Advertising Is A B***-AH!

I have been trying to get my Musical Theater Camps going again this summer, and if you haven't read about my fiasco from last year, its worth a look see. The annoying part of any business
is the advertising, I guess everyone knows, and this year is no different.

I usually try to do inserts in the local papers, but this year I decided to try the local "ad" paper, because it goes to every household, instead of just those that subscribe to the paper. Now, you would think that I would get more interest with a paper that goes to every household.

Well, last year, after getting my insert out, I received about 25 phone calls the first two weeks, and about 15 e-mails. So, this year, a day after the insert came out, I awaited the rush of phone calls, and e-mails.

Yes, you guessed it. Nothing the first day. Then, I got two e-mails the next day. I answered them immediately, thinking that the rush was going to come---right around the corner...
There was nothing for about two more days, then several more e-mails, one phone call, and then....nothing.

It has been about a week now since I have received any inquiries. I have received 5 registrations, but that's about it.

Meanwhile, I am having a fit, because I just rented a huge, really amazing space because I didn't want to loose it, (someone else wanted to rent it and I had first right of refusal...so of course, duh....I jumped right in!) and I am freaking out because it doesn't look like I will be able to afford it, let alone make any profit.

My new space----beautiful, huh?

And this is looking back towards the lobby area---cool loft area!

So, that's when you have to figure out how to advertise again. Where? Do I go to the same papers as last year? I checked on them and they have, of course, raised their prices. But, what can a girl do?

Well, what about a sandwich board in the center of town? Great idea, huh? Right, but then we found out that we have to be non profit to advertise in the center of town. (We are planning on applying for this, but haven't had the time or brain to do the paperwork---sigh.) But. we did find out from the landlord that we can put one on the street in front of the building. So, I quickly get online to my favorite online sign store, Build-A-Sign.com. I whip up a signboard, and it is shipped asap to me. I got it Saturday!

I love that place.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I realize that I can't wait to see if the sign board will work, I am going to have to put inserts in the paper that I used last year. Ahhh, heck!
There goes more money out the door, and then I realize that I have to buy chairs, and the backdrop for the stage area.

I give up. I understand now what they say about when you start a business and it takes at least....how many years to get it to make money? I'm afraid to hear... By the way, I know that I have several "business owners" that read this, so what are your suggestions? Do you have as many problems that I have?

Now, I will just pray that there isn't a chemical leak in the building.

Where's A Bin?

Our Bed and Breakfast in West Drayton...great place!

We were jet-lagged, but we hit the train to London anyway!

First stop, Windsor.

Windsor Castle, thousands of years old.

Bret and Aydan in front of the castle...

...and the flag was flying, since the Queen was there for her birthday.

A walk along the Thames, under Windsor bridge.

Shawn and Aydan pretended to feed the swans...they kept raising their heads each time they put their hands up!

"Here we come, walkin down the street....hey, hey we're the Monkees"

Phone box.

New day, good sleep and we're waiting for the train again!

Yay! We spied Cannon Street on the tube.

Victoria and Albert Museum---beautiful!

Three little lambs...

...and a Beast to boot! Great exhibits in the London stage section.

Then, we sat outside in the sun for a bit.

The statue in front of Buckingham Palace...

....and the view from the other side.

The changing of the guard....

....and the guard in front of the Queen's equestrian stables.

Gold, gold, everywhere you look around the center of London.

Westminister Abbey

Bret and Aydan in front of Westminister Abbey.

Big Ben.

The church next to the Abbey,---there are three of them...

London Bridge

...and note the sailboat coming under it.

Tower of London...


and the prison

A night at the theatre!...Lord of the Rings!

Perfect ending of a wonderful day in London!

London, London...amazing London.

I finally got there and well...in a word....I loved London! Maybe that was more than one word, but it was indeed an amazing place. We were only able to spend about two 1/2 days there, but we made the best of it and I absorbed the place as quickly as I could.

