Happy Thanksgiving!

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For those who are in the US, Happy Thanksgiving! This year I'm thankful for all writers and readers who have made this blog so much fun.

It's going to be a hard year for us without my father. He was the one who usually did all the cooking in my family. I can still see him standing in the kitchen, in his "flamingo" stance-one leg on the other. I'd go in there and he offered to let me taste anything I wanted. He knew how I was. I just wanted a little of everything.

But I don't want to be unhappy this Thanksgiving Day. I just want to be thankful for all I still have.

Dad, if you're up there and you can somehow read this blog, thank you all that you've given us. I think it's the sense of humor you gave me that helps me get through this day. And thank you Mom for having Thanksgiving at your house despite it all. Of course I have to thank my mother-in-law for cooking the dinner. I'm not sure we'd be able to.

To everyone else, enjoy your turkey! As my friend said, wear big pants!

Melly

I miss the voices...

I woke up at 4:30 this morning. Not on purpose, mind you, but once I was up I didn't go back to sleep because I was afraid I wouldn't wake up in time to get my son up for school. So I sat here until 6 and then went upstairs to wake up my son. I got to watch Uncle Jesse on Full House. Whoo me!

As I sit here trying to force myself NOT to go on Facebook (my newest obsession), I think about how much writing I could do during this time if I was writing. Which I'm not. Sometimes I'm not sure if I'm not writing because of everything that has happened to me or if it's because I'm just lazy or something. But then I think back to how I used to write all the time and I wish I could capture that feeling again. What made me write before?

Do I want to continue the book I already started or write something else? I've started two books, but neither one of them are holding my attention. I'm not sure where I wanted to go with them. They aren't "talking" to me.

I keep telling people the voices in my head are quiet and that is true. Usually when I'm in the middle of a book, the story is racing through my mind and I can hardly type fast enough to catch up with it. But now...I have nothing.

I tell myself to relax and not force it, but that's hard to do when writing is your passion, your dream... It's all I've ever wanted to do and it's just not working right now.

Maybe if I stop worrying I'll be able to hear the voices again. I hope so. I miss them. I miss writing. Even if it was crap, I was still telling a story.

But until then, I have my blog. I have Facebook. I have my friends. I have my family. (Those were in no particular order. I wasn't putting Facebook above my family. I swear!)

Maybe I just need to find a new kind of story...

Randomness

I was trying and trying to think about what to blog about and I was hitting a blank. This blogging thing ain't easy! So here are some random thoughts on this Friday morning...

1. Now that the price of gas has gone down, traffic has picked up, along with stupid accidents. Mind you, I'm not complaining! Not in the least! I enjoy paying less than fifty dollars to fill my Blazer. I'm just making an observation...

2. Five people and one bathroom isn't a good thing.

3. Waking up at six in the morning to get my son to school isn't a easy thing to do for someone who made their work hours 10-6. I did that for a reason! I'm just not a morning person.

4. I really wish I could sew.

5. Christmas is coming way too fast. The other day my iPod player picked up someone else's iPod (this happens once in awhile) and they were playing Christmas music. Suddenly I was hearing about someone's chestnuts roasting over an open fire. Make it stop!!

6. Thanksgiving isn't going to be the same without my dad cooking.

7. Facebook, or should I say, Pet Society is like crack. Stay away! (Unless you want to be my friend so I can get more money. Send me a request...).

8. My husband does a great job of cutting my hair and he's never taken lessons or anything! How come he's so good at everything?? And I'm the least coordinated person ever. Not fair!

9. Grey's Anatomy is really, really strange right now. This is the first season I can't figure out what the hell is going on.

10. I miss my DVR. That's all I have to say...

TGIF!!!

Bite Me!

I have some more pictures of the goofy Tara dog.



She's chewing the tag, but the location of it makes it look a little strange...



Poor bear...It was never the same.

Just the Sexiest Man Alive

What would life be like if you had to choose between Brad Pitt and Patrick Dempsey? This is what reading Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James is like. I read this book over a 24 hour period this weekend. I couldn't put it down! It's been way too long since I found a really good contemporary book without any paranormal aspects to it.

Here's a quick synopsis:

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan-not in the courtroom and not in her personal life. So when she's assigned to coach People's "Sexiest Man Alive" for his role in the next big legal drama, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob's charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

The only problem some people might have is that there were no love scenes in it. In fact, the couple don't come together in that way until the very end and even then it's not that explicit. But honestly, I'm one of those people who doesn't notice unless the book really needs them and this one didn't. In fact, I didn't even notice they were missing until the heroine mentions something to the hero about it.

The tension between the couple was great. Taylor really resists Jason even though she can't help but be overwhelmed a bit about having People's Sexiest Man Alive pursuing her. And the writer describes Jason so well that you can't help but feel a shiver every time his eyes meet Taylor's.

I laughed so many times in this book that my husband thought I was crazy...err...more crazy.

If you're looking for a nice quick PG-13 book, pick this one up! You won't be disappointed.

