Celebrity Death Watch 2018

Happy 2017.  I'm a little late with the list this year but... it's time for my incredibly morbid Celebrity Death Watch.  From 2011 to 2016 I have predicted 6, 7, 4, 8, and 4 celebrity deaths.  This past year, 2016, I predicted nine loses in the celebrity world.

2016 was a sad year in celebrity deaths.  We lost so many great talents like Alan Rickman, David Bowie, Prince, Harper Lee, Muhammad Ali, Doris Roberts, Merle Haggard, Patty Duke, Nancy Reagan, George Gaynes, Abe Vigoda, and many others.  There were also the incredibly sad and unexpected deaths of Anton Yelchin and Christina Grimmie, both gone too soon.  Anton was one of my favorites.  He was so young and talented and was just starting to explode in his career.  And then, to kick us in the feels once more, at the end of the year we lost Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds within a day of each other.  Debbie was always one of my favorites.

Here are my past correct predictions for celebrity deaths of each year...

In 2011, I predicted 6 deaths correctly (author Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, actor Peter Falk - 83, Kim Jong-il - 69, Andy Rooney - 91, Elizabeth Taylor -78, and Amy Winehouse - 27).

In 2012, I correctly predicted 7 with Ray Bradbury - 91, Dick Clark - 82, Robin Gibb - 62, Andy Griffith - 85, Larry Hagaman - 80, Etta James -73, and Joe Paterno - 85.

2013 was a down year for my predictions with only 4.  Patty Andrews - 94, Nelson Mandela -  95, Peter O'Toole - 81, and Margaret Thatcher - 87 all died this past year.  However, we also lost those we didn't expect, like Paul Walker, James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith,

In 2014, I hit 8 correct predictions with actress and screen legend Lauren Bacall - 89, Sid Caesar - 91, actor (and one of my favorites) James Garner - 86, author PD James - 94, actor (The Professor from Gilligan's Island) Russel Johnson - 89, lawyer (and sister of author Harper Lee) Alice Lee - 103, actor Mickey Rooney - 93, and world leader Ariel Sharon - 85.

For 2015, I only got 4 correct including music legend B.B. King - 89, actor Christopher Lee - 93, actress Maureen O'Hara - 93 (what a legend), and author Terry Pratchett - 67.  Then there were the shocking deaths of Robin Williams and others that no one could predict.

In 2016, I had 10 hits on my list (Rene Angelil - 73, Muhammad Ali - 74, Fidel Castro - 90, Zsa Zsa Gabor - 98, John Glenn - 95, Merle Haggard - 79, Harper Lee - 89, Nancy Reagan - 94, Abe Vigoda - 94, Gene Wilder - 83).

2017 had 9 people die from the list (Chuck Berry - 90, Hugh Hefner - 90, Jerry Lewis - 90, Rose Marie - 90, Mary Tyler Moore - 80, Roger Moore - 89, Don Rickles - 90, David Rockefeller - 101, Adam West - 88).  It was a bad year for Dick Van Dyke as he lost several friends.

Hopefully we won't lose as many in 2018...

Celebrity Death Watch 2018
Buzz Aldrin - 87
Ed Asner - 88
John Astin - 87

David Attenborough - 90
Bob Barker - 94
Ned Beatty - 80
Honor Blackman - 92
Wilford Brimley - 83
Tom Brokaw - 77
Mel Brooks - 91
Gary Busey - 73
Barbara Bush - 92
George HW Bush - 93
Amanda Bynes - 31
Jimmy Carter - 92
Rosalynn Carter - 90
Carol Channing - 96
Cher - 71

Chevy Chase - 74
Dick Cheney - 76
Chris Christie - 55
Beverly Cleary - 101
Joan Collins - 84
Tim Conway - 84
Macaulay Culkin - 37
Charlie Daniels - 81
Doris Day - 95
Olivia De Havilland - 101
Bob Dole - 94
Kirk Douglas - 101
Jared Fogle - 39
Aretha Franklin - 75
Teri Garr - 69
Annie Glenn - 97
John Goodman - 65
Mikhail Gorbachev - 86
Billy Graham - 99
Steven Hawking - 76
Tippi Hedren - 87
Hal Holbrook - 92
Glynis Johns - 94
Louis Jourdan - 96
George Kennedy - 92
Val Kilmer - 58

Larry King - 84

Henry Kissinger - 94
Kris Kristofferson - 81
Shia LaBeouf - 31
Angela Lansbury - 92
Cloris Leachman - 91

Stan Lee - 95
Little Richard - 84
Courtney Love - 53
Vera Lynn - 100
Lisa Minnelli - 71
Joni Mitchell - 74
Taylor Momson - 24
Walter Mondale - 89
Demi Moore - 55
Rumor Willis - 29
Jim Nabors - 87
Bob Newhart - 88
Nichelle Nichols - 85
Jack Nicholson - 80

Kim Novak - 94
Ozzy Osbourne - 69
Regis Philbin - 86
Prince Philip - 96

Christopher Plummer - 89

Sidney Poitier - 91
Pope Benedict XVI - 90

Carl Reiner - 95
Burt Reynolds - 81
Keith Richards - 74
Pat Robertson - 87
Marion Ross - 89
Eva Marie Saint - 94
George Segal - 83
Charlie Sheen - 52
Jerry Stiller - 90
Phil Spector - 77
Jeffrey Tambor - 73
Gloria Vanderbilt - 93
Jerry Van Dyke - 86
Robert Wagner - 87
Harvey Weinsten - 65
Betty White - 96
Joann Woodward - 87
Herman Wouk - 102

Celebrity Death Watch 2017

Happy 2017.  I'm a little late with the list this year but... it's time for my incredibly morbid Celebrity Death Watch.  From 2011 to 2016 I have predicted 6, 7, 4, 8, and 4 celebrity deaths.  This past year, 2016, I predicted nine loses in the celebrity world.

