Awesome!!

I'm watching CBS News Sunday Morning and there's a museum for velvet paintings!! It's in Oregon and called the Velveteria:

Velveteria

I'm sad to say we have a velvet painting on our family room wall. It's a picture of an eagle flying. Maybe it's worth money? Should I take it there and get it appraised? Well, actually it's my husband's. Obviously... I wouldn't buy it.

Now if anyone asks me why I have a velvet painting I'll them about museum. I'm sure they will be impressed! Go velvet!

It Happened...

For the first time I thought about my father like he was still alive. I was watching Saturday Night Live (the first one with George Carlin) and thought to myself, "I should call Dad and ask if he saw this one."

Wow. That was weird. I knew it would happen, but up until now it was more of a wish than an actual thought.

I talk to my mom every night just to reassure myself she's still there. I wish I lived closer. But hopefully we will soon.

In September, we're planning a trip to Maine to scatter my dad's ashes. Just me, my mom and my brother. And my dad in a way. It's going to be hard, but in the long run, I think it will be good for all of us. I've never been to Maine, but my mom says he really loved it when they went on a vacation there. We will scatter him in the ocean. I love the ocean.

I was reading articles on grief tonight. It's the first time I have. Of course they just tell you what you already know. That everyone handles it differently. But it helped to know that it will take time and it's normal. It might be the first time I have been normal. *grin*

Oh, and in good news, so that this blog isn't totally depressing, I got past the block in my latest book. I untangled the scene I was working on and can now move forward. That was a relief!

Okay, I need to go to bed. I'll be back tomorrow (or later today) to update the schedule. I have another interview this week!

Stay tuned.

Picnic Pictures-smudged or not

Here is our cool hot-rod chair:



The awesome license plate I made:



Our director-who knows I'm a big Jimmie Johnson fan-made me put a number on it. Guess what I picked?



And this is what it looked like when all was said and done:



It looks a little sad, huh? We came in second to last in the race but no matter! Good times were had by all! (Never mind the sunburn I have...ouch!) I might put up more pictures later.

TGIF!

Don't you hate when...

You take all kinds of pictures of your picnic then get inside and realize there was a smudge on your camera lens??? It was so bright outside I could hardly see the screen, much less tell how good the picture was.

Dammit! I'm hoping I got some good pictures anyway. We shall see!

May the force be with you...and potato salad.

Summer is here, and at work that means, company picnic! It will be in the back parking lot of our building (as all good picnics are), and will include chair races, basketball and food. Well, I think that's all. I'm not sure.

What is a chair race you might ask? Or you might not...you might not even care. Well, I'll tell you anyway. You take a chair. You take a box. You cut the box. You decorate your chair with said box. Then you eat some lox in your chair on a box.

The chair race is five laps, so you have five "drivers". There are many groups in our building, so each group designs their own race chair. Ours is decorated like some kind of Star Wars vehicle. Don't ask me which one. I'm not that into Star Wars.

Oh wait, I think I found it.

But I did create the license plate!! Our chair is called Yoda1. And under that I put: Go fast, we must. Yes, I'm a bit of a nerd. But it was a project that kept me away from work, so that is always good.

I also told the coordinator for our group that I would be backup "driver" in case anyone back out. Let's seriously hope that doesn't happen!

We were also told the dress code for this picnic is "business casual". What does that mean?? I have no idea. So now I need to go upstairs and riffle through my clothes to find something appropriate. And what about shoes? I don't know. I have a hard enough time dressing myself as it is.

Is a picnic supposed to be this stressful?

Anyway, time to get ready. Wish me luck today! I might need it. *grin*

I'm also bringing my camera, so hopefully I'll have pictures as well.

That's it for Melly's Thoughts for today...

My interview with Melody Knight aka N.D. Hansen-Hill. We have Smurfs!

Today I have an interview with my fellow Linden Bay Romance writer, Melody Knight. She also writes under the name of N.D. Hansen-Hill. Residing in New Zealand, she has written about some pretty interesting creatures...as you'll soon find out.

So without further ado, here is my interview with Melody Knight, the uncut version:

On a scale of 1-10, how awesome do you think I am? Be honest. You can go higher than 10 if you like. (No excuses about how you don’t know me and stuff like that).

A 10. Honestly. You're interviewing me. That shows a level of selflessness, right? Selflessness is always worth a 10 !


Like me, you are published with Linden Bay Romance. Is it intimidating being around such greatness? It was when I started out! I'd never written a romance novel, and I found it reaaaallly difficult. I was intimidated every time I sent in another edit, LOL.

Since your name has a “Mel” in it, can I call you Melly 2?

