The other day I popped into a B&N and browsed the teen section. I noticed Lauren Barnholdt's new book, REALITY CHICK, on the shelf and pulled it out. Now, the reason I wanted to check out the book is that I know Lauren from a few boards and she's a member of the Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit. When I opened up the cover what I found made me laugh - Lauren had obviously visited the store and had a personal little message on the inside, something along the lines of, "This is my first time ever signing a book." I thought that was really cute, and quite a momentus occasion.

In any case, here's a little bit about Lauren's new book:

All hour study fests.....all-night parties....
Going away to college means total independence and freedom. Unless ofcourse your freshman year is taped and televised for all the world towatch. On uncensored cable.
Sweet and normal Ally Cavanaugh is one of five freshpeople shacking upon In the House, a reality show filmed on her college campus. (As ifschool isn't panic-inducing enough!) The cameras stalk her likepaparazzi, but they also capture the fun that is new friends, oldcrushes, and learning to live on your own. Sure, the camera adds tenpounds, but with the freshman fifteen a given anyway, who cares? Ally's got bigger issues -- like how her long-distance bf can watch herloopy late-night "episode" with a certain housemate...

This lovely little illustration does not come close to accurately portraying my experience yesterday in Chicago - where I spent six hours stuffed into a crowded airport with surly passengers. With the morning thunder storms, many flights were cancelled, so when I arrived at the airport at 3pm it was packed. The kind of packed where people are just milling around the middle of the terminal in utter confusion. It didn't help that the roof to the United terminal was leaking so there were assorted buckets and containers placed in the center of the walkways. Even though my 4:00 flight to Boston didn't end up leaving until 9, I didn't feel I had any right to complain. There were people there since 6am still struggling to get the hell out of Dodge.

In any case, my six hours going from gate to gate (they kept switching it) did not occur without some revelations. They include:

• Do not, ever, dress your toddler in sandals that make "cute" little squeaking noises every time she takes a step. It may have the "aww...so sweet" factor in the store, but after six hours in a terminal filled with surly passengers, people will begin to devise plans on how to rip those sweet little sandals right off her pudgy little toes.
• Four inch heels may look lovely with a business suit, and make you feel tall and willowy for a while, but after standing for six hours because you can't find a seat, you'd be willing to trade tall and willowy for flip flops in a second.
• Upon arrival: Pre-packaged turkey sandwich on soggy bread with mystery sauce - untouchable. Six hours later: Yummy dinner.

My dad is an actor in LA, so every time he gets new headshots, we all get to peruse 400 photos and pick our favorites. This is the latest batch, and my favorite shots.

<--This one says: "Come on, you can tell me the truth. I promise I won't ground you for a month and take away the car. Just 'fess up and we'll all feel better." I never felt better afterward and did end up getting grounded and having the car taken away. This is the face of a man who suckered me in.

- -> This one says: "No need to 'fess up. We caught you. And you're in deep shit." The man is wearing combats and a look that says don't mess with me. 'Nuff said.



<--This one says: "I raised you better than this. I'm so disappointed. Some day when you have children I hope you'll understand." Well, now I have children and all I understand is that the Disney Channel is a cult.


--> This one says: "So, you're drunk and disorderly and I know I'm supposed to diapprove, but inside I'm laughing my ass off because when you're 38 years old I'll remind you of this moment and make fun of you." And, yes, he does remember this and make fun of me - twenty years later.


<-- This one says: "My daughter is an author! She supports herself and pays her bills and even has a blog!!! Best of all, she doesn't live at home!!! So, kid, when are you going to sell one of those books for a movie and give me a starring role? It's payback time." Unfortunately, he's not a 30's-ish year old woman. There aren't many 60 year old guys in my books. But I'm working on it.