I've Been Busy!!!

I was kidnapped by a tribe of wild Indians. I won a trip around the world and was not allowed to use a computer. I was on a spy mission to a far away land and just now returned. The mother ship called and I had to go. Any one of these would be a good excuse of why I haven't updated this blog in a long time. But alas, none are true. I have started a new job! That's all I have in the way of an explanation. I kept meaning to update my blog but time just seemed to slip on by. After a while it seemed anti-climatic to post because nothing all that exciting had happened in life. The explanation definitely isn't glamorous enough to constitute the amount of time that has escaped. Still, I will give it a go. I now work with kids... and adults... and monkeys. Oh wait, it's just kids and adults, they just act like monkeys sometimes. I am assisting the children and student ministries pastor at my church. While it's not all gum drops and rainbows I can tell you there is way too much candy present on any given day. For the most part I assist the pastor in scheduling and administrative work. Yes, I left the exciting world of media to serve Jesus and kids. Though I miss the daily rush of news and deadlines I have really enjoyed the new gig and discovering some talents I didn't know I have. I also love that the job includes a summer mission trip to Mexico with our Sr High students. I have wanted to go for a couple of years and just haven't been able to make it happen. This year I get to go, don't have to take time off from work AND they pay my expenses! Woo Hoo! Summer camp with jr high kids is also one of the things I'm looking forward to. I'm sure after the trips and other summer activities that collapsing and being alone will be important. There's not much more to say at this time. No new tattoos or piercings, no big trips in the weeks to come. I'm hoping for good news in the near future. I'll keep my two blogging buddies posted should there be changes on the horizon.

3 WRINKLES... and counting

When do wrinkles really start to set in? I'm thirty and take fairly good care of my skin. I ask this because for the first time I'm noticing THREE distinct lines around my mouth. They are where I smile - but I feel a little cheated. Frown lines, ok... that's what happens when you pout around. Forehead ripples from concern, understandable. But lines/wrinkles from smiling and being happy!?! It's just plain mean! I've always had freckles on my face. I pretty much cover those with a little make up. Wrinkles however, can not be hidden. Minimized, maybe... but not taken care of with make up. What to do, what to do!?! Hello... Oil of Olay??? I need a case of your best product. STAT!

I tuned the ge-tar

I feel so accomplished. I can hold, tune and strum the guitar! Music is in my heart... but I'm afraid it doesn't come all that naturally to the rest of me. I sing around the house and think I could write songs if I sat down and allowed myself some time. I have some background in music. I have been in several choirs but didn't enjoy the group setting or the long practices required. Getting called down for talking was never much fun either. I played the trumpet from 6th through 9th grade but pretty much sucked. I took piano in elementary school for a short while but was too undisciplined to practice to see the skill developed. If there is musical talent in me it is hiding. Unfortunately for those around me it doesn't usually stop me. I don't even need to know the words to the song to fully enjoy a sing along. I have been thinking for about a year that I would like to play the guitar. I bought one in May and have been moving it around since. Well today I picked it up and tuned it. I don't know one note from another - but I am playing it just the same. My new Guitar for Dummies dvd should come in the mail soon. A friend of mine that plays beautifully told me to practice at least 20 minutes every day. I would like to - but I'm not that serious yet. I need to get reacquainted with reading music and figure out what notes each string represents. There are about a million combinations. I'm on my way now that the instrument is actually tuned!

A Blockbuster Weekend Indeed!