My impressions of London:

1. Amazing people! Everywhere I looked there were attractive, chic, cool and funky people. I have to say that I have never seen so many well dressed, put together people in my life! And of course, I was loving the fact that I finally fit right in. I saw so many women and girls that were dressed just like.....well....dare I say it.........me! And the men! I could not believe how well-dressed the men were! Everywhere I looked, there were men of all ages wearing sharp, perfectly fit European cut suits with Italian made shoes, and great ties. Then, if they were casually dressed, they were funky and fun, mixing their clothes like something right out of GQ.
I'm sure that my mouth was hanging open on several occasions, as I craned my neck to see the various outfits that were surfacing everywhere we walked. I actually saw only one sweatsuit outfit and yes, you guessed it....they were American tourists....

2. Delightful history! I loved seeing the various sights that were so linked with British history and the intriguing ties that the British have with their royalty. We were at Windsor castle on the Queens birthday, so her flag was flying that told the world that she was there at the castle. They also rang the bells off and on while we were there to remind us, I guess, that it was the Queens birthday.

3. Great architecture and museums! Since I took Art History and architecture for my major in college, I have always loved knowing the different types of architecture and it was neat being able to see the different styles that I had learned about. The churches were so wonderful with their "flying buttresses", and high arches. It was great to see them finally----to be right there absorbing the beauty. There is so much grandeur there and it was exciting to be a part of it. Then there are the museums! We weren't able to visit very many, because of our time restraints, but we went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, at a recommendation from a friend, and we were blown away! We loved the section on photography, on fashion design, and most of all, on the London theatre sets and costumes. It was inventive and fun and we could have spent all day there, but since we had a lot to see, we moved on.

4. Phenomenal theatre! Of course, one of my dreams would be to go to London for about two weeks and go to the theatre every night. There is something so wonderful about going to live theatre, seeing someone else's vision on the stage. I would have loved to see more of it, but we were only able to go to "The Lord of the Rings Musical" Not my first choice, obviously, but we were traveling with our young son, Aydan and had to pick something that he would enjoy also. It turned out to be really fun, with an amazing set and lots of visual candy, as well as some phenomenal singing talent. The acting wasn't that great, I must admit---the lead guy---you know, the Viggio Mortensen role----was a bit over the top. I had trouble getting over his gruff voice. And it was a bit rough trying to fit all those books and movies into one three hour musical----definitely hard to understand for anyone who hasn't read the books or seen the movies-----which would be my husband. But he enjoyed the ride, and we both agreed that it was a great experience for all of us! The highlight of the night was when the creatures from the play decided to come into the audience and harass everyone....and since we were on the 10th row, we got quite a bit of it! I was worried that my son would freak out, (he has an aversion to anyone "dressed up", such as clowns, Chucky Cheese, Santa Claus---well, you get the picture) but he was awesome about it and even laughed about the fact that one of the creatures had his scary face, literally, right behind Aydan's head when he was turned around looking at another creature. So, when Aydan turned back forward----whoa!---there the creature was----right in his face!

5. Love those accents! I have always considered myself a "BBC American" and have the fantasy of living in the English countryside, running a theatre and going to London on the weekends to shop and yes......to go to the theatre. I have been a disciple of the BBC channel and have Direct TV because I demand that I have that particular channel in my cable lineup. And, I have always relished the different accents that are portrayed in some of my favorite shows. So, it was great to hear the accents in real life----it made me smile.

6. Mind the gap! The subway and train system in London was really efficient and quite easy to get around on. I liked the way you could go anywhere with just a day pass, and I know that if I went there for some time, I would get a Eurail (sp?) pass and be able to tool all around the UK. And Aydans favorite part was when we would step off the train and we would hear "Mind the gap!" It was the gap that is located between the train and the platform, that is quite large sometimes and can be dangerous, as I can tell you first hand, since I almost fell in one, as I was looking around and not watching my step. Whew...close one---thats all I needed in London----another face plant to add to my former face injuries. (Be sure and check back for the long awaited blog of that story coming soon!)

