25 Sunday Sep 2016
Posted in Quote of the Week
Tags
Author, Beaches, Humboldt County, Love, Northern California, Photographer, Photography, Poem, Published, Sunset Magazine, Travel, Unpublished Authors, Writer
SERENITY
It is better to have loved than not to have loved at all.
It is better to take risks than to stay in your same box.
Life is about change.
Written By: Unknown Author
Photography By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 2016
21 Wednesday Sep 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Agents, Author, Break-ups, Cocaine, Heartache, Love, Magazine, Photography, Published, Rehab, Relationships, snow, Travel, Unpublished, Writer
EXCERPT FROM MANUSCRIPT – SNOW
They both lay in bed, exhausted, but satisfied by their late night excursion.
January cuddled up closer into Jack’s arms, nestling her head in between the nape of his neck, just under his ear, as her slender fingers gently glided over the dark hair that now appeared on his chest.
At first, she had thought she would hate the thought of her man having a hairy chest, Jack had always been a clean-shaving guy, but over the past few years, he had let it go. January loved it.
“I love you, Jack…you know that, right?”
“Of course, Sweetheart. And I love you too, with all my heart.” He said, bringing her lips up towards his, kissing them tenderly this time. “Why do you ask?”
“I just get worried sometimes…that’s all.”
“Worried about if I love you?”
“No, worried that it won’t last. It’s all too perfect and when everything is perfect there is always something that comes along and ruins it. It seems like I am never completely happy and when I am, it is taken away from me.” January sadly said, stretching out her long legs from under the sheets.
“Baby, I love you now and forever. That’s all that really matters for right now. We have the present…that’s all we can be certain, we can’t foresee the future, Sweetheart.”
“I know that Jack…I just hope you’re right.”
“Trust me.”
Sadly enough, that was what worried her.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photography By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 21, 2016
14 Wednesday Sep 2016
Posted in Authors of the Week
Tags
Addict, Author, Beaches, Book, California, Depression, Family, Help, Humboldt County, Literary Agents, Love, Magazine, Northern California, Published, Teenagers, Travel, Unpublished, Vacation, Writers
THE MONSTER UNDER MY BED
No one will believe me…I tell myself, as I try to drift off to sleep.
But sleep doesn’t come easy to me these days. I lay here in the dark, wondering if I would be happier, if I wasn’t me.
This is silly, I tell myself. I have people who love me. My mom loves me, but sometimes it feels as if she doesn’t understand me. But then again…what adult does truly understand a teenage mind.
One or two? I take that back. Zero.
Depression surrounds me, but I must not let it draw me in. I’m really trying, but there are days when I wonder if it is enough.
Written By: Unanimous Author
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 14, 2016
10 Saturday Sep 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Agents, Author, Church, January, Love, Marriage, Published, Recovery, Redemption, Unpublished, Wedding, Writer
SNOW
His sacred words echoed through her ears, reaching all the way up to the highest rafters in the blessed church. Rows of fragrant Calla Lilies lined the pews, sweet, succulent pink roses filled the air with just a hint of Baby’s Breath to add color to the arrangement; January was filled with peace.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Jack had a look of endearment upon his face, as he looked down and into his wife’s sparkling blue eyes.
He couldn’t believe that she was actually his. He loved this woman with all his heart. He had almost lost her once, but now redemption was on his side.
January batted her long, black lashes for less than a second, before closing them, as the anticipation grew, waiting for his kiss.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: PMW
Copyright September 10, 2016
08 Thursday Sep 2016
Posted in Quote of the Week
Tags
Arcata, Author, Beaches, Explore, Humboldt County, Life, Live, Mental Health, Northern California, Published, Strawberry Rock, Sunset Magazine, Travel, Trinidad, Vacation, Writer
To Live…
There are some days meant to stay in bed and hide under your covers,
then you see something like this and it all makes sense.
We are small compared to the grander things in life.
Life isn’t meant to stay in one place, it’s about exploring all that life has to offer us.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Strawberry Rock – Humboldt County, CA
Copyright September 2016
24 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Author, Books, Faith, God, Help, Hope, Love, Magazine, Manuscript, Novel, Published, Relationships, Religion, Short-story, Suicide, Therapy, Writer
SNOW
“Oh my God, Jack. I am so sorry.” January had no words.
“It’s okay. I’m over it now.”
“Over it! How can you say such a thing. What happened is just terribly horrible. I don’t know what I would do, if that happened to me.”
“January, you are a strong girl. You would get over it and move on.”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you would and just like me. I know I sound heartless, but there are only two ways to go in a situation like this, you can either not accept it and go insane or you can accept it and move on. I am not the insane one, he was. I can’t beat up on myself for his poor choices and his insanity.”
“Gosh Jack…I don’t know if I could be as brave as you. That’s a lot of stress for a kid, you know.”
“January, we are not kids. We may be only 17 years old, but we are both much older than our years and very wise.” He reached down, pulling her face up to his, softly kissing her sultry lips.
“I love you, do you know that…do you Jack?” At that moment, she realized actually how much she really loved this man.
“I know that, silly girl. I love you too. You are my hero!”
