CHILI COOKOFF

I'll be judging the 13th Annual Chili Cook-off from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Page's Food & Spirits in downtown Farmington. My family has won this event twice in the "People's Choice" category. One year my secret ingredient was Sprite!

We're taking this year off from cooking and I'm judging instead. Stop by. You could win a copy of my book "Rock Star Mommy" while you enjoy some fine chili!

Proceeds from the event benefit The Riley Skate Park.

THE MYDOLS ARE HEADED TO NYC

The whole band is hoppin' on a plane on Monday and headed to NYC to be on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. This time I'll be on the show with Kara and Wensdy by my side. Marianne Williamson is also a guest on the show. She appeared on Oprah today!

I'm also going to work with Tish Meeks. She is writing a cool E-book on touring and I am hoping to contribute. We exchanged emails today. Tish is in the band 3 Kisses and was also on Wife Swap!

I also went up to Metro Chick Radio this afternoon and did some voiceover work for a project I am working on...it's a secret (for now). I hope I can write about it soon...While I was there I spoke to Lisa Marie about getting into radio. I'd love to produce a radio show about books and writing. She put me in contact with another producer and we have a meeting next Wednesday. Fingers crossed. I think I was born to have a talk radio show. Talking is my favorite pasttime. I was talking to a friend in LA today and he said he had to add minutes to his cell plan because of me!

MEET ME AT SXSW

Meet Judy at South by Southwest in Austin, TX March 13-15. She'll be at the Rockin' Moms trade booth in the Austin Convention Center every day and she's the host The 8th Annual Invasion of the GoGirls at Trophy's.

Judy will be signing her book "Rock Star Mommy" at the Austin Convention Center at 1:30 PM on March 15. Please stop by and say "Hi!"

Visit http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/ or http://www.rockinmoms.com/ for more info!

TIPS FROM THE ROCK STAR MOMMY

I am really pleased to be working with Tiffany Petrossi of http://www.rockinmoms.com/ as a contributor to her hip website. (Moms rock!) I'll be offering up tips each month from my book "Rock Star Mommy" on everything from where to buy go-go boots to dying your hair pink! (Or more like what to do when the pink dye doesn't come out as quickly as promised!)

My fav artist, Adam Turman, is designing a little logo for the feature. He sent me this sketch with my Daisy Rock guitar, which I absolutely love!

THE PLEASURE WAS ALL OURS

The Mydols got a big shout out from fitness punker Julie Hecker who wrote:

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE BANDS!! SUPPORT THESE BANDS!!! They jumped in to help me!!! The Punk Fitness Detroit DVD is going to have the best music, videos & live footage from these bands! Go To Their Shows! Go buy their CD's!!! This town wouldn't be rockin' without them! Their music makes our world go round!!!!!!!!

CRUD!
THE DISPLAYS!
ESQUIRE!
THE GO!
THE HARD LESSONS!
THE HENTCHMEN!
THE MYDOLS!
THE MUGGS!
THE ORBITSUNS!
THE PAYBACKS!
QUEEN BEE!
THE RUINERS!
THE SIGHTS!
SSM!
VIVIAN GEORGE!
SNAKEOUT!
CAROLYN STRIHO!

PACKAGE FROM KOREA

Yesterday I picked up a BIG box at the post office. It was a package from our former foreign exchange student Jee Yeon. Willie was with me and we had a blast rifling through all the candy, socks, belt, 3d puzzles....There was a little of everything.

It really made me miss her terribly. Jee Yeon was such a joy to be around. I don't think I have ever met another girl quite like her.

I also am really happy to say I am writing a story for one of my favorite magazines--Strut. I have a SUPER fun assignment. Look for it in the May issue.

ME ON MY WEBCAM

OOOOOOO scary! That's me on my web cam getting ready for my appearance on the Big Idea. I had NO idea (not even a little one) , how to use a web cam. I somehow took this picture. I was going through some computer files and found it.

I still haven't seen my little spot on the show. My mom taped it for me.

On Saturday, I had my first sort of appearance as an "author". I went to an event at the Elks Lodge in Livonia and was treated like a celebrity. I really enjoyed myself. Next week I judge a Chili Cook Off! I think authors are treated with a lot more respect than musicians. (Or maybe my writing is better than my guitar playing.)

John is feeling a lot better. He went and saw his doctor on Saturday. We made a 4 minute casting tape for him this weekend. He was asked to try out for the "host" role on a new show about architecture. Considering he was in a lot of pain and was extremely medicated (!), I think he did a really good job. It took me 8 hours to edit, but I loved every minute of it.

MYDOLS ARE HOT MAMAS

Another cute, cute, cute picture from David Reed. He sent me hundreds of them. It's taken me two days to go through them all.

TIPS FROM THE ROCK STAR MOMMY

I am really excited to be working with www.rockinmoms.com to bring "Tips from the Rock Star Mommy" every month. I'll be reading excerpts from my book. I'm also hoping to be involved with the Rockin' Moms podcast too.

