I spent the last five days in Oregon – a whirlwind of get-togethers with family members, old acquaintances and friends. Fortunately, almost everyone I met with about my memoir project was enthusiastic and helpful. No one gave me the cold shoulder, but some may take a little longer to warm up to the idea. Just as it is with my trophy wives, I need to earn my interviewees’ trust.
On Friday, I got to "do lunch" with three of my LJ friends. It’s always so much fun to link people’s smiling faces and personalities to their online names and blogs! We talked about writerly things, of course, including our current projects and future plans. As for me, I talked about how I’m piecing together my memoir project (all apologies to Anne Lamott) bird feather by bird feather. 
Left to Right: LKmadigan, lorraine T., Lisa Schroeder, and me.
Did I mention that I excel at flitting, not only when I’m supposed to be writing, but also when I’m out on the road? Well, here’s photographic proof. On your left, Haystack Rock, which we passed on a misty morning walk in Cannon Beach. On the right, a meandering drive through wine country, in the Willamette Valley. Just so you know, the car was parked when I took this photo. And yes, we had a designated driver.
Next time I post, I’m going to ask you to join me on a trip down Memory Lane. I hope you’ll say yes! ‘Til then, I hope you have a wonderful week!
Next time I post, I’m going to ask you to join me on a trip down Memory Lane. I hope you’ll say yes!
Yes! Yes! A thousand times…YES!!!
(You don’t even have to ask!)
YAY, and thanks!
YAY, and thanks!
Grab your handbag…my car’s idling in your driveway, ready to take you on a trip down Memory Lane. (Check out my newest post.)
Vaaavoom!! Rev that puppy up, and let’s G-O…
Thanks for the heads up – I’d probably have hit the silk without reading anything at LJ, tonight.
I’m in Camarillo…having left Ontario at 8AM for a workshop in San Diego…then leaving SD at 1PM…and not arriving in Camarillo until almost 7PM. The 405 and 101 were more like parking lots than freeways.
Gratefully, this is my last night on the road for two whole weeks (if all stays as scheduled…) Just out of curiosity, I counted…and tonight makes night #21 in a hotel room since January 1st.
(I’m taking some ‘real’ vacation time off in April! Yippeee!)
Vaaavoom!! Rev that puppy up, and let’s G-O…
Thanks for the heads up – I’d probably have hit the silk without reading anything at LJ, tonight.
I’m in Camarillo…having left Ontario at 8AM for a workshop in San Diego…then leaving SD at 1PM…and not arriving in Camarillo until almost 7PM. The 405 and 101 were more like parking lots than freeways.
Gratefully, this is my last night on the road for two whole weeks (if all stays as scheduled…) Just out of curiosity, I counted…and tonight makes night #21 in a hotel room since January 1st.
(I’m taking some ‘real’ vacation time off in April! Yippeee!)
What gorgeous photos.
Of COURSE I am talking about the one that highlights our friends. {}
(The scenic vistas are not too shabby, my paparazzi pal.) {}
So nice to see all of your smiling faces. Melodye– this is a compliment– You’re looking a little Madonnaish(as in Ciccone, the great picture book writer and erstwhile music mogul)! Your hair, your eyes… Can you dance? {}
We know you can write. Hah, Madonna. You can’t excel at everything. :>
Can’t wait to read the pastiche of stories that made up this research adventure,
Pamela {}
I can’t dance to save my life. In the ’80s, I desperately wanted to be a Fly Girl, ala In Living Color. Sad and little-known fact. That dream ended quickly, in a pulled hamstring and twisted back.
Ooooh, how lucky! I want to meet them, too!
Glad to see you having such a lovely time ;).
Well hi there, friend of mine! I’m so happy to see YOUR smiling face around these parts!
Hi Melodye!
So glad you made it home safe and sound! Lunch was grand and I hope we get to do it again someday.
Lisa
p.s. my new favorite saying is bird feather by bird feather. 🙂
Thanks for carving out time from your work schedule to meet with me. I really enjoyed your company.
🙂
What a great trip!!!
I wish I’d been able to meet you all, too– it’s great to see pictures!
