Maggie’s Musings

It’s February friends! Here are a few of my #happythings from January:

1. Tijuana Brass, blown transformer, and an outdoor Christmas on a beautiful day. 🎄
2. B&N date and nesting. 📚
3. Pre-steak snoozing with Sally. 💤
4. Massages and mashed potatoes.
5. Slim Chicken’s and shining LaFawnduh. 🚗
6. Pet documentaries confirm we are nothing but minions.
7. An excellent Panera date with Kathy & Tina, Riviera Maya with Kelli, and a chat with Jewels and Lulu. I am a social butterfly. 🦋
8. Carol’s birthday! Jamming Elvis and Bowie. 🕺
9. Zooming with my CNRW pals. 💻
10. A punch in the arm from Dr. Wayne. 🩺
11. Hacks!
12. David’s burgers and cozy clothes. 🍔
13. Elvis date with my king.
14. Cinnamon Creme Bakery madness!
15. Mediterranean dinner and dreams.
16. Burgers, beans, and my baby!
17. Stitches out. 🥼
18. Arron’s first annual 29th birthday! 🎂
19. Bill is bichipsual. #regularorwavy
20. Mediocre Chinese food, but a superior post-dinner snoozle with Sally. 🥟
21. Running with Reep & RSG holiday party. I wore a sparkly sweater!
22. I sat am forever am at work here.👺
23. Look,ma, no cavities! 🪥
24. After dinner wind-down with our fur babies.
25. Vegging out with Jewels and Emily In Paris. 👛
26. Scored a foot-long churro for $1. #winning
27. Schnitzel nacht! 🥘
28. Words! I made words! 📝
29. The Nurserie field trip.
30. Mickey Ds with my man because I deserved a break today!
31. Jewels is 40! 🍾🥳🎊🎉🥂

It’s that time of year again! I won’t say that 2022 has been without challenges, but I have so much to be grateful for – including you. Thank you for your continued support, enthusiasm, and friendship. I wish you and your nothing but #happythings in 2023!

If you’re curious about the little things that made me happy throughout the year, here is the complete compilation.

January #happythings

1. Snowy day frozen custard sundaes.
2. Spent the entirety of this rainy day watching football in leopard print loungewear. Go Hogs! 🏈
3. Hamburger Helper helps your hamburger make a great meal!
4. Beware the candy monster! 🍫
5. Listening to my husband deny his information addiction.
6. Burgers with my boy and chat with the OGs.
7. Being gently awakened from a post-work puppy nap with the words, “I made you mini chicken tacos.”🌮
8. Made lots of words today. Also, I ate the vegetables in my vegetable soup. Who am I? 🤔
9. “I wonder if she fell off the side of the bed?” 🤣🤣🤣
10. Fodder: “I don’t eat all of the chips, the dogs help.”
11. Much better wording today. 😊
12. So close to the end….
13. Kayson Oliver gets the rebound and takes the shot! Too bad it was the wrong basket. 😂🤣Good thing he missed.
14. The End – book #45 is in the *ahem* books.
15. Manic manicotti making. 😋
16. The Croissanterie with my honey!
17. Built our boy a birthday cake for tomorrow. 🎂
18. Big time puppy pile on the big bed.
19. Did her water break, or did someone have an accident? Dun dun dun…
20. Welcome Axel Benjamin Prewitt!
21. Musical night in the Ethridge home theater. Once with a Guys & Dolls chaser. 🎵
22. Goooooooaaaaaaaal! Plus one! -54lbs!
23. Sunshine Sunday. ☀️
24. Getting things done. Achiever®
25. Watching This is Us with Jewels and Lulu.
26. Sewing this book together!
27. MagMuffins and puppy cuddles after a long day.
28. Realizing I may be a 53 year-old Swiftie and I’m not afraid to admit it.
29. Just me and my guy, poking about and dreaming of springtime.
30. Mama gotta new canoe! 🛶
31. It’s Julie Doner day! It’s Julie Doner day! 🌈🦄🎂

