On Sunday evenings I like to veg. It’s a night for curling up with the cats to watch guilt-free TV. I might throw in a small load of laundry or do a little ironing, but the focus is on relaxation and any chores that get done are done in front of the tube or during commercials. My TV watching line up for Sunday evenings is usually 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race, and Cold Case. It’s a CBS love-fest. Lately, though, I’ve made some changes. 60 Minutes has been replaced by The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Cold Case by Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. It’s this last substitution that has me worried.
I have no idea why I got hooked on Celebrity Apprentice. It caught me in a weak moment and appeals to my baser side, kind of like junk food. Until this season I’d never seen the show, celebrity version or otherwise, but a few weeks ago a trailer showing Dennis Rodman having a melt down caught my eye and drew me in like an innocent bunny lured to the stew pot by a demented, jilted lover.
Okay, Dennis Rodman is now off the show. I’m still watching it. See the problem here?
The celebrities on the show are from all walks of celebrity-dom. There are singers, comedians, actors, athletes, etc. You name it, they’ve got it. After following the show for a few weeks, I’ve decided the purpose of the show is to shell-shock people suffering from celebrity-itis back to reality. You see, this show doesn’t bring out the good in these people, who make more money than God, it brings out the bad, shines a spot light on it, and encourages it to tap-dance. It’s like Survivor, but with a better wardrobe. And like Survivor, it celebrates back-biting, lying, and poor sportsmanship. (Okay, okay - yes, I watch Suvivor - guilty!)
After watching a few shows of Celebrity Apprentice, I’ve decided that Melissa Rivers is a whiney brat who needs several long time outs and that her mother, Joan Rivers, needs a reality check about her daughter’s behavior. Joan, can we talk? Neither am I a fan of two-faced poker queen Annie Duke or bull-headed Clint Black. Khloe Kardashian is lazy and needs a real life, not a reality show. Dennis Rodman needs AA, but who didn’t already know that? These people were better off when they weren’t so up close and personal.
But all is not lost. I’ve given Hershel Walker and Jesse James gold stars. Please don’t disappoint me, gentlemen.
Hmmm, rant and roll - is that like lock 'n load?
The LA Times Festival of Books was, as always, a great event. I met many faithful readers of my Odelia Grey series and had the opportunity to introduce it to many new readers. Both the Sisters In Crime Mystery Book Store booths were hard working and a fun time. A big THANK YOU to both organizations.
It's the last weekend in April and to a writer in California that means only one thing - the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! 
Last night I sat down and watched the clip on You Tube of Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent. This clip has already received over 10 million (yes, 10 MILLION) hits. I'm a little late to the party having had to finish book edits and bathe a cat, but I finally made time to see what all the hullabaloo was about.
This morning I did something I only do once a year - I gave B a B-A-T-H.
This year though, I tried something different with better success. After shampooing her in the large kitchen sink, amidst loud, heartbreaking yowls sure to wake my neighbors, I wrapped her in a towel and transported her to the bathroom. There I shut the door, and the other cat out, and went to work on her with towels and a hair dryer. I didn't succeed in getting her dry but at least she wasn't sopping wet when she escaped and dashed under the bed, where I'm sure she'll stay for the next 24 hours.
Tonight I watched the HBO original movie Grey Gardens. I'd been intrigued by the trailer for a couple of weeks and am happy to say it did not disappoint. In fact, I was totally engrossed for the entire 2 hours.
I'm home sick today. I was home sick yesterday. Except for feeling tired and having a twinge of a headache, I went to bed Wednesday night feeling fine. After all, my taxes were done and mailed, Corpse on the Cob was finished, and three big projects at work were under control. However, I woke up in the middle of the night not so fine and spent 20-30 minutes hanging my head over the toilet. I thought it was food poisoning, by my own hand no less, but as fever and chills set in and my headache erupted like a volcano, I had to give in to the fact that I had a bug.
I bet you think I'm referring to my taxes, huh? Nope, not this year. My taxes were done in March. Yes, I was actually early for a change.
Yesterday morning I received a phone call from a producer who has been looking at optioning my books. That's all I can tell you for now.
This morning was a tough one for me. I had to cancel my plans to attend the Malice Domestic conference in a few weeks. In light of the layoffs at work and the overall economy, I decided it best not to let loose with unnecessary funds or vacation time right now. I need for my life and the world in general to stabilize a bit.
Recently I reported that so far no one has been laid off at my firm. That's no longer true. Since my post of just a few days ago, we've lost two attorneys and three staff members.
