have a phone meetup with my childhood friend. She lives in Arizona. It feels like everyone I know lives in Arizona, except for the commune out here. I would miss Sue a lot if I moved. She's fun. It's hard to make her laugh, though.  I just had a blood test, and all the results were pretty good! I had a feeling when I woke up that morning that they might want a blood test, and I just sort of ate anyway. That means I had to let them know that it wasn't a fasting test. I think the results were still pretty good. I'm in the green for 98% of the tests run.  I hate needles, but I'm getting better at it. I asked the...

We finally did the Salt Cave meditation. It was so peaceful. Everything was salt, including the floor. We had to take our shoes and socks off, and at first, walking on the salt was a little difficult because it wasn't fine like sand. It felt a little jagged at first. The guided meditation was beautiful. There were two sisters and their mom there. They were trying to take a group photo, so I took it for them, and then there was a couple that I think were on a first date. Emory told them I could take their picture too because "she loves taking photos." I do! I'd love to learn how to say, "coffee and photos" in every language one day. That would be my genie wish. Just kidding. But I do love photos and coffee a lot.  Afterwards, we walked around the area because it was in the center of everything. We ended up getting Indian food, which was fabulous! I love curry, and I forgot the name of the bread that was gluten-free and vegan, but we got that too. We did end u...

This is Black History Month , and I've been reading about some amazing people in history who really should be in the textbooks. Let's talk about Anarcha, Lucy and Betsey. In the 1840s, these enslaved women were experimented on to treat childbirth injuries. They were not given anesthesia when they were treated for a fistula after giving birth. The experiments helped develop techniques that saved lives, but one can only imagine the suffering they went through, and it was barely documented. They never gave consent. This is real horror. I can't imagine their fear and pain. I will acknowledge these women and always hold a place in my heart for them. They truly are the "Mothers of Modern Gynecology." I didn't realize until I went to the grocery store with Emory to pick up more coconut whip cream and chocolates, that maybe I ate all the chocolates that he really liked before he got a chance to really eat them. I know this because of the shocked look on his face when ...

Just so we're clear, in this household, we do NOT like Ice or currently the government. We're grouchy about everything happening. My faith in the system has depleted. I'm constantly scared and I feel like we're living on coffee and stress.... Jeffrey said he really liked the banana bread his mother made when he was a kid. I went to his brother and asked if he could find the recipe. It didn't take long to get a picture text back. Wow! The handwriting is a little hard to read. Jeffrey and his mother write almost the same way. 😂 I am going to make this bread for him. Jeffrey comes from a fairly big family, so I'm not sure if this recipe is to feed the whole family, but I plan to follow the recipe exactly.  I am so bummed because there is a Marvel stage show that I really want to see, but I think it's in London. The bits of the show that they film for Instagram are so awesome. It looks like it's a lot of fun. They said that in a few years, they might be tra...

I debated posting because everything going on right now has me pretty stressed and depressed. I feel like America has lost the plot.... But I will give an update: I went back to Solvang with Sue. It's a bit of a drive and we stopped in at my favorite bakery that sells vegan/gluten-free items. I got a cookie which was fantastic! They ran out of scones so I couldn't get Emory a scone. I did finally get to wear my new sari. I wore heels which I thought would be difficult to constantly walk in, but that wasn't so bad.  We went to two wineries to pick up Sue's membership wines. One of the wineries we actually stayed and had a drink at. I love this one so much and it's kind of becoming a second home.... just kidding. I go probably three or four times a year when I get an invitation to get up there.  I did ask a group of women on a birthday celebration if they wanted a group photo and they really jumped at the offer! I love taking photos of people enjoying these moments. I...