Paula Dean is the Queen

I know I'm a very bad blogger for being away so long. First I was in Minnesota for five days, most of which was spent in the woods where even my iPhone was useless. For the last several days I've been at BlogHer in Chicago and just to busy soaking it all in to stop and write. But something happened today I just have to tell you about. I met Paula Dean. OK met may be pushing it, but I did get to ask her a question at a WalMart thing she was doing to launch some new food products she'll be selling there.
I just have to tell you all what a lovely person she is. God, I just wanted to go home with her, and be her best friend. She could not have been nicer, funnier, or any lovelier. So if you haven't already, go out and buy one of her books. Anyone that sweet deserves all the success. She recommended Paula Dean's Kitchen Classics. I'm going to get it when I get home.
When an audience member asked what she could make for her southern vegetarian husband. Dean threw up her hands and could only suggest divorce. She tried to come up with something, but couldn't. Another audience member suggested substituting soy bacon in some recipe, and Dean just made a fun face. On the point of southern cooking she says "I'm the cook, not your doctor" Triple love her!!!!
I asked, Now that they've made a movie about Julia Child (Julie and Julia) starring Meryl Streep who she wanted to play her when they make a movie of her life. She said, a movie is in the works and her first pick would have been Meryl but she'd settle for Lindsay Lohan.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know how great she is. I know we all see her on TV and she seems super nice, but she really really is.
OK I'll stop gushing now.

Minnesota

I'm off to the great state on Minnesota tomorrow morning with my family. It's my first visit to the homeland. OK technically the homeland would be Norway for this branch of my family, but isn't Minnesota just Norway west. Yes, thank you I thought so.
We'll be staying in the family's lake house on Games lake, and visiting Sunburg where my grandmother grew up. We'll be sprinkling a bit of my grandmother around her old stomping grounds. Very exciting for me. I'll keep you all up to date on the goings on.
All this family time will be followed by BlogHer, a big blogging conference in Chicago, where I will be solo. Well, not exactly, I'll be with who knows how many hundreds of blogger friends.
So stay tuned for all the excitement!!

Oedipus The King, Mama

I've been wanting to see one of the Troubadour Theatre Company's productions for ages, and now I'm going to. I don't know if you've heard about them. They're known for mixing popular music with plays. As you can see, this one is Oedipus the King set to Elvis songs. Nobody loves their Mama like Elvis. I'm sure it will be hysterical.
They're at The Falcon Theatre which is in the valley, so I must be excited about it, or there is no way I would travel, to what is for me the ends of the earth. I see they have another show in the winter Frosty the Snow Manilow, I think we can all see where that one is going.

Tickets for Oedipus the King, Mama! go on pre-sale this Wednesday, July 15th. Call the Falcon Theatre at 818-955-8101. I'm getting mine!!

Mad Men on AMC

YOOHOO!!! The wait is over my friends Mad Men is coming back Aug 16th. OK, the wait isn't actually over, but the end is in sight. Sadly I don't have a screener on this show so I'll just have to be patient. If you haven't seen this show yet, not to worry, Season 1 is on On Demand and the 2nd season will be available on On Demand July 20th. I really love this show, and am dying to find out what will happen next. I'll need to rewatch the last few episodes to refresh my memory too!
Here's the Promo. Trust me you'll LOVE it too.

Dark Blue on TNT

Just watched the premiere of Dark Blue which will premiere on TNT Wednesday, July 15th. It stars Dylan McDermott. The show is about a group of undercover cops. It's a little dark but the idea of how long can an undercover cop pretend to be a criminal before he starts to become one is intriguing. Also Dylan McDermott is great in this and as a side benefit smokin' hot and fun to look at. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of these and watching the characters develop. Here's a clip from the premiere.

Ray LaMontagne at The Hollywood Bowl

Ray LaMontagne with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is playing Sunday night at The Hollywood Bowl. I really have only heard a couple of his songs but what I've heard I like. So I'm looking forward to hearing more of his music. If you could still go somewhere and buy a record (yeah yeah, I know their called CDs now, it's my generations version of calling the fridge an ice box) I would definitely pick one of his 3 up. I'm embarrassed to say that I have yet to get on itunes to do anything but download apps to my iphone. So I have only heard what I can find online. Here's a video of a song I thought was called "I Was Saved By a Women" but is titled "Trouble". I love it.

Because my mother gave me an article from the LA Times about blogging and ethics, I will state here that I was not given anything or paid to write this by anyone, though my friend Laura is taking me to the concert, but just cause she likes me.

For more info on Mr. LaMontagne go here



UPDATE: Great show last night, though I do think Mr. LaMontagne needs to cheer up, and I'm not alone, as people were yelling smile at him from the audience. The show was very somber but I enjoyed the music. I liked the open acts too.
First up was Blitzen Trapper and then Jenny Lewis both very good and in the same milieu as LaMontagne. It was kind of like being in a time warp to the 70's.

Here's Blitzen Trapper who has kind of a Dylan thing happening. Maybe it's just the harmonica. You tell me.


Here's Jenny Lewis we though she was kind of cow punk, reminded us of Natalie Merchant. Again you tell me

Joan Baez Tonight

Joan Baez is doing a free concert as part of the Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance series tonight starting at 7. I think of her as a 60's folk singer, but I must admit I'm not that familiar with her beyond that. Here's a video of her from last year, that pretty much confirms my idea of her. If you haven't been to the Twilight Dance series it is a lot of fun. Lots of people on the pier and lots of people on the the sand, dancing, picnicking and generally having a good time. I'm going to try and make this one but if I don't, there will be another one next Thursday and every other Thursday throughout the summer. Here the schedule

The Magnificent Seven on TCM

The Magnificent Seven starring Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson is going to be on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Saturday their schedule says 4PM which I think is eastern time. Check your local listings. If you haven't seen it, you must and if you've seen it about a million times, you'll probably want to make it a million and one.

The Good Wife

Guess what? I found a lawyer show I like. CBS sent me a screener with some of their fall season shows on it. So far the only one I've watched is The Good Wife. It was fabulous. I loved it. It stars Julianna Margulies as the wife of a fallen city official. It's the old story city official loves call girls, reporters love story, career goes up in flames, wife has to stand on podium with odius spouse while he plays mia culpa. Pig husband played by a little actor named Chris Noth. Have I mentioned I kind of like him??
Anyway, After husband is out of work and in the pokey she returns to her previous career as a lawyer and that's where the series begins. It is really well written and the supporting cast is amazing. This is a definitely going to be a hit show. Don't miss it.

It Premieres Sept 22 at 10PM on CBS don't miss it.

Farragut North Tonight

Well I just wanted you all to know that I'm going to see Farragut North tonight at The Geffen Playhouse in Westwood. I will be attending the Girls Night Out they sponsor after, where I'm sure Chris Noth will appear, see me across the room, be overwhelmed by my fabulous birthing hips and whisk me away to the south of France. I only mention it, so you won't worry when I don't blog for the next week or so.
a tout a l'heure (yeah, Don't spell check that)

RIP Karl Malden

Karl Malden in Street Car Named Desire