It's Mother's Day and I'm ready to go back to bed to start over! I am 'cat' watching my friend's two cats while she is on a much needed vacation. The one cat, is a senior female and it very 'cat' like; aloof. The other cat is a young male who is very outgoing and friendly. He eats everything and I mean everything. Problem is, you have to watch what he eats because he has food allergies.

I started watching them on Saturday night and the senior cat ate a little and then ran upstairs and hid. I waited for her to maybe come back down but she never did. I put her food away.

This morning, I tried to feed her and she sniffed the food and ran back upstairs and wouldn't come down. I waited patiently but nothing. Now I'm worried. I'm used to watching dogs who eat all the time. I love animals and I don't want anything to happen to her on my watch! For the record, the other cat is fine!

I came home, stubbed my toe and it hurts! I went to print an article and my NEW printer isn't working. I went to go back to bed and it's one of the few times my husband has made our bed. He did it for me because it's Mother's Day. I guess getting more sleep is not on the agenda for today!

Friday night, my family went to the neighboring town to watch the Drum and Bugle Corp perform which was very touching. A lot of the musicians/fireman came from the town of West, where there had been that deadly explosion. Barely a dry eye in the crowd.  While I sat there, a lady came up to me and asked, "Aren't you Lois Kasznia? I just loved your book, Play for Me."  I nearly fell off of my chair. I thanked her again and again.

To all the mom's out there...Happy Mother's Day!

What a crazy week! It started out slow on Monday, then our company came. They left on Wednesday and I started to write. Well, that didn't last long! In the mail on Wednesday, we received a letter from our bank about a great refinance opportunity and after many calls back and forth with the banker, we said yes. I had to pull all sorts of documentation to present to the banker on Friday to get the ball rolling. Our meeting lasted an hour...I thought I talked fast, but this banker put me to shame. Really nice, bright guy. After our meeting, I did some quick grocery shopping, came back, mowed the lawn (great ab exercise) and then made dinner.

On Saturday, I promised my daughter that I would take her to the Shops at Legacy in Plano to look for a dress for an upcoming wedding. The thing is, where we live? There are shops galore but she wanted something "different". Beautiful mall but very pricey. By the time we got home, we both were exhausted and empty handed.

The weather was nice yesterday afternoon and all of our neighbors were out. We rarely see them because of conflicting schedules. We got on the subject of sprinklers and one of them pointed out to us, that one of our sprinklers was not working properly. So before I know it, I'm on a trip to Lowes and our next project is to tackle the sprinklers. Of course, that was after the Derby but by the time we were done, it was nine.

So, I'm sitting at my laptop with a great cup of green tea, relaxing...for the moment.

Company is coming today! Our aunt and uncle from Phoenix are stopping by for a couple of days to visit. They are in San Antonio for their grandson, Danny's graduation at the AFB which is a really good thing. I am glad he is finding his path in life. He's had a rough life so this is a good thing.

But you know, I sacrificed a "writing" day to clean the house for company and it never ceases to amaze me how my hard work can be destroyed in less than two days. Dirty dishes left in rooms that shouldn't be used for dining,  newspapers strewn all around, partially worn clothes draped over chairs...really? Needless to say, my family is not talking to "the evil woman" that woke up this morning and have been told that I better change my attitude when the company arrives. Which ticked me off even further!

I finally met our new neighbors: they are from Flower Mound and the wife is a teacher at one of our local elementary schools. What a great person and I'm kind of in awe of her. They have three young daughters and two dogs who are adorable. I am pleased.

Also, my publisher, Lazy Day Publishing, released a lot of awesome books these last couple of weeks. I really like the cover art on all of them as well as the authors themselves. Great works!

Happy Spring :)

This has been some week! Between Boston, West, TX and the flooding in the midwest, it certainly has tried our nation's souls. I think Friday was the most tense day, following the search for suspect number 2. I found myself riveted to the television watching the play by play. Granted, I should have been working but the phone kept ringing asking me for updates from friends who did not have access to the television.