February #happythings

1. Running around with my guy.
2. My man made me chicken fried steak and roasted potatoes.
3. Warm, safe, and well-fed. Plus – Olympics!!
4. A little thaw and a lot of puppy love.
5. Bill provides chauffeuring, entertainment, lively conversation and nourishment. A full service husband and Renaissance man.
6. Bought a pair of jeans half the size I was wearing this time last year.
7. Nacho Cheese Doritos are the best food ever.
8. Sunny day, chicken spaghetti, puppy cuddles, and a plan to see a little man.
9. Slippin’ out for a Sonic coke midday.
10. Hamilton!
11. It’s been a David Bowie kind of day – getting things done!
12. A day of Axel adoration and spending time with our Little Squirrel and my best fellas. 🍼🥰
13. Sweet cuddles, a sunny day, and home with our canine overlords.
14. Three bouquets of tulips 🌷. Or should that be threelips? #victorborgeinflationarylanguage
15. Zoning out with Jewels watching Cheer.
16. Massage day! I smell delicious.
17. Thursday night nap.
18. Croissant madness.
19. Getting set up for canoe season!
20. I made and ate spinach salad. 🥗
21. I am a culinary master! Okay, maybe not, but I did okay.
22. Mini taco and simul-watching.
23. Tapping into joy with my RSG family.
24. Ted Lasso rewatch with Jewels continues. #watchTedLassobegreatagain
25. Went bathing suit shopping…bought two!
26. An afternoon with my guys – Hogs win!
27. Lazy morning lolling in a warm bed.
28. Sunny day, a little warmth, and a dinner date with my guy.

March #happythings

1. A daffodil blooms one week after the ice storm cometh. #Marchcominginlikealamb 💐
2. Almost 80 degrees today!
3. A little garden clean up.
4. Raising Cane(s) with mah man.
5. Hanging with Arron and Sawyer – cheers! 🥂
6. Nesting day.
7. Competitive cuddling!
8. Coming home to a spaghetti dinner.🍝
9. Vegging out on Inventing Anna.
10. Test drives and fun zooms with old friends.
11. Spring snow = tacos 🌮 and puppy 🐶 snuggles!
12. Making plans with the ladieeeeeez! 🗓
13. Kayson is 9! Spent the day leopard lounging. 🎂
14. Chicagoland Sisters in Crime panel.
15. FOOTHILLS FIELD SEARCH large print ARCs arrived!🦮
16. Rub rub rub! Massage day! Shooting hoops with Too-tall Timber.🏀
17. Muppets Danny Boy. Oh boy, oh boy…☘️
18. A box o’ books!
19. Croissanterie breakfast and the Hogs win to end a busy day. 🥐
20. First day of Spring – first outing in our new canoe. 🛶
21. Decision made. Ordering our new CRV – LaFawnduh Honda.🚙
22. Facebook Live and sneak cuddles with my guy.
23. Peanut butter filled pretzel nuggets. 🥨
24. Hogs win! Elite eight!
25. Italian beef and a bevy of boys!
26. Grandparenting like a boss (or Boss Baby). ❤️
27. Recovering with my cuddle puppies.
28. Bridgerton S2. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
29. Tamales, tulips🌷, tortured heroes, and TiU with Jewels & Lulu.
30. Packaging ARCs of FOOTHILLS FIELD SEARCH for mailing. 📚
31. Giant tennis balls = fun for all! 🎾

April #happythings

1. Why did the duck 🦆 cross the road? To get a DQ dipped cone. 🍦
2. Achiever day!!! ✅
3. Eleven years smoke-free! 🚭
4. Haircut day!
5. Robin’s Mags video courtesy of Apple. 🍎
6. I’m a super stepper!
7. Soup, garlic bread, and the comforts of home.
8. Big breakfast because it’s been a heck of a week!
9. Schnitzel and Strummer and cheesecake with brûlée, these are a few of my favorite things!
10. Local Lime and Lost City with Brinda Berry! A fabulous day! ❤️
11. Got my walk in before the storms.
12. A great performance review meeting in the Room of Wonder.
13. Productive day at RSG – problem solving with paper towels.🧻
14. Cha-ching Cherry pedi!
15. Sleeping in, linner dates and Hurts Donuts. 🍩
16. I made words today! Celebrated with hanging baskets and croissants at the Nurserie. 🥐
17. Easter visit with Arron & Sawyer. Gummy bears and chocolate bunnies.
18. Watched The Hating Game with Sally and Timber. 📺
19. A post-work walk with my bodyguard.
20. Making plans for my trip to Chicago.
21. A few words and a good stretch of the legs.
22. Sunny Friday date and beef broth. 🤣
23. A trip to River Valley Horticulture and caramel ice cream treats.
24. Words, weeding, and a warm spring day.
25. Prepping to see my peoples!
26. The momentary joy of a cleared desk.
27. Time with my sissie. ❤️
28. Lunch with Jen, laughs with Team Megibow, dinner with Vicki, Nancy, and Dara.
29. Renee’s birthday! A fabulous panel, a meeting with Sara, and finally reunited with my women.
30. Brunch, book signings, and flaming cheese! Opa!

