Kandice Matsler

Girl's Gotta Gun

It sounds scary, I know.  But don't worry, it's not a real one.  Just a BB gun...  We weren't ever allowed to have them (or even toy guns) growing up, but today I just HAD to borrow my granddad's. 
Over this past weekend, I noticed that a baby Grackle must have fallen out of its nest... and it was trapped in my yard (too young to fly I guess).  Of course Sarah went nuts at first, but I tried to "help" it by closing the dog run door...so at least she couldn't get to it.  Over the course of a couple of days, I felt like I was in The Birds (if you're not familiar, Grackles are MEAN and LOUD, therefore, ANNOYING and SCARY).  About 10 other Grackles were trying to protect that baby bird and would come swooping down out of the sky at me (or Sarah) if we even went in the backyard.  I tried to take the trash to the dumpster yesterday morning and feared for my life!  This morning, Sarah wouldn't even go out in the back to go potty.  She was scared too.  That's when I decided that it was enough.  I'm not going to let my life be determined by some nuisance-birds...  Therefore, the BB gun.  My granddad came over this afternoon and showed me how to shoot it.  He also chased down the baby bird (and instead of stomping it to death as he suggested), threw it over the back fence into the alley.  So at least it's not in MY yard anymore.
It was a surprise to learn that I'm actually not a bad shot (despite how physically uncoordinated I am, and seeing as how I've never shot anything but a water gun before).  Tonight my trees are a little less riddled with attacking birds, and the sound of my pumping the gun sends them around the block (so that's good).  Maybe I'll scare them off for good if I keep this up.  I certainly don't want anymore nesting in THIS backyard!
Peace out.  (that's the gangster in me, now that I've popped a few birds in the butt-just kidding)

I'm sucked in.

Yes, after years of avoiding the Twilight craze, I'm sucked in.  I'm hooked... and I'm also AMAZED.  Why is it that the strangest, most unbelievable stories are the ones that are the most popular?  Honestly.  I've read A LOT of good books- great reads!  Still, they're not the ones that become blockbuster hits, or slews of movies that make millions... It's the ODD ones that get the spotlight- Lord of the Rings (really?  Hobbits and Goblins?), Harry Potter(teenage witches and wizards?), Twilight (teenage vampire love story??).  What in the world?!?

Well,mesmerized, tonight I breezed through a 500 page book in less than 5 hours... practically a record for me.  Still, it was oddly fasinating and differenet.  And I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it- crazy!!!

Sleep well and goodnight.

Happy 4th Everyone!

I wish I could say that this holiday was full of fun, jam-packed with activities, full of great food and friends... but this one wasn't for me.  It's was just a day off... Which sounds sad, granted, but not to me!  I've been working 6 days a week for almost 9 months now, with little to no reprieve...  It's actually a HUGE blessing to have a day off.  I slept in.  I hung pictures in the house (about time, right?), I cleaned the house, mowed the yard, did laundry, and fixed dinner... and even had time to watch a movie or two.  It was FANTASTIC!  At first I was a little upset with myself for not making plans to see fireworks... but then it got cloudy and dark about 5 o'clock, so I figured a rain storm was coming through (no point in getting upset about no fireworks!)... It never actually rained, but Sarah and I were able to still spend a lazy evening on the sofa.  Now I hear the sound of fireworks in the distance (and Sarah is cuddling all the closer for it), but I'm not missing anything...really.  In all honesty, I'm a little jealous that I wasn't able to join my friends Kate and Meredith in Boston this weekend.  I've always wanted to see the fireworks in the Harbor... but that wasn't really an option this weekend- maybe some other time.
Instead, I remember great 4ths of years past- all of the cousins having a "parade" at the farm... my granddad lighting our sparklers with a blow torch and smiling about it(yes, that's right, blow torch)... when we were at my other grandparent's "barn house" out by Lake Ransom, we used to sit on the balcony and watch the fireworks...  I remember very distinctly when I was 7 or 8 that my brother and I sat there with my grandparents, admiring the fireworks with "ooh"s and "aahh"s... and a family with a parked car on the street in front of their house mimicking us.  Then we just starting saying silly things just to see if they would echo.  It was a fun night... and a great memory for me.
All in all, I'm proud to be an American. I'm grateful to those who are willing to defend this country because the good Lord KNOWS that it's not in my heart!
God Bless the USA tonight, and in the future too... and may your 4th be full of happy memories!