7. Where are all the bins? Or garbage cans, as we like to call them. There was a lot of trash in London, thats for sure, and it's sad that there is so much trash. No one seems to notice it, and I guess they really aren't concerned with it, but it annoyed me...a lot! I know that I was constantly looking for a trash can, as I once carried my trash in my pocket for about an hour, coming from a train station to the city, and walking for blocks and blocks, finally finding one. Whats with that? Why are there no bins? My friend from Ireland thought that maybe it was because they took most of them out because the IRA liked to use them for bombs... Thats her theory. I don't really know, but that is something that needs to be reckoned with, in my opinion.

8. Great Bed and Breakfasts! We stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast. close to Heathrow, in West Drayton, a close walk to the train and a little village. It wasn't a full English breakfast, but we were provided with two full baskets of fresh rolls or croissants, cold cereal, fresh fruit, orange juice, English tea, fruit and peanut snacks, "crisps" and many other fun snacky items. Our hosts were gracious, and pleasant, helping us get to where we wanted to go and sharing some enlightenment on going to Ireland, as they were both Irish. I am so glad that there are Bed and Breakfasts in the world. They make it feel like home.

There you have it, I know its a lot to take in----and we were there such a short time, but I really felt the need to get my perspective out there, in writing, so I don't forget my first impressions.
I plan on going back some day. It's taken me more than twenty years to get there---well, a lot more than twenty years---but who's counting?

All I Want....Is My Two Front Teeth

Yes, we are back in one piece from our amazing trip to Europe. I have been working on the blog entry about London, but haven't finished it yet. I was just going to wait until I finished it to post something, then a small amazing thing happened this weekend.

I know its a natural thing and seems to be the event that changes a little child into a youth, but it always makes me a bit sad, because that child never can go back to the way he looked before...

I'm talking about losing your top two baby teeth.

I had one day of down time before I went to Oklahoma again, this last weekend. While I was gone, Aydan lost his two front teeth. They had been loose, and he pushed them back and forth with his tongue once in a while to make them even more loose. Well, at school on Friday, they came out...

Now, some kids look really weird after they lose their teeth. They look like an old man or lady or like they have tripped and knocked them right out! I remember that my teeth were huge when they started to come in and I looked like a bunny. "Aw, whats up, doc?"

But Aydan actually looks amazingly cute with his front teeth missing. They were so tiny anyway. (yes, he has his Dad's teeth, not mine, luckily!) So, for just a short while anyway, I can pretend that he is still younger. Its not that I don't want him to grow up, but, yes, he's my baby and my last one and its hard to let go.

So, until those rabbit teeth come in, I will enjoy looking at him and hear his slightly altered speech because he has trouble saying his "s's".

And I will just smile.

All My Bags Are Packed...

...I'm ready to go...

Yup, this is my final blog entry before I take off for the UK and Ireland. I am a bit apprehensive about going now, as I have built it up so much in my own brain, that I am afraid that I will be disappointed. Why do I do this?

I'm sure that the trip will go effortlessly, and will be much more than I expected---the weather lovely and the people charming. We won't get lost and won't have to spend hundreds on taxi's because we can't figure out the train or bus system. We will find great eating places for a small amount of money and they will all take my charge card, so I don't have to have my money exchanged and carry cash. I'm sure that I will bounce right back from the jet lag and want to walk and walk and walk to all the sights of London, with a huge smile on my face.



Then, as we travel to Ireland, I just know that we will be able to find a great, cheap car to rent and Bret won't forget to drive on the wrong side of the road.... They do drive on the wrong side in Ireland, don't they? Hmmm, never thought about it. Then, I'm sure that we will be able to see lots of countryside and maybe a few castles and make a trip to the Isle of Man---where my relatives are from. The Cannon's, don'tcha know. Maybe we will even spend a night there...





We do have a friend that lives there,----we are staying with her---and she asked us what we are planning on seeing while we are there, and I actually don't really know. I guess that I am a bit laid back when it comes to these things and just wanted to get a map and then decide what to see... I'm not a "driven" tourist, just want to mix in with the locals and soak in the ambience of the country---get the feel of what its like to live there.

Well, I guess I am ranting. Thoughts are like that, I guess.

So, "Bon Voyage" to me, my three readers. I will return a happier and more knowledgeable person and will report of my days as a world traveler when I return.

