Make some popcorn… set the DVR… cuddle up on the sofa…
for my big television debut on HGTV’s “Great Rooms With Meg.”
Airing this Saturday, June 16th at 8:00pm Central time.

Now sure, this isn’t my first television exposure… not to gloat, but I was on WGN’s
Bozo’s Circus when I was a little kid. And, not only was I on the show… I played the
game at the end when they would have a group of kids all playing the game. The challenge
was for me a my partner to stack cups & saucers on the flat end of a baseball bat. I held the
bat, and she stacked the cups & saucers… tallest stack a the end of the game wins!
Well, let me just say I was suddenly the proud owner of big prize…
a View-Master 3-D ‘Scooby-Doo’ Slide Projector!!!

But I digress…

Back to the real show… get ready to watch my “20-seconds of fame” this Saturday on HGTV.
I did a special project for them for a kitchen remodeling show they were doing. I made the
pieces and they came into my studio to do some filming of Meg and me. We did almost five
hours of filming… but I’m confident all of “my best work” will be left on the cutting room floor!
I’m sure they’ll craft all the pieces together to make a great show. I’m confident… or…
The editors thought it would be fun to see me all sweaty, flustered and rambling on like an
idiot on screen. It was seriously like 90-degrees in my studio. Trust me, it could go either way…

And let me just say… I still wish I had kept the ‘Scooby-Doo’ View-Master!!!

Tonight I went to see “Snow White And The Huntsman.”
From the trailer, it looked pretty cool. Lots of great effects and stunning visuals.
Well, it did live up to the trailer. Charlize Theron was pretty incredible as the
Evil Queen. Snow White on the other hand…

Okay, so the role of Snow White is played by Kristen Stewart from the “Twilight”
trilogy that I luckily avoided. Anyway, I didn’t quite “buy her” as Snow White.
Reportedly the “fairest in the land” – with lips as red blood and skin as white as snow…
you know the drill. Let’s just leave it at… I wasn’t a fan.

However…
One of the Previews before the movie REALLY has me excited!
So by now I’m sure you’ve realized that I’m a big “Les Miserables” fan.
I’ve seen it FAR too many times. Every show. Every version. Every soundtrack.
Even the French concept album… and I don’t even speak French!

Anyway, the trailer was for the upcoming full-feature, musical movie version of
“Les Miserables” After more than 25 years, my favorite Broadway show of all time is coming
to the movie theaters. I had heard the rumors of a movie… and was kind of scared that they
might mess it up. Well, from the looks of the movie trailer… they did a great job!!!

Click here to see the movie trailer for “Les Miserables”… coming out this Christmas 2012.

Finally, an air date…
Saturday, June 9th at 8:00pm Central.
More details to come…

I had a wonderful time up in Minnesota this weekend surrounded by thousands
of incredible pots… and the talented artists who made them! So much fun touring
the St. Croix River Valley area with old friends & making new ones…
and buying a few beautiful pots along the way!!!

So I just got home from a whirlwind trip to Dover, Delaware!
I had to go out there for meeting about an upcoming “glitter gig.”
We were there for just over 24 hours!

But it still counts in my “states I’ve been to” challenge.
My rule is that I have to actually sleep overnight in the state for it to count.
Only about ten more to go!

Sadly, I didn’t really catch too much of a sunrise this morning.
but I did love the early morning sun reflecting off the bleachers!

Just when I pleased that there seemed to be some extra money in my savings account.
Good thing the IRS was able to take care of that for me. Whew…

A beautiful sunrise bike ride this morning.
A quick & productive morning of throwing in the studio.
Of course, at some point, “reality” has to come crashing down to rain on my parade!

This afternoon is my official “kick-off” of my painful tax season. I think I’ve put it off
long enough. It’s not only a “reality check”… it’s a “reality $$$ check.” Cha-ching…

While I was out in St. Charles, I also found the cheapest gasoline I’ve seen in a LONG time!
It’s been around $4.55… $4.65… even $4.75 in Chicago lately. So when I saw this…
I had to top-off my tank! In only wish my tank were lower so I could get more cheap gas!!!

Today was a day of culture & fun… culture for Taylor & fun for ME!!!
My favorite niece Taylor is on Spring Break this week and chose to come downtown
to spend a today at the Art Institute with me today! So my sister Jennifer packed ’em up
and headed downtown, along with one of her co-workers, her son Gabe… and Flat Stanley!
You know that scrappy, little flat guy gets to travel the world more than you & me!!!

Soon we were inside and visually overwhelmed – just like everyone else there! We toured
pretty much the entire Museum, starting in the original part with Japanese arts & ceramics,
Indian artifacts, glass paperweights, tapestries, furniture and so much more. We went down
to the Garden Cafe, past the Chagall Stained Glass windows… which were unfortunately
obstructed for routine maintenance. After lunch, we headed to the fun stuff… Picasso, Monet,
Gauguin, Cezzane, O’Keefe, Van Gogh, and the rest of the Masters! As always, the highlight
for most kids is Georges Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon On The Island Of La Grand Jatte.”

We also worked out way through the sculptures and the Chicago architectural pieces by
Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. The beautiful Sullivan gates were a perfect photo op
for Taylor & Stanley… apparently, “T” is for Taylor!

Before we left the original Museum space, we did stop off at the Thorne Miniature Rooms.
What little 7-year old doesn’t like exquisitely made, masterpiece doll houses?!

Then, we went over to the new Modern Wing of the Museum. I question a lot of what’s there…
I think my sister was hoping that I would be able to “explain” some of the things they call “art”
in the Modern Wing. Sadly, I couldn’t. I’ve never subscribed to the concept of “I’m an artist
and therefore anything I make is art.” Seriously, some of them are drop cloths! Or scribbles!
And even if I don’t quite “get it, I would still appreciate it if the craftsmanship was well-done.
Apparently, that didn’t matter for the American Modern Artists. At least the European’s I can
appreciate. Maybe not like them, but at least admire them for what they are. Picasso, Dali,
Kandinsky, Giaccometti, Goncharova… and my favorite Surrealist Rene Magritte!

Here’s a sneak peek… my HGTV pieces
were picked up by the Producer today!
Pretty sure they get installed tomorrow?!!!
Can’t wait to see them on the “big reveal.”

I’ll definitely let you know when the episode
is going to air as soon as I find out! Date to come…
Plus more pictures & stories after the “big reveal.”