Loaded Dice

My dad just sent me a video. And I have no words. I just want to know... How in the HELL does he do that!? Loaded Dice

Shopaholic-aholic

The year was 2003. I was roaming through Barnes & Noble one evening, as I often do, when I came across a wonderfully pink spine that read 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. I pulled the book off the shelf and read the back:

"Rebecca Bloomwood just hit rock bottom. But she's never looked better....

Becky Bloomwood has a fabulous flat in London's trendiest neighborhood, a troupe of glamorous socialite friends, and a closet brimming with the season's must-haves. The only trouble is that she can't actually afford it — not any of it.

Her job writing at Successful Savings not only bores her to tears, it doesn't pay much at all. And lately Becky's been chased by dismal letters from Visa and the Endwich Bank — letters with large red sums she can't bear to read — and they're getting ever harder to ignore.

She tries cutting back; she even tries making more money. But none of her efforts succeeds. Becky's only consolation is to buy herself something ... just a little something....

Finally a story arises that Becky actually cares about, and her front-page article catalyzes a chain of events that will transform her life — and the lives of those around her — forever."

I was intrigued. I left the bookstore with 'Shopaholic' and a few other pink books. Don't judge me. VanGough had his blue period. Mine just happened to be pink and come in the form of books instead of priceless works of art.

Anyway, I read the book as fast as I could turn the pages. Show of hands... who else ignores their bill statements because they believe if they can't see them they don't exist? Or, who buys two sweaters because the sign says "Two For The Price Of One" when you could really buy one for half the price? That's what I thought. Becky may be insane but there is some small part of her in you.

I passed the book around to friends and family who also loved it and was thrilled to see "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" hit the shelves four months later. We all read it and it was just as funny. Then five months later, along came "Shopaholic Ties the Knot" and the spark was gone. Let's just say, I read it but was less than thrilled. The novelty had worn off and I was left reading about a woman who can't seem to get her foot out of her mouth long enough to take control of her own life.

I thought that had to be the end of it. She was married to a millionaire. What more could there be to the story?

A year later I was roaming around Target when I saw it... "Shopaholic and Sister". A long-lost sister!? Are you kidding me? I have not read it. I refuse to spend money on it. And have forgotten all about it until today. I got an 'Author-Alert' email today from Barnes & Noble letting me know that Sophie Kinsella is releasing a new book... "Shopaholic and Baby".

The basic plot of the latest installment is Becky's pregnancy; complicated of course by the fact that her "celebrity OB" happens to be an ex-girlfriend of her husband who will stop at nothing to win him back. The plot summary at Barnes & Noble online concludes with this poiniant summation: "Effervescent and clever amusement best enjoyed by thosewhose hearts beat faster at the thought of thousand-dollar baby furniture." Enough said.

Get in line soon. This soon-to-be classic hits the shelves February 27th.