I am hoping that there will be lots to laugh about and fun stories to tell... I'm sure that there will be---cause that is how my life is----its how I roll.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Now that I got your attention...

I was tagged a few months ago by my lovely daughter, Hailey, in her blog. I must admit that it got me to thinking about my life and what in the heck should I write about----in regards to the seven little known things about me.

Now, those of you two readers that know me, know that I basically "wear my heart on my sleeve", am all about "what you see is what you get", and you know "where you stand" with me, and every cliche saying that describes a person that doesn't hide much.

So, that said, I had to think long and hard, but finally came up with seven little known things about me:

1. It bothers me that the number is seven. Why? I am a bit OCD and have to have pictures and rugs straight, as well as not being able to go to bed unless my coffee table and my living room and dining room are clean and straight. (Have I said straight enough?) I also go crazy if the volume on my radio in the car is not an even number, as well as numbers in general. I really like to have an even number on EVERYTHING!

2. I love to go camping! I used to go camping with my family when I grew up and they were the best times ever. I don't mind sleeping in tents even, but now that we got a trailer----a 1968 gem---its even better. Last year we camped out on the beach and it was some fun times. There's just something about sitting around the campfire, especially with family---singing and laughing---being silly. And yes, it brings out the silly in me... I even managed to last through a camping trip to Montana a few years ago at my families reunion. It was cold and wet, yes, VERY wet, so I must admit that my patience was a bit tested,...but even that didn't put me off of camping.

3. I was in Playboy.
Ok, so I guess I have to tell you a bit more about that one, so you don't get the wrong idea!
I modeled for many years and did ads for just about every department store, restaurant, airline, clothing line, and beauty/hair product. So one of my ads got picked up by Playboy---it was actually for western wear and was not at all provocative, but it was kind of a cool shot, and I guess if the store pays for the advertising, they don't really care...

4. My big break into show business was playing the part of Cinderella in fourth grade. But, since I was kind of a small skinny kid, they cast me as the "ugly" Cinderella. (Of course there had to be two, as there was a puff of smoke and the ugly one disappeared and the beautiful one appeared---center stage---it was quite brilliant for elementary school!) I did get to sing one of my favorite songs of all time, "In My Own Little Corner"---which has been my mantra for the rest of my life, so I guess it wasn't all bad.

5. While I am dwelling on childhood memories, I might as well let you know that I was a tomboy when I was a child. I loved to climb trees, ride my bike, ride horses, and spend as many hours out of doors that I could. I used to wish that I was a boy so badly! I even wore dog tags and preferred my hair short for most of my young life. (Well, that part hasn't changed---the short hair, not the dog tags.) I don't know exactly when I changed and became the fashion diva that I am now, but I think that it was between Freshman and Sophomore year in High School,----I discovered make-up and realized that if I took care of myself and my clothes, I got more attention from, yes, the opposite sex. I was doomed from then on to be vain.

6. Now this little known event is perhaps the most embarrassing one of all. About 20 years ago, on a visit to Jamaica with my sister, the amazing Margy, I....well....I....wet my bed...
Now, I don't know if any of you have ever had dreams about going to the bathroom and in your dream, you just...well....let it go. I woke up and yes, you guessed it, I had really just....let it go!
Of course, this just happened to be on the first night of a week long stay and we weren't getting the sheets changed for the whole week, unless we requested it, so I had to sleep the rest of the week on the bed without sheets. So, why didn't I request my sheets changed? Well, would you have? I was just too embarrassed to request clean sheets----I mean, how would I explain that away?
Now, before you go and think that this is something that I do all the time....I want to set your mind at ease... That was the only time that I did that as an adult, and a few days after I got home from my trip, I discovered that I was pregnant, which, believe it or not, affects a persons bladder.....what? It does!

