Magazine-palooza

I subscribe to four magazines: Newsweek, National Geographic, Shape, and Self. When I'm going to be on an airplane, I treat myself to an airport-purchased copy of Lucky and/or Allure. Magazines are my guilty pleasure--their bite-size columns give me the ability to stop and start without losing my train of thought, as sometimes happens when I'm reading a book.

I hit the magazine jackpot at Thanksgiving, though--my sister-in-law handed me a stack of magazines she'd read on the flight from Minnesota to Colorado so I could read them on my flight home to Boston. I devoured Entertainment Weekly and US Weekly (which made me glad not to have paparazzi following me, hoping to get a shot of me tripping over a curb or with something stuck in my teeth.) But the most guilty pleasure of all was the "Sexiest Man" issue of People. Matt Damon was this year's winner. Kudos to the mag for making an out-of-the-box choice!



I was also glad to see Peter Krause and Seth Gabel from my newest fave TV show, Dirty Sexy Money. I'd be tempted to subscribe and feed my addiction, but I doubt that with all those magazines floating around my house, I'd ever get my writing done.

Normally I recycle my magazines, but when I finished this batch, I left them scattered in different seat backs so people on the next flight could do some guilty pleasure reading while airborne.

So what about you? What magazines are your guilty pleasures? And what do you do with them when you're done reading?


*** And a P.S. to today's blog, for those of you who do your guilty pleasure reading on the web: I'm featured today in author Cynthia Leitich Smith's popular blog, Cynsations. Thanks to Cyn for giving me the chance to chat about the creation of Goddess Games! ***

Writing Emergency

I was scanning the shelves at Target (again) today, hoping they'd received a new shipment of Diet Cherry Coke. Just as I was about to give up, the Coke Man (in a spiffy red polo with the Coca-Cola logo) showed up to restock. I asked about the Diet Cherry Coke, and he informed me that it is, in fact, a seasonal item and no longer being stocked. Ditto the Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper.

I think this constitutes a writing emergency. How is it possible that I've never noticed this before? I wrote all through last winter with a fridge full of Diet Cherry Coke! Were my local stores stocking old soda or something?

I'd lobby Coke for a change, but if ever a company was too big to listen to one squawking author, Coke is it. If anyone has a Diet Cherry Coke source, let me know. I'm finishing up a new proposal, and it calls for Diet Cherry Coke fuel. There's an autographed book in it for you if your suggestion works!

In other emergency news, the Sox had better step it up tonight. Otherwise, my dream of seeing my two favorite teams in the World Series--the Red Sox in the A.L. and the Rockies in the N.L.--is over. (Paging Josh Beckett...tonight would be a great time to pull off a no-hitter!)



Red Sox Nation should quit listening to the pessimists on WEEI 850 and let Manny be Manny and say whatever he wants; a lot of baseball is a mind game, and comments like Manny's are expected. (Come on, does anyone really think Manny's given up? I don't.) What matters is rocking tonight's game at Jacobs Field, not what anyone says or does off the field.

I'm planning to TiVO both Survivor and Ugly Betty so I don't miss a single pitch of tonight's game. Let's go, Sox! I'll be nursing my VERY LAST Diet Cherry Coke while I watch.

New Fall TV Shows

The fall season is here! I'm looking forward to my faves: Survivor, 30 Rock, Boston Legal, and Ugly Betty. I usually check out at least a few of the new shows, too.

Here's what I've seen so far:

Survivor: So far, so good. But I have to wonder if they intentionally chose contestants who've never watched prior seasons? Tip for those who are considering being contestants: Don't wear high heels, wispy tops, or heavy denim once you leave home, because you never know when the game's going to start.

The Big Bang Theory: Eh. The actors are doing the best they can, but the script hits the nerd jokes way too hard.

Journeyman: Heard buzz about this, so decided to tune in and check it out. Wow, wow, wow! LOVED the first episode. Great writing, great acting, and a storyline that's like Quantum Leap in high gear. Very excited to see more of this one...highly recommended!

Then there are the new shows I'll be checking out:

Cane: Starts tonight, and I soooo hope it lives up to the hype. The storyline (a drama about the contentious Duque family, who own a rum/sugar operation) sounds fabulous. Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo, Rita Moreno, and Nestor Carbonell star.

Dirty Sexy Money: Again, I'm hearing a lot of buzz, so I'll check this out. (Frankly, I'd watch Donald Sutherland or Peter Krause sit down and read a cereal box.) Crossing my fingers that this is a winner.

And some old faves I can't wait to see again:

Boston Legal: Everyone else on the planet expected James Gandolfini to win the Emmy, but I was really crossing my fingers for James Spader to get it. Gandolfini is great, no doubt, but I just luurv Spader as Alan Schorr. He gives the role so much depth. I'm dying to see this season. Probably my favorite show on TV right now (though 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, and The Amazing Race are right up there.)

Ugly Betty: Every single character on this show has me in stitches. Absolutely hysterical!

30 Rock: Always witty and irreverent. Jerry Seinfeld's guest starring (as himself) on the first episode.

How about you? What are you excited about? What have you seen so far that rang your chimes? What's left you cold?