XOXO Murphy, Tilton & The Men's Varsity Basketball Team. ;)

melli@melliinc.com
twitter:melliohmy


Can I just say, Melli's got some major moxie...

Mr.Murphy and Mr.Tilton .  Two gigantic contributor’s to me being ME.  In some really ridiculous, muscle building, and fantabulous ways.   

It wasn’t unusual to find me digging through the props room.  I was the “stage manager”.  In  high school, this meant I was also the make-up artist, the costumer, the props darling etc etc etc.   And that was all fine by me!!!  A best friend (to this day) is  Benjamin.  He and I regularly stayed in that theatre painting sets far past our required dorm check-in time, and even past the official lights out time.  We had a blast.  I loved that theatre.  I love theatre as a general statement.  It’s magic of course, as so many sets are.  The following story occurred one chilly weekend afternoon, when the school was quite possibly empty.   And likely, so was the town.  At boarding school in the middle of the most beautiful part of New England, when it was quiet, it was dead silent.    So I’m digging alone, through the boxes…I knew the picture frame was there, as I’m the one that had put it back the previous morning.  When all of a sudden…

MURPHY:  Stomping up onto the stage, “Where in the hell is Mell???!!!   Dammit this was supposed to be done yesterday!  No, actually this was supposed to be done last week!   Christ.  Melissa??!!!!!"

ME: Scrambling myself up the steps, I replied sweetly as always.  “Morning Murphy…what can I do for you?”

MURPHY: Pivoting swiftly but with great balance, “ Why is THAT piano not on THIS stage?  I asked you to get it done two weeks ago!”  Despite him and I being in that very theatre, everyday for the last month, and him insisting he’d get some help and do it himself…I replied with  a steady voice to counter his furious one.

ME:” I’ll go find some help right now.  I’ll be honest though, there aren’t many people around…can you check for sta…”

MURPHY:” JUST DO IT!!!”   Well then.  

ME: “Ok Murph, I’ll see who I can wrangle up”…   Shit.  There really wasn’t anybody on campus…I debated even knocking on doors…but I didn’t have time for that.  So off I went…running through the theatres entrance, and then through the student lounge, and the cafeteria.   I was on a mission…maybe not from God, but from Murphy…and anybody with half a brain, knew that he was capable of being much worse…and still he’s the BEST!!!   Ok so anyway, I’m running…fast…just as I’m losing my own temper, I saw a couple guys walking up the back path…” Hey you!!!   I need your help in the theatre!!!   Please seriously, Murphy’s going to kill me …and I’ll do your laundry all week!!!”   They grumbled something, and seeing as they were nice though not large, they made their way into the theatre.  While I popped my head into yet another empty room upstairs…I heard Morgan yelling.

MURPHY:”Is she kidding me?   I don’t know you tell me, can the two of you lift that piano up onto the stage?  Because I’ve gotta tell ya at this point, I’m thinking of pre-recording the damn music” 

ME:”Fuck”…   Just as I bounced toward the next room I heard another sound.  It was a booming voice…but with a different strength.  “Oh you’ve got to be mother fucking kidding me NO WAY!”  This all from me, I didn’t swear, I did skip class but only because it was insanely difficult.  Never did drugs, never smoked, was a pretty good little thing in comparison.   So Murph is still shouting blah blah blah…   whatever whatever whatever…amd boom.  My saving grace.  TILTON!!!!!!!   Mr.T!!!   Seriously, my savior…and history teacher.  I ran up to him beyond breathless…

TILTON:  “ Miss Melissa…what brings you up here today…don’t tell me one of these guys is yours?  Athletes are trouble you know…”  He smirked and gosh what a guy!

ME:  “Hi, haha no, not any of your boys don’t worry.  I need a HUGE favor…and one day I’ll re-pay you…no idea how, but I might not live to figure it out if you don’t help me.”   A minute later, he blew his whistle.  LOUD!

TILTON: “BOYS!  Listen up!  Miss Melissa has a favor and your ALL going to help her! “  He looked at me and nodded to “the boys”.  Mind you at 61 inches with my head held up straight, these “boys” were all at least a foot taller than me…more like two.  The Men’s Varsity Basketball Team. 

ME:” Ok guys, I need help…let’s move!”  He blew the whistle again and yelled “GO” and it took every cell in my being to not jump higher than the gym ceiling and crack my skull…but I didn’t…I kept my cool.  How?  No friggin idea.  The two minutes it took us to walk ( single file) from the gym to the theatre had my heart thundering in my chest harder than any New England storm.  Really.  The pride I felt when I opened the theatre door, and saw the look on the three other people’s faces?  Now THAT was unbelievable.   “Hey Morgan.  Got some help…these guys should be able to do it.”  Don’t forget single file.   Because of the shading of the glass doors, it wasn’t until I moved aside that he could see them start filing in…dunking their heads as they walked through the door way.    TRIUMPH!!!!!   HA!!!

