We're Gonna Party Like It's 1989....

I woke up this morning in a time warp.

It was 1989. I was 10 years old. And my favorite band was on TV.



Okay, so I'm fully aware that it's actually 2008, and I'm 29 -- not 10 (a quick check of my crow's feet in the mirror confirmed this). But for 25 minutes this morning, as I watched the New Kids on the Block make their comeback on the Today Show, it was like someone had simply stripped away the last 19 years (okay, the last 16 years . . . I admit that I loved them fully through 1992).



I had been moderately excited all week about seeing their comeback concert this morning, but I wasn't prepared for the tidal wave of nostalgia that hit me. I talked about this with my friend Reina, also a former diehard New Kids fan, and we decided that perhaps it's not so much about the band as it is about feeling like someone had handed out childhoods back to us. Seriously, I consider myself a pretty mature adult (well, 75 percent of the time, anyhow), but the old NKOTB butterflies were back in my stomach this morning as I sat three inches from the TV, clapping my hands together and drinking in every detail of the comeback show.

Let me just say right now . . . these guys are still HOT.



Alright, I know that all of you reading this who never succumbed to New Kids mania the first time around are probably giggling and thinking I'm insane. So let me just add a little fuel to the fire: I wasn't just a fan. I was OBSESSED.

Yep. There it is. The secret's out. I was the most devout of devout New Kids fans. I was the girl who who slept on New Kids sheets under New Kids curtains, took a New Kids sleeping bag to sleepovers, knew every word to every song, and passionately defended my favorite New Kid, Donnie, when he "allegedly" committed arson in the hallway of a Kentucky hotel or when he "allegedly" started an altercation aboard an airplane. (11-yr-old Kristin: "He was framed, I tell you! Framed!") I wore New Kids t-shirts, wrote Donnie's name on the soles of my shoes and even had an official New Kids on the Block peace sign necklace that I managed to pair with virtually every outfit.

But oh -- it gets worse. I'm originally from Massachusetts (home of the New Kids on the Block, might I add), and my whole extended family still lives up there. And as luck would have it, my grandparents actually lived mere blocks away from Donnie Wahlberg's house in Braintree. I felt like the luckiest kid in the world. I spent many a summer afternoon strolling casually back and forth in front of the big white house, hoping that he'd come outside and, although he was 21 years old to my 11 years, he would fall hopelessly and endlessly in love with me.

Shockingly, this never happened. I of course attribute this to the fact that he was never actually home at the time that I was doing my casual-seductive stroll. Had he been home, I have no doubt that it would have been love at first sight; we'd now be living happily ever after; and you'd all be addressing me as Kristin Wahlberg. (I kid, I kid.)

(Although, I should also add here that while strolling back and forth in front of the Wahlberg house, I did have the opportunity to talk to a teenaged Mark Wahlberg, before he was Marky Mark, and way before he became Mark Wahlberg Movie Star. Let us all drool for a moment....)



Okay. Yes, he's, like, the hottest human being on the planet. But still. I remain devoted to his big brother, Donnie. I didn't think I still felt that way. After all, by the time I was in high school, I was, of course, way too cool to admit ever having loved the New Kids. But 15 years later, let me stand up and say: "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh" (the most ingenious lyrics ever written, of course). Oh yes. They're back. And I still love 'em. Because it's kind of nice to be 10 years old again, crushing anew on the boy (man?) I first fell in love with 19 years ago.


Donnie Wahlberg. Yesterday. Today. Forever.

*Sigh*

* Please note that the preceding entry is laced with just a little bit of exaggeration when it comes to my current New Kids feelings (although sadly, no exaggeration went into the descriptions of my past obsessive actions)... But really. It was great to see them again, and you'd better believe I'll be at one of their concerts this fall. In the meantime, please feel free to address me as Mrs. Wahlberg. And if you know Donnie, please tell him that his wife-to-be is waiting. He'll recognize me by the NKOTB peace sign hanging from my neck.

Top Chef Ten AND ANOTHER WINNER!

