Going Forward, I Should Also Remember To Sit On My Hands During Interviews

Oh, look, another post.  

Apparently I actually meant it when I said I'd post more frequently.  Hmm.  How 'bout that?

Anyway, I just got a couple of pieces of video forwarded to me and thought you might enjoy them.

First up, a few quick questions on writing process with my friend Jolene.  (Be warned - there's a single stringy piece of bang swimming around the ocean of my forehead.  Look away or else it will make you crazy.)  (Coincidentally, this is the video that made me break up with my salon.)  (Really, should I have had shapelessness and visible roots like this after two weeks?)  (And I think that's enough parenthetical caveats for now.)

 

Next up, a longer piece that's also on The Huffington Post.  This is a segment for The Interview Show with the very funny Mark Bazer that I did back in December.  The interview was really fun, but I can't help but notice the effect that three months of deadlines and a sinking house and moving and not seeing Barbie and having Christmas cookies for dinner have impacted me.  The good news is I'm not mad at myself.  Instead, I'm super-motivated to get my ass back on the treadmill for the next four to six hours/days/weeks.  (I don't care about the numbers on the scale, but I do miss my strongs.)

So, the Lycra is on, the sneakers are tied, and the next time you see me America, I'll be... sporting a better haircut.

Comments

[Tami]

Keep posting! I love it! I can't wait for the next book!

Also, I would LOVE some commentary on the Real Housewives of Orange County as well as Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels.

Sadly, I watch those 2 shows as well with my mouth draped open for most of the episodes. Quality television right there.

[Kelly]

Oh your video just cracked me up !! I just finished (an am horribly sad) Bright Lights and laughed out loud - when you were saying what you wanted in a personal trainer and your upcoming publicity shots/interviews. THEN .. I see this video and you are sitting next to Jessica Simpson on the cover of Cosmo and it says "Total Body Sex" ... another great laugh !! Thanks! I will be checking your blog hourly until your new book comes out. Thanks for the real life giggles you give !

[Kimberley]

I need to have a heart to heart on how you broke up with your salon. So this should read, "Dear Abby (read Jenn), I've been with my salon and my guy for longer than my hubby. Need a change. Do I say it? Do I just run away into the night like a felon? Do I write a note like a school girl? Help!! Signed, Sad and wanting to have good etiquette in Atlanta". Feel free to email me if that's more appropriate.

[Megan]

Watching your interviews made me love you even more! And I now agree with Kristine M. in that I feel like I need to reread the books to tide me over until the next one comes out - waiting is difficult!

And so is getting back on the workout horse - I'm on workout #2 for the year and I think it's going to be a rough battle. But knowing there are so many others out there fighting the same one I feel better about things.

P.S. Please come to Sioux Falls, SD (where is this you might ask? Middle of Nowhere but still fun!) or even Minneapolis - I'll drive!

P.P.S. Thanks for all of the great posts! I definitely won't care about advertising on the site if I'm so thoroughly entertained!

[Angie]

In 5th grade my teacher made me sit on my hands for an entire hour - she didn't believe I was capable of words coming out of my mouth without my hands waving all over the place.

...quietest hour of my life.

[Penelope]

I don't know if you like her, but Jillian Michaels (Biggest Loser trainer) has a GREAT workout video called 30 Day Shred. It's only twenty minutes and includes strength, cardio and abs. I've lost nearly twenty pounds in the last four months because of it! I always pass the info along to anyone looking to lose weight. Good luck and keep blogging!

[Kristine M.]

Loved the interview videos. Now I want to reread the books (and I probably will!).

[Reluctant Housewife]

I think you look great - Killer boots! Love the boots.

So fun to see you live AKA not just in print.

[Kerry]

Seeing this interview reminded me why I bought my first Jen Lancaster book....you mentioned Lucille Bluth! I figured this girl gets what is really funny. I have been know to give the first season of Arrested Development as a gift to a new friend. If they don't watch it (or love it), drop 'em like a hot potato.

[Amanda]

Jen, watched the videos...funny! Looking forward to the next book. I met you and Fletch a few weeks ago at Home Depot. I got a major case of the "oh my gosh, a real-life celebrity" and got so nervous and barely said anything! Both you and Fletch were very nice and and very real. Hope you got alot of use out of the grabby-thing you were purchasing that you wished you had patented. :) I'm a Purdue grad, too, keep making us proud. Happy New Year!

[Lora]

I just started reading your blog today and I'm IN LOVE. I literally sat at work from 8-4:30 and read an entire years worth. I'm going out and buying all your books, like, TOMORROW (well, the first one at least) Keep on rockin!

[kim]

Jen, Please come to St. Louis soon! I'd love to buy you a drink. Your books are the best. Please keep it up.
Kim in St. Louis

[Melissa]

Jen? You. Are. ADORABLE!

Please come to Toronto for a book signing so I can tell you in person.

Also 60 minutes of cardo? Not. ADORABLE. Very. INHUMANE.

[Arden]

You? Are the bomb diggity.

[hebba]

Oh, I can't wait to see you speak (hear you speak) --whatever, I'm an idiot-- in February!

[Erika]

Love the bang thing! I peed in my pants just a little bit, but it made my day. As far as the hand thing, I'm a spaz with mine too - glad I'm not alone in it.

[MZA]

Wait -- I watched it again. It's not your hands -- or hair -- that's distracting, it's the Glamour magazine promising "Total Body Sex" right next to you.

I heart Jen.

And I may go buy a Glamour.

[Terry from Mass.]

Jen, I have to pile on the love, as I didn't notice the bangs or the hand movements just that you are seriously funny.

[Stefanie]

On the upside, the boots you're wearing for The Huffington Post interview are *supercute*.