MURPHY:” Wow…Meliss…Wow.  This is unreal.  Your amazing.  You got Tilton to let these guys go?  Melissa how did you do that?  I’m…” he continued to stare back and forth at them and me in total shock.  Not awe, but shock.  Oh yes, Melli’s got MOXIE times ten!   So the team proceeded to move the piano from the pit, to the stage.  It took them all of thirty seconds, and not a scratch.  One day, I really should find those guys and thank them with something awesome…a pendent or something.  And one day, when I’m hugely successful, I FULLY intend too.

..."Like Magic, A Lid Appears"...

melli@melliinc.com
  Dear World,
               Many of you know that a little over a year ago, I was in a car accident.  I suffered a severe head injury.  It's caused me more than several ( times a day) slips down the stairs, ridiculous word replacements.  I.E. "Honey can you grab the washer so I can make the kids' toast".  Rather than microwave, for waffles.  Simple things, natural day to day things.   "Guys hush the vacuum so I can spell the baker"!  Rather than the TV, so I can hear the phone.  
              I found a photo that I pleaded to have taken.  "After the Clean-Up, Before the Shave".  I made it black and white, (less gore).   It was after being air lifted to the trauma center at UCLA and being literally cleaned up, before they shaved part of my head to stitch me back together.  I just wanted to see...somebody said I looked like Harry Potter.  My sister actually...whom I love more than the world.  My Ray of sunshine.   Tonight, I was talking to a friend, and sent her a very un-gory photo.  She said " The Boy Who Lived".    She then said  "You are not going to die...But FINALLY LIVE".  She and I went on chatting...she mentioned Nat King Cole...and I remembered something.  I remembered the dress Natalie Cole was wearing when I was twelve or thirteen and accidentally bumped into her at an awards show.  Then, I remembered what she was wearing when I again had the pleasure of seeing her at a department store right before the accident.
             I still slur my words, some people think I'm all over the place...  Like Aerosmith and my Grandmother have both said in the past "my get up and go, got up and went"... BUT IT'S COMING BACK!  
            It's not over, this part of the battle has just actually begun...but I'm going to win it.   I'm getting stronger, smarter, tougher...and I learn a little every single day.   I'm not so foolish as to say "I love you all", and gush~gush~gush...the truth is, I do remember a lot...good and bad, happy and sad.  A lot of things incredibly bittersweet.  Everything in balance, in good time, the right time...and just when you feel things are about to explode...almost like magic, a lid appears.  
            So, just so everybody is ready ~ I wanted to let you ALL know, I'm still at the airport, not quite boarding the plane...but my tickets are out, my bags are packed, and I'm on my way home.
            Peace, Luv, Rock n' Roll...
            Quite Kindly Yours,
                      Miss Melli Oh My.

Melli D went VIP ;)