Actually, that seems frightfully irreverent! My real name is Norah, which I don't like, and then I go and find this really beauteous name Melody. I am enamoured with it (sighing artfully). I love that name! Shortening it to Melly 2? Who would think? Just call me "Melodious 1" instead, LOL.

Okay, here is the hard-hitting question. You ready? What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas. I absolutely friggin' love it!

I see that you also publish under the name N.D. Hansen-Hill. Is that a split personality thing?


Only when I'm writing, and depending on how seriously I'm feeling about my subject. Melody is a free spirit compared to ND. Romance writers may explore their medium, but without the romantic gloss, SF and horror writers need to be much more intense.

I see you write a lot about elves. Are those like Smurf’s? Can you write a book about Smurf’s? I love them!

I have green men, who were mutated. Does that count? I could write about Smurfs, but the elf traditions are what capture me. I love the magic.

You also have books about trolls. Are those like the ones that hang out under bridges and scare away billy goats?

Of course! Only, my trolls are the antithesis of those goat scaring guys. They are the healers of their world.

In your Linden Bay Romance book, In Trysts, you have a character named Jake Hastings, who is a government agent. He sounds hot. Can I have him?

If my heroine, Peri, will relinquish him. At times, when he is being overbearing, I think perhaps she wouldn't mind…


Okay, this is your turn to add whatever you want. Promote, etc… I’ll be over here thinking about writing a romantic Smurf book. Maybe Smurfette with Brainy? Or Jokey. Hmm….

Since I never know what I'm going to be writing next, a romantic Smurf book might not be too far off!

My most recent release is GlassWorks, released Friday by Red Rose. Yay! I seem to be writing a lot of paranormals lately, so maybe I'm inspired by the fact it's winter here and dark arrives early. I'm also doing far more novellas, which I'm enjoying. I can get into a story in short order, create a mood, then vanish. Very fun! I've also recently signed my 30th contract, so I've been busy. 2008 has been a record year for me! Since January 1st, In Flames, ErRatic, Of Dragons, The Hollowing, and GlassWorks have been released, with Emerald City, A Kiss for Luck, BoneSong, Relic, BloodWorks, and Gray Beginnings yet to be released this year. Busy, busy, busy!


Thank you for this opportunity, Melanie!

Cheers, and best wishes,
Melody/Norah

Melody/N.D. Hansen-Hill links:
N.D. Hansen-Hill
Melody Knight

Oh no!!

The world is coming to an end! I walked by cake today (and by cake, I mean BIRTHDAY CAKE) and I didn't get a slice. Not one. There it sat offering itself to any hungry coworker walking in the lunchroom and I did...not...eat...any...of...it.

What does this mean? Should I go see a doctor??? Ack.

Oh and I will have Melody Knight tomorrow with her multiple personalities..or pen names as some people call them. So stay tuned!

Coming Soon...

see more dog pictures

I'm sorry I've been absent from this blog for so long. I was ready to get back in the swing of things this week, but then couldn't think of anything to review or talk about.

But tomorrow I'm planning on posting an interview with my fellow writer, Melody Knight from Linden Bay Romance.

BTW, does anyone know how to get my laptop keyboard to stop sticking?? Ugh. It's the keys in the middle...like the "G" the "H" the "J" the "B" ....they are kind of important to me.

Anyway, please come back tomorrow!

I'm Okay

It's so hard to escape the memories sometimes. I think I'm doing good, and then something reminds me of my dad and what happened and it's back again.

I was watching Swingtown tonight. The last time I watched Swingtown I was online with my friend Suz and we had a great time watching it and making fun of the awful 70's stereotypes and the "swinging". But right after that my mom called and said my dad was in the hospital.

Now I'm here worrying about my mom, missing my dad, and wondering what exactly happened. I still want to know how my dad can be released from a cardiac center and then die of a heart attack that very same night. We will probably never know. And I will never know why he was taken from me and my family so soon.

Nights are still hard. I can be by myself now, but it's the time when everything comes crashing back. During work I'm okay and when I have my moments, I usually hide in my cube for a little while.

I'm planning on sitting down soon and writing out everything that happened that Sunday. I'm not sure why. Maybe to exorcise it from my brain? I don't know if it's because I want to remember it, because so much of it was horrifying. But maybe just the last minutes with my dad before he collapsed. Before he was lost.

I feel like a part of me is gone forever. I feel empty. It doesn't help that my son is going into high school this fall. It just reminds me there will be a day when my son doesn't need me as much. So when people ask me how I'm doing and I say okay, those are the words I'm not saying. Because yeah, I'm okay. I'm still laughing...I'm still joking. I'm still me. Just not all of me...not yet.

I'm sure as time goes by all the good memories will float up and get rid of the bad, but I don't know how much time.

