Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

I received an email from a very nice lady who will be attending my Motivate Your Plot and Your Life workshop in Salem, OR October 21. She asked what the Asian character means that appears in the background on the home page and between each MMMLOG entry.

To be sure I asked my fabulous web designer, Willa Cline, what the symbol means. I also remembered that she overtly chose that particular character because she liked its shape. Me too! However, perhaps her subconscious directed her choice to be in keeping with the overall theme of my website: Imagine a world where love is not constrained by time nor space.

Eternity. That's what the Asian character means.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

I've been known to listen to late night talk radio--no, not that political stuff but to Coast to Coast, the alternative talk show. Gotta say that much of what I've discovered in the so-called paranormal realms I first got an inkling of from C2C guests over the years. The C2C website is a wonderful spot for more of the same. Today I discovered a wondrous website via Thursday's guest Cliff Pickover. Go to C2C for more information on much that will rattle your cage.

This link goes to EatLiver.com and specifically to a photo story about a woman who transforms herself into a soda machine for no apparent reason. It's hugely hilarious and you ought to take a look. Click here. You never know when you'll need to transform yourself into a drink dispenser for whatever reason.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

THE BOOMER ANTHEM
Okay, I'll admit it that whole Red Hat thing of the other generation puzzles me. I believe the "movement" started from the poem about "when I get old I shall wear purple" or something to that effect. It's a lovely concept that really appealed to my mother when she read it and shared with me. But like many lovely ideas or sentiments that become "movements" or embraced by many, it changes. And then you get the red hat club. I've even seen pretty decent red hats for five bucks at a discount store that shall not be named.

In any case, it got me thinking . . . uh oh, you might say. I'm a Boomer, a Boomer Babe, if you will, as I was born somewhere between 1945 and 1960-something, the dates depending on who is defining the Boomer generation. So, in response to the purple-wearing-red-hat sporting bunch, I've created a Boomer Anthem:

THE BOOMER ANTHEM by MMmmmmmmmelinda
When I am old
I won't act like it.

When I am older
I'll deny it.

When I am oldest
I'll be like the Rolling Stones--DEAD but I won't know it.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMmelinda the Boomer Babe

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

A FAVORITE SEASON

When I lived in the desert Southwest fall was my favorite season. Nothing much happened then to show a change in season except that it got a little cooler and the days seemed less windy. You had to go up to the nearby mountains if you wanted to see any fall color or leaves turning on the wild grapevines. And of course there was the pinon hunting that our family occasionally did. Sometimes we'd actually beat the chipmunks and Kaibab squirrels to the pine cones heavy with tiny "starvation" nuts, as the old timers called pine nuts. We'd soon be covered with pitch that seemed to have to wear off, and I'd wonder how the animals avoided getting stuck to things from the accumulated pitch they surely must have on their fur. Haven't really solved that one in all these years of contemplation since.

I now live in the Pacific Northwest and find that I am not so in love with fall as I used to be. Though I love the turning of the leaves and crisp nights with sunny days, I also know that this signals the beginning of the Rain Festival. I like rain, think it's a precious commodity from my southwestern perspective, which I haven't put aside. What I don't like is the dark. By the time November gets here, it's raining, but it's also dark when you get up and dark when you come home. Dark. Dark. Dark. And I have to head south, follow the sun to Arizona for as long as I can manage. It was dark early this morning and I'm feeling the itch to turn my face toward the sun and go.........

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

You all ought to thank, or not, the Kansas Heckler who informs me that it's been four days since I've updated MMMLOG.

UPDATE
Actually, I'm taking a bit of glorious time to putter. I know, putter? Yup. I've four projects being shopped right now, so I've allowed myself some putter time. I know it sounds strange, little of what I say or do doesn't to some, but I love cleaning the garage, the closets, drawers, getting rid of stuff. I'm a great thrower-awayer. I just subjected my wardrobe to an autumn purge. Since I've lost some weight it's about time to toss out the stuff of that other size that I'd be tempted to wear again--when my blood sugar drops and I begin to hallucinate that whatever is actually in style and looks almost good . . .