2016 was a sad year in celebrity deaths.  We lost so many great talents like Alan Rickman, David Bowie, Prince, Harper Lee, Muhammad Ali, Doris Roberts, Merle Haggard, Patty Duke, Nancy Reagan, George Gaynes, Abe Vigoda, and many others.  There were also the incredibly sad and unexpected deaths of Anton Yelchin and Christina Grimmie, both gone too soon.  Anton was one of my favorites.  He was so young and talented and was just starting to explode in his career.  And then, to kick us in the feels once more, at the end of the year we lost Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds within a day of each other.  Debbie was always one of my favorites.

Here are my past correct predictions for celebrity deaths of each year...

In 2011, I predicted 6 deaths correctly (author Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, actor Peter Falk - 83, Kim Jong-il - 69, Andy Rooney - 91, Elizabeth Taylor -78, and Amy Winehouse - 27).

In 2012, I correctly predicted 7 with Ray Bradbury - 91, Dick Clark - 82, Robin Gibb - 62, Andy Griffith - 85, Larry Hagaman - 80, Etta James -73, and Joe Paterno - 85.

2013 was a down year for my predictions with only 4.  Patty Andrews - 94, Nelson Mandela -  95, Peter O'Toole - 81, and Margaret Thatcher - 87 all died this past year.  However, we also lost those we didn't expect, like Paul Walker, James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith,

In 2014, I hit 8 correct predictions with actress and screen legend Lauren Bacall - 89, Sid Caesar - 91, actor (and one of my favorites) James Garner - 86, author PD James - 94, actor (The Professor from Gilligan's Island) Russel Johnson - 89, lawyer (and sister of author Harper Lee) Alice Lee - 103, actor Mickey Rooney - 93, and world leader Ariel Sharon - 85.

For 2015, I only got 4 correct including music legend B.B. King - 89, actor Christopher Lee - 93, actress Maureen O'Hara - 93 (what a legend), and author Terry Pratchett - 67.  Then there were the shocking deaths of Robin Williams and others that no one could predict.

In 2016, I had 10 hits on my list (Rene Angelil - 73, Muhammad Ali - 74, Fidel Castro - 90, Zsa Zsa Gabor - 98, John Glenn - 95, Merle Haggard - 79, Harper Lee - 89, Nancy Reagan - 94, Abe Vigoda - 94, Gene Wilder - 83).

Hopefully we won't lose as many in 2017...

Celebrity Death Watch 2017
Buzz Aldrin - 86
Ed Asner - 87
Bob Barker - 95

Chuck Berry - 90
Honor Blackman - 91
Wilford Brimley - 82
Tom Brokaw - 76
Mel Brooks - 90
Gary Busey - 72
Barbara Bush - 91
George HW Bush - 92
Amanda Bynes - 30
Jimmy Carter - 91
Rosalynn Carter - 89
Carol Channing - 95
Cher - 70

Chevy Chase - 73
Chris Christie - 54
Beverly Cleary - 100
Joan Collins - 83
Tim Conway - 83
Macaulay Culkin - 36
Charlie Daniels - 80
Doris Day - 94
Olivia De Havilland - 100
Bob Dole - 93
Kirk Douglas - 100
Aretha Franklin - 75
Annie Glenn - 96
John Goodman - 64
Mikhail Gorbachev - 85
Billy Graham - 98
Steven Hawking - 75
Tippi Hedren - 86
Hugh Hefner - 90
Hal Holbrook - 91
Glynis Johns - 93
Louis Jourdan - 95
George Kennedy - 91
Larry King - 83

Henry Kissinger - 93
Kris Kristofferson - 80
Shia LaBeouf - 30
Angela Lansbury - 91
Cloris Leachman - 90

Stan Lee - 94
Jerry Lewis - 90
Courtney Love - 52
Rose Marie - 90
Lisa Minnelli - 70
Joni Mitchell - 73
Taylor Momson - 23
Demi Moore - 54
Mary Tyler Moore - 80
Roger Moore - 89
Jim Nabors - 86
Bob Newhart - 87
Kim Novak - 93

Ozzy Osbourne - 68
Regis Philbin - 85
Prince Philip - 95

Christopher Plummer - 88

Sidney Poitier - 90
Pope Benedict XVI - 89

Carl Reiner - 94
Burt Reynolds - 80
Keith Richards - 73
Don Rickles - 90
David Rockefeller - 101
Marion Ross - 88
Eva Marie Saint - 93
George Segal - 82
Charlie Sheen - 51
Jerry Stiller - 89
Phil Spector - 76
Jeffrey Tambor - 72
Gloria Vanderbilt - 92
Jerry Van Dyke - 85
Adam West - 88
Betty White - 95
Joann Woodward - 86
Herman Wouk - 101

Celebrity Death Watch 2016

It's that time of year again.  It's time for the annual Celebrity Death List.

