Here's a quick pic from my booksigning event last night at the Barnes & Noble in Rochester, Michigan. The gal next to me is Laura, Vampire-Book- Seller Extraordinaire. She's fabulous!!

(And thanks to everyone who came out last night…Cheryl, Lauren, Heather, Debbie, Kathleen, Linda, Jeff!) 

And….I wanted to mention that I'm giving away a copy of Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned From Judy Blume, which is a new hard-cover collection of essays by such talented authors as Meg Cabot, Julie Kenner, and my dear friend Diana Peterfreund.

The contest is on my other blog, Muse/News, so head on over there and put your name in. The book looks fabulous! 

I finally finished my re-read of The Order of the Phoenix. Now to decide when to start my inaugural read of The Half-Blood Prince. Now…or closer to July 21??? 

I think my favorite book is still The Goblet of Fire, although I must say I liked The Order of the Phoenix better the second time around. Which is your favorite Harry Potter book? 

No, not me. I'm referring to the news headline that features Salary.com's poll about what's the sexiest job.

According to them, last year a firefighter was the sexiest job. (I'm going to have to tell my brother, who is a self-proclaimed redneck and firefighter) about this. Somehow, knowing him, it just doesn't compute.

However, when I see something like this…well, it sways my opinion. I admit it.

The problem with this is, I know lots and lots of firefighters…and they just don't look like that. Normally anyway. So I have a hard time voting for that as the sexiest occupation.

Although maybe I'm going about it wrong–I shouldn't be paying attention to physique, should I? After all, this isn't the Sexiest Man competition…it's the job, stupid, not the guy in the job.

In that case, I think I'd have to vote for the sexiest job being President of the United States. (It's the job, not the suit in it, remember?) Power, money, private airlines, security, travel….

Naw. Maybe not.

Sexiest job?

They list: Professor, Personal Trainer, UPS Driver (UPS driver???), Cowboy, Reporter, Surgeon, Pilot, Veterinarian, Interior Designer, Soldier, Nurse, Investment Banker, CEO, Firefighter, Event Planner, Bartender, Construction Worker, Landscaper, Police Officer, Lawyer, Teacher, Photographer, Flight Attendant.

(How come musician isn't on the list? That's a no-brainer, in my book!)

 Hmm. Based on the options, I guess I'd vote for Professor. They just know so much! (Power) And they can be cute (absent-minded) or sexy (Harrison Ford as Dr. Indiana Jones?), and they have to be confident, because they get up in front of people to talk. Yep, I think that's my vote.

(I mean, look at Sean Connery too, for pity's sake. Definitely. My. Vote.)

You can cast your vote for 2007's Sexiest Profession here. 

A New York cab driver returned a bag with 30 diamond rings in it to his fare–after she tipped him a measly $.30 on a $10.70 fare. (Whole story is here.)

Gotta love that.

And the big-spender, who was a female jeweler from Dallas, actually offered him $100 as a reward for returning probably $100K or more worth of jewels. Woohooo!

After stiffing him on a tip (she apparently gave him a $20 for the $10.70 fare, and asked for $9 back…good grief!), she left her stuff in the cab and he managed to track her down by calling her home number on the luggage tag.

Bravo on the cab driver! Warms my heart, let me tell you.

But it does confirm something I do believe: that most people–the vast majority–are honest. That's why you see people leaving their computers sitting on a table at a Starbuck's or Panera or whatever and it still being there when they get back from the counter/restroom/whatever.

Do you agree?

Oh, and not surprisingly, the woman from Dallas didn't want her name released. I'm sure it's not so much because she left the jewels, but because she doesn't want everyone to know what a cheapskate she is.

This falls under the category of pimping my friends, but this can hardly be called a chore when it's such a pleasure (and easy thing!) to do.

My dear friend Marchella makes the most gorgeous, unique, detailed faeries you've ever seen…and she's got one up on eBay this week.

Great Valentine's Day gift for someone you love….

Check it out.

(This is a pic of one of my favorite faeries that she's done…alas, it was sold several years ago. But there's always hope she'll make another sort of like it.)

We're talking favorite beauty products over at Muse/News today…stop by and check out Kristina Cook's list of her Top Ten Faves.

(Ms. Cook is one of those who doesn't go out of the house unless she's washed, coiffed, and made up. Me? As long as I'm wearing lipstick, I'm okay. It's my way of saying…."Yes, I intend to look deliciously messy, thank you–see, I'm wearing lipstick to prove it!").

How about you? Will you go to the grocery in your sweats, after working out? Or do you like to be neat as a pin and wearing matching socks? Or some lovely combination of the two?