Here is Dallas, I watch a local news station because I really like all of their anchors. I also follow them on Facebook.They recently hired a new part time weather forecaster who is a young, energetic and a bright person. The first week she was here, she was criticized for being a little overweight which I thought was terrible. She is only in her upper twenties and was very hurt by that person's remarks. I friended her on Facebook to tell her not to let those kind of remarks get to her because people can say such nasty things. You know, author? Book reveiws?

She usually works the weekend shift and on Saturdays, they have a segment on animals for adoption. She loves animals and is usually very good with them. This Saturday, there was a Siamese cat who didn't want anything to do with anybody. You know how cats can get if they don't want to be held. This one didn't want any part of her and clawed at her getting his claws caught onto her necklace. She tried to untangle his claw and he ended up biting her. She smiled through the whole ordeal and you could see she was holding back her tears. Granted this is live TV! You wouldn't believe the number of comments on her Facebook page criticizing her on how she handled the situation. Why can't people abide by the old motto, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it?

I have been actively writing and enjoying it. However, now that I'm on a roll, things are happening as if to prevent me from writing. There have been changes in everyone's work schedules, cars breaking down, treadmills acting up, heart pills being misplaced, unexpected appointments in the middle of the day. Everything has ended well (except the car which has yet to be worked out, for my friend Barbara who would definitely understand!), but I tell you. Just when you think life is going on smoothly, well. Don't take that for granted!

I am excited because my neighbor who just got the cutest husky, Milo has asked me to watch him next weekend. I have been jonesing for a husky for close to four years now, so this is like a dream come true. He is not a puppy; he is four years old but has the sweetest personality. My husband wants to warn them that when they come back, Milo might be living at my house....

My exercise program is doing well. I walked ten miles yesterday which is an accomplishment for me. Took in a local craftshow at a church along the way and wondered why people were staring at me. Then it dawned on me; running shorts, tank t-shirt, no purse and church. Not too smart, Lois!

Don't forget to check out Play for Me!!!

I really like Goodreads. I have met or should I say 'friended' with some really awesome authors. My eyes have been opened to so many works that I have been reading heavily these past couple of weeks.

 Also, my writer's block is gone which is a good thing. I do have lots of stories in my head that I need to get out on paper, per se. Hopefully, you will read them?

Weatherwise, it hasn't been too nice out here in the Dallas area. We've had a lot of cool days and I hope it doesn't jump to 90 all of a sudden. I'm anxious to start my garden but already the weather forecast for this week is looking at some 40's as a low. Why is it that weeds never seem to mind the cold?

This week, my husband announced he is okay with getting another dog. I am THRILLED. I have been dogless since we put our beloved Siberian Husky, Indiana Jones, down close to four years ago. He was thirteen and a half and had muscular issues to the point where he couldn't walk anymore. This happened on our wedding anniversary, a Sunday. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life and my husband swore he would never do this again. No more pets. My daughter and I have been chipping away at him and when he saw our neighbor rescue a husky, well...Yahoo!!!

As a writer, I find the time to actually sit down to write  is decreasing as of late. I want to lock myself away in a room with no phones, no internet, no nothing but me and the laptop. On Good Friday, I had fifteen calls from telemarketers and then I had calls to make as well. The weekend was a holiday with no time for personal time. This morning while I was in the shower, I had three messages and this was before 9 am!

So, I packed up my laptop and headed to the library for some 'me' time. Problem is, the library is no longer the quiet sanctuary it used to be. I guess ours wants to be 'kid" friendly to encourage them to come here. Today, the librarian is teaching a senior citizen how to use a computer in a louder than normal voice because the lady is hard of hearing.

I know!  I will book a two week vacation to Hawaii to sit on the beach and write!  In my dreams, right? I think all I can afford is a really good pair of ear plugs!