Nimh Sellers

Moving

2011-02-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm no longer going to hide behind any aliases. You can now find me at my one and only blog:
http://melaniereynolds.wordpress.com

I hope it won't be too much of a bother for anyone that I've moved to Wordpress. No particular reason why, I just thought I would try a new site. Hope to see you soon.

Hello

2010-11-22T13:27:00.000-08:00

I wrote a post two months ago and blogger had "issues" when I tried to post it.

Sorry I haven't been around. All is well here. Life is busy, but I still think about many of you from time to time. Take Care and Happy Holidays!!!!

A place as character

2010-08-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Like most people I occasionally develop a crush for an actor, generally for the roles they take on or for a character that they bring to life, but a house? More specifically a room with a view. My current crush is on a house that was the setting for several scenes in the recently updated Battlestar Galactica (BSG). In the show, the home is the residence of Gaius Baltar. The home itself is actually in Vancouver,BC.

In every episode I hope for a flashback, just so I can see this image. I like it as much as the taste of chocolate even though it is intangible. I know in reality I'll proably never get to own such a home. While most people may not be concious of the fact, "place" or "setting" has a lot to do with the success or failure of a TV show or movie. This is never more true than inSicence Fiction and Fantasy. If you cannot take your reader/viewer there, then they are not going to buy into your alternate reality. The key is to do it as succintly as possible. I love this room for it's simplicity, the way the items in the room do not detract from the amazing view. If this room were described in a book. It'd better be done in 400 words or less.

(unedited post)

Sands of time

2010-07-26T15:53:00.000-07:00

I'm still trying to find more than five minutes to write. Where are those nice long daytime naps I've heard about?

My mind is just not "in" the children's story. There are two different versions of it. Quite frankly, I don't feel adequeate to be writing a story for kids. Even though I have a baby who I love dearly, I still don't feel like a "kid-person". When I read what is currently published for where I think this story goes, it all seems trite and boring. Maybe I should continue to shelve it for another six years or until I can properly channel Richard Adams, author of "Watership Down "and "Plague Dogs".

Baby beckons....later all! As always I appreciate you stopping by!

Six years, let it go?

2010-07-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

I was annoyed when I mentioned to a lady that I intened to become a published Writer. She looked at my pregnant belly and said, "Oh, I'm sure you'll write lots of nice Children's stories."
No. I don't see myself as a "Children's Author" I write Fiction, and usually with a rather dark twist to it. However, a number of years ago I wrote a Children's story for an Environmental Communications class. The class was so taken by my story about a captive turtle trying to survive in the wild, that he was mentioned in every preceding presentation after mine.

I was thinking of Watership Down by Richard Adams as my inspiration. I write stories that want to be told. While I understand the importantance of defining your audience for marketing purposes, it is something that for me, come later. I've had kids (ages 10-13) and adults read my story for feedback. While they all seem to like it, it is missing something. There is a spark just not quite there. I've been working on it off and on for about six years. Now I feel faced with a decision: Should I just let it go or should I try sending it to a Publisher and see if they think it is worth working on? Maybe with the right editor I can find that missing element.

What do you think? Anyone else find themselves with a similar problem?

(unedited post)

Big Boy

2010-05-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken of him a half hour after delivery. As you can see he came with a full head of hair. He's now 14 days old and eats A LOT for a newborn. My husband and I are both tall, so I imagine that he is going to be quite tall himself. I tried to breastfeed. I knew it might be hard, but you can never really be prepared for what to expect. Both mother and baby have to learn their parts. Mother learns to position correctly and baby has to learn to "latch-on",

Unfortunately, you can only take so many bad latches before the breasts get badly damage. I sought a lot of help and really tried, but it just didn't workout. Now I am using a breast pump to supplement the formual feedings with breast milk. Talking to other mothers, several have confessed how they too struggled and failed. It's like war stories that soldiers won't discuss, unless you bring it up first. To admit, that you've been their too. No one wants to sound like a defeatist to a noble cause. It makes you wonder how we've survived as a species so long.

Thank you for all of your comments on the last post. It's nice to know you guys are still stopping by after I've been quiet for so long!

He's arrived!

2010-04-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

The new blue has arrived. After 24 hours oflabor and an eventually c-section, our 8lb 9oz baby boy was born. Things are going well. He was born on April 22nd at 2:01am. As of this post he is 6 days old. As you can imagine I won't be blogging very much. Family will be keeping me pretty busy. I hope all of you are well. Thank you so much for checking in and keeping in touch! Give me a couple of months and we'll see if blogging can work it's way into the new schedule. I do plan to be a stay-at home mom and work on my writing.

Take Care!

February 16th

2010-02-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

It was on this day nine years ago that my husband and I first met, in a bar. In about eight weeks or less we'll be holding our first child. I love my husband more and more as each year goes by. How is that for romantic?