I actually said no to someone the other day. They asked me to help them with some flyers. I just couldn't do it. Right now it's hard enough for me to get myself ready in the morning and to work. Maybe I'm doing too good a job at looking "okay".

Oops, time to go to bed. I don't know what was the point of this rambling blog, but it helped a bit to let it out.

An Interview with my friend Robyn! It's cake-uh-wedding time!

Long before everything happened in my life, my friend Robyn and I did an interview about her upcoming wedding. I'd planned on putting it up last Wednesday, but obviously that wasn't to be. Now her wedding is this weekend, and despite the fact she's told me I don't need to post it, I really think I do. Life is about celebrations, and what better celebration is there than a wedding? So without further ado, my interview with Robyn, the uncut version:

On a scale of 1-10, how awesome do you think I am? Be honest. You can go higher than 10 if you like.

Is it a digital scale? If so, I'd say a 10.5 because it's higher than 10 but not overly awesome. 10.5 is a nice level of awesomeness.

I hear you’re getting married. Congratulations! I think the question on everybody’s mind is… Can you mail me a piece of cake?

I don't know if mailing a piece of cake will be a piece of cake, but I'll see what can be done.

What kind of cake is it again?

It’s a wedding cake Duh!

Okay, I’ll stop asking you about the cake. How many layers?

Well, I'm not really sure how many layers the cake has. But I do know that it's 3 tiers, the bottom and top tiers are chocolate and the middle is white. The filling is strawberries, bananas and Bavarian cream.

Sorry. Okay, serious question… Hmm… What cake-uh-day are you getting married?

I'm getting married on Sunday, June 22nd... wait a minute... are you considering crashing the wedding?

What does your frosting-crap! -I mean, dress look like?

Melly, I'm beginning to think you have a cake problem. Should I call Cake Eater's Anonymous? But to answer your questions, the frosting will be white whipped cream and my dress is a strapless, ivory, A-line ball gown with a champagne gold underskirt and matching sash.

Now for the hard hitting question. You ready? Who is your favorite member of Duran Duran?


That IS hard hitting. My favorite member of Duran Duran is John Taylor. I tend to find tall, lanky men with long fingers quite attractive. For those who don't know, my fiancé is built that way.

What slice-uh, song are you playing for your first dance?

It took us a while to choose one, since my fiancé and I don't have 'a song'. But we finally decided upon "Follow You, Follow Me" by Genesis.

Did you know you can save the top of your cake and eat it on your first anniversary? You can send it to me for safekeeping if you’d like.

Yes, I did know that. And while I appreciate your extremely generous offer, I think the top of our cake will be safer here in New Jersey.


Okay, this is your turn to add whatever you want. Feel free to talk about your wedding. I’ll be over here sending you an email with my address.

Thanks, Melly! It's no secret that I love to talk. Well, I work for my family's Halloween wholesale business as the Art Director and Accounts Manager. That has been weird, as I was terrible at Math as a teenager. But because of my job, I've met Dee Snider of Twisted Sister and Butch Patrick—aka Eddie Munster. Hmm... what else? I've seen Duran Duran in concert around 20 times, I love to read and my favorite Muppet is Rowlf. Who can resist a piano playing dog who loves Beethoven?

Heck, I just love dogs. I found my dog Casey (a Border Collie/Brittany mix) on Petfinder in August 2000. I think pet adoption is a wonderful thing and hope other people will give homeless dogs—and cats, too—a loving home. As well as being a good month for weddings, June is National Pet Adoption month.

Speaking of weddings, I'm getting married to a wonderful man who adores me and Casey. Our family will be "blended" as he has a perpetually-hungry Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Silk. We met in October 2006 and became engaged just over a year later. Wedding plans has consumed our lives for the last 7 months but it's almost the big day. I get to put on a fancy dress and hang out with our closest friends and family, we get presents and then a week-long honeymoon in the Bahamas. A pretty good deal to me.

Melly's Note: Robyn, I sincerely wish you and your husband-to-be a lifetime of happiness! Oh and I don't think you sent me those directions... ;)

What's Normal?

I went back to work yesterday. I found myself a bit lost. I couldn't even remember how to do the simple things I'd just done a week ago. Plus, I'd find myself spacing out a couple times...more so than usual.

The problem I had was the guilt. I'd find myself joking around with my coworkers and then suddenly think, "Should I be laughing already? Does this mean I've forgotten my dad already?" Some people would ask me why I was back so soon. So soon? How long is the proper mourning period? Because honestly, I don't know.

To me, staying at home and being upset is not productive. It's not going to bring my dad back. And obviously, I've now learned that life is very short, and every moment not laughing or living is one less day I'll have.

