MOVING DAY!!

I'm finally jumping the shark, and heading over to Tumblr.

You can find me at:
Verena Says (version 2.0)

While Tumblr isn't as pretty as it is over here, I think I can genuinely say that I like it better, and bonus points for you folk -- I'll most definitely update it more. Whether said updates will be of any quality, well, that's up for debate. And hey, it's a blog. Quality, Schmality.

So, goodbye. (For now. I'm commitment phobic - with blogs at least - so I'm not promising anything.)

PS. I may have completely mis-used the term "Jump the Shark" here, but I found it a highly relevant term, and it also makes me sound all media knowlegeable, so there.)

PPS. Awesome Pic is from Natalie Dee. Check her out.

Radio Is Alive And Kicking! And I'm On It!

Following the unprecedented success of my "Tan Is The New Tacky" post, (it was the 4th most read blog on the site, following three about the primaries), I received a message (on Facebook, no less) from CFBR TalkNews Radio producer. (Yes, radio still exists.) I was asked to do a live (LIVE!) call in interview only a few hours later. So, this morning, at 11:30AM EST, I was bantering back and forth with a Mr. Leslie Roberts, on his eponymous show about the pros, cons, and what the hells? of tanning.

So, for your listening pleasure, my (old) media debut.

And the moral of the story is: Video did NOT kill the radio star. But the internet's definitely working on it.

PS. Seriously, listen to it. I sound like a huge dork. And I call Cameron Diaz, Carmen. But, besides that, at least one day, you'll be able to say you knew me way back when people still went on radio shows.

It's Official!

I'm a writer.

Why now, you ask? Well, because I'm getting paid. Not permanently, or consistently by any means. But I'm getting paid. In one installment. For one assignment, but a paycheck is a paycheck is a paycheck. Particularly when it's a fat one!

I also think it's official because I officially now keep writer hours, staying up till ridiculous times, tearing my hair in frustration. Who knew this was so fun?

Also, I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last updated. That's embarrassing. I really think I need to try Tumblr. I don't know why, but it seems like it would really facilitate constant posting.

The End.

It's Very Hard...

...to write personal things about oneself in a public forum.

I've Changed My Mind

Stay here. Tumblr and I still have some warming up to do.

It's Not Goodbye.

Perhaps because I'm immensely proud of the fact that this is my second post in one day, I'm going to try a little experiment to see if I can get myself blogging more often.

There's a new, hip kid in town, and his name is Tumblr. I learned about it from Julia Allison who I don't know, but whose blog I read quite regularly. That said, I do know Rachel Sklar, who knows Julia, so therefore, I'm not that creepy. (Not that reading a blog is creepy, because that would totally imply that you, my reader, are creepy, and you're totally not.) Anyway, it looks very user friendly, with big fat Mac-like icons, so I'm thinking that maybe, just maybe, I'll start posting more often.

So, without further ado, until I tell you otherwise, and because I said so, check me out at http://verenasays.tumblr.com.

Adios!

How Many Times Do I Use The Word "Awesome" In This Post?

I clearly am no good at updating my own personal blog. But I do have plenty of news.

First up: Last post, I said I'd do a "Guide to Judging" follow-up for the menfolk. Well, while I didn't do it here, or even on hair, for that matter, I did do it on Manners, and over here, aka HuffPo, aka my-non-employer-that-I-still-"work"-for-that-I-wish-was-my-real-employer. Wait, this is a public blog. I didn't say that! I love my job! Do you see that, Boss? I LOVE MY JOB. Whew. That was a close one.

But back to the post: apparently people like to argue about manners.

(Some friendly advice? Don't bash men in ponytails in a public forum, particularly on the internet. Makes for unhappy commenters.)

That said, I'm happy to announce that I had a RECORD number of commenters. So, happy or unhappy, commenters - I love you!

Second up: In addition to my Bi-Weekly (or Semi-Monthly, if that helps) Style Column, I am about to embark on a very public, very weekly, and very spiritual journey. No joke!