May #happythings

1. Home to my guy, our beasties, and the whole enchiladas!! 🏡
2. Getting things done!
3. HBD, Jimmy! 🎂
4. May the fourth be with us all.
5. A great visit with UP.
6. A lilac!
7. Breakfast at the Croissanterie, a trip to Good Earth, planting flowers, and Sawyer time!🥐
8. Sawyer sets a new baseline for how Grandma Moogie would like to be greeted by everyone. 🥰
9. Summer has come early!
10. Schnitzel nacht. 😋
11. Massage day! I am unknotted.
12. Pizza fueled words.
13. Working off our cheese curds at Sam’s.
14. Tincture talk at Panera with Kathy & Kim!
15. Floating the Saline River with my guy.🛶
16. Fueled by fire, murder, she wrote.💻
17. A hot hand with the hoops. #stillgotit 🏀
18. An evening spent babbling into the computer- book stuff and ISU OGs!
19. Hot date with my tasty enchilada. 🌮
20. Chitter chat with Lulu and Not-Christine.
21. River Market with my guy. Have a full arsenal of bath bombs! 🛁
22. Wrote over 10k this weekend.
23. An excellent coaching call with Jess and crew.
24. Release day 🤩 and This Is Us finale. 😭
25. Watching Master Chef with Jewels and Lulu.
26. Old friends + old jokes = fresh laughter. 💪 #thunderhead
27. McDonald’s fries.🍟
28. Book, beer, battered food, and B&N.
29. County fairs and funnel cake. 🎡
30. Typed The End.
31. LaFawnduh Honda has rolled off the truck! 🚙

June #happythings

1. I get a car! And Bill gets a car! And Sally gets a car! And Timber gets a car! 🚗
2. Catching up with Kelli Reep.
3. Swapped tainted peanut butter for tasty steaks. Thanks, Sams! 🥩
4. Just me and my guy. 👫🏻
5. Sunday, get things done day.
6. Words and an amorphous plan for book 3. 📕
7. Nap date with Sally E. and TimberToo!
8. A fourth booster! 🚀
9. Pizza and puppies.
10. Got me a sugar daddy.
11. Date day at Panera, a nap, then date night at the Faded Rose. ❤️
12. Laughed so hard I cried.🤣
13. A PW top 25 bestseller!
14. Cleaners, cupcakes, and car wash.
15. Massage day!
16. Getting salty and crispy with my guy at Mr. Chen’s. 🥡
17. Resting my eyes with Sally and Timber.
18. Sweet Sawyer hugs. ❤️
19. Chicken salad croissants. 🥐
20. Shade tree relaxation after work. 🌳
21. Achiever day!
22. Happy clams and cranky oysters. 🦪
23. Dozing on the patio under the fan.
24. Took the doggos to Sonic for burgers and tots.
25. Finding comfort in my guy and two cuddly girls. 🐕
26. Grillmaster Margaret.
27. Loving Timber is easy because she’s underfoot, and every day of my life is filled with loving Timber. La La La La la…La La La La La…🎵🎶
28. Turned the the proposal for another Harlequin Intrigue. 😊
29. Getting away with my guy.
30. 21 years of marriage is beerious business. Good thing our marriage is old enough to drink now. 🍸

