Tag Archives: Magazine

The Lost Diary of Jane Doe

31 Sunday Jul 2016

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The Lost Diary of Jane Doe

Ms Mandi Photo 1

She quickly pushed her self-doubt out of her mind. She knew she still loved him, time had no relevance with a love like they shared.

It hadn’t been love at first sight, but had grown out of the need to be protected and sheltered from the harsh elements of the world. He had been her hero from the beginning of their relationship. This was something he craved, something he needed, the need to be needed. And she had needed it too.

However, it was much simpler for her. She just loved him the way he was, with all his flaws and all. She didn’t care about his past, she didn’t care how much money he made, all she wanted from him was his heart, his honor, and his commitment to her and only her.

When they had said their goodbyes, she believed him when he told her he would come back to her. He had promised not to forget her. He had promised not to leave her behind, without him.

She had believed him. However, as each year past, without a letter or any communication, she had developed a horrible case of self-doubt. She was afraid he wasn’t coming back.

But she had been wrong. The dark cloud that had been following close behind her, had parted. The telegram had explained it all. He was coming home. He wasn’t lost or dead, he was alive and coming home to her.

Setting down her brush, she smiled into the mirror for the first time in five years.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photography Bye: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright July 2016

Excerpt from Manuscript – SNOW

29 Friday Jul 2016

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EXCERPT FROM MANUSCRIPT – SNOW

REDWOODS 07.29.2016

Reluctantly, she continued brushing her long blonde hair. She knew what was in store for her this evening. She had been anticipating this moment for some time. At first, she had been excited and vigorously her excitement had turned to a worrisome anxiety.

She smiled into the mirror, realizing she looked as perfect as a human-being could look. She had always been called beautiful, but she hadn’t seen it, not until this very moment.

Her eyes sparkled. Her skin was flawless. Her hair shinned under the dim lighting. The only thing missing was her smile. She tried smiling at herself, but what came back to her through her reflection was nothing more than a solace, grim, stare.

She thought to herself, “What if he doesn’t feel the same way? What if she had changed. She knew he had changed, but what if no longer loved her?”

She knew she would surely die of a broken heart, but seriously, who really did that.

“January, you are a silly girl, very silly indeed!”

It always amazed her how quickly her self-doubt appeared, even as she stood in front of the full-length mirror admiring her beautiful red-satin Armani dress.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright July 2016

My Tears Fall…

27 Wednesday Jul 2016

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My Tears Fall…

SISTERS 07.2015

When you trip,
my tears fall.

When you hurt,
my tears fall.

When you cry,
my tears fall.

When you scream out for help,
my tears fall.

When you want to end it all,
my tears fall.

When you don’t understand,
my tears fall.

When you reach out to me,
I shed no more tears and hold you close to my heart.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi

AZALEA STATE RESERVE – HUMBOLDT COUNTY

13 Wednesday Jul 2016

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Azalea State Reserve – Humboldt County

07.13.2016

The time has come for our yearly trip up the coasts of California. Once again we are heading to the beautiful county of Humboldt, where this majestic forest of Redwoods live, called Azalea State Reserve at the Redwood National Forest.

Most of the time the camera lens captures the beauty of the image, but nothing can compare to the eye when walking through the grandeur of the Redwood forest.

It’s a place that must be on your bucket list, at least once. Or if you are like me, you can’t get enough of the tranquility and continue to visit each year, craving the nature and beaches more and more with each visit.

Come see Northern California for its beauty and stay for your peace of mind.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright July 13, 2016

Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

26 Sunday Jun 2016

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Excerpt from SNOW:

8th Grade Dance 006

The sun was beginning to set behind the grayish-blue, Sierra Mountains. The murmurs of the afternoon voices continued to echo in her ears.

It had been an eventful afternoon, but January was exhausted. She had waited twelve years for this day and now it had finally come and gone, as if in a blink.

“Congratulations Young Lady.” Her grandpa extended out his shaky hand, suffering from chronic arthritis for most of his adult life, but obviously proud of his only grandchild.

“Thank you, Grandpa. I’m so happy you and Grandma were able to make it.”

“We wouldn’t have missed your graduation from high school…not in a million years.”

January smiled, politely dismissing herself.

She was distracted. She hadn’t seen Jack since the ceremony ended, almost thirty minutes earlier.

As she wondered out to the parking lot, she heard a car’s brakes screeching. She held her breath, waiting in anticipation for the final part, the sound of metal as it crashed into another car, or the thud the car made as it hit something or someone. She waited with batted breath, but nothing.

