Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

The DH and I were going to work on taxes this weekend, but we did everything else but that. Though we did buy a new file cabinet, so that's sort of working on it. Getting the tax info together for the accountant takes a couple of dedicated hours, so it's no big thing. Just one of those things where I'd rather clean the toilet than dig through the files and enjoy 10 key finger exercise. So, we fooled around, picnicked with cheese and wine at the kitchen table and watched our backyard fill with runoff from the neighbor's yard that they covered in concrete. Oh joy. All in all, it was a decent weekend for the DH, the Airedale and Mmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm busy with prep for the upcoming Creative Block Busters online workshop that starts on Wednesday. There's still room for more in our virtual classroom so sign up if you're in the mood for a creative breakthrough.

Here's the registration information for you again . . .
If your Muse seems trapped on the other side of a wall, this online writing workshop is for you. Award-winning romance author Melinda Rucker Haynes will help students understand why creative blocks develop and how to identify your personal impediments. A series of block-busting activities will help students master the skills needed to combat writing blocks and increase their creative output. The instructor, a certified therapist and creativity coach, has helped many people transform New Year’s resolutions into realities.

This 4-week long online writing workshop is conducted on a private listserve. It costs $15 for RWA members, $20 for others and begins on Wednesday, February 1, 2006. Youu may also register via Paypal by sending the payment to starpay@gmail.com no later than January 31st. If using Paypal, please send your information (name, e-mail address, workshop choices, and RWA number, if applicable) to the coordinator at js264@cornell.edu. You will be automatically enrolled in the class by January 31. For more information about STAR, or to see the list of other upcoming 2006 workshops, please visit http://members.aol.com/starrrwa

Ciao, ciao, mmmmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho MMMLogerinos!

We hadn't heard from the Kansas Heckler in a bit, so when this rolled in today I thought I'd share this little taste of a different culture . . .

The Kansas Heckler writes:
We went to a fundraiser this morning in [some place Kansas]. [A local fellow]has had surgery, complications, etc., and the bills have mounted high. Amish don't have insurance. So, this morning, starting at 6 a.m., there was a pancake and whole hog sausage feed at the school. When we got there at the fashionably late hour of 8 a.m. there were 20 or 30 buggies parked about, as many cars, and the place was, to use the local vernacular, terrible full. [Other friends] met us there and we had a delightful time eating and greeting. They are previously Amish and either knew or were related to half the folks there. From working at [that wretched other place]I even knew a fair amount of them - made me feel special! My only trepidation about the affair had been, what on earth is whole hog sausage? Do they grab it by one warty old hoof and drop it through the grinder? Are there eyeballs? Do they grind the innards? Anyway, I called [my friend] on Thursday to query and was reassured that it simply meant they used all the meat, not just the fatty and otherwise inedible scraps. It was delish! So, the menu was coffee, water, orange juice (actually ersatz Tang), pancakes and sausage. They kept coming around with more helpings. I looked at the tally sheet, and they had fed over 200 folks before we got there. That's a lot of pancakes. They also had a bake sale but [my guy] said after donating $20 for breakfast he wasn't in the mood to spend any more. Ahhhhh.

The word terrible is used as a salt & pepper descriptive word. They sprinkle it on everything around here. He's terrible handsome. The car went terrible fast. The room is terrible hot. And my favorite, "we had a terrible good time."

And so have we, dear Kansas Heckler. Thanks for the terrible good sharing!

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

The Leo horoscope advises I should be self protective and pamper myself today. I'm all about that, so took myself to Tully's for a grande mocha extra hot, extra chocolate with real caffeine (I drink decaf at home.) I never order the whipped cream, waiting for the barista to ask if I want it. I act like that's an unusual idea and nod. When the barista asked if I'd also wanted a muffin or cookie I assured him that I preferred to get my 800 fat grams from the whipped cream and double chocolate. Some guy with a clipboard, who was selectively approaching customers, had thrown his jacket on the chair at my favorite table, so I couldn't enjoy my liquid hot fudge sundae in the coffee shop. Brought the mocha home and sucked it down like I was dying of thirst. Now that's what I call pampering myself! Guess I should have gotten to Tully's earlier in order to "protect" my table.

