Item NOT as advertised.

Look at the picture of the pizza on the box. Just look at it. See how it's loaded with toppings -- green peppers, pepperoni, sausage and all kinds of goodies. Now look at what came OUT of said box. ONE piece of pepperoni, halved. And 3 molecules of green pepper plant matter. Supreme french bread pizza, eh??

I'm just sayin'.

Anne Hathaway wins pudding award

Anne Hathaway has accepted her woman of the year award by the Hasty Pudding Theatricals drama group in person.

The Oscar-nominated actress played along with a threatrical production and a parade when she arrived to receive the award in Cambridge.

Hathaway was kissed by men dressed in drag during a parade down Massachusetts Avenue

Justin Timberlake will receive his man of the year award in person on February 5.

Hayden Panettiere is a Hamburg Hottie

Hayden Panettiere hits the red carpet with her boyfriend, Ukranian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, at the Best of Musical Gala 2010 at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany on Saturday (January 30).

The 20-year-old Heroes actress, who is 5′1″, posed for photos with her 33-year-old beau, who is 6′6″!

Hayden chatted with Us Weekly at the premiere of Temple Grandin earlier this week and shared that she felt “tired of being a blonde.”

“It’s fun to change things up,” Hayden added, “and I feel I don’t have to overcompensate as much personality-wise when I have red hair as I do with blonde hair.”

Sometime Sex is fun and everyone should experiment with porn

Mariah Carey recently proved that she could be a prankster too—the crooner left hubby Nick Cannon stunned when she called his radio show and acted like a porn-crazy woman.

The singer introduced herself as Debbie from Long Island during the prank phone call to the New York show Rollin With Nick Cannon on 92.3 NOW FM.

Then she declared that she was a fan of adult films and went on to list their benefits.

"Me and my husband have a very good time when we watch porn and I don''t think it''s bad. I think if it was bad it wouldn''t exist! And I think that everyone should experiment with porn!” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"I mean Nick, come on, you know you look at porn! Tonight when me and my husband look at porn, I already know it''s gonna be a humdinger!" she added.

Cannon soon caught on and quickly announced, "Ladies and gentleman, this is how hilarious my wife is. This is Mariah Carey calling the station talking about porn!"

Carey joked, "I don''t even know what you''re talking about! All I''m saying is stop talking bad about porn!"

NEW YEAR = NEW YOU!

Happy New Year everyone! Now that we are in a new year and a new decade I thought I would write a post that would kill two birds with one stone…first, this post will answer the question I receive most from readers and the general public regarding skin care and second, it will take you behind the scenes and show you the products and skin care techniques I use to combat my issues.

But first, I want to ask you a question…how are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? Do you even make resolutions or are you like me and break those commitments about two months into the New Year? I only have one resolution and it has been the same every year for the past five years…I only promise that I will continue to take good care of myself. Some days are better than others and I am able to work out, take my vitamins and minerals, eat healthy, and drink plenty of water. Other days…I can’t accomplish any of those listed above and Taco Bell is for dinner (hey, don’t laugh! I love Taco Bell)!

About six months ago I consulted with a skin care specialist because I noticed that my skin was aging more rapidly every year after I turned 40 years old. Damage I had done to my skin 20 years ago or more along with the natural aging process were beginning to peek out. Sun damage, poor eating habits, bad skin care products and too much coffee and soda when I was younger (and more stupid) had finally decided to reek havoc on my face and even the amazing skin care products I use now were no longer enough.

(Photos are "before" pictures taken prior to first IPL Treatment):

My skin specialist suggested I have a series of Intense Pulse Light Treatments (IPL) for a period of 6 months to see if they would reverse the effects of the sun damage and combat some of the aging aspects of my genetics (i.e., wine stain – thanks Gran)!

