K-lee Klein's Blog: Chaos in the Moonlight , page 22

Flashback Friday - John Cougar Mellencamp

John Cougar Mellencamp - born October 7, 1951 (wow, that makes him 60 - time flies). He'll always be John Cougar to me. He's known for his heartland rock, his passionate songs about the plight of the ordinary man and he's one of the founders of Farm Aid.
I always just loved his music, his sexy voice and thought he was hot as all get out and that's back in the 80's people. Lol. He's had stamina too - minds out of the gutter - I mean he's still around making music, and seriously, how many of us that were around in the 80's didn't know who "Jack & Diane" were or that it "Hurts So Good". I'm pretty sure he was one of my first concerts and I still love the man. Johnny was cool before cool was cool. :D
And of course I posted too many, don't you know me by now? In the realm of TMI - I'm pretty sure John is the one who started my nose fetish but was overtaken by Jared Leto's cute little nose. Lol.

For my BFF, Dawn, because we shared this lovely man back then. Ha. Not in that way though.

Break-out hit - before he figured out how to NOT fight his pretty hair. Lol.(1978)

Oh gosh. He was just a baby in this one.(1980)

(1982)

(1982)

(1983)

(1985)

(1985)

Oh hell, yes. I forgot he had the long hair for a while. *swoons* (1987)

Oh, man. Do I ever want his hair.(1987)

(1987)

"Pink Houses" live at Farm Aid 1987. Fabulous live video. I think I'm in love again.(I know this one's bigger but the quality is just so great)

I'm including this one too - then I always know where to find it. He's so fabulous in these Farm Aid vids.

