First of all, I have to send a HUUUUUUGE happy birthday wish to Head Honcho, who is indeed a Leap Year baby! In all the time I have known him, we have only celebrated his actual birthday a handful of times. And this one is (shhhh...) a biggie.
Second of all, I want to remind you all that this is the LAST day to enter the TeensReadToo.com February contest to win a signed galley of my new book, ALL ABOUT VEE. This book won't be out until April so here's your chance to get a jump on all your friends!
Thirdly (is that a word?), I was sooo disappointed America voted Alexandrea off Idol last night. I thought she was a true original. However, she is young and she has plenty of years ahead of her for success.
Fourthly (definitely NOT a word), LOST was so effin' amazing last night, I could barely sit still in my chair. I kept getting up and pointing at the television. I mean, I love Desmond stories and I think Des/Penny is a beautiful love story so this was just amazing for me. All the time travel stuff and how it relates back to Faraday on the island...fascinating! I was totally confused - the producers were on the money when they said the first 8 episodes of this season would bring more questions than answers but HH insists he knows what's going on. I was too tired to ask him for specifics, though, because we....
Lastly, played the LOST videogame! Whoo-hoo! An early b-day present for HH. He plays and I watch cuz I am miserable when it comes to working the XBox controller. So far, it's very cool and you get to interact with the real characters. It definitely helps to know the backstory of the show because there are certain things you have to do that you might not know if you weren't a fan. But no need to be a psycho fan to play the game.
Man, do I need a weekend...how is this possible when I feel like I haven't done anything???
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
One More Contest Reminder!
Hello All!
Just a friendly reminder that you can still enter to win a copy of my new novel, ALL ABOUT VEE, which I will sign for you and everything, over at TeensReadToo.com, which is one of the books being offered in their February contest. Since it's Leap Year, you actually get TWO more days to enter!! So hurry! 'Cuz I really want to give one away!!
The Girls' Turn, Turn, Turn
So the phrase of the evening was, "Wrong song choice."
Did every one of the female Idol contestants get it wrong? All except Brooke White, whom HH adores but who I think is just okay. She's another one who sort of hides behind the guitar. It's really hard to choose the best or the worst from last night. Although I thought Carly sounded terrific, vocally, the judges were right: Heart was not the right song for her. And Amanda? Oh my dear...I LOVE her but what was that outfit and that hair and that song? Kansas? Seriously?
Just have to say this one thing: with all of the wonderful female singers from the 70s, why did so many of the girls last night pick songs written for men? I wish someone had told Carly and Amanda about Grace Slick. I know they are both too young to know her, but come on, their voices would have been perfect for her songs!
Big sigh here...I think Kristy Lee was better than last week. I disagreed with Simon about Kady who looked cute and very 70s with her Farrah Fawcett 'do. I wanted Ramiele and Asia'h to do better than they did - the former underestimated her voice and the latter overestimated hers.
I really, gosh, have no idea what will happen tonight. Maybe it really is a boy's year - well, one boy. Let's say it: it's David Archulea's year. Let's cut to the chase and give it to him.
Did every one of the female Idol contestants get it wrong? All except Brooke White, whom HH adores but who I think is just okay. She's another one who sort of hides behind the guitar. It's really hard to choose the best or the worst from last night. Although I thought Carly sounded terrific, vocally, the judges were right: Heart was not the right song for her. And Amanda? Oh my dear...I LOVE her but what was that outfit and that hair and that song? Kansas? Seriously?
Just have to say this one thing: with all of the wonderful female singers from the 70s, why did so many of the girls last night pick songs written for men? I wish someone had told Carly and Amanda about Grace Slick. I know they are both too young to know her, but come on, their voices would have been perfect for her songs!
Big sigh here...I think Kristy Lee was better than last week. I disagreed with Simon about Kady who looked cute and very 70s with her Farrah Fawcett 'do. I wanted Ramiele and Asia'h to do better than they did - the former underestimated her voice and the latter overestimated hers.