I’m such a visual creature; I love seeing where people live and work and, most of all, what they look like. As an artist, I’m sure you understand. Lucky me, I’ve been able to see some of my LJ friends face-to-face. It’s nice, then, to be able to share the fun with my other LJ friends. 🙂
Yes indeed– and I’m so glad you shared!:D
Yes indeed– and I’m so glad you shared!:D
Lovely pix, women and scenery included 🙂
My LJ friends are gorgeous, all of them! And Oregon’s a very beautiful state.
Looks like you all had a blast! I’m glad your research is going well.
We had a great time, and I came back with lots of memories, old and new.
How are YOU doing? Have I missed a progress post from you? I know I’m missing you online… 🙂
Aw, you missed me! 😉
I took a winter break in San Diego and I wrote some more of Novel #2 in my favourite coffeeshop/bookstore, Upstart Crow. Once someone was at “my” table who looked like she was writing, too.
I did! Oh man, had I known you were in my general neighborhood, I would have come to meet up with you! Are you coming back again soon?
Nah, that was our big buget-blowing vacation of the year. But it’s M’s favourite city, so next time we go I’ll give you some warning! 🙂
Oh, please do!
Nah, that was our big buget-blowing vacation of the year. But it’s M’s favourite city, so next time we go I’ll give you some warning! 🙂
Looks like you all had a blast! I’m glad your research is going well.
I’ve got the virtual flying suit on the pug to say welcome home! How wonderful to see all the things I grew up around – Haystack Rock, Willamette Valley, Portland. Did you spend time there growing up?
I’m so glad you had a good time as you piece together your memories. 🙂
Aawww, s/he’s adorable! Thanks for the welocme home. I did spend time there growing up…for a short time in elementary school, then from high school through college. What about you?
*cues “It’s a Small World” on her mental MP3 player*
I grew up on the east side near the airport in the same house not too far from the Columbia River.
Had no idea…. 🙂
Yeah, me either. Wow, that’s cool! OK, I’ll throw out a few locations that might sound familiar: Parkrose Elementary, Grant High School, Linfield College and Pacific University…
We went to the same grade school!
at least the same District…I went to Thompson.
My parents met at Linfield and were engaged on the bridge during WW2.
at least the same District…I went to Thompson.
My parents met at Linfield and were engaged on the bridge during WW2.
I grew up on the east side near the airport in the same house not too far from the Columbia River.
Had no idea…. 🙂
Look at those lovely ladies!! Oh, I wish I could have been there.
Aren’t they gorgeous? We had so much fun. I wish you could have been there, too!!!
Sounds, and looks like a lovely trip! Can’t wait for the trip down Memory Lane 😉
I learned (and played) a lot. Wish you could have met up with us, too!
You may be a bit young for the Memory Lane experience, but maybe you can round up a few friends and family members as tour guides for the trip. 🙂
What a lovely trip
Looks like you had a great time. Oregon is such a beautiful state. LOVE the picture of Haystack in the mist. Very evocative imagery.
Re: What a lovely trip
It’s just barely springtime in Oregon — to my eye, the most beautiful season there. The forsythia, cherry trees and daffodils are in full bloom, and the still-bare trees have leaf buds ready to pop open any time now.
Cannon Beach is my favorite. It’s such a beautiful town and sea shore, isn’t it?
What a lovely trip
Looks like you had a great time. Oregon is such a beautiful state. LOVE the picture of Haystack in the mist. Very evocative imagery.
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I especially like the picture of the big rock in the mist.
That’s Haystack Rock, an anchor point for me. I’m glad you like it, too. 🙂
It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I especially like the picture of the big rock in the mist.
I love seeing the photo of four friends whom I know so well but have never met!
When will you ever find your way to Denver?
Oh, Denver would be fabulous! I don’t have childhood connections there, but it’s kinda close to Aspen and Sun Valley, favorite hangouts of my trophy wives…
I look so gargantuan next to petite Lorraine. Good thing you friends-locked the post, Melodye, so as not to startle innocent passers-by. Hee!
Can you guys on the f-list tell from the photo how mesmerizing Melodye’s eyes are? Super-blue and sparkling.
That was such a fun time.
More LJers should visit Portland!
P.S. Gorgeous Oregon pix.
It’s a perspective thing…you were much closer to the camera! And really, let’s be honest here: Don’t you look gorgeous! That’s a rhetorical question: Of course you do!
