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Tag Archives: California

Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW

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Abusive Relationships, Addiction, Author, California, Cocaine, Love, Published, Recovery, San Francisco, snow, Unpublished, Writer

Excerpt from Manuscript – SNOW

img_5842

Autumn, a time when the leaves changed from green to yellow to orange and then red. The days were warm in the mornings, as the nights escaped into the most certain chill.

This time of year had always been January’s favorite. Moving to San Francisco had been his idea, but now that she had warmed up to it, she too loved the quaint city with all its undying charm.

Standing out on their balcony, with her faux-fur coat wrapped around her body, fighting to keep her warm, but desperately failing, she watched the city lights flicker in the distance. Jack seemed to be spending more and more time away from their home and from her.

She perniciously had too much time on her hands to think. She didn’t like when her mind drifted over to the darker side, but it had been hard not to lately.

She missed him so much that her heart ached. She knew in her heart that she was losing him, but she couldn’t compete with this. She had to let him go, but she didn’t know if she had the courage to do so.

She had always hated that stupid saying, “If you love someone set them free and if they are yours to keep, they will come back to you.”

“Dumb saying.” She thought, despairingly wiping away the tears.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: JCW
Copyright: October 12, 2016

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PITBULL AWARENESS MONTH

01 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Photographs from Art Gallery

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Tags

Animal Cruelty, Animal Rights, Author, Banning, California, Canada, Legislation, Montreal, Photography, Pitbulls, SPCA, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, United States of America

PITBULL AWARENESS MONTH

fullsizerender

Bowzar is my third Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Pitbull). He, has been and is one of the kindest soul.

Pitbulls are very loyal, smart, loving, and tolerant creatures, and with this in mind, their owners too, must be responsible, loving and kind-hearted people. Cruel and mean dog owners must not match up with this breed or any breed or animal, for that matter. After all, any dog that let’s you dress him up in human clothes is gentle and good.

Bowzar will be ten years old tomorrow, October 2nd. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOWZ!

Let’s stop animal cruelty and the banning of pitbulls in Montreal!

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright October 1, 2016

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Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

28 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW

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Addiction, Author, Bolsa Chica Beach, California, Cocaine, Love, Published, Recovery, Relationships, Religion, snow, Sober, Travel, Unpublished, Writer

Excerpt from Manuscript – SNOW

bolsa-chica-beach-09-2016

She lay there, in her expensive Donna Karen suit, carefully watching him, as his chest slowly went up and down with each reserved breath.

January knew she should change her clothes and grab a bite to eat, but she was afraid. She was afraid to leave his side.

In the past, she had taken life as it came. In other words, she hadn’t taken it seriously. Not until today.

Jack stirred, moving only slightly in his bed. Startled, January hastily pushed the lock of hair away from her eyes…digging in her purse for a bobby pin, quickly shoving it in her mouth, and nervously pushing her hair behind her ear.

Starring intently, only inches from his face, she waited, waited for him to wake.

“Jack Honey…can you hear me? Jack?”

The room fell silent once again…nothing could be heard, except for the breathing machine, as it went beep, beep, beep…driving January mad.

She wasn’t a religious person, although she had been around plenty of people claiming they were, but she needed to get her voice out…she needed God to listen to her prayer.

“Dear God, please bring Jack back to me…I promise to love him more and help him to get clean and stay clean.”

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 28, 2016

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Mt. Whitney – Eastern Sierra

18 Sunday Sep 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Photographs from Art Gallery

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Tags

California, Destination, Eastern Sierra Mountains, Hiking, Mt. Whitney, Photography, Trails, Travel, Vacation, Writer

MT. WHITNEY – EASTERN SIERRA

Mt Whitney Labor Day 2014

There are days when I just want to hop into my car, roll down all the windows, crank up the stereo, and just drive.

Destination…The Eastern Sierra Mountains in California.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 2015

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THE MONSTER UNDER MY BED

14 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Authors of the Week

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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

arcata-ca-july-2016-084

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

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Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Excerpt from Manuscript - SNOW

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Tags

Addiction, Author, Book, California, Cocaine, Love, Manuscript, Novel, Outdoor Photographer, Photography, Recovery, Rehab, Relationships, San Diego, snow, Whaley House, Writer

Excerpt from SNOW

photo (9)

He was waiting for her, as she pulled up. She pretended not to notice him sitting on the grass in front of her apartment, but she felt his gaze burning a hole through her soul.

She thought if she looked down, playing with the callous on the palm of her hand, he would get bored and look away, but when she raised her head, peeking up and over her lashes, she caught his intent stare.

His eyes were black…black as the night.

She knew he was mad, but she didn’t care, well maybe a little, but not really. What the hell did he have to be mad with her anyway. She was the one who should be mad.