I was joking with my manager yesterday and he said, "I'm glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor."

That made me pause. Lose it? Why would I lose the most important thing-other than my hair color and eye color, my dad gave me? I mean, yes, he taught me many other things as well, but to me, my sense of humor is what helps someone as shy as me to reach out to other people.

I will never lose that.

What is the point of this blog? I don't know. I just know that I need to keep myself occupied so I don't think about the fact I'm never going to see my father again. I'm never going to joke with him. I'm never going to go on any quests with him. So yes, I need to get back to living again. I can "be funny" and still mourn my father. Never let them know you're in pain has pretty much always been my motto.

So I'm going to go back to posting my interviews and my other features. I'm sure I'll still talk about my father a lot. I know that the more time passes, the more I'm going to miss him.

But I know for a fact that he would NOT want me to sit around and mourn his passing. He never wanted us to worry about him. He wanted me to be a writer so that's what I'm going to be.

I'm going to find my new normal in a world that has been turned upside down. I'm going to make my father proud.

Daddy, wherever you are...this blog is for you....

Still Here (From my Myspace blog)

Nights are still hard...as you can tell since it's almost one in the morning. I can't even be by myself at night. I dragged my laptop upstairs so I could be next to my husband in bed.

Tonight I went on American Greeting's website and picked a Father's Day card for dad. It was really sweet. I then typed up a long message and had it scheduled to be sent to my email address a year from now. I'm not sure exactly why, but a friend of mine said it would help to write him a letter.

When I close my eyes and try to sleep, images of my father start flashing in front of my eyes. Not just images of all our milestones either, although those have been showing up lately as well, but images of all the little mundane things he used to do around the house. I just can't believe he won't be there anymore.

I truly don't know what to do with myself.

Just to show how wonderful he was, I need to mention the lotion. Last weekend when we were at the hospital visiting him, I looked into his little "bucket" of hospital stuff they gave him-toothbrush, etc and saw he had Keri lotion. I said, "Oooo, Keri lotion! I want some of that." I was kind of kidding around, trying to find some positive in this dreary dung colored bucket they give patients.

Well, when we were looking for my father's badges before the memorial service, my mom mentioned they were in the bag with the lotion. She said something like, "Your dad took the lotion for you. He acted like he was stealing it or something."

Honestly I cry every time I think about it. My father, who hates taking anything like that (even though they obviously don't reuse it for anyone else) took that lotion for me because I said I wanted it. Two bottles.

I wanted to type that up so when my bad memory starts kicking in, it will be written down somewhere.

Please wish your father Happy Father's Day for me...

A picture

I feel like I should say something in my blog, but I'm not sure what. I still don't know if I have the right words yet. But I did manage to scan in a picture of my dad. I left most of my pictures at my mother's house for the memory boards, but I did find this one.



This was from one of our first apartments. This is a classic pose of his--on the floor with a dog. (My husband's grandma's dog, who is also not with us). We called him "Food man" since all the dogs followed him around like the Pied Piper. He loved dogs and he loved to feed them, just like he fed all of us.

You can also see his Buck knife, which he always wore on his belt. Anytime you wanted something opened, he would whip it out. Sadly, I could never close it, so I'd have to hand it back to him after I was done still opened.

He also drank a lot of Diet Coke. In fact, my mother had to stop on the way to the hospital to buy him some last weekend. Has it only been a week? It feels like a lifetime.

I'm doing okay. Still taking it minute by minute. I'm hoping to at least get some interviews up this week, if not my normal features, since the interviews are already done.

I have an interview with a fellow ADWOFFer, Robyn, which I really want to get up before her wedding...even if she's too busy to see it.

My dad was one who always saw the positive in everything in life, and I know he would want me to do the same.

So that's what I'm going to try to do. Even if it still hurts so much.

Schedule Changes

By now you know that I won't be posting any interviews or any of my normal features this week. I need this week to mourn. But I'm hoping to be back to normal as soon as I can. I know my dad wouldn't want me to stop my life because of him.

I remember when we visited him in the hospital last weekend and my mom was talking about them shocking his heart back early Friday morning, she mentioned she knew he would be okay when she heard the doctors and nurse laughing. My dad just smiled and said, "Always come back with a joke."

That's where I get my sense of humor and for that alone, I need this time for me. Maybe soon I'll be able to laugh again as well. That's all I want. To come back with a joke.

Tomorrow is the memorial. It's not a funeral, but a memorial. Then after that there will be a reception. My mom knew my dad would want a celebration and not a funeral. I know he's smiling down at us now with that smile that would crinkle up his whole face. And he would approve.

Please, take this time to hug the ones you love and laugh...a lot. That's all we really have in this life.