7. I first honed my comedy skills in Junior High. I had just moved to a new city and when I went to school, I, of course, wanted to fit in and be popular. But there was one problem----I was pretty strange. I was very skinny, as I mentioned before, and had not yet begun to develop. The styles at that time were short skirts, and long hair, and I, of course, had my dresses that went down to my knees and short hair that was crooked, because my Mom cut it....and not very well. I wore knee socks because my parents wouldn't let me shave my legs, so I tried to cover up the dark hairs. Now, if this picture isn't bad enough, add to that a pair of "cat-eye" glasses that I had had since I was 8 years old. They were so out of style, but my parents wouldn't let me get new ones because mine were perfectly fine. I wasn't even devious enough to "accidentally" break them---what was I thinking? It even got so bad that when I used to go to the lunch room or try to hang with the cool kids during the break after lunch----I would walk up to them to try to be friendly and have a chat-----and they would ignore me, then, as one, turn around and walk away.

Ummm, and you wonder why they weren't thinkin I was the bomb?

So, I decided to try to make them laugh. Now, I had already spent my life so far doing funny things to make my older sister laugh, so I had had some experience at doing it--and I was obsessed with Jerry Lewis movies, Danny Kaye movies, and the Marx Brothers, so I had good teachers.
And you guessed it, thats how I survived Junior High and most of High School, for that matter...

Well, there you have it. My seven secrets have now been revealed. I am sure that there are many others, but it took me a month to come up with these, so don't ask me for any more!

Oh yeah, and I tag Brinna Jones and whoever else reads my blog to do this. (Which is why I don't have to worry about any one else.)

Honeydew

Yes, that's the name of my new baby...

She is sleek and cute, clean and smells nice, and better still, she doesn't consume very much....ah....gasoline.

Yes, folks, I have traded in Lit'le Blue Ice for this much newer and efficient style of vehicle.
I know, I have sold out to the Hybrid myth and gone green...literally.

But....I must admit that as I was driving a few days ago and looked down at my consumption monitor to see how many miles per gallon that I was getting, I was surprised to see that it was 55 mpg! Ok, so it only lasted for a bit and then went back to 48 mpg, but it was exciting, nonetheless...

It is interesting how different that you drive when you can see how much gas your car consumes. I used to accelerate every time I merged on the freeway, even if there was no one to get ahead of as I was merging... Well, I did it once just to see how the acceleration was on my little car (by the by---its excellent!) and noticed that the gas usage went way down, or rather, I was using a lot more gas so the mpg were not very good. I immediately checked myself and have been very good about reminding myself that I shouldn't accelerate if at all possible!

Now, for those of my three readers that are "tsk, tsking" about the fact that I shouldn't have gotten a new car, when my Matrix was only 5 years old and had a measly 114,000 miles on it,
I have to rationalize back my reasons:
The payment is pretty much the same.
I travel...alot...and my hubby wants me in a car that he doesn't have to worry about.
I travel....alot...and with gas prices where they are, I needed to get some sort of a break.
I have a friend that has had a Prius since they first came out and she loves hers and that was before they had worked out the "kinks" and she hadn't had any trouble with hers.
I really like the look of them and love the fact that I can still carry a bunch of gear, or antiques, or stuff I get when I shop or whatever if I need to!

Now, I must confess that I felt a bit guilty and started wondering if my vanity had been taken to a new level, as I was spraying three coats of Scotchguard over the entire inside----yes, the ceiling too----and was covering the front seats with plush beige/gold seat covers that go so well with the color combination of the green outside. (Silver pine, don'tcha know...)

Here she is...

..and her cute back end.

Oh, those lush seat covers---so chic!

But then, I made myself feel better by telling myself that it's not like I bought a convertible BMW or a vintage convertible mustang, or that really sleek convertible Solara that I love.
Man, I would look really chic driving that car... (and did you notice that I am a bit obsessed with convertibles---its that Hollywood bad influence image of the perfect woman that keeps creeping back into my brain)

Well........maybe in another 5 years.

Pretty, Pretty

Just like I love to dress up, I love to have my surroundings pretty. So, I spent a bit of time and tried to make my blog look a bit more put together...

Thanks to http://cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com/ for the template for the background! It's awesome what she does, and I do appreciate it a lot, as I am partially brain dead when it comes to computer tech stuff and after about three tries, I was able to put on the background of my choice!