IPL’s are laser treatments that are non-ablative (meaning it does not damage the surface of the skin). IPL’s soften fine lines and wrinkles, reduce redness (broken capillaries/rosacea), remove sun damage (dark age spots) and acne scars, minimize large pores and remove other blemishes. It is a safe and quick treatment that a skin specialist (dermatologist, nurse practitioner or med spa professional) should administer and because it does not damage the skin surface, several treatments are sometimes needed to see the desired effect.

(Photo taken during first IPL Treatment)

CAUTION: Please do your research on the establishment/doctor/professional prior to booking an IPL appointment.

I was told to take ibuprofen prior to my treatment and to arrive at my appointment completely clean faced (no makeup or skin care products). My nurse went through an extensive question and answer session with me, which included medical history and my expectations pertaining to my IPL treatment. I wanted to remove sun damage, wine stains (hereditary from my Gran), broken capillaries around my nose, diminish crow’s feet/wrinkles and to make my skin feel smoother and look brighter.

I was informed that my series of IPL treatments (6 in all given once a month or every 6 weeks) could help with all of my concerns and that I would see immediate results. I was also told that my skin would feel like it was sunburned and that I should take care to stay out of the sun for at least two weeks and that I could resume using my normal skin care. I was given strict instructions to use sunscreen at all times and that I should wear a big floppy hat for the first two weeks after my treatment when I was outside (like walking the dog).

My skin care specialist and certified nurse practitioner applied a numbing cream all over my face and let that sit on my skin for approximately 15 minutes. The cream was removed, eye protection was placed and then the laser treatment began. Now, I am a pretty sensitive girl (eye brow plucking/waxing hurts) and this laser did feel like little needles were being poked into my face. I wasn’t screaming in pain, but it was uncomfortable.

(Photo above is of numbing cream applied all over face prior to first IPL Treatment)

(Photo above shows laser and tube with cold air - first IPL Treatment)

The specialist concentrated the laser on deep age spots and around my nose area where I have broken capillaries. The treatment lasted approximately 15 minutes and a tube of cold air was blowing on my face during the laser treatment. When that cold air was shut off after the IPL was complete, I immediately felt a slight burning sensation. However, the ibuprofen helped immensely with swelling and pain reduction.

Within a few hours I began to see tiny brown “scabs” all over my face where the laser burned. Eventually, I looked as if I had wet coffee grounds all over my face. These scabs healed and fell off over a course of 14 days leaving my skin very smooth and glowing. Also, resuming my normal skin care regime helped with the healing process.

(Photos below taken after second IPL treatment - instant redness/sunburn feeling)

(Photos below taken 2nd day after second IPL Treatment - brown scab spots)

I am on my 5^th IPL treatment and I have been told that many women continue to get IPL’s every 8 to 10 weeks or as needed. I am extremely happy with my results. However, my hereditary “wine stain” is still visible, but faded. My deep brown age spots are totally gone and my broken capillaries around my nose are 85% gone as well. The crow’s feet around my eyes are gone and my mild rosacea on my cheeks and chin area is gone. My skin is very smooth and glowing and I take care to apply sunscreen now every single day regardless of the weather outside. It is also important for me to point out that each of my IPL Treatments get stronger - first treatment was mild and my last treatment will be more intense in order to achieve my desired effect.

IPL treatments range in cost and if you live in San Diego County, I receive my IPL treatments at the Optique Del Mar Skin Rejuvenation center located off Del Mar Heights Road.

(Photo below is "after" 5 IPL Treatments taken Jan. 2010 - minimal foundation used - brown age spots, rosacea, fine lines, wrinkles, broken capillaries are gone or are fading)

Here is a list of my personal/professional skin care products:

Jan Marini Age Intervention Line: I use the Jan Marini line as my morning skin care line used everyday.

*Beginning with Jan Marini’s BioGlycolic Cleanser to remove dirt, oil and makeup.

*C-ESTA Serum is applied first to my face/neck and I wait approximately 5 minutes between product applications to ensure proper skin absorption.

*Age Intervention Enlighten Cream is applied next to my cheeks/nose/chin area (where I would usually have rosacea).