PR Lemons into Lemonade
Okay, it could be the caffeine surging through my system, but I didn't completely believe Oprah's interview with author James Frey, the author of the "disputed" fake drug memoirs. I watched Oprah's reactions to the answers the appropriately wide-eyed author gave in his confessional response to her "probing" questions. I was reminded that she's a fine actress, especially when the camera came in close for her almost tearful sensitively outraged reactions. Could she and the author be proving that old PR adage--even bad publicity is good, maybe even best, as this type of hoopla always seems to sell more books.

Naw, I'm not cynical, just appreciating great public relations situation management that creates such good theatre.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Shortly after I wrote yesterday's sunny MMMLOG, the clouds moved in and started dumping rain. Still going on and the forecast is for the next five days, too. The DH grudingly admits as I do that the weather guessers got one right. So caning them is out for now and we shall have to find more proactive ways to vent our weather rage.

Creative Block Busters Online Class Registration Closing 1/31
Suffering a writing block? Sign up to bust it!
If your Muse seems trapped on the other side of a wall, this online writing workshop is for you. Award-winning romance author Melinda Rucker Haynes will help students understand why creative blocks develop and how to identify your personal impediments. A series of block-busting activities will help students master the skills needed to combat writing blocks and increase their creative output. The instructor, a creativity coach, certified hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner, has helped many people transform New Year’s resolutions into realities.

This 4-week long online writing workshop is conducted on a private listserve. It costs $15 for RWA members, $20 for others and begins on Wednesday, February 1, 2006.

To enroll in this class, you may register via Paypal by sending the payment to starpay@gmail.com no later than January 31st. If using Paypal, please send your information (name, e-mail address, workshop choices, and RWA number, if applicable) to the coordinator at js264@cornell.edu. You will be automatically enrolled in the class by January 31. For more information about STAR, or to see the list of other upcoming 2006 workshops, please visit http://members.aol.com/starrrwa

Sign up, guys, and we'll have a great time busting creative blocks together!

Ciao, ciao, mmmmmmmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

The last time we had the computer repair wizard come whip our machines into line was when the DH's game machine had taken itself offline with the XP upgrade. Ben suggested instead my backing up to a Zip 250 that I switch between the Dell and the Viao, I get one of those USB drives that is smaller in size than the key to Red Therapy. You can even wear it on a lanyard around your neck. Uh, not so much do I need to be that close to my data.

Oh! Here's a totally unrelated thought . . . I report the first 2006 Red Therapy topless day. It was 54 degrees yesterday with the sun shining and I put the top down, turned the heater up and the seat heater full on. Away we went. It was glorious.

Back to the USB drive. I got an LG 1 GB drive with a retractable plug. It came with absolutely no instructions which made using it a bit interesting, but I soon figured it out and backed up all the keeper stuff in the Dell. Then I took the drive in the playroom and plugged it in one of the USBs in the front of the Viao. It wouldn't read it. I plugged it in the back and finally got the message of new hardware, with the warning that I'd plugged a high speed USB device into a non-high speed USB hub. Apparently, not a good thing. Also the message said that the Viao wasn't equipped with a needed controller. Okay, but it was running, wasn't it? Yes, but slower. I worked on my new WIP on the Viao and saved to the USB drive. Worked great and I'm feeling very techy.

Now all I have to do is go through all C drives and Zip disks, saving files that I want to the USB. I've been wanting to reorganize my files and this seems a perfect way to do that. I love the idea that all my data is safely saved to a tiny little gizmo that some actually wear. I do have one question, though, is the USB drive subject to electrostatic charge? Will magnets and degausser strips or fields erase or adversely affect the drive? Will it be affected by X-ray machines at the airport?Anybody got an answer? Or am I going to get to try out LG tech support with my questions?

Hey! There's the sun and "they" said it's supposed to rain like crazy today. The DH suggests that the local weatherguessers should be caned for getting it wrong. It's a thought. Even the psychic hotline prognosticators probably have a better accuracy rate than these TV weather guys. My little window-mounted "rainbow maker" with the crystal that revolves on a shaft driven by a solar cell isn't willing to believe there's a enough sun to run it yet. Guess it's sticking with the "scientists'" forecast. Ah well, I'll give it a nudge to prime it and I'll have rainbow splotches dancing all over the office. Fun in the sun!

Ciao, ciao, Mmmmmmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

You know I'm all about the UPN show Veronica Mars. So it seems are many of my fellow author friends. Romantic suspense author Joyce Lamb loves the show, too. Joyce says that if there were a P.I. like Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni, an Italian-Canadian actor currently residing in the United States who has appeared the hit TV shows Just Shoot me and Veronica Mars) in her neighborhood, she'd be in his office every week with a "case." We both wonder what it is about Enrico that's so damn sexy.

