12/1/09
World AIDS Day 2009




11/18/09
Wow, it was fascinating to be shot down in Chinatown by NZ's PM. i showed up at Parliament with Dr Jim Salinger to present to our Prime minister, John Key, the money raised in traditional Kiwi form, dollar by dollar at cake stalls and sausage sizzles, in order to purchase him a ticket to Copenhagen for the world Summit on Climate Change. He declined to come down to meet us. Well, the man is running a country after all. Plus, the farmers are screaming at him over the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme, PLUS, China is breathing heavily down his neck (and not in a loving way) about the Dalai Lama's trip here. It was a tough day for the PM and I imagine we were just the icing on the cake.

John Key has great leadership skills, is smart and is immensely popular. We need him in Copenhagen to show our good faith in this critical World Summit on Climate Change.

I see our cousins in Australia, who fought beside us in two wars and who are our most valued trading partners, frying in heatwave after heatwave and it's only spring! How can we ignore their plight? If Kevin Rudd will attend the Dec 14 Summit, it would be an awful slight to our erstwhile brothers in arms. Our Prime Minister must go to Copenhagen!
L


10/9/09
FEEL THE LOVE
Thank you all for jumping in boots'n'all.  You are an inspiration to me!  Perhaps we should take the “Lucy Lawless” out of FEEL THE LOVE DAY, since we really want to open the idea up to people who are not fans, right?  Hard to believe, but there are a number of them on the planet.

I am off to a Sign On promotion today.  Putting pressure on our government reps to come clean on Carbon Emissions policies.  Climate Change is The No. 1 issue facing the human race.  PLEASE SIGN ON TO A CLIMATE CHANGE GROUP IN YOUR AREA!!

We can contribute in ways big and small.  It's good to ask, what's in my sphere of influence?  If you were a child, then being a good son/ daughter/pet-owner and student is probably enough.  Maybe not littering is where a child's responsibilty ends.

Even for adults Climate Change discussions can be pretty tough.  But, conversely, every single change we make in the direction of sustainability is totally life-affirming.

How about the concept of a “soul tree”?  In the next year, I am going to plant a native tree for every person in my family, including nieces and nephews.  They will grow without much help as long as the drainage and light is okay.  They bring the native birds and my beehives have already produced our first batch of honey, which we put in all our old jam and pickle jars.  I love hearing the Tuis and dream of one day having Kereru or NZ Woodpigeon drunkenly crashing about the garden, high on Nikau berries.

You don't even need to go to a plant nursery.  Wherever in the world you live, you can pick up seeds from plants along the side of the road.  They are free and plentiful and you can see which ones thrive in your neighbourhood.  Just note the kind of aspect they are growing in and try to replicate that.  If they grow really big, don't plant them under telephone wires!  There's no reason we can’t plant sensible things even on small patches of ground, is there?  And fruit right off the tree is wildly nutritious.

We've instituted quite a few changes in our home of late, trying to get our lifestyle more in line with the environment's needs.  Showers are down to 5 minutes or as brief as possible.  We now buy cellulose trashbags (even dog-pooh bags!) that biodegrade but are tough enough to do the trick in the short-term.  Buying locally grown foodstuffs.  Low-wattage lightbulbs, turning on the heating as little as possible, opening windows instead of fans, planting an organic garden is next, plus chickens.  It is really, really fun!

Random thoughts of what I would want to do to get more out of my time on Earth.

If I am young:
1. Have lots of fun!
2. Be a good son/daughter/friend/student.
3. Maybe ask “do I really need a new one of those, or does my old one still do the job?”
4. Maybe plant something on the grass verge/in backyard.
5. Don't Litter!

If I am over 25:
1. Wake up!  I am now a grown up and I will never feel anymore grownup than I do right now.  Enjoy the fact that I have free thought and can question authority and belief systems and test them against my own gut feeling of right and wrong.  I can change my mind as I grow.
2. Enjoy the good things in life, the things that cannot be bought.
3. Enjoy my child's free thought.  The free child is invariably good and social.
4. Question anything/anyone that diminishes my health & freedom or that of others.  In their environment, being happy is an act of rebellion.
5. Question what tells me that without their product or belief system I am “less-than.”  In their world, being emotionally/practically self-sufficient is a sacrilege.
6. Get close to nature.  It will sustain me
7. Laugh a lot.

I want to add "Pick up your dog-crap!" but that would be wrong tonally.  Except it is bizarre to use regular plastic bags to do it.  Our landfills will have two-hundred-year-old perfectly preserved snack-sized dog turds.

What will our descendants think of us?
Anyway . . . like I said, random thoughts.