Interview with the muse - naming names

Oh, the beloved muse or in some cases, the dreaded muse. No one has the same one. Some people have more than one. Sometimes they are beyond annoying because they disappear for days, weeks, months at a time. Regardless of what or who your muse is, when they're around and doing what they do best—inspire—they are precious commodities.
The muses of six authors were recently interviewed in a no-holds-barred question period. Here's what they had to say. Enjoy.
Hello muses. Since I don't have specific names for any of you, I'm just going to assign you your author's name. Is that okay?
Megan Derr: Well it's more of a name than I usually getXara X. Xanakas: Is that a trick question?Piper Vaughn: No commentMelanie Tushmore: Melanie's Muse is fine, I suppose. ::mutter mutter::T.A. Chase: Sure, but I do have a name. :DK-lee Klein: That's perfectly fine, and thank you very much for having me.
~~First of all, is there a different name you'd like to be referred to?
Megan: 'Lord and Master' is acceptable
Xara: Well, She calls me Spunky, so I guess that'll do.Piper: Call me Ed. :)Melanie: I have many names, most of them curse words.T.A.: Hello, my name is Marcus and I'm a muse.K-lee: You may call me Hephaistion or Phai. 
~~What do you look like? Are you male or female or do you even have a gender? Do your looks change depending on what you're "musing" about?
Megan Derr: I'm whatever gets the job done, which can sometimes be extremely aggravating, and I really prefer to skip the details.Xara: *Spunky points to his picture below* Just look at me.Piper: I'm genderless and my looks usually change depending on the idea. Sometimes I might be a demon, or a nerdy hottie wearing glasses, or a crossdressing bartender with a fondness for blue nail polish and eyeliner. ;)
Melanie: Gorgeous, androgynous, and more 'ous' words... The obnoxious son of bad fairies and rock stars.T.A.: I'm male, and have dark hair. I'm really quite charming when I need to be to get TA to write, or as she'll say I can be a complete nag as well. K-lee: I am actually a 2,300 year old Greek general with immense knowledge of the new world or shall I say your world. I was in a life-long love affair with the man of my heart, a relationship that lasted until my death and there after.
~~I've heard some people say they have more than one muse? Do you have a partner or are you single?
Megan: Single. Can't get her to get through what's already on the to do list, what good would more of me do? Go to waste, that's what.Xara: I work alone, baby. She can barely keep up with me as it is. Have you seen my scorecard? I keep her hopping.Piper: Single and loving it. I think Piper might combust if I had a partner. I keep her busy enough.Melanie: Often I have to fight for position with vintage photos of Axl Rose, and random photos of actors.T.A.: No partner. It's just me, and at times, TA will tell you, I'm more than enough for her to handle.K-lee:  I know the heartbreak of not being able to fully attain that which you want most in life and therein lies my inspiration for K-lee. I bring her the painful, emotional inspiration that she relishes writing, the heartache and ramifications of falling hard for the one special person. I have been accused of being too serious at times, and I am not the most playful or light-hearted muse so in that regard, I, unfortunately, do have a counter-part...K-lee2: What do ya mean unfortunately? You love every minute of it... of me or at least certain parts of me. *snorts* And can I just say you've aged very well. K-lee: I wasn't sure if you were going to appear at all. You are inexcusably late, now are you going to introduce yourself or just hide in the shadows.K-lee2: Shadows are good.K-lee: This is Jared, my proverbial other half. He is the one who insists that K-lee adds some lighted-heartedness and sex to her writing.K-lee2: And?K-lee: He is quite fond of rock stars.K-lee2: Rock on, dude. Oh and I am definitely all male. Phai is too even with his pretty long hair but I have a much bigger... libido.
~~Writers sometimes refer to you going on vacation or falling off the map, usually in much more profane ways. Where do you actually go?
Megan: I go wherever the hell I want, when I want, and sometimes that is far, far away from the writer. Everybody needs breaks.Xara: I lurk around the edges, always there. Okay, I admit that sometimes, I get tanked and disappear for a while, but when I climb out of that gutter, I am right back on top of things, spitting ideas at her like crazy. In fact, I just shot another one at her.Piper: Barbados. :D You can find me on the beach with a rum runner and a book.Melanie: I tell 'Tush I'm partying hard with my peers, although actually I'm sitting outside her window pulling faces and laughing as she beats her forehead on her computer.T.A.: Me? I never take a day off. I'm dedicated to my job. I can't risk TA getting too lazy if I'm not around here.K-lee: I would choose to stay with K-lee all the time but—K-lee2: I make him take some time off. He's too damn strict on himself and we all need a break to have some fun, right, Phai-baby? Remember the last time when we went to Brazil and I took you to that exclusive bathhouse and you got your...K-lee: Enough!K-lee2: Yes, sir. general, sir. *snorts*
~~Are you comfortable with your writer working on more than one project or do you prefer to inspire one story at a time?
Megan: I've been trying to break her to multiple projects for years. Not very good at it, but I still have hope.Xara: I'm a "what if…" kind of muse. I drop the little crumbs and make her work for the story. Sometimes I sneak up while she's writing and derail the whole thing. Those are fun times.(He's a freaking deadbeat dad, knocking up plot bunnies and leaving me to raise them – Author)Piper: My writer can usually only work on one or two things at a time anyway, but usually focuses on one, so this isn't really an issue for me. Melanie: I like to give her as many ideas as possible, in the hopes that one day she'll spontaenously combust.T.A.: Of course, I'm fine with her working on more than one. Hell, if the characters pay me enough, I'll have her working on three or four. How do you think I can afford these awesome clothes?K-lee2: I'll take this one, Phai. I think the woman HAS to work on more than one thing at a time. She's never been officially diagnosed but I'm pretty sure she has ADD or ADHD or whatever the hell they call it now. She gets stuck on one thing and then just switches to something... hey, Phai! I can't find my green sneakers, have you seen them?
