Monday, Monday
March 30, 2009 by Melissa · 4 Comments
And I hate them. Not that I have to go back to work. I usually work a little all weekend, although I worked very little this weekend thanks to pain. But, I do have to herd the demon seeds…er…beautiful children, out to school. It is always a problem getting the youngest to school. She dilly dallies a LOT. She comes up with the most inventive ways to waste time, even more inventive than myself.
Anyway, it is another busy week in the Schroeder household. Marching practice for the oldest since she is going to be in the Cherry Blossom Parade, try outs for softball for her, and a meeting at the youngest’s school Wed morning. <G> All the week before they are out for ten days. But I am looking forward to attending my first Cherry Blossom festival, which I am dragging the youngest and Les to. They have no choice, lol.
Off to try and edit before any pain shows up. Oh, and because I have been gone, here you go:
Lookee what I found
March 25, 2009 by Melissa · 24 Comments
Now in Print
I found it on the website:)
Seducing the Saint
The moment he accepts her mission, they discover their passion for each other is still smoldering. Unable to resist each other, their attraction sparks into an inferno that threatens to overpower all rational thinking. Libby and Brady realize they still might have a chance at love and happily ever after. If they don’t get themselves killed first.
Publisher Note: This book was previously released elsewhere under the same title. It has been expanded for Ellora’s Cave.
Hunting Mila
John Hunter can’t refuse a request from his birth father to find his soon-to-be stepsister. But finding Mila means finding trouble because it follows her everywhere. All he wants is to get her back to Earth and get his father off his back. The instant and almost overwhelming attraction to her doesn’t make him any happier.
Mila doesn’t need an overgrown Neanderthal in her way. She has a mission to accomplish. So what if she is a thrill junkie. She does her job, and does it well.
But before she can dump Hunter, her little game becomes more dangerous. Getting Hunter’s help means keeping him around, and doing that makes it impossible for her to keep her hands off him. But even if she does end up in bed with him a few times—okay a lot of times—it doesn’t mean she wants him butting in her business. And that is just what John does best. Uncovering her secrets could get both of them killed…if they don’t kill each other first.
Publisher Note: This book was previously released from another publisher under the same title.
In which Mel bitches about Military Healthcare
March 25, 2009 by Melissa · 6 Comments
I could say that is an oxymoron. Mainly because in the last week or so, I have gotten really no concern from the two military ERs I have gone to. To let you know what is going on, I started having pains like when I had that gallbladder attack a couple years ago. Went to Prince William ER and they gave me some stuff to help with stomach aches. Then it worsened, including chest and back pains now. The back pains are like having someone stand on my back and make it hard to breath. So…we went to Belvoir ER thinking that it would be taken seriously. It was a Sunday so of course it was crazy. But, the pain had gotten so bad and I knew I would not get an appointment for Monday so I went. After four hours, they drew blood, did the same tests they did at PW ER. The Doc came in and decided, before speaking to me mind you, that I had a strained muscle in my back, sent me home with narcotics.
While it was hard, I stretched those pills out, hoping that whatever it was, because I knew it wasn’t a strained muscle, would go away. Well, it didn’t and it got worse. So, off to Bethesda yesterday. Where, they kept me for 8 hours, did the same blood tests, took a chest xray, and did nothing for me. I had a fourth year medical student tell me there could be no way it was a gallstone since I had my gall bladder out. Any stones would be left over from two years ago, not really possible. If the JACKASS had actually used THE GOOGLE, he would have found out that YES YOU CAN. And, worse, they don’t have a gall bladder to go hang out in. He told me that they didn’t know why I was in so much pain, but they couldn’t figure it out so goodbye. Seriously, there was not a HOUSE in the ER there. They could not have cared less.
I think the thing that pissed me off–besides being poked for my blood FOUR FREAKING TIMES(three in the hand which hurts like a MF’er)–is the outright uncaring from the docs. Granted, when we got there, we had a Dr Owen, a woman, who was wonderful. But she got off shift, and I got a doc who talked to me twice, each time under two min and refused to get me an ultrasound. He said that unless I needed surgery, they wouldn’t do it. If I have FUCKING GALLSTONES I have to have FUCKING SURGERY. Sorry for the language, but I am really getting sick of this. I checked in with a BP reading that should have alarmed them, but none of them batted an eye. On top of it, when I asked about the pain, the fourth year student, who has all the compassion of Denise, one of the new interns on Scrubs this year told me that pain that last for 15-20 seconds isn’t that bad. Of course, it is every few minutes sort of like contractions, but hey, WTF am I complaining about. And here is Denise, the blond in this clip:
It makes it about impossible to write, so I am getting further behind in work. When I told them that I could not work, they said they would write a note for my employer so I could still get paid, or medical leave. Hmmm, well, I don’t have that in my world, so I will have to write in 20-30 min increments and then lay down for an hour.
So, I am getting online to make an appointment with my Family Practice doc, who will not be able to do anything because it is a satellite clinic. And, hopefully, I will get a referral, maybe, but many of those take weeks to get. There is a good chance that a month or two from now, I will still be in pain and they will keep sending me home.
For the record, Bethesda Emergency Services SUCK. When a doctor tells you he knows you are sick, refuses to test more, and kicks you out the door, they suck. I have never been through anything like it. It was as if they couldn’t figure it out within a few minutes and have no curiosity about why I am in so much pain. In forty years of mediocre military health care, I have never experienced it.
I now have to come up with a letter to the head of ER, the patient advocacy office, and the commander of Bethesda that doesn’t involve a ton of “f” bombs, but it will get written, and it won’t be nice. I am sick of being treated like a drug addict because I wanted something for my pain(and I have never asked for it before this episode). I am sick of dealing with doctors who don’t give a damn.
So, I apologize for the rant and for the fact that I am still not around much. Any energy the pain isn’t zapping is for writing and the family. I will check in every now and then with Naked Pics, I promise.
Still out of pocket
March 18, 2009 by Melissa · 4 Comments
I wanted to just let everyone know that I am still under the weather. They really haven’t figured out what is wrong with me, but true to ER form, they threw drugs at me and sent me home. It does help with the pain, but I am not really getting any better and writing online while on Vicodin is not a good thing. Who knows what would end up here, lol.
So, I will be online very little. The times I can make it to the computer, I am trying to write and edit, so please be patient with me.
And, to make us all feel better:
Now that makes me feel better!
Over at Pop Culture Divas
March 12, 2009 by Melissa · 3 Comments
Hey, folks. Sorry for the light posting but I am still not up to snuff. Actually, going back to bed right now. But, I did chat about my one of my new favorite shows, United States of Tara over at Pop Culture Divas and why I like it so much:)
Conquering India, the cover
March 6, 2009 by Melissa · 11 Comments
Conquering India coming this summer
I have been out of pocket thanks the arrival of a nasty stomach flu to the Schroeder household. Both me and the girls have been laid low because of it and I am taking the longest to get over it. But, I just had to share this cover.
Is this not gorgeous? Natalie Winters is the cover artist and I think I am in LURV. I cannot wait to do the trailer.
