JenLeoLIVE!

The Trip Chicks Radio Interview

I'm going to be interviewed for 30 minutes today on 1620 AM in Atlanta, GA (3:00pm EST).
The Trip Chicks are an intrepid pair of women with a travel radio show called "Escapes" which airs each Monday on 1620 AM Radio Sandy Springs.

I think you can listen online here on Radio Sandy Springs.

Smokin' Aces is Awesome!

John's home! To combat the jet lag, we tried to stay out and away from the couch as much as possible. We saw Smokin' Aces. I loved it! To the point of clapping at the end of the sparsely attended 5:40 showing. I already can't wait to see it again. John was shocked at my enthusiasm because casing for casing, it'd be hard to tell which movie was more violent, this or Pulp Fiction. Heck, I'd love to see the bullet counts on Pulp Fiction, Scarface, Godfather 1&2, and Heat. So, even though he knows me pretty well, for some strange reason he didn't realize that violent mob movies are my favorite kind of flick. Maybe because there hasn't been one this good in a long time.

The website is just as kick ass as the movie, so get your butt over there. And, it wouldn't hurt at all to play around on the site and get a feel for all the characters before you go see it. There are so many players in this movie that in the beginning you spend a fair amount of brain power wrapping your head around them, but by mid way through the movie all is clear. At least that's how it was for me. I went in, knowing very little about the movie.

For the poker fans out there, this movie has nothing to do with poker at all. Zilch. And that's a good thing. There are cards in the theme because one of the main characters is a Vegas magician and cards are his thing.

Creative Screenwriting, a newsletter I get, had a terrific interview with the brains behind Smokin Aces, Joe Carnahan. He tells how this movie was inspired by his fascination with Frank Sinatra and what would've happen if someone like Frank wanted to become a Don. Sadly, they haven't posted it to their website yet. But writer Ben Rock had this to say about it:

Undaunted, Carnahan launched into his latest film, Smokin' Aces.  A kinetic and stylized film filled with jaw-flapping G-men and wise-cracking hit men, Aces promises to bring a fresh and long-awaited heaping-helping of neo-noir to hungry viewers.  Starring everyone from Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman to Alicia Keys and Ray Liotta, and centered around the conflagration of a mob bust and several simultaneous multiple hits -- all on a magician-turned mobster (played by Jeremy Piven) -- Smokin' Aces is writer-director Carnahan's biggest and funniest film to date.

The interview with Joe Carnahan should be up on the site within a few weeks. You can look for it in the "From the Trenches" section.

Man, that was a good movie!

CURRENT: Pasadena, CA
NEXT: Las Vegas, NV (Feb 14-15)

 

WIRECARD Me, Thanks Full Tilt!

It's here. The new way for us U.S. folks to get our hard earned American dollars into Full Tilt! I'm thrilled. It must've launched today or yesterday after I posted about the Cash Transfers.

Wirecard—a virtual Master Card.

It begs for a MC slogan....

Click2Pay, woosies
ePassporte, if you've got the patience of a saint
Wirecard—don't make me say it.....priceless!

They seem to be a German company. All I know is I'll be getting my $$ ready for Feb 1! Thanks, Full TIlt!!

Cash transfers for us online poker playing yanks?!

Am I the only one missing playing on Full Tilt? Right after the U.S. Neteller ban happened I immediately signed up for ePassporte. It was only supposed to take them four biz days to put a small deposit in my bank account that would verify me and let me move forward to depositing funds. It's been a week and nothing yet. Not even a response when I emailed support.

Then, I heard that whispers that Full Tilt might be launching some new way to put $$ in. I checked out their site and saw the Cash Transfers. I don't know if this is old or new, but I'm excited about it. $250 (their MoneyGram minimum) is steep for a small time player like myself, but I'm just thankful that there is a way that we can get our cashola in there. Then I heard someone else say that you can send in a check to play.

I can't imagine what the pros are doing right now. I know it's hard enough for poker writers to get paid and get their money out. What are pros doing that have to pay rent? I got another tip from a friend that said he knew someone who would transfer $10 in Full Tilt money for $9 U.S. to keep the fish in. Sounds good to me! I might have to get hooked up.

Anyway, let me know if you've tried the MoneyGram Cash Transfers or have found another way to play.

CURRENT: Pasadena, CA
NEXT: Las Vegas, NV (Feb 14-15) - good thing I keep these notes, John forgot we'd be in Vegas on V-Day until he saw a posting here on JenLeoLIVE!

Nearly 100,000 books sold!

I just found out that the Sand in My Bra series (plus A Woman's Path where I had co-editor credit) have sold nearly 100,000 copies. 92,000 to be exact. I don't know if that includes translations but still, at $14.95 per book, that's more than a million in sales!

Presenting Well

I've slowly been mastering how I present myself. Would you believe that before Sand in My Bra came out, I didn't blow dry my hair—let alone have it styled, wax my eyebrows, get my nails done, or brush my teeth?  Well...And it's funny how each year I added one new thing on how to make my appearance slightly stronger. Clothes are still my biggest struggle in this department, but here's the lesson around looking good:

Smile.

A long time ago one of my bosses said that my enthusiasm was my strongest suit. I was in my early twenties and immediately took this as an insult to my intellect. I could not believe that I was employed because I was easily excitable. I knew I should've bought that hot dog stand instead of finishing college!