(that's the grey tailed tattler...echem)

Wooohooooo…NIKKI’S NOT HERE!!!

Why we gotta see Spike without a shirt on all the time. And referring to people as “a little bitch.” It’s so exactly how it is in the real world where someone like Dale is getting a bad rap (or maybe it’s just Spike who thinks so) and people like Spike and Lisa (who are the actual villains) kind of just slide-ish.

And I’m liking Andrew. He just is. Passionate and just himself. I’m pulling for him.

QUICKFIRE
• Ugh Sam from Season 2. I just never saw it. Feh. Sure, the tall thing is good, but he’s just…he smacks of a narcissusian level of vanity.
• Bring back salad. Sam says to bring the Sexy Back…into salad. Really?
• Spike wants you to scream “let’s have sex after we eat this salad.” That could only happen if Spike would then present me with someone other than himself.
• Ugh. Lisa. She’s talking. I honestly can’t even listen to her any more.
• I totally have that Outkast song – So Fresh and So Clean stuck in my head right now.

• Sam’s Choice for bottom:
• Richard
• Stephanie
Lisa (maybe I do like Sam?)

• Sam’s Top:
• Spike (Ugh…maybe not)
• Antonia
• Dale (okay…I do like Sam)

• WINNER OF QUICKFIRE: SPIKE (ridiculous)

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE

• Padma and Sam bring out a bunch of fast food.
• Challenge is to make gourmet boxed lunches
• Whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and veggie
• Serve to the men and women of the Chicago P.D.
• Spike gets 10 minute headstart on shopping and choose one ingredient from each food group that only he can use.
• I’m getting a bad feeling about Andrew…I just am.
• Spike chooses: chicken salad - chicken, bread, tomatoes and lettuce
• So – no one can cook with those four things.
• Lisa orders chicken. Echem. Yeah, she then puts it back.
• They have two hours to cook.
• The P.D. has to assemble/microwave it themselves.
• Andrew’s doing sushi? For Chicago P.D.? really?
• Dale is doing cabbage cups…I lurve those.
• Lisa is doing a shrimp, veggie thing. –Andrew says that shrimp has a lot of cholesterol, to which Lisa goes on a rant about how just because your dish was soooo good one time the judges had to “find something bad about it” by saying that you didn’t follow the rules. Is this where she didn’t use Polish Sausage in the Polish Sausage challenge?!?! Wow, she’s really deluded.
• Stephanie is doing a meatball soup thing…sounds cuddly.
• Richard is doing a burrito thing –
• Someone cranks Lisa’s rice all the way to high…dude, if Spike did that? I love he now.
• Stephanie’s theory is that Lisa made it up – that she fucked it up. I agree.
• Spike drops his knives like nine times on the way out.
SERVICE
• The cops start streaming in – and the chefs explain what they have.
• “Question of the Day” – Richard. God, his dorkiness is endearing. Spike says cheesy…and yeah, I can see it. But…genuine.
• Antonia is fast becoming my favorite...she personable and lovely.
• Stephanie’s soup is going over well…uh..there are some cute cops in Chicago, though right?
• Spike’s salad – Padma calls it pedestrian. Woops. It’s not going over well.,
• Dale’s bison cabbage wrap – it’s going over well with the cops…Ted Allen thinks it could use some spice…but, it went over well.
• Antonia’s fillet and jasmine is doing well – the judges like it, well cooked and tender.
• Andrew’s take on a maki roll – he’s over talking to Ted…god love him. The cops are a little sketch…but adorable. Woops…it’s not good. The judges…yeesh.
• Richard fronts Sam with the Do You Like Burritos question...Sam’s all…uh, yeah? It’s going over well.
• Lisa did her stir fry – spicy…like for spicy’s sake, right? Feh.
• Dale is genuinely nervous because there’s not a clear winner/loser