[Stephanie]

Jen, You are so funny! I loved the last thing you said in the second interview because it is so true!! I am glad that you will be posting more and I can deal with the ads. I am with you on the weight loss wagon - back on WW today!

[Lisa Johnson]

JEN you absolutely rock! Don't worry about the hands or the bangs we love you no matter what. Went to the doctor today for a 30 day blood pressure check. Congrats from her on having lost 6 pounds in a month over the holidays. She suggested checking out a website she likes called hungrygirl.com for recipes for stuff like lattes and guac that taste like the real thing so you don't feel like you're giving everything up and can't eat like a normal person.

[Rose]

Love the interviews. Thanks so much for posting the videos.

Also, congrats on the article in the Costco magazine! A very pleasant surprise when I got my most recent issue.

[Heather]

Thanks for all the posts today, Jen. I really needed a laugh.

[Gigi]

Talking with your hands? We of the Sicilian persuasion understand perfectly. No apologies or adjustments necessary.

[Lizzie]

Loved the interviews!! I had forgotten about your wedding happening during the porn awards. I just got married in Vegas on December 27th, and I also had a fun little porn related twist to the event, just like you did. The ceremony was perfection, but later when we were having dinner, when it came time to pay, our credit card was rejected. Called up the bank right there at the table, and it turns out as we were getting married, someone had gotten hold of our credit card info (through computer fraud) and charged almost $1000 to some porn site.

[Ann M. Pitman]

P.S If you have never been interviewed, you just won't understand. The camera is on you, and nothing but you, and you can't just sit there not moving, and listening, you have to look like you are paying attention and listening closely and thinking about what you are going to say in response to the current question, (hold on - gotta go screech at the little dog forcing me out of my chair to climb on top of me to bark piercingly directly into my ear!) or you are going to have that frozen-deer-in-headlights-look. Email me, Jen and let's chat, but not now, my 4th book deadline looms large on the horizon and I have to go tell my editor (like right NOW!) she needs to change it, 'cause I ain't gonna be makin' it! Or email her, since I am going deaf .....

[Ann M. Pitman]

MORE POSTS?!?!? Color me AND my roots HAPPY!

[Paige]

Jen, you just have to move to Philadelphia so I can do your hair. Problem solved.

[Chrissy D.]

The hand thing doesn't bother me at all but that is probably because I am a hand talker of the worst kind. You can try sitting on them but that never works for me. All articulation, vocabulary and pronunciation goes straight out the window for me if I can not use my hands.

[the governor of jennsylvania]

MZA, truthfully, I normally go with unpolished nails (but groomed - always groomed) unless I have a big event. Plus, at the time I'd been doing too much stuff around the house to keep polish looking good.

Suzanne, I just got rid of all the blonde highlights after having them for so long. My really dark rinse that was supposed to cover the last of the blonde washed out after a few days, hence the mousiness (and the firing of my salon.) Argh.

And I just finished 60 minutes of cardio plus an ab workout. Want to go die now.

[MZA]

Love your interviews. You are as funny when you speak as when you write. Lemme give some unsoliticed advice: if you are going to use your hands a lot, get your nails done first.

Your nails were more distracting to me than the bangie-bang. I don't know why -- I just think of you as a girl with a perpetually fabulous manicure. It would be so you!

Said in the spirit of love,

Your biggest (size 24-26) fan.

[Amy]

Haven't we all had that bang problem at least once in our lives. I have a rather lovely family picture with a wayward bang. I was impressed that you sat still during the interview. Do you have to think about that or does it come naturally? Maybe moving your hands keeps the rest of you still.

[Trisha]

Jen, I totally wish I could be more like you and just be happy with strongs -- however I am completely addicted to my scale! Good luck on continuing to be healthy -- its a tough road!

[Kate]

Yeah, you might be a little heavy but those boots are 15 kinds of fabulous!

[Suzanne]

Jen, Have you considered blonde highlights? I think they would incredible with your pretty complexion!

[kristin]

FWIW, I wouldn't have NOTICED the freaky little bang wisp if you hadn't pointed it out, thankyouverymuch.

Love you anyway. :-)

[Sweet Herald]

You do so well in interviews. I didn't realize Pretty in Plaid was a prequel to Bitter is the New Black. Yay! Bitter was my favorite of the three.

"...who's not here...because..he's a pussy"

laugh.
You crack me up.

[sue Treiber]

cookies are a perfectly acceptable dinner.
I say so. Shut up.
Nice to hear you!

[Domestic Goddess (In Training)]

Ok that bang in the first one is going to haunt me in my sleep!

[Angela]

JEN -- I'M YELLING SO YOU'LL SEE THIS -- you have to check out "Inside Out Weight Loss" with Renee Stephens. It's so YOU (okay, not funny, but sensible and helps you get even MORE about that 'being a grown up' thing and how that impacts weight loss). You can get there through my blog site. Or on Itunes -- it's FREE!!!! (yes, she has ads, but otherwise, it's FREEEEEEEE!!!!)

Hugs,
Ang

[CityGirl]

For what it's worth, I think you're hilarious despite that wily little bang (drove me crazy, should've heeded your warning) and your spaz-tastic hand gestures.

I, too, will be giving up soda as per my new weightloss regime. I'm determined to lose 15 pounds by my birthday!
I wish you (and I) the best of luck in all our sweating "strongs"-retrieving endeavors!

[Lee]

Damn, a second post. Jesus, don't burn yourself out..I, too, am back on the goddamn treadmill bus...The number on my scale is ugly right now...Yes, that piece of bang is extremely annoying...

[Sweet Jen]

I saw the scale for the first time in two weeks. It scares me. Back on the bus. No more Pepsi ( I will you miss you my beloved carbonated drink!)...and back to Souper Salad for my daily lunch. Yum yum.