Today is a new day
August 31, 2006 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
Thanks everyone for the posts and the personal emails. I really appreciate the wonderful things all of you said. I am hoping today is a better day today:) I say, it can’t get much worse. But then, I am going to weigh in today.
I am going a little early for the week because I found one closer to the house I am going to try, and my folks are coming down for a visit this weekend. With them here I know I would skip weigh in. Especially since my mother and I are going to feed our addiction to Bath Junkie. Lord knows we will probably spend too much time in that store, lol. Not to mention money.
I will check back in later today on the weigh in and let you all know how it goes. It hasn’t been that bad really this week. Yesterday had me thinking about raiding the pantry but I didn’t. So that in and of itself is a big step:)
And the day goes from Bad to worse
August 30, 2006 by Melissa · 1 Comment
Well, they are putting my grandfather in a home today. It has been a long time coming, and for his safety and health, it needs to be done. Along with everything else that went on today, it just sort of became the cherry on the top of the biggest suck day in awhile. And sadly, it isn’t because he is going to a home. He needs to be somewhere someone can take care of him. His health, physical and mental, have been declining for several years and this is probably better for him. But it made me really think about what kind of relationship I have had with him and it made me sad.
As many of you know I am a military brat, and spent the first ten years of my life in three states and two different countries. None of them in Pittsburgh, which is where my parents grew up. We rarely got family visits, except from my aunt, and from my other set of grandparents. So I truly don’t know my family that well. Sad but true. As a child, I could do nothing about it. My parents made trips home, but without any trips from many of my relatives, I really didn’t get to know them. But as an adult, I should have tried harder to make that connection. Especially before his mind started getting so bad. But, I failed at that and I truly regret it.
Sorry for the downer day. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
Why stay?
August 30, 2006 by Melissa · 1 Comment
I’m going to apologize first because this is sort of a whiney rant. Of course, I am offering up a pretty pic, so I guess it makes up for it.
You know, there are days that I really hate the business I am in. I am sure every job has its pros and cons, but anything involving an art can really get you down. And it is really hard to keep writing. I know I say it a lot to my husband and to my very close friends, but there are days I think of just going on for my MA and PhD. I got out of that rat race because I didn’t like the politics, but maybe that’s not such a bad idea. The only thing that keeps me going is Les, Kally, and my readers and friends online.But somedays, it gets a good woman down.
New York says I can’t write erotic romance. I’ve said it before, I know, but it just irritates me to NO END. I should just move on. There are things more important in life. And apparently in the last two years, I’ve been treading water if I can’t write erotic romance. But then that is not what has me so upset. There is another issue at hand. How can I get NY to respect me when people in the ebook business don’t? People I have broken my back to work for but apparently that is all forgotten. I got an email this morning that was either vindictive as hell or showed incompetence on the level of the Bush Administration’s handling of Katrina or the Iraq War. Either way, it showed, IMHO, a lack of professionalism and the apology lacked sincerity. No, it went beyond that. See, I always thought that if I did my job, I’d be respected. Nope. Apparently I was just convenient. And beyond the disbelief is of course, a huge chunk of hurt. The issue at hand isn’t important but the way it was handled was. It has been par for the course, and at the moment it just makes me tired. Tired and used. I really don’t know how to deal with the feelings this has brought up, and I really don’t know how to work with the people. Maybe something will come to me. If not, I do have WW chocolate eclairs(aren’t you proud of me for staying on program, lol.)
Mel
Sobering Statistics
August 28, 2006 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
If you believe all the hoopla over Katrina Recovery check out a snippet of a post from Think Progress.
– Less than half of the city’s pre-storm population of 460,000 has returned, putting the population at roughly what it was in 1880.
– Nearly a third of the trash has yet to be picked up.
– Sixty percent of homes still lack electricity.
– Seventeen percent of the buses are operational.
– Half of the physicians have left, and there is a shortage of 1,000 nurses.
– Six of the nine hospitals remain closed.
– Sixty-six percent of public schools have reopened.