July #happythings

1. Getting beerious about bar mix in the shade of the pecan tree. 🍻
2. Celebrating with the family. <3
3. Indulging my need for the nugget…ice, that is. 🧊
4. Talking out loud with a librarian named Marian. #TheMusicMan
5. Walking the Home Depot because I’m working up to being a mall walker. 🚶‍♀️
6. Office hours with Team Megibow.
7. Watching Loot with Jewels. 💻
8. Toy shopping for Sawyer’s birthday!
9. Movie and dinner date. So full!
10. Slooshing at Lake Catherine and dappled, drowsy happy hour under the pecan tree.
11. Big Monday hugs.
12. Virtual cocktails with Tom the Bomb. ❤️
13. Massage day!!! 💤
14. Wrestling with the beasties.
15. Persuasion with my puppy friends.
16. Sorta-fishing with Sawyer. 🎣
17. Lake day with Bill and Kelli. Kreme Kastle burgers! 🏖
18. So grateful for air conditioning.
19. I’m a normal as a girl from Bloomington-Normal can be. ✅
20. Team Megibow and McNuggets.
21. An Ozark rendezvous with my Lu, Pop, and Lobster.
22. Floozies, fine leather goods, flaming margaritas, and Mexican train dominoes.
23. Moonshine Beach⛱, Dick’s🪙, 2nd thought shopping👜, and enormous food. 🥞
24. Home.
25. Plowing through a pile of Monday.
26. Executive dinner decisions.
27. Another annual wellness visit done ✅
28. Sam’s club cookies. 🍪
29. A bookish 70th birthday for my Eddie. 📚
30. Write Now! with Tracy & Jewels, then Fodder & I celebrated National Cheesecake Day accordingly.
31. Rainy days and Sundays always make me sleep. 💤

August #happythings

1. Mellow Monday.
2. A productive day at work.✅
3. Coming home to nest after a long day.🏡
4. Hanging with Jewels and Tracy. Write on! 🖥
5. Friday night errands with my guy.
6. Bid fun with our big boy at Big Rock Fun Park.
7. Sunday snoozes. 😴
8. Comfy cuddles on a puny evening.
9. Rizatriptan.
10. Sharing ice cream. 🍦
11. Breakfast. It’s what’s for dinner.🥓🍳
12. Friyay!
13. Mexican Train Dominoes dominated by Vegas Mags.
14. Words were made. 🖥
15. Steak and potatoes. Yum!
16. Watching Indian Matchmaking with Jewels. 🇮🇳🪷💍
17. Recombobulating with a massage💆🏻, mashed potatoes, and MasterChef.
18. Clean as a whistle, inside and out.
19. Got a 5 year reprieve from ingesting Miralax cocktails! 🍹
20. LaFawnduh’s maiden voyage with Caddy Canoe 🛶, fussing about with Sawyer, and Kelli and I were punked by Bill. 🎇
21. Slept until I couldn’t sleep any more. 💤
22. Fabulous chicken melts.
23. Fortuitous oven mishaps and sugar cookies.
24. Spent the day letting Brene Brown whisper into my ear.
25. Walking the Home Depot and shopping Etsy!
26. A full chapter!
27. Big words and a night at the ballpark.
28. Survival of the warehouse shopping warriors.
29. Caramel lovers mix! Milk Duds, Rolos, and Reese’s Take5s!
30. Prepping LaFawnduh for the big trip!
31. A busy day, a lazy dinner, and an early bedtime.

September #happythings

1. College football kickoff! Boiler up! 🏈
2. Road tripping with my guy. #homewardbound
3. Kidwellapalooza2022. 🏡
4. Adventures in SEMO.🎰
5. Home with our beasties. Sawyer and his driver stopped by. ❤️
6. Back in the groove. Leaning into finishing energy!
7. Cruising closer to the end! 🖥
8. Invaded by the Louisiana gang!
9. Put Sawyer to work. It’s about time the 3 year old earned his Scooby Snacks. 🥰
10. Pool party at Brinda and Brent’s – Woo pig! Sooie!
11. Finishing energy!
12. Ted Lassoed more Emmys. 😀
13. This book does not suck!
14. The end!
15. Stepped out of the cave. 🙂
16. Mucho nachos with my macho man.
17. Whew pig! Sooie! Buh bye, Bobby!
18. Paddling through a busy Sunday.🛶
19. Making plans for world domination with Sara. 🌎
20. Enjoying Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen. 📘
21. Massage day! Chat with my ISU OGs!
22. New kicks! New desk! Just a little spruce. 🌲
23. Frantic Fridays and fluffy friends.
24. Closet doors! Such luxury!
25. I falafel good about our closet update. Ba dum dum! 🙃
26. Cooler days a day hot hand with the hoops.🏀
27. Flu shot = caramel milkshake.🧋
28. Just being with my guy.
29. Harlequin party and candied pecans.🧦
30. Boosted with my boyfriend. 💉