~~What's the most outrageous idea you ever tried to get your writer to work on? Did she do it?
Megan: She hasn't done it yet, but she'll be getting to it soon. Want to screw with an author really well? Time travel is the way to go. Lots of swearing and sulking involved there, it's fantastic.Xara: Uh, you have seen some of the things I've made her write, right? I mean, a were-boa constrictor? Who does that? She's got stories for a were-scorpion, a were-chicken, and even a were-bunny thanks to me.Piper: Hmmm. I'd rather not give out the whole idea, but let's just say it has to do with tattooed convicts. And she's still thinking about it. :PMelanie: I gave her dreams about fairies and ghosts, and she's currently writing both. However they never turn out how I originally plan them!T.A.: Hmmm….to be honest I haven't come up an outrageous idea yet, but I do believe if I do find something totally crazy, TA will write it. She's pretty willing to try just about anything once. Twice if she likes it. ;)K-lee: I cannot think of anything outrageous that we've inspired her to write.K-lee2: What about that wolf/gypsy/witch/lion thing? Or don't you consider menage as outrageous, Phai-baby? You did the other night when I suggested it.K-lee: Jared! That story is not menage, it just has a lot of characters. Now please hush so we can continue.
~~Now some questions from some contributors on Twitter:  ~~"Why the hell can't you stick to my outlines?"~~
Megan: They're wrong, obviously.Xara: Now where would the fun be in that? Come on. If you knew how what was going to, why bother writing it?Piper: To paraphrase Elizabeth in Pirates of the Caribbean, "You're writers. Hang the outlines! They're really more like vague suggestions anyway." ;DMelanie: Because I'm a free spirit (and a goddamn pest)
T.A.: What are these outlines you talk about? I don't have any rules to follow or anything. I go wherever I want, and it doesn't matter what she's written down. I'm the one in charge. Not her.K-lee2: I'm a song writer and we don't use no goddamn outlines so why should she get to have one? That's not even a real question. Phai, are you rolling your eyes at me again? I told you, man, they're gonna stay that way. Freaky, dude.
~~"Why are you more active at bedtime?"~~
Megan: That's when they drop their guard, easier to slip in and crank it up to overdriveXara: I'm just a night-owl. What can I say?Piper: I'm a night owl. Luckily my writer is, too.Melanie: Night is more exciting (and I'm a goddamn pest)
T.A.: Because most of the time I've been asleep during the day. TA can attest to that, considering some times it's harder for her to write.K-lee: Most of my inspirational thoughts are sent during the day but Jared and K-lee are both insomniacs so they are very compatible in that regard.K-lee2: The night's where the magic happens, baby.
~~"Why so stubborn muse? Why you hide things from me at first then only reveal them later?"~~
Megan: Because authors are meant to be screwed with, and it keeps things interestingXara: I like to make it interesting. Keeps you on your toes.Piper: I like to maintain an air of mystery. Keeps me young.Melanie: I have to entertain myself somehow...it's like a game of cluedo with you authors.
T.A.: Trust me, it's rough being all-knowing, and I don't have to give away all my secrets at once.K-lee: It's not my intention to be stubborn. K-lee2: It's more fun that way.
~~"Why do you sneak up on me in the shower?"~~
Megan: Just for the hell of itXara: Because I like you wet and naked?Piper: Well, I like seeing Piper scramble to remember the idea afterward, of course. Nothing like a bit of torture at shower time.Melanie:  I'm an outrageous pervert. 
T.A.: You're kind of a captive audience. Best time to grab you is when you're naked and wet. You're not going to run off anywhere without me.K-lee: I don't think I go near her when she's in the shower. That's just not in my nature.K-lee2: He's telling the truth there. Besides, she'd probably just pull out that iPad of hers like she does in the tub.
~~"Do you sit and ponder about ways to torture your writer or does it just come naturally?"~~
Megan: Any good muse, torture is a mix of natural talent and practice, practice, practice.Xara: It's all me, baby. Besides, she makes it too easy for me.Piper: Oh, this talent at torture is 100% all natural. :DMelanie: It's all natural, darling. I'm a sadist.T.A.: It comes naturally. Trust me. Not everyone can be a muse.K-lee: By the gods, I hope she doesn't think I torture her. I'm very fond of her. That's very upsetting.K-lee2: I'm a bit of a sadist so I enjoy it. Ah, Phai. Does the big, tough general need a tissue?
~~"If you're so smart, why can't you write the stories yourself so I can do more reading?"~~
Megan:  Because then I'd never get to do more reading.Xara: Because I love to watch her squirm. I drop an idea, then sit back, pour a drink, and watch the fun begin. Piper: Hey, my job is to provide the ideas. I can't be expected to actually do anything with them. I'd rather be reading myself.Melanie: How very dare you! If I'm that unappreciated, I'll be packing my bags and leaving for Hollywood. Goodness knows script writers need some original ideas these days! Now get back to writing ::cracks whip::
T.A.: Hey, I'm busy enough organizing allthe characters for all TA's stories. I never get a damn day off. Don't ask meto write the stupid things as well.K-lee: I am very satisfied with helping K-lee with her writing but I have no dreams of doing it myself. I do not do a lot of reading either. Someone has to babysit Jared, after all.K-lee2: Dude, that's not cool.K-lee: I apologize, Jared.K-lee2: You're too easy, Phai-baby. Wanna go jump in the hot tub.K-lee: Jared!
<-- "Lord and Master" would love for you to check out Megan Derr's LiveJournal here, but he asks you to please do it quietly in case he's down for a nap.


