I promise I'm not a tease

I THINK my appearance on Joy Behar will be tonight. I know I've said that before, but I'm pretty darn sure this time. It's on at 9 Eastern / 8 Central on HLN. EnJOY! (I know, cheesy. Sorry.)

Also, here I am in the waiting room to tape a segment on The Talk. I was interviewed by Marion Brooks who was really kind and funny. Smart cookie. Oh - and she's one of the most stunningly beautiful women I've ever seen in person. It'll air on NBC Chicago this Sunday before the Today Show.

And here's a new article in ForbesWoman.com. I'm a really big fan of this magazine. It's a newer publication and is really smart.

I'm SO excited as I'm getting ready to launch my next project. Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Sweet home Chicago

Heading back home today...can't wait to see Jim and my cats and be back in my cozy apartment. I'm feeling so overwhelmed and anxious. All of the media for my book has been exciting for me, but entirely out of my comfort zone. I don't know how Oprah does it on a daily basis...although, of course, being in the media is Oprah's comfort zone. Still, it's tough to be under a microscope. Magnifying glass? You choose the most appropriate metaphor to insert.

I have to say that it's tough to have my motives questioned. And yes, this is ironic, as I've studied Oprah in this way for over a year. I am reminding myself constantly to take time to breathe and pull my head out of the sand. I can't hide in fear over reactions to my book or my opinions and I know I'll never make everyone happy. I actually think it's fascinating that some folks are fired up because I have admitted a deep respect for Winfrey and others think I'm a jerk for thinking Oprah is a fallible human being. Oprah is incredibly polarizing. I haven't met a single person yet who is entirely neutral about her. Fascinating!

One of my best girlfriends told me that I should be happy that my book has inspired so much discussion. She's right...I just need to build a bridge from that logic to my heart. Today I look forward to the possibilities of learning about what you think of the book and my conclusions - good, bad, or ugly. I will not shy away from criticism. Even though I really, really want to. A lot.

For those of you who have wondered when the Joy Behar piece will air, I'm not entirely certain yet. I will let you know as soon as I hear. She's a funny woman. My goodness. Very quick. I think I was sitting on the edge of my seat through that whole interview, ready for any fastball she might throw. It was exhilarating!

Good morning

OMG

Guess what I just read in a tweet from Joy Behar? Dr. Oz is going to be on her show tonight. Well, what do you know....SO AM I! Ha! I was wondering who the 'big name' would be after I did my interview. Now I know. Maybe I'll wear hospital scrubs in his honor.

Any bets on whether he'll get Joy to try a neti pot on camera?

Mom, Dad, set your DVR!

Your little girl's gonna be on TV! (I'd feel so glamorous, if I wasn't fighting off a nasty cold that makes me sound like Donald Duck and Lauren Bacall's lovechild)

Giggling my butt off...I'm in midtown Manhattan in my hotel room. Getting ready to iron my clothes for my appearance on the Today show tomorrow morning. I'm crazy excited. But I am worried I might burn my clothes with the iron. If you watch the interview and see a giant blackened, iron-shaped burn on my shoulder, please avert your eyes.

I'm not sure who will be conducting the interview, but I think I'll be in the 8am hour. I'm not positive though, so don't quote me. I can't wait to report back to tell you who I see in the green room and what kind of food is on the buffet.

And also verrrrry exciting for me - I'll be on the Joy Behar show tomorrow night on HLN. I packed 8 million outfits, but I'm pretty sure I know what I'll wear. I love Joy. It's going to take all my strength not to give her a giant bear hug when I meet her. Instead, I'll pretend I have some class and simply shake her hand. We'll see how much self-restraint I have when my nerves and adrenaline kick in. When I get spastic like that, I have all the grace of a hungry St. Bernard.

As long as I'm not breaking any rules, I'm going to try to take some video of myself tomorrow to take y'all with me on this wild ride!

Enough shameless self-promotion. I'll put a list of where else you can catch me in the next couple weeks on my website: www.robynokrant.com.

I won't get the chance to see Oprah tomorrow because of my jam-packed schedule. I see on her website that I'm missing out on the "jeans Oprah can't stop talking about!" Now, that sounds like some amazing denim. Let me know what you think of the show and if you think you might buy a pair of these jeans for yourself!

NOW she tells us

Today I received my new year’s bulk O-mail when I turned on my computer. I gave a little giggle when I saw this quote in bold letters at the top of one missive:

“Often we don't listen to who we're meant to be because we're so busy trying to live out someone else's ideas. But other people and their opinions hold no power in defining our destiny.” —  Oprah

YES! I’m so glad that she’s saying this, but will people listen? Or will it bolster their desire to return to the reluctant guru for advice? After studying Oprah for a whole year, I believe from the bottom of my heart that it is her goal to empower girls and women. The irony is that even though mama bird frequently pushes her babies from the nest, somehow the umbilical cord isn’t always severed and we fly right back to be fed.

I don’t think this is Oprah’s fault. The lack of self-esteem, self-worth, and self-direction that makes self-help a BOOMING industry is not an epidemic of her making. So yes, she is part of the system, but so are we all who can’t trust our own wings.

It might take more than a bold font at the top of an email to drive her point home, but my fingers are crossed that during her last 18 or so months on television, Oprah will work with us all to start a revolution and forever change the way lifestyle advice is doled out by the entertainment industry.

I, for one, am committed to making some major changes in my life and I’m in the midst of creating my own Declaration of Independence. I’ll post it on this blog once I’m back in Chicago. But for today, I’m going to sit back and enjoy the Rose Bowl Parade with my family.

Happy 2010!