My Interview With: Udo Vosstien, aka Master Hunter (HEARTFAST, HEARTCRYSTAL)

LM: With me in the studio today is Udo Vosstien, also known as Master Hunter, the hero in my books HeartFast and HeartCrystal. What a surprise! Welcome, Udo!

MH: Thank you, Linda, and thank you for the invitation. I'm glad I was able to make it. (nervous laugh) That's an interesting photo you've posted.

LM: I never expected you to show up in person. (laughs) You sort of popped in from out of nowhere. By the way, blame StarLight for the photo.

MH: (laughs) I should have known Terran had something to do with it. No, Provoker and I were on an assignment in this quadrant, and I thought why not just show up and surprise you? It was a straight shot, but my time is limited.

LM: Speaking of Provoker, how are things between you and him?

MH: There are times we all rub each other wrong, but in the long run we're Guardians. I trust him with my life. I trust Terran's life with him, just as he trusts us to risk our necks to save his butt. (laughs)

LM: How is reconstruction coming along on Guardian headquarters?

MH: Slow. Deceiver told the bigwigs to concentrate their rebuilding efforts on getting the city rejuvenated first. The people need to feel safe again, and the quickest way to do that is to get things back to normal, or feeling normal, as soon as possible. Our headquarters is adequate for the moment. We can get calls for our help, and we can reply to them. The rest like the training facilities and labs and all can wait.

LM: If you don't mind me getting a little personal, is the honeymoon still going strong with StarLight?

MH: (looks around) Did Star send you something other than photos? (laughs) Let's just say life is never dull. Terran is an incredible, brave, beautiful, and loving woman. I feel blessed every day we're together.

LM: You sound like a man hopelessly in love.

MH: The last thing I expected when I joined the Guardians was to find the other half of my heart.

LM: Okay, I know you're needing to be off, but I have one last question. What's next for you and Terran? Are you planning on raising a family at Guardian headquarters?

MH: Terran and I have discussed this. We plan to remain Guardians, in spite of the risk factors involved. Our fellow Guardians are delighted we're staying and raising a family among them. Only the future knows what will come, and how far we'll be blessed.

LM: Well, thank you again for taking the time to transport over here to answer a few questions. It was a delight to see you again!

MH: You're welcome, Linda. Anytime.

Baby Is All Grown Up

Today started off well - I had breakfast at cafe nell, then went to my meeting with a recruiter/staffing firm who work with freelancers. We met for about 95 minutes, so once I revamp my resume, I am HOPING (fingers crossed) to get an assignment so I can start contributing to the house (and pay for max's transition school/daycare).

In trying to downgrade my life and be a bit more responsible, I splurged on breakfast read my August issue of ELLE (saw too many things - mainly accessories) that I wanted then went to the meeting. Post meeting I grabbed a coffee at Cafe Umbria (coffee is one of my luxuries - its free in my building lobby, but its not good. its not hand crafted with love like a latte at umbria, though I am sure that this too will change soon enough). For lunch I did an eating right frozen meal that was high in protein and was 230 calories. Perfect portion (and was $2 at safeway)

Around 3 Jon came home with Max and picked me up - we went back out to Beaverton to go to orientation for Max's transition program. I was choked up. I am sure it will be worse on Tuesday. But the facility is amazing, the teachers are very nice (all have master's degrees) and the kids in Max's class (9 in total including Max) were adorable. Everything from his little cubby and hook for his coat with his picture above it to the tiny chairs and potties made me misty. I hope he loves it. I think in the long run its better than him spending all day with me not being as engaged as he should.

I wore my black Adela dress today - to the meeting I wore it with my Marius jacket, Francoise boots and the black scarf from H&M with gold lurex stripes. As the day warmed up I ditched the jacket, scarf and boots and opted for my Carribea wedges in tomato and faux python. The perfect dress up/down outfit.

WE Hit Over 12,000 members TODAY!

We at Hairlista Inc. have the pleasure to announce that we`ve reached an astounding level of OVER 12,000 members in 10 months of being online. WE are reaching a level beyond our expectations. This is wonderful news!! Thank you all for your continued support and love. We appreciate you all.

Who Is Your Best Friend Forever?

Who is your best friend forever? Do you have a special childhood friend who was there for you through thick or thin and who provided you with strength, love and moral support in the saddest and weakest moments of your life? Please describe your friend.

Tags: Best Friend Forever, Special Friend, Childhood Friend, Constant Companion, Supporter, Admirer, Protector, Encourager, Inspirer, Shoulder To Cry On, Dependable, Ever Faithful, Ever Loyal, True And Lasting Friend, Moral Support, Defender, Selfless, Magnanimous, Generous, Devoted

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Philippines

Viewpoint/Opinion

Your My Obsession

I am still sad that I sold this dress. At the time I thought it was possibly unflattering, but since I have embraced wearing belts (which I was never into) I am obsessing non-stop.... if you have it, and want to part with it let me know.....black or violet 6, 8 or 10.