JUDGES TABLE
• Lisa and the rice…ugh.
• Dale and Stephanie are called in!!!
• TOP TWO!!! I love it!!!
• Dale and the leaner bison was a smart choice.
• Stephanie and her soup with barley…
• Seasoning was right on.
• SAM CHOOSES – DALE!!!!
• Dale wins a bottle of Merlot…two tickets to the Napa winery.
• Adorable.
• Spike, Lisa and Andrew go in for the losers…
• This is going to get uglyyyyyyy.
• Andrew’s dish is called out for being not substantial enough…he’s really good about explaining. Aw, man. I feel bad for him. He’s not doing well – he’s panicking and…Tom said, “How about serving us something’s that was good.” Wooooops. (I LOVE HE)
• Spike and his chicken salad… Sam calls him out on picking items not based on what he wanted, but taking them away from the others.
• Lisa…Padma asks why she’s there…she’s all…you asked me here, you tell me. Tom’s all…well, here’s why. Lisa talks about her rice…the judges aren’t buying it. Tom points out that the shrimp sucked. Rice? Shrimp sucks.
• Anything else? Lisa pipes in – Andrew didn’t use a grain. He’s just not doing well. He can’t handle this level of pressure. Lisa’s scared she’s going to get punched…by a legion of people, I assure you.
• Andrew goes kinda nuts, but, Lisa would do that…Andrew is reacting as anyone would.
• The Judges talk about:
• Lisa’s bad shrimp and just being shitty.
• Spike’s pedestrian chicken salad that was just about fucking with the other chefs.
• Andrew’s weird sushi was whatever.
• Dale in the middle of Andrew and Lisa fighting is hilarious.
• Lisa really chose the wrong person to fuck with. Man. Andrew is going ballistic. He’s right though…he’s saying that what she did was shitty and that she has to live with her decision and that she just needs to take care of her shit and stop tattling on people.
• I’m with Andrew…and I fear he’s totally getting kicked off.
• Ugh.
• Andrew – hit the mark on the nutrition, but needs to bridge from the other food to nutritional more.
• Spike – unimaginative and shitty
• Lisa – you’re a whiner and your stir fry wasn’t a stir fry – it was bad shrimp and steamed veggies.
• PACK YOUR KNIVES – ANDREW
• Fuck.
• He’s really cool about it…ugh…that sucks.
• Spike and Andrew confess their love for each other…kinda cute.
• Man…Lisa is still here and NOT ANDREW?!?!
• That’s…that’s just wrong.

*****

Okay - so we never got an address from the last winner so, we're picking another one!



MUFFY!!!!

(Okay...so Muffy? Email your mailing address to Megan (megan@megancrane.com) and she'll get the signed Certain Girls to you!)

Ryan?!?! From Top Chef?!?!

So, in the comments of the Top Chef roundup, Jeanie Beanie left an ATOM BOMB.



RIGHT?!?!?!

Here is our email exchange when the picture of our favorite, and by favorite I mean kinda annoying, yet earnest, Top Chef was revealed.

Jeanie: Here's that pic you couldn't see. =)

Me: Are you fucking kidding me?!?!?!
Dude, he's way hotter in that picture...he needs to not open his mouth...ever.
What the?!?!?
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Jeanie: Right? He comes across so clueless on Top Chef but OMG he is so hot in person! He spoke for about an hour (I missed the first 15 minutes) and all the girlies were swooning in the audience, including me. My fiance was rolling his eyes the whole time. Ryan was really nice too despite what all his haters are saying about him online. He would've let me take a million pics with him and still been nice about it.
****

This is awesome. Thank you so much Jeanie!!!!

***Oh! And Gina 227! Please email Megan with your address - we'll give it a week and then choose another winner....onward!!!

Top Chef Nine and The Winner is Announced!

Ha! It took an embarrassingly long time, but...LOOK! Pictures!


The Dodger cap with all the fabulous names!


My grubby little mitt searching for a winner!


And there it is! A weirdo, zoom lens-ish paparazzi shot of Gina's name!

*****
And we're off...

QUICKFIRE• No more immunity
• Team One – Andrew, Antonia, Richard and Stephanie
• Team Two – Nikki, Spike, Lisa and Dale
• RELAY RACE – 1) peel/cut oranges, 2) clean/turn artichokes, 3) clean mung fish/make two fillets, 4) make one quart of mayonnaise
• Ummm….I love Dale. “Why are you still here?” to Nikki.
• Lisa vs Antonia with the oranges – Lisa wins…by a lot. Ugh.
• Spike vs. Andrew with the artichokes (insert “choke” joke here) – Spike gets huge head start, Andrew employs a peeler, Spike breaks the second artichoke – ANDREW WINS, no more lead.
• Dale vs. Richard with the mung fish…this is nasty, by the way…BOTH GOOD/EVEN
• Nikki vs. Stephanie with the mayonnaise – of course, Nikki had a thousand excuses, Stephanie is stirring, stirring, stirring - STEPHANIE WINS!!!
• Team One wins!!!
• Dale does the FUCK thing – Lisa says, “Dale doesn’t like losing.” And everyone kind of freaks out about it…feh, you know? If Spike could peel an artichoke, we wouldn’t have a problem.

COMMERCIAL BREAK –
• That Prince Caspian movie looks awesome! So, I was at Iron Man over the weekend and my niece was looking at the Prince Caspian poster, turns to me and says, “Three letters. H. O. T.” It was one of those moments where you think…you are so cool, little girl. I know we’re related and I remember when you were born and everything…but, you are one smooth kid.
• Fish Eye Wine…really? When did that name sound like a good idea?

ELIMINATION CHALLENGE• Winning team will get advantage.
• Restaurant Wars? Yeah, we’re not doing that.
• This couple come in – Corey and JP – they’re getting married tomorrow…
• Restaurant Wars becomes Wedding Wars
• 125 guests each - one team caters to Corey’s taste the other team to JP
• Winning Team chooses – Bride
• Losing Team – Groom
• Spike opines about the plight of the bride and how the winning team chose poorly because all women dream about this day their entire lives. Sigh.
• Total Budget - $5,000
• Work through the night…they’ve set up cots…awesome
• Andrew apparently has a “culinary boner”…wow, that’s incredibly a) awkward b) kind of gross c) confusing – is it like...you know, I don't want to know.

THE CHALLENGE• JP likes Italian
• Corey is southern
• The teams govern themselves accordingly.
• Team One (Richard, Andrew, Antonia and Stephanie) Team Two (Nikki, Spike, Dale and Lisa) is…ugh…listening to Nikki. Really? Dale is…crushed.
• Nikki starts bad mouthing Dale…really? Spike is really banking on Nikki…I just…has Spike been here for this competition? I mean – has he SEEN Nikki be in this specific competition?
• Richard/Andrew have to pick out flowers…they are lacking, to say the least.
• Team Two – Lisa is doing the groom’s cake, Nikki is doing pasta, Dale is doing all the protein and Spike is grilling the veggies.
• Team One – Antonia is doing the appies, Andrew/Richard are doing the protein and Stephanie is doing the bride’s cake (chocolate/lemon)…mmmm.
• Team Two is quickly realizing that Nikki is an idiot…Dale is literally banging his head against the wall. It's so amazing how quickly Spike decides to just cover his own ass.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

• Ooh, it’s Jack Ryan weekend….I swear I could watch The Hunt for Red October over and over and over again….’I would have liked to have seen Montana…”
• Ugh, God…PS I Love You…horrible movie. Just…bad. “I’m trouble.” --Hilary Swank. Really? I mean, at what point does someone step in and say, “You know what…I just don’t think people talk like that…I’m trouble? Really? I mean, do you know anyone who’s ever said that? Have you yourself ever said that…and not like while monologuing to yourself about what you SHOULD have said…that one time? No? Yeah…me either.”

BACK TO THE CHALLENGE• Time passes…
• Now Andrew thinks he is Popeye’s Wet Dream with all his spinach…well, thank god you have a ‘culinary boner’ – because THAT would have been awkward.
• Team Two starts eating their young – Spike thinks Dale is fucking up, so he grabs the sea bass and does it, that way he can be all…uh, I have the bass, so my name's Paul and it's between yo'all.
• Nikki is “lingering” on the pasta.
• Nikki wants to know what Dale’s doing – but when anyone asks Nikki for advice she’s all “I don’t know” and now she’s saying (talking shit) about how Dale’s not a team player and what is that exactly? Doing what she says when she doesn’t know what the answer is? So, how does one do that??
• Lack of sleep – Andrew quiets down apparently. Cute. Antonia mean mugs…Lisa. Nice.
• Ugh – I’m annoyed. Tom comes in – contestants clearly exhausted….Italian easy…I love Tom. He said Lisa took the easy way out because she said the groom wanted his cake to look rustic or whatever, Tom then says, I don’t think he meant ugly. Southern is hard because it’s so simple – and it has to be done right.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

• ExtenZe? Really? Male enhancement…hmmm. I just…I just don’t think it’s “real science” like they assert…in a sport drink? This is a bad SNL skit.

BACK TO THE CHALLENGE – THE WEDDING• Everyone’s on edge - haven’t slept in over a day…
• Judges – TOM, GAYLE and GALE GAND of TRU restaurant…pastry chef.
• Wow, this is someone’s wedding. They’re really getting married…on Top Chef.
• Stephanie’s cake looks pretty good…Richard is getting nervous and Antonia’s not having any of it…she’s all, ‘sniff’
• Wait…what was that Bride’s quote? Rewind Tivo “I used to say all the time that I just wish that he loved me the way that I love him and then one day he did.” Wait…what? Uh…kind of depressing?
• Appies go out – looks good – pulled pork, flat breads, bruschetta…
• Dinner starts – buffet…
• Team One smartly decides to keep Andrew in the back. I. Love. Them.
• Nikki is apparently the only contestant that has been up all night…oh wait.
• Dale is in back – because, quite frankly, he’s surly.
• I’m liking Richard – he’s just positive, you know? Just in it to win it…and not getting weird with anyone, just getting the job done.
• Team One – Andrew’s dish goes down (as his team said it would…never make a crispy anything at a buffet – it won’t stay crispy)
• Team Two – the groom walks through and Nikki tells him that she won’t be offended if he doesn’t take anything. Uh…what?
• Oooh, snap – pasta is too sweet, the ragu that Dale did that Nikki bagged on – yeah, they liked it.
• The Cakes – Stephanie…adorable. Way prettier. Groom’s cake…feh. Looks like a mudpie. Pretty? Everybody was like wow? Really, Lisa? Delusional.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
• So, this Oust commercial. You know, it’s not often that you see sexism at work – in that really scary way…but this commercial is perfect. Dad with a baby, he changes the diaper and tosses the dirty diaper into the bin – it misses. He walks out. The Mom, making that ‘boys will be boys’ face, puts the diaper all the way in the bin and then sprays the Oust everywhere, then joins the Dad and Baby in the living room, where he’s watching a game. Really? Would you ever just toss a dirty diaper into a bin and not check if it actually made it in? Knowing that someone was going to clean up after you? I mean, really? Can you imagine? Yeah, that tea bag? It’s just there on the floor…I missed the bin, honey. I just knew you’d be by to pick it up, so I said…fuck it.

JUDGES TABLE
• Lots of yawning.
• Spike gives it up to the “ladies that made cakes.” Ugh.
• Up First - Bride’s Team – the favorite
• Why the Bride, they ask. Richard says it was his choice. It’s the ‘bride’s day.’
• Tom calls Andrew on the chicken (from the kid challenge) and says the spinach was gross…Richard says the star anise was his idea…and Andrew’s all, “yeah, it sucked.” Richard makes a face.
• Gayle – wedding cake? Everyone’s impressed with Stephanie…yayyyy! She’s back!
• WINNER – RICHARD
• Gives it to Stephanie…adorable. She gets a gift certificate to Crate and Barrel.
• Yeah…I like that Richard.
• Groom’s Team – loser
• This is going to be bad….I just…ugh…
• Lisa has that fucked up look on her face…
• Tom asks who drove the bus – Nikki is all, “definitely not me.” Loser.
• Cake? Lisa is all…the cake is supposed to be ugly. Tom’s all…then you succeeded.
• Wow…they’re getting ripped apart. All of them.
• Nikki…I will cut Nikki with Andrew’s culinary boner.
• This is where the only sane person sounds crazy – you know? Spike and Nikki are talking to Dale like he’s crazy…”you should have liked it, it took him three hours to make it.” Dale, about Spike’s fish dish…
• Spike had one fish dish…that’s it. Veggies, too…but not well.
• Dale – did bulk of the work – he should have edited.
• Nikki – a major disappointment.
• Nikki tries to convince Dale not to point fingers…uh, yeah…when you’re the loser and you want everyone to take the blame…right? Ugh…she’s ridiculous. Over. Her. Please…please…let it be her. I mean, I’ll even take Spike another week to get rid of her trifling ass.

THE VERDICT
• Dale – did the bulk of the work, but it wasn’t good.
• Nikki – most experience, but did nothing.
• Spike – lazy
• NIKKI PACK YOUR KNIVES!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
• Next week – Dude…they all go cuh-razy.

THE GIVEAWAY!!!

I put all the slips of paper into a LA Dodger hat - I couldn't bring myself to handle a fedora (ugh)...

I took pictures of me actually doing it, but my whole computer is doing its little 'you're three weeks away from deadline, so I'm going to act crazy' thing.

THE WINNER - GINA 227

Thank you so much to everyone for de-lurking and putting your name in...Gina - can you email your address to Megan (megan@megancrane.com) with your address?

Wooohoooooooo! The ousting of Nikki and free autographed books! Not a bad day.

Hilarity With Haikus

So I was just scanning People.com when I noticed this hilarious post about John Mayer and his new feathered '80s haircut. If you read his blog, you may have spotted his May 1 announcement that he's taking his hair '80s style, a la Michael J. Fox, Shaun Cassidy, and yes, Mary Lou Retton. And if you've seen pics of Mayer in the last few days, you may have noticed that he does indeed look very, um . . . feathered. Well, in a recent interview with a People reporter, he issued a challenge: to write a haiku about his hair. The response on People.com has been astounding. Who knew there were so many poets out there just waiting to be inspired by a feathered 'do?

So here's my challenge (because I happen to think that John Mayer is a musical genius with a dreadfully amusing sense of humor): Let's see what kind of haiku we can come up with! We're writers! We're readers! We appreciate powerful words! So check out the new 'do and let's see what kind of haiku you feel inspired to write.

Is this not the most creative way to goof off when I'm on deadline for a novel, by the way? My haiku is coming. I promise. I just need to visualize the feathered layers a little longer....



And by the way, Dictionary.com defines a haiku as "a major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons."

Monday Music, Why Avril Lavigne can Suck It, Iron Man and GiveAway News

This weekend was supposed to be the all Avril Lavigne weekend. I bought one set of tickets for one niece on May 3rd and another set for the other on the 4th. I was looking forward to it in this abstract, this is hilarious kind of way - just because it's so bananas - two nights of Avril Lavigne. I figured I'd have Girlfriend stuck in my head for years...

We arrive at the Honda Center - little girls dressed in their best and brightest...and are told that the show is canceled. I can't begin to tell you how disappointed we were. It's one thing as an adult to have a concert canceled, but imagine being twelve or thirteen...just heartbreaking. And I just...I mean, wasn't it last week that Kenny Chesney went on with the show even after breaking his foot? Yeah...Avril? You can suck it. Little girlies had been dropped off and were now frantically trying to call their parents...I mean, what a freaking nightmare.

I'm officially boycotting everything Avril - not that I'm a fan or anything, but I have been known to download the theme to Eragon every now and again...no more, Avril. You have been officially banished.

We salvaged the night by taking the girlies to see Iron Man - and it was...AWESOME. Highly recommended. I love me some Robert Downey, Jr. And wait until the end (after the credits)...just sayin.

The big Jennifer Weiner GiveAway is going to be announced Thursday - so, get in your names before then - just put your name and favorite Jennifer Weiner book in the comments section of the Giveaway post.

And for Monday Music - I was sitting at the Hard Rock Cafe today - with the second niece, after the second canceled Avril Lavigne show - and this song/video came on over the loud speaker. And I do mean - loud. If you've never been in a Hard Rock Cafe - the music is crazy loud...just how I like it. They had the hits rollin' too - Stronger by Kanye, Shout by Tears for Fears, Everything's Changing by Keane and this one.

Ben...Ben...sigh.

Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body


Have a great week!

Jennifer Weiner? Give Away? Can it be?!?!

Megan and I ventured out this breezy Thursday night to see Jennifer Weiner read from her long-awaited sequel to Good in Bed: Certain Girls.

I've seen Jennifer Weiner speak several times - I've been a fan of her and her work for years (who hasn't?)...

What I love is that even with 9 million copies of her books floating around the world - and that's not an exaggeration, by the way, 9 million actual copies, not hyperbole - she's just this amazing person who still remembers your name, tells stories about Rock of Love and agrees to take lame pictures with you: Exhibit A.


(I don't know why we're hovering over the poor woman like that)

We also met up with the ridiculously cool and talented Julie Buxbaum who was there as well. So, of course we had to rope her into a picture. We lured her in with a Dennis Lehane story...as you do.


It was one of those nights - perfect Santa Monica weather and a great crowd.

So we thought we'd spread the wealth.

We got an extra signed Certain Girls! Who wants it?

How about you leave your favorite Jennifer Weiner book in the comments, we'll throw your names into a hat (Fedora, perchance?) and pick a lucky winner!!!

Missing a Dear Friend on His Birthday

I know I hardly ever pop up on here anymore, and for that, I’m sorry! It’s no excuse, but I’m writing like a maniac every day now; I have a first draft deadline for my next book on May 15, and I have so much more writing to do between now and then.

But I had to stop in briefly today for a quick post. Today is the birthday of my best friend from childhood, Jay Cash. We’re just three days apart in age – he was born on May 1, and I was born on May 4 – and we lived two doors down from each other from the age of 2 to the age of 10. And for those eight years of my life, we were inseparable. We obsessed over the same things (Superman, Spiderman, the Transformers, songs from the musical “Annie,” break-dancing). We spent a year in our Superman capes attempting to fly (it didn’t work). We built snowmen and igloos and pelted each other with snowballs. We played house (for me) and had “sword fights” with big sticks (for him). We played freeze tag and four-square like pros. We learned to do everything together. And even after I moved to Florida at age 10, Jay and I kept in touch. Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, we continued to write each other letters and talk on the phone all the time. We still turned to each other for advice. I loved him and trusted him completely. We were making plans to visit each other sometime soon.

And then, late one night in October 2003, he was driving home and lost control of his car around a curve. They say it happened quickly. I hope that it was fast enough that he didn’t have a chance to feel scared or experience pain. But his car hit a utility pole, and he died alone that night by the side of the road.

I miss him every day, but it’s particularly hard each year on his birthday (especially since we always celebrated together!), and of course on the anniversary of his death. I think of him often, and I have so many regrets – regrets that I too often took our friendship for granted, that I didn’t tell him often enough how much I cared, that I always assumed there would be a tomorrow. I should have flown out to see him when I had the chance. I should have talked to him more. I should have done a better job being there for him during tough times. I shouldn’t have relegated him to the back burner when I had other things going on in my life. I shouldn’t have let months pass sometimes without talking to him, knowing that we could pick up exactly where we left off. I shouldn’t have let so many opportunities slip away.

So in Jay’s honor, reach out today to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, an old friend who means something to you. Or say “I love you” to someone who doesn’t hear it often enough. And don’t forget how lucky we are to still be living each day of our lives. My birthday’s on Sunday, and I know I’m supposed to be complaining about getting old. But losing Jay puts it in perspective. I realize how lucky I am to be turning another year older when he never had a chance to make it past 24. Every new year is a gift, I think, and I’ll do my best to live my life in a way that would have made him proud.


Jay and me in our matching Superman shirts when we were kids