Xara X. Xanakas and "Spunky" -->can be found hanging out here. Spunky asks that you please bring your own wine and glass because as he's an expensive drunk.  Xara says, "he chugged that wine and tossed the glass onto the floor when he finished"

Piper Vaughn and "Ed" spend a lot of their time here. Drop on over and check out "Tattoo Tuesday", it's a fan fave. Melanie Tushmore and her muse-of-many-curse-words are usually getting busy here and they'd love it if you stopped by for some cocktales and hot sauce.



<-- "Marcus" and T.A. Chase do some fabulous blot stories. You can check them out here. She says that Marcus is a little shy at first but he'll bring you flowers. Gotta love that.



And finally, Hephaistion, Jared and I would like to thank all these lovely authors for agreeing to this gruelling interview - oh and their muses too. You can find us right here for your viewing pleasure. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Tattoo Tuesday - Jonathan Agassi (NSFW)

Jonathan Agassi - born in Buffalo, NY - raised in Tel Aviv, Israel - occupation: gay porn model.Jonathan started out as a fashion model before going into gay porn. He's ripped and tatted and can change his looks like a chameleon, not to mention just plain beautiful. I've heard *coughs* he's very sensual in his scenes and there may be a particular one with the hot Avi Dar that sticks in my mind a little - I mean that I've heard about. It was a chore to find at least half-clothed pics of him so I hope y'all appreciate my effort and sacrifice. Lol. I give you Jonathan Agassi. (if you don't want the total nudity, do not look under the cut :P)











I love this shoot


This one is just too cute and you can see the little tats on his torso

I WAS NOT GOING TO GO THERE BUT I DID(putting this under an extra cut - TOTALLY NSFW GAY PORN)


The scene from Men of Israel with Jonathan and Avi Dar

Music Monday - Neon Trees

Neon Trees. Indie/alternative band from Provo, Utah.

When I was doing my major 30 Seconds to Mars gigging across Canada and the US in 2010, these guys were one of the openers about 85% of the time. They have fantastic energy, catchy tunes, and Tyler Glenn (the lead singer) is an absolute firecracker on stage. I had the opportunity to hang out with them a bit and I can tell you they are the most down-to-earth, fun, interesting guys (and girl) I've met in a long time. Fabulous band. Check then out. I think you'll like.





They don't have a video for this song but I really like it so here's a live version.

Beautiful but so sad - Lover Official Music Video

Suit up Sunday - Wrestling singlets (NSFW)

I can honestly say I had no idea there were so many inappropriate wrestling singlet pictures that weren't even supposed to be inappropriate. I had assumed they wore cups but from the looks of most of these - that is not the case - and some of them really like wrestling. :)  Some are obviously not for real wrestling - just real hotness - some are staged - some not so much - all pretty hot though. Happy Suit Up Sunday.

Sexy Saturday - juicy jeans

Jeans. They're obviously not just for cowboys and this post is totally not cowboy-related. To me there's nothing sexier than a man in a pair of well-fitting jeans - bonus for shirtless and *sighs* barefoot. Enjoy. ❤❤







Norman Reedus (love him)



Steve Pena (gay porn hottie Brent Everett's hubby)





 And finally, Turkish model/actor Kivanc Tatlitug (will definitely have more of him later)


The End

Flashback Friday - Bon Jovi overload

Bon Jovi. They've been a part of my musical life since the mid-80's and still have some high play on my iPod. They also stand as about the 3rd most seen in concert for me. They're electric, addicting, hot, hard-rockin', beautiful-balladin' boys who have stayed together almost 30 years. Obviously, Jon's branched out - solo stuff, country, acting - but he's always stayed true to Richie, David, Tico and Bryan.