She relaxed, letting her breath out. Suddenly out of nowhere she heard footsteps coming up behind her.

Startled, she turned around, ready to scream out…”Jack! what they hell! You scared me to death. Where have you been…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, as he pulled her roughly into him, passionately kissing her with all the desire and wanting he had building up inside of him.

“I love you baby…that’s all I wanted to tell you.” Quickly extending his arm forward, revealing the most gorgeous dozen red roses she had ever seen.

“Oh, Jack! They’re beautiful and so are you. I love you too…more than words!”

“You can prove it to me tonight. Now go home and get pretty for me. I’ll see you tonight at eight.”

January watched with a smile upon her lips, as he ran down the street, jumping back into his white 1967 Camaro, that he had left idling in the middle of the street, and took off in a hurry down Main Street.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright July 26, 2016

Gasquet, California

05 Sunday Jun 2016

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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

Excerpt from Manuscript – Snow

26 Thursday May 2016

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EXCERPT FROM SNOW

photo (6)

The days were slowing down, giving her a chance to ponder, as her mind wandered back to a happier time. Realizing she was alone, not just in the moment, but really alone.

She felt lost, wondering where everyone had gone.

She remembered the joyous days, as her girl’s laughter echoed through their home. She was teaching Bella how to bake Snickerdoodle cookies, they had been her favorite as a young girl and now they were Bella’s favorite too.

But now, as she slowly sipped on her peppermint tea, gently swirling the cream around in the cup, she had nobody to sit around with and laugh. Time was going faster, but had also seemed to stop.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Photograph By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright May 26, 2016

Always Remembering 911

10 Thursday Sep 2015

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Always Remembering 911…

Ms Mandi Photo 1

September 11, 2001.  I remember the day as if it were yesterday.  I remember walking into my house around 8:30 am, turning on the television, and watching in horror as the second airplane crashed into the Twin Towers.

The thing that struck me most odd that morning was watching the individual white sheets of paper flutter around the streets of New York, thousands and thousands of paper.  I remembered thinking who had touched them, who had just recently stored them into the filing system, who was missing them?  It was an eerie thought to wonder about these thousands of sheets of papers coming from the Twin Towers.  I do not know why this particular image has stayed in my mind for all these years, but it has.  Perhaps my mind needed to fixate onto something less horrific than watching a city fall apart to an awful bout of terrorism.  The images we endured that day will forever be stuck in our minds.

September 11th is a very special and memorable day to my family and I because we named our second daughter after a Naval Contractor who had died on September 11th in the Pentagon.  We named her Julian Cooper.  She reminds us every year on 911 of the loss, we as individuals, families, and as a nation, had to endure on that fateful day fifteen years ago on September 11, 2001.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright September 11, 2012

Any Plans for Labor Day?

27 Thursday Aug 2015

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Any Plans for Labor Day?

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Labor Day is sneaking up on us. What are your plans? Do you wish to visit the tranquility of the ocean or the solitude of the Redwood Forest? Or maybe somewhere in between.

A quiet creek is always a great solution. Why not visit the Whitney Portals in the High Sierra Mountains, just 250 miles East of Riverside County. It’s a nice hike and always an adventure.

Written & Photography By: Ask Ms Mandi
Copyright August 2015

Kindness Goes a lot Further than Anger

22 Wednesday Jul 2015

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Kindness goes a lot further than anger…

Ms Mandi Photo 1

I am healing. My soul was suffocated with denial. At one time my heart was filled with anger. The anger turned to sadness. Finally I started the process of acceptance. I now feel the final transition of the healing process – forgiveness.

When I was working in cosmetics, many years ago, I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful mentor and teacher. As a beauty adviser, we were invited to the Four Seasons’ Hotel in Newport Beach for a day of training and a fabulous luncheon.

I’ll call her, Miss Lucy and she was our teacher for the day. She was a licensed Esthetician. She was very posed and glamorous. I will never forget what she taught us.

She told us that we would meet mean people in this world and at the counter, very mean people. What is human nature when we feel attacked? Our first instinct is to strike back. However, Miss Lucy told us never to do this.

Her quote: “Mean and angry people are wounded people. The mean are the ones we need to be extra nice too for they are the most wounded.”

I did encounter several mean people at the cosmetic counter, as well as during my lifetime. I now smile at them and make sure to be especially nice. They may not get anything out of my kindness, but my heart feels light and full.

The lesson is that you will feel happier when you spread your kindness around and not your anger. Forgiveness and healing go along way and although you may not know it, you possibly made a difference in their day as well.

Written By: Ask Ms Mandi