Last night I had a dream that Shinhwa was playing in the states. More specifically, in Asheville. How on earth I overlooked that little detail I’m not sure, but in my dream I had been unaware of their performance in my hometown. However, I met up with one of their crew members down in Pack Place and started talking to him. He spoke in broken English and all of course, but we managed to communicate. I think he was very happy to be talking to someone. Anyone at all, really. I was apparently the only person who’d taken the time so say hi to him.

So we chatted while the concert was going on. The concert I wasn’t watching. I wasn’t so upset about that, as there was supposed to be a meet & greet after the show. That’s what I was waiting for. As I started to take my leave of Shinhwa’s roadie, he asked me where I was going. When I told him I wanted to go wait in line for the meet & greet, he told me to just hang out with him, and I’d most assuredly be able to meet them all up close and personal. Sweet.

I remember being at a long table, Shinhwa on one side and myself on another. The one thing that stood out to more more than any other is that Jun Jin was an utter and complete dork. XD He ran his mouth nonstop, laughing and smiling, and it was so great to see him happy like that. I don’t remember much of anything else, as that was startling enough to see JJ all dorky. Not to mention that a Twitter alert woke me up from the dream this morning.

I really enjoyed talking to my roadie guy, though. He was a little shy and very sweet. He had an adorable smile. And I made his day just by sitting down next to him and making him feel important.

I’m supposing I dreamed all this because of talking with Rick a few nights ago about going to Asia. Broad location there, I know. We’re not quite decided about which country to visit, though my overwhelming vote may indeed be Korea. It feels like a second skin to me, even though I’ve never been and have not a drop of Korean blood in my body. Germans didn’t come from Korea did they? Mm, didn’t think so.

But Rick wants to take me there next year. We won’t get to have a honeymoon after we get married, as it’ll take his entire vacation time at work just to get down here, marry me, pack up a moving van, drive back up to Boston, and get me settled. And that’s ok. So many people have spent so much on this wedding anyway; I’d never expect a honeymoon after all that. But next year? Anniversary present? Hmm. Maybe so, maybe so.

Of course, I had to make sure that Rick knew that even as much as I love him, I’m going to stare at hot girly Asian boys. There’s just no two ways about it. He’s a gem, my fiance. Best man in the world, I say. I say I say.

Lucky, I am.

I never thought I’d go this way, I must admit. After maintaining orangelipstick.com for so many years, updating HTML every evening, redesigning the site every couple months, the ease of Livejournal appealed to me. Especially since all my friends were there already, commenting and sharing their journals with each other. Now, however, I feel like I want to graduate a bit from LJ. I’ve renamed myself, I’m getting married, I’m moving nearly a thousand miles away from my home… it’s time for a change.

Speaking of renaming myself… let’s talk about that, shall we? For years, more than I care to remember, actually, I was Violaine. My namesake was a Cocteau Twins song. Still is, I suppose. I love the Twins. I identify with them on such a deep level. I’m actually playing a ton of their songs at my wedding. But I digress.

I was Violaine (or Lainey, to those very close to me) for most of my twenties. I will always and forever be Lainey to my friends. But as my twenties end, I find that I desperately want to convey the true me. The me I’ve become during those years as Violaine. The me I feel in touch with now. Thus, a name change feels right. Had I an unusual given name like Otterley or Oomingmak (oh, how I wish!), I’d simply choose my real name as my net alias. Erika, however, is a bit more common. Already taken on most websites. That’s why, as another tribute to one of my most cherished bands, a band that lives on and grows with me, you now know me as Melonella. Or melonella. Or m. ella. Or the Brilliant Miss Melonella. Or any number of terrific variations. Take your pick, and shower me with elaborate monikers!

I realize that not many people from my Livejournal friends list will follow me over here. That’s fine with me. I don’t expect anyone to, nor will I feel upset if I don’t get comments or many readers. I want to write in this blog for myself. To make me happy. Expect posts about crocheting and dolls and cleaning bathtubs and sleeping chihuahuas and wonderful husbands and eating too much indian food. Expect posts about life. My life. My real life.

Anyway. Hi. I’m Erika. Brilliant Miss Melonella.