and a social life found them again; and it was good.

Posted on July 19, 2006 by Just Call Me Mel

We moved to Oxford from Little Rock, 6 years ago. We were just entering our 30s and we had a pretty happening social life, even with two kids under 6–mainly because we lived around family and frankly, you couldn’t keep them away from the first grandbabies.

So, every Friday night, my Mom would pick up the boys and I would meet the girls for our weekly Girl’s Night Out. My girls were a group of teachers. (Hi ladies!) It was a nice mix–a couple of singles, the rest married–only a couple of Moms. We were a great group and no topic was off limits. (By the way, teachers KNOW how to party. They have all that pent up frustration with unruly kids and unreasonable parents…it’s a blast to be around. I miss them terribly.)

The guys would meet us out after 9 and we’d couple up and sometimes we’d stay in the group and sometimes we’d go off on our own.

We did this pretty much every week. We didn’t pull all nighters very often, but on occasion, we’d end the night at a local gay bar dancing our feet off.

We moved to Oxford and that just STOPPED. On a dime. Without warning.

I went through withdrawals. I am a social butterfly–always have been. And though I love my time alone on occasion, I thrive in a crowd of friends.

This town has been hard for us to find a fit because we didn’t go to school here and we’re not Rebel fans. (Go Hogs! Woo Pig Sooie!) We’re not real churchy–hey, that’s the benefit of being catholic, right? LOL and we’re not rolling in the dough. We’re at an odd age…not old, but not young enough to really fit in. Not that we care about fitting in, we care about finding a group of friends to hang with that we enjoy. And sometimes age makes a difference.

Recently, we’ve started finding ourselves among the social again. It’s been a breath of fresh air. I truly have missed the crowds and the camaraderie. It lifts me up…makes me feel better–if not a little tired. LOL

So, this week, I have plans Tuesday-Thursday with tentative plans on Friday. This is after my all night party in Memphis this past Saturday. I almost don’t know what to do with myself. LOL

It’s such a nice feeling to finally have a group that I’m comfortable enough with to go out and enjoy myself. It only took me six years of living here to find it. I just hope I’m not too old to truly enjoy it now! LOL

Let the party begin!

Posted on March 10, 2006 by Just Call Me Mel

I love my birthday. It’s my favorite time of the year.

Why? you ask…

Simple. It’s because I get to see my friends and go to the horse races one more time.

We’ve been doing this for my birthday every year for a long time. I think close to 8 years.

Anyway, I’ll see my best friend from high school and her husband:

Jen, Brian, and Mel

Then, I’ll get to see one of my college roommates, PamPam and her husband Apple. (I introduced them, thankyouverymuch.)

Jen, Mel, and Pam (couldn’t find my picture of Apple)

Maybe I’ll be able to see my other college roommate, Lori (aka, LeLe-da-sandybooty-lyin’-ho-bitch) Sigh, can’t find a picture of LeLe either. In my defense, she hasn’t been able to come for the past few years, so I don’t have a picture of her that isn’t pretty darn old. Just envision a petite babe with reddish hair and an infectious smile…and that’s LeLe.

And, my best male friend and one of my kids’ godfathers will be there. Nick, the Godfodda:

(Nick is single and ready to play ladies. He’s quite a catch. If you’re in the KC area and wanna meet him, let me know!)

The other Godfodda and one of Mark’s best friends from elementary school will be there:

Jim is in the green checked shirt and his wife, Holley, is turning away from the camera. Nick is in the background.

Glen and his wife Misty are joining us again:

Misty and Glenn

Michael J and his lovely wife Pattie are driving down from St. Louis again:

Pattie and Mike

Tracey and Paddy are also coming in from KC with Nick, but I can’t find a picture of them, either. Sniff.

And last, but definitely not least, I get to see two of my favorite people in the world. Chris and DeeDee:

Aren’t we a cute Triple? Dee2, Chris, and Mel

Yes, I get a night with my bestest friends in the world. Every year, we go to the races, then hang out in the Bier Garten of our favorite German Restaurant in Hot Springs, The Brau Haus. We act stupid and have the best time in the world.

And as great as all that is, I have to add one more thing. My husband. None of this would be the same without him. How awesome are we?

And they’re off!

Posted on January 20, 2006 by Just Call Me Mel

Friday, January 20, 2006 is a very special day.

It’s opening day at Oaklawn Park. And I’ll be there. As I have been for the past 5 years.

I’ve been in Oxford for six years now. Since 2001, I’ve been meeting my girlfriends at the horse races on opening day; then in March we go back again for my birthday.