Story as follows:

I'm humbly working away at my desk, when out of nowhere, Arianna Huffington calls me from her car! (OK, that's not really how it happened. There were Editors and Assistants involved and it was a Pre-Organized Conference Call, but whatevs, she was still in her car and she was still calling me, so that totes counts.) And what is it that Ms. Huffington could possibly want with me, one of her 2,500 strong army of minion(ette) bloggers? She wants me to chronicle my "spiritual journey" as a young, hip, 20-something female in New York. Whee! I'm young! I'm hip! But I'm totes not spiritual (nor am I on a journey, of any sort, for that matter).

But apparently that's a good thing! So, every Wednesday on the HuffPo Living page I will be posting, for all the world to see, My Spiritual Journey*. (Working Title. That said, ideas would be much appreciated. Arianna, and yeah, we're on a first name basis, likened it to Sex and the City, a la "Spirituality and the City", but that doesn't quite roll of the tongue the way you want it to.)

First step in my journey? Interviewing Sister Wendy. The cutest, most adorable, most hug-craving inducing old woman I have ever seen. (She's also the photo that I used to accompany this post. She's that cute. I can haz Sister Wendy?) Besides being a nun (which is kind of awesome in that "really, nuns still exist?" sort of way), she's also a totally awesome art historian with PBS-style books on tape that a lot of people grew up listening to. And she also just came out with a book on prayer that's supposed to be kind of awesome and as non-religious as a book on prayer can be.

So, let's give it up for Sister Wendy, who will be answering all my "How do I start a Spiritual Journey" questions, and hopefully, being an AWESOME start to My Spiritual Journey.

*Author's Note: I, in no way, mean to imply that I will actually get anywhere on this spiritual journey. Author is not accountable for any non-spiritual and/or poor moral choices made over the course of the journey. Also: expect some mockery and judgment. I am a blogger, after all!

This Blogger's Guide to Judging People (By Their Hair)...

...can be found right here.

Since there's a slight chance that people who read this blog know (or think they know) me better than my oh-so-loyal HuffPo readers, feel free to judge away here as well. Although, I don't think many of you need an invitation. (Snarky C-Man lovers: I'm talking to you.) I'll even post a bigger photo, if you need it - just say so in the comments!

Also, due to OVERWHELMING DEMAND (ha!), there will be a follow-up to this guide, namely: A Blogger's Guide to Judging Men (By Their Hair). And that will happen over here, so, stay tuned for that.

And lastly - to those of you that find themselves (or others) in my descriptions: You're probably right. Except those of you who are offended. Then, no, you're most definitely wrong.

Why I Might Not Hate Angelina Anymore

I used to have a serious vendetta against Angelina Jolie. (And I hesitate to use the past tense there because I'm pretty sure I'm still not sold on her.) But then I read this Esquire article (that I highly recommend you read before going any further, as otherwise I think you'll just be lost, because I'm too lazy to even try to summarize it for you), and it kind of changed my life. Not really. But, it did make me kinda, maybe, sort of like Angelina (a little bit).

Read it? OK.

Besides the relatively awkward and uncomfortable fawning the author does over her "moistness" (eeek...), the whole thing was really, really interesting. And well written, and refreshing. And really, the fact that she did that whole thing with the Asian tigers and the Asian Elephants (and the subsequent creation of the "largest elephant migration area in Asia"), and the Asian Millenium Village (which includes ten villages, 6,000 people, and 72 employees), all of which is directly paid for by Angelina and Brad, well, that stuff was pretty awesome.

Whew. Who knew? (Probably the bajillion people that actually read, or read about, this article back in July when it was published...)

In any case, I might have to retire my Team Aniston shirt. But don't worry, I won't be picking up any Team Jolie shirts (or any other Team shirts for that matter; I'm notoriously non-competitive. Unless we're playing Monopoly, or Connect Four, or Taboo, or any other board game really, but that's a whole other blog post.), because what I'm trying to say here, is that while I don't officially love her yet, I don't hate her any more.

And to boot, my whole "OMG, I, LIKE, TOTALLY HEART AJ NOW" moment was a little bit tempered by this Slate writer who apparently hated the article, [and probably hates Angelina, though to be fair, I did (do?) too.]

So, there.

Oh, and thanks to Jezebel for opening my eyes to this whole thing, and also writing about it in a far more original and coherent and interesting way.

I'm out.

Question:

Am I the last person on the face of the earth to realize that Razorlight is kind of awesome?