Today I recorded an essay. I hope to have it up soon.

NEW BAND PIX

The super lovable David Reed took some really cute pix of the Mydols with our new bass player Wensdy Von Buskirk.

GET WELL WISHES

It sure has been an exciting couple of days. John slipped on some ice and broke 3 ribs and collapsed a lung. He spent 2 nights in the hospital. I think he really enjoyed his stay...he had cable TV and a morphine drip and he got to run around half naked. He looked like he was in heaven! Oh, and our neighbors made him a big batch of brownies too.

The phone calls I have received the past few days have really meant so much to me. Dylan's friends are from the nicest families. They all rang to see if they could help me out. (We had 5 of Dylan's friends here when John fell.)

And the most beautiful bouquet of flowers just arrived from John's office.

This afternoon I pre-taped a little segment from our home office via a web cam that will air tomorrow night on The Big Idea. I LOVE that show. They are super nice to me. Anyway, I ask a question of one of their guests and I get to plug my book in the process. I tell you, modern technology is really something.

PHOTOS/VIDEO/RADIO/TV

The Mydols are getting band photos taken tonight with our new bass player Wensdy. Her brother-in-law is going to do our hair. (That's her on the left with one of his creations.)

Tomorrow night I am shooting a video (talking about Rock Star Mommy) for www.womenforhire.com.

I'm also doing a radio interview for www.spunkybean.com. AND, The Big Idea call me AGAIN. I'll be taking part in an upcoming show via a web cam!

BEAGLES ARE NUMERO UNO

WOO! WOO! As the owners of a super cute cuddly lovable Beagle, we have one question. What took so long! We sure are proud of Uno and his accomplisment, but we think our Barney is pretty fabulous too.

We got Barney last summer from the Humane Society in Detroit. One day Willie just decided he wanted a Beagle. To this day he's not sure why he picked that breed. The next thing we knew he'd found one on the Human Society website. Barney was the featured "Dog of the Day." It seemed like divine providence. We had to drive all the way up to New Baltimore to meet him. He was in foster care because his collar was ingrown into his neck. He was abandoned as a puppy in Detroit. (He still has a scar from where his collar was surgically removed.) Barney is a great joy. His little nose gets him in a lot of trouble but it's the "good" kind of mischief that you have to almost admire him for. When he first came home he was soooooo skinny. Now he's all plumped up. He's a keeper.

ROLLER DERBY QUEEN ROUGH CUT

Here's a sneak peek at a video our friend Kate Perotti is working on.

MEET THE MYDOLS NEW BASS PLAYER!

Our fabulous bass player of 5 years, Paige Gilbert (far left), moved to Seattle last spring. It sure is hard to replace her but we think we've found the perfect gal--Wendsy VonBuskirk. That's her in the middle. Wensdy played bass for the Basements and is the mother of a cute toddler.

Johnny Miller (also of the Basements) will join us on the drums while Pat (far right) takes a little time off to spend more time with her family.

We've got some shows in the works and are looking forward to getting out of the house and playing!

MUSICAL CHAIRS

My book arrived today! It sure is cute. I also got some "Rock Star Mommy" tattoos in the mail. They are adorable. If you want one, just email me.

The Mydols have been asked to play at Ohio Bike Week in Sandusky, Ohio in June. They want us to play at a Harley dealership while the Burning River Derby girls engage in a game of full contact musical chairs. Sounds like a blast.

What else? Oh, I am shooting a video next week for WomenForHire.com and we are getting new band pix taken. The Mydols have a new bass player--Wensdy VonBuskirk!

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

My editor has a copy of my book on her desk today! I am so excited. I should see 1o or so on my front porch in the next day or two.

Last night I met with my Writers' group at Club Bart's in Ferndale. I gave a light presentation on book promotion. I had a great time.

PUNK FITNESS

John and I went to a Punk Fitness class today at the Magic Stick in Detroit. We worked our buns off to some really cool music from The Sights, The Go and The Displays to name a few. (Of course, there was a Mydols' song too!) John learned how to hoolahoop. He's an expert now. After class, The Mydols signed a song licensing deal with Julie Hecker to use our song Roller Derby Queen in a PUNK FITNESS DVD!

We are really thrilled for this opportunity to have our name in the credits with some of the hottest bands in the Motor City. What great exposure for this band of mothers.

ANOTHER BIG IDEA

That's right. My show re-airs tonight! I just found out yesterday. I'm front and center on www.BigIdeaDonny.com today with a picture of my book and a caption that reads:

The American Dream: Rockstar Mom
On the surface she may seem like a normal mom... but under the surface she's a Rock Star! Her story, along with Duff McKagan and American Gladiators tonight! Click above for a complete list of guests!

Pretty cool.

I also have 3 contracts to sign. One for a magazine story I sold, and two for licensing rights for Mydols songs. If you live in Australia listen for Roller Derby Queen on the telly next summer. Here in the states our music can be heard on a Punk Fitness workout DVD soon.