She smiled sadly, knowing she would always love him and would do anything for him… she knew she would even die for him, but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: PMW
Copyright August 24, 2016
20 Saturday Aug 2016
Posted in Authors of the Week, Just a PERFECT Thought
Tags
Abuse, Articles, Assaults, Author, Awareness, Children, Crimes, Justice, Magazine, Protection, Public, Published, Short-stories, Teenagers, Writers
MONSTER IN MY CLOSET
It was late. The sun had disappeared hours ago, casting a light glow from the moonlight, across the alley.
She wasn’t scared, but she was feeling the first signs of doubting herself. She knew better than being out in the night late and alone. Her mother had taught her the dangers of the city over and over again…so why was she not listening, especially now.
Because she had a gentle soul… a caring soul… she trusted people. She hated when her mother looked down on people, always judging them. Why was she always judging? After all, people were good… weren’t they?
Perhaps this was true or maybe it’s just from the mind of a thirteen year old girl.
Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t hear the footsteps sneaking up behind her. Seconds before, she had decided to turn around and go home… consumed with her mother’s voice in her head.
“Hello.”
But it was too late. He stood there, in front of her, staring down at her, as if she were his prey.
All the blood drained from her face, as her breath caught in her throat.
“Shit!” Was all she could think to say.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
August 20, 2016
17 Wednesday Aug 2016
Posted in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW
Tags
Addiction, Author, Betrayal, Book, Cocaine, Literary Agent, Love, Manuscript, Novel, Published, Relationships, snow, Writer
Excerpt from SNOW…
January couldn’t help but stare. It didn’t feel real. She felt as if she were in a dream. Her once perfect life seemed to have shattered. Everything she had once known was gone.
She felt betrayed. She was lost. Defeat became her.
But she couldn’t help but think how beautiful it looked. It looked just like snow. Soft white snow that had fallen down onto the glassy, icy lake.
She was startled, seeing herself looking back through her own reflection in the mirror.
“Baby, what are you doing?” January jumped, half out of her skin.
“Woa…there baby girl. Are you okay?”
“My God, Jack. You scared me half to death.”
“What are you doing? We are all outside on the patio playing Quarters.”
“I was just coming back. I got lost, I guess. I didn’t know Ice did cocaine?”
“I guess…” Jack stammered.
“Did you know?” January asked.
“Of course not…how would I know!” Jack snapped.
“I don’t know, Jack. Calm down…I was just asking. What’s your problem?”
“No problem, babe. Let’s get back to the party and get another beer. You in?”
“Sure…” January replied, looking back at the table.
“Jack, may I ask you a question?’
“Sure.”
“Never mind.” January knew better to ask him, besides, she already knew the answer, so why bother.
January smiled weakly up at Jack as he pulled her hand, leading her across the room.
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright: August 2016
14 Sunday Aug 2016
Posted in Photographs from Art Gallery
Tags
Author, Books, Magazine, Northern California, Novel, Photographers, Picture, San Francisco, Short-stories, sunset, Travel, Vacation, Writer
Visiting San Francisco…
I know I always say that this place and that place are my favorite places to visit…but San Francisco is truly one of my favorite spots in the world. If you ever visit California or already live in our Golden State, you must visit San Francisco.
Haight and Ashbury are a blast from the past. Walking down the streets is as if you are still living during the 1960’s. Jim Morrison, from the Doors and Jimi Hendrix appear to still be living, as you look up and into their faces on the side of buildings.
The Wharf and Pier 39 have all the shopping you could ever imagine, while you’re waiting for your boat trip across the bay to the legendary Alcatraz island. Alcatraz is a must see.
Union Square is for the more savvy shopping goer. It’s beautifully lined streets, looking up to the high rises; such as, Juicy Contour, Nordstrom and Ghirardelli Chocolates.
And we can’t forget the Financial District. This is where success is created.
Make sure you pack your shorts, sweaters, and jackets…you never know what the weather will be like in San Francisco…it’s as unpredictable as your decisions on where you should go to next in the great city of San Francisco.
Written & Photography By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright August 2015
05 Friday Aug 2016
Posted in Photographs from Art Gallery
Tags
Author, Cities, College, Elderly, Future, Humboldt County, Life, Mental Health, Moods, Moonstone Beach, National Geographic, Northern California, Past, Present, Psychology, Published, Sunset Magazine, Travel, Vacation, Writer, Youth
Moonstone Beach…
Do you believe a mood can be altered by a simple scenery change?
Moonstone Beach, in Humboldt County, is one of those places. You may wake up in a bad mood, but once your feet touch the cool, soft sand, squishing in between your toes, you are instantly transformed from blah to majestic. As if, something this beautiful can be real, but it is and trust me pictures don’t do it justice.
The same goes for us that live in the concrete city. We may wake up in a beautiful mood, and once we hit the road of constant and steady traffic, we are instantly put in a bad mood. Not to add to it, but the grey skies above don’t help either.
The sad part about human behavior is that we don’t appreciate all the beauty around us, we don’t live in the present, but instead we are either looking to the past or jumping to the future, never in the present. And then one day we look back and our lives are over and we think, dang I wish I had enjoyed that day more.
I tell my kids this each and every day, stay in the present and enjoy this very moment. There can’t be anything more precious or beautiful than right now.
We can hold our past in our memories and plan for our future, but living in the present is the most important time of our lives. Enjoy visiting the beautiful beaches of California and all the beachs in our world, for that matter.
Peace, love, and joy! The only motto to remember and to live by!
Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright August 2016
Ask Ms Mandi 
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