Monday, October 31, 2005
Happy Halloween!!!!!
what Mel looks like before her coffee...
posted by Mel Francis @ 3:34 PM |
| links to this post
Saturday, October 29, 2005
nostalgia
This morning, I snuggled up to my youngest son on the couch with my cuppa to watch saturday morning cartoons. My oldest son ran into the room, "Mom! Have you ever seen Escape to Witch Mountain? It's on Hallmark right now."
Speaking of nostalgia...
So, we flip channels and sit and watch one of my favorite childhood flicks.
Of course, it's really, really bad now.
But I still love it.
And guess what?
Return to Witch Mountain is on now. :)
posted by Mel Francis @ 10:01 AM |
| links to this post
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Hottie du jour
Yummy.
posted by Mel Francis @ 2:18 PM |
| links to this post
Sunday, October 23, 2005
weekend weirds
Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy come on tonight! YAY!
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:14 PM |
| links to this post
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Surviving Judd the Dudd
Just shut up already.
He was kickin' ass in the team challenge, then he had 1 too many beers and before you know it, he's Molly-Motor-Mouth. He is his own worst enemy. I'll be surprised if he didn't shoot himself in the foot tonight.
7:43 pm
Well, the team stood strong, but they need to put a muzzle on Dudd. He will be the rift in that tribe. I wonder what will happen from this point on for them. I hope if they have access to more alcohol in the future they'll at least be smart enough to keep it away from Molly-Motor-Mouth. Sheesh. He is full of himself.
7:45 pm
Bobby Jon went a little wacko on Jamie today. It's not like Jamie was rubbing his nose in the win...he was just celebrating. But Bobby Jon claims Jamie stepped over the line and so he had to" put him in his place". Oh, is that what you did, BJ? Hmmm. Didn't look like that from my couch.
Wonder if the tribe will vote him out or if they'll vote out Amy. Personally, I think it's time for Amy to go...her ankle is the weak link in that group. I hope they don't turn on Gay Brian. I really like him.
Besides, when the tribe merges, Rafe's gonna need a friend.
7:49
BJ called Brian a "good ole boy"? Yeah. Good old girlie boy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I love girlie boys. But for country boy BJ to call Brian a good ole boy kinda worried me. "He'd be a good neighbor."
Hmmmm. A good neighbor but not a good teammate?
We'll soon see.
OMG.
So, Rafe gets to give someone from Yaxcha immunity... I'm in the floor laughing. This will be beautiful. If he doesn't pick his girlfriend Brian, I'll be devestated.
I wonder if BJ has worn out his welcome. I'm wondering if he's gonna be outta here...
7:53 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I can't believe it! It was set up to be one of the most beautiful things ever! But it wasn't meant to be. What the hell was Rafe thinking? He shoulda kept Brian. He never shoulda given Gary immunity. Bobby Jon could've been voted out with 1 vote. 1 vote! If Rafe would've given Brian immunity, then BJ would've waved goodbye and I would've laughed my ass off.
Ah well.
Bet Rafe will be kicking himself when the tribes merge.
posted by Mel Francis @ 7:41 PM |
| links to this post
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Looking for Laughter
First off, I have to share a story about laughter. From Merriam-Webster Online
Main Entry: laugh·ter
Pronunciation: 'laf-t&r, 'l[a']f-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hleahtor; akin to Old English hliehhan
1 : a sound of or as if of laughing
2 archaic : a cause of merriment
Notice the pronunciation? Yes. that's right. It's pronounced laFter. Well duh. We all know that. Right?
You would think so.
My husband and I went to a cookout on Sunday in a little town about an hour from our house. (Hernando, MS) The directions we had weren't very clear so we stopped at a little gas station to ask for clarification. We were looking for "Lauder". Wrong. We were looking for "Laughter" street, except the locals pronounce it "Lauder".
Huh?
You heard me. Laughter is not pronounced laFter. It's pronounced lAUDer. Well, at least in this community.
This is not the first time that the locals have bastardized the pronounciation of a word for their purposes. (it weeds out the outtatowners.)
For example:
I live in Lafeyette county. Pronounced here: Lu FAY' ette NOT lä-fE-'et as it is in the rest of the world.
We have a Marquis Cheveron. Pronounced Markus not mar 'kee
We have a China Royal. Achem. Pronounced, China RoyAL.