It makes me feel a bit more....well....finished....polished....stylish.

Yes, There Are Spies Among Us

This morning as I was putting my young son's underwear into his laundry basket, (you know how they get piled up everywhere but in the hamper.) something fell out onto the floor. It startled me and I was a bit afraid for a moment, then I realized that it was just several action figures, rather muscle-bound and small but looking ready for a fight. I took a few deep breaths, reminding myself that as I was a lot bigger than them, they couldn't hurt me.

Well,....that and the fact that they could barely breathe, let alone speak, as they had been trapped for who knows how long in my son's dirty underwear. I definitely had the advantage as they were clearly recovering from whatever scary smells and "smears" that they may have found, stuck there in his dirty underwear pile....

Spies!

That's what they were.
I know this, because my son told me when I asked him if he was hiding them for a reason in the dirty clothes pile... I actually thought him rather smart to "take them down" in such a creative way.... This way I was able to dispense with them quickly and efficiently with no change in our usual morning schedule.

Yep, you guessed it----before they could fight back, and were still reeling from their experience spent in the dirty underwear, I put them quickly into the action figures drawer and shut it tightly.

I'll interrogate them later...when I have more time...

The Life Of A Celebrity

Ok, yes, I will finally admit it.

I AM a celebrity,....of sorts.

Just a few weekend's ago, I got the opportunity to go to Oklahoma City to sing at a HUGE benefit for The American Heart Association. It was first class all the way, baby, with the band staying at the Marriott and chauffeured around in a custom Mercedes from the biggest Mercedes dealership in Ok. City. It was all expenses paid; food, plane fare, and a nice chunk of change for the gig.

But first, before you really start to get jealous, let me tell you of my first class visit to this grand city, and the ball of the year...

We arrived at the Boston airport at about noon for our 2:30 flight. The torrential snow storm or blizzard of the year was going on, so we weren't surprised to find out that our flight was canceled. No worries----we are celebrities, after all, and only the best for the Rod Stewart tribute act and his entourage. So, they found us a flight on another airline going out at 8:00 that night.

Great! A nice leisurely stay at the airport is a treat indeed----I'm sure that is what you are thinking also, as we sat around, ate from the finest airport food----yes, they even had a Panda Express! It was grand! Of course it was rough trying to keep people from recognizing us and bothering us with autographs and such, but I solved the problem with turning on my computer, hooking up my headphones and watching several DVD's that I had brought. Whew, it was close, as I tried not to catch anyone's eye. I was trying to be incognito...

At about 8:00, after we were told that the airport was officially closed down and there wouldn't be any flights out until about 10:00, I was able to dine at the exclusive restaurant, Wendy's, having an amazing wilted lettuce salad and chili with hardly any beans. (that way one doesn't get a "gaseous" experience for one's flight) Ahhhh, how nice to sit with no interruptions, listening to the great sounds of the airport music and then, after eating, once again, listening to the great sounds of the top forty airport music as I leisurely read my book.

Well, they finally opened the airport and we got on our plane to Cleveland, Ohio. It was a great flight, of course, because being a celebrity, we got two pillows and a small blue square that they called a blanket. It was soft, though, and we got a bit of a rest.

When we were arriving into Cleveland, they announced that the motels and hotels in the area were pretty much booked up, and there was a worrisome moment there for a minute. (You see, our flight to Oklahoma wasn't going out until Sat. morning at 10:30 a.m., so we needed a place to sleep) But of course, as we got off the plane and they saw what celebrities we were, they ran quickly and got a cot for each one of us, and...get this....as MANY PILLOWS AS WE WANTED! I knew that we had arrived, also, when we were able to pick out our own blanket, from a neatly stacked pile----and yes, you guessed it,---it was those soft, small blue squares! Heaven!

We were told to pick any area at a certain Gate. I'm sure that they were concerned with fans interrupting us in the early hours of the morning and disturbing our sleep. I was lucky enough to find a space to tuck my cot away behind a tall giraffe, that was advertising some park in Cleveland. I laid down and realized that we were also going to get to listen to that lovely, piped-in top 40 airport music again, with those ever important public service announcements----ALL night! How thoughtful of them... And then, to keep us safe and just in case we were afraid of the dark, they left ALL the overhead flourescent lights on, ALL NIGHT LONG!