14 days to total senility

Holy Fuck. (is senility a word?)

I have exactly two weeks to make my year 29 the best it possibly can be. How did I let 351 days go by without realizing it was my last 365 days in my twenties. Fuck I am stupid.

Time for reflection I suppose. I mean year 29 couldn't have been THAT uneventful, right?

First, I went to Mexico on an all inclusive week long holiday. That was pretty fucking awesome actually.

And there is no second.

Seriously, this past 351 days (minus the 7 I spent in Mexico) has been pretty boring, tragic, lonesome, crazy, tedious, (fattening), psychotic... need I go on. In retrospect, I should be THRILLED that its almost over and I have a chance to make year 30 pretty fucking awesome. Not so much I guess. Why can't I get over this?

Honestly, even though I am brooding and stressing over it, I still plan on having the best year ever. I am not old, just a little more experienced than I was last year... and while I can't say financially I am better off, I do have that positive inclination that things will pick up in that department and THEN I will be able to afford to do all the things I couldn't in my twenties. The thirties is the new twenties right?

You know, that whole paragraph was my own little pep talk to myself. Not sure if it worked. I'll get back to you on that one.

In other news: I have decided to bake my OWN birthday cake this year. Michael's has ready-to-use fondant, so I shall take my inspiration from The Food Network's Ace of Cakes and attempt something I have no experience doing, and hope to hell I don't fuck up.

Thoughts?

My Interview With: Prof. Sarah Drumman Morr (RUNNER'S MOON: SIMOLIF)

LM: Thank you so much for coming today, Sarah!

SM: Thank you for having me! Most women usually want to speak to my husband. (laughs)

LM: Well, call me guilty. But if it's any comfort, I wanted to speak with the both of you.

SM: Thank you! Now when I go home, I can go, "Nyah, nyah" to Simon. (laughs)

LM: My first question is about married life, but I promise not to get too personal. You and Simon have a very unusual lifestyle, especially considering he's an alien in every sense of the word. Have you found it at times to be more difficult than you anticipated?

SM: Actually, most of the time, it isn't as hard as most people would assume.

LM: What makes you say that?

SM: Because he and Jeb had several years to acclimate themselves to our world. They learned what kinds of foods they could eat, they learned enough human attributes to keep from calling attention to themselves. If I disregard the fact that I have a well-built, green-skinned alien walking around the apartment without a stitch on, it wouldn't be any different than having a human husband.

LM: I understand that the two of you are complete opposites in other ways, too.

SM: (laughs) That's probably the understatement of the year. Simon is very tidy. Very neat and orderly. A place for everything, and everything in its place. Me? I'm a total slob. He stacks the glasswear in the cabinets by heighth. He even folds his dirty clothes to place them in the laundry hamper! (laughs)

LM: He does most of the cooking, too, right?

SM: Oh, yeah, but that's usually out of necessity. I sometimes have night classes, or I have to stay late for some reason, a meeting, or I need to prepare a lesson, or some other reason. Simon's job is a strict eight-to-five job, so most of the time he gets home before I do. Besides, he loves to cook. I never knew there could be so many ways to fix tofu. (laughs)

LM: You also have to keep track of the Arra, right?

SM: Right. I guess you could say I'm the "eye in the sky" for the whole family.

LM: Speaking of "the family", there's something I've been wanted to ask you. Do you and Hannah ever get together and compare notes, considering you're married to Ruinos brothers?

SM: All the time. (laughs) We're always calling each other to ask each other a question, or to get some ideas about certain things.

LM: What kinds of questions or things, if I may ask?

SM: Mmm, like wondering if Ruinos can eat certain things. Did Jeb ever eat such-and-such, and if he did, did he like it, dislike it, or have a reaction? (laughs) We also trade notes about Christmas presents.

LM: Christmas presents? Oh! Wait! What about birthdays?

SM: You mean Ruinos birthdays? We've all picked a specific a day of the year for Jeb and Simon and Roni's birthdays. We gave up trying to equate the Ruinos calendar with our own.


LM: Wow. I never thought about birthdays before. Thanks for sharing that little tidbit. By the way, I also got a kick out of using your staff ID for your picture.

SM: You're welcome. It was Simon's idea. Frankly, I don't think I photograph well.

LM: I will disagree with you, Sarah. I think you're a very beautiful and very lucky woman. You have what a lot of women would kill to have - a highly successful, professional career and a loving, fulfilling marriage to a man who turns every woman's eye.

SM: (laughs) I've never thought of it quite that way.

LM: Well, it looks like our time is up. Thank you again for sparing a few minutes out of your busy day. I know your readers will be delighted.

SM: Thank you so much for the invite, Linda. Please keep in touch.

LM: I will!