Julia London's Blog, page 80

Wicked in the City

Sorry, everyone, my blog is late- horrors!- because I just got back from an extra long weekend in New York City. Seriously, just walked in the door. Took the train back to Suburbia this morning. And I already miss it.[image error]

The purpose of our trip? To tour some colleges with the daughter. She already applied. She just needed to know if she would actually like attending them. So it was my husband, my daughter, and me. Friday, we arrived at Grand Central and had the idea that we were going to catch a cab to our hotel. HAHA, it was 4:30 pm on a Friday– fat chance. The line at the Grand Central cab stand was unreal, and it was a glorious 65 degrees out, so we decided to drag our luggage through the city streets. Which was fun. I ran over a few pedestrians who were too busy texting to walk, and I felt like a true New Yorker… you know, besides the fact that I was carting luggage.

But once we dropped off the luggage and checked in to our temporary home (the Hilton on 54th and sixth, comfortable well-appointed rooms, tiny double beds– and actually right across the street from my publisher, but I was avoiding business on this trip), we were off to enjoy the warm evening. Shopping, walking, choosing a restaurant– how about that French bistro that lists mostly Italian food and also offers Sushi? Excellent choice. No, we went with a boring (and pricey) old steakhouse, but it was good.

It was such a glorious night that I was willing to just find an apartment and move to the city. Except… I spend a lot of money in the city. I've toned down my spending at home and I'm not such a big shopper. Put me in the city, though, and wham- shopaholic. Theatre fan. Fine diner. I haven't really learned to enjoy the city's thriftier offerings, like great hot dogs and street food, even though the halal cart always had lines down the block and I was getting a little falafel-curious. Well, also, the glorious warmth only lasted for our first day in the city, and then it went down to bone-chilling cold for days, too cold to stand outside for food.

One thing I learned? When in a department store (like Saks), never look a makeup lady in the eye. I mean it. Never. I knew this, and yet, the Guerlain  woman caught me on my way by. "What eye cream are you using?" Eye cream, hmm (answer: none, do I really need a special eye cream yet? wrong answer!). Before I could blink, she was dabbing my face with the most wonderful potion, and I was soaking up the spiel. Yet I still had the willpower to walk away– until my husband said "Wow, that stuff really makes a difference." YES, he really said that. You know what that means, right? Not only did I buy the "wow, expensive!" eye cream, but I dropped a lot more on other secret blends to take years off my appearance. Honestly, I've been using it for a few days now and I do see a difference.

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Magic Potion to Remove Wrinkles, or $$ from My Wallet?

We saw Wicked. Great seats, really fun show. We shopped more. And shopped more. And ate more. And ate more. Had some quiet time at Ground Zero. And finally toured some campuses. The verdict? She's in love with Fordham and a little less enthusiastic about Sarah Lawrence. And now I am more in love with New York City than ever. I feel disloyal to Boston, but Manhattan is so easy to navigate. NYC is my favorite city. There. I've said it.

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Have you had any adventures lately? Any run-ins with the makeup counter sales force? What's your favorite city?

I've Always Loved You Best.

Between looming deadlines and a trip to Japan (which I'm currently on), I haven't had much time to think about writing a postn.  So instead I'm going to share a favorite column written by one of my favorite writers—Erma Bombeck:

 This column originally appeared in 1971, Titled:  I've Always Loved You Best

"It is normal for children to want assurance that they are loved. Having all the warmth of the former Berlin Wall, I have always admired women who can reach out to pat their children and not have them flinch.

Feeling more comfortable on paper, I wrote this for each of my children.

To the first born……

I've always loved you best because you were our first miracle. You were the genesis of a marriage, the fulfillment of young love, the promise of our infinity.

You sustained us through the hamburger years. The first apartment furnished in Early Poverty… our first mode of transportation (1955 feet)… the 7-inch TV set we paid on for 36 months.

You wore new, had unused grandparents and more clothes than a Barbie doll. You were the "original model" for unsure parents trying to work the bugs out. You got the strained lamb, open pins and three-hour naps.

