Fall & Loosing Weight!

Fall is definitely on its way. I love change and I love the change of the seasons. Not only the weather, but the difference in colors as well. Nature holds such beauty any time of the year, and I really enjoy being outside to garden and enjoy it all! And as each season comes along, I look forward to it in earnest.

The hot weather is beginning to cool off and is most welcome to many of us, me included. Oh, to have a little snow here in San Antonio would be nice, but alas, it is not to be. Maybe we'll get a little rain this weekend. That would be good for the area and fun to play in its first sprinkles.

I'm serious to shed these extra pounds! So I began not only an exercise program every day, but 3 1/2 weeks ago I started with the Weight Watchers online program. I have heard much over the years about the many success stories and decided to give it a try myself. I am very impressed with it so far and have lost over 5lbs. I intend to continue with this and make it a life long way of living along with the exercising. I've tried other things before, but nothing has worked for me as well as Weight Watchers has. I'll keep you informed on my progress from time to time.

Have a great week end all!

Hurricane Ike

Once again we are awaiting the land fall of yet another hurricane to hit the coasts of Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. This one, Hurricane Ike, is expected to do a large amount of damage not only to the coast, but to many places of the U.S. inland from its initial landing, all the way up to the state of Maine.

It's Friday afternoon here in San Antonio, Texas as I write this and the clouds are moving in and the wind is picking up. Most all of the bottled water, flashlights, and larger-size batteries are gone from the store's shelves, along with various other items, as residents stock up on things to weather the storms' impact. The news and weather channels are full of pictures and images of the wind and flooding damage the hurricane has caused so far, even before it has hit the coast in full force. And many people have decided to stay put who live in the hurricane's path, even though they have been told to leave those areas. But I think the nuttiest ones are those you see that are having what looks like parties down on the beaches of the coast as the hurricane comes in. What are they thinking with the 30 foot waves! One can only hope that the damage won't be as bad as predicted and the loss of life will be minimal if at all.

On a happier note, I received a message that another one of the articles I wrote and submitted has been accepted for publication by a quality magazine. And with the weather like it is outside today and will be through out the weekend, I'll be staying in and working on some more.

Wow, is it ever hot!

Yes, it's very hot outside here this week! Hurricane Fay had sent a few rain storms our way to water and cool things off here in San Antonio a few weeks ago, but Hurricane Gustav was a bit short in sending our way any of its moisture. Just a lot of sticky heat! Yesterday, in returning home from a few necessary errands, I burned my hand on our front door's scorching knob, then headed for the kitchen in search of a tall glass of ice cold water.

My heart goes out to all those who felt the wrath of Gustav, and I hope they get the help they need as quickly as possible, but at the same time...I can't wait for the fall and winter months to arrive!

Even though I have a great love for nature and the outdoors, I think I'll enjoy the time I spend inside writing a bit more.

Traveling & Working Hard!

I've been doing a lot of traveling this month of August. First, up to the state of Washington and then on to Utah. Had a lot of fun in both places and even sold some books along the way. Now I'm in the state of Florida just in time for Hurricane Fay to arrive. Good thing it didn't hit Ft. Lauderdale as hard as they expected it to, though it's quite wet here right now. I will be back in San Antonio by next week and hope to stay put for awhile.

I have been working hard on finishing the next volume of the Stormy Winters series, Shadowed in the Springs, which I feel is coming together quite well. Stormy finds she's fallen into the dark world of the terrorist. This book should be out some time the end of this next year.

Also keep a watch out for the first in my new series, William Lambrick Mysteries, next year. Lambrick, a retired Scotland Yard policeman turned American cab driver, finds more than his share of suspense than he bargained for.

Freedom and the Flag

We have just gone through the 4th of July weekend, Independence Day, here in the USA. There were fireworks, music, barbeque, and some rain. We recently moved into a new house, well, previously occupied by others, and I noticed that there was no place to hang up a flag, no holder of any kind. We have always put out our flag for the 4th and other patriotic holidays and I wanted to do so this time as well. So down to Home Depot my husband and I went. We bought the necessary items, including a new flag since ours looked a bit worn out, and went to work installing the mount and flag to the bricks out front. My dear husband worked hard drilling into those bricks, the sweat pouring down his forehead, that we might show our love for this country and to those who fought, and fight, and died that we might live free.

Emotion flooded me from head to toes as I watched the flag flapping in the breeze outside our home. Ever since I was a small child, I have felt a deep emotion when seeing our countries flag flying near me.

We may get stepped on and belittled by the world, even Europe where many of us originated from, for trying to help other countries gain their freedom. This is a sad situation indeed. The world should pull together in this. I love this country and what it tries to do for others.

As I looked around our new neighborhood, and others around our area, it sadden me to see but only a few flags flying from the areas' homes. What has become of patriotism these days? When I was young, almost every house flew the flag proudly from their homes and flag poles, but as the years have gone by this practice has become less and less.

Wake up, America! We enjoy many freedoms others do not. Don't take this freedom for granted as it may not always be this way. Remember those who have fought, and those who do now, to keep not only us, but others throughout the world free from terrorists and the like. Put out those flags and fly them with the honor and respect they deserve.

My New Children's Book

I await the decision of the publisher on whether or not they will publish my new children's book or if I will have to look else where. When one is waiting, time does not march along, it crawls. But I am hopeful that you will all see it out one day soon.

The wonderful ongoing mystery on here has come to an end. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

I am moving to a new house, so will not be able to write on here much over this next few weeks, but I will return.

Take care,
S. A. Slack

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