My D list celebrity sightings

So a few weeks ago, we went to a local Greek festival, and OPA! guess who was there performing a FREE concert? Yes, American Idol castoff, Constatine. Check out the photo from his "HOT" performance. He's a lot thinner in person.

Then...on a recent trip to the Hard Rock Casino in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, guess which MTV reality star I spotted now working as a consierge at the hotel? Gay Dan from "The Real World Miami." Looking absolutely fabulous and talking with his hands, of course.

Now what I want to know is when will I run into some A listers, like Brangelina?

Rock of Love/Scott Baio is 45 and single

Okay, so when I'm not being a wife, mother, writer, reader, exerciser, traveler...etc., I watch reality tv shows about has-beens. Like a good train wreck or car crash, they are quite addicting to gawk at.

There is a new show on VH1 called Rock of Love---which is about the lead singer, Bret Michaels of 80's hair band fame, Poison. He still has the long, bleached blonde hair and still wears the do-rags and at 40- something is making out with all kinds of drunken skanks half his age. It's so bad, I can't stop watching. Am I a big Poison fan? No. Is Bret Michaels hiding his receding hairline. Yes. It's very funny to see an aging rocker still look the same 20 years later and thinks he looks just as hot.

Now there's also the VH1 show "Scott Baio is 45 and Single" for all you Happy Days fans. I never knew Scott Baio was such a jerk to all these women. ...and Chachi was so sweet---my old crush is now crushed forever. Michelle Does NOT love Chachi any longer.

I can't wait to view more mindless TV when more 80s has-beens come back around. This time it's The Coreys. Sweet. Two train wrecks for the time of one.

Harry Potter

Are you into the whole Harry Potter craze? They are having parties all over town and read-ins for the lastest and last book in the series. I just don't get it. I have not read any of the books. All I know is that I am very jealous right now of J.K. Rowling.

At least kids...and adults too are reading!

$660 Million Priest Sex Abuse Settlement

Los Angeles, CA.

In one of the largest settlements ever for the victims of pedophile priests, I am happy that it finally seems some justice is being served. But is it really? Catholic priests have long been quietly shuffled around from parish to parish to silence the awful rumors of pedophilia. So for any other pedophile, they would have to register as a sex offender and face some type of criminal charges. Why do Catholic priests get "off" so easy?
Can a million dollars or more help to the pain after having your childhood murdered by some sick priest? Is that really justice for the victims, their loved ones, and for the pedophiles?

In my book, CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL, the character of Father Fingers gets shuffled off to a different parish after the rumors got louder and he continued to live his life, and his work in the name of Jesus Christ. How many more children had to suffer from the hands of an embarrassed diocese with their new priest? Priests who are sent to other churches don't suffer a consequence, they continue to destruct lives and molest innocent children. Catholics beware! Is your favorite priest a transplant from another parish?
Please--do not let your kids be alone with these pedophiles.

Dreamer?

I forgot to update the dreamer side of blog! Silly me! Does one have time to dream anymore? Actually dreamed last night of a big giant bee zooming and buzzing by my head. Might have something to do with husband actually slashing a dozen or so bee hives that were built sneakily under our deck.
Dreaming of book sales---more money to help fight domestic violence and a relaxing, luxury cruise to the Greek Islands.....mmmmm......better than bees.

Writers Write, Right?

Wow! It has been almost a month and I have not been blogging much. Busy with summer fun and a bunch of other stuff. Mom stuff mostly. Which brings me to me being a writer, I should be writing, right? And that includes blogging. Speaking of this blog--which is about news about my life as a Mom/Writer/Teacher--I should update you on the those three areas of my life.

Mom: Have waited to hit the potty training hard as I wait to get through my last jumbo box of Huggies. Xander's allergies have been flaring up lately (like Mommy's) as we have been spending lots of time outdoors---playing, swimming, checking out festivals in and around Detroit, etc. Going through lots of tissue over here as Xander's nose is constantly running.

Writer: Doing some shameless self-promotion as have plastered up book announcements all over town--you may notice my bright, neon pink flyers in downtown areas of Ferndale, Royal Oak and Birmingham. Trying to line up some radio interviews and of course, the internet marketing is never ending.

Teacher: On a much needed vacation. When I asked the kids what they learned in class as an extra credit option to their final exam---here were some of their responses:

"Nothing."
"That I hated reading boring Romeo and Juliet."
"I learned that you have a passion for coffee. You should open your own coffee shop."

I am also a wife! Of almost five years--this Friday! How does time go by so fast after marriage?? Happy anniversary, honey!

8 Days and counting

OMG! Like the students, teachers also cannot wait until the end of the school year. They have already checked out and left their brains and manners at the door. This summer I need to work on book promotion, writing of KIDS OF 8 MILE HIGH and hanging out with my now 2-year-old son, working on the potty training. GET LIT! Buy CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL, by Michelle Kane.