October #happythings

1. A beautiful autumn day for a hike along the bluffs.🏞
2. A bouquet of zinnias. 💐
3. Backyard Pickleball is back, my friends! 🏓
4. Much laughter on the court. 🤣
5. Bling Empire is back!
6. I’m a wheeler dealer. 💵
7. Buying clothes for a sweet baby boy. ❤️
8. Sawyer time and Turkish food fest.
9. Lazy Sunday.
10. Mellow Monday and a few good words.
11. Lemon cake – like sunshine ☀️ in your mouth.
12. A rainbow 🌈!!!
13. A hot bath 🛀🏻 and a good book 📕.
14. Mani/pedi and Slim Chickens.
15. Hogs win and Costco goodies.
16. Zooming with the Panera Supper Club.
17. Puppy pile.
18. Territorial disputes and extra cuddles. 🐕‍🦺
19. Burgers and Better Call Saul.📺
20. Video chat with Jewels.
21. Chimichanga, baby!
22. Hiking Allsop, escaping Harvestfest, and shooting hoops with Sawyer. 🏀
23. Loungewear and Love Is Blind. 📺
24. Some Mondays require oatmeal cookies. 🍪
25. A blustery day and a bowl of chili.
26. Massage day and hanging with the OGs.
27. Being Gutsy with Jewels.💻
28. Being the Mom who makes Mom’s vegetable soup.🍲
29. B&N adventures with my guys.📚
30. Once again, peace returns to Innisfree…
31. This is Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! 🎃

November #happythings

1. Birthday month begins!
2. Date night with Bill and Slippin’ Jimmy.
3. Sock shopping, but not having an affair with Thelma Rice. 📽
4. Snuggled in safe while it storms. 🌩🌪🌩
5. $1.50 hot dog 🌭 date.
6. Sunshine and Sawyer.
7. Mental health Monday. 🥒🥬🥦🌽🥕🧅🫑🌶🍆just vegging out.
8. An evening in slippers.
9. Fresh bread, evoo, and cheese. 🧀
10. The Crown S5.
11. Netflix and chill. 🍕
12. 🥧 pie with my guy.
13. Achiever day ✅
14. People cookies vs. puppy cookies…
15. Cruising the Dollar Tree with my man.
16. This is 54.
17. Snoozles, french fries, and TV time.📺
18. Birthday smorgasbord at The Pantry.
19. Girls day at Casa KD! 👯‍♀️😌
20. Restorative workshop.
21. Open enrollment juggernaut.
22. My Billiam. My ❤️.
23. Burgers, beans and Better Call Saul.
24. Thankful. 🦃
25. Flying Fish Friday.
26. Axel time!
27. Playing ‘Yay!’ with my littlest guy. Grandma Moogie is still funny.😂🤣
28. A toast light from Katie! Yay, toast! ❤️
29. Taco soup on a rainy night. 🥣
30. A nice massage to round out birthday month.😌