Holiday Weekend

I can't believe that it's already the 4th of July.  Yikes!  Where has the year gone??? Is it really JULY?!?!

For once, I'm not sure what to do with myself...  The store will be closed on Saturday.  I basically have the weekend off and nothing to do.  My brother will be in Costa Rica, some of my friends in Dallas are going to Boston, my family will be busy, and I'm ... just here.  In Lubbock.

It's very weird.  I've always had something to do... but this weekend I have NO PLANS.  On purpose, but still, it's odd.  I guess I can just lie around in my PJ's all day, napping on and off, etc.  It's been AGES since I've done that.  I guess if I don't plan to go anywhere, that's what I'll be doing!

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy Fourth.  I, I'm sure, will be keeping Sarah away from the fireworks noise.  Last night some went off in our neighborhood when I took her outside to go to the potty, and she cowered, lowered her ears, and tucked her nose between my legs... Sad, but true.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Off to Market!

Today was a whirlwind day! I flew into Dallas last night, and ran around Dallas Market all day with Tony and David. It was my first Market to shop, and it was so fun! I found lots of goodies (I'm sure way too many!), and I'm excited to see some of this stuff come rolling through the door! After a long day of shopping, it was back to the airport for me. Way too soon. A short trip, but definitely a productive one.( I guess if you consider spending lots of money productive!) One delayed flight home later, I'm beat. Looks like a hot bath and bedtime for me! Here's to hoping there will be some happy holiday shopping at the store this fall! {Kandice}

Dog Days of Summer

Yep. They're already here. It's HOT. Today I took Sarah to get caught up on her shots at the vet. Since she was such a trooper (and since it was so hot), I stopped at Sheridan's and got her a puppy cone (and a small custard for myself). It was gone in about 3 licks and one bite, but oh well. She was a happy girl afterwards! {Kandice}

Short weekend, but much needed...

This weekend I went home with my brother to hang out at my parents house a little bit. 
We got in town late Friday night, and even though I tried to sleep, it just didn't happen (hasn't for weeks now).  Oh well.  Went ahead and got up and let Miss Sarah swim for a bit yesterday morning (the first of three times yesterday that she got to be a pool rat).  Then I enjoyed the pool for myself for just a little while (only half an hour- with sunscreen- and I'm sunburned... it's so frustrating!  I love being a redhead, but I HATE being so prone to burning... I guess I'll always just be a pastey white.) Anyways, after a little pool time, mom treated me to a mani/pedi- SO NEEDED... All I needed to send me over the edge into relaxation oblivion was a full body massage... and this week I just might spring for it.
The family had a late lunch (after the guys played golf), where mom and I made the guys bratwurst and copper river salmon for ourselves(YUM!)...  
After fam time, I went to meet my friends Kate and Bitner at Houston's for some dinner.  One FABULOUS burger and a few great conversations later, we headed over to Yogurtville for dessert (totally a foreign idea to me, but I would jump on that business idea if I didn't already have plenty on my plate- that place was PACKED!).  Then Kate and I watched Bottleshock...  I've been wanting to see it for awhile, but just haven't had the time...
Got up this morning to enjoy Brunch with some girlfriends at Campisi's in Frisco (it was only their second week of offering it and it was SO FANTASTIC!!!!  It was only $15 per person and included a buffet and bottomless mimosas!)  I enjoyed hanging with the girls, but I also felt so distracted.  I couldn't help but be sad about my house, having to leave to go back to Lubbock, etc.  Now that I'm living in Lubbock, I feel so detached from everything, and I hate that.  I guess it will just take some getting used to...
Anyway, this weekend didn't consistist of much that was "constructive", but it was definitely what I needed, and I'd take a do-over to do it just the same anytime!  Have a great week everyone!

Just when I think technology sucks...