I returned home from a week at camp with jr high kids from my church completely drained and fighting a cold. I stopped by Blockbuster on my way home to stock up for what would prove to be a marathon movie watching weekend. Eight plus movies later - I'm afraid I can only recommend a couple of them... and that's only if you don't have sensitive ears. Does every movie have the f-word in it these days? Directors that plan to go beyond the pg rating must just consider it a free-for-all because it was every other word in many of the movies I watched. I wasn't really shocked that it was in some of the movies. However, I was very shocked by the frequency that the f-bomb was dropped. Here is the list: Bench Warmers. Did you see Napoleon Dynamite? The director of that flick did this movie... so I was gonna give it a chance. BAD MOVIE! I like boy jokes and bathroom humor - but this movie crossed a line. Don't waste your time. Kung Fu Hustle. I was informed going into this that you would love it or hate it. I fell somewhere in between - but it was far from the love it side. I wanted it to be really funny. I was ready for a good laugh. There are moments that are very clever, but overall - a bad kung fu movie with only one good dance number in the whole thing. Fight Club. I had seen it before. It was much better the second time. Maybe the context allowed for more appreciation this time through - or perhaps I was too sleepy the first time I watched it. But it was great this last time. I will warn you - this is one of the movies where the director was unable to plug anything but the f-word into every sentence. Still, the movie is good. Snatch. Brad Pitt was good in this film. I like him as an actor overall. The movie reminded me a bit of the usual suspects, one of my favorite movies. Snatch develops the characters in a fun way by putting them in funny criminal settings. Again, not for the easily offendable... but I don't think it has any nudity. Drumline. This was a disapointment. I was really prepared for a good time on this one. My brother has listed it as one of his favorites and many people had told me it was good. Well, apparently I had the bar set too high because it was just ok. Or maybe it was that I had seen so many other movies. Anyway - it was fun if you have ever been in marching band. The beats are fun and it brought back good memories... but it definently had the feel of Bring it On and other highschool type movies. Annapolis. I generally love military and movies of any kind. This fell flat. Yes, he was able to overcome and got to stay in the academy... but it was a little predictable and well - I wouldn't see it again or recommend it to anyone else. Saving Private Ryan. It was the first time I saw this. WOW. No wonder it won awards. Spielberg is good at his job! Everyone has surely seen this movie by now - but if you haven't... it's worth seeing. But, like I said - I love military/war movies. This is what I have to show for my weekend. The good news - the snot is clear again! lol I knew you would want to rejoice in my good health.

The late fee scam

The public library does not profile. Anyone that lives in the city can check out books. I know this because if they did profile I wouldn't be allowed to check out books, videos or cds. I want to learn to play the guitar. After purchasing the instrument I went to the library to check out an instructional video. I knew there would be late fees if I failed to return it on time. I forgot to return it. It was an honest mistake. An honest mistake that cost me a dollar a day! What happened to the three cents a day that was charged when I was a kid!?! Ouch. Here's the thing... It was an old video that nobody would buy for the price I had to pay in late fees. Returning videos on time used to be a problem for me. I could barely get them in to save my life. Then Blockbuster dumped their late fees and all of a sudden I am able to return movies with no problem. I thought I was cured. Apparently not. Perhaps the library was giving me grace since it's been so many years since I checked anything out. The librarian may not be so kind should I try to check out that video again. AND I do want to borrow it again because I can't find it anywhere else. Dangit! That's how they get ya!

That's a stretch...

In my job I deal with LOTS of PR firms and reps whose pay checks are determined by how many interviews they book. And they try hard to book them. Different times of the year bring different story pitches. Everything from authors, celebrities, political talking heads and just nobodies offering an interview on everything under the moon. Memorial Day brings food safety and travel ideas, Mother's Day brings breast cancer, fashion and women's issues. Apparently this year Father's Day is the time when media is supposed to discuss erectile dysfunction! Nothing says I love you dad like making sure you can still -- well, you know. Icky! I have gotten several, several emails pitching me men that are willing to take to the airwaves to talk about their health issues and what could be contributing to the problem. No kidding. The best offer was to interview an underwear expert. Anyway... that is NOT the kind of story I usually hone in on for ANY holiday.

Look What I Can I Do!!!