Need I go on?
posted by Mel Francis @ 6:20 PM |
| links to this post
Hottie du jour -- 10/19/05
Mmmm. James Denton.
posted by Mel Francis @ 9:44 AM |
| links to this post
Quizilla Strikes Again!
You are Woodstock!
Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Thanks to Maria for this new quiz to play with. I guess it's kinda funny that I'm the Woodstock to her Snoopy.
posted by Mel Francis @ 7:40 AM |
| links to this post
Sunday, October 16, 2005
(not so) hidden messages
Last night, in my dreams, Maria and I were at a conference. We got on an elevator, pushed the button 2, and proceeded to ride down. We got to our floor but the door wouldn't open. Then the elevator tilted and Maria and I were thrown against the wall. We heard a creak, then the elevator started to fall end over end to the basement. So we tumbled down.
We got to the basement, but instead of crashing, the elevator stopped, the doors opened and we got out. We were shaken but not hurt. And we needed to find a hotel employee to tell them about the demon elevator.
We found an employee and told him what was going on. He was convinced it was one elevator and we said, "No, this one." He told us that wasn't possible, that elevator didn't go to the basement, and besides, it had just been serviced and was the most reliable elevator in the hotel.
We saw some of our friends getting on the elevator, and we tried to stop them by telling them what happened. The little hotel dude was shaking his head saying that we were confused so our friends got on the elevator anyway. They didn't believe us.
The moral of this dream is, sometimes people just have to figure things out for themselves...
posted by Mel Francis @ 11:04 AM |
| links to this post
Friday, October 14, 2005
better
I called her today and she is setting us up for some testing. YAY! Just KNOWING what we're dealing with will be a big help. Hell, just talking to the counselor was a huge relief. Ian likes and trusts her, so this will be a good thing.
We're working on homework charts and chore charts now. Everything I've read says that kids who tend to have focus issues need to be organized and on a schedule. This is SO UNLIKE me...so, I'm going to have to be trained, too.
Here we go. Change, she is a comin'.
posted by Mel Francis @ 3:16 PM |
| links to this post
Oh yeah and for the record
95-100 A
85-94 B
70-84 C
60-69 D
59 Below F
So, when we had As...we really had As...
Sigh. I just have a real hard time wrapping my head around a 75 being a D. Am I being to unreasonable? Am I setting the bar too low?
posted by Mel Francis @ 9:53 AM |
| links to this post
Surviving
I have been in a mood for a couple of weeks now. It's really hard to deal with because it's affecting my writing. It's hard to even open the MS much less get anything down.
I'm downright depressed over my son's academia issues. We're going to have him tested, though we're pretty sure if he's suffering from any learning disability it's very mild and can only be dealt with through retraining the kid as well as ourselves. We're up for that, though I'll tell ya, it's going to be hard.
My friend, Jennifer, recommended a book by Mel Levine, A MIND AT A TIME. I've ordered it and can't wait to read it. She says it will really help me see things differently and it gives examples of how to tackle each issue. I need examples.
One thing that I'm discovering is the absurd grading scale our school district has. What ever happened to the 4.0 scale? You know, the one we had in college? Doesn't it seem strange that Cs are supposed to represent the average grade and yet they only allow for a 8 point range? And Ds are a 5 point range.
93-100 A
85-92 B
76-84 C
70-75 D
69 and below F
I know this isn't "standard" grading. Mississippi doesn't have a standard, across the state, grading scale. Some school districts are on the 4.0 scale. (90-100, 80-89, 70-79, 60-69, 59 below) Some are slightly different from our district...
Some states do have a standard grading scale across the state...so if a kid moves from one district to another, then they know what to expect grade wise. Maybe there should be a standard grading scale across the nation. That would at least help the kids know what to expect...and it certainly wouldn't change the testing scores, since those are completely different from the school grades.
Either way, when a 75 is considered a D, that is a problem. At least in my opinion.
I'm not trying to make it easier on my son. (maybe easier on me!) but I am trying to make it at least fair. In college, if he had a 75, he'd be a strong C student. No, it's not great. Yes, if I had ever brought home a C I'd have been killed--but we're not talking about me...we're talking about a kid who is struggling to pass some of his classes for the first time ever.