Mamapazooza

We took Xander to the Detroit Zoo over the weekend to check out some cool polar bears and sweet kangaroos, not to mention some great music punkified for kids from the Candy Band! Look how much fun he had dancing all over the place!

Go Xander!! Go! Dance! Dance!

May's MetroParent Magazine

My article, "For Mothers, For Daughters, For Discussion" is in the RECHARGING MOM section of this month's MetroParent. My book, CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL also gets a shout out! Happy reading! ...and Happy early Mother's Day Moms! Time to go and enjoy the rare Michigan sunshine with my son.

RAVE REVIEW FOR NEW BOOK

Please check out this week's Suburban Lifestyles newspaper. Book reviewer, Margo Lagattuta says, "There is much to appreciate in CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL..." and "This is a story many young people could relate to, and perhaps their parents as well."

Suburban Lifestyles

Anyone living in the north Oakland County area, please watch for my featured book review in next week's Suburban Lifestyles newspaper. Have you gotten LIT yet?? Buy CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL.

METRO TIMES

The latest & greatest news is that I have a shout out this week in the Detroit area Metro Times. Pick it up free at a bazillion different places around town. Check out p. 28...and GET LIT!!!!

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Today...is it still Easter Sunday?.....I was featured in a Q &A article in the Community section of the Detroit Free Press. Not local? Click here to read:http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070408/CFP04/704080444/1112#article_comments

Although there were some errors:
1. I grew up on the northwest side of Detroit---not southwest
2. I went to St. Suzanne, not St. Cecilia
3. My next book is titled KIDS OF 8 MILE HIGH---not 8 MILE HIGH

And yes...I really do photograph that bad!

Parent/Teacher Conference Nightmare

Okay, parents, here's the thing...after surviving 4 hours---yes 4 HOURS of talking to parents at our Spring Parent/Teacher conferences last night, I have a question. WHY ARE YOU BRINGING YOUR KIDS TO CONFERENCES? Nothing in P/T conference mentions the word "child" or student conferencing. Yell at your kid after you get home about his bad report card and how he/she is grounded forever. Please do not humiliate your child in front of his/her teacher. It will never bring positive results. I don't need to hear you threaten to come to school with your kid and hold his hand all through the halls as you walk through with slippers on and curlers in your hair. Please parents take this advice... get the report card, talk to teachers, be as brief as possible, and get home to your children and HELP them with the homework.

Catholic schoolgirl

Here's a photo of me on my first day of school at St. Suzanne, Detroit, Michigan. And this was only the beginning...

notice the church in the background.

Hellooooo Father Fingers!!!!! R.I.P.

BORDERS! BORDERS! Read all about it!

Now available for order at all major Borders Bookstores! CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL---can't find it on the shelves? Order it at Borders! The more readers who order the book, the more money we can donate to domestic violence organizations. Keep women & children safe. Peace & blessings, MK

SNOW DAY #2

I think the only cool thing about living in Michigan right now AND being a teacher, is like last Monday, today is another SNOW DAY!!!!!!! And Valentine's Day! Oh, happy day! Time to do more PROMOTION on the book, play with Xander, and catch up on stuff. Stuff? Exercise? Cleaning? Laundry? Reading? Anna Nicole Smith gossip? Doesn't matter---all that matters right now is TIME. Need more time, have more time, love more time.

Retraction

I promised a student I would make note that she did apologize for her behavior in class. And this was before I told her that I put part of her note on this blog. lol So, J.D.....apology accepted and it's appreciated. Most teens think that us high school teachers are the ENEMY. Even though we are HIGHLY underpaid, we still try to do the best job we can. Thank God today is a SNOW DAY with these brrrrific minus 1 degree temps and I can stay home & play with Xander and do some promoting. Good day for the rest of you to curl up with a good book, CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL....??? and read!

Press Release

Outskirts Press--For Immediate Release

Detroit author and school teacher announces the release of her autobiographical novel, Confessions of a Catholic Schoolgirl. Zeroing in on the Catholic Church controversy, author Michelle Kane reveals the kind of secrets the Catholic Church has been sweeping under the rug for years.
Detroit, MI, January 25, 2007 --(PR.COM)-- “Most people are too afraid to take on the Catholic Church, but not narrator Valerie Bernowski,” author Michelle Kane notes in reference to her latest book. “This is one protagonist who tells it like it is. Nothing and no one is off limits; including Valerie’s dead-beat dad, Ivan, and school pastor, ‘Father Fingers.’”
Based on Kane’s real-life experiences as a Catholic schoolgirl, protagonist Valerie Bernowski’s story unfolds through intertwining chapters of short stories. Readers will get a close-up look into real-life issues; such as domestic violence, divorce, rape, and the little discussed Catholic priest sex scandals.

Buy the book at: www.michellekane.com
A percentage of profits from book sales will go to organizations devoted to ending domestic violence

Read the 1st chapter of CONFESSIONS

Read the 1st chapter at: www.mrbellersneighborhood.com/story.php?storyid=1692