In 2011, I predicted 6 deaths correctly (author Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, actor Peter Falk - 83, Kim Jong-il - 69, Andy Rooney - 91, Elizabeth Taylor -78, and Amy Winehouse - 27).

In 2012, I correctly predicted 7 with Ray Bradbury - 91, Dick Clark - 82, Robin Gibb - 62, Andy Griffith - 85, Larry Hagaman - 80, Etta James -73, and Joe Paterno - 85.

2013 was a down year for my predictions with only 4.  Patty Andrews - 94, Nelson Mandela -  95, Peter O'Toole - 81, and Margaret Thatcher - 87 all died this past year.  However, we also lost those we didn't expect, like Paul Walker, James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith,

In 2014, I hit 8 correct predictions with actress and screen legend Lauren Bacall - 89, Sid Caesar - 91, actor (and one of my favorites) James Garner - 86, author PD James - 94, actor (The Professor from Gilligan's Island) Russel Johnson - 89, lawyer (and sister of author Harper Lee) Alice Lee - 103, actor Mickey Rooney - 93, and world leader Ariel Sharon - 85.

For 2015, I only got 4 correct including music legend B.B. King - 89, actor Christopher Lee - 93, actress Maureen O'Hara - 93 (what a legend), and author Terry Pratchett - 67.  Then there were the shocking deaths of Robin Williams and others that no one could predict.

Who knows what this next year will bring.  Hopefully nothing too heartbreaking but... without further ado....

Celebrity Death Watch 2015
Rene Angelil - 73
Muhammad Ali - 74

Fred Armisen - 49
Ed Asner - 86
Bob Barker - 92
Chuck Berry - 89
Justin Bieber - 22
Tom Brokaw - 75
Mel Brooks - 89
Gary Busey - 71
Barbara Bush - 90
George HW Bush - 91
Amanda Bynes - 29
Jimmy Carter - 91
Fidel Castro - 90
Carol Channing - 94

Chevy Chase - 72
Chris Christie - 53
Beverly Cleary - 99
Tim Conway - 82
Macaulay Culkin - 35
Miley Cyrus - 23
Charlie Daniels - 79
Doris Day - 93
Olivia De Havilland - 100
Bob Dole - 92
Kirk Douglas - 99
Dick Van Dyke - 90
Aretha Franklin - 73
Zsa Zsa Gabor - 98
John Glenn - 94
John Goodman - 63
Billy Graham - 97
Merle Haggard - 79
Steven Hawking - 74
Hugh Hefner - 89
Hal Holbrook - 90
Glynis Johns - 92
Louis Jourdan - 94
George Kennedy - 90

Larry King - 82

Kris Kristofferson - 79
Shia LaBeouf - 29
Angela Lansbury - 90

Harper Lee - 89
Stan Lee - 93
Jerry Lewis - 89
Courtney Love - 51
Rose Marie - 89
Taylor Momson - 22
Demi Moore - 53
Mary Tyler Moore - 79
Roger Moore - 88
Jim Nabors - 85
Bob Newhart - 86

Prince Philip - 94

Christopher Plummer - 86

Sidney Poitier - 89
Pope Benedict XVI - 88

Nancy Reagan - 94
Carl Reiner - 93
Burt Reynolds - 79
Keith Richards - 72
Don Rickles - 89
George Segal - 81
Charlie Sheen - 50
Jerry Stiller - 88
Abe Vigoda - 94
Adam West - 87
Gene Wilder - 83
Joann Woodward - 85
Herman Wouk - 100
Alan Young - 97

Celebrity Death Watch 2015

It's that time of year again.  It's time for the annual Celebrity Death List.

In 2011, I predicted 6 deaths correctly (author Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, actor Peter Falk - 83, Kim Jong-il - 69, Andy Rooney - 91, Elizabeth Taylor -78, and Amy Winehouse - 27).

In 2012, I correctly predicted 7 with Ray Bradbury - 91, Dick Clark - 82, Robin Gibb - 62, Andy Griffith - 85, Larry Hagaman - 80, Etta James -73, and Joe Paterno - 85.

2013 was a down year for my predictions with only 4.  Patty Andrew - 94, Nelson Mandela -  95, Peter O'Toole - 81, and Margaret Thatcher - 87 all died this past year.  However, we also lost those we didn't expect, like Paul Walker, James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith,

In 2014, I hit 8 correct predictions with actress and screen legend Lauren Bacall - 89, Sid Caesar - 91, actor (and one of my favorites) James Garner - 86), author PD James - 94, actor (The Professor from Gilligan's Island) Russel Johnson - 89, lawyer (and sister of author Harper Lee) Alice Lee - 103, actor Mickey Rooney - 93, and world leader Ariel Sharon - 85.

Who knows what this next year will bring.  Hopefully nothing too heartbreaking but... without further ado....