You were the beginning.

To the middle child…

I've always loved you the best because you drew the dumb spot in the family and it made you stronger for it.

You cried less, had more patience, wore faded and never in your life did anything "first," but it only made you more special. You are the one we relaxed with and realized a dog could kiss you and you wouldn't get sick. You could cross the street by yourself long before you were old enough to get married, and the world wouldn't come to an end if you went to bed with dirty feet.

You were the continuance.

To the baby…

I've always loved you the best because endings generally are sad and you are such a joy. You readily accepted milk stained bibs. The lower bunk. The cracked baseball bat. The baby book, barren but for a recipe for graham pie crust that someone jammed between the pages.

You are the one we held onto so tightly. For, you see, you are the link with the past that gives a reason to tommorow. You darken our hair, quicken our steps, square our shoulders, restore our vision, and give us humor that security and maturity can't give us.

When your hairline takes on the shape of Lake Erie and your children tower over you, you will still be 'the baby.'

You were the culmination."

 Erma Bombeck.  She makes me smile.  And, as always, finds sentiments that echo in my heart.  And even though she's gone–her words live on.

 Do you have a favorite humorist?  Someone who makes you smile and touches your heart?  (And no, Hallmark doesn't count!)

A Light at Winter's End

We all need to see that light!

I am really happy that tomorrow, my book is being published in audio, print, and ebook.  I don't care how you read it, I just hope you do.  This book, in large part, is about Wyatt Clark, the guy you met in Summer of Two Wishes. Wyatt found the love of his life and married her, and was looking forward to having a big family with her.  But then, the unthinkable happened.  His wife's first husband, who had been reported dead in Afghanistan a few years ago, was found alive, and was coming back to the life he'd left behind–and his wife.  In the end, his wife had to choose a husband, and she chose the love of her life.  Unfortunately, that was not Wyatt.

Why a cowboy? Because Wyatt has gone back to being one. Oh, and he has a dog.

I am very happy that Wyatt is getting a second chance.  But, you know, nothing is ever easy in Romancelandia, so Wyatt's second shot doesn't come without some drama and some questions about whether or not he really ought to be engaging at all, because Holly Fisher is not without her own baggage.  But they do have something powerful in common:  They have both been thrust into extraordinary circumstances well beyond their control.



Another book about second chances is Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It's a really cute book about an older guy who gets his second chance after he totally blows his first.  It is set in a small village in Wales and I have to say, the characters are delightful.  Well, most of them, anyway.  It's a very nice read!

How do you feel about second chances? Do you like reading about them? What's a book about second chances you have read that stuck with you?

About the Book Saturday

I'm doing my Bridget Jones imitation today:

Book 3 Left to Do

143 XX's (shorthand for something's missing, usually a word, but can be a phrase, a name, or talent)
Eight long scenes to write
Nine medium scenes to write
Three scenes that need to be edited
Four cases of Red Bull in the cabinet
Nine school vacation days (ACK!)
One Barry Manilow song set to repeat (Weekend in New England)
One bag of post-Valentine's day clearance candy hidden under the desk (Hershey's kisses in assorted pinks)

All thoughts, encouragement and good wishes are appreciated. And not only are you all helping me, but you're entering for a chance to win the Nook!!

What are y'all doing for President's Week? Talk to me on Tuesday, but I've got a whole LIST of movies to see, laundry to do, and I think my family needs food.

Reading Habits

This week, Borders declared bankruptcy. We all knew it was coming. There are a lot of reasons being tossed about as to why: Borders got on the ebook revolution train too late. They never really got on board the online train, and put all their eggs in the Amazon basket. The stores were worked over to be less bookstore and more multi-entertainment stores. We don't really know why Borders didn't make it, but we do know that change is coming at us like a freight train. No matter how you slice it, traffic is down in all physical bookstores, and traffic is up for ereaders.