melli@melliinc.com

          I LOVE Halloween.   I find the ghost stories captivating.  I like the legends, the intrigue, and the probability (rather than the otherwise typical "possibility") that something magic could happen.    I make a wish at midnight on the thirtieth, and then the following midnight I do the same.
         This Halloween, we began with what's become, our tradition.  My sister and brother-in-law took my boys to the pumpkin patch.  A few days after they come back and we carve pumpkins...99% of the time it's my sister and I...which we love because it gives us "us" time.  So then, this year was a little different.  I had no idea how much so, until Later Friday night.  My friend was going to a place in Hollywood with a small group of people.  I offered to lend her and another girl (that's become a friend now too) some jewelry for fun.  I also offered to do their make-up.   That's something fun for me.  I've always loved getting people ready...even just to go to the market!  Putting a smile on their face, making them feel good inside about how they look outside is very cool.  It happens that neither of these girls needs any help in the department of beauty... it also happens that both are my friends and were going to humor me by letting me help.
          So, Friday night, I get a text ~ not un-common.  BUT...what she said to me was one of those totally superficial, completely and shamelessly, ridiculously exciting things that makes people want to do a cartwheel.  Difference being, I actually will in fact do them.   So I'm silently bouncing in my cartwheels down the hallway so that I don't wake the boys, or my husband, or the neighboring town for that matter.   I was completely stoked out of my mind.  She texted me to see if I'd go with her on Saturday night.  So ok, I got invited to go out in Hollywood with one of my most favorite people...I'm almost a hundred percent certain that she's secretly an angel.  Not only that, but it's in a limo, and how cool is this?  Pauley P from NCIS is the hostess!   Well holy shit.
         I was so excited...until Angela said "costume required"...I died...then I revived myself, and decided ok...I got this.  The ONLY hat that I can wear that isn't a beanie, is a witch hat.  Boom.  I'll grab a capey thingy somewhere, a hat from the grocery store, and I'm done.  Ok so this is me, I'm a girl...I got three dresses, two capes and two head pieces...got home, pulled three more dresses, and two more completely different options out...and transformed myself into this kind of "Gypsy/Witch/Funky?Hollywood?Fortune-Teller.   It worked.   It was so fun to dress up.  Squeezing in the limo was interesting... like being in high school again...
         The ONLY stupid issue was the norm for me, I got dizzy.  Still struggling with the car accident...getting better though.   So most of the night...into the early morning the room, or my head, were spinning.
         It's wild to meet one of your favorite celebrities.  Even seeing them across a room is cool.   Being their guest, VIP guest, at a party with people that are actually your friends?  Wow.  AND when the famous person suddenly becomes a real person it's spectacular.   Ok, she's tall, and thin and beautiful, and she has that "Magic of Hollywood" Sparkle...but she is truly a sweetheart.  She's respectful and courteous of others, and it was a little surreal.   There's actually security guards, and a velvet rope and I was on the side that I secretly have always wanted to be on.   It didn't feel wrong, or strange...it was just fun to be there...and to see my friends having fun.
         Around three AM I think, it seemed time to go home.  So I hugged my friends, and I sorta waved a cool "Thank You Bye" to Pauley.  But she insisted on taking me literally, by the hand, and walking me with a security guard, back to the limo, and made sure he knew where he was taking me.  It was amazing.
         A VIP, with a real VIP, my friends, and in a very cool place in Hollywood...how many times have I said Hollywood?   Yes, always it's in my dreams.   Anyway, I don't drink...I'll go all out on Shirley Temples, but that's it.   So assuming my memory doesn't mess up, I have the capacity to remember everything.  And I remember my friends and I having fun.    I met a bunch of people...all so nice...and one of them, Ginger Coyote who began what is now PunkGlobe.com   She was very awesome, and took a liking I think to my jewelry.  Angela was wearing a bunch, I was wearing a bunch, and somebody told her that Pauley had worn a piece on the show.   So I'm making her something, and she's doing a little write up on me...which will hopefully grab people's attention.
        It's been stated so many times, but in truth, I want to be successful so that I can be happy inside...and make the world smile.  First of course, come my guys...and then every charity that catches even the corner of my eye.   ;)
Picture time loves...

Pauley Perrette & I

 

 Angela & Maggie

Yours Truly 

Angela & I 

Ginger Coyote (& Pauley in the background). 

Maggie & Angela 

Yours truly. 

Pauley P  

The graceful bust of Angela 

Yes...my head-piece. 

And the (gag...) base metal ridiculousness I put together to go with my Pearls.  ;)

QUITE KINDLY YOURS, Mell

Tonight...I told him to shove it.

melli@melliinc.com
    
        Lashing out doesn't make life different.  Being in control, or having the outside "look" of it, makes things appear different.  No person is ever truly in control.  One would hope that people are able to respect one another so that we as a group, can feel good.   Sometimes, enough is just enough.
       The first step in being respected by another...even an insect...is respecting yourself.  That fly buzzing around in the corner?  Not coming anywhere near me...   I respect myself.
     Am I the slimmest, strongest, smartest?  Honestly?  I just might be.  There is a scene at the end of the first Harry Potter movie.  Neville is granted points to  Gryffindor.   He has stood up on behalf of, not only himself, but on behalf of his "House".    He did what he needed to keep the integrity of the house strong.  Despite being terrified, despite feeling insecure about himself, he got up, and held his "wand at the ready".  He happened to come out at the end of the series a true hero.  And it all began on one seemingly calm evening, when he stood up to his fellow house-mates.   His family.
    Tonight, I stood up for my family.  My battle is just beginning.  My healing is only just starting.  However this turns out, whatever the ramifications are, I am confident that my paternal grandmother, and my Ducky, are looking down on me...While they may not be smiling with pure joy... they are absolutely glowing with pride.  Tonight, I respect myself, my children, my husband, and anybody that comes after us.
    Tonight, I sent a letter to the family lawyer  ...  and told my father to shove it.   

Title? Do I have too?

melli@melliinc.com
      I swear when last I wrote, I had no idea it was literally going to be a "scorcher".  Really, though I'd very much like to know what is going to happen, and to whom, and when, usually, I don't.  That was plain and simple luck I suppose.   So, in trying to keep my sanity, I've downloaded a Martha Stewart "App" onto my iPhone...I'm very excited and yesterday, I even made dinner with a recipe I found there.  My chicken doesn't look nearly as good as my Pearl bracelets though, so I think I'll just stick to the creative side of things.   I can bake a mean cake, as long as the shape is circular...go figure, I've no idea why I cannot bake in a square, but I just absolutely cannot seem to get that one down.   It makes clean and perfect sense though, that out of everything in the world, of course, my passion is for Pearls...  The round ones.  :)  Just a little hello world I'm still here.  Despite the flu earlier this week, and my older son impaling his eye on the tip of a flagpole, I have survived the ridiculous California-ness...   I'll be back later with something interesting to say...Well, I'd hope.  I did see a once was rocker dude at the market yesterday...but being me and my puny self, I'm not sure who it was.   Had I known, I would have probably fallen over in awe.   Anyways, I'm here, working my butt off to make it into the fashion world, the Hollywood world, and/or any that I love that will have me.   Hoping you are all well...   Quite Kindly Yours, Melli D.