Celebrity Death Watch 2015
Muhammad Ali - 73

Fred Armisen - 48
Ed Asner - 85
Bob Barker - 91
Chuck Berry - 88
Justin Bieber - 20
Tom Brokaw - 74
Gary Busey - 70
Barbara Bush - 89
George HW Bush - 90
Jimmy Carter - 90
Fidel Castro - 89
Carol Channing - 93

Chevy Chase - 71
Chris Christie - 52
Tim Conway - 81
Macaulay Culkin - 34
Miley Cyrus - 22
Charlie Daniels - 78
Doris Day - 92
Olivia De Havilland - 99
Bob Dole - 91
Kirk Douglas - 98
Dick Van Dyke - 88
Aretha Franklin - 72
Zsa Zsa Gabor - 97
Billy Graham - 96
Merle Haggard - 78
Steven Hawking - 73
Hal Holbrook - 89
Ron Howard - 60
Glynis Johns - 91
Louis Jourdan - 93
Ke$ha - 27
B.B. King - 89
Larry King - 81

Kris Kristofferson - 78
Shia LaBeouf - 28
Angela Lansbury - 89
Christopher Lee - 93

Harper Lee - 88
Stan Lee - 92
Jerry Lewis - 88
Lindsay Lohan - 28
Courtney Love - 50
Rose Marie - 88
Taylor Momson - 21
Demi Moore - 52
Mary Tyler Moore - 78
Maureen O'Hara - 93
Prince Philip - 93
Christopher Plummer - 85

Sidney Poitier - 88
Pope Benedict XVI - 87

Terry Pratchett - 67
Nancy Reagan - 93
Carl Reiner - 92
Burt Reynolds - 78
Keith Richards - 71
Don Rickles - 88
George Segal - 80
Charlie Sheen - 49
Jerry Stiller - 87
Abe Vigoda - 93
Joann Woodward - 84
Herman Wouk - 99
Alan Young - 96

SHORTLIST
Amanda Bynes - 28
John Goodman - 62
George Kennedy - 89
Roger Moore - 87
Jim Nabors - 84
Bob Newhart - 85
Adam West - 86

Celebrity Death Watch 2014

It's that time of year again.  No, not the holidays.  It's time for the annual Celebrity Death List.

In 2011, I predicted 6 deaths correctly (author Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, actor Peter Falk - 83, Kim Jong-il - 69, Andy Rooney - 91, Elizabeth Taylor -78, and Amy Winehouse - 27).

In 2012, I correctly predicted 7 with Ray Bradbury - 91, Dick Clark - 82, Robin Gibb - 62, Andy Griffith - 85, Larry Hagaman - 80, Etta James -73, and Joe Paterno - 85.

2013 was a down year for my predictions with only 3.  Patty Andrew - 94, Nelson Mandela -  95, Peter O'Toole - 81 all died this past year.  However, we also lost those we didn't expect, like Paul Walker, James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith,

Who knows what this next year will bring.  Hopefully nothing too heartbreaking but... without further ado....

Celebrity Death Watch 2014
Muhammad Ali - 72

Fred Armisen - 47
Ed Asner - 84
Lauren Bacall - 89
Bob Barker - 90
Chuck Berry - 87
Justin Bieber - 19
Gary Busey - 69
Barbara Bush - 88
George HW Bush - 89
Jimmy Carter - 89
Sid Caesar - 92
Fidel Castro - 87
Tim Conway - 80
Macaulay Culkin - 33
Miley Cyrus - 21
Charlie Daniels - 77
Doris Day - 91
Olivia De Havilland - 98
Bob Dole - 90
Kirk Douglas - 97
Dick Van Dyke - 87
Aretha Franklin - 71
Zsa Zsa Gabor - 96
James Garner - 85
Billy Graham - 95
Merle Haggard - 77
Valerie Harper - 74
Steven Hawking - 72
Ron Howard - 59
PD James - 93
Glynis Johns - 90
Russel Johnson - 89 (Gilligan's Island)
Ke$ha - 26
Larry King - 80

Kris Kristofferson - 77
Shia LaBeouf - 27
Angela Lansbury - 88
Christopher Lee - 91

Alice Lee - 102

Harper Lee - 87
Stan Lee - 91
Jerry Lewis - 87
Lindsay Lohan - 27
Courtney Love - 49
Rose Marie - 87
Taylor Momson - 20
Demi Moore - 51
Mary Tyler Moore - 77
Prince Philip - 92
Christopher Plummer - 84

Sidney Poitier - 87

Terry Pratchett - 66
Nancy Reagan - 92
Carl Reiner - 91
Keith Richards - 70
Mickey Rooney - 93
George Segal - 79
Ariel Sharon - 85 (He's been in a coma since 2006)
Charlie Sheen - 48
Margaret Thatcher - 88
Abe Vigoda - 92
Herman Wouk - 98

DWTS Dream Season - a list in progress

7 seasons ago I started watching Dancing with the Stars ONLY because Shawn Johnson was on Season 8.  Little did I know that I would fall in love with the competition so quickly.  It is now my favorite competition show that I always have to watch.

So, as I wait for the announcement of the Season 16 cast I will list the people I would love to see perform on the show.