Why would anyone throw themselves out of a perfectly good airplane!?! Oh, I now know -- It's amazing!!! I went with a friend this last weekend. And I'm telling you what - it's worth every penny. In addition to the mid-plunge pictures, I also have a video. It's so much fun to watch. The free fall lasts about a minute and then you float to earth. It was probably 7-8 minutes total. The whole time I was thinking and probably screaming WOO HOO! Misconceptions: I expected it to be like the best roller coaster ever but it was nothing like that. I didn't loose my stomach or feel queasy when it was over. A little light headed - but that was cause you free fall so fast. I thought for sure SkyDive Dallas, the where we jumped would require hours of training, review every emergency scenario and tell us the do's and don'ts of the craft. Not so much. 30 minute video, quick chat with the person jumping tandem with you and you are set. The man I was strapped to has jumped more than 2,800 times so I wasn't too worried. And thankfully there was no need for him to consult his in air emergency guide or pull the back up parachute. He seemed confident and I had already paid the money so there was no backing out -- not that I wanted to. He let me pull the chord which was high on my list of great moments. We did these great spins while in the free fall and then again once the chute was open. It all happens so fast! Assumptions that proved true: I'm sure it's not true across the board... but I envisioned die hard skydivers to be an edgy group of over aged men and women that operate on only half the brain cells they were dealt. I expected them to be sitting around a hanger talking weird lingo and listening to Lynard Skynard and kicking a hacky sack in their specialty made colorful pants waiting for their turn to go again. Kind of a surfer type guy that's past his prime and looking for a rush. Well, I wasn't so far off. Don't get me wrong... there were straight laced folks, cpas, doctors, computer programmers. But the ones that really live for the sport were easy to spot. Most of them had hair past their shoulders - business in the front, party in the back - and were dressed in jams from the 80's. They were great. Another expectation fulfilled - quite a few military dudes looking for a rush. Even some of the camera guys were former Rangers. I didn't feel any safer - not that drop zones are targeted... or at least not that I know of. I just liked knowing they are around and figured they get their kicks doing death defying stunts. All in all - a great day, a great experience and a great memory to tell the grand kids some day. So, if you have ever thought about skydiving or listed it as one of the things you would like to do before you die... stop waiting - just do it!

Disappointed by me

I have this habit of waiting to the last minute to do something, especially if it has to do with writing or reading. I keep myself busy and then cram all necessary preparation into a short amount of time. This allows me to say I didn't have much time. someone called my bluff! I delivered a speech last night with an intro that lowered expectations. The speech was actually pretty good. Though I didn't feel as prepared and polished as I would have liked, nobody knew the difference. The review was pretty good and there wasn't a mention of preparation lacking. Here is why I'm disappointed by myself. I don't learn nearly as much when I fly by the seat of my pants and hope for the best. While I know I'm my biggest critic, I also know that I rob myself of a great opportunity when I wait to the last minute. So, here's me smackin' myself!

This is STRESSING me out.

Maybe I'm not cut out for blogging. Not only did I not post anything for a full week because I forgot I was doing this ... when I did finally post, it took me about 45 minutes to figure out how to upload a picture to my profile. Sheesh - what a pain. Thankfully, my coworker is blog literate and was able to guide me through the process. Someday I will be able to navigate and understand the code of blogging -- not today, but someday. Maybe. Somebody asked me something the other day and it has been on my mind since... The question - and I pose it to you - "What are you defending?" It seemed a little out of the blue and I didn't know the woman so I didn't offer an answer. But if her goal was to provoke thought she accomplished it. Trouble is - I don't have an answer yet. Not a good one anyway. I mean, I defend my faith and my actions, my friends and my choices... but I don't really have anything jumping up or presenting itself that makes me think - ah that! I have been asking God about it. More thought and soul searching will be required. The Holy Spirit will show me. Ooh, the galaxy - maybe THAT is the answer... maybe I'm supposed to defend the galaxy!

This makes me nervous

I'm giving this a whirl after being encouraged to keep a blog by several friends. I have been hesitant to make my thoughts available on a public domain. As much as I love people I can be guarded sometimes. I have always thought it's kind of vain to think you have a public waiting to read what you have to say. Hi. My name is Melanie. I'm vain. I'm not looking to pick up a large following... a small group of loyals will do nicely. My goal is to work on my writing skills and maybe meet some interesting people. So, this is blogging. Nice.