Off With A Bang: An Award And Some Kink

Well, now didn't that title just get you going? LOL It;s the first day of a brand new year and I am starting things off with a dose of red hot awesome sauce. First, I wan to say that I hope you all celebrated with style whether it involved doing something quiet or a Saturnalian revelry of epic proportions. If the revelry is the case, please email me the salacious details. ;)

Jeremy, ofiZombie Lover and jmh digital has graciously gifted me with the Zombie Rabbit Award. Isn't it wicked cool?

And now for that kink. You know were dying to hear about this. ;)

So I was looking for something different to read as my 2011 wound to a close when this naughty little number caught my eye. Kink and the City: An Englishman In New York is a salacious memoir that is also an honest, irreverent look at the insular world of kink and BDSM. John Smith with his engaging, tongue-in-cheek style takes the reader on a voyeuristic journey into a realm that is misunderstood and often mocked by those who have never entered its gates.

As an erotica writer, I found myself by turns impressed, laughing out loud and simply sitting there with my jaw agape. He spares no detail and shares everything from play times to techniques in single tail whipping along with a veritable glossary of terms to expand one's knowledge of this world.

A subversive, edgy work with an almost philosophical air, it is also an engrossing satire the likes of which I have never read before. Most definitely not a book for the average reader. But, if you are willing to set aside preconceived notions and open your minds, you are in for one hellagood, entertaining reading experience.

Happy New Year And My Resolutions

It's the last day of the year and I am stunned at how quickly the time has gone. Can't believe we're at 2012, the Mayan apocalypse if you believe that stuff. I don't. After the craptacular way 2011 started and ended for me, I have to believe that 2012 is going rock. I've made some resolutions to help me get my act together this new year.

1. Get healthy I know I resolve to lose weight, etc, every year, but the way my health has been of late, I really need to get on track. I'm sufficiently scared to do this. Plus, I will be standing up in November to a wedding on the Maya Riviera and I want to look and feel my best.

2. New job. I really, really need some full time work. This hustling with freelance and no insurance is killing me.

3. Get my writing organized and get out those two novels that have been gathering serious dust in the back of my desk. I want them published and am determined to see this happened.

There are only three, but these are going to be tough and I feel that if I can accomplish them, then my 2012 will be epic.

I have gotten so much wonderful, amazing support and words of encouragement from all of you out there, it has really humbled and stunned me. I think you all are the best blog buddies anywhere and I hope that 2012 brings you all good things, huge success and dreams come true. I look forward to spending more time with you next year and hearing all about your joys, your successes and your troubles. You will always have a friend here.

Reviews And A Re-Cap

Happy Dec. 27th!! Well, are we sufficiently recovered from our food comas and hang-overs? Only 4 more days til the drinking and eating binges on New Year's Eve. Hard to believe there's only 4 more days and 2011 will be a bad memory. I don't know about you all out there, but 2011 was an odd year for me. Bookends with bad shit with lots of good stuff and good friends in between like the cream of an Oreo cookie. Can't wait for it to be over though as this month has sucked out loud.

I just finished two reviews, one for Fright Night 2011, which I liked. I thought Marti Noxon's script really respected the source material. Here's the link. I also saw Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. What an incredible movie! Check it out at The Movie 411

I had an awesome Christmas with my family. We shared lots of laughs, watched our Bulls pull off a HUGE upset of the Los Angeles Lakers AT the Staples Center. Hell to the yeah!! Suck it, Kobe! However, all was not right with my sports world. Our Bears were crushed by our hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Ugh! But, my Derrick Rose and my Joakim Noah made me feel better. I hate the Lakers as much as I loathe the Packers.

I got some really wonderful presents that truly were awesome. I got a digital camera from one of my dearest friends, which totally blew my mind. D rocks! He has had my back for nearly twenty years and I wouldn't know what to do without him or my sister from another mother, S, who also happens to be his fiancee. I scored some great DVD's thanks to my mom and my sisters. Sons of Anarchy, Burn Notice, Somewhere in Time, The Wolfman, oh and Fright Night 1985 from the coolest film geek I know, R. In the past he's gotten me titles like Alien from L.A., Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, Night of the Lepus, Them!, Plan 9 From Outer Space and The Brain That Wouldn't Die. I worship at his feet, you know.

My puppy Vegas came through her first Christmas with lots of toys. I mean like a dump truck full. LOL Her spoiled? Never! She has this little monkey that she just has been tearing into and carrying it everywhere. It's hilarious.

My fave part was hanging out all day Christmas Eve with my youngest sister. We always have a great time, but this year we wrapped our gifts together and faced the last minute crowds at the store like troopers. We went to midnight mass at our church with my mom and the choir sounded terrific and the whole place looked amazing. They darken the church except for some candles, then process the Baby Jesus to the manger at the start of the service, lighting each section until the altar is lit up at the last. It's really gorgeous.