John Stamos

Dick Van Dyke

Mary Tyler Moore

Nastia Liukin

Lindsay Lohan

Kirk Cameron

Jamie Lee Curtis

Bonnie Hunt

Candace Cameron Bure

Tom Selleck

Vanessa Hudgins

Mary Kate Olsen

Ashley Olsen

Girl Crush List

Everyone has a crush on someone of the same sex.  It's just a rule of life.  It doesn't mean you're gay (and I'm not saying that's wrong) but it just happens.  The person is usually someone exceptional who you have to see or hear everything they do.  You fangirl them.  It's just something that happens.

Now, my list is short.  The people on it are talented and wonderful people who I believe are amazing in their field.  So, here it is...

 

Emily's Girl Crush List

 

Zooey Deschanel

 

 

 

Emma Stone

 

 

Katy Perry

 

 

Anna Kendrick

 

 

Tina Fey

 

Top 50 Hollywood Hotties - a list in progress

Chris Pine
Hugh Jackman
Robert Pattinson
Karl Urban
Nathan Fillion
Ryan Reynolds
Gerard Butler
Jonny Lee Miller
Robert Downey Jr.
Chris Hemsworth
Jared Followill
Garrett Hedlund
David Boreanaz
Caleb Followill
Jake Johnson
Jensen Ackles
Chris Pratt
Pierce Brosnan
David Gordh
John Stamos
Ryan Gosling
Aaron Rodgers
Jon Hamm
George Clooney
Colin Firth
Jason O'Mara
Dennis Quaid
Josh Duhamel
Jason Sudeikis
Liam Hemsworth
Ryan Lochte
Kellan Lutz
Jared Padalecki
Matt Bomer
Geoff Stults
Scott Eastwood
Josh Lucas
Lee Pace
Chace Crawford
Christian Bale
Tom Mison
Sam Page
Henry Cavill
Ashton Kutcher
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Josh Holloway
Zac Efron
Nathan Followill
Josh Hutcherson
Jimmy Fallon

An Exciting Day

It was so hard to get up this morning.  I lied in bed snuggled up under warm blankets in the dark wishing I was sick so I could stay home.  I know, right.  Who wished they were sick?  But, as soon as I remembered my morning project at work I hopped right out of bed.

This morning I got to shift the YA area!  And yes, I know it's lame to be excited about that but I LOVE shifting.  The organizational fun of it all! So, last night at work I got a short bookcase and was able to move my games off the regular shelves where books are located and into the teen area for easier accessibility.  And, after clearing off the shelves I was going to shift but only had 5 minutes left of the work day.  So... fun morning project!  The entire YA fiction section is shifted around and has more space!  And in other news, I'm a nerd.

But wait!  That wasn't the only exciting thing today because I now have clicky pens in a variety of colors thanks to BiC!  Here they are in a variety of colors...

BAM!  Gorgeous.
So yes, today is going pretty well.  But wait!  There's even more! 

My favorite new fandom - The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is EXPLODING!  Not only did we have an AMAZING new video in #83 but we now have a new video diaries series from Gigi in the form of Pemberly Digital!  AND then this news comes out today...

A LYDIA BENNET SEX TAPE!  Poor Lydia!  I knew that Wickham was a giant douche!  Things are about to get messy.

Romance Novels

Romance Novels.  Growing up I always had a bad image of romance novels as smut filled trash reading.  I grew up in a conservative christian household in a conservative christian town.  If people read romance novels they did so in secret and did not talk about it or share those stories with others.  I did not even want to be seen walking through that section of the book store.  I never touched one until I was in my early twenties and determined to read EVERYTHING written by Meg Cabot.  After reading Meg's seven (plus one novella) adult historical romance novels I determined that I would be done.  And I was. Until a couple years ago when I hit a reading slump.

This reading slump comsisted of me not being able to get through any book.  They were all blah.  I needed something to clense my pallate and was wanting something light to read where a man and woman hated each other but then ended up falling in love ala Pride and Prejudice.  My friend Erin recommended Julia Quinn's The Viscount Who Loved Me. 

It was fantastic and exactly what I had been wanting.  Yes, there is sex but it is not the point to the story, as I had originally thought.  And when there was it was usually a point to it within the context or the story and the relationship of the characters.  They were not just books filled with orgies and rampant overly graphic sex scenes.  The sex is not and, in those that I have read, never has been the point to the book.  Romance novels are, in fact, novels about two people falling in love.  ROMANCE!  Who knew.  Lesson learned: Don't judge a book based on someone else's opinion.  You can use that for other areas of life too.
Since then I have read a number of other romance novels and discovered new and very talented authors like Julia Quinn, Jennifer Crusie, Elizabeth Boyle, and others.

One day a year or so ago, Erin, the same friend who introduced me to Romance novels, told me about a new author she had discovered named Kieran Kramer.  After reading the three books Kieran had out at the time, she found Kieran on twitter.  They had discussed an upcoming convention in Chicago at which Kieran was going to be involved.  Erin was wanting to go and asked if I would be interested in going with her.  So, after scheduling the trip, I grabbed her first books, When Harry Met Molly, and started reading her.  Three books later I was definitely a fan and had also friended her on twitter and facebook. 