December #happythings

1. Impulse buy churros.
2. Saul Gone. Sad it’s over, but such a good show.
3. Guys & Dolls at The Rep. 🎭
4. Nesting day. 🪹
5. Chicken noodle soup 🍜 on a cold, wet day.
6. Listening to podcasts while walking and enjoying an “A-ha!” moment.
7. Eye exams and Santa Fe Cafe. 🧐
8. Snoopy blanket snuggles with Sally.
9. When my library loans come in! 📚
10. Decluttering and decorating. 🎄
11. Fodder and I attended Sundae School at DQ. 🍦
12. Crazy day + happy call + sauna time = Tired Mags.
13. White Lotus – Jennifer Coolidge is a queen. 📺
14. Our future’s so bright we have to wear shades. 🕶
15. Flaunting our flautas. 💃🏻
16. Calzones, car wash and Christmas shopping. 🎁
17. Sunshine, glorious sunshine! ☀️
18. On top of Mt. Chex Mix.
19. Horrible day, but feeling blessed. Thank you, God. 🙏
20. The wondrous generosity of friends and strangers.
21. Fiesta dinner. 🪅
22. Christmas crack and cinnamon roasted pecans.
23. Elf with my guy. 🧝
24. Saw our squirrel family, then home to our beasts. The kids are all right.
25. Merry meatloaf and lazy Christmas.
26. The wrong block of cheese 🧀 and suspicious ice. 🧊
27. Trash talking the royals with Jewels. 👑
28. Hogs win the Liberty Bowl…barely. 🏈
29. Pizza and puppy night.
30. Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with cheesecake.
31. Sweets and treats and a fancy BK date because that’s how we swing in the New Year.

*gasp* I forgot to post my #happythings for November! Here they are in case you were wondering how much time I spent on Netflix.

#happythings

1. Birthday month begins!
2. Date night with Bill and Slippin’ Jimmy.
3. Sock shopping, but not having an affair with Thelma Rice. 📽
4. Snuggled in safe while it storms. 🌩🌪🌩
5. $1.50 hot dog 🌭 date.
6. Sunshine and Sawyer.
7. Mental health Monday. 🥒🥬🥦🌽🥕🧅🫑🌶🍆just vegging out.
8. An evening in slippers.
9. Fresh bread, evoo, and cheese. 🧀
10. The Crown S5.
11. Netflix and chill. 🍕
12. 🥧 pie with my guy.
13. Achiever day ✅
14. People cookies vs. puppy cookies…
15. Cruising the Dollar Tree with my man.
16. This is 54.
17. Snoozles, french fries, and TV time.📺
18. Birthday smorgasbord at The Pantry.
19. Girls day at Casa KD! 👯‍♀️😌
20. Restorative workshop.
21. Open enrollment juggernaut.
22. My Billiam. My ❤️.
23. Burgers, beans and Better Call Saul.
24. Thankful. 🦃
25. Flying Fish Friday.
26. Axel time!
27. Playing ‘Yay!’ with my littlest guy. Grandma Moogie is still funny.😂🤣
28. A toast light from Katie! Yay, toast! ❤️
29. Taco soup on a rainy night. 🥣
30. A nice massage to round out birthday month.😌

1. A beautiful autumn day for a hike along the bluffs.🏞
2. A bouquet of zinnias. 💐
3. Backyard Pickleball is back, my friends! 🏓
4. Much laughter on the court. 🤣
5. Bling Empire is back!
6. I’m a wheeler dealer. 💵
7. Buying clothes for a sweet baby boy. ❤️
8. Sawyer time and Turkish food fest.
9. Lazy Sunday.
10. Mellow Monday and a few good words.
11. Lemon cake – like sunshine ☀️ in your mouth.
12. A rainbow 🌈!!!
13. A hot bath 🛀🏻 and a good book 📕.
14. Mani/pedi and Slim Chickens.
15. Hogs win and Costco goodies.
16. Zooming with the Panera Supper Club.
17. Puppy pile.
18. Territorial disputes and extra cuddles. 🐕‍🦺
19. Burgers and Better Call Saul.📺
20. Video chat with Jewels.
21. Chimichanga, baby!
22. Hiking Allsop, escaping Harvestfest, and shooting hoops with Sawyer. 🏀
23. Loungewear and Love Is Blind. 📺
24. Some Mondays require oatmeal cookies. 🍪
25. A blustery day and a bowl of chili.
26. Massage day and hanging with the OGs.
27. Being Gutsy with Jewels.💻
28. Being the Mom who makes Mom’s vegetable soup.🍲
29. B&N adventures with my guys.📚
30. Once again, peace returns to Innisfree…
31. This is Halloween! Halloween! Halloween! 🎃

I’m scared.

There. I admitted it. I’m a big scaredy cat.

But I’m not scared because I’m afraid of ghosts or goblins. I’m scared to write the story in my head. It’s a big departure from what I’ve been writing for the last few years. It’s also a lot closer to my heart.