How was your holiday? I'd love to hear from you.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and All Good Things

To all my Imaginarians out there, Happy Holidays!!! Hope you all are celebrating this season with family, friends and lots of good food and drink. I want to wish you joy, peace and many blessings in the coming year. I appreciate you all for sticking with me and being part of my little corner of the blogosphere. You are the BEST!!

To bring a little smile to your faces, I'm leaving you with the infamous squirrel scene from my favorite holiday movie ever, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I laugh til I cry every time I watch this thing. I know, gosh Mel, you are so juvenile. Well, it's the holidays and I am in high spirits. No, not that kind, either. That comes later, ;).

I'm So Sexy Yeah!!!

Wowzers!!! Imaginarians I cannot believe this, but yours truly has won Sexiest Female Author at the 2011 Movie 411 Awards. I feel like singing, but I promise not to make your ears bleed and dogs come running. To all of you out there who nominated, then voted for me, you have made my entire month and I cannot even begin to find the right words to express the depth of my gratitude. This has done wonders for my spirit, which has taken a beating these last weeks. I love you so much!!

Congrats to all the winners and nominees. You have made this year's awards just the best.

For the entire list please click here. Go on and congratulate these amazing people.

Birthday Bash Winner And Mel's Salacious Adventure

Sorry I've been so quiet this weekend, but I was celebrating away and having a kick ass birthday weekend. Thank you all for sharing your birthday memories. I loved reading them all from the amazing to the not so great. You are brave for sharing them and I appreciate it very much. So all of your names went in to my Atomic Randomizer aka my Bears cap, and the nephew drew out the name of the lucky winner. Without further ado, congratulations to...

L.G. Smith

Yay!!!! L.G., email me at melbwrites@gmail.com and let me know which of my stories you would like. Congratulations!

Now on to my salacious adventure. I went to a very naughty Holiday party this weekend and we had to bring spicy gifts. In order to purchase such titillating items, I went to a rather perverted little store . This place is one block from Chicago's biggest Catholic church. In fact, I could see the cross high atop the steeple as I walked inside. A bit unnerving, if I do say so myself.

Inside, there was the usual assortment of gag gifts like blow job bibs, penis suckers, finger vibes and games like "Who's the Biggest Slut?" "What the Fuck?" bar cards, and Hump: The Game of Erotic Education. There was also bondage accoutrements, handcuffs, whips, riding crops and restraints. What got me as I was looking at the selections, the song "Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas" came on over the loud speaker. Followed by "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." I am never going to listen to these songs in the same way again. This place also had booths. You know the kind, back of the store through the beaded curtain and/or swinging door. A few men came in to partake of the visual aids when they noticed me standing mere feet from their afternoon solo flights. They immediately started shuffling around, trying to find something to do until I left. But, I stayed. They kept looking at me, looking at the swinging doors, looking at me, looking at...You get the picture. Finally I just stared right back at them and said "Go ahead, I'm not an undercover nun or anything." It was a stampede, I tell you. ;)

Oh and in case you were wondering, I bought a riding crop and a sexual positions coupon booklet and some flavored massage oil. It went over very well at the Naughty Holiday Party grab bag.

Happy Birthday !! It's Party Time

Sing it with me now..."Happy Birthday to..." Nah, I won't make you sing. Just come on in and join my party. Alex Cavanaugh kicked things off yesterday. Thank you Captain Ninja Alex! To kick this celebration into high gear today, I've got angels, demons, zombies and of course, werewolves all lurking around the premises so beware. LOL You gotta watch the wolves, they tend to bite and claw when the cake comes out. And what a cake it is. Red Velvet for my sexy self. Delicious, no?

Yes red velvet is my favorite cake and I intend to have a slice. I'm diabetic, but this will have sugar-free frosting, so I'm being partially good. I also intend to raise a pomegranate martini to you, my friends. You are the best! Of course, I'll be careful NOT to end up like this guy below. I did that one year and yeah, it was pretty ugly.

This is a rough birthday this year, but I'm reminded of one my best birthdays ever, which came a few days after the occasion. In 1997, I was spending my first b-day and Christmas without my grandmother and I was depressed as all get out. My birthday came and went and so did Christmas. Then out of the blue, my best friend called from North Carolina. She called me the day before New Years and told me to get my rear in gear and head to O'Hare airport on New Year's Eve. There was a ticket waiting for me. I flew down on New Year's, spent the holiday and the whole following week with her. It was the most incredible gift and we had such a terrific time. I remember that week so well. We hung out, went hiking and just laughed our asses off.

Do you have a favorite birthday memory? A birthday drink/cake? Talk to me. As a gift, I'll select one person to win a download copy of their choice of one of my stories. I'm going to head back into the party and hopefully hook up with a werewolf. ;)