Personally, I like print and ebooks.  I have a lot of print books, and I can look at my shelves and peruse them and decide what I want to read next, just like if I were in a bookstore (and I own enough to qualify for my own little bookstore, I think).  I also like ebooks.  A couple of years ago, I had to go somewhere and happened to be reading a hardback at the time.  I lugged it across the country in my carry-on, then when I reached my destination, I finished the book.  I was stuck with that thing for a week, hauling it around with me like some unwanted baby, and unwilling to buy another book, because then, I'd have two of them to lug.  That week, I decided to get an ereader.  Now, I use it when I travel.  I use it on the elliptical.  I tend to read more of a book because I really don't know how long it is, and sometimes, when I am reading a printed book, I look at how much I have left, and how in to the book I am, and if I'm not that into it, I put it aside.

I chose this paperback just because I like the title

What I can't do easily on an ebook is move around. It's not easy to flip through the pages and go back to look at something you read earlier, or move forward to read about the author.  I don't know what the covers look like because the book usually opens where the first chapter begins.  I like covers.  I like to look at them when I am reading. I can't imagine that I would ever give up print books.  In fact, I was thinking of going to the library to look some stuff up because I don't like researching on the computer.  It's not easy to just peruse and navigate.

What about you?  Are you a fan of the digital revolution in books?  Are you a diehard, like my mom, who refuses to even look at an ereader?  Or do you go with what comes your way, a little of everything?  Any thoughts about the future of publishing?

Don't forget, all month we are collecting names for our Nook giveaway! If you don't have an ereader, you could win one right here! Just comment to be entered

I NEVER KNEW THAT!

We've all heard the expression "you learn something new every day," and it amazes me how often I discover just how true it is.  For example, I recently saw the movie The King's Speech, which I loved.  Now, I knew that the king's brother ascended to the throne when the king abdicated "for the woman he loved," but I had no idea that the new king suffered from a severe speech impediment.  Learned something new that day.

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Colin Firth as King George in The King's Speech

Then, just yesterday I was looking through the latest edition of Taste of Home magazine (the subscription was a Christmas gift from my fab sister—I highly recommend it!) and a recipe for meatballs caught my eye.  Now, with a name like "D'Alessandro" you'd think I'd know a thing or two about making meatballs.  Certainly I've made my fair share of them over the years, and, if I do say so myself, they're pretty darn good.  But the Taste of Home recipe listed an ingredient I've never before added to my meatballs.

Water.

And not just a little bit of water–but one to two cups, depending on the amount you're making! Who knew?  Supposedly it makes the meatballs very moist.  So next time I make them I'm going to give it a try. 

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Hope my next batch of meatballs doesn't turn out...watery????

One last example, this one courtesy of my son.  He was home from college last weekend and we were watching tv when one of the Kay Jewelers commercials that run constantly before Valentine's Day came on.  At the end of the commercial, when their theme song/catch phrase sounded: Every Kiss Begins With Kay, my son said, "That's pretty presumptuous–and crazy–of Kay Jewelers to think that every kiss starts with a piece of their jewelry."  I blinked then said, "It's a play on words—you know, the WORD kiss begins with "K"–like the letter "K."  It was his turn to blink.  Then he laughed and said, "Oh.  Wow.  I totally didn't get it until just now."  Ha!  Hope the kid realizes how smart and clever his mom is, LOL!  Yup, you learn something new every day.

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 So tell me–have you learned anything new lately?  Or something that really surprised you?  Share your newfound wisdom!  Also–have you seen The King's Speech?  Did you know about the king's speech impediment?  Do you think Colin Firth deserves the Best Actor Oscar for his performance?

Pay it forward

Sometimes, people surprise you. Random acts of kindness, just like the bumper stickers say.

That happened to some us Whine Sisters last summer when a shall-remain-nameless Disney employee snuck us Fast Passes for The Tower of Terror when he overheard us griping about wanting some. (He remains my favorite Disney employee of all time.)

And then yesterday at the Starbucks drive through, I got to the window all prepared to pay for my Venti nonfat latte, tall decaf mocha lite frappacino with whip, and bottle of orange juice (in case anyone ever wants to buy me and my kids starbies…), when the guy said that the person ahead of us had already paid! How nice is that?