*Age Intervention Peptide Cream follows applied to my face/neck.

*Age Intervention Eye Cream is stippled gently under eye area and orbital bone.

*Age Intervention Moisturizing Cream is then applied all over my face/neck.

*Antioxidant Sunscreen is applied as the final step all over my face/neck/ears.

Recently, I was sent the Jan Marini Age Intervention Prime as gratis to use personally and professionally. I have since tested this product on several of my clients and on myself and I love this new primer. It goes on smooth, fills in the fine lines and wrinkles, absorbs quickly and preps the skin to receive all types of makeup (cream, powder or liquid).

Jan Marini's product line has made a major difference in the texture of my skin. I no longer feel dry or flaky and I do not need to apply heavy makeup to cover skin issues because this line has cured many of my problems.

Jan Marini has a very extensive line of skin care products for all ages and skin types. Please log on to www.janmarini.com to review the Age Intervention product line and order product or to find a retailer/doctor’s office nearest your area.

At night prior to bed I remove my eye makeup using MAC Wipes, cleanse with Jan Marini’s BioGlycolic Cleanser and then I use the SAMPAR line of skin care for overnight repair. SAMPAR's line can be used day, night or as a 28-day treatment for stubborn skin issues.

*After cleansing I spray my skin lightly with SAMPAR’s Skin Quenching Mist, which has essences of rose, chamomile, geranium, mint and orange blossom. It boosts my skin’s natural defense system and prepares my skin to receive other products.

*Next, I use SAMPAR’s Nocturnal Lifting Mask all over my face/neck avoiding the eye area. This mask is unique in that you wear it overnight and remove it in the morning. I have found that my wrinkles are less visible with this product.

*Then, I use SAMPAR’s Prodigal Pen, which is a roller pen containing essential oils that rapidly diminish blemishes, I apply this product when I find that I need extra help during certain times of the month.

*Last, I apply SAMPAR’s Eye Rule all around my eye area and orbital bone. This product rehydrates and repairs the eye area.

SAMPAR's line of premium, high-quality products can be purchased at many finer retail establishments or on their website at www.Sampar.com.

I have found that the combination of these two exceptional skin care lines has helped to keep my skin feeling young, healthy, protected and has aided in the healing processes after my IPL Treatments. Also, because of major climate change, weather conditions or traveling, these products will remain a part of my skin care regime always. They are my fountains of youth! Many of the products I have listed above are also part of my skin care that I use on my professional clients. Many of my clients request these two lines and so I keep my kit well stocked with both of these lines.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

Use the back of your hand as a palette for all your skin care and rub the excess product into your hands that you did not use on your face! The hands are so neglected and they are exposed to so much sun daily (like when you grip your steering wheel while driving in your car). Combat the signs of aging on your hands as well as your face by simply dabbing a pea sized amount of each of your skin care products (one pump) on the back of your hand first (like a palette) and then apply the product with your fingertips. Your hands will thank you and will never give away your age!

TMI Thursday: you speak (and tell me about your embarrassing purchases)

I'm late to TMI Thursday today. This is an extension of last week's post on the most embarrassing but unrelated combination of items ever purchased together.

Here's what you said, after reading that I once bought vaseline, hemorrhoid pads and a pickle:

Sintixerr:
They werent purchased together, but I once expensed a hotel room and a bucket of liquid latex from an adult toy store on the same expense report for work.

Carissajaded:
Well it was for a bachelorette party, but I once went through a grocery store and purchased every phallic symbol I could find!!! That was probably the weirdest...

Camille:
a box fan, duct tape, 2 gallons of bleach, and a shower curtain....

True story and no there were no dead bodies, just a few loud rambunctious kids in the nursery at church that came down with a virus....