Until later...
Melly

You know what's not helping right now?

That every email I'm getting is advertising some kind of Father's Day promotion. I just broke down over a Netflix email.

For those who don't visit my Myspace blog as much, here is tonight's post:

Still Lost

I've discovered the nights are the worse. We came home to regroup and get clothes, etc. The memorial is scheduled for Thursday. I'll pass on the information tomorrow when its posted in The Washington Post.

Maybe I should buy some sleeping pills to get me through these first few nights. This is really too much for me to handle.

I want to thank everyone who has commented. I want you to know they help me a lot. When I'm deep in despair I come back to last night's post and read the comments. They help let me know I'm not alone and that people really care for me.

I feel my stomach growling, but I'm not hungry. I'm sure that's normal. My dad would hate it though. He loved feeding people.

Okay, I have to stop writing now. Thank you again and again....

So much pain

My father passed away tonight at the age of 58. He had another heart attack, but this time massive. He collapsed and never got up. I don't know what else to do but to go online and blog. This is how I keep myself distracted.

I just don't know how I'm going to live without my daddy. I just don't.

Please pray for me and my family.

He's Home!!

see more dog pictures

My dad is HOME!!! :D And he's moving around just like he used to. Oh, he's taking it easy, but he's right back on his feet. Just to hear the sound of his voice is music to my ears. It's something I'll never take for granted again.

It's been such rough weekend and I'm so ready to go back to my own house. There was no doubt I had to be with my mother while she was alone, but it still takes its toll on you. Not being in your own house... Missing your own bed. Having your parents dogs barking at you to go outside and then staring you down when you don't get up right away. *g*

But we'll be leaving soon. My husband drove over here since he hadn't seen my dad yet, so I'm letting them spend some time together too.

There's also a part of me that wishes I could stay here so that I never let my dad out of my sight. But that's the little girl in me. I know I'll see him next weekend for Father's Day. I mentioned it somewhere else, but that day is definitely going to have new meaning this year!

Anyway, I'm going to get back to my blog schedule this week. I have writer Melody Knight and an interview with my fellow ADWOFFer Robyn. That will be fun!

I know I've said it a hundred times now, but thank you. Thank you so much.

Look what I found!

I get Google blog alerts for Melanie Anderson sent to my email. Is that pathetic? lol Oh well, I don't care. Very rarely do I find anything new so I usually just archive the emails, but something today told me to read it. And I found something! A new review for Racing for the Shore! Man, this just made my day! You can read it here:

The Long and Short Of It RFTS review

Oh and just to keep you updated... My father is being moved to a private room, so we're just waiting for him to call before going back up there. I talked to him this morning and he sounds normal! It was wonderful. :o)

Yesterday on the way home from the hospital, we noticed an apartment building had police tape wrapped around it, a million police cars and a news van driving up. This morning I found this: Police Shoot, Kill Man in Silver Spring.

Scary, huh? And so sad.

In closing, I just can't thank people enough for their prayers and thoughts. :o) You guys ROCK!

Thank you!

For all the kind words! They have helped me through this very rough day.

I'm at my mom's now and they say he's doing better. They did three angioplasties (I'm going to look up that word soon and see how to spell it). And they are even talking about him being home by Sunday.

For the time being they have him in ICU and he's being monitored.

I got home at 5:00 and woke up at 7:45 to get my son. I kept him home from school since this was a family emergency. Oh, and then my husband got sick this morning-a stomach bug. So it's just me and my son here.

I'm hoping to get to see him soon. He's having a procedure done (removing something from the angioplasties) and once it's done, we'll drive over.

Right now I'm just touched by all my friends and coworkers who have shown me so much support.

Thank you from me and my family! I believe your prayers and thoughts have helped.

Is there anything worse...

Than waiting for a phone call? My mom called me earlier and told me my dad checked himself into the hospital with chest pains. She was in the waiting room when she called and they just told her she could go back when she hung up. I'm hoping no news is good news or something like that.

Anyway, what's weird is that my mind wants to stick to its routine. I keep thinking, "You should go to bed so you'll wake up in time to get J to school and go to work."

But all I can do is wait some more...

Edited to add: Please, PLEASE pray for me and my family. My mother needs me. They keep shocking him. I have to drive to Maryland. Thanks.

Edited again to add: Well, my dad's doing better now. I talked to my mother, who is still at the hospital and she said something like it was a clot and the medicine had his heart going in and out. Or something like that. I'm very tired. Anyway, they are driving him to another hospital to have a angliplasty (too tired to spell that out) done. It's looking good.

Oh man. That was scary. I'm just so grateful he's doing better. In fact, he's now worried about work. (We have that in common).

