Just Melanie

Saturday 9: A Few Of My Favorite Things

Hey, everyone! Right now we're in a big freakin' family argument because my oldest, Chloë, wants to treat everyone to something for dinner... However, I have super-strong, scientifically-backed, non-emotional convictions about eating vegan and will not sway, plus I have... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Happy New Year

Hey, y'all! Welcome back. I'm thrilled to be back after missing the last few weeks due to illness. Glue me down, because hopefully I'll be sticking around for a while. Link up here if you want to play along this... Read more →

The 9th Pneumonia: Shit Just Got Real

So this is a story about how, ultimately, I spent the 2017-2018 holidays. Here I was on December 4th, 2017, already sick but determined to rally and get better in time for all of the festive and fun Advent activities... Read more →

In Which I Slept Through My Favorite Holiday Of The Year

Like it says, America's Independence Day is my favorite holiday. It always has been. The pomp and circumstance, the coming-together of folks for patriotism, and of course, the fireworks - I love it all. But today, I missed a great... Read more →

Saturday 9: Sixteen Tons

I very nearly forgot it was Saturday! Link up here if you're playing along today! Saturday 9: Sixteen Tons (1955) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 1) 16 tons = 32,000 pounds, because there are 2,000 lbs.... Read more →

Saturday 9: Sorry

Hey Beliebers and non-Beliebers ! Link up here if you want to play along with this fun Q & A! ~*~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: Sorry (2015) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) This song is a plea for... Read more →

January '16 Wrap-Up

Black-and-white portrait of the man I love, Robert Allen Odette So, I haven't blogged as much this infant year as I had planned, because I became even sicker than I had been all throughout the latter half-plus of 2015. That... Read more →

Seven Year Surgiversary!

Seven years ago today, while we were still in Virginia Beach, I made the decision to undergo Gastric Bypass (with a vertical band in addition) Surgery. Here I am now, still down over 200 lbs and only having gained back... Read more →

Saturday 9: Black Is Black

Playing along today? Make sure you link up here to join in the fun! Saturday 9: Black Is Black (1966) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. * 1) Black is this week's signature color because Friday, November 27th,... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Would You Rather Meme

Are you stealing today, too? If you want to join in with us, the link is here! Cheers to all of us thieves!!! Would You Rather Meme Stolen from: Would Your Rather * Would you rather be stuck on an... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: 25 Fun

Link up here if you're stealing today, thieves! 25 Fun Meme Stolen from: My Random Randomness 1. If you were trapped in a room with the person who asked this for 24 hours, what would you do? Since Kwizgiver and... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: That Alphabet Thing Meme

Link up here if you're playing along today, too! Cheers to all of us thieves!!! That Alphabet Thing Meme Stolen from: Songs of innocence and of experience A. Accent: I have an Central New York accent until I get amped... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Swiped Meme

Link up here if you're swiping today! Swiped Meme Stolen from: Get It All Down Do you need to write down things to remember them? Abso-freaking-lutely! If it doesn't get written down, it doesn't get done. Do you keep a... Read more →

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper

Link up here if you're playing along today! Saturday 9: Careless Whisper (1984) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. (As an 80s girl, I love this song!!) 1) You can't miss George Michael's gold hoops in the photo... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: 17 Meme

Hie thee here and link up thusly if you're playing along today! 17 Meme Stolen from: Survey Haven Are you a jealous person? Rarely. It's not a "yes" or "no" question for me, because normally I am not jealous of... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Why Do You Want To Know THAT Meme

Why Do You Want To Know That Meme? Stolen from: My Random Randomness 1. What TV gameshow/reality show would you like to be on? I'd LOVE to be on Jeopardy! 2. What was the first movie you bought in VHS... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: The New Year Meme

Link up here if you're fabulous, darling! The New Year's Eve Meme From the archives (and I'm going to spare you folks all the funny pictures today. I'm keepin' it real)! In 2014, I gained: all-new respect for my brain... Read more →

Mayan Riviera Vacay

Kinda hard to see what that says, I know, but NO color seemed to want to work there... so I'll tell ya what it says: "Azul Fives, Play del Carmen, Mexico," which is where Hubs and I stayed from 12-16... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Let's Talk Travel

Link up here if you're playing along today! Ok let’s talk travel, do you like to travel? I live to travel. It's my mission in life to see everything I can see before I leave. Where have you been? I... Read more →

Travelogue: Reuniting In Upstate New York

So, I'm finally getting around to posting more fully about our trip to Syracuse and beyond. We left on 30 July, out of Miami International Airport. The kids haven't flown since January 2007 or so, when we came to, ironically,... Read more →