I really, gosh, have no idea what will happen tonight. Maybe it really is a boy's year - well, one boy. Let's say it: it's David Archulea's year. Let's cut to the chase and give it to him.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Another Round of Boys on Idol
Does this contest need to continue? Seriously? I think after two weeks, it should be pretty much evident to everyone that David Archuleta is the clear winner among the boys. I'll reserve judgment when we go co-ed and we can see him go up against Carly and the girls but if I were one of the boys last night, I would be planning my flight home.
Personally, I love Jason Castro and can see him having a career a la John Mayer, although maybe a little quirkier. I also think Chikezie did a great job - full of energy, great voice - and I'm not sure why the judges aren't more supportive of him. Maybe he doesn't fit their image of a pop star but honestly? Has anyone who's ever won looked like a pop idol? Each one had to be molded slightly - and then each one sort of did his/her own thing anyway!
All in all, it was an enjoyable evening except for those darn interviews! The only guy who came off looking cool was Robbie. He looked like a total rocker in that drag racing car and then when he sang, he might as well have been saying to us, "I only look like I'm a rocker. Really, I'm a boy band singer."
In the bottom 3 on Thursday? Hmmmm...Luke, Jason Y, and Michael (I'm a fan but that perf last night was a bit...let's say it, pitchy, dawg.).
Personally, I love Jason Castro and can see him having a career a la John Mayer, although maybe a little quirkier. I also think Chikezie did a great job - full of energy, great voice - and I'm not sure why the judges aren't more supportive of him. Maybe he doesn't fit their image of a pop star but honestly? Has anyone who's ever won looked like a pop idol? Each one had to be molded slightly - and then each one sort of did his/her own thing anyway!
All in all, it was an enjoyable evening except for those darn interviews! The only guy who came off looking cool was Robbie. He looked like a total rocker in that drag racing car and then when he sang, he might as well have been saying to us, "I only look like I'm a rocker. Really, I'm a boy band singer."
In the bottom 3 on Thursday? Hmmmm...Luke, Jason Y, and Michael (I'm a fan but that perf last night was a bit...let's say it, pitchy, dawg.).
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
6 Weeks 'Til the New Book!!
Holy cats! My new novel, ALL ABOUT VEE, will be out in 6 weeks! How did this sneak up on me? Last year, when my first book was coming out, I knew exactly how many days and hours until the official release yet somehow, it's almost like I forgot VEE!
I wonder if big-time authors who've published ten or twenty or fifty books become blase about the whole thing. Is it just another book to them? Are they so involved in their next book that they don't even notice the new one is out?
Meg Cabot, in her blog diary, noted that she forgot her new book was out! In her February 8 entry, she wrote about her first middle grade novel: It turns out I have a new book out in stores.
Whoa! How do you forget a thing like that? Now, here is a woman who has had so many novels published in different genres, for different audiences, and she's so busy with other things, like appearances and emails and contests, that it's no wonder she forgot.
Btw, I get overwhelmed just reading Meg's blog and website! I can't begin to imagine what it's like to actually be her...
So I have to begin planning some VEE stuff. Ninja Webmaster and I are totally psyched to add some new stuff to the website. And I definitely want to get out and see the people who are so lovely and buying my books so we'll probably do some events here and on the east coast this spring and summer. If anyone out there in the blogosphere wants me to come do a visit at their school or local library, email me!
I wonder if big-time authors who've published ten or twenty or fifty books become blase about the whole thing. Is it just another book to them? Are they so involved in their next book that they don't even notice the new one is out?
Meg Cabot, in her blog diary, noted that she forgot her new book was out! In her February 8 entry, she wrote about her first middle grade novel: It turns out I have a new book out in stores.
Whoa! How do you forget a thing like that? Now, here is a woman who has had so many novels published in different genres, for different audiences, and she's so busy with other things, like appearances and emails and contests, that it's no wonder she forgot.
Btw, I get overwhelmed just reading Meg's blog and website! I can't begin to imagine what it's like to actually be her...
So I have to begin planning some VEE stuff. Ninja Webmaster and I are totally psyched to add some new stuff to the website. And I definitely want to get out and see the people who are so lovely and buying my books so we'll probably do some events here and on the east coast this spring and summer. If anyone out there in the blogosphere wants me to come do a visit at their school or local library, email me!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Post Oscar, Posthaste
I saw two movies that were nominated for Oscars this year: "Ratatouille" and "No Country for Old Men." Both won. Gosh, I wish I had been in an Oscar pool!
