Monthly Archives: January 2009

40 at 40

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I turn 40 this year. That’s a pretty momentous occasion so I’m going to ring in this decade with style.

I’ve decided to rip off a friend of mine who did a “50 at 50” list and make myself a list of 40 things to do at 40 but I need your help because I don’t know if I can come up with 40 things. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

<–20-something Mel

39 year old Mel–>


40 at 40

  1. Run a 10K
  2. Train for and run a half-marathon
  3. Get a tattoo
  4. Visit a place I’ve never been before
  5. Get waxed (Legs, pits and um…yeah. I’m gonna go there. All the way there. That will be some blog…)
  6. Meet with a financial planner
  7. See a professional (insert sport here) game
  8. See Staind in concert
  9. See Springsteen in concert (now that I’ve been properly recruited into his cult fanclub. However, I really shouldn’t add this to my list because I’m afraid that my recruiter’s ego can’t handle another stroke)
  10. Lose 2 sizes
  11. Buy myself a nice piece of jewelry
  12. Get a passport
  13. Visit NY (yes, this could also be the “visit a place I’ve never been before,” but NY deserves its own line)
  14. Skinny dip in the ocean
  15. Go deep sea fishing
  16. Teach my son how to drive a stick
  17. Take a shot (or 2) of Patron (in the comfort and safety of friends who can handle Mel-on-Tequila. Have never had Patron but have been assured by many that it will change my life. It will definitely change the life of the people who witness this event, I can promise you that.)
  18. Take an unplanned road trip (although does putting that on my list make it a plan?)
  19. Get a housekeeper (at least once a month)
  20. Take up SLR photography again
  21. Write a short story or novella (never done this, dunno if I can!)
  22. Go camping in the mountains
  23. Plant a new gardenia bush
  24. Steal a summer kiss at sunset
  25. Take a winter vacation somewhere snowy
  26. Face time with each of my out-of-state friends
  27. Try at least 1 type of new (to me) food
  28. Go golfing (took lessons a few years ago but never made it to a golf course)
  29. Write a letter (not an email, a letter. To a friend or a family member. Someone who will appreciate the effort and hopefully someone who can decipher my chicken scratch.)
  30. Have a book launch party 😀
  31. Finish this list (for Marcus)

Okay, I’m only at 30, but if I complete THIS list, I think I’ll be doing pretty damn well. What do you think? Have any suggestions?

Land of Hope and Dreams

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If my friend hadn’t introduced me to Bruce Springsteen a few weeks ago, I would never have heard this song…and boy would I have been missing out. This song fills me.

He says its the perfect song for a liberal [like me]. *rolling eyes* I find it the perfect song for people everywhere. People who are hurting and need a change. People who need something to carry them into a new life. A life where they can dream, wish, hope, work, imagine and feel safe. A place where they can find something better for their children or for themselves. This song fills me with the light of hope . And trust me when I tell you, the light of hope has carried me through many a dark night.

Today is about hope for me. And dreams.

the races

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It was a big day Friday. I won several races, but not like my friend DeeDee. she was up $500 by the end of the day. 2 longshos came in for her in a big way.

I almost considered not going but decided against it. I wouldn’t have written anything worthwhile–I would’ve just sat there, staring at my screen pouting because I wasn’t at the races.

Here are some more pics:




There’s always a cast of characters every year. This year, the pimp in the white fur was back, plus we me these lovely ladies. We see them every year, sporting a new hat…this year, we had to stop them.

This year, instead of meeting the obligatory drunk cowboy, we met a group of drunk Latinos. Who followed us everywhere the last half hour saying, “Picture, picture!” Finally we relented and they kept trying to kiss us.

The look on my face says it all…

Hope y’all had a great weekend. Did y’all do anything special this weekend (besides miss me, of course?)

weekend update

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The races were a blast. More tomorrow. Here’s a little sneak peek though:

This is my favorite picture. Awesome.