Twitter is a magical place.  It gives the normals of the world, like myself, the ability to talk directly to actors, politicians, authors, and other people whom you would have no contact with, except maybe through snail mail, previously.  Sometimes these people don't look at the posts but sometimes they do and sometimes they respond back and you discover that they actually are very nice people.

This was the case with Kieran.  She messaged back and forth with Erin and when we told her we would definitely see her at the RT 2012 convention in Chicago she sent us her phone number and we had lunch with her and an author friend of hers.  It was an amazing experience.  Not just the having lunch with an author but the entire convention (even though we only did the Saturday events).  And now, I can say that an author I know personally is releasing her sixth novel.

Kieran's new book, the second in the House of Brady series, is coming out in February 26th.  The House of Brady series is written with characters from The Brady Bunch and is set in Regency England.  If you are a Brady Bunch fan, or have even watched some of the episodes, you will love the series.  The first book, Loving Lady Marcia, follows the oldest daughter.  The Earl is Mine, will twll Gregory's story.

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

Handsome, charismatic, and on the verge of becoming a successful architect, Gregory Sherwood, Lord Westdale, could have just about any woman he wants. So why rush to marry? So far there’s been only one woman he’s considered his ideal match. But that was before she had a secret affair with his best friend…with the help of an unwitting accomplice named Lady Pippa Harrington.

A PASSION TOO GOOD TO DENY

Pippa may not have acted in her old friend Gregory’s best interests, but she’s always believed that the heart sets its own rules. This is why Pippa must escape her arranged marriage–fast–by fleeing to Paris, where she hopes to pursue her artistic passions. To do so, Pippa will need all the help she can get–from Gregory, the one man she isn’t sure she can trust…or resist….

I can't wait for the newest book!  It looks so good.  And, to celebrate it's release, Kieran has a fantastic giveway with the chance to win a Kindle Fire, Coach bag, $50 gift cards, and more!

So, here's your chance.  Get involved, enter to win awesome prizes, and discover a fantastic author in the process!

READ KIERAN KRAMER

 

 The Impossible Bachelors Series

When Harry Met Molly

Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right

Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage

If You Give a Girl A Viscount

 

House of Brady Series

Loving Lady Marcia

The Earl with the Secret Tattoo (E-Novella)

The Earl is Mine

 

 So, I encourage you to read Kieran and get to know her HERE.  She's more interesting than you would think.  Did you know she was on Wheel of Fortune? 

Celebrity Death List 2013

It's that time of year again.  No, not the holidays.  It's time for the annual Celebrity Death List.  In 2011, I predicted 6 deaths correctly (author Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, actor Peter Falk - 83, Kim Jong-il - 69, Andy Rooney - 91, Elizabeth Taylor -78, and Amy Winehouse - 27)

2012's brought this list (deaths are in red):   Muhammad Ali - 70, Bob Barker - 88, Chuck Berry - 85, Ray Bradbury - 91, Gary Busey - 67, George HW Bush - 87, Jimmy Carter - 87, Fidel Castro - 85, Dick Clark - 82, Tim Conway - 78, Macaulay Culkin - 31, Charlie Daniels - 75, Doris Day - 89, Kirk Douglas - 95, Aretha Franklin - 69, Zsa Zsa Gabor - 94, James Garner - 83, Robin Gibb - 62, Billy Graham - 93, Andy Griffith - 85, Larry Hagaman - 80, Merle Haggard - 75, Etta James - 73, Russel Johnson - 87 (Gilligan's Island), Ke$ha - 24, Larry King - 78, Harper Lee - 85, Jerry Lewis - 85, Lindsay Lohan - 25, Courtney Love - 47, Rose Marie - 85, Penny Marshal - 69, Taylor Momson - 18, Peter O'Toole - 79, Joe Paterno - 85, Prince Philip - 90, Nancy Reagan - 90, Carl Reiner - 89, Keith Richards - 68, Mickey Rooney - 91, Charlie Sheen - 46, Margaret Thatcher - 86

And then there were the deaths we didn't expect and that hit us hard including Michael Clarke Duncan, Davy Jones, Norah Ephron, Neil Armstrong, Maurice Sendak, Whitney Houston, and others.

Who knows what this next year will bring.  Hopefully nothing too heartbreaking but... without further ado....

Celebrity Death Watch 2013
Muhammad Ali - 71
Patty Andrews - 94
Ed Asner - 83
Lauren Bacall - 88
Bob Barker - 89
Chuck Berry - 86
Gary Busey - 68
George HW Bush - 88
Jimmy Carter - 88
Fidel Castro - 86
Hillary Clinton - 65
Tim Conway - 79
Macaulay Culkin - 32
Charlie Daniels - 76
Doris Day - 90
Bob Dole - 89
Kirk Douglas - 96
Dick Van Dyke - 86
Aretha Franklin - 70
Zsa Zsa Gabor - 95
James Garner - 84
Billy Graham - 94
Merle Haggard - 76
Steven Hawking - 71
PD James - 92
Russel Johnson - 88 (Gilligan's Island)
Ke$ha - 25
Larry King - 79
Kris Kristofferson - 76
Christopher Lee - 90
Harper Lee - 86
Stan Lee - 90
Jerry Lewis - 86
Lindsay Lohan - 26
Courtney Love - 48
Nelson Mandela -  94
Rose Marie - 86
Taylor Momson - 19
Demi Moore - 50
Peter O'Toole - 80
Prince Philip - 91
Nancy Reagan - 91
Carl Reiner - 90
Keith Richards - 69
Mickey Rooney - 92
George Segal - 78
Ariel Sharon - 84
Charlie Sheen - 47
Margaret Thatcher - 87
Abe Vigoda - 91
Herman Wouk - 97

iTunes Shuffle Game

iTunes Shuffle Game - Version 2

Put your iTunes/Winamp/WMP on shuffle.
Use the song title as the answer to the question.
NO CHEATING