All I have to say about last night's show is this:
1. I am so psyched Diablo Cody won for writing "Juno." She is the ultimate in outsider: a blogger who worked as a stripper to make money and gain life experience and I loved her speech. She looked like she had practiced that speech a million times, never expecting to actually use it and then when she did, she had nothing left to say and looked like she was going to puke on her way off the stage. That's the person you want to win.
2. I wish Cate Blanchett had won for either of the roles she was nominated for, as Dylan or Queen Elizabeth. She is one of my very favorite actresses (although I love Tilda Swinton too and am glad for her as well). I believe Cate was robbed of her gold statuette years ago when Gwyneth Paltrow took it for "Shakespeare in Love."
3. Jon Stewart is a funny guy but he ain't no Billy Crystal or Ellen DeGeneres. I would love to see Ellen back again. She is quick on her feet, clever, incisive without being offensive and very, very funny.
4. Yay, Daniel Day-Lewis!
and finally...
5. I wish the writers had ended their strike just a tad bit earlier so they could have gone to work on the Oscar show a little sooner. With so little time to put it all together, the jokes were kind of underdeveloped, the banter between the presenters undererhearsed and the producers relied on wayyyyy too many montages and vocal performances. In all, it was a pretty forgettable show.
For the complete list of winners, go here.
Your Hollywood connection,
Leigh
Saturday, February 23, 2008
"Music is none of my business..."
I often feel like that quote from Marge Simpson. I'm not hugely into bands although I love listening to the radio and discovering new songs and music but I'm not one of those people who are always fiddling with their iPods.
I have a Nano but the battery is always dying on me and man, does that suck.
And before you say it's just cuz I'm old and I didn't grow up with a pair of buds in my ear, let me disabuse you of that thought right now. I came of age during
(cue drum roll and crashing cymbals)
The Walkman Era!
This was the time of mix tapes for every occasion -your best friend's bf just dumped her, you've got a new bf yourself, you're feeling sad or lonely or happy or whatever - we bought cassettes by the dozen and made them every weekend.
I remember when my brother borrowed my first tape player and one of his lame buddies thought it would be funny to glue it shut. Until I could afford to replace the thing, I had to use it with a rubber band holding it shut and when the rubber band started to loosen, the tape would come unhinged and unravel so I was constantly replacing the band. Now that I think of it, I don't know that my bro ever replaced it for me...dude, that's uncool.
Anyway, I'm in front of my computer a lot these days and I really like to listen to music as I work, mostly classical with no lyrics but as a break, I enjoy contemporary stuff but until recently, my video card was trashed so I couldn't listen to iTunes or YouTube but now it's fixed, thanks to my Ninja Webmaster so this morning I have been treating myself to all sorts of fun stuff!
So far I've listened to the new Foo Fighters song about ten times. Let's make it 11.
I have a Nano but the battery is always dying on me and man, does that suck.
And before you say it's just cuz I'm old and I didn't grow up with a pair of buds in my ear, let me disabuse you of that thought right now. I came of age during
(cue drum roll and crashing cymbals)
The Walkman Era!
This was the time of mix tapes for every occasion -your best friend's bf just dumped her, you've got a new bf yourself, you're feeling sad or lonely or happy or whatever - we bought cassettes by the dozen and made them every weekend.
I remember when my brother borrowed my first tape player and one of his lame buddies thought it would be funny to glue it shut. Until I could afford to replace the thing, I had to use it with a rubber band holding it shut and when the rubber band started to loosen, the tape would come unhinged and unravel so I was constantly replacing the band. Now that I think of it, I don't know that my bro ever replaced it for me...dude, that's uncool.
Anyway, I'm in front of my computer a lot these days and I really like to listen to music as I work, mostly classical with no lyrics but as a break, I enjoy contemporary stuff but until recently, my video card was trashed so I couldn't listen to iTunes or YouTube but now it's fixed, thanks to my Ninja Webmaster so this morning I have been treating myself to all sorts of fun stuff!
So far I've listened to the new Foo Fighters song about ten times. Let's make it 11.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)