Last night was supposed to be a low-key evening with two of my friends from college. Unfortunately, what it ended up being for me was a battle with bad shrimp. About 20 minutes after I started eating dinner, I knew something very bad was about to happen. Fishdog brought me home, and the war began. I’m much better today.

Hope y’all have had a great weekend. I’m writing, writing, writing today. Leave a message after the beep.

*beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep*

and they’re OFF!

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Last year, there was much gnashing of teeth over photo finishes. I won one. Lost the others. Overall was win-win, but that had less to do with the money and more to do with the friends and the booze.

The horses are magnificent. When you go to the races, you should totally watch at least one actual race. And bet on a grey. Just because I said so. I also tend to bet on names. Despite some reports to the contrary, I am a girl. Sorry. I don’t have a penis, no matter how much I like to control the remote, hate bridal and wedding showers, and would rather wear a t-shirt and flip-flops over makeup and stilettos. (fuck stilettos. Totally created by men to torture women.)

Pimps and hos. Really, do I need to say anything else?

Every year has been a blast. This year, there are six of us, plus a driver. Yes, we’ve hired a driver. It’s really better that way. And we feel special when the car picks us up. This year, it’s a Navigator. Must be sure to wear my bling. As long as by bling I mean wool. Damn it’s cold today. 15 degrees right now. The high is only supposed to be 32. Brrrrrrr.

So while I’m playing with my friends, here’s a video on what true friendship is…watch it. Enjoy it. And tell me afterwards that you didn’t get a little tear. Go on. I dare ya.

Yesterday’s Q of the day: the discussion

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Does anyone else find it funny that the majority of yesterday’s answers revolved around food and lounging around?

My answer was a little different. (though I was tempted to steal Lucy’s ‘rob a couple of banks’ idea)

24 hours, on an private island…with a magic man, who could grant my every wish. There would be naughtiness galore. Maybe I would invite Simon Baker, my current not-so-secret-pretend boyfriend and my ex-not-so-secret-pretend boyfriend, Matt Damon. Okay, and maybe 1 or 2 other people. I mean, there’s no consequences, right? No guilt, no worries, just fond memories of a good time.

While on the island, I would go deep sea diving with my not-so-secret-pretend boyfriends and we’d discover a shipwreck…with the largest treasure ever found. I would then be given the private island as a reward. I would name the island in my honor and would require a passport for visitors.

And I would live there happily ever after. You all could visit any time.

What should I name my private island? Mel-o-land?

whoa

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So I was digging around in an old box I found in the attic last night. I was looking for an old photo album and what I found was a treasure chest of awesome.

Every note written to me by my friends and boyfriends from 9th grade on. Amazing. Wow. Seriously, Amazing.

I found pictures that were better left buried. And I found my memory book from my Senior Year. hehe. Some memories.

I also found a notebook my Drama teacher made us keep. It was filled with questions we had to answer, and letters we wrote to ourselves. We were to seal the notebook, keep it between our mattresses and then in 10 years, read it.

Well, I read it 10 years after high school. And I read it again last night. Wow. Seriously. I was obsessed with my weight! Totally freaking obsessed! I might’ve weighed 135 lbs soaking wet, but in my mind I was a total cow.

That makes me sad. Especially now, as I am working so hard to undo years of self-destructive eating habits and thoughts. I said the other day that my dad put me on a diet in junior high because I had hips and I had pretty much been on a diet ever since. Well, that was not an exaggeration. Again. that makes me really sad.

We need to teach girls to be healthy but to embrace their bodies for what they are and to love themselves for who they are. I was so insecure. I was always being compared to another girl and that’s the goal I set for myself. To have a body like her. To look like her. To be like her. Too bad nobody took the time to say, “Wrong focus. Be yourself and enjoy it.” I was well into adulthood before that dawned on me.