Niffer:
I once had a first date where we decided to work on our Halloween costumes together. We went to buy supplies and of course he forgot his wallet so I ended up paying for his. Together, we had the following:

- A gigantic sheet
- Cheapest pair of granny underwear I could find.
- XXL red teddie (lingerie) obviously for him, not me.
- XXL nylons (again, for him).
- The biggest fake cigar he could find.
- 10 rolls of duct tape (different colors).

I also once had a crush on a guy who worked at the grocery store so I was trying to come up with any excuse to go to the store. One day the only thing I could think of that we needed was mouthwash. And the only method of payment I had was a bunch of nickels. He never did ask me out.

Lauren:
Stopping by from LiLus! I actually buy a lot of random things. But I actually got COMPLIMENTED on a purchase by the cashier once....I was buying peanut butter, jelly, and bread. That's it. She said it was the most cohesive purchase she'd ever seen. I also once bought a book called How to Talk Dirty (for a friend's bachelorette party) and a map of Vegas (I was moving there), which I also found oddly appropriate.

Cleveland Poet:
An older customer the other day asked me "I need to know where two things are: Laxatives and where are your baked beans" haha!

Dan:

I once went to a dollar store with a male friend and when we had individually picked up the things we needed, we met at the front. The cashier saw two guys buying:

a) 100 condoms
2) a bottle of mineral oil
3) a jar of pickles
4) a bucket
5) a hammer

Man was that embarrassing.

I love my readers!

More TMI? --> Check out LiLu's hub, or my archive of embarrassments.

Taylor Swift rides high into Grammy night

Taylor Swift has been playing in the major leagues only a short time, yet her trophy case would make even the New York Yankees jealous.

Think that's an exaggeration? Consider that 20-year-old Swift has received 78 major award nominations and won 48 times since breaking through in 2006. This includes winning six American Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards and five Country Music Television Awards. Back in November, Swift, then just 19, took home five Country Music Association Awards — including the genre's most prestigious prize, entertainer of the year.

Now, she stands to add to that total — in a big way — with nominations in eight categories Sunday night at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards. Swift (who previously had but one Grammy nomination to her name) has the second most nominations of the night, trailing only Beyonce's 10, and they include three of the biggest fields — record, song and album of the year.

Not that awards shows are the only forum for Swift's success. Her two CDs, "Taylor Swift" and 2008's "Fearless," have sold millions of copies and she's scored more Top 40 singles than any other female artist this millennium. She's also quickly proven to be a legitimate draw at the gate, as her ongoing "Fearless Tour" — set to touch down April 11 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose — has been drawing capacity crowds across the country.

"It's a meteoric rise not unlike what we've seen in recent years with the likes of the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus," remarks Rob Evans, editor of TicketMaster's music news Web site, LiveDaily.com. "What's interesting about Swift, though, is that it's easy to picture her playing concert halls for years and years."

Indeed, Swift seems unlike anything else we've seen in pop music history. There have been acts — especially those that appeal to a younger demographic — that rise from seemingly nowhere to dominate the charts (and often fade equally as fast). There have also been musicians who have won big at award shows or earned rave reviews from critics. Yet, it's hard to name anyone other than Swift who has so quickly managed to accomplish both.

Swift was first embraced by country crowds that cheered on her debut single, the 2006 ode to hunky cowboy "Tim McGraw." Her music then began to spread via the Internet — rare for a country artist — and was eagerly gobbled up by non-country listeners. In particular, she connected with Hannah Montana fans, young teens and early twentysomethings, who had no problem identifying with the personal lyrics and stories in her mostly puppy-love songs.

"I think Taylor's advantage is that she is a singer-songwriter," says Nate Deaton, general manager of the Bay Area country music station KRTY 95.3 FM. "A lot of people try to relate to that 13- to 25-year-old audience. Well, it's pretty darn hard to relate to that audience unless you are one of them.

"Swift wrote her songs from that perspective, and I think that's what appeals to the audience. It's believable because it doesn't come from a 35-year old."