1. How does the world see me? How Bad We Need Each Other - Marc Scibilia

2. Will I have a happy life? Those Sweet Words - Norah Jones

3. What do my friends really think of me? I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

4. Do people secretly lust after me? Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield
----- BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!

5. How can I make myself happy? Joy To The World - Three Dog Night

6. What should I do with my life? Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

7. Will I ever have children? Friday Night - Lady Antebellum
------ Not this Friday but we'll have to see what day in the future...

8. What is some good advice for me? All of Me - Michael Buble

9. How will I be remembered? The Climb - Miley Cyrus

10. What is my signature dancing song?  Here's To The Meantime - Grace Pottter and the Nocturnals

11. What do I think my current theme song is? C'est Si Bon - Emilie-Claire Barlow

12. What does everyone else think my current theme song is? Marry Me - Martina McBride with Pat Monaham
------ Apparently I'm desperate.

13. What song will play at my funeral? Pressing Flowers - The Civil Wars

14. What type of women/men do I like? Hold On - Michael Buble

15. What is my day going to be like? Call It What You Will - Joe Pug
------ Is this a good or bad sign?

16. Will I ever have love again? Hey - Matthew Morrison
------ Appropriate

17. What type of sex life do I have? Firewood - Regina Spektor
----- Not sure what this means.  Also, these songs are getting a little personal.

18. What song would be the title of my own porno movie? I Got U - Selena Gomez & The Scene
----- What?!?

Off The Chain

iTunes Shuffle Game

Place iTunes on Shuffle and post the results.  No cheating.

1. What do your friends think of you? Amuse Toi Bien - Alice Dona
2. If someone says, “Are you okay?” Undo Me - Jennifer Knapp
3. How would you describe yourself? Wrong Feels So Right - Carly Rae Jespsen
4. What do you like in a {significant other}? Love Is All There Is - Sherly Crow
5. How do you feel today? Anything I'm Not - Lenka
6. What is your life’s purpose? 2 Dollar Shoes - Rosie Thomas
7. What is your motto? Jesus Loves Me - Jennifer Knapp
8. What do you think about very often? Mr. Tamborine Man - Bob Dylan
9. What is 2 + 2? In the Sea - Ingrid Michaelson
10. What do you think of your best friend? Sing Mary Sing - Jennifer Knapp
11. What do you think of the person you like? I Believe In Love - Dixie Chicks
12. What is your life story? Do You Wanna Dance - Bobby Freeman
13. What do you want to be when you grow up? Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce
14. What will you dance to at your wedding? Sing - She & Him
15. What will they play at your funeral? Buttons - The Pussycat Dolls
16. What is your hobby/interest? The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan
17. What is your biggest fear? Blessed - Martina McBride
18. What is your biggest secret? Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Glee Cast
19. What do you think of your friends? Te Busque - Nelly Furtado
20. What will you post this as?  Off the Chain - Selena Gomez & The Scene

Celebrity Look-alikes via My Heritage

Moral of the story:  I look like people with glasses when I'm wearing glasses.  Also, I apparently resemble Asian people.  I'm loving that Rachel Weisz one, though.  I'll take it.

Celebrity Death List 2012

Just like last year I have created my celebrity death list.  Last year my count was at 6.

Here was the list with those who passed bolded:
Dan Ackroyd - 58, Chuck Berry - 84, Ray Bradbury - 90, Lillian Jackson Braun - 97, Jimmy Carter- 86, Dick Clark - 81, Tim Conway - 77 (from the Carol Burnett Show), Billy Crystal - 62, Doris Day - 88, Kirk Douglas - 94, Michael Douglas - 66, Roger Ebert - 68, Queen Elizabeth - 84, Peter Falk - 83, Aretha Franklin - 68, Zsa Zsa Gabor - 93, James Garner - 82, Billy Graham - 92, Andy Griffith - 84, Larry Hagamen - 79 (TV star of Dallas and I Dream of Jeannie), Russell Johnson - 86 (the Professor from Gilligan's Island), Kim Jong-il - 69 (He's been ill... haha, I know, bad joke), Lindsay Lohan - 24, Rose Marie - 87, Penny Marshall - 68, Taylor Momsen - 17, Peter O'Toole - 78, Nancy Reagan - 89, Carl Reiner - 88, Keith Richards - 67, Andy Rooney - 91, Taylor Swift - 21, Elizabeth Taylor - 78, Amy Winehouse - 27

This year I again made a list.  Some were repeats and some were new.  However I have been lazy getting it put up on my blog.  I made it in January and have gotten 3 correct this year already.  And I girl-scout-honor you that this list has not been fudged to include some of those who already passed.  There were on the list and legit.

