Author Archives: Just Call Me Mel

4 days in 10 seconds [estimated]

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  • Friday was unfun.
  • Saturday was a blast. Good friends and food and lots of fun.
  • Sunday stranded on the lake with a dead battery with the wind whipping us all over the water like we were Forrest Gump and Lt. Dan.
  • Jumping said dead battery by holding two boats together in the mad wind and choppy water.
  • Monday: Sore muscles from holding two boats together.
  • Yardwork. John Deere Dreams.
  • NEAR FATAL Spider bite on pinky finger by a stupid (now dead) spider that took up residence in my gardening glove.
  • Hanging with Birdrunner by the pool.
  • Bed early. Slept til 1:00. Up til 4:00.
  • Drinking coffee like it’s my lifeblood.

How was your holiday?

legislating common sense

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I get it. People who text and drive are dangerous. They are behind the wheel of a killing machine and they need to have both eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel. And I understand why this is a law. I have no beef with this.

But some states are contemplating making it illegal to text and walk because people are getting hurt. (in my world, this is called natural selection…)

Isn’t this taking things a bit far? I mean, if you are so involved in your email or text and you fall in a fountain, and then it gets posted to youtube for the world to see…shouldn’t that be enough punishment? Or if you’re texting and walking and fall into a manhole and land in a puddle of poop…isn’t that enough punishment? (btw, the parents sued the city. Really? Because I’m pretty sure her lack of attention to the GAPING HOLE IN THE STREET isn’t exactly the city’s fault. But that’s just me.)

I really don’t think natural selection should be legislated. The Darwin Awards would never be the same if we started legislating common sense…

Also, I text and walk all the time, so I may be eating my words soon. If you see me fall down a manhole, run into a tree, or fall into a fountain…please don’t remind me of this post. I don’t really like the taste of crow very much. (and please don’t post it to youtube either. heh)

FANtastic

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First off…IF YOU’RE NOT WATCHING GAME OF THRONES I MAY HAVE TO UNFRIEND YOU.

This show is just amazing. I can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate the character development and the complex nature of the stories.

If you are watching then you need to check out these hysterical reviews that my friend Stoney writes. (Also, you can read them if you’re not watching because they are so well written, it’s truly like you’re watching the show while reading.)

Episode 1.o1
Episode 1.02
Episode 1.03
Episode 1.04
Episode 1.05
Episode 1.06

My favorite storyline right now is the developing romance between the Dothraki leader Khal Drogo and his young wife Daenerys Targaryen. At first I thought she was going to be another whiny, wimpy girl who I would want to beat with a skillet to stop her eyes from their incessant leaking. But no. She’s turning into quite the strong woman. Writers should be watching this show for her character development alone. They do it right. Period.

In other FANtastic news…I got a fabulous Fan letter today and my favorite part was where she said I’m her hero because my books make her want to read more books.

Love. Love. Love. 1000 times Love.

Coming soon to a bookstore in FRANCE near you…

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How do you say BITE ME! and LOVE SUCKS! in French? I don’t have a clue, but we’ll soon find out! From Publisher’s Marketplace:

International rights: Children’s

French rights to Melissa Francis’s BITE ME! And LOVE SUCKS, to Bibliotheque Interdite, by Anne Lenclud, on behalf of Elaine Spencer at The Knight Agency.

I’m totally stoked! YAY!

I have a secret

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And secrets are fun.

I should be able to tell you tomorrow… but until then, here’s a hint:


Pouvez-vous deviner mon secret?

OK slightly off topic but BETTER OFF DEAD is one of my all time favorite movies ever and ever and ever.

I will tell you this isn’t a Dirty Little Secret. Hope you’re not too disappointed…

our weekend of rapture…

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You were left behind, too? WHAT? You mean we’re going to have to wait til 2012 now for our awesome playlist to be relevant?

I laughed yesterday when I read a status from a FB friend that said, “Wasn’t that like, the worst apocalypse EVER?”

FWIW, on the drive up to Northwest Arkansas on Friday, we thought the end was actually coming a day early. A black cloud of doom descended upon us. It was swirly and ugly but thankfully, no tornado formed.
This weekend Rader had soccer in Bella Vista, AR… so Jefe and I decided to get raptured from Beaver Lake where we stayed for the weekend while attending Rader’s tournament.

The Deathcats won their bracket and I rather enjoyed my rapture, so I’d say this weekend was full of win.



Beaver Lake is seriously so pretty that you should hate me on principle.
Saturday night, we headed to one of my favorite spots in Eureka Springs, AR: The Rowdy Beaver. (or as my friend’s mom calls it, The Randy Beaver. hehe) The Lori Locke Band was playing and we really dug their show. Good set of pipes and lots of talent to back her up.