– A 40 percent hike in rental rates, disproportionately affecting black and low-income families.
– A 300 percent increase in the suicide rate.
So when you hear good old Rocky telling people they should be happy with what they got, just understand why they aren’t. Help build a home.
Turning a new corner
August 27, 2006 by Melissa · 4 Comments
Well, I took the first step that I had been mulling over for the past few months. To give you a bit of background about me, I am horribly overweight. I haven’t always been, and I haven’t always been this out of shape. In face, I used to love aerobics. But, as often happens with woman, I put it behind other things. Kids, husband, work. Last spring though, I decided I needed to do something. A few weeks before RT my father had triple bypass surgery. To someone who lost her grandmother and grandfather to heart disease it was enough to scare me. My father had a heart attack when he was only 41. It was enough to scare him out of smoking, and he has been pretty good about taking his medication. Our family has a history of heart disease. Some members have a problem with their bodies making too much bad cholesterol. Doesn’t matter what kind of shape they are in, they can’t seem to keep it down. Most of them, that I know have, were smokers at one time or another, so that might have something to do with it too. But, after Dad had his surgery, I knew I had to do something. I was overweight and I work at a job that keeps me in front of the computer many hours a week. I am inactive and I realized at that point, I am 37 years old, only 4 years younger than when my dad had his heart attack. I want to see my girls grow up, and I want to be able to do the things I used to love. Swimming, walking, anything physical. So, I took a step yesterday. I joined Weight Watchers. I need lots of incentive to keep going back, so I decided to post here. By doing that, I will probably push myself to attend each week just to save face, lol. Wish me luck. I am off for a bit of a walk and then I am going to write today.
Hope you had a great weekend and that you enjoyed the view.
When the Levees Broke
August 22, 2006 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
I watched the first two parts of Spike Lee’s amazing documentary When the Levees Broke. I can’t tell you how painful some of the stories were. Lee, whether you like his personality or not, is an amazing filmmaker. I actually think his documentaries are better than his feature films, but that is just a personal opinion. If you saw Four Little Girls, you know what I mean.
If you are an Amer
ican, you should watch this film. Many have forgotten just how horrific this was. Time and cable news’ coverage of missing white women blur the images, but Lee brings it back in startling detail. You need to know that your government failed the people of New Orleans, and basically the whole Gulf Coast. I don’t care how many speeches Shrub makes, how many flyovers he does, there are people today who still have not found family. Just weeks ago there was another report of someone getting to their house and finding a dead relative. Don’t ignore the issue because you want to know who wins American Idol or if Jen and Vince get married. Empathy is needed but if you don’t have it in you, think about this. Every area of the country can have a natural disaster. With our reserves in Iraq, and a lot of the National Guard, do you think that THIS ADMINISTRATION is going to save you? It could happen to you, to your brother, sister, mother, children, or friends. I didn’t know if I could watch the whole thing, but I am going to force myself to watch the last two parts tonight.
Haircuts and more
August 19, 2006 by Melissa · 2 Comments
So, I had long hair(long for me) for awhile. I have hair that just grows like a weed and unfortunately looks like one. But, the last year has been crazy so I just ignored it and would get a trim when I couldn’t stand it. It hung in my face, made my neck all sweaty, and made me look older. Took the oldest in to get her hair cut last night and I thought, gonna get it done now. Here are some before(as in last spring so it was much longer when I went in) and after pics.
The gorgeous woman with me in the pic is Joy from Joyfully reviewed. I look like a psycho there, never noticed it before. But, I am cooler, and my hair looks better:)
And of course, I like this guy’s hair 
I’m a NOMINEE
August 18, 2006 by Melissa · Leave a Comment
I don’t final in things that often, so I am always excited when I do. I finaled for both Feb and March for the Ecataromance.com awards for Her Wicked Warrior and Hunting Mila. Competition is tough, lots of great writers, so not planning on a win, but you need to go over and take a gander at their cool set up. It’s original and they are giving away free stuff! Catanetwork forum.
Don’t forget to stop by sexual chocolate this weekend:)