Remote Madness

What is it with men and the remote control? No, seriously, what is up with that? My husband holds onto the remote like it's the ring from Lord of the Rings. My Precious. If I can't find the remote in the morning, I look in the bed and it's usually there. Sometimes he has his arms wrapped around it like Radar with his Teddy Bear. Ok, that's a slight exaggeration. But not by much.

Now that we're temporarily living in one room at my MIL's house, we only have one television to watch. Usually I'm fine with that since I have my laptop and really that's all I need. And if I ask really nicely, he'll "allow" me to watch shows like Grey's Anatomy and Top Chef. But usually it's not worth the fight to ask for anything else. I think he pouted the entire time I watched the CMA's last week. If watching hot men is wrong, I don't want to be right!

So last night he fell asleep while watching the news. I knew he was asleep because he was snoring quite loudly. I tried falling asleep as well, but I can't sleep with the news on. It stresses me out. (Yes, we keep the television on at night...we just need noise). After trying to sleep for about ten minutes, I searched for the remote (next to him of course) and scrolled through the guide until I found Grey's Anatomy on Lifetime. It was the episode from last season with Seth Green. I rolled over and closed my eyes.

Suddenly, I realized I wasn't listening to McDreamy or McSteamy or any of my Mcfriends. I was listening to the news! WTF? I turned over and saw my husband holding the remote. I said, "What happened to Grey's Anatomy? Do you have a sensor that says, 'Melanie is trying to turn the channel...must wake up.'" He ignored me then LEFT THE ROOM.

Seriously! He didn't want to watch TV, he just didn't want me to watch something! Ok, I don't even think he was awake yet. I don't even think he was aware I was watching something. I just think that the first thing he thinks about is his precious.

I won't even talk about the hours and hours spent on The Weather Channel. Ask me the weather for any state in the US! I can tell you the forecast! Did you know it's snowing in Cleveland? It is!

I can't wait until our new place is ready so I can have my own remote again. Oh and my DVR. Because this really sucks. It's 34 degrees in Chicago, BTW.

Maybe one day I'll discuss when they lose the remote and suddenly YOU know where it is even though you're not allowed to touch it. No, I'll save that for another day...

Happy Anniversary Baby Contest

Most people know how I much I like cake. I don't just like cake, I love cake. All the good things in life involve cakes. Your birthday...weddings... All big milestones are usually marked with some kind of cake. There's even fruitcake for Christmas! Yes, it's the Spam of cakes, but it's still a cake. And honestly, and I'll deny this later if someone asks, I actually like fruitcake. There. I've said. I've finally said it.

Anyway...the other day I was thinking about my free book, Happy Anniversary Baby, and how it involves a cake. And not just any cake...a cake in the shape of a body part, which made me wonder if I'd promoted my free book enough. I mean, it's a free book! So I figured I'd mention it one more time just in case.

Happy Anniversary Baby isn't just about Gary and Pam Foster (the hero and heroine from my first book, On the Run), it also involves cake. So please "buy" my free book Happy Anniversary Baby. It's really very easy. Just go here: Happy Anniversary Baby and add it to your cart.

Just remember...there will be cake. Fictional cake, but cake nonetheless. Send me an email to melly48@gmail.com and let me know what you think. I'll tell you what...the first person to email me after reading Happy Anniversary Baby will get a free ebook copy of one of the other books in the racing series. Either On the Run, Born to Run or Racing for the Shore. Your pick.

How's that? Oh and yes there will be a question to see if you've really read it or not. *grin*

Whoo-hooo!

We've made it to 9,000 views!!! :D Whooo! Of course some of those were me viewing my own blog (Is that weird?) but still! Even I couldn't look at my own blog 9,000 times! No matter how bored I am at work. ;)

Thank you all for coming back to my blog day after day even when I have nothing new. And I promise to get back to my regular schedule as soon as possible. And to those I STILL owe an interview, I haven't forgotten you! I love my interviews and hope to never stop coming up with them.

For the Record

Talking to my friends about the 80's last night reminded me of a converstation I had with my son the other day. We were talking about records and how when I was a little girl (*sniff*), we would listen to 45's all the time. But not our own...oh no! We would listen to our parent's 45's. And that could be some strange music depending on your parent's taste.

I still remember my first 45. It was John (Cougar) Mellancamp's Jack and Diane. I loved that record soooo much. A little ditty...


Then I moved into full length albums. My favorite album was Duran Duran's Arena. Oh man... I got it for my birthday one year (not sure how old I was...my memory is spotty) and I still remember what it looked like. I remember the lyrics on the inside and how I used one of my Hello Kitty stamps to put my mark on it. I wore that record out!

Of course I got many other albums after that, but that one always sticks out in my mind. Then tapes came and replaced all the records and before you know it they were in the bargain aisles at all the record stores. (Anyone remember record stores? It's like iTunes, but you had to leave the house. ;)) But I still think back fondly on the pops and crackles the old record player made. And the sound of the needle scratching...

Sometimes it amazes me that I've been alive long enough to see all of this new technology coming alive-computers, cd's, cell phones...but sometimes I miss when everything was so simple. I guess every generation says that. I can't even imagine what new stuff they will come up with by the time my son is my age.

A hologram of the singers in your house?