I loved getting to meet you in person; I feel like we all bonded in that short time we were together. Magic, pure magic. 🙂
Hey you! Glad your trip to Oregon was successful and fun! I’ve no doubt you’ll “win the trust” of your interviewees!!! I can’t wait to roll down Memory Lane with you! Looking forward to it.
Great icon, once again. 🙂
You might be a little young to recognize the landmarks on our trip down memory lane. If not, you can always enlist the company of your relatives…if they’re interested, of course. 🙂
Thanks! I’m having some fun with Photoshop. 🙂
LOL… I think I’m a little older than you might think. 😉 So did you try the Pinots? LOL….
I want your Photoshop knowledge, without having to do the practice exercises in the back of the book.
OF COURSE I tried the Pinots. And the chardonney. And the fruit wines. And…and…hiccup!
without having to do the practice exercises in the back of the book.
LOL… but where is the fun in that? Just tell me what sort of theme you want and I’ll make you an icon anytime! 🙂
I tried the Pinots. And the chardonney. And the fruit wines.
Silly girl, you weren’t supposed to mix them all together in one glass though!!!
Wonderful photos, Melodye. How nice that you were out & about!
Thanks, K! I had a great time. Someday, it’d be fun to meet you, too.
Thanks, K! I had a great time. Someday, it’d be fun to meet you, too.
Thank you! Too bad you couldn’t join us and show off your new, cute haircut! 🙂
I have the horses saddled up and waiting for the trip down memory lane. I know it will be a hit. A wonderful week…. all my weeks are wonderful. It’s the new outlook on life I have and I really do enjoy it. The trees are in full bloom as are the pansies. Next project is planting the spring color in the flower beds. I love the spring and all the lovely plants. Won’t be long before the turtles emerge from their winter snooze and come looking to be fed. Yes spring is my favorite time.
Happy Spring!
Glad the horses are saddled up and you’re ready to go!It’s going to be a team posting…I’m looking for recollections on some topics I’m researching…. 🙂
Your garden sounds lovely. Someday soon, I’d love to see a photo. Do turtles really hibernate? I remember (vaguely) that my brother picked up a turtle/tortoise (which was it?) in the desert; he had it as a pet for a very long time.
Ohhhh, more pics! I LOVE seeing pics! Looks like you had a wonderful time, and I look forward to joining you for a trip down Memory Lane! Yay! 🙂
Glad you like the photos. I’m like you…I’m such a visual person: I love seeing other people’s faces on LJ so I can picture them in “real” life. The trip down Memory Lane’s going to be interactive; I hope you’ll share some memory milestones of your own. 🙂
Ohhhhhh, sounds like fun! Looking forward to it! 🙂
Ohhhhhh, sounds like fun! Looking forward to it! 🙂
Wow! I just saw this! A meetup of 4 LJers? That’s really cool! I’m glad you had a nice trip and thank you for the photos. 🙂 Oregon is gorgeous and so are all of you. I’d love to visit sometime too. Maybe you can give me some tips for my future trip. 🙂
We had a lot of fun. Hey, check your calendar for a time sometime soon when you and I can “do lunch.” We can talk about Oregon (and lots of other things) then. 🙂
Lunch! 🙂
Due to some new work stuff, I need to scoot it to the end of April–unless you want to do it on a weekend. I’ll go into more detail offlist…
Re: Lunch! 🙂
Aw, I’m sorry, but I do understand. Let me know when you’re available during the week; that works best for me. 🙂
Wow! I just saw this! A meetup of 4 LJers? That’s really cool! I’m glad you had a nice trip and thank you for the photos. 🙂 Oregon is gorgeous and so are all of you. I’d love to visit sometime too. Maybe you can give me some tips for my future trip. 🙂
Thanks for sharing these wonderful pics. It’s so nice to see everyone!
And for the record: YES!!!
YAY! I’m looking forward to sharing memories with you!
YAY! I’m looking forward to sharing memories with you!
We had a fabulous time! I’d love to meet you in person sometime, too. I can’t begin to imagine how much fun we’d have. 🙂
Thanks for sharing the photos! I loved seeing the lunch pic especially.
I WISH I could’ve been in on all that fun writer talk. 🙂
It would have been *so much fun* to have you sitting at the table that afternoon, sharing laughter and stories with us. 🙂