HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!

WTF! Actually, this has absolutely NOTHING to do with COWBOYS...either working or the football kind or whatever...well, unless I decide to pontificate about how cute and sexy GEORGE STRAIT is and that is entirely possible...but the husband looks almost just like GS when he's in his 'rancher' gear...so...dats coo!

I'm here with you today....basically to just set up my blog here for the first time. So, I thought that I should at least jump in here and write something since that's what I am... that's what I do...I write...I am a writer....YES! I AM A WRITER! Well, not a PUBLISHED writer yet...but on my way. Oh, yep, you betcha! I'm going through that treacherous territory of trying to get a literary agent locked down right now along with the publisher, etc. or else...I'll be one of those self-published authors! That works for some but right now still going down the other alley first.

I've written several books already. Most of them are commercial, contemporary fiction. The majority are romantic mysteries, "YESTERDAY," "BANDERA BABE," "PLAYING DIRTY," "PINK CASHMERE AND JAGUARS," with one being a sci-fi thriller, "ANGEL FIRE," and one that is fiction based on serious social issues, "WHEN ANGELS CRY," and one book that is just underway is a biography, "ELVIS, ODESSA, HOPE, AND ME," and another one is based on my almost three decades of genealogy research and finding out unbelievable info on my bloodlines. In addition, I'm working on what will either be a book or a screenplay called, "HOOP SKIRTS." There's also are a couple of children's stories that I've written, as well, called "THE SLEEPING PRINCE" and "BUBBA FISH."

My life has been one of several incarnations. Early on, I followed in my father BILL MYRICK's show business footsteps. He began his Country/Bluegrass music career as young man of about 20 years old just out of WWII during which he served in the Pacific in the Army as a Combat Medic after which he was in the Philippines. Returning home to Louisiana, he began his music career with the "Father of Bluegrass" music himself, "BILL MONROE & THE BLUEGRASS BOYS." After a few years on the road with Monroe, Daddy soon created the first professional Bluegrass group in Texas, "BILL MYRICK AND THE MAYFIELD BROTHERS." During his career he also had the group, "BILL MYRICK AND THE RAINBOW RIDERS" as well as being a member of "BOB WILLS AND THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS," "THE MILLER BROTHERS BAND," and working in the bands of REX ALLEN and JIMMY DEAN and more.

I was "MISS WEST TEXAS" and "MISS TEXAS" in the "MISS AMERICA PAGEANT" system and, then, was one of 7 young women comprising "THE MISS AMERICA USO SHOW" into South Vietnam for one month. Approximately one month prior to the "MISS AMERICA PAGEANT" in 1970, I had come in as 1st runner-up to "MISS DALLAS," PHYLLIS GEORGE, who went on to win "MISS AMERICA." Phyllis mentioned to the Director of the "MISS AMERICA PAGEANT" that her 1st Runner-Up in Texas had been harder to beat than anyone in Atlantic City. The Director immediately asked the "MISS TEXAS PAGEANT" to see footage from their pageant and then immediately asked me to be one of the 7 State Title holders despite the fact that I had not actually competed in "THE MISS AMERICA PAGEANT."

There was only one other time in history that this had happened and that was when now famous actress/singer BETTY BUCKLEY was 4th Runner-Up to "MISS TEXAS" as "MISS FORT WORTH." What makes this especially wonderful is that BETTY BUCKLEY was my primary inspiration for entering the whole pageant system. I saw her singing with the T.C.U. JAZZ BAND on their visit to my hometown of ODESSA, TEXAS. She blew me away. I don't think I ever told her that she was my inspiration but can't remember for sure.

The other incredible part about all of this especially considering that I had never been a 'beauty pageant' kind of girl...just caught up in my singing and acting and wanting to pursue it....but I had grown up watching lots of old movies from the 1930's, '40's, and into the '50's. I especially liked the old BETTY GRABLE and DAN DAILEY movies as well as others set during WWII with USO SHOWS performing. My main desire for being in the "MISS AMERICA PAGEANT" system was to go on the "MISS AMERICA USO TOUR" to SOUTH VIETNAM...and that dream actually came true.

Later I will write a blog about that time...it was one of the most profoundly incredible times of my life for so many reasons and, like so many others that were there, I'm still there. I've never left. In a moment, through my thoughts, I can be transported back there in a heartbeat.

I was a professional singer and sometimes actress until giving birth to my first son and then a second son. Very early into my marriage, I found out through a series of rather dramatic situations including a stint of extreme vertigo and extreme fatigue that I had what would eventually be given the name of FIBROMYALGIA. I'll talk more about that later, too! It's a BITCH! It's especially a BITCH! because you just "LOOK" so normal to everyone while you are in cascading levels of pain on a daily basis. When my children were born it was obvious that while I could have been a mother and sing and act professionally trying to 'marry' those two with having FIBROMYALGIA to the extreme that I did was just too much and everyone would suffer greatly if I did. Of course, my children were the most important aspect of that decision. Their lives would have suffered tremendously if I continued my career under those circumstances so I did not.

My husband and I have been married 33 years. We've endured a lot and we've almost split up and came 'to the dotted line' on a divorce but love and family prevailed. Our sons are 22 and 19 now and are handsome, intelligent, talented, wonderful human beings. Over the years we've rescued numerous cats whom have, for the most part, lived very long lives most living into their late teens and early twenties. We now have several dogs that we have rescued...our current 'crop' mostly brought home by our sons from one location or another. In addition, we have two gorgeous Quarter Horses, "DUKE," (so named for JOHN "DUKE" WAYNE,) and "JAZZY," who is more Thoroughbred than QH and, boy, does he 'attitude' show it! :<)

From the time that I first heard about 'computers' growing up, I awaited their arrival in my life and in my home and, despite the bad elements which were certain to come along with this advanced technology, there's such a wealth of information that gets shared in a 'heartbeat' and, if we use it the right way, it's an incredible blessing for our lives.

Well, I'm going to stop for now. The world calls...the 'bailouts' and the closings of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep dealerships beckon me since the hubby is the G.M. at one. Oh, this IS fun! NOT! I'll pontificate about all of that later. Until then, "VAYA CON DIOS!"