I hope you are all well! I wish you as much peace and prosperity as this year can possibly bring you. After all, it is my year, the year of the Tiger. :)

Ta-ta for now.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T10:28:00.001-08:00

Thank you all very much for continuing to stop by! I really appreciate your comments and wish I could visit you and post more often!

I hope you, your friends and families all have a wonderful 2010!

Hugs all around!
-Nimh/Prox

New Era

2009-11-04T08:57:00.000-08:00

People used to tell me I would make a great mother. I used to smile and think, "You obviously don't know me very well." Now I guess we'll find out if they are correct or not. I am 4 and a half months pregnant. We found out on Monday that the little person inside is a boy and I intend to name him "Noah".

I'm not religious. As that holy entity most people call "God" surely knows, we've had our issues. Regardless of the mutiple interpetations of the bible, I like most of the parables. "Noah and his ark" is the original story of "Chicken Little" and other children's classics about remaining true to oneself regardless of what others around you might say.

I may have never thought of myself as a "mother", but I have always been a leader. My friends and coworkers look to me for sound advice. I have always been determined to find that balance between leading with both heart and logic. I have had to make some very difficult choices in the past. I have sacrificed some and saved others and not always with good conscience. I hope that this little boy of mine will forgive my mistakes and value the good that I have done.

He will be born with his own personality and I wonder if he will be as stubborn as I. I can only hope that he will become a leader in his own right. I don't know what the future will bring for any of us. All I can do, is give him the tools necessary for survival: Heart, Logic, Knowledge and Perseverance. Why is Logic and knowledge two different things? Because you can know a lot about a lot of things and still not possess the logic to know what needs to be done with it.

The Brit

2009-10-07T09:02:00.000-07:00

A coworker -friend, a proper Christian man, begging to be tempted by pagan ways. Looks deep into my eyes over a glass of beer and tells me how I would have been put to death for them a long time ago. They are blue-green with stunning gold halos around my pupils. (They appeared after the first time I died.) They would have charged me a witch back in the day. Even now the charges have sometimes been whipsered against me. My attackers are usually men who lack control over their own emotions, and jealous women on the sidelines who stare at them adoringly.

"What do you think of Janet in Accounting?" my friend asks.
"She is more tolerable than most" I say.
"Do you think she would go out with me?" he asks.
"No" I say.
He looks shocked and wounded by my quick and straight reply.
"Why not?"
"Because she asked me if you were gay."
"What did you say?"
"No, he's just British."
He puts his head down. Just past forty, he's thinking he'll never find the right woman.
"You need to put yourself out there. Like a taxi cab. You need to turn your light on so people know your available. Instead you sit here with me, a lost cause. You need to stretch out of your comfort zone. Be bold. How you pansies conquered so many lands I'll never know."
He laughs.
"Why do you tolerate me?"
"Despite being British, you're of the few people who's company I enjoy the most."

Ebb and flow

2009-09-08T13:19:00.000-07:00

We took my niece and the puppy dog to the beach. It was a nice time for all. It seems our lovely dog likes to run in all things soft. Snow and sand. She did not give much attention to the ocean and it's waves. My niece is quite a fan of some books the, "Twilght" series. so we did an extra 140 mles so that she could visit the town where the books are supposed to take place. Such an economically poor area after the disfavor and restrictions on logging, they do what they can to capitalize on this new found fame.

On the way to beach resort a drunk drive came up quickly behind us. I was driving, the road was very wet and foggy as usual. This driver was swerving a lot and almost lost control a couple of times and went in the ditch. They would fall back and then speed up right close to my bumper. Finally they passed us. I was really tempted to call 911, but we were so far out in the middle of nowhere, it would take a long time for any officer to get there. Each turn we took we expected to see the car upside down or in a tree. I was furious that they would senselessly endanger other peoples lives.

Finally, we came around the corner and there she was. Her car spun out on a rare spot of shoulder parking she was jumping up and down and screaming in anger. A car in front of us pulled over and another one behind us. I did not pull over. She was clearly not injured, judging from her roadside tantrum. Had I pulled over, she would have found herself with a few less teeth and a very sore ass at a minimum.

Other than that, it was good food and good company. I like my niece very much. She is growing up to be quite a woman.

Borrowed Meme

2009-08-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

Mago ripped from Lily and now I borrow from him, however, I think it's a bit of a long one, so I pared it down. - Nimh

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
I have no idea. It's like breathing, I just do it.

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Dark Blue, it's actually work-issued "attire". Wish makes me even happier that I work where I do. We also occasionally hoola-hoop in the hallways. :)

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Uh yeah, cuz' we're like married and stuff. I'm sure I'll also be sharing my bed with him again tonight too, ya pervy question generator.

4. & 5. Do you plan outfits and how do you feel right now?
No, I don't and I feel happy and a little tired right now.

6. What's the closest thing to you thats red?
The accent wall, it's "Sly Fox" and one of the most gorgeous colors ever! Goes awesome with the "Castlestone" a very light yellow-sand color. Both Behr.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
No.

