I knew it was going to be the same old interview process: Get the number from Jason. Call beautiful model. Get long voicemail. Leave urgent message. Listen to call back message from model on office phone the next day stating that she will be out of town for the next four days and to call back then. Repeat 2x. It didn't happen this time.
2nr: Melissa?
Melissa: Joel?
2nr: What are you doing?
MR: Getting my hair done.
2nr: So you're at the studio already. Is it the girl hairstylist?
MR: Why? Are you going to get jealous?
2nr: I don't get jealous. I get with it.
(We both laugh) At this point I'm starting to like the girl. It's a guaranteed arduous day when you do an in-person interview. Most girls shy up or hold back only to make me thank them for the wasted time. With Melissa, I thought that a little electricity to this chemistry might make for a great explosion. I like explosions. I bet she does too.
2nr: I'm going to the studio to see you about an interview.
MR: Really? I hope...(I hang up) All the staff guys are on assignment except for Feature Editor Joey Leh. In his case, the NSX cover shoot was the assignment and he (and staffer Joe Santos) scheduled some time to be at the studio to inspect this one-of-a-kind car...whatever. We jump into his Civic project car 10 minutes after my hang-up with Melissa and do a hurried 20 miles of bouncing on the 91 freeway to Gardena to see the model. Thank God for carpool lanes and smooth suspension.
We get there and we wait a short while. They inspect the car. I make a mental route to a room I saw earlier. She steps out of make-up-looking as hot as I imagined-and rush her over to the next room. The hairstylist yells, "Don't touch your hair!" as the door slams shut.
2nr: I don't have much time, but I don't want this to be a quickie. Simple stuff first. What's your name?
MR: Do you want my real name, my alias or my stripper name?
2nr: I gotcha. What do I call you?
MR: Butterfly. (laughs) Just kidding. My name is Melissa. I go by Melissa Reign.
2nr: You seem nervous.
MR: (She grabs a Gameboy sitting in front of her) Eh, it's only Tetris.
2nr: Yeah and it's using the big cartridge.
MR: I like big cartridges.
2nr: Oh. I like how you hold big cartridges.
MR: Uh. Hold your game, boy.
(We laugh)
2nr: Lets get serious. The tongue stud...for pleasure or for pain?
MR: It's to piss off my boss! I've actually been interested in body piercing for years.
2nr: I understand that you used to be a videogame junkie.
MR: Yeah. I really was. I played Everquest and Ultima Online.
2nr: Riiiight.
MR: What do you know about dungeons and dragons?
2nr: I know that I probably don't want to be in either of them.
MR: Basically, the games take place in Medieval times so there's dragons, trolls and knights.