Okay, this is turning into a long, rambling blog. Sorry. But it's my little spot in cyberspace and I'll be long and rambly if I want. I try to be happy and there for everybody when they need me. I do a pretty damn good job of it too, most of the time. But now, it's my turn. So, if you don't like it, don't read. LOL
So, we're going to have Ian tested, but the more and more feedback we get from the teachers, the more we wonder if he isn't slightly ADD. (Attention Defecit Disorder) Yes, there is an easy fix to that, but I'm not one of those who likes to run out and get a pill for every problem that exists. However, at this point, I'm just about ready to try anything.
And, frankly, I'm tired of worrying myself sick about it.
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:59 AM |
| links to this post
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Lost--Oct 12
And just because I'm in love, I'm posting yet another picture of Sawyer.
This just in:
LOST Actor and wife robbed at gun point.
posted by Mel Francis @ 9:21 AM |
| links to this post
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
I've been tagged
1) Delve into your blog archive.
2) Find your 23rd Post (or closest to it).
3) Find the fifth sentence (or the closest to it).
4) Post the text of the sentence in your blog. Ponder it for meaning, subtext or hidden agendas.
5) Tag three people to do the same.
All right, here goes.
Then I took a shower and went to lunch with the fam after they got back from mass (Non-Catholic here living among the holy).
Um. yeah. how's this for pondering:
I'm not Catholic. I shower. I eat lunch.
Pretty fucking boring.
So, I decided I should look at my VERY first blog...(over at RWA Online...my "practice" blog)
My 23rd entry/5th sentence:
Well, let me tell you....I couldn't talk after my first beer.
Hehe. This one is so much more fun than the other. What should I say? How can I wax poetic about a statement as eloquent as that?
Now, it's my turn:
Sigh. Who can I tag?
I'm tagging Maria. She can go back to her "practice" blog if she wants to get to 23.
Gina Black and AE Rought.
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:39 PM |
| links to this post
dilemmas
BUT I DON'T WANT TO.
Dammit.
I'm cranky this afternoon. I was perfectly happy earlier, but now, I'm just one big cesspool of crank. Hmph. Maybe it's because I work in an environment that is full of total mind-melded idiots. Maybe it's because I haven't written anything in 6 days and really need to. Maybe it's because I'm really upset over my son's grades and his apparent desire to repeat 6th grade. (though he adamently denies he wants to repeat the grade, you wouldn't know it by looking at his scores) Grrrrrrr. I'm looking into tutors as we speak.
Maybe it's because sometimes, I just feel like swimming in a cesspool of crankiness. I wish Smart Bitches would post another man-titty post. Those make me laugh. Hmm. That's kinda freeing. MAN-TITTY. MAN-TITTY. MAN-TITTY. heh. I just made myself laugh. I almost feel better.
On a good note, LOST is on tonight! Whoohoo! Sawyer and Sayid...here I come. Maybe they'll make me feel better. I just hope Jack's whine fest is over because obviously, I'm not in the mood for it.
posted by Mel Francis @ 4:40 PM |
| links to this post
hottie du jour--BONUS
So, to make it up to my beloved, he is the Hottie du jour:
And the other hottie pictured is my friend DeeDee. (Hi Dee!) She's another one of those people I love and is today's Hottie du jour BONUS!
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:45 AM |
| links to this post
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
The No Ninja rule
Halloween's a comin' and we still haven't decorated or bought costumes.
I have one rule this year: No Ninjas.
I've never had a costume rule before. But I have to enact the No Ninja rule this year. First of all, all our halloween pictures look the same. Rader has been a ninja 4 years in a row. Ian has been a ninja of sorts at least 4 times.
But, Halloween is only once a year, you say. If they want to be a ninjas, let them be ninjas.
Sigh. Yes. Halloween is only once a year. But these damn ninja costumes seem to last forever. And swords do too. So, I wake up to sword fighting and yelling every weekend. Then comes the "YOU ALMOST POKED MY EYE OUT YOU IDJIT" arguments. Then comes the "Mom, we were just playing, and it was an accident, and we didn't mean to do it...well, I didn't do it, Ian did..." "Did NOT!" "DiD too" "DID NOT, IDJIT" "Did TOO FART FACE!"
So. No Ninjas.
Here is the conversation with Rader the day I enacted the rule:
Me: Alright guys. No Ninjas this year. Pick something scary.
Rader: How 'bout a scary ninja.
Me: No Ninjas.
Rader: How about a dragon slayer with a sword and a black mask.
Me: sounds like a ninja
Rader: Well, how about a martial artist
Me: Ninja.
Rader: How about Jackie Chan's body guard.
Me: Ninja.
Rader: How about...
Me: How about I pick out your costume.
Rader: How about a kid in black pajamas with Nun-chucks.
Me: Sounds a lot like a ninja.
Rader: What if I'm a ninja-in-training?
Me: Nope. That's a ninja.
And it goes on and on and on.
posted by Mel Francis @ 2:40 PM |
| links to this post
Monday, October 10, 2005
math update
i don't get it.
Lisa and her uber-smart hubby Josh explained this problem to me and I still don't get it. (thanks guys for trying. I really appreciate it.)
My husband would get it, but he's playing soccer. So, I'm reading the problem over and over and I'm just as lost now (maybe even more so) than I was before.
I honestly think it's a mental thing. I always hated math as a kid. I did fine until Algebra, then I started screwing the pooch. So, now I think I have this total mental breakdown when it comes to any math.
The only problem now is, I can't help my son. How can I expect him to pass this class if I can't?
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:59 PM |
| links to this post
testing 1,2,3
posted by Mel Francis @ 7:17 PM |
| links to this post
falling off the health wagon
I know there is a Cookie Monster. Wonder if there is a Cookie-Dough Monster?
I fell off the healthy bandwagon and right into a pile of cookie dough and cheese dip this weekend.
I did, however, manage to walk on Saturday with my walking buddy, Nadia. (Thank God you called me Saturday, or I would've stood you up. I had completely forgotten about it.)
My weigh in tomorrow will probably be ugly. Oh well, it's the price you pay for swimming in cookie dough.
Of course, I'm so farking hungry right now, I'm thinking of spreading this pack of ketchup on my arm and taking a big bite out of it. I have leftover Mexican Food at home. I plan to go home at lunch and promptly throw it away. Or make Mark eat it.
posted by Mel Francis @ 11:13 AM |
| links to this post
Sunday, October 09, 2005
voice class
Now, I have a pretty good grasp of my voice. It's probably the only thing in my writing that is truly consistent. But, I thought I'd take this class to see if it could help me tweak my voice.
We received our first assignments Friday.
Wow.
Talk about memories. These assignments all dealt with childhood, where we grew up, what we were doing at certain ages. I guess we must look to the past to find our future... Many of the assignments were timed writings, which took me back to college. I had a great professor who had us do timed "free writings" all the time. I always loved those assignments.
Anyway, this class looks to be very interesting and very intimate. I'm really looking forward to getting to know my chaptermates and learning about their voices as well as mine.
posted by Mel Francis @ 4:19 PM |
| links to this post
Saturday, October 08, 2005
some of my favorite things
Bicyclette Syrah--for when I'm writing at night. (this picture will have to do until I can take my own picture of a bottle of Bicyclette)
chocolate chip cookie dough...anytime...duh
And I am NOT ashamed that this is my favorite movie.
Woo Pig Sooie! Go Hogs! (even though you're having a bad year, I still love ya!)
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:54 AM |
| links to this post
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Survivor--Oct 6
7:25pm Judd may be my new favorite: "GET OUT OF MY JUNGLE."
7:40 pm Nevermind. I take that back. Judd is no longer my favorite. He is the reason the tribe lost. Dammit to hell. Poor Steph. I just hope she doesn't start whining now.
8:00 Close call Lydia. You got lucky. Maybe now your new team will see your value.
As always, changing the teams changes the dynamics of the game. Things will get more interesting now.
One person this will affect is Gary. He had it made when he wasn't on Danni's team...but she knows who he is and he's still lying about it. I said it before, but I'll say it again. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Even if he does make it to the final two, he won't win because of that one lie. That stupid lie. Time and again this show has proven one thing--it's not about who needs the money most; it's about who plays the game the best. Gary's afraid they'll vote him off because he doesn't need the money...but if you look at the past shows, overall, that's just not true.
Now the show is going somewhere. Let's get down and dirty, y'all!
I can't wait for my friend Maria to post...wonder what her thoughts are? (btw, she was SOOOO wrong about Jack on Lost. Hewas just a whiner last night--button or no)
posted by Mel Francis @ 7:24 PM |
| links to this post
LOST
Is it just me, or is Jack a big fat titty-baby? I mean, Dr. Doom in all his glory whining and crying about how this can't happen and that won't happen.
HELLOOOOOO.
Jack, take a look around ya, big boy. You're on an island, in the middle of nowhere that is being guarded by a monster. There are "OTHERS" on the island. There is a man living in an underground vault full of food, water, electricity...and you are still in the world of "Jack's Reality." Cry me a river.
Dude. You need to take a pill and jump up on the turnip truck. And for God's sake, PUSH THE GD BUTTON, ALREADY!
Now, onto my favorite bad boy and his little situation.
Whoa. Didn't see that coming. Chickie-poo whooped his ass. Maybe she'll whoop up on old Jackie and turn him into a man.
Jack needs to take a few lessons from someone, that's for sure. And in the meantime, someone should just shut him the f*ck up.
The show was awesome, I will admit. Despite the fact I wanted to mute it half the time Jaqueline was on the screen.
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:01 AM |
| links to this post
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Hottie du jour
I'm a huge fan of the tv show LOST, so today's hottie is brought to you by ABC.
If you'll recall, a couple of weeks ago, our hottie du jour was Sawyer.
He most certainly is my hottie preference on the show, but Sayid (Naveen Andrews) runs a close second.
Mmmmmm. Wednesdays.
posted by Mel Francis @ 9:24 AM |
| links to this post
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Reporting in...
Recorded food every day but two. Stayed within allotted points every day but one.
Exercised 4 days. Included walking or eliptical trainer and arm exercises and abs.
Pounds lost: 5
So my first week went pretty well. I'm still fairly motivated though I'm very tired. I'm ready for the magic potion I paid that faery for to kick in. I have a feeling I was ripped off. Maybe I should report the faery to the BBB.
Week two of budgeting.
We've pretty much kept to our spending plan. Mark did go over the bills with me the first week and we made plans for him to sit down with me every Sunday morning to go over the checkbook. What really happened was I sat down and went over the checkbook while he cleaned the kitchen. Oh well. At least I got my kitchen cleaned!
The one thing that has really helped has been our cash envelope. We put $200 in the evelope and when we want to have pizza delivered or go get a snow cone or rent movies, we take the money from the cash envelope. That's really cut down on our excessive spending.
Anyway, I'm starved so I'm heading off to eat my cinnamon roll oatmeal and drink my coffee...and I'm going to like it, dammit!
posted by Mel Francis @ 8:16 AM |
| links to this post
Saturday, October 01, 2005
The Kia Marathon
Dear Kia,
RWA Online hopes we honor your memory well.
-----------------------
Copyright 2002
DanaRae Pomeroy
The Kia Marathon
Kia was a special lady to many of the people in the Romance Section and, later, the RWA Forum. She was published in contemporary category romance as Kia Cochran. Just prior to her death, she'd turned her hand to attempting mystery romances.
I was one of the few fortunate enough to meet Kia in person. In fact, we 'camped' in her back yard in our RV for three weeks, the spring before she died. Kia is responsible (long story) for our move to Greenville SC, 'tho I'd never met her in person until we pulled into their driveway.
Several of us came to know Kia well through doing the Artist Way course via email and forming a Sacred Circle. When I had the opportunity to spend three weeks literally in her backyard, it was as if we were old friends. In addition to her writing, Kia was a voracious reader. She made weekly trips to the local library and and supported the Friends of the Library in their sales fundraising. She was also a crafter and viewed her knitting and her quilting as she did her writing ... a puzzle to be put together, a story to be told, an image to be created.
Kia was always encouraging and her primary mantra to the rest of us was to write, write the story, tell the story, do not stop, do not pull out the red pencil, do not listen to the internal critic, until the story is on paper or disk. Then, go back and plug the holes, flesh the characters, add the description, whatever. The important thing was to write and tell the story, then worry about the "warts."
Kia survived breast cancer and was headed toward her fifth year "clear" exam when bone cancer set in. Most folks never knew she was a cancer survivor, nor that she was as ill as she was the last several months. She refused to go to the hospital until the very end, wanting to stay at home with her husband, surrounded by the plants she loved and the dogs who were her "children." She passed away in August of 2000, but she left a memory of her caring and a reminder that the most important thing a writer can do is tell a story that will touch the readers' hearts.
posted by Mel Francis @ 10:06 PM |
| links to this post
| site search by freefind | advanced |
happy sunday morning
the party's over--but we have pics!
Holiday Movies...you gotta fave?
finding your way
notes from the universe
words
happy birthday, Fishdog!
just another manic monday
Dear Sandman Post Script
Dear Sandman,
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