After all, he was the one who had broken up with her. Maybe she had broken up with him, but he had deserved it. He was going down a path she didn’t approve, nor did she wish to partake.

“Did you think I would just go away?”

“Jack, I’m too tired to deal with this right now, besides your high.”

“Damn it January. You always say that, but I’m not. I quit using, just like you asked me to.”

“That’s bullshit, Jack and you know it! And the least you can do is to tell the truth, for once in your life.”

“Maybe, I just did a little.”

“Exactly! Like I said, goodnight Jack.” She ran up the stairs, quickly looking down at him. She didn’t want him to see her tears, but it was too late.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright June 29, 2016

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PALM SPRINGS, CA

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Photographs from Art Gallery

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Architecture, Author, Aviance, Book, California, Design, Mystery, Novel, Palm Springs, Photograph, Photography, Poem, Published Authors, Sunset Magazine, Travel, Vacation, Writers

PALM SPRINGS, CA

palm-springs-hotel_1115111.jpg

When I took this picture, I was somewhat spooked by this place. The photo is processed as a black and white, but the true image of this hotel was a sanitary green.

I remember walking down the street with my camera in tow, hanging from my neck, and being mystified when I came upon this mysterious residence. Something about it captivated my interest. I felt compelled to photograph it. It was almost as if the hotel was speaking to me.

I stood there for a few minutes, looking around, noticing the vacancy of the windows, the sadness of the structure, and the beauty of the architecture. I suddenly wanted to be a visitor there and it made me wonder, almost feel sad, who had visited this structure in the past. What stories did it hold?

I continued to stare into the empty windows, almost seeing those who had been inside long ago. Were there ghosts? Did something tragic happen inside? Or did it only hold happy memories of long ago vacations with children running up and down the halls, searching for a game to play, or perhaps a poolside cabana with their parents, to sit and read, while resting from a long week’s work in the city.

We will never know, nor will we ever be able to visit again. The hotel, along with the other structures on that street, in Palm Springs, have since been torn down. All we have now are memories and the photographs that have once captured the hotel’s ambiance and mystery.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright June 22, 2016

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Excerpt from The Lost Diary of Jane Doe

13 Monday Jun 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in The Lost Diary of Jane Doe

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Adventure, Author, Beach, California, Children, Excerpt, Family, Hate, Humboldt County, Innocence, Jane Doe, Love, Poem, Relationships, Travel, Vacation, Violence, Writer

THE LOST DIARY OF JANE DOE:

Humboldt County 03_edited-1

Youth is symmetrical to innocence.
Therefore, hate is a simile of violence.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 12, 1995

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Sushi Dining

11 Saturday Jun 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Just a PERFECT Thought

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Adventure, Author, Blog, California, Corona, Critics, Food, Happy Hour, Restaurants, Sushi, Travel, Writer

SUSHI DINING:

IMG_2928

Southern California has some of the finest restaurants in the West, but if you are hungry for one of the best sushi spots in town, you must try RA. RA Restaurant is located at Dos Logos, in Corona, California.

The establishment is clean, the food is fresh, and the service is friendly. I have been to sushi restaurants before where the food was questionable, the service-ware was cheap and the service was left to be desired. But RA is different.

My favorite sushi roll is the Pacific Roll. It is one of their specialty rolls with fresh crab meat, cucumber, and a mango salsa on top. It is fresh with a hint of south of the border flare.

Some of the items are a little more expensive than some of the other local restaurants, but Happy Hour is served until seven pm almost every night, saving you money.

Next time you are visiting Southern California, make sure to stop in at RA at Dos Logos…you won’t regret it!

I have attached the directions and a link to their Corona location. Enjoy!

RA 06.11.2016-3RA 06.112016-2

Written By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Photograph By:  Ask Ms Mandi

Copyright June 11, 2016

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Gasquet, California

05 Sunday Jun 2016

Posted by Ask Ms Mandi in Photographs from Art Gallery

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Tags

Adventure, Beaches, California, Coastline, Gasquet, Journey, Magazine, Northern, Relaxation, Romance, Setting, Sight-seeing, Travel, Vacation

Gasquet, California

Gasquet, CA

Beautiful beaches stretch out for miles along the coast of Gasquet, California. Your journey will take you up the coast of North 101 Hwy and just to the border of California and Oregon. Here you will find the quaint setting of Gasquet.

Whether you are looking for a nice place to relax or seeking a bit of sight-seeing, this majestic beach is just what you are looking for as an enchanting setting. The black sandy beaches will mesmerize you as you take a romantic stroll down the coastline.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: NLW
Copyright June 5, 2016

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