Please continue to keep my dad in your thoughts for a complete recovery...

Interview with Designcreativelee's owner, Nonnie. She brought cowboys!!!

Today I have an interview with a very special person. She quite simply saves my life. Her name is Nonnie and she owns Designcreativelee. If you've been on my website (www.authormelanieanderson.com), or seen some of the cool pictures I've had on my blog, you've seen her work.

Without her my website would probably be my name and a picture. Or just my name. A picture might be just a little advanced for me. *g* Anyway, I could go on and on, but I'll let the interview speak for itself.

So without further ado, here is my interview with Nonnie, the uncut version:

On a scale of one to ten, how awesome am I? You can go past ten if you like.

Haven’t you ever wondered why we always use the scale of 1 to 10? Instead of, say, a scale of A to Z?

‘A’ could be something like aberrant or abhorrent and ’Z’ could be, I don’t know, zippy?

For sure, you’d fall somewhere between loony and rad. You know, give or take.

Was it intimidating working on the website of such an important person? Yes, I’m talking about me.

Yeah, for sure. I mean, you’re so picky! You never like anything I do. You’re a slave driver is what you are! Sheesh! No vacation, no sick pay - I don’t even get smoke breaks!

The fine print: If it isn’t obvious, this is such a lie. Melanie has to be the easiest person in the world to work with. In the 2+ years I’ve worked with her I can count on one hand how many times she’s suggested a change and never has she said she disliked anything. Except maybe the green shirt I tried to dress her in once. Her caricature, that is. Despite the rumors, she really can dress herself.


Are things really bigger in Texas?


LOL! You know, despite living in Texas most of my life, I don’t remember ever being asked this before. Seems impossible, but if I have I can’t remember what my answer would have been. Quite possibly, that it would take leaving Texas for somewhere else to find out. And, since I’ve only lived one other place since I’m old enough to remember - Las Vegas for a while - the only thing I know for sure is that with the humidity, my hair is bigger in Texas than it was there.


Any cowboys? Do you have pictures?

Sure, Stephenville is home to Ty Murray and Tuff Hedeman - to name a couple. While I’ve never been too much of a fan, it is hard to ignore seeing Ty and Jewel at the local Wal-Mart. lol Or, while filming his T.V. special, Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge, seeing the group of men walk into a local western wear store. Some women were lucky enough to be hit on by Johnny Fairplay. (suppressing gag reflex - check) And, I’m sure the guy that raced "Rocket" Ismail down a street beside the courthouse or whoever witnessed Johnny Fairplay and Vanilla Ice climb up the courthouse marquee to “ride” the cow on top - those people will never be the same. lol

Aside from that, Stephenville is home to Larry Joe Taylor. If you’re a fan of country music, you’ve probably heard of him. If not, you’ll love his music.

As far as everyday cowboys - you can’t step off you’re front porch without running into one. Chances are, if you’re from around here, you’re either dating one or married to one. Stephenville is, after all the Cowboy Capital of the World. (It's true! Look it up! lol)

You won’t hear me complain! We have the pretty kind (you know, the ones that dress like cowboys, but that's it) and the real, rugged kind. Which flavor do you prefer?

(I just happen to have this one picture of a guy I went to school with. If asked, I'll deny ever having it! lol.

He's the rugged kind. lol!)


Now for the hard hitting question… What is your favorite time of year?

My favorite time of year is that small window right after what we call “winter” and just before spring. It’s not too cold, not too hot or humid and the storms haven’t started yet. It only lasts about a week or two at most, but it’s perfect.

Ask me in another week or two and I’ll say winter. I’m already tired of being hot and it hasn’t even started yet! (sob!)

Do men wear chaps in Texas?

Only at rodeos, as far as I know. Besides that, what might or might not happen behind closed doors is none of my business.

Can I come live with you?

You really haven’t thought this through, have you?



What is your biggest dream? (Other than meeting me, of course).

Well, that’s a pretty big one. Not sure if I can go bigger than that. If I’m forced to come up with something, I guess I’d say my biggest dream would be to one day be a famous illustrator living very comfortably off her earnings doing exactly what she loves.

It’s pretty cool to have finally figured out my true passion and get to a place where I have all the tools I need to really jump into it full force. Now, I just need the time. (Next year! Two kids in school! It’s coming!)

Is it true you drew the beautiful picture of me? Was I an easy subject? (Not easy in that way).

Well, the basic features of the face and hair originally came from a caricature maker on vistaprint.com one night while I was playing around . It was just the head and in jpeg format - not very versatile. So, it has since been traced into vector format in Adobe Illustrator. That was done by me and in the future, any changes in the facial expressions, clothing or props are drawn by me.