8. & 9. Did you meet anyone new today and What are you craving right now?
No, not yet and I'm craving cheese, as usual Gromit. (Seee: "Wallace & Gromit")

10. & 11. Do you floss? and What do you think of when I say cabbage?
Yes, fairly regularly, it's one reason why American have better teeth then there European counterparts. And you're asking me about cabbage, what the hell kind of question is that?

12. Are you emotional?
F^ck you. :)

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
That seems stupid, why would I?

15. & 16. Do you like your hair? and Do you like yourself?
Yes, I just got some fun highlights last weekend, but it takes for ever. Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I like the person I am now, I killed the other one.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Can I stab him with a fork? I'll be nice and let him choose the location, otherwise Id be taking an eyeball.

19. Are your parent's strict?
I was the "parent" in the "Parent-Child" relationship growing up. So you'll have to ask them if I was/am strict.

20. Would you go skydiving?
In case you haven't notice, I have control issues. I would rather try base jumping because I don't know that I could trust the pilot from not running us into anything first.

skip to 34.

34. Are you forgiving?
My ten year grudges now last approximately 2 years. Maybe it's an age thing.

35. Every been in love?
Painfully so.

39. What's the last question you asked?
Are you ok?

40. Favorite time of year?
Fall, September and October specifically.

41. Do you have any tattoos?
Yes, two. Germanic tribal border on ankle. "Tiger" in Kanji on my sternum.

42. Are you sarcastic?
Like water in a river.

43. Have you ever seen the "Butterfly Effect"?
The movie with Ashton Kutcher, no. The very real phenomenon, yes - it was frightening.

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
With a closed fist. Everyone should fight like a man you pansy!

48. Last CD I bought?
The soundtrack to "Public Enemies". It's great! I highly recommend the movie and soundtrack to anyone who likes the look and feel of 1930's Americana.

49. Do looks matter?
Somewhat. I like people with unique features. We shouldn't all look like a bunch of Barbie dolls.

I like my life. I have handled the glare of truth and now I have to go.
Ta-Ta for now!
Take care of yourself. Until later then.

-Nimh

American Identity

2009-07-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Everyone's a Critic

2009-06-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Cheesy Science-Fiction, of course I like it! I also like cheesy disaster movies too. I think the worst I've ever seen/can remember was "Atomic Train" with 80's man-meat Rob Lowe. He's an NTSB agent (aka Federal Insurance Agent, see also "paper-pusher") that turns McGuyver to stop a train heading toward Chicago(?) with nukes on board. Of course the bad guys have lousy, sexy accents. Hey, I like men I can't understand. Oh and by the way, that stepson he's been having trouble bonding with makes his way into the mix too. Not that any extra cheese was necessary, but real father of the kid shows up just in time to "do right by the kid", lousy deadbeat, and dies oh-so-tragically to keep the plot going.

What's the cheesiest movie you can remember?

The True West

2009-05-30T21:51:00.001-07:00

We leave for Yellowstone bright and early tomorrow. A twelve hour drive. I consider it the "true West". When you think of the old west of a bygone era, you can still see it there in Montana and Wyoming. The Shoshone lived in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. When you see a stereotypical representation of a Native American (Tipi's on the plains with Buffalo), you see the Shoshone. Here in the Pacific NW is has always had it's own unique character, different from the rest of the Western States.

I'll write to write back next week.

Any exciting trips for you this summer?

Barefoot pleasures

2009-05-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

playing the piano, walking on terra cotta tiles warmed by the sun, foot massages, pointed at the sun while laying in a boat on a lazy afternnon.

What are your barefoot pleasures?

Strange habits

2009-05-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

For the most part, I would say I do not have a fear of spiders, however, they do show up unexpected. I believe this is the reason for my "hair dryer habit". Having the cumbersome responsibility of an overactive imagination, requires taking many things in stride.

Each morning I plug in the hair dryer and point it at the wall while turning it on. I have a mental image of some unsuspecting spider flying out at the moment of ignition. It's never really happened before, but just because it could -- I laugh at myself while waiting for vindication.

What's one of your strange habits?

Celebrity dreams

2009-05-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

Preface: Francis Ford Coppola publishes a quarterly art and literature magazine called Zoetrope: All-Story. The submission statement says he gets a one-year film option if he chooses to do so. (http://www.all-story.com/)

I went to bed and slept on the thought of being published in his magazine. I dreamt I was in a big cafeteria complex for celebrities only at Universal Studios. Of course, I was there to collaborate with Mr. Coppola on one of my stories. This did not quell the fear that security would drag me out at any moment though. Johnny Depp and Christian Slater were vying for my attention and Martha Stewart cut me off in the salad bar line.
=====================

Do you remember a celebrity dream you've had?
Share here in the comments, or post it on your blog and let me.