Yours Truly,
Lucy Lu


9/27/09


Sharon has been bugging me to speak about Paw Justice.  Before I came back to NZ, my friend, a former Stuntman on Xena, Shaughn Campbell, asked me to participate in a petition to increase penalties against animal abusers.  He formed “PAW JUSTICE” and asked all his celebrity mates to join in.  There had been a couple of cases of extreme brutality that month, one involving some lunatic cutting the paws off a live kitten.  We all said we'd be happy to be part of it.  We are on an equal footing saying we concur that cruelty of any kind is not okay.  Paw Justice points out that people who abuse in this way do not stop at animals.

But the causes I have truly made commitments to are STARSHIP and the SIGN ON campaign.  I have been associated with the Starship foundation for nearly a decade and I am proud to be of service to them in whatever way I can.  They are a fantastic bunch of people.

The Sign On campaign is a most immediate concern.  We want our prime Minister in NZ, Mr. John Key, to know that he has the backing of New Zealanders to sign on to 40% carbon emissions reduction by 2020 as the scientists say we must.  Big Business is reactionary, but they need to recognise that no one ever went out of business by adapting to the times.  And no species ever went extinct by adapting to its changing environment.

That's what we have -- a changing environment.  We need to adapt our habits, homes, communities and business models.

There is a World Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen this December.  Our governments have to support health of our planet over profit margins.  Make sure your MP, Senator or Congressman knows your view.  They represent you.  What do you want them to say on your behalf?

Yesterday, I went on a Peace march here in Auckland wearing my Sign On shirt.  I found myself surrounded by animal rights campaigners in pig and chicken suits, which spawned a hundred jokes as we were crossing the road.  My pals from Greenpeace were there as were Maori elders and the Mayor of Waitakere, Bob Harvey.  It was a pleasant morning, though my dog was a bit hacked off at all the noisy humans screwing up her walk.  Not her idea of an outing.
Up and at 'em!
L


9/16/09
Sent Sept. 13, 2009:
Well, here we go again!  I have given myself a lovely cold a week out from a singing assignment.  The Supernova Swing event happens in Auckland this week to raise funds for Starship and give Auckland a truly celebratory night with all those great songs of the swing era.  I was really excited to see all the pros singing at rehearsal last week.  I was definitely taking notes.  Kirsten Morell has the most knock-out voice ever.  She transforms a big-band standard into something fresh.  It’s an old-fashioned word but she is delightful.

Actually, the reason I got sick this time has nothing to do with anxiety about singing.  I got so upset when the WWF report on Climate Change and Arctic melt off came out last week, that I just about started bleeding out my eyes.  I realised I needed to get better coping skills to keep being involved, healthy and effective.  I keep thinking about nurses dealing with constant trauma, loss, upset and how they have to keep believing in the everyday miracle.  We have so much know-how in terms of addressing our energy needs for the future, but there is little political will to take the kinds of steps scientists insist we must.  It is beyond frustrating.

In any case, it is nice to be participating in the Supernova Swing, something that has so much joy attached to it.  I am wearing something old, something new (by Liz Mitchell) and am now hunting for something to put in my hair.  This is the first day off I’ve had in a while and I am actually able to get the wig glue out of my hairline.  It is, after all, a very special occasion.

I will try to get photos out from the dressing room, but there may be no reception.

Singing “That Old Devil Called Love,” “Satin Doll” and “My Baby Just Cares For Me.”  Plus “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with Peter Urlich.  And bv’s for Jason Kerrison on the song, “Amore.”
Big Fun.
L


6/27/09
Hi guys!
I am beavering away on Sparty and collecting signatures for the “Sign-On” campaign for a 40% carbon emmissions reduction by the year 2020.  It's a big target but that's what scientists are saying is needed. 

Global climate change is a reality and certainly not all manmade but our behaviour and careless consumption is adding fuel to a fire.  Why would we not want to slow it's progress?

I've collected a couple of dozen signatures today and had a conversation with a colleague who absolutely believes the whole thing is a myth and that we are all running around like chickens with our heads cut off on account of An Inconvenient Truth.  I was very interested to talk with him because I realized that if he believes carbon levels are less than 20 years ago and that the whole thing is media hype, then loads of people do.

He's going to bring in some data to back it up.  I'd like to see it.  I'd like him to be right so I can turn my mind to something frivolous --like being a popstar or a gymnast.  That's much more fun than reading data about no summer ice-cap in the Arctic in 10 years.

To whit, Greenpeace invited me to go do a look-see of the Peterman Glacier off the coast of Greenland where climate change is causing tropical waters to stream far north exacerbating glacier melt.  Unfortunately, I can't