TALK LIKE A PIRATE & PIRATE PICK-UP LINES
This link is courtesy of Carol Dunford, a clever critique pal who's writing a sucky novel--yeah, it's a vampire romance. Just click here and learn why to talk like a Pirate

ARrrrrrrrr, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

There's a Teavana shop in Bellevue Square that sells wonderful teas. I sampled the jasmine dragon phoenix pearls, hand-rolled tiny balls of tea leaves, and decided to buy a pound. Then quickly changed my order when I discovered the twenty dollar bill I held out to the clerk wouldn't have even been a down payment. I settled for an ounce. Today I had my first cup of the aromatic brew which is only steeped for 1-2 minutes in 175 degree water. Any longer and it's delicate jasmine fragrance goes sharp as does the flavor. So, if I continued with my plans to milk every last jasminey bit from a single teaspoon of tea, I would be in for a bitter disappointment.

There's a lesson in there someplace and it's not about following the rules or squeezing every last drop of goodness or profit or pleasure out of something. It's about allowing oneself to just be in the moment and enjoy it to its fullness. Let the next moment take care of itself.

Or something like that . . .

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Remember that old Jim Croce song, Time in a Bottle? Okay, yeah, this photo has nothing to do with that--except the lizard part. Eeeewwww!

A Blond Joke from the Dan, son of Harshberger
A blonde was sitting on the train reading the newspaper.

The headline blared, "12 Brazilian Soldiers Killed."

She shook her head at the sad news, then turned to the stranger sitting next to her and asked, "How many is a Brazilian?"


That's, like, totally stupid. Everyone knows a Godzillion is way more than than a Brazilian and the Japanese put the little ones in bottles, too.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMmelinda (so ducking and running for cover.)

Hi ho, MMMLOGeringos!

More Water Blessing Possibilities
In the last MMMLOG there was information about a worldwide meditation to cleanse the waters in New Orleans, adapting the work of Dr. Emoto.

I've received several other water meditation suggestions from MMMLOGerinos who missed the mass meditation. I'm glad to offer a really great one here from the one known as the Kansas Heckler . . .

"I missed the great 9/11 water meditation - can't do what you don't
know about - but I have a small idea. I live on the Mississippi drainage
side of the continental divide. That means that eventually all the run off
water from this area hits that great river and flows through New Orleans.
So, every time I am at the faucet I bless and love a glass of water for that
great river, and of course its tributaries and New Orleans. I am spreading
the word to my metaphysical friends. Go have a picnic on the banks of the
Arkansas and bless the waters. Just think what positive results we could
have starting this far away and letting all that love and blessing flow
through our nation. Whooee! Maybe we should start a movement - everyone go
to their favorite body of water (no matter WHERE it goes) and have a joyful
event including loving & blessing the water. Now there's a concept for you!"

Sounds great to me!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

If you have seen the movie, What the Bleep Do We Know?, you've heard of the work of Dr. Emoto, his experiments with influencing and changing water at the molecular level with thought, intention. His website is http://www.masaru-emoto.net for more information about his research and methods.

Alternative Help for Flooded Areas
Over the weekend I received an email from Franci Prowse, a healer and teacher from Anza, CA. She wrote,"There is an organized world wide effort to cleanse and purify the flood waters in New Orleans by using the methods of Dr. Emoto. In case you're not familiar with this, here's his website: http://www.masaru-emoto.net/

"It's a very simple method that will only take a few minutes of your time. You simply send Love and Gratitude to the water and envision the water being clear, clean, and pure. What will make this process incredibly powerful is if the Love and Gratitude energy is sent in one monumental surge at a specific time. Anyone who has meditated with a group or prayed together with others knows how much more powerful the group energy is. The larger the group, the more powerful our healing capabilities will be for clearing the toxins out of the floodwaters in New Orleans."

On 9/11 at 7:11 PDT (Pacific Daylight Time). Thousands of people all over the world did the meditation/visualization at the designated time. Franci said, "The victims of the hurricane and subsequent flooding in New Orleans have been many, and people around the world have been moved to generously send their aid to help them. But there is one who has been overlooked... one who very much needs your help: Mother Earth. She needs your assistance to heal her in the cleansing of the poisons from her water in the New Orleans area."

