KISS MY FACE WINNER!

Congrats Mel Clark! Winner of the Mydols' songwriting contest. Here are the winning lyrics.

Its 2pm I am out here driving again
to the busy elementary school
traffics in my face
and I might be late
oh boy the teacher's gonna lose her cool

Just when I got it all together
I'm gonna mess it up all over again
Overwhelmed is the word
Momma needs to get hers served
its timeout to the bathtub again!

I need bubbles and candlelight
Momma needs r&r alright
just a lil bit of quiet would do
shut the door to the kids
a glass of wine take a swig
a dip in the water is gonna soothe

Just when I got it all together
I'm gonna mess it up all over again
Overwhelmed is the word
Momma needs to get hers served
its timeout to the bathtub again!

CHEFMAMA IN THE NEWS

One of the fun side projects I work on is ChefMama.com. I teamed up with Shelleen and Jill about 6 months ago and there was a story in the Freep today: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811300326
The response to the story has been fantastic. We got lots of new subscribers!

TRADITION

For the fourth year in a row, the boys and I went up to church last night and helped make pumpkin pies for the Manna Soup Kitchen. About 20 teenagers were there to help. It gets a little crazy, and I'm sure a couple of the pies are missing ingredients--but hopefully not many.

It's so much fun to see all the kids so devoted to the cause. We gathered in a circle and said a little prayer and I realized despite the crappy economy and the other woes of the world, my family is really lucky, especially me--to have such wonderful sons. I was so proud of them last night--you have no idea.

WHY TV SUCKS

Of all the creative things I've attempted--music, writing, animation, web design, interior design--nothing has been more challenging than producing TV. I just finished my television production course and I am in the midst of producing my first 1/2 hour show for public access television. I cannot believe how HARD it is. I have HOURS of time into my show and I have about a minute of tape ready. Television has elements of everything I have ever done.

Music--Yep. TV requires a soundtrack.

Writing--I have to write a story arc and voice over narrative.

Animation/Web Design--Lots of similar concepts, like fades and timelines. (Good thing I know Flash!)

Interior Design--Set design, color, composition--it's all there.

So while I love the creativity of TV, it is so hard. I have taped interviews where the image is beautiful but the sound is messed up and then revisited it to get great audio but crappy exposure. ARGH!

I think this is why so much TV sucks. Folks just run out of time and have to settle for something less than perfect.

One other thing. Last night I MC-ed a fundraiser at AJs in Ferndale to raise money and toys for children at Beaumont Hospital. It was truly a great experience.

TRAVEL WRITING

I just read a copy of Travel Writing as a Freelancer…Your Own Guide to Getting Published by Wendy VanHatten. As a freelance writer, I am curious about travel writing. My husband, kids and I have been to 48 states. Our goal is to see all 50 before my oldest son graduates from high school in 3 years. I have long thought our travels would make an excellent magazine article. Wendy's book got me excited.

She offers great advice from finding a market to writing a query letter. I liked the format of the book. It's sprinkled with assignments. They really got me thinking and helped me organize my thoughts. The information Wendy offers is useful to any kind of writing--not just travel writing but that is what she is certainly focused on.

Here are the topics covered in the book:

Topic Number One: Specializing & Specifics
Topic Number Two: Bright Ideas
Topic Number Three: Selling Your Article
Topic Number Four: Building Blocks
Topic Number Five: Story Structure & Headlines
Topic Number Six: Writing Finesse
Topic Number Seven: Travel Photography
Topic Number Eight: Toning Up
Topic Number Nine: Ethics & Etiquette to Nuts & Bolts

You can get more details and pick up a copy of the book at Travels and Escapes.


This post is part of a blog tour. Yesterday the blog tour was located at Virtual blog tours
and tomorrow the blog tour continues with Casey Wohl at GirlsGetaway Guide blog

WHAT ELSE?

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Radner (brother of Gilda Radner) about a place that is very special to me: Gilda's Club. He was so sweet and charming--and patient--with a couple of new producers. (My son Dylan went with me. ) It's obvious the Radner family has TV genes--Michael made suggestions about lighting and questions. He was a natural on camera.

I continue to spend lots of time at the TV studio--maybe too much time.

Also this week, I worked on various websites. I am working with so many people--chefs, publicists, radio hosts--and loving it. I wish I had more time to go to school and take some web design classes.

RADIO INTERVIEW AND BOOK REVIEW

This week I did a really great radio interview with Wayne Hurlbert up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Wow! This guy is really professional. He did some fantastic research on me and my book. I had a great time. I was on for over an hour. He also wrote a book review. You can read it at:

http://blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/rock-star-mommy-by-judy-davids-book.html

Or, here is a link to the show podcast recording. It's a free podcast download:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/WayneHurlbert/2008/11/19/Judy-Davids-Rock-Star-Mommy-LivingYour-Dreams

FUN INTERVIEW

I just did a fun little interview with Raven Entertainment Promotions. Check it out:

http://blog.ravenentertainmentpromotions.com/2008/11/21/judy-davids-of-mydol.aspx

ROCK STAR MOMMY MAKES "BOOKS TO READ" LIST

VIOLET ROCKS

It has been a long eventful day. FIRST, I finally got to meet little Violet. She is ADORABLE and Wensdy looks great. Wensdy also got an artist endorsement from Daisy Rock. That's her super cool new bass in the photo.

I interviewed Michael Radner today. He is Gilda Radner's brother. I spoke to him about Gilda's Club and his famous sister. He was funny and really thoughtful. I enjoyed talking to him.

Tonight my memoir writing class met. Our book is done! Yay! We said we were going to do it and we did. I interviewed the group for a documentary I am working on.

It was a long day but I feel really good about the choices I made. I am surrounded by great people and love.

MYDOLS SHOES

Details coming soon!

YES HE CAN

I voted for this guy. I practically gave up 2 months of my life. I knocked on over 500 doors. One weekend I knocked on so many doors, I won a contest--tickets to an Obama event at North Famington High School. Willie ended up in the newspaper the next day in a photo of Barack. (He was seated in the bleachers behind him.) About a week later I got to MEET Joe Biden and shake his hand. Pretty exciting stuff.

Now with the campaign behind me, I am trying to catch up with MY life. On Friday, Dylan and I graduate from our TV production class. Tomorrow I'll take a stab at editing a TV show called Oakland Inspired that will air in December.

I am also doing another kind of editing. I'm going through essays for my Gilda's Club project--"Stories from Behind the Red Door." I'm in LOVE with this book! I couldn't be prouder of my students.

Over the weekend, I read a memoir by this guy I know. Holy cow! It was great. He needs to find a publisher. I couldn't put it down. It chronicles all his dates and relationships. It's funny, tragic, heartwarming, weird, remarkable. At times, it makes you laugh. Other times it makes you squirm. Way to go Joe!