Electrolicious

So, I’ll be on The Today Show Wednesday morning for approximately 30 seconds (ok, maybe more like 2 minutes, but very very briefly!) talking about why I’m doing 52 Nights Unplugged and how it’s been going. There was a moment where it looked like the live segment was going to be cut completely, but instead it just got moved to the 10:00 hour — so I’ll be on sometime between 10 and 10:30. (Evidently the taped segment we did in Seattle will air twice — once between 7-7:30, and then again before my live segment after 10am.)

Also, how is it possible that I’m in a hotel room in Manhattan with no cell reception? WTF NYC! I get four bars in mom’s yurt in the woods of Bainbridge Island, and I can’t get nuthin’ in midtown? Jeez.

Update!
The full segment (both taped & in-studio interview) is now online:

Things have gotten unexpectedly insane in these parts. This Friday weekend I’m flying to New York. Next Tuesday (Feb. 19th) Wednesday (2/20) I’m scheduled to appear on the Today Show, first in a taped segment about that SoulTech workshop I went to last month, then in a live segment (!?) about how 52 Nights Unplugged is going. I’m guessing the structure of the piece will be something like this, but I won’t start crying. Promise.

In preparation for all this, I’m also getting a book pitch together in record time. My book proposal for Offbeat Bride took me months. This pitch is being cranked out in five days, and it’s actually almost a relief because there’s no time to second guess myself. There’s no time to question if this particular book structure is best because, well, this is the only one I’ve got time to think through. Changes can happen later, but for now it’s just straight through to get it done efficiently.

And what’s REALLY awesome is that the very nature of this project is helping me better focus on the project itself. That’s a nice bonus.

Anyway, this is all to say that updates here may be spotty over the next 10 days or so as things shift into hyperdrive. I’m so glad I got in my hibernating while I had the chance …

Ooh, it’s another unplugged night! I’m excited for it this week and not feeling that impending sense of urgency and dread I had last week. I have lots of brainstorming I need to do on my new book project and am planning on using large felt tip pens and perhaps some interpretive dance to loosen up the idea juices. I’m trying to pick a question to consider each week and this week’s is going to be Why is distraction so delicious?

Oh, and related to Unplugged Night: have I mentioned that I’m going to NYC in a couple weeks? Remember that Today Show thing? Turns out they want to fly me out to do a follow-up interview about how 52 Nights Unplugged is progressing. Perhaps I will do an interpretive dance to show them.

If you’re unplugging tonight, I hope it’s an inspiring, awesome time!

The Salon of Shame got a mention in an LA Times article about Cringe, … although the information isn’t quite accurate:

Similar shows have started across the country: Seattle’s “Salon of Shame” began in 2005 after its host learned about Cringe Night on Brown’s blog; it draws 150 people to each show. In Toronto, a show called “Adults Reading Things They Wrote as Kids” started this year.

I said the show had been consistently selling out our 65-person venue, so we were moving to a space that can hold up to 150. Somehow, that became 150 people coming to each show. Oh well. Perhaps it’s a prophesy!

The next Salon is May 15th.

Me and the wedding dress
Originally uploaded by .Ariel.
Today The Seattle Times features a series about weddings, and including an article about wedding dresses, profiling three different styles — including my electro forest fairy outfit from 2004. There’s an accompanying article about wedding costs, where I offer all my tips on the ways we saved money. That one’s over here.

Thanks to the fabulous Katie Toft, I finally was able to get my segment from Northwest Afternoon onto YouTube for all the world to see. Here’s me trying to explain the wackiness of hula hoops and rave music to a daytime television audience. I wore a black blazer to try to help my credibility, but I guess the braids still gave me away…

This spot aired on January 29, 2007 on KOMO 4, Seattle’s local ABC affiliate.