"Do be careful..."

melli@melliinc.com

"Do you know how helpless you feel if you have a full cup of coffee in your hand and you start to sneeze?"
Jean Kerr 

       It's inevitable, you will sneeze.  The (likely) hot coffee will spill...and from there, a number of ramifications will take place.   What do you do?   Furthermore, what do you do  when the person handing you the coffee is also the person that teases your nose with pepper?   Another name is a "no win situation". A "no win" life, would be somebody who has lost all hope completely.  I am not that person.

    "Hope may be lost temporarily, but it won't ever be truly gone".

      Throughout every trial and triumph no matter where my life is or was, my forever goals, dreams and wishes haven't wavered.    As my memory unscrambles itself, and re-organizes all the experiences that make up "Melli", I'm stunned, and proud of myself.  As part of my "healing" process, I've been forced to look back and process my past.  Being abused, hurt, and literally kicked when I'm down, really has just made me a stronger person.  I'm proud to carry "Little...But Oh My" not because it's cute or endearing, but because it's true.  No I don't go around kicking people's asses... though I could.  The force captured in those four words has almost nothing to do with my physical make up.  It's the power and the passion,  I hold inside the depths of my soul.   "Melli Oh My" is the new and improved version.   My strength is in my character.  So starting right now, at 8:45 PM on 10/9/11, anybody that feels the need to give me that coffee is invited to do so...   Nobody ever said it would be ME, having to deal with the consequences of it spilling.  ;)

Quite Kindly,
     Melli Oh My...
PS~  Do be careful, (Darn weather is so startling sometimes!!) tomorrow could be a scorcher.

             

Put one foot in front of the other ~ AND GO.

melli@melliinc.com

Dear World -

A zebra is an exact balance of black and of white, yin and yang, of plus and minus, fire water etc.  Perfection.  If I am good at something, I'm the best at it.  And if I'm not, I'm the worst.  I don't pretend to do things, though I've said "fake it till you make it".   If said "it" is something completely foreign, then that "it" for me isn't an option.  I don't fake the know-how...maybe just the experience or rather the confidence I have in the doing of a task.    If I agree/accept a gig,job,offer, it's because on some level, I know I can kick it's ass...in the very best and most gracious of ways.

Fake It Till You Make It-

“Meticulous manipulation of the mind,

 in order to properly complete a task, that

 one already has the inherent ability to master”.

Melli Clarification 

Right now,  I'm so grateful the ever so gifted for Kevyn Aucoin.  Despite the classes I've taken in design, color, costume, make-up, theatrical effects etc etc etc... His book "Making Faces"has taught me more than any of them.   It's also helped me elaborate my own thoughts and methodology in refining the gifts that I've naturally been given.   So, I'm not panicking.   Well, ok maybe a little.
I'm doing the make-up for a video shoot tomorrow.   A "Sizzle~Reel".    Until yesterday I was the "assistant" to the "professional" artist, who has since, backed out.  While my heart is now beating out of my chest...if indeed it still is beating, the only way to move forward is to actually put one foot in front of the other ~ AND GO.  So I'm going.  I'm going to Los Alamos, I'm going to do the make-up for the film.  I'm going to rock it.  And of course I'll be doing it in Pearls.  
 I'm absolutely bringing my books from  Mr. Aucoin.  To be a legend is wonderfully bittersweet.  He was taken from the world at such a young age...and yet even in death, is teaching so very much.  Not just that, but he is also guiding me  through,  reminding me of all the things I did learn,  do know, can do ... and giving me ~ again ~  the confidence to move ahead in doing them.    How inspiring he is to me alone, without even being here.  Now THAT is magic if I've ever seen.  
So yes, I'm nervous, but that's not a bad thing really.  It's energy building...and energy can be positive.  It can bring smiles to peoples faces, and it can turn a hum~drum day into the best you've ever had.  Terrified?  Ok, a little...but I'm human.  If I couldn't do this I wouldn't try.  But I can... so I will.
Anyway, my forever motto is worded a little different every time I say it,  however...

"On the inside, have passion enough 

to rival the wildest of any storm.  

On the outside though ~ forever do your best,

to instead resemble (ALWAYS) 

the calm just before."

Quite Kindly,

 Melli D.