All in all we had a great weekend. There was a little bit of mischievous recon action on the way home yesterday, but that information will remain in the vault. I will tell you strategery was involved. And ticks. Lots and lots of ticks…

MUSIC to celebrate your last Friday on earth…

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Here’s the list we compiled on my FB status yesterday. There are a couple of repeats, but I think that just means they are good suggestions… If the world ends tomorrow, here’s the music to go down with…

The End by The Doors
Any World Will Do by Steely Dan
Hells Bells by AC/DC
Runnin with the Devil – Van Halen
I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive, Hank Williams
IF I EVER LEAVE THIS WORLD ALIVE by Flogging Molly
Burn Baby Burn by the Trammps
The Four Horsemen by Metallica
Last day on earth by duran duran
The Final Countdown by Europe
Don’t fear the reaper by blue oyster cult
U2-Until The End Of The World
Prince’s 1999 “…party over, oops, out of time…”
Enter Sandman- Metallica
Discharge – Doomsday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4haocYW8…
Crucifix – Annihilation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2iQOM00M…
Slayer – Raining Blood
Dio – The Last in Line
Peter Gabriel – Here comes the flood
Iron Maiden – The # of the Beast
Metallica – The 4 Horsemen
Unchain the Night and Will the Sun Rise– Dokken
Genisis, “I Can Feel it Coming in the Air Tonight”
Highway to Hell
Rock of Ages
Armageddon It
London Calling
Miami 2017 (They Say the Lights Went Out on Broadway) by Billy Joel.
Zepplin “Stairway to Heaven”
If I ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly
Keep on Dancing Til the World Ends. By Miss Britney. The world may end, but still–we dance!!
Till the World Ends by Britney Spears-yes, I said it! The video is actually pretty good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzU9OrZlKb8
Living Dead Girl by Rob Zombie.
how soon is now? by morrissey
Who wants to Live Forever by Queen
Under Pressure from Bowie
Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo
Downside Up, another good one from Peter Gabriel
Land of Confusion Disturbed
Bodies (Let the bodies hit the floor) Drowning Pool

Thanks for playing everyone. Please feel free to add to the list today while I’m in an all day “retreat.” I’m pretty sure my idea of retreat (spa, massages, bloody marys…) and their idea of retreat (locked room, meat locker temps, lectures) are not exactly the same thing…

Y’all have a great weekend and I hope to see you Monday!

the end is nigh

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Or not. I mean how many people are going to predict the apocalypse and be wrong?

But damn, I sure am having fun planning to be left behind on Saturday where there will be much looting and the killing of zombies.

Because you know there will be zombies. or lots of Chuck Norrises…

Anyway, we’re on my Facebook page building an Apocalyptic Playlist…but we don’t have to just play there…you can play here, too. Suggest some songs! C’mon! It could be the end of the world again! And if we survive this round, remember, the Mayans have said the end is in 2012…so we’ll already have our playlist ready and waiting.

oops I did it again.

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I went to Pinup Girl Clothing and started drooling daydreaming over several dresses. This may not end well…

But seriously, how hot are these dresses?



Yeah. I have a serious need…for more cash. HAH!

In the world of friendship, I hung with ALL-CAPS KRISTAL last night after hanging with two of my besties at SO where we enjoyed a nice bottle of Wirra Wirra Shiraz. YUM. That is all.

BTW, drinking wine on a Tuesday night and staying up past my bedtime was probably not the best idea now that I work full-time and am supposed to be respectable. (being respectable is overrated. Am I right?)

I started planning my new tattoo this week. The idea came to me in a dream and now I’m totally stoked. I need to go see Jud at 7th Street and discuss the design and see what he can work up for me. I wanna try to get it in June… YAY! Hopefully Carla will come take more pics for me again!

In failure news, I did not get to make cherry cobbler last night. But since I drank red wine I think that totally counts.

cobble, cobble, cobble!

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Today is National Cherry Cobbler Day!

So let’s all pop our cobbler cherries together! How awesome would it be if we all ate cherry cobbler today? I’m pretty sure no matter how bad your day is, if you have a slice of cherry cobbler, it’s gonna get better. (admittedly, cherry cobbler is no apple pie, but it’s a good runner up…)

Here’s a tried and true cherry cobbler recipe from Southern Living (printed in 1999). Yes, this is a recipe that I have in my possession from my Southern Living days. It’s a good one. Enjoy.

Ingredients
  • 6 cups pitted fresh cherries (about 2 1/2 pounds)*
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon red liquid food coloring (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • Ice cream
Preparation
  • Bring cherries, 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, 1/2 cup water, and, if desired, food coloring to a boil ina medium saucepan, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in 3 tablespoons butter, lemon rind, and almond extract. Pour into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.
  • Combine remaining 3/4 cup sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add milk, 1/4 cup butter, and vanilla, and beat at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes. Add egg, and beat 2 more minutes. Spoon batter evenly over cherry mixture.
  • Bake at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden, shielding with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Cool in dish on a wire rack 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

    *3 (14.5 ounce) cans pitted tart red cherries can be substituted. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Substitute reserved juice for 1/2 cup water.

In the world of irony (where I tend to live most of my life) in Ireland, today is National Famine Memorial Day. Not sure if they celebrate by fasting or not, but I say let’s change tradition just in case and celebrate with COBBLER!