Author Archives: Just Call Me Mel

ridin’ the storm out…sorta

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Well the weather dudes were all sportin’ stiffies yesterday as severe weather threatened Arkansas. I think they were all saddened by the fact that Oklahoma beat us to the “home of the Quakenado” status.

They kept updating their facebook pages like they were Fred Sanford threatening to join Elizabeth. (If you didn’t get that reference, I forgive you your youth.)

Finally around 7:00 last night it started to rain. And it rained pretty hard for a little while. We even had some lightning. Trinity wasn’t happy…she is definitely not a fan of storms.

For the most part though, it was a big let down. I mean, I’m glad it wasn’t severe, but damn, if you guys are gonna get me pumped up about the weather, then I think I should at least get one giant clap of thunder. I’m not asking for a Quakenado, but I would like a little rumbling… Girding my loins for the impending doom was a total waste of effort.

Humph.

T-minus 10 days

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In just 10 days, this group of rapscallions will be reunited (minus James BOO + Outside-the-Womb Ralphasaurus YAY) for a weekend of frivolity and shenanigans. It will be a good time.

We are staying in an awesome house on the lake that has its own tower. What’s not to love about a house with a tower?

Check out the property info here if you’re interested. It looks like a great place and the property owners have been very easy to work with.

What’s the reason for this gathering? Well it’s El Jefe’s birthday next week. And you know I’m a big believer in birthday celebrations. I’d love to celebrate El Jefevember, but he doesn’t like to make a fuss. I, on the other hand, am a big fan of fuss.

We’re having a birthday dinner Saturday night where I will cook up something delicious. We will possibly do a Spa day in the Spa City and we’ll eat cake. Because it’s just not a birthday without cake.

I wonder if I can get him to wear a tiara? If not, I will… you know how I love my sparkle.

Can’t wait to see the peeps next week. It’s gonna be a great time!

wine, cheese, football and FIRE!

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We started the weekend off at a Wine and Cheese function at Greg Thompson Fine Art on Friday. It was a lot of fun and the art was fantastic. (There was a painting that actually cost more than the first house I bought…)

Don’t we look great? Why yes, yes we do.

Then Saturday, we jumped out of bed and immediately set things on fire.

 

Ruby couldn’t get close enough to the fire. She seriously would have laid down on the burning coals if we had let her. That doggy loves herself some heat. Trin Trin was a little smarter and kept her distance.

The Razorbacks won their game against SC, Ole Miss lost again, and in the battle for first place, LSU beat Alabama. Now,  I did NOT root for Alabama, I rooted against LSU (because I can’t find it in my heart to ever root for LSU unless they are playing those damn gators.) Even though I hate that LSU won, it’s actually better for the Hogs…

Sunday we hit the ground burning again, except we added some John Deere time to the mix. I also did a lot of sawing.

We’ll probably do another burning before the year is out, but I think this was our last date with John Deere for 2011. Thanks for the lawnmance, JD. It’s been great.

another Friday, another smile.

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I saw this today and it made me LOL. My parenting theory has been if I’m going to pay for their therapy anyway, I should make sure they have something to talk about…

So yesterday was a good day, even though I had one stressful event that sent my adrenaline into overdrive. Last night, after I bought all the things in Target, I came home, put my music on shuffle, grabbed a beverage of the adult variety and took a STEAMING HOT bath.

Ahhhh.

I need a bath pillow and a bath tray that will hold my book for me, and then my sanctuary will be perfect. Okay, that’s not true, my sanctuary will be perfect when I have those things plus this:

While my music was shuffling along, a song came on that I had forgotten how much I love.
STUTTERING (Kiss Me Again) by Ben’s Brother. Enjoy…

Happy Friday, Bitches!

memory lane

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I’m feeling a little nostalgic today, so I thought I’d repost one of my favorite Rader stories. This is from 2006:

 Rader then
Rader now

And then he was sorry…

My 8 year old had a really, really, really bad day at school a couple of weeks ago.

It was so bad, he came home and told me about it. He told me everything–except for the part where he was extremely rude to the assistant teacher. He absolutely refused to do anything she told him and apparently had a couple of ugly things to say to her in the process.

All this happened on a Friday. On Monday, I get a note filling in the missing pieces of the story. We do the “do you know what you did wrong?” talk and he tells me he’d just had a really bad day and took it out on Mrs. G.

I said, “Well, you should draw her a picture and tell her you’re sorry.”