So, without further ado....

Celebrity Death Watch 2012

Muhammad Ali - 70
Bob Barker - 88
Chuck Berry - 85
Ray Bradbury - 91
Gary Busey - 67
George HW Bush - 87
Jimmy Carter - 87
Fidel Castro - 85
Dick Clark - 82
Tim Conway - 78 (Carol Burnett Show)
Macaulay Culkin - 31
Charlie Daniels - 75
Doris Day - 89
Kirk Douglas - 95
Aretha Franklin - 69
Zsa Zsa Gabor - 94
James Garner - 83
Robin Gibb - 62
Billy Graham - 93
Andy Griffith - 85
Larry Hagaman - 80 (Dallas, I Dream of Jeannie)
Merle Haggard - 75
Etta James - 73
Russel Johnson - 87 (Gilligan's Island)
Ke$ha - 24
Larry King - 78
Harper Lee - 85
Jerry Lewis - 85
Lindsay Lohan - 25
Courtney Love - 47
Rose Marie - 85
Penny Marshal - 69
Taylor Momson - 18
Peter O'Toole - 79
Joe Paterno - 85
Prince Philip - 90
Nancy Reagan - 90
Carl Reiner - 89
Keith Richards - 68
Mickey Rooney - 91
Charlie Sheen - 46
Margaret Thatcher - 86

Awards Season! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Dresses

Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge fan of all things Hollywood.  And this comes to even more of a frenzy during awards season.  So, when I missed the first half of the Golden Globes the other night I was shocked and slightly embarrassed for myself.  I even forgot to set the dvr!  Who am I anymore?  I don't even know.

That said, I think the Golden Globes is my favorite awards show because it combines both tv and movies.  Now, just becasue they are my favorite doesn't mean they are flawless.  Take last night, for example...

The awards show was somewhat predictable.  Does Meryl really deserve that award or is it just the easy pick.  That woman is one of the most overrated women in Hollywood.  Stop just handing her the awards!  Last night, Viola Davis should have won the Globe for her performance in The Help but, with the almighty Meryl in her category, she was shut down.  That said, Meryl's hair was cute.  Her dress, not so much.  It looked like she as at a barn dance, not a swanky awards show.

PROBLEM WITH AWARDS SHOWS #1: The same people ALWAYS win.

Now, that's not to say that the right people don't not win.  Look at Octavia Spencer winning for her perforance in the help.  Totally deserved.

In addition, I want to give my congratulations to The Artist.  I really want to see that movie and you most likely deserved the awards because it looks like an amazing movie.

 HOWEVER, and I have said this before...

PROBLEM WITH AWARDS SHOWS #2: COMEDY AND MUSICAL SHOULD NOT BE GROUPED TOGETHER!

There were some amazing comedy movies that were VERY deserving of awards but comedies never win when there is a musical in the category as well.  They are completely different art forms and deserve different categories.  There is a reason animated movies are seperate.  THEY ARE DIFFERENT.  So let's put the two in their own categories, or even put musical in with drama because they are closer in form in my thinking than comedies, because Bridesmaids and 50/50 really deserved some love last night too.

 

Moving on, the TV categories.  New Girl SHOULD have won last night, as well as Zooey Deschanel for her amazing performance in the series...

...but they were overtaken by shows on channels like HBO and Showtime.  This is one injustice that really annoys me.  Great for Laura Dern, great for Peter Dinklage, I'm glad Matt LeBlanc finally got his award, but COME ON! 

Cable tv and regular tv are NOT the same!  First off, there's the difference in money.  Look at how much more cash goes into the cable shows like Boardwalk Empire.  In addition, there's the difference in ratings!  Cable shows can get away with a lot more cussing, violence, sex, and other crap that regular tv shows can not.  They are completely different entities and should be judged as such.

PROBLEM WITH AWARDS SHOWS #2:  CABLE TV AND REGULAR TV SHOULD NOT BE IN THE SAME CATEGORIES!!!

How could you not give an award to that face...

 

Moving away from myy negative opinions, let's look at my favorite parts of the night starting with.... COLIN FIRTH!!!!

Anything with Colin Firth in it is good for me. 

Also, so jealous of Meryl in THIS moment...

And, added bonus of the night... Zooey brought her sister as her date.  Emily Deschanel love!!!

BEST DRESSED AND HAIR

Emma Stone

Shailene Woodley

Sofia Vergara

Claire Danes

Viola Davis

Sarah Hyland

Diana Argon

Tina Fey

Natalie Portman

Julie Bowen

Jessica Alba

Rooney Mara

Helen Mirran

Charlize Theron

BEST HAIR

Reese Witherspoon

Charlize Theron

Zooey Deschanel (It took me a little bit to decide but I do like this one.)

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler

TRENDS I LOVE!

Glittery Headbands

 

YELLOW!

Tiers - Props to those who can pull it off.

WORST DRESSED

Tilda Swinton

Sarah Michelle Geller

Lea Michele

Julianna Margulies