Another thing that hasn’t changed since 1987 according to this notebook? Two things I liked most about myself were my smile and my personality.

From the Universe today:

Are you so sure it’s not the dancer who creates the music she moves to? Or the painter who manifests the mountains he captures? Or the tycoon who builds the empire before there’s a dime?

Whatever you want, Melissa, let it exist first in your mind, imagine every nuance and consideration, let the walls have substance, the halls have depth, and the money have weight in the palm of your hand, and then all that’s necessary to bring it to pass will be drawn to you.

Sneaky, clever, foxy, wry –
The Universe

I’ll be at work. Y’all have a good one!

messy

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I’m kind of a mess right now.

Yesterday was a big bust as a writing day. No focus. My brain is in major meltdown mode. And with the Dreadline looming, I really can’t afford a nookular meltdown of the brain.

Today I have lunch plans with my old high school boyfriend. If I remember, I’ll get a pic and maybe I’ll even post some then and now pictures. Or not. We’ll see. I had a mullet back then. Not sure I’m feeling brave enough to prove it. Ahhh, 1984–how I miss thee.

One of my best friends from college is also in town this week. Plus I’m supposed to do my annual opening day at Oaklawn on Friday with the girls. I’ve set a writing goal to meet by Friday so I can go, so I better get busy. I haven’t missed opening day in 8 years or so? Can’t blow it this year.

I have no idea what my blogs will be like this week. Could be a plenty or my little website could resemble a ghost town. We’ll see. Got any topic ideas you wanna suggest? Who knows, maybe they’ll spark my thinking cap.

It’s Monday, so I’m also over at Fictionistas today. Pop by.

launching into the week

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Last week was a busy one. I started a new job, plowed toward the deadline for LOVE SUCKS, worked out 5 days, pretended to be a mother on a couple of days, blogged, went to a party, and worked on a new batch of mojo. Seriously, I am amazing.

Dunno if you’ve been keeping up with my exercising progress at Fat Chicks Running or not, but I’ve been steadily increasing my distance and trying to stop worrying about how fast I’m running. I talked to a couple last night who have been running for 20+ years and they both hammered it into me–what matters is how far you go, not how long it takes you to get there. Fine. Fine. Fine. It’s really hard for me not to try to go faster because of the uber competitive side of my nature. (Which has apparently been dormant for a while but is now back with a vengeance!) So I’m just trying to do slow and steady. I’ve got a long way to go before I can run a 10k. Honestly, I think I still have a long way to go before I can run a 5K. I can walk both (probably faster than I can run them) but I can’t run them…not yet.

I feel great though. I’m down an entire size in a month even though I’ve only lost 12 lbs. Probably because I’m lifting weights as well as running. My legs are freaking rocks right now (well, my thighs are rocks under a large layer of fat…but still…rock baby!) I bought a book called The New Rules of Lifting for Women. I haven’t started reading it yet because I’ve been head down in writing, but I plan to break it out and start reading this week.

Something I’ve noticed since I started really working out daily, I now look forward to it. Never thought that would happen to me. Something kinda just clicked about 2 weeks ago and my mindset changed. Instead of cussing my way through the 45 minutes on the elliptical, I was just doing it. And thinking. Or not thinking (which is really nice. My mind never seems to shut down, so I totally embrace anything that gives it a break.) It’s honestly one of my favorite parts of the day now. Yes, I said it. Write it down. And remind me of that if I fall off the wagon again.

One thing I know I’m not doing right is eating enough. I think I’m only taking in about 1000 calories a day, and I know I need more, but I can’t seem to make myself eat more now. But I don’t want my body to adjust to such a low calorie intake. Not sure how to work that one out yet. I did allow myself a junk food lunch yesterday, and while the cheese dip was good, it wasn’t all that. Guess my mindset really is changing.

This week should be very similar to last week. Writing, working, running, mothering, blogging, lunching, and mojoing. You got your week figured out yet? Happy Sunday!