But over the years I slowly saw how this trait was a constant commodity. It is what draws people to me. My smile, my sincere interest in other people, and the strong handshake my grandfather taught me doesn't hurt either. I know not everyone has a great smile, solid handshake, or confidence when they walk into a room. But you can get it quite easily. Just think of the things that make you feel the best. Clean sheets, a full tank of gas, the moment when someone tells you you're hired, after you beat the pants off your opponent in a game, making some one exceptionally happy, crossing home plate after hitting a home run....

Everyone has their moments, or had a moment when they felt on top of the world. Remember what that felt like? Call it up. Pause before you enter a room and think about it. See if a smile doesn't creep across your face and then do it, walk in.

Life is and isn't always about what you wear. But it's not always the kind of clothes you think it is.

I wrote this today because I have a few events this week that I would like to brush my teeth for. And it never hurts to think a loud.

Good luck!

CURRENT: PASADENA
NEXT: Anywhere, please. (Vegas Feb 14-15)

John, Pauly, and Brandon at the Big Day Out

Pauly and Brandon have been posting about their excursions. So, since I know that John's friends come here to check up on him, I'll continue to post what I know about his adventures. They had a blast at the Big Day Out, and left yesterday for the famed Byron Bay. John was concerned about the internet, so I'll just make a public reminder that Global Gossip is the place to go in Oz if you need internet. They've got computers, they've got cheap intl phone booths, and as of my last trip, they even had WiFi where you could bring your own laptop. But, if John is reading this, he has Internet. Next...
Anyway John fans, here's a video from The Big Day Out. Lets hope they're having a blast at the beach. I was thrilled to hear how much John loved the Gold Coast and how relaxed he felt there. Now he knows what I'm talking about! He's headed back to Melbourne on his Wednesday and then he and another colleague will be taking a drive on the Great Ocean Road. I'm so jealous.

I Love My Job at TypePad

I don't talk about my different freelance projects that often. But one of them is co-writing the TypePad Featured Blogs with Harold Check. I met Harold via Weblogs Inc. when we launched PPlayer (now CardSquad) in 2005. Harold is an editor at Six Apart and one of my few friends that satisfies the part of my brain that is in a constant state of web-lust. The part of me that wants to be Jenopolis rather than Jen Leo, or the eager kid that wants to be a part of every great blog in the blogosphere.

TypePad Featured Blogs fuels this inner blog slut like nothing else. I actually get paid to pour through blogs, then discover and report what's great about them. If you love blogging like I do, it's a dream job. A constant source of inspiration and education.

Yesterday, I hit the nail on the head. I was assigned to write up Beauty Dish. The blogs that we review are often filled with one (or many) good reasons for us to spotlight them. But Birdie really impressed me. She's an amazing woman, and a fantastic blogger. An absolute shining example of someone who is doing it right. I've already written my review, and you can visit the blog we're talking about here. She's expressing her passion, sharing wisdom and providing a service, working for a reason, keeping it personal, and being honest—key elements to a successful blog. I was dying to know if Avon was paying her to write. It's clear she is an evangelist of her own accord, but I sure hope she's getting a little something something from the higher ups.

Anyway, since one of the main reasons I write JenLeoLIVE! is to connect with my family, I thought I'd post about this. Not only can you see one of the things that I do, but you get to see one of the ones that got an A. Read the comments, apparently my writing is getting better. I don't always nail the reviews or get the bloggers with such accuracy, but this time I did.

CURRENT: PASADENA
NEXT: ANYWHERE, PLEASE!

John, Pauly, and Brandon at Versace Hotel

I read on Brandon's blog that the boys are staying at the Versace hotel in Southport. Here are some pictures of the hotel. I walked through there a few months ago.

 

They also have a pianist on a grand piano playing in the lobby with fresh orchids all around.

 

The guys are going to have such a good time at the concert. I'm so happy John and Pauly get a few days off to have some fun. It's been a long and grueling tournament. And of course, I'm terribly jealous they get to see the Killers. That's who I'd be most excited about.

John Gets Home in a Week

Ok, I'm over it. Here's a homefront recap of his absence.
The first week I was fine and excited to live the bachelor life of leaving my clothes wherever I wanted, having the glass cleaner spray out of its cupboard for easy access,  and playing way too much online poker with no one monitoring my hours (or losses).
The second week Pissyness ensued as I could see and read about everyone that was over there and day dreamed about being in Ausralia for a tourney with Pauly, Jay Greenspan, Brandon, The Blonde Ivey acting like the Blonde Gavin, and Gavin being Gavin. All was made better by a decent bender at our poker home game, and John offering to use miles to bring me to Oz. Me declining because....
The third week Fully engaged in my work. Swamped. Trying to finish everything as quickly as I can. Working harder than I have in a long time. Must clear the plate!
Fourth week Full on pity party. Ready to go get a real job just so I can afford therapy. John who? The next eight days will be checking off things on my honey do list, cleaning, and (see The Third Week).
The week he gets back, predicted: He'll be on the couch and I'll be on the next train out of here.

Bah Humbug.

CURRENT: Stupid Pasadena
NEXT: What next. I'm livid that I didn't go anywhere or do anything fun besides one day at the movies and a couple nights of poker home game. What happened to Baja? San Diego? Why the heck did I waste a full month and not do things that would've made me happy. Oh yeah, I had to work.