So nice I was surprised, actually, and didn't think to do the same for the person behind me. But I will think of something to do for someone….

When I thought that would be a nice thing to blog about, I Googled Random Acts of Kindess to see if I could find some examples. What I found was actually pretty interesting. Apparently it's Random Acts of Kindness Week (Feb 14-20). Did my anonymous coffee benefactor know that? Is it odd that if so I think the act isn't quite as cool?

Not to sound like I'm begrudging or curmudging (yes, I know that's not a word), but it seems to me that Random Acts of Kindness should be, well, random. And if you Hallmark it up, then suddenly it's not random. It's like forgetting your secretary on secretary's day (which was never a good thing). I mean, it's still nice and all, but just as a matter of principle I think I might wait until Feb 21 to randomly act kind.

But does that mean I have to be bitchy until then?

How about y'all? Have you been the recipients or the purveyors of random kindness this week? Ever? What did you do or have done to/for you? Share! Share! And don't forget that your sharing enters you in the Nook contest!

Grammy Fun and Fashion

Let's talk Grammy awards. Did you watch? I can't resist award shows (even for dogs, watching Westminster Dog Show Feb 14-15), and my daughter really wanted to see her favorite band, Muse, win something (and they did! Best Rock Album for Resistance). I found Lady Gaga somewhat underwhelming. Yes, she arrived in an egg carted by scantily clad minions. Yawn. How exciting is it to see someone carried around in an giant eggshell? Not very. I suppose it begs the question, What laid her? We don't want to know. And the performance? High energy, but very Madonna-esque. I think she needed more time to incubate. So done.

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Gaga carried in...

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And hatching to perform.

I did enjoy performances from Muse, Cee-Lo with Muppets and Gwyneth Paltrow, and Mumford and Sons plus Avett Brothers and Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the tribute to Aretha Franklin. Nicole Kidman getting caught singing along to Katy Perry's Teenage Dream, and of course, the clothes.

Check out the Grammy gown gallery on People.com.

My favorite? Nicole Kidman, but I also loved Jennifer Lopez (who has been looking amazing lately) and Jewel (who is expecting), and a few others. Did not love Florence from Florence and the Machine just because swans on dresses bring to mind the ultimate swan dress (Bjork at the Academy Awards years ago). Also, Kim Kardashian and Miley looked cheap. Rihanna was obviously going for shock factor, but I kind of liked it, of course only on someone who had the cheek to pull it off.

[image error] [image error] Your Grammy assessment? Best performance? Best Dressed? Worst? Were you so sorry Justin Bieber did not get the Best New Artist Grammy? Never say never, Justin.

Long Summer Nights

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A Nook Giveaway: The Whine Sisters are Feeling the Love!

Today is Valentine's Day, the day when romance flits through the air like pollen in spring. However, as readers of the romantic arts, we all know that romance is a three-hundred-and-sixty-five day endeavor, not a mere twenty-four hours, so we all nod smugly while the world does its best to keep up.

Part of the romanticist's ideal is the tome of temptation, the paperback of passion, the digest of desire — the romance novel. We celebrate the words that are strung together, weaving a sigh around the romanticist's heart until you think it's going to break.

So while the rest of the world is prattling about the perfect kiss, the perfect date, the perfect man, we — the sisters of Whine– are giving the gift that keeps on giving. The Nook, wi-fi edition, from Barnes & Noble.

And because, we, the sisters of Whine, believe so strongly in the power of the romance novel, we are also adding a $50 gift certificate so that the winning romanticist can add to his or her collection of bon amour mots, because you know, we're really nice that way.

The rules are simple. Every time you comment, you are entered to win. No limit on your entries per day, per week, per month. The winning entry will be chosen by random drawing and will be announced on Saturday April 2nd, by Love-Loving Whine Sister, moi (Kathleen O'Reilly).

So, let's get the ball rolling. What tomes of temptation would you add to your Nook?