Sort of Like Doing Research. . .

I confess. My obsession with reality TV has sunk to a new low. I am now looking forward to Tuesday nights, so I can watch Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. Don't ask me why I watch. I'm not exactly a Tori Spelling fan. But there is something about it that keeps me coming back. Maybe it's the fact that she's pregnant and over-emotional (and boy, have I been there), or the fact that she has problems just like the rest of us (a dog who won't stop pooping in the house).

Last night, I spent an entire hour watching a very pregnant Tori obssess over her husband's young, dark, and beautiful scuba instructor, then take charge by spending a miserable day, sea sick, out on the boat with him just to keep an eye on things.

Not that I could relate to any of this, and honestly I didn't care one bit. Instead of watching I could've/should've been a.) working on my latest book, b.)reading a good book or c.)catching up on some much needed sleep. But did I turn off the TV? Nope.

Alas, summer reality season only comes around once a year. And besides, this season is going to follow Tori as her first book comes out and she goes on her book tour. So, really, it's all going to be quite educational. Sort of like doing research.

Happy Birthday to Me (And My Sister!)

In The September Sisters, the main character, Abby, and her sister, Becky, have birthdays that are one day apart in September. This was one element of the book where I really drew on real life! My sister, Rachel, and I also have birthdays one day apart -- in June. Last week I turned 30, and the next day, she turned 27.

When we were kids, we used to hate having our birthdays a day apart. Just like in the book, my sister would literally hold a countdown to her birthday all day on my birthday. It was so annoying and infuriating! It was as if she'd decided to be born six weeks early just to ruin my birthday.

But now that we're grown-ups, it's been fun spending our birthdays together. What cooler way to celebrate your birthday than with your sister who is also celebrating her birthday? This year was the first time in a few years that we were not able to be together on our birthdays, and I have to say that I missed her. So, Happy Birthday, Rachel! And now that your birthday is over, it's my birthday next!!