So he did. I didn’t see the finished picture, but I saw him writing the note to Mrs. G. He told me that afternoon that Mrs. G. really liked his picture and that was that.

Until this morning when I ran into Mrs. G…

Mrs. G: Did you see the picture he drew me?

Me: No. Should I have?

Mrs. G: Laughing Oh Lord, yes.

Me: Worried now. Um. Why?

Mrs. G: Well, (snicker, snort) he drew me a picture of a donkey.

Me: gasp. this didn’t start off promising.Mrs. G: At the donkey’s head, he wrote my name and drew an arrow. “This is you.”

Me: grimacing

Mrs. G: And at the rear end he wrote, “And this is what I’ve been.”

Well, that did it. I started laughing and couldn’t stop.

Me: Well, I guess he can recognize ass-like behavior afterall.

Mrs. G. went on to say that it was by far the best note of apology she’s ever received.

I should say so.

WINE WEDNESDAY and other assorted important things

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I don’t care what I have to do to make tonight happen, but yes…it is going to be Wine Wednesday whether you like it or not. And if you don’t like it, what are you doing reading my blog?

I started reading my friend Stacey Jay’s book, JULIET IMMORTAL. Wow. She hooked me on page 1. And not many books do that, y’all. Buy this book. Read it. Love it. And tell her about it.


Stacey Jay Blog

Stacey Jay Facebook


Stacey Jay Twitter

Go forth and do my bidding.

Guess what else I’m reading? Maria Geraci‘s newest manuscript A GIRL LIKE YOU. Yes, I’m that special. While you wait for this amazing read to hit the shelves you should go and pick up her other titles:


BUNCO BABES TELL ALL

BUNCO BABES GONE WILD


THE BOYFRIEND OF THE MONTH CLUB

Make it so. Yesterday was her birthday, after all.

In writing news, I’ve added a few more paragraphs to my new book, I’ve pledged to write something everyday this month….Also, that really awesome boyfriend of mine helped me with science stuff again last night. I ♥ smart people. And n3rds.

Happy Birthday, Maria Geraci!

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To my dear BFF. I have missed you this year….Also, Rader says “Be sure and tell Miss GerACHi happy birthday for me.” So you’ve been told…
2006 
2007 
2008 
2009 
2010
2011 is the first year since we became friends that we didn’t see each other. That is unacceptable. Let’s make sure we change that in 2012. Love you, amiga!

HAPPY MEL-O-WEEN: Faces past and present.

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I love Mel-O-Ween but this year, I didn’t get a chance to really dress up. Well, I did…but it’s very subtle. Or as subtle as I can be. I thought about dressing up as a Pin Up Witch, but I’m pretty sure UALR isn’t quite ready for that:

Here are my last few costumes and at the bottom is this year’s look.

Mrs. Roper  2010

Naughty School Girl 2009
Zombie 2008
Dead Monk 2006
Vampire 2005
This year, I’m going as myself. Naughty Librarian. (or Witchy Woman…whatever. both work.)

Did you guys dress up or do you plan to?

happy friday and all that jazz

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This is me, drinking wine and being all a-sparkle after doing some major brainstorming (like 3 hours) with El Jefe last night on…are you ready for this…A NEW BOOK!

Y’all, I’ve been seriously worried that I would never write again. And now, I’m totally excited about this story. I’M SO EXCITED I’M VIBRATING. LIKE I’M GOING THROUGH CRACK WITHDRAWALS! I didn’t think I COULD still write. It’s been the weirdest and most depressing thing ever. I’ve been trying to force myself, trying to find passion for a story, trying to find a story…and then BOOM. One fell into my dreams.

It’s not like anything I’ve ever written before which is a little intimidating, but I love this so much I want to marry it. I might even want to have little book babies. That’s right, I want to be barefoot and pregnant with my new story. (the good news is, I can still have wine while being pregnant with a story!) YAY for booze and imagination!

I don’t want to get ahead of myself on this, but I am coasting high! and I’m riding that wave as long as it lasts.

It feels good to be back.

this is so not cool

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SOMEONE, and I’m not naming names (*koff* fishdog *koff*) sent this link to me last night.  Here, let me save you the trouble of clicking:

I’m torn about this. You see, I can’t really look at this picture without wanting to cry. Remember last Halloween?

However, I actually think a yard full of those awful creatures (with a few Big Headed Kings from BK thrown in) makes for great Halloween decor. It’s just too bad I would be too terrified to pull into my driveway. Or sleep. Ever again.

Oh, who am I kidding. I would drown in my own tears.