I know what you are thinking...such luxury you have never known, right? I know...and I am ashamed to say that I couldn't sleep very well----its hard sleeping in such grandeur, in such a large room, when one is used to a small dark room. So, I read for a while, listened to the music, chatted with a one of my band mates, and took a few cat naps.

After a great breakfast at one of the high end restaurants in the airport, we settled in and waited for our flight. It was truly amazing how the accommodations were so comfortable, that several of my band mates slept on, even as people were coming to get on their flights. Oh....and the paparazzi would have had a field day with those big guys sleeping on their cots, with their oh, so, smallish comfy blankets barely covering them. But, the airport did their job and kept the paparazzi away.

Our celebrity time wasn't up just yet. We got on our flight, had some tremendous pretzels, and tomato juice, then were able to take a quick nap in our luxurious coach seats before landing in Cleveland. We were met by Jimmy, our driver, got our luggage and away we went to the Marriot!

Sound check was next, but was done pretty quickly and we were able to relax in our sumptuous rooms bef0re the performance, which was held in a ballroom at the Convention Center adjacent to the Marriot. The room was filled with about 600 people----all dressed in black tie and formal gowns and so happy that we were able to be there and made it out of the Boston blizzard---they even had a special dressing room put up behind the stage using curtains, so we could have extra privacy.

After the show at 12:30 a.m., I went to my room, exhausted, but excited that I was going to get two hours of sleep in my luxurious Marriot bed before I had to get up at 3:00, get ready and be taken to the airport at 4:00 a.m.

Well, I must admit that the rest of the trip was a blur. I believe that we visited two more cities...or...rather...two more airports---you know how it is on these celebrity tours,----before we returned home to Boston. I know that I was able to sleep immediately on each and every flight home. I was an exhausted celebrity. I also think that all that star treatment left me a little tired, and it took me most of the week to recuperate.

Well......now.....all I can say about the weekend is....I now understand why those big celebrities have such a hard time getting rest.

It's hard work being a celebrity.

To Bathe Or Not To Bathe...

...or to shower or not to shower. Same difference.

As I was standing in the grocery line a few days ago, thinking about my evening ahead,---I was hosting a "Cooks Du Jour" night at my house (its a cooking class type church thing)----I noticed that an annoying smell kept permeating my thoughts. It wasn't exactly a "B O" smell, but more like the smell of unwashed hair and clothes that had been worn too many times without a good washing. I could have sworn that I could even tell what the couple (yes, they were standing behind me) had had for dinner the night before. It was there---I believe it was chinese or pork.



As I tried to turn the other way and breathe upwind of them, I started thinking about how many times a week that I am put into this situation and then that got me to wondering...

Are people not bathing or taking showers every day anymore?

Now, you have all read my pet peeves about the way society is not dressing up anymore and how it is so rare to see women look nice and wear makeup, but is it getting so bad that people don't have good hygiene either, anymore? I happen to think that if I don't take a shower every day-----at least----that I can HARDLY STAND myself, let alone anyone else having to stand being near me! This is even if I don't leave the house, people!! (well, there has been that day or two when I was really sick and stayed in bed, but that is about once every 5 years or so...)

And of course, it doesn't help that I happen to have the most acute sense of smell of anyone that I know. I can walk into the house and smell that there is something going bad in the fridge.... Really! I have been known to get on my hands and knees and smell the floor until I can find a pee spot from one of the four animals in my house. It will drive me crazy until I find it!

So, I guess that I happen to be more annoyed by this...ah....granola/grunge habit than the normal human being walking around. So, whats a girl to do? I try to smell good and keep my self clean and perfumed (only clean smells, though, can't stand those cloying over spicy matronly perfumes) and am not really surprised when people say to me, "Oh, you smell good!"

So, what do you think? Is it just my imagination or are we going back to our roots----you know, those pioneers who go for several months before they even take spit baths.

Let me know, because I need to prepare for the worst....