As far as easy? I plead the fifth!

(Psst! I’ve heard bribing her with cake or Smirnoff Ice works every time!)

Would you like to say something else? Promote something? I’ll be over here dreaming of cowboys…again.

Eeek! I have to get better at this. I really don’t like talking about myself.
But, that dream of mine won’t come true on it’s own. Will it? No? … Oh, okay.

Well, my website is designcreativelee.com. I’m currently trying to redesign it, so there will be broken links if you go there (I tried really hard to get it done before this interview, but the stomach flu had other plans for me.) It’s coming along and you can see or get to some of what I do on the homepage and my blog - Blog Creative-Lee at http://designcreativelee.wordpress.com .

I do web design from concept to fully launched site, print design including brochures, business cards, post cards, invitations, letterhead etc. I also do design work for printing on mouse pads, magnets, t-shirts and more. I also do a little with Flash/Animation. I’m still new to it, so anything I do would be considered simple. You can see examples on my homepage as well as spabazaar.com. And, Melly’s site has a very simple flash welcome.

My focus has been more on web design and I’d like to continue that as well as shift more focus onto my illustration work. If you write children’s books, I’d love to hear from you!

I guess that’s about it. It’s so much easier writing about you! lol

Melly Note: This is one of the earliest Nonnie creations I have (If you know me from ADWOFF, you'll understand it):

A Blog that has Nothing to do with Anything. Oh and J.K. Coi.

Today I have an interview with my fellow Linden Bay Romance writer, J.K. Coi. I was a bit disappointed in this interview since she didn't quite seem to understand how awesome I truly am. How can that be?!? *g*

Anyway, blah, blah... Here's my interview with writer J.K. Coi, the uncut version:

On a scale of 1-10, how awesome do you think I am? Be honest. You can go higher than 10 if you like. (No excuses about how you don’t know me and stuff like that).

I think I’ll reserve judgment on that question until I see how many comments you pull in on this blog.

Like me, you are published with Linden Bay Romance. Is it intimidating being around such greatness?

Of course. Shiela Stewart has released so many great books. I have this perma fan-girl stuttering thing going on whenever I email her. Oh, wait a minute...did you mean Cat Johnson?

I see you live in Canada like my friend Shiela does. Do you have any sled dogs?

Sure. They stay parked out back of the igloo with the snowmobile and the ice fishing hut. During that two weeks of summer, we let them off their leashes to chase down the polar bears.

Okay, here is the hard-hitting question. You ready? What is your favorite drink?

I’m gonna say Gin and Tonic. Not margaritas, that’s for sure. Not since school when a friend and I parked ourselves in the basement at a keg party and passed a bottle of tequila back and forth until it was empty. Ugh. Not pretty. Wait, is this a family blog? Should I go with iced tea? You’re pulling out all the stops now, this question is too hard.

Your latest series is about a group called the Immortals. We’ve never had one of those on Melly’s Spot. What are they? And can I have one?

You can’t have one. They’re all mine and I don’t share well. But I like to tease, and so that’s why I write about them. The Immortals are big bad alpha warrior types who don’t age, they don’t get sick, and they seriously kick demon butt all while looking super buff and way hot.

Can you name a character after me? I’d like to be part of the Immortal team. Does that require a lot of work? I’m a bit lazy.

You know that extra team member in all the Star Trek shows, the guy/girl that dies of a deadly disease, or a freak attack pretty much as soon as they land on the strange new planet? You can be one of them. Sorry, but the thing is there are no Immortal women. It’s a genetic thing. And sure, there’s one exception to the rule (or else it wouldn’t be a rule), but if I started making exceptions all over the place my credibility would be shot.

I see you work in the legal field, with a current focus on intellectual property. (Yes, I grabbed that word by word from your bio. I did say I was lazy).What does intellectual property mean? Do I have any of that?

Yes, I do work in the legal field. And no, I doubt you have any intellectual...um, property (kidding). Intellectual property deals with copyright, trademark, and patent law. It’s pretty cool. I get the inside skinny on all the neat new gadgets that are seeking patent approval, and I’ve made a killing on the stock market since I got into this business (really really kidding).

Okay, this is your turn to add whatever you want. Promote, etc… I’ll be over here thinking about working out so I can be an Immortal. Soon.

Great, thanks so much. *Aside: The things I put up with just to get some screen time*

Seriously, I always enjoy visiting your space here, and I’m excited to have the chance to be a guest. Thank you.

My website www.jkcoi.com has all the info about me and the books. I blog regularly all on my lonesome at www.jkcoi.blogspot.com, and with three other fabulous writers who I bribed to be my friends, at The Vauxhall Vixens (www.vauxhallvixens.blogspot.com).

