Articles written by Melodee Monroe

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About me - Melodee Monroe

I love words, both written and spoken. As a result I always have a book in my purse, am trying to learn several languages, and I love to write. Known for being brutally honest (aka - a big mouth), I particularly enjoy writing for the editing capabilities.

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Politics, News & Issues > US Leaders (Other) Should former US presidents speak out against a current president?: 1 of 43
Who better to speak about a sitting president than someone who has done the job? If a past president perceives the sitting president as having made a huge misstep that threatens to do harm to the country, why would they not speak out? Only two past presidents have openly disapproved of action taken by our current president. N... More..
Travel > Hotels & Accommodations (Other) Top 10 reasons to stay at a vacation rental instead of a hotel: 1 of 28
Even if you only sleep, shower, and change clothes in the place you choose, housing is a big expense on any vacation budget and it can make or break your good time. Having stayed in hotels, bed & breakfasts, and rentals I can say I am an avid fan of the rental. Not in any particular order, here are my tops ten reasons to ... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Feeding & Breastfeeding Tips for a first-time breastfeeder: 1 of 17
Once you have made the wise decision to breastfeed your baby you need to educate yourself. As with any other aspect of parenting, it does not come instinctively. There is valuable information that will help things go as smoothly as possible, and since we are talking about humans you must be prepared for the unexpected while k... More..
Travel > Europe (Other) Travel destinations: Amsterdam: 1 of 17
Until my first visit to Amsterdam, just after my 53rd birthday, I hadn't been farther out of the U.S. than Mexico. I had taken a few trips in the United States but I had never left the country until I lifted off to visit Amsterdam for two weeks. Alone, on a plane full of strangers, on my way to Amsterdam, I had never been mor... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs My true garden story: 19 of 298
YOU CAN'T GROW CANTALOUPE HEREMy name had spent months on the list of eager gardeners each waiting for a spot in the community garden. I live in an apartment with nowhere to grow so I was eager to get the call that would let me know there was a spot for me. The day arrived that brought the call from the garden plot coordinato... More..
Entertainment > TV Show Reviews TV show reviews: The Twilight Zone: 1 of 10
The music was eerie and Rod Serling's voice sinister when he warned us that we were now entering The Twilight Zone. Completely unique and guaranteed to take a twist at the end, Americans did not quite know what to make of it but we watched every week. With the feeling of science fiction we were shocked, entertained, and intri... More..
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes Unforgettable country music love songs: 1 of 8
When the subject of country music love songs comes up, and if you are familiar with the genre, you probably think first of "The Dance" by Garth Brooks, or "Where've You Been" by Kathy Mattea, both of which bring grown men to tears. You may even think of "Lost in This Moment," a song about a wedding from the groom's point of v... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Does J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series pervert American values: 3 of 17
It seems to me the only way a person could believe this series of books perverts any values would be that they have not read them. The first book sets the stage. In it we learn Harry is an orphan being raised by a particularly unloving aunt and uncle who dote on their oafish son. In spite of all the negativity Harry manages t... More..
Style & Beauty > Hair Color & Coloring Should you go gray naturally or dye your hair as you age?: 15 of 76
It seems safe to say nothing ages a woman as dramatically as having gray hair. In the U.S., asking a woman to let her hair go gray naturally is the same as asking her to let her hair color dictate the way she is perceived. By choosing to dye her hair, she is in control of the way she is perceived.The constant pressure to look... More..
Hobbies & Games > Beading & Jewelry Making Jewelry making tips for beginners: 2 of 10
So you want to make your own jewelry, but you just are not sure where to begin. There are a number of mediums that can be used to create fabulous jewelry from lost wax casting to precious metal clay sculpting to stringing inexpensive beads onto beading thread.I enjoy making jewelry using sterling silver or gold-filled wire wr... More..