With that crucial younger demographic and a solid country following at her feet, Swift then went on to conquer the rest of the world. Her songs quickly crossed over from country radio to garner much airplay on other formats, and soon millions of pop fans were singing Swift's praises. Critics, traditionally skeptical of anything so overwhelmingly endorsed by the general public, also fell under Swift's spell.

Geoffrey Himes, the noted writer who has organized the Nashville Scene publication's annual Country Music Critics Poll since its inception in 2000, was joyous in recounting what it was like to see Swift in concert.

"I caught the first show of her summer tour at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland, and I was astounded all over again by her improbable combination of good writing, good singing, good looks and strong presence," he wrote in the essay accompanying the most recent critic's poll. "Maybe she's had some vocal problems on award shows, but on that night in June she sounded like the best thing to happen to American pop music in a long time as she delivered one of the truest songs about adolescence ('Fifteen') I've ever heard."

Regardless whether Swift wins big at Sunday's Grammy Awards, her biggest challenge will be in trying to sustain her popularity as she — and her fans — graduate to adulthood. That's no easy task for a young act — just ask Hanson, Debbie Gibson or Tiffany— but it's one that Swift seems well prepared to handle.

"Though she's still very young, she's already a veteran performer, and she's already a songwriter," Evans says. "To develop a deep fan base, it's important to put the work in, and she's put the work in. Her publicity machine has been amazing, but her music seems more personal and less disposable than that of many of today's other young stars."

you've got to be kidding me.

My entire day was spent in a reverse pac-man grid where I was chased not by ghosts but by giant fat molecules begging to be eaten.

At lunchtime I ducked the sweets and approached the cashier with a healthy salad. As I fumbled for cash, she shifted a basket of cookies under my nose and murmured seductively, "You won! Pick something."

Me: "I don't really want anything."

Her: "But they're FREEEEEEeeeeeeeee" -- her breath lingering on the word FREE, activating the opportunistic starving student part of my brain.

Her charms worked; I blacked out and came to moments later holding a package of cookies.

What have I done??

I realized with horror what had happened and held the evil package away from my body with the tippy part of my thumb and forefinger and accosted the first person I ran into down the hall. "Sam!! Cookies! I got these for free. Here!"

Yes! He was in but he only wanted one. sigh

What to do with the other cookie? No one was around so I folded the package nicely and left it on a coworker's calendar with a note. Then I swiveled back to my desk to enjoy my salad.

After lunch I got up for water and was accosted by more temptation.

A small but growing army of serotonin-deprived office staff (is there any other kind?) darted past like a pack of wild boars shrieking excitedly,"Cuupppcakes!!!", gathering additional throngs of the starving as they sprinted toward the high-carb prizes waiting in the conference room. I steeled myself and slunk back into my chair to chew on ice.

The rest of the day passed with cupcakes, cookies, sweets, and sugary evils flowing through the air like wind but I resisted each and every one.

Dinner out with friends, I resisted dessert.

At the movies, I looked away from the giant snack counter with its 3,000 calorie packs of peanut butter cups and sour patches and ice cream bars.

I avoided all of it.

My goal is to make it through two full weeks without sugar because someone said that's how long it takes for the cravings to pass. I'm almost halfway there.

I'm doing it because sugar makes my heart beat too fast and erratically and I don't feel good afterwards, as much as I love it. I'm ten pounds lighter now than I was this time last year and I want to get back to my old self. I don't even care about reaching a goal weight as much as I just want to feel the same in my skin as I did when I was my most fit and moving around was easy. I'm starting to feel that way again and I love it. And so I am trying to avoid junk.

I thought I made it through the day. I pulled up in the driveway and relaxed in my seat. I made it through the grid with bonus points.

Until I saw the package.

The package of cookies.

My friend Vaughn started a cookie company, Decadent Cookies, that has the Best. Cookies. I. Have. Ever. Eaten. In my life. EVER. Mrs. Fields, you got nothing on Vaughn. No one makes a cookie like him.

Cookies, delivered right to my door.