The first book in the Immortals Series, My Immortal, is available from Linden Bay Romance (Linden Bay Romance) and you need to buy it now, so that you’ll be ready for Immortal Kiss, book 2, which is being released August 1, 2008.

Also, look for something new from me in October, 2008, called The Trouble With Destiny. It’s a funny, flipside look at this demon slaying business from the point of view of a woman who discovers that keeping the world safe from demons may mean she won’t ever make it to calculus on time again.

New Interview Tomorrow!

see more dog pictures

Oh, and I found Loldogs! :D Awesome!

J.K. Coi will be my guest tomorrow. I'm still trying to decide if I like her not. ;) But she is a fellow Linden Bay Romance writer, so I guess I should try and play nice.

If I must.

Stay tuned...

Meeting of the Minds. Or not.

Last night I was in the middle of working on an interview when I realized I hadn't done my blog for Tuesday yet. I usually blog the night before because I'm brain dead the next morning. Plus, I have to be in early for a meeting today. Blech.

Office Meetings. What are they good for? Well, let me list them out.

1. Avoiding the work you should be doing by talking about it instead.

2. Doodling. If doodling was truly an art form, I'd be a master at it! "Hmm...what is that? A house? Maybe a fish. Or a city landscape. Damn, I'm good! I should give up writing."




3. Practicing your signature. Just in case someone suddenly asks for your autograph right there in the middle of the Powerpoint presentation. You better be prepared!



4. Falling asleep with your eyes open. Oh, it can be done!

5. Critiquing your coworkers outfits. It's like Project Runway without Heidi and her accent. That blouse is FIERCE!

"Melanie, do you have anything to add to this discussion?"

"Make it work!"

6. Passing notes to your friend. I did this the other day and got in trouble. I did! Just like high school. It was awesome!

7. Pretending to be a bobble-head doll. Whenever some looks at you, you just nod. It makes you look like you're paying attention. Unless of course they are frowning. Then you put on your stern face. It shows you're thinking: "Hmm... That sounds serious." When really you're thinking: "What did I bring for lunch again? Tuna fish? Ugh. I had that the other day."

8. Cursing whatever the last song you listened to on your iPod was. It's usually something like Hooked on a Feeling, so you have "Ouga Chaka Ouga Chaka" running on an endless loop in your mind. The only thing missing is the dancing baby. (I really miss Ally McBeal).

9. Realizing the one thing you can't do during a meeting, which is figuring out that plot twist in your book. There's nothing worse than imagining an intimate scene in your book, then looking up to see one of your male coworkers scratching their head (or something else I'm not going to write here). Just ruins the mood.

10. The best thing meetings are good for? Realizing you're getting paid to do all of the above things. "Good meeting. Very productive. I'll just take that hours worth of pay right now. Time for lunch!"

Julia Quinn, The Lost Duke of Wyndham

I finished this book this book Saturday morning. Oh how I wish I could write historical! I loved the richness of this book, and the words used to tell one of the best love stories I've read in a long time. It's kind of strange for me to say that when I just read three books last weekend that I raved about in the same way. But none of them had me stopping to cry because I was overwhelmed by emotion.

Julia has magic in her fingers. That's all I can say. I think another reason I might've been crying was because I just don't know how to convey that magic into my words as well as she does. As a writer, I can't help but be envious.

But since this is a review I should discuss the book, right? And not just my mental problems. This is the story of Jack Audley-a former solder, and now a highwayman. He's a very charming version of Robin Hood. Grace Eversleigh is the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. The duchess is a tyrant of the worse kind.

This story starts out by Jack attempting to rob the stagecoach that the duchess and Grace are traveling in. The duchess recognizes her son in Jack's face, and is determined he is the real Duke of Wyndham.

Each page I read found me falling more and more in love with Jack. He was charming and thoughtful and just an all around good guy. With secrets.

And Grace, she could hold her own. She might've been pushed around by the duchess, but she managed to make the best of a bad situation.

What else can I say? It's a beautiful story. It was also funny, but the humor was a bit more subtle than her other books. Yet that didn't take anything away from the story. In fact, I think it made the story that much more richer. Like chocolate. Dark chocolate. Mmm... I love chocolate.

I can't recommend this book enough. Five out of Five.

The Countdown is on!

more cat pictures

I have a month to complete my current WIP aka The Ghost Story (you think I need a title?) Yikes! If you look on my word counter on the left, you'll see I'm 20% completed. But I'm going to spend most of today writing-in between cleaning. Ugh. I now have 965 songs on my iPod all ready to go.

Honestly, I do my best work under pressure, so I'm sure I'll reach my goal. Wish me luck!