BTW, tonight is the CMA's and the season premiere of Top Chef. What am I going to watch??? I'm still trying to decide. I can't miss Tom!! But then there are all the hunky country singers.... I miss my DVR...

Good Hair

What my friend Suz has me watching over and over:



Uncle Jessie, how I love thee... Let me run my hands through your hair...Forever.

Thanks Suz. I think.

Speaking of good hair...



Rick baby!!!

Sunday Thoughts

I'm going to do something I haven't done in a very long time. I'm going to talk about racing. Really, Melly? Racing? That sport that you center your books around? That's what you're going to talk about? Yes, I am. Because despite the fact I can rarely watch an entire race anymore, I still pay attention to the big news and visit NASCAR.com frequently. Not daily like I used to...but a lot. There was a time I was on there every day and had a subscription to the weekly NASCAR Scene newspaper, which was then called the Winston Scene. Those were the days... Anyway, I digress.

I'm thrilled that it looks like Jimmie is *this* close to winning the championship for the third year in a row. I mean, seriously??? I admit that when I first became a fan it was mostly because he was hot in his fire suit while the racing came second, but I had no idea it would end up like this! I'm just so proud of my guy...even if he did marry someone who wasn't me...but it won't last. I know it. Anyday now! *fingers crossed*

BTW, did you know that Jimmie didn't even win Rookie of the Year? Nope, Ryan Newman did. How do I know? Because I'm awesome of course and know way too much about the man. Plus, that was the year I became a lifelong fan.

But that wasn't what I was going to talk about believe it or not. We all know Jimmie is awesome...that goes without saying. But if I had to pick the NASCAR driver I admire most in the world that would be Kyle Petty. He's just such a great man and does so much for the sport and the world. After his son Adam died racing in 2000, he didn't just quit while cursing the sport that took his son away from him. Instead he went back out and raced week after week using his son's number in tribute to him. He's not even that great of a racer...but just seeing him there week after week made my heart smile. Once in awhile I'd see him help out another driver even though he'd lose his position in the race (as bad or as good as that could be at the time). But he'd do whatever he could to help.

In fact, I modeled Jake from my books after him...not totally him, but just in the way his personality was much more important than his skills as a racer ever were.

Anyway, I wasn't sure what Kyle had been up to in the past few years until I saw an article about him today on NASCAR.com.

Basically it said he's been running a limited schedule while they test out different drivers and that he has a lot of things going on right now (including his awesome Victory Junction Camp he built in memory of his son) and that he wanted to race, but wasn't sure if he would. But what made me want to cry is this:

One minor issue is the use of the No. 45, which Petty began using as a tribute to Adam, who was killed at New Hampshire in 2000. If he remains at Petty Enterprises, the No. 45 would likely be used in only the races Petty drives.

But if he leaves for another team, the number won't go with him.

"The only thing I've asked is that if I'm not driving that number anymore, they put it on a shelf for a season and put some space between it before they use it again," Petty said.

Aww... It just brings tears to my eyes. I just can't imagine a world without Kyle Petty racing in it. The world needs more selfless men like him.

If you want to see what a great man* can do, check this out: Victory Junction Camp

(And his wife Pattie of course. I didn't forget her, I was just focusing on Kyle for the blog).

I can has chat?

Last night I was chatting with my friends and watching election results when my MIL's dog Tara got into bed with me. Well, she wasn't just happy sleeping next to me...oh no! She had to get ON the laptop.

What is this strange object I'm laying on? Maybe I can eat it?



What??? I can't has laptop for snack?



I'm getting sleepy... All this chatting is wearing me out.



Maybe I'll just take a nap for awhile.



The vet told my MIL that her dog was a drama queen...she sure does love attention. That's for sure!

My weekend

My mother is starting to move up our way now so my husband spent most of yesterday packing up a big U-Haul truck. But then it was time for the fire!

Fire. Heh-heh. Fire.



My coworker's are always complaining that I never do anything outside of work so when my coworker, Sunny, invited me and my husband to her bonfire I said we'd be there. It's kind of sweet too because that's where me and my husband met many years ago. At a bonfire. Although we were teenagers back then and we'd stay out all night. This time I was tired by midnight. I'm old!!

Today we went over to my mother's new house before going to her house in Maryland (confused yet?) and I tried to take some fall pictures before the leaves were gone.





Then after that we went back to Maryland to finish filling up the truck. When we got as much as we could in there, I followed my husband back to her new house. This is what I saw for many, MANY miles:




This is right before that car to the left cut in front of me.



Sun is starting to go down.







Then we got stuck in some Sunday traffic.



But we finally made it and between me, my husband, my son and my mother we got most of it unloaded. My husband and the guy that works with him will finish unpacking the bigger stuff tomorrow.

I'm tired...I'm not used to doing this much in one weekend. *grin* But it's a good tired... Plus I'm still not used to the time change yet.

Now I must finish washing clothes and then go to bed. *sigh* Another work week here already...

Me and my "little boy"

Here's a picture of me and my son. I can remember his first Halloween when we dressed him up as a pumpkin. *sniff* Time really does fly...