I love the horse races. The animals are magnificant. Big, breathy beasts straining to finish first. Even the plow horses I wind up betting on half the time, finish with pride. (their jockeys? eh. not so much when they finish last)

Last year, the husband of one of my best girlfriends, rented us a car and driver so that we could all drink as much as we wanted. I asked DeeDee if we got lucky again this year, and she said, “Sadly, no. Not this year.” Well, apparently, Chris changed his mind…and he’s giving me my birthday early!Here’s our picture from last year. Aren’t we babes?

No catchy title; we’ll call this a Mélange

Posted on January 6, 2006 by Just Call Me Mel

Hey, that’s a pretty damn catchy title after all. (If you don’t know what it means, Bonehead, look it up.)

What a great segue into my first topic. My brother-in-law has a blog. From the moment he sent me an email announcing his blog, I started looking for the Four Horesmen of the Apocolypse. So far, we’re safe–but they can’t be too far behind.

For the brave and curious, check out Bonehead’s Blog. I love the man, I really do. But what goes on inside his head is really scary. The good news is, you’ll get to see some great pictures of my darling nieces. They are worth the trip into Bone’s brain anyday.

Speaking of pictures…(like these smooth topic transitions? That’s how you can tell I’m a pro at this blogging thing.) [yeah, okay, even I rolled my eyes at that one.]

What were we talking about? Oh yes, pictures. My son had a play at school today. He played Red Riding Hood’s Grandma in the play, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf. Can I just say, he is truly gifted and if the Carol Burnett show were still around, he’d give Vicki Laurence a run for her money for the role of Momma. (which, btw, is the role I played in one of my senior productions) it must run in the family.

Speaking of family–

okay, I got nothing.

You guys have a great weekend. I’m planning to write like a mad woman. I need to write 16 pages by tomorrow night to meet my weekly goal. Hope I’m feeling creative!

Evidence of my fun

Posted on January 4, 2006 by Just Call Me Mel

Yes, I’m finally back and I have pictures to share!

Rader and Ian–Too Cool for School.

We went to a Birds of Prey show where we met various hunters of the sky! They flew in an out of the crowd, sometimes brushing our shoulders, heads, or faces with their feathers. It was amazing!

This is Kaia. She’s a red-winged hawk

This is Juniper. She’s a Great Horned Owl who never learned to hoot. She sqwaks like a Jay. She was found as a baby by a woman who tried to raise her. Juniper cannot be released into the wild because she doesn’t know she’s an owl. She has never hunted and doesn’t realize she’s supposed to be nocturnal.

And this is Woodward. He’s beautiful. His wing span is 6 feet wide. His beak is deformed and they believe it happened because of somehting in the environment. Woodward can’t eat what he catches because of the deformity. He has to have his food cut up for him.

Isn’t he amazing?

Can you believe this butterfly–>

<–Opens up to this?

We went to the butterfly conservatory at the resort. It was truly amazing watching butterflies emerge from cocoons and having all these beautiful different species flying around and landing on our heads, pants, arms, etc.

This is an old pioneer cabin. It made me very grateful for my home. I shouldn’t ever complain about not having enough room again. (Notice I said “shouldn’t”) LOL

This is a view of the lake from the bridge near the Exhibit Center. I can’t wait to go back during the summer to see everything in COLOR!

Evidence of my fun

Posted on January 4, 2006 by Just Call Me Mel

Yes, I’m finally back and I have pictures to share!

Rader and Ian–Too Cool for School.

We went to a Birds of Prey show where we met various hunters of the sky! They flew in an out of the crowd, sometimes brushing our shoulders, heads, or faces with their feathers. It was amazing!

This is Kaia. She’s a red-winged hawk

Isn’t he amazing?

Can you believe this butterfly–>

This is an old pioneer cabin. It made me very grateful for my home. I shouldn’t ever complain about not having enough room again. (Notice I said “shouldn’t”) LOL

This is a view of the lake from the bridge near the Exhibit Center. I can’t wait to go back during the summer to see everything in COLOR!

A time to part-ay

Posted on December 10, 2005 by Just Call Me Mel

So, we had our office party Thursday night.

Heavy appetizers, cash bar, free soft drinks, and a band.

The band was okay. Last year’s was better. For some reason, this year they thought it was a good idea to start off slowly–Kenny G. slowly.

Gimme a break.

So, we sat through an hour of that crap and when people started leaving the band got a clue. So they livened it up a bit by putting me in a time machine and catapulting me back to 1990 with the Electric Slide. (yes, I know, technically it took me back circa ’76, but I didn’t actually start doing the Electric Slide until I started bar hopping. Work with me.)

Look. I have proof. (I can’t believe I’m posting these)

The party was fun, once we got it going. I have to say, it’s a sad state of affairs when the accounting group is the life of the party. Here I am with my friend (and, technically, my boss and her hubby and my hubby.