I get a Facebook message from my long-lost college roommate Sarah (that I haven't heard from in almost 10 years)... I was so excited to hear from her!  I hardly ever get on Facebook, but I do have an application on my phone that tells me when someone comments or sends me a message, oh, about 15 seconds after they do, so I actually have the power to be somewhat timely in a response.  I just usually ignore it... but this time I JUMPED on this one, for sure. I've been trying to find her for several years now.  She just has a very common first and last name, so it's been challenging.

It's so fun to hear from someone that you used to know... I would have never guessed that she has two kids now and lives only about 15 minutes from my townhome in Dallas (that I close on selling tomorrow)... Weird coincidence I guess... still, looking forward to catching up!

As you know, I'm NOT particularly looking forward to giving the place up- I love it... but I think it's the best thing for right now(I know you're sick of hearing it, but I have to keep telling myself this).  It frees me up to find something here in Lubbock that I want, and to make my life here a little more... permanent.  Let's keep our fingers crossed and see how that pans out!

that first-kiss feeling...

Tonight I watched "He's Just Not That Into You", and I enjoyed it.  It was fun, and unexpected, and pleasantly happy.
It also brought back a lot of memories of firsts for me- my first kiss, first boyfriend, my first love. 
I'm not ashamed to admit it now, but when I thought I was in love in high school, I used to be stupid.  I even called a boy (to remain nameless, unless he remembers, and of course, in that case I apologize) and claimed that I must have lost an earring his car the night before... nevermind that I wasn't wearing earrings the night before...he never seemed to notice that part.  :)  It was just a stupid ploy to talk to the guy I liked at the time on the phone.  Can you blame a girl?   Come on.

I haven't felt that "nervousness" in a long time...  I mean, how easy/hard is it to have a connection with someone- physically, emotionally, etc.- not that easy apparently.  I'm always thrown off by people who date all of the time.  How on earth do you meet so many people?  You know, when I was in college, I never even had a guy ask me for my number.  Sad, but true.  Luckily for me, finding a relationship isn't on my list of things to do anytime soon...  With the store and moving and all of that, I simply don't have time!

Bittersweet Weekend

I know that you guys are tired of me saying how hard this selling-of-the-first-house-thing is, but believe me, I am too.  This should be the last of it, I promise.  Okay, maybe this and one other time (on the closing date in two weeks)... 
It was definitely a bittersweet weekend for me.  I flew into Dallas Saturday morning and then went straight to my house to pack it up.  After about 10 hours of packing with the family, we finally got to a stopping point, and decided to call it a night.  Luckily for me, I have fantastic parents who came over this morning to finish up (while I was "shopping" with Tony and David for stuff for the store).  That means I didn't have to do all of the "final details" at the house, which was probably better for me, emotionally...and more work for my parents...
I kind of expected that my townhome wouldn't "feel like home" once all of my stuff was out of it.  EHHHH ( buzzer sounds), wrong.  It just felt like the day I moved in... a bare canvas, waiting to be painted...  I kind of found myself excited to fill up the space... which completely defeats the point of moving...
I had really hoped that when I came home to my townhome (since I haven't actually slept there since February), that it wouldn't feel like "home" anymore...  no deal.  As soon as I walked in the door on Saturday morning, I completely felt the "woosh" of relief wash over me.  I felt relaxed.  I felt safe.  I felt HOME.  It may sound lame, but it's kind of a big deal to me right now... when I have this hectic life around me- a new business, living with my brother, starting over in a new town with NO social life- it's a big change...and I certainly don't feel at home yet in this rent house... but I guess tomorrow evening I will have a 22 foot moving truck headed this way with MY stuff.  I'm hoping that they help make me feel at home.  It could go either way.  Either I feel at home or I feel overwhelmed that there's no way that much still will fit in this house...and if we're only renting it for another year, then I have to move it again.  NOT a happy thought, at the momet.  :)

The sweet part of the weekend was hanging out with my friends Kate, Tony, and David.  Kate and I had dinner at Mia's on Saturday (yum!), and I got to viist with T & D on Sunday... Friends always make the pain worth the time.  :)  I really am so lucky!