I think Enrico's appeal derives from his attitude, intelligence and sense of humor that comes through whatever roll he plays. Remember, he was the sensitive, kind alien leader in the fun movie Galaxy Quest? Enrico is nice. That's it, and because I like nice, smart and funny men who don't take themselves so very seriously, I believe that about Enrico. And that's good by me. Besides, a full head of hair on guy hasn't ever been that important to me. Case in point, my DH. Ooooo, I do like his big, beautifully shaped head that he shaves so smooth . . . . And there I go again.

By the way, regarding my January 23 rather downer post . . . I heard on the news last night that a psychologist researcher has determined that January 23 is the most depressing day of the year due to weather, lack of sunlight and everyone's already having given up their New Year's resolutions. Guess I was just channeling that. Today the sun is shining through the fog, the Seahawks are going to Super Bowl and other miracles are sure happen, so I'm hanging in here expecting better days.

Ciao, ciao, mmmmmmmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

The Miss America pageant moved to Vegas last night. I think that's a sort of subliminal admission that, despite carefully crafted packaging to the contrary, the pageant producers have known what the "scholarship" pageant is all about. And it ain't book learnin', baby. Though I did notice all 52 contestants introduced themselves with their name from whatever state and having earned this or that degree or studying in a degree program. Great! We are reassured that this country values smart girls doing smart things, even though these 52 smart women "competing" in Las Vegas where a girl's I.Q. or college degrees are somewhat less important than how hot she looks--at least in MMMMM's experience when she graduated UNLV and worked there.

But that's changed, they say. I sure hope so. But every time I watch the TV show Vegas or the Travel Channel, TV poker or any of the other shows that seem to be about Sin City, I'm reassured that attitudes haven't changed all that much. And perhaps attitudes haven't changed but more people are accepting them as the norm and therefore okay, if what we're being dished up by the media is any guide.

Okay, yeah, I'm a bit cranky. It's one of those grey, dreary Seattle days when being a Boomer isn't so bella. It just feels old. Guess I'll gaze upon my framed degrees and get back to writing my current WIP about well-educated hippie who's romanced by a hotshot pilot AFTER he discovers she's a hottie under those long skirts and henna tattoos . . . Hey, I tells like I sees it. Or I'll succumb to seeing it like THEY tells it.

Ciao and all that crap, Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Have you been watching Dancing with the Stars II? The DH and I are really enjoying it. The stars so talented and can really dance, with the exception of P. Miller. Even one of my most favorite actors, George Hamilton, is convincingly playing the part of a ballroom dancer. No matter what the former Zorro, the Gay Blade does, I like his work! He's just fun and charming and we should look so good at his age. I'll for darn sure try, but my dermatologist says no to the perpetual sunbaked look that George sports.

I thought the judges a bit harsh on rapper P. Miller last night. I realize that it's all about making "entertaining" television, but surely they knew the guy couldn't dance when they cast him? So to beat him up on the show seems wrong to me. About as wrong as watching him lumber about the floor while his professional dancer partner does all the beautiful work. Speaking of beautiful work, that female wrestler Stacy Keibler is fabulous. I've never seen such long legs and can she move. Last night, though, the judges dinged her on a lack of emotion while dancing the tango, which I thought flawless. The judges were wrong. Stacy was perfection.

Lisa Rinna can move beautifully, too. I first saw her on Veronica Mars, playing the wife of Harry Hamlin's character, though I didn't know that they are married in reality. Lisa is wonderful but I'm a little worried about her lips . . .

I've been busy with my online workshop for Eastside RWA this week--Creative Goal Setting for Real Achievement. Today is the last class and I've really enjoyed myself and the group. We've learned a lot. There's a photographer coming to shot me today for the South County Business Journal for an article they're doing on me about romance writing. That's three hours away so I better start now preparing for the roll :>))

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

I was just scrolling through my Outlook Express delete file to make sure my overzealous SPAM parser hadn't sucked a message in that it shouldn't have, which it often does. After I check the file I delete the whole thing.