The time of the huge group healing focus to cleanse the waters of New Orleans may have passed, but it's never too late for a focused healing intention for ourselves, our friends, family, nation, the world and Mother Earth.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW!

New Workshops Scheduled January 2006

Where:
DiscoverU, Seattle Northgate Campus

When:
January 4, Writing in Creative Flow
January 11, Discovering Writer's Voice & Style
January 18, Crafting Characters & Dialogue
January 25, Developing Plot & Story Action

Registration: www.discoveru.org


The DH lands bearing gifts . . . and laundry
The Airedale and Mmmmmmmm are thrilled that the DH has landed in Seattle from his travels in the Orient. He brought home silk, jade and, yes, laundry and the new Harry Potter from the son of Mmmmmmm. I started the book right away, but I'm very aware of the author's technique and paying more attention to that instead of the story. But I expect things to pick up.

I sent three throw-away cameras with the DH and told him to shoot them up in Shanghai, Japan and at our son. He did so and had the pictures developed in Japan. I thumbed through the albums and had to laugh. There were twenty-six pictures of every inch of his room on the 70th floor of the Shanghai Grand Hyatt. The rest were of the air carrier he visited, and city shots, which may be of Tokyo or Shanghai or Portland, I haven't asked him yet. There were five photos of our son. Five, out of nearly eighty shots. The DH swears that he took more pictures of our son and his home with the son's own digital camera--if the son will upload them. I'm still waiting.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

DOING LUNCH
I've raved about the Pacific Northwest's most fabulous guitarist/song writer (IMO) on MMMLOG before. Here I go again.

Yesterday was a topless Red Therapy day here in beautiful Seattle. I drove to Auburn to meet Kathye Long (she flew low in her wonderful silver Honda 2000 convertible) to do a catch up lunch, a belated birthday celebration for moi, too. I love those. Kathye always says the right things-"OOOO, you've lost weight." I basked in the you noticed glow so much I forgot to tell her she looked great, too. Good lord, she's lost 15 pounds!

Kathye always has a story for me from Kathyeland. I've retold these stories in my classes and workshops. I use these unusual and often weird experiences as teaching and creative development tools to get people to unlimber their imaginations. Seldom are they able to imagine the real outcome of the Kathyeland tales that I leave as open ended, what happened next stories. The latest story came from her trip to Canada last month for a folk music festival. She was invited on a local radio show to perform Lil Pards (western)music and encountered the Canadian version of Cheech and Chong. I can't tell you any more of this hilarious story unless Kathye doesn't get a blog and start publishing these tales from Kathyeland very soon.

I have to admit, like many other writers, that my own experiences and those of my friends, family and acquaintances find their way into my books. You might find Kathye somewhere in BREACH OF TRUST, the second book in my The Eternal Trust trilogy. She has that book and hasn't beaten me with it yet . . . wonder if she's read it?

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

It's a national holiday here in the U.S., Labor Day. Though I suspect that most of us who aren't going to work today are still glued to the TV, hoping for better news for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The horrific images and heartbreaking stories we've seen and heard on the national news have helped to move many of us to action and personally try to help our people. We've sent money and practical items to the various relief agencies and we've sent our prayers.

We're celebrating Labor Day differently this year. And perhaps that will prove to be one of our finest hours as a nation.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~ NEW! ~

Psychic Sunday at Romantic Times, Daytona, May 21, 2006
Kathryn Falk, owner and publisher of Romantic Times Booklovers Magazine, has invited Mmmmmmmmmm and other authors of paranormal and metaphysical fiction, as well as psychics from the Cassadaga community in Florida, to participate in a special Psychic Sunday at the next 2006 RT convention in Daytona, Florida.