I was unhappy when he cut his hair but there's was no denying he still had the looks and the talent - big hair or not. (did you see him in Moonlight & Valentino OR Little City - awesome) Not sure I can pick a fave song of one of my favorite groups ever but I think I'm more into the older stuff from the 80's and early 90's. Back in my younger days (lol) my go-to Karaoke song was "Born to be My Baby" - great song to belt out. As for the rest of the band, I've always totally crushed on Richie Sambora as well - I have Richie solo albums too - though the poor man has been through the ringer over the past few years with his personal life. I always thought Jon and Richie had a pretty awesome bromance - yeah, even back then I was thinking those thoughts. :P

Anyhow, I digress (as usual) so now I give you... the fabulousity that is Bon Jovi.Then And now
I totally dare you to not have a chuckle over this video, and WOW, all that spandex. Remember it was 1984. :)

OMG! The hair and the cuteness.(have I ever told you I'd totally go back to 80's hair - lol)




Love this song so hard. Great for cowboy-writing inspiration, too.
1987


Cool video - recording process. Total Jon/Richie bromance too. LMAO.
I cannot sit still when this song comes on.
1988/89



Shall we slow it down a bit.
Bon Jovi ballads are some of my fave songs ever - this was one of my wedding songs.
Favorite part of this song starts at 2:13 and at 3:30
(And Jon, I totally want that blue shirt)
1988/89


In case you haven't heard Richie's solo stuff, here's one. I love it.
1991



1992





1994

2000



2005

I have to admit I like this song and the video even though Bon Jovi's country stuff isn't really my thing.2005


2007

2009

I was lucky enough to see this song live and wow, just wow.


Okay - yeah, you know I'm always only going to post 1 or 2 vids but when that OCD kicks in and I hear all these great tunes again, I just gotta keep going. I think it's going to be a total Bon Jovi day around here - they are just so mood-lifting to me. Have a good weekend and Keep the Faith y'all.

Thoughtful Thursday - Validation & accomplishments

First I'll apologize to any newbies to my blog. I do post about my writing, my books, pretty pictures, songs and other stuff, but I also theorize about things that are important to me, and I talk about my own personal business. Today's topic - Validation.


ValidationTo acknowledge and accept a person's feelings, thoughts, behaviors and internal experience as valid and understandable.Validation is a tool that verifies that the other person's feelings are valid, but doesn't necessarily condone or agree with their behavior.

One of the main things people with Borderline Personality Disorder involuntarily seek is validation, more in a way of negating the invalidation they feel inside due to their issues of abandonment, abuse and rejection. It is actually named as an essential tool in managing a relationship with someone with BPD.

Validation doesn't come in the form of gifts or awards, and validating someone else does not mean you have to agree with that person's thoughts or feelings. Validation just means you are acknowledging the thoughts, feelings or accomplishments of someone else - which in turn, means you are listening - and not judging. That's the important part I think, the listening and the non-judging.


I believe people with any sort of mental illness judge themselves constantly, and having been in therapy and groups for a long time I've heard a lot of reasons why people feel they should judge themselves. It's an easy thing to do, be hard on yourself and say you're not good enough or it's your own fault for having the illness you do, for feeling how you do. Since the outside world can't see the pain these type of illnesses can inflict; mentally, emotionally, physically, it becomes all the more easy to judge and blame ourselves for how we're feeling. But in reality it's no different than having asthma, diabetes or any other illness that is considered physical, and one day I hope society comes to better understand the mentally ill as having more than one face - one crazy face.


You've seen it in movies or television, even in books, the person with depression or bi-polar or schizophrenia is crazy and therefore can't control their actions and should be pitied then put away in the nuthouse. I'm not saying any of this to offend anyone but there's a lot of times I, myself, have been offended by the words of others when it comes to mental illness. My family goes to a beautiful lakeside cabin every year where the other cabins are all owned by friends and family. At one point one of the cabins was owned by a man who was always called crazy and unstable because he had depression and took medication, and yeah, was a little different than the others around him. All these years later every time his name is brought up, the same things are also associated with him; depressed, crazy, out-of-his-mind, medication. I sit by and stifle all the things that I want to say to these ignorant people - who by the way aren't ignorant in intelligence but ignorant in knowledge and who I love dearly - but I know it's not going to change how they talk about this man nor will it make then want to understand more of what he's been through.


