Well, my life has come full circle. Tonight, Rupert Holmes (of the Pina Colada song fame) was a speaker after dinner at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference. Why, you ask? Because in addition to writing a song about a tropical drink, Rupert also has written two books, Broadway plays, a plethora of music, including scores to soft porn apparently (back when he was just starting out), and various other accomplishments that are quite impressive. So why should this matter to me? And how has my life now come full circle? Well, here's how.

In sixth grade I had the 45 record of Escape (the Pina Colada song), and my friends Lisa and Liz and I would play that thing into the ground. Fast forward some nineteen years later, and a 30-year old Lisa and I decide to go to Cancun for a little mid-winter vacation. We're at Senor Frogs, surrounded by young spring breakers, and the DJ starts to play the song. Then he announces that whoever can name the song and the artist will get a yard of beer. Well, being at least ten years older than everyone else, and being HUGE Rupert Holmes fans in sixth grade, Lisa and I ran up to the DJ and told him the answer. Long story short, we had a lot of free beer to drink.

Now, seven years after that night, I was actually talking to Rupert Holmes in real life like we were old buddies. Never say never. Life is full of surprises.

I'm heading off to Colorado Springs tomorrow to speak at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, but before then I thought I'd share a cool book with you. It's perfect for single guys (as the name implies). It's called Cooking to Hook Up: The Bachelor's Date-Night Cookbook by Ann Marie Michaels and Drew Campbell. Here's a little teaser:

It’s a fact. Women love men who cook. They will always choose men with wooden spoons over men with Gold Cards (unless you’re in L.A.). Why? Because it’s dead sexy.

But hold the phone. She’s coming over for dinner! Should you serve sushi or meatloaf? Wear the Armani loafers or Birkenstock sandals? Will that Sting CD put you in the end zone or the penalty box?

It all depends on the girl. (this is the part that I think is cool, it picks the menu by the type of woman - I've gotta admit that I tried to figure out what kind of woman I was, and came up with the conclusion that I'm a mix between career girl and girl next door).

All women are not alike. Casanova, the world’s most successful lover, had a secret: Find out what a woman wants and provide it. The key to a successful evening is choosing the food, wine, flowers, and even shoes that will turn her on, not turn her stomach.

To learn more about the book go to Ann Marie's web site: www.annmariemichaels.com

You know you're a grown-up when you get home at 2am and instead of thinking "could really go for a White Castle Slider," you're thinking:
1. Do I have enough money to pay the babysitter for the seven hours she's been at my house?
2. Will she take a check?
3. How fast can I make it to the shower and wash the stench of cigarette smoke out of my hair so it doesn't end up on my clean pillowcase?
4. Is the cat in?
5. Will my ears ever stop ringing?(once in bed after listening to Hair Bangers Ball play 80's metal for three hours)
6. God, I hope my husband gets up at 6:30am and gets my son orange juice so I can stay in bed and sleep until 10:00. (side note: no such luck, I was the one who had to get up the next morning)
7. I'm never staying up this late ever again (until the next time)