There will be author panels and workshops and author presenters who will discuss various psychic skills and metaphysical subjects as well as their fiction. I'll serve on the panels and my individual workshop will be at 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., May 21, 2006 and described as follows:

REWRITE YOUR LIFE for Health, Happiness & Love
You are the author of your life. Rewrite your life's story for a happier, healthier, more loving now that can fulfill your creative potential and life's mission with techniques and exercises from author, hynotherapist and creative intuitive, Melinda Rucker Haynes, M.Ed., CH.

I'll also be taking private appointments during the convention for Personal Time Travel past life regressions, future life progressions and creative coaching. Email me if you'd like more information and to schedule a session.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Yesterday I said I would post here an email from a friend Louisiana which presents an offer of how to help . . .

HOW YOU CAN HELP
A friend's email . . .

Thanks so much for checking on me. My family and I are fine. My husband
and I live in the northwest corner of the state and we didn't have any bad
weather. My daughter and her husband live in Jackson MS and they had a
scary day and night, they have a bit of roof damage and no electricity in
sight, but they are okay.

Things are grim down south. School, grade school through college, has been
cancelled in the New Orleans area until after December. Everything will
have to be rebuilt. We don't know how much land/real estate has been swept
away. Two previously inhabited islands are gone. The upside is that the
weather is pleasant. The hundred+ degree days went with the storm and the
heat is in the bareable 80s or low 90s. No rain in sight to hamper the
rescue efforts. And the state has received an outpouring of help and
generosity. We just can't seem to move enough people to habitable land fast
enough.

Mad Max and Thunderdome is the closest I can come to describing what we have been hearing. My husband is an insurance adjuster. They haven't even
started the recovery effort in the lightly hit areas. They won't be allowed
in until Monday, if then.

We have many refugees in the city. We will have more as N.O. figures out
how to get the survivors from their flooding and overcrowded shelters moved
up here. All our colleges, YWCAs, etc., are being used for shelters for
those who can't afford or find hotel rooms. They are all sending out pleas
for donations. They need clothes, blankets, toiletries, OTC drugs ie
aspirin and Neosporin and PeptoBismal and toys. Many shelters have also set
up makeshift kennels, so cat and dog supplies would also be welcome. I
imagine that books will be well received, also. If you want to send things,
I will be glad to drop them off. You may send things in my care (email Melinda for name and address), and I will take them to one of the shelters.

Up here, everyone knows someone who has missing family members. Please send thoughts and prayers. My good friend has elderly aunts, uncles and a
grandmother missing. Several thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of
folks refused to evacuate and tried to ride out the storm. Many are illegal
immigrants without green cards. Others did not want to give up their drugs
or weapons to enter a shelter. And some (many of the elderly) were too set
in their ways to be persuaded to leave. We don't know how many made it.
Phone service is nonexistent and information is just not being put together.
Emergency personnel are too busy trying to save those stuck on rooftops,
evacuate the deteriorating shelters and repair breeches in the levies (some
up to three city blocks wide.) The stories you hear and see about those who
climbed into their attics and chopped their way through their roofs are
true. There is no way to know how many are trapped. The rescuers are still
trying to save the living and have instructions to bypass those beyond help.
The body count is growing and disease in such a hot and humid place is
inevitable.

And here we are upstate. Except for the crowds in the grocery stores and
the filled hotels and public buildings, nothing seems changed until we see
the white-faced person sitting next to us who jumps every time a cell phone
rings or winces when breaking news footage is aired. New Orleans has such a
huge impact on our state and the states bordering us that our whole way of
life is changing. We really don't understand yet.

Please send thoughts and prayers for all who need rescuing and all who are
doing the rescuing. [end of email]

MMMLOGerinos, if you want to contribute to this woman's personal effort to practically help those in need in her area, please email me and I'll send you her contact information.

Ciao, Ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

HOW TO HELP Victims of Katrina
I know many of you are wondering how you can directly help victims of hurricane Katrina, make sure your donations actually reach the needy. A friend of mmmmmm who lives in northern Louisana has said that while her town wasn't hit by the storm, the entire state is impacted with housing refugees and supplying help. When I get permission to publish her email of how to help suggestions, I'll post it in MMMLOG and ask you to email me for her contact information and how to send your donated items.

Ciao, ciao until the next post!
mmmmmmmmmmmelinda