Not even home is safe.

Sigh.

I still haven't opened the box. (I actually am not craving them... yet.) I will have to get them out of the house before this changes...!

Could you ever get enough

Of teh cuteness??

- Posted from my phone

my nephew's beginning photo skilz

My nephew Michael, whose spleen is almost 13 years old, just posted this photo of me holding a gob of doghair from our freshly-brushed samoyed mix. Proving that our family is really just a bunch of animals, he toyed with the photo and added a nice frame and some other elements. It's so cute!

I love that kid like he's my own. I love all my sister's kids like this, what a great bunch!

Michael's in the front. This is only 3 of the 4 great kids (I say kids but they're not really, not anymore).

Michael with a magician at my dad's birthday party.

You can see the "um...?" question on his face!

Plants are so demanding.

I'm considering getting rid of some of my plants - I have too many and the cat has been mowing them daily; they just look awful.

Before I left for Flagstaff this past summer, I handed a coworker a plant for safekeeping so she could care for it in my absence.

I laugh at what I came back to:



I wouldn't post this if she didn't have such a good sense of humor since she reads my blog. But isn't this hilarious?

- Posted from my phone

bundle of paradoxes, that's me. yeah, just great.

sigh. Today's horoscope. Lovely:

You are a bundle of paradoxes today as you strive for depth and intensity while maintaining a casual approach with others. Although you can appear to be enjoying yourself, those who know you will be able to sense the uneasiness that lurks just beneath your surface. Nevertheless, it's still wise for you to think about the consequences of what you intend to say before you speak. Remember, your unedited words could open Pandora's Box, which may be better off left closed for now.

I don't even believe in this stuff really but this did make me pause.

But here's what I generally think of this stuff:

Levi McConaughey & Grandma Alves Step Out in Stripes

Levi McConaughey spends time with his grandma, Fatima Alves, on Saturday (January 23) in Malibu, Calif.

The 18-month-old son of Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves played with Camila’s mom, Fatima, on the first nice day in a long time in town!

Love how Levi and Fatima both wore striped shirts on their trip outside - so cute!!

Levi’s little sister, Vida, was born three weeks ago today

Aniston, Butler in a raunchy photoshoot

After sparking rumours of revived romance, Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston and Scottish actor Gerard Butler have set tongues wagging with a raunchy photo-shoot together.

The pair will appear on the cover of US fashion magazine W in its future edition. The pics, taken in the desert outside LA, reveal slender Aniston in skimpy underwear while burly Butler poses as a leather-clad New York policeman.

The 40-year-old former Friends star and The Ugly Truth star Gerard, also 40, put on a flirty display at the Golden Globes last weekend, fuelling speculation that time spent filming upcoming thriller The Bounty Hunter together has led to an off-screen affair.

And the images are sure to provoke yet more comparisons between Aniston and Jolie, who posed with Brad Pitt for the magazine in 2008.

“For two days Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler were in the desert outside LA ­creating these really hot pictures. The result is the raciest cover in the history of W. Those pictures of Brad and Angelina? Forget it,” the Daily Express quoted a source at the magazine as saying.

“Jen has a natural and effortless sexiness compared to Angelina’s very stylised look. And you have Gerry who is just the epitome of a manly man, dressed in a cop uniform. These photos will do nothing to quell the rumours of their romance – quite the opposite in fact,” the source added.

Billie Piper Feared For Son

Billie Piper feared for her son's life at Christmas.

The 27-year-old actress was left terrified when Winston - her 15-month-old child with husband Laurence Fox - struggled for breath and was unable to get answers from medical experts as to what was wrong with him.

She said: "We really panicked, he was having trouble breathing, I had quite a big fright with him... they wouldn't tell us what it was."

Billie also admitted that she and Laurence are undecided as to whether have more children and says she finds motherhood a struggle.

She told British TV talk show host Jonathan Ross: "It's probably too soon to think about having another but you always have it in your mind once you've had one. We were considering an only child, but it sounds a bit cruel.

