Hello everyone, yes I am still here and just want to say THANK YOU so very, very, very much to all of you for your thoughts, well wishes and comments. Hope you can forgive and understand, but I couldn't deal a bit there... No, better to say it was more needing recovery from the exhaustion of months and months back to back of taking care 24-7 of two beloved pets like that and I needed to step back, not keep opening up the too raw and fresh wounds. Still having trouble just looking at photographs, let alone think and write... Amazing how this stuff will just creap up and wham you sometimes when you least expect it.

Anyways, we are 'back' from our vacation, basically unplugged from everything totally for almost two weeks, and as a result it has been further weeks of hitting the grindstone full running to catch up. (Oh my gosh, the email backlog alone!!!) Let's just say that keeping busy and work is helping. No more delays, it is time to finalize the next stages of our lives and careers here.

So much has happened though, Emile's birthday on May 8th, hosted two psychic fairs, family reunions, (on Emile's side) a huge load of BS from my sister, dinner out with friends, road trips and a couple of really nice hikes that I need to put together a couple video/photo YouTubes on.

Ha, speaking of that, some jerk grabbed a couple of Emile's singing bowl performance videos, changed the titles, digitally altered them to remove his name, website, credits and fact that it is copyrighted material and inserted their own website addy smack across the whole thing. Snarls... Submitted a copyright infringment complain with YouTube, we'll see if they pull them or not.

Was very excited because a robin built a nest in the tree on our back steps, three feet from the door and you just had to go on your tip-toes a little to peek right in. Was going to take a photo journal of the eggs, the cute two chicks as they grew...but a crow came along and ate them, so so much for that.

Life for the rest of us, however, goes on.

Tell you though it has been something. Not just Emile and myself needing to re-center, but just last week a lady came into the shop and just stood there, said, "I can't deal with not seeing Miss Jinx sitting on the front steps..." and then she burst out crying. Apologized like crazy, I mean she was our cat, right? Still, this is just one example of the like. Nice though, there was a certain amber ring she had wanted for a long time and she bought it, put it on her finger and said, "This is going to be very special for me. I am going to look at it and remember her always, the energy and warmth, to me, this ring is going to symbolize all that she meant to me and I will treasure it forever."

Yes, a very special cat, just like I have said.

One of our readers who came to this fair (she had already gotten the news) just came and had to stand there, trying to get herself under control as well for the day. At the end she almost lost it too, still, it is just life.

Stories, stories and more stories from practically everyone who comes into the shop. Hugs galore, only LOL it is more like me giving them out the receiving. Sheesh. Sorry, like I said, it was just hard for me to come back here and write anything. Better now, if still inundated with work and the like. Again though, nothing bad, all productive and leaving us with a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day at least.

Bah, now if only the house wasn't so empty and quiet...

Anyhows, we're cool here. Might finally have some movement with my writing career as well. A literary agent from New York (thirty years in the biz) made damn sure I had her card to get in contact with her. Going to do that tomorrow or next day so keep fingers crossed!

Okay that's all for now. Have to baby my laptop because it is starting to make mechanical 'clink-clunk' sounds when the hardrive kicks in. Argh, I so do NOT want anything with VISTA, but will have to go that route because of the Aura Chakra video program, which, thank gods DOES work with VISTA.

At least that's what the techs tell us.

Fingers and toes crossed on that one.

Okay, cheers and hugs to everyone,

Melissa

WELCOME BACK!!!! I missed ya... Hope u r doing better, was worried that things got to be too much. You're a trooper, that's for sure... Been busy changin' up my life again. Glad to hear your back in action! You were truly missed... Your friend Shawno

Hi Melissa! It's so great to see you've posted! I know you and Emile have had a lot to deal with, and I'm glad to hear you've found some time to get away by yourselves. You need that...

Isn't it always the way, when we lose someone we love? Instead of being consoled, we end up having to give that to everyone else; it's like, even though we feel like we're dying inside, we still have to be strong for everyone else... It's nice to know that so many people loved Miss Jinx, though, isn't it...

It's great news about the literary agent, Melissa; I hope that pans out for you, because you really are an awesome writer. I hope you'll let everyone know how that works out.

I hope you'l have a chance to post again soon; I miss reading about your daily adventures in life, my friend, and I miss you....

I had missed you very much too!! Glad you're back, Gorgeous. *hugs* If you ever need anything... just ask.

Hey, my friend! Quite a mixed bag of emotional energy you've had to contend with recently...a chapter in your life has ended and it can be soooo painful trying to regain some type of balance. It seems to me that by providing comfort to others, you've been able to share some unique energy. I know, it just doesn't seem right or even make sense that you should be consoling others when you are the one who has experienced the loss. But it's an awesome opportunity. You've enhanced the connection to these souls who have been affected so deeply by your loss and have been able to provide support and consolation for them...that really is quite incredible, when you think about it. You mentioned the outright theft of Emile's property and I wanted to express my own outrage. It does indicate their level of spirituality, doesn't it? They are going to find that the negative karma they've produced is going to have some very unpleasant consequences and I would not want to be in their shoes when it comes full circle. A literary agent? That is AWESOME!!! I am sooooo happy for you!!! I know that writing is an integral part of you and your journey and it so amazing to see that somebody has finally recognized your talent...OK, I mean somebody with influence other than us...lol. Sounds like a new chapter in your life, my friend and that is exciting!! Your unpleasant experiences over the last while have been essential for this to occur....but you already know that. Damn, at one point in my life I worked two jobs and shared a condo with a co-worker. In the space of week, these all disappeared and it crippled me emotionally for quite some time. They needed to be let go for me to advance to the next phase and while I hated the negativity associated with these incidents, it cleared my slate to pursue other areas of growth and interest. You guys remain in my prayers each evening and I'll remember to include the new possibilities that contact with a literary agent can make available to you. Have