Perhaps you've received those emails from spammers who've gotten really tricky to get around your filtering program. The subject line is full of nonsensical words and misspellings that you could never filter. And the names, wow, they sound like someone you might actually know--Tara Neal, Shanna Campos, Demetrius Pool--okay, so I don't actually know anyone with a name like that, but I might have met him somewhere. Now he's writing to tell me how much he loves my books and I'll never know unless I open that email, but I don't. Because I've learned from experience that ole Demetrius is just trying to sell me Viagra while he refinances my mortgage.

Then today, I skimmed through all those name and it hit me. These clever spammers are a wonderful source for character names. How many times have you needed a name for a walk-on or other character in your book and couldn't think of one? I've used combinations of author names from nearly all the books on my shelves. Hey! I just got an email from Aldo Holland. Now doesn't he sound like spy or maybe an silent film actor? Nope, Aldo is selling Golden Apple Natural Gas stocks. What fool would buy stock from a guy named Aldo off the internet? Ah well, each to his own.

Next time I need a quick name for a character I'm going though the delete file before I dump it, looking for unintended value from those spammers.

Ciao, ciao, mmmmmmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Here's some great news on my February Online Workshop:

Southern Tier Authors of Romance online
writing workshop announcement by Jill Shultz, STAR Workshop Coordinator

February 2006: Creative Block Busters
by Melinda Rucker Haynes, M.Ed., CH

Learn why creative blocks develop and how to
identify your personal impediments. In this
workshop, we'll practice a series of "block busters"
to combat any block and increase creative output.
Don't let those New Year's resolutions slip by:
learn the skills to transform them into realities!

An award-winning romance author, Melinda has
published nonfiction and six novels, including paranormal,
contemporary, and young adult romances. Her current
novel, Essense of Trust, is the third in the Eternal
Trust trilogy. She's won awards in all of the
subgenres in which she's published, including the Golden Heart.
Melinda is currently working on a nonfiction book of creative
block busters based on her teaching, research, and
private practice as a creativity coach and hypnotherapist.
Her award-winning website: http://www.melindaruckerhaynes.com

To register for this class, please see our website at
members.aol.com/STARRWA/workshop.pdf. Payment is
accepted via check or Paypal. Please send a message
to js264@cornell.edu with your name, email address,
and the classes for which you wish to register.

Sign up, guys! It's only $15. for a whole month of fabulous block busters that will really make a difference in your writing.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

It's true! Twenty-nine years ago MMMMM took the plunge and married that tall, handsome aircraft mechanic who was finishing his bachelor's degree.

The DH Googled gift suggestions for the twenty-ninth anniversary and found that it was new furniture. Since we've already done that, we took ourselves to the Melting Pot in Bellevue for a "Big Night Out" dinner--cheese fondue, Lobster "extravaganza" and a burning turtle chocolate dessert fondue. The dinner took about two and half hours. The DH even bought his bride a lovely red rose and we had our picture taken.

As I consider last night's photo next to our wedding picture, I have to smile. Those two kids are in there somewhere under the layers of time the older couple displays on their rounder faces and bodies. You can see that she's still a smartass who loves to play and he's long-suffering and still missing the bear cub fun gene. But they're a winning pair who has hung in there for twenty-nine years of living togetherness, rarely hell and most times ordinary married life.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMmmmmmmelinda

Hi ho, MMMLOGerinos!

Ugh. It raineth and raineth here in Seattle. It's dark, cold and wet. I want to go home to the desert and see the sun.

I'm remembering past sun-filled Januaries I spent in Las Vegas on my sailboat slipped at Las Vegas Marina on Lake Mead, or out at Valley of Fire spread out on a warm rock and sunbaking like lizard. The only drawback to January in the desert I can think of is the strong wind blowing dust around and anything else not nailed down. When I was teaching junior high in Vegas we used to observe that the kids acted especially squirrelly on windy days. So that meant most of the time.

If you can get by the wind, the day to night temperature extremes, winter in the desert Southwest is heavenly. I would conjecture that most people taking winter vacations in Phoenix or Vegas decide they must live in heaven all year. BUT they probably arrive months later when its hellishly hot and windy, of course. Then they think what have we done??? The DH and I moved out of Vegas one scorching, sun-bleached June to green, wet and very cool Seattle. We thought we'd moved to heaven until November rolled around and the annual rain festival turned us wet and pale like big slugs.

Before you conclude that I wouldn't be weather happy anywhere, let me say not true. I think the ideal would be a summer home in the Pacific Northwest and winter home in the desert or in Australia or New Zealand. Yeah, that'd be great to follow the good weather.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMmmmelinda