The Pink Heart Society

I'm a guest blogger today at the The Pink Heart Society. Please drop by and check out my story about getting "The Call."

Another hightlight today is the return of my favorite TV show, Men in Trees. After a nearly three-month hiatus, Elmo is back and I am one happy tree hugger :)

Lee

Tuesday News—Oscar Chatter, etc.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Academy Awards on Sunday, even though my top picks didn’t win. I was pleased that slightly offbeat newcomer Diablo Cody won for Best Screenplay for Juno.

And although I already liked Katherine Heigl and Anne Hathaway, I’m now completely infatuated with both of them. They’re talented and quite possibly the two most gorgeous people on the planet. Both looked absolutely stunning on Oscar night, but I also get the sense that both are grounded and genuinely nice people. And anyone who disses Katherine Heigl for looking like Marilyn Monroe is simply jealous :)

Speaking of Katherine Heigl, I recently read that the Grey’s Anatomy set has banned plastic bottles. Instead, every member of the cast and crew uses a refillable thermos. Not just eco-friendly, but probably healthier too.

And on the subjects of grounded people and going green, Newman's Own, the food company started by Paul Newman, is launching Newman's Own Wines next month. In partnership with Rebel Wine Co., they’ll be selling two organic California wines—a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon. According to the company's website, "Paul Newman has given over $200 million to thousands of charities worldwide since 1982." Very impressive.

Cheers!
Lee

Sunday Fun—It’s Oscar Night!

No need to guess where I’ll be tonight. You’ll find me curled up in front of the TV with a blanket and bowl of popcorn.

I tend to wait to see films when they’re on DVD so I haven’t seen many of tonight’s nominees. In a way it makes the show more fun to watch because I haven’t already picked my favorites. At least not many. Although I haven’t yet seen Juno, I’m rooting for Ellen Page as Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Juno has been nominated for four awards this year. Apparently it’s one of those films that has achieved critical acclaim even though it was produced on a low (by Hollywood standards) budget, so I hope it does well.

In the Best Actor in a Leading Role category, I have five favorites. George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee Jones or Viggo Mortensen—oh my.

I’ll also be rooting for Sarah Polley, nominated for Best Writing in a Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, for the film Away from Her, based on Alice Munro’s short story "The Bear Came Over the Mountain.”

Serious stuff aside, I think Jon Stewart will make a great host. And I also plan to take in the pre-Oscar red carpet show for the proverbial question: Who are you wearing?

Next week I’ll follow up with the gals at Go Fug Yourself, whose irreverent, sometimes scathing and always hilarious comments address that other question: What were you thinking?

And I’ll start a new list of must-see DVDs, starting with Juno and Away from Her, of course.

Lee

Total Lunar Eclipse

The weather here in the Pacific Northwest cooperated last night, giving us a perfect view of the lunar eclipse as the moon rose in the early evening sky. Totality began around 7 pm and lasted nearly an hour. During that time we were treated to a reddish-brown moon that appeared much closer and more three-dimensional than it usually does.

We tried to take photos but as it turns out, we have neither the skill nor the right equipment for that kind of photography. If I find some great photos that were taken in my area, I’ll post them, or a link to them, later today.

Meanwhile, NASA’s website has a great diagram that explains how the eclipse took place, and everything else we might want to know about lunar eclipses. Can you tell I’m a bit of a science geek?

Lee

Trish Milburn and the American Title IV Contest!

Trish Milburn has made it to the final round of the American Title contest! That means it’s down to her and one other contestant, and the winner’s book will be published by Dorcheter Publishing.

This is it! To help Trish get her fabulous story in print, your votes are more important than ever! Click here to read the romantic scenes in this round, then vote for Trish by sending a blank email to votes@romantictimes.com with OUT OF SIGHT in the subject header. Only one vote person, so be sure have your family and friends to vote, too!

Voting ends March 2, so please vote now!

The winner will be announced on Friday, April 18, 2008 during the Awards Luncheon at the RT Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh! On April 21, 2008, the winner's name will be posted at www.romantictimes.com.

Good luck, Trish!

Lee

Tuesday News—Back to Blogging

I have been neglecting this blog lately, partly because I haven’t had much to blog about and partly because I haven’t been up to blogging. In early January I had major surgery and most of my energy has gone into recuperating. According to my doctors, I should start to feel like my old self by the end of March. It’s been a long haul and I can hardly wait to get back to normal, but I think it’s time to start blogging again, at least occasionally.

While I was recovering it would have been great to be watching my favorite TV shows. That wasn’t to be but, now that the strike is over, some shows are back in production and we’ll be seeing new episodes by early April. Here’s what I’m looking forward to:

30 Rock - back April 10 with five episodes
Brothers and Sisters - five more episodes
Gossip Girl - five or six more episodes; should begin airing in April
Grey’s Anatomy - back in mid April with four or five new episodes
Men in Trees - eleven unaired episodes; begins February 27
NUMB3RS - back on April 4 with six episodes
October Road - two episodes left
Samantha Who? - not sure, but possibly six more episodes to air
The Office - back in production; six new episodes will begin April 10

I'll be back soon. I promise!

Lee