So, yeah. I’m scared. I’m hoping that by putting it out there, I won’t feel as spooked by it.

How about you? Are you feeling scared these days? Tell me about it. Let’s put those fears out there so they can’t chase us into shadowy corners.

As I prepare to dive into my next book, I’ve been hoovering up every sort of input I can get my paws on — podcasts, books, television.

I’ve also been hyper-cognizant of letting all the information I’ve been taking in stew a bit. My tear through Netflix/the Central Arkansas Library/Spotify was intentional.

I have to feed the beast.

I’ve also been stretching my muscles. Walking more. Doing some light weight training. Shooting hoops and playing backyard pickleball with the hubs.

Overall, it’s been a nice break. But I can feel the story stirring inside me.

I’m not going to poke it with a stick (or beat it out of my head). I am doing my best to resist the impulse to jump back on the writing treadmill at a dead run. I don’t want to think of writing as a grind.

This beast will not churn and burn anymore. This beast is spending more time hanging out in the library with Belle.

Whoops! October already??? Here are September’s #happythings

1. College football kickoff! Boiler up! 🏈
2. Road tripping with my guy. #homewardbound
3. Kidwellapalooza2022. 🏡
4. Adventures in SEMO.🎰
5. Home with our beasties. Sawyer and his driver stopped by. ❤️
6. Back in the groove. Leaning into finishing energy!
7. Cruising closer to the end! 🖥
8. Invaded by the Louisiana gang!
9. Put Sawyer to work. It’s about time the 3 year old earned his Scooby Snacks. 🥰
10. Pool party at Brinda and Brent’s – Woo pig! Sooie!
11. Finishing energy!
12. Ted Lassoed more Emmys. 😀
13. This book does not suck!
14. The end!
15. Stepped out of the cave. 🙂
16. Mucho nachos with my macho man.
17. Whew pig! Sooie! Buh bye, Bobby!
18. Paddling through a busy Sunday.🛶
19. Making plans for world domination with Sara. 🌎
20. Enjoying Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen. 📘
21. Massage day! Chat with my ISU OGs!
22. New kicks! New desk! Just a little spruce. 🌲
23. Frantic Fridays and fluffy friends.
24. Closet doors! Such luxury!
25. I falafel good about our closet update. Ba dum dum! 🙃
26. Cooler days a day hot hand with the hoops.🏀
27. Flu shot = caramel milkshake.🧋
28. Just being with my guy.
29. Harlequin party and candied pecans.🧦
30. Boosted with my boyfriend. 💉

Is there anything headier than the honeymoon phase? I think not. I love this part of planning a new book – getting to know a whole new cast of characters, figuring out what they want/need, and pinpointing exactly what makes them tick.

Because I am an intuitive writer and not a heavy outliner, I’m just letting the ideas flutter about in my head. Every once in a whole I collect tidbits of backstory or eavesdrop on my imaginary friends’ conversations.

Anyone scrolling through my Notes app would consider using this butterfly net on me.

Just a PSA for all those–who like me–thought today was Wednesday.

I know Sundays are supposed to be a day of rest, but not for Manic Margaret. Saturdays are my fun days, and we all know what Mondays are like, but Sundays are my Get Things Done (RIP David Bowie) days.

My Sundays have turned into an odd mixture of Saturday and Monday. I tend to do fun stuff, up until about 2pm, then the switch flips and I go into action mode. There’s food prep to be done. Laundry too. Oh, and I need to wash the car because we went canoeing. And I planned to soup for dinner, so I should get on the chopping and sautéing and such…

But here I sit, tired from paddling around this morning and wishing the quinoa I cooked would divide itself into containers. I’m also decluttering in anticipation of a refreshed workspace now that I turned in my book, so my office is torn apart.

The reorg includes releasing the balsa wood pirate ship Fodder and I built together. We were going to let the Arrrgh! set sail on her own, but we were afraid she’d capsize and her tiny (imaginary) crew would end up in Davy Jones’ locker, so we ran her aground on an exotic shoreline. Don’t worry, we’re sure the crew are partaking in the local rum (moonshine) with the wildlife, and the ship herself is made of 100% biodegradable materials.

Who knows? Maybe a new captain will come along and take her out on another adventure…