I'm open about my illnesses, my hospitalizations and my state of mine in general, and I'm sure in a lot of circles I'm also considered to be the crazy, out-of-her-mind one who is on medication and generally just can't cope with life. There's nothing I can do about that except try to educate those that I believe will try to understand the intricacies of mental illness and not group every illness and every sufferer into one pretty, tied-with-a-bow box. We have a saying in therapy - "I am not my illness" - and I know that, but sometimes it's hard to keep believing when I'm looked at and judged as the illnesses I have, and not the actual person I am inside.


I'll get off my soapbox now since I never meant to get on it in the first place. This whole post was only supposed to be about how good validation makes me feel and how someone in my life has validated me in the best possible way. In a few distinct words she's made me realize that I have overcome a lot in the past year, plus done a lot to be proud of so excuse me for tooting my own horn - a little self-validation goes a long way. 2011 was one of the worst years I've ever had - hospitalizations, med changes, sickness, depression raging out of control, but like the mighty Phoenix (lol had to say that for effect) I'm climbing out of the ashes and becoming a better me - dare I say, an accomplished me? I'm not saying I'm successful or excellent at what I do, but I'm trying, and with small baby steps, I am succeeding.




(Heres' where I self-validate, ie toot my own horn lol - or as we say in therapy, this is my Accomplishments List) (feel free to ignore this part :D)


- Outfoxed came out in August as a free read but also as the first piece of original work I'd ever let go into the webiverse, plus it's in two anthologies as well. 


-One of my goals for 2011 was to be published by the end of the year - Finally Home came out on December 27. 


-Pride & Joy, my YA short story that I'm proud to have all my royalties go to the It Gets Better campaign came out in January. 


-This month I had Love & Patience and Theme of Hearts.


- Later in the year my story, The P.I. and the Rock Star, will be in an anthology for Less Than Three Press. (and it's awesome if I do say so myself - lol)


I don't have any other sure-things, but I have a few totally possibles: 


- Lawyers in Love (tentative title), my lawyer story is at 26,000 words and I think I already have some interest in it. My big hope is it will end up long enough for print.


- Lucius' Bite (Family of Misfits 1), my wolf/gypsy/witch has finally hit 31,000, and it's becoming clear where exactly it's headed. I'm pretty in love with it. :)


- Glitter Fox 2 is at 12,000 words


- Home on the Ranch 2 is at 13,000 words


- I also have an outline done for a Father's Day short/novella that I'm excited to write since I'm a big fan of stories with children and dads.


Maybes are better than Not Gonna Happens or Not Even Gonna Tries, right? So I guess I'm trying really hard to let myself be a little proud of me right now for those accomplishments. 


But what I know I'm exceptionally proud of is having a hand in growing such a beautiful, considerate, empathetic, caring daughter who's note (above) brought tears to my eyes and love to my heart. Like I said, validation goes a long way to encourage someone to keep climbing out of those ashes.


Have you validated someone today? Maybe you should give it a try, it might make you both feel awesome. :)


(Disclaimer - the views in this post are strictly mine and I do understand that validation is not only needed in people with mental illness, but I am simply writing from my own point of view)

Valentines' Blog Hop winners & Pimping HAH

So I've decided to double my give-aways from 2 to 4. And thanks everyone for all the birthday and Valentines' wishes.


1st winner is West
2nd winner is Ella Jade
3rd winner is Beginka
4th winner is ladyauthorsld


Congrats! 


And just a reminder, if you didn't win - don't forget to hop on by between May 17-20 for Hop Against Homophobia. We already have over 130 m/m authors signed up to participate and it's going to be fabulous! Mark your calendars and just one last shout out to you all - thanks for following my blog, it means more than you know to me. I'd love to know what kinds of things you'd like to see here as well. Give me some feedback and I'll definitely do what I can to fulfill your request. ☺