We really panicked, he was having trouble breathing, I had quite a big fright with him... they wouldn't tell us what it was.

"It's tricky at times... I'm a competitive mother."

Meanwhile, Billie - who shot to fame aged 15 with single 'Because We Want To' - insists she has no plans to ever return to her music career.

She said: "I don't have a great voice, I was basically a charlatan, just faking it really."

Test post from my phone

This is just a test, repeat, just a test.


- Posted from my phone

TMI Thursday: strangest group of unrelated things I ever purchased

So, to break my TMI Thursday silence, I offer you a short post. The strangest group of things I ever purchased that were (I swear!) completely unrelated to eachother:

1. Tuck's medicated hemorrhoid pads
2. 5 lb jar of vaseline
3. a pickle

!!

Yes. I bought these things. I was 14 and standing in line at the grocery store with my best friend when she glanced at the checkout belt and said, "Um, I'll be outside."

And that's when I noticed what I was buying.

Most of the items were not mine (except the pickle).

(Well, the jar of vaseline was a gag gift. That I probably should have purchased separately!)

What's the strangest group of things you've ever purchased?

• See Lilu's TMI Thursday gems!
• My TMI Thursday archive

walking in honor and memory of cancer victims

A few months ago I did a cancer walk with a girlfriend who lost her mother, sister and brand new baby nephew to cancer all this year. It's an absolute tragedy. I've been thinking so deeply not only of what she's going through but anyone suffering through a health crisis or loss (or both). There really are no words. All I can offer is my thoughts, friendship and support.

And so we walked.

The morning started at 4:30 a.m. on a Saturday.

I am missing the portion of the brain that allows one to accurately plan bedtime properly and so at 2am the night before, I glanced at the clock and said, "crap!!" and dove into bed, commanding sleep to fall upon me instantaneously. (THIS I can usually accomplish, thank goodness.)

4:30 came too soon. Me, before dawn:

Obviously, 2 hours does not qualify as "beauty sleep."

I want to say something poetic like "the skies were crying for us" because it was pouring, but no, the Gods weren't happy with simple sobs. No, these were tears of sleet. (Thanks, G, that was awesome.) We got there safely, however, and signed in.

Checking in.

I kept choking up, thinking each person here has lost someone (almost 10,000 people!). Some wore signs like "in memory of mom" or "in honor of my sis" but everyone had a story. Here we were, stripped of our daily veneers, raw and open. Walking together to give something back to those dearly missed but also to each other.

The power of like company in grief is mighty.

Some people wore pink:

Pink ladies.

Pink bunnies.

Even Toto wore pink!

Most of us wore warm jackets and ponchos to shield against the damp cold.

Our group got separated by the crowd and I found myself walking next to only one of the other members. We walked along quietly at first until I ventured, "Are you here because you lost someone or because you're supporting J?" And she told me her story. She opened up and we hugged, cried, and laughed, sharing stories of loss and hope. I felt absolutely stripped bare and yet somehow truly alive, standing there in the cold rain, offering all I had -- myself -- in the face of loss and pain. And it mattered.

Here we are at two miles:

Two miles.

Then we found the rest of our group:

All together again!

Prize marigolds, J's mom's favorite flower.

The walk was only a tiny symbolic gesture but every day I think of her and others facing illness and loss. With my thoughts, I hope to pay a silent tribute: your loss matters to me. I care, and I am sorry for your pain. I think of you more than you know.

Jennifer Lopez Helps Haiti on Larry King

Jennifer Lopez makes an appearance on a special two hour addition of the Larry King Live show called “Haiti: How You Can Help” in Hollywood on Monday (January 18).

The 40-year-old singer joins other celebrities like Paula Abdul, Christian Slater, Jared Leto, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden where they chatted online, answered phones, and tweeted to help raise funds to help survivors of the Haiti earthquake.

In other news, J.Lo is reportedly in discussion to make an appearance on Glee.

According to E!, Glee executive producer Brad Flachuk confirmed that Jennifer is being considered to play a cafeteria worker.

"We're never so vulnerable than when we trust..."

Friday night I rode the metro home after seeing a movie with a new group of friends. We stood there clinging to the poles, complete strangers and yet sharing struggles, hopes and fears, laughing with the lightness that comes from a collective carrying of burdens. And I wondered to myself, why is it sometimes easier to share vulnerabilities with a stranger?

None of us judged eachother.

The only aura between us was the shared understanding of what it means to be different in a society which eschews diversity even as it applauds it.

We parted ways and I felt a little raw inside. Who is this new me that tells strangers about myself? I used to be shy! (Maybe it's the blog. I should blame it all on the blog!)

So I was thinking of all this, how it feels to open up and expand.

Sometimes I feel like I am ripping open my life. It's exhilarating and terrifying, this trusting of others. Philip Greenspun wrote about it in Travels with Samantha, a cross-country trip he took alone with his dog. He wanted to go out into the world to see if he would be ok. Somehow we all have to find this out for ourselves, and it seems that's the journey I am on now.

I switched lines and waited for the next train thinking about all of this. I was in a crappy neighborhood trying not to draw attention to my lone female state, especially as I was already feeling vulnerable. I took out my phone to distract myself and started tweeting that I didn't feel safe when a scowling, burly guy dropped a two-way radio. The contents scattered everywhere just as the train pulled up.

I bent over to help him but he pulled back suspiciously until he looked up and realized I wasn't stealing his stuff. Our eyes met and we both peered at eachother from behind the walls of our shielded innards. That's when I realized I wasn't the only one who didn't feel safe.

And I thought, that's what we are seeking when we go out into the world.

We are all looking for humanity in eachother's eyes.

“We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy.” ~Walter Anderson

Arches National Park at sunset.
I took this picture in May 2009.
(buy print)

Jennifer Love Hewitt throws sex party for friends

Hollywood actress Jennifer Love Hewitt threw a party for her girlfriends to compare sex tips and view the latest lines of sex toys.

The "Ghost Whisperer" actress hosted a girls' night Jan 10 and invited seduction expert Dana B. Myers who co-founded saucy store Booty Parlor so she and her friends could learn some new bedroom moves and buy some sex toys, reports contactmusic.com.

The 30-year-old and the group played games before splashing out on a range of treats for Valentine's Day next month.

"To set the mood, the ladies played the game 'What's Your Sexy Fantasy' before shopping for such goodies like Booty Parlor's sexy lingerie, designer sex toys and beauty products," said a source.

After viewing the erotic range, Love Hewitt is believed to have stocked up on vibrating knickers, bondage tape and a spanker.

"The actress bought tons of bedside staples including Melt Chocolate Body Fondue, Skin Honey Kissable Body Topping, All Tied Up Bonding Tape, a Good Girl Bad Girl Feather Spanker, vibrating panties and four types of sexy lingerie underwear," said the source.

Courtney Love strips off on Twitter

Rocker Courtney Love has posted topless pictures of herself on the website Twitter so that her fans can have a look at her new tattoos.

The widow of rock legend 'Kurt Cobain' showed off a series of flowers dotted around her body while protecting her modesty with a hand over her chest.

Love also uploaded a photo of her wincing under the needle with the tattooist at work.

The singer, famed for her yo-yo dieting, looked very slim in the snaps with a flat tum and skinny arms.

Love had recently lost the legal guardianship of her daughter Frances Bean Cobain, 17 and reports suggest that the singer is relapsing into her drug addictions.

As if that's not enough to deal with, the 'Malibu' star has also been busy defending her right to release new album Nobody's Daughter under the name Hole.

Love is insistent on using the name, despite recording the album without any former 'Hole' members.

um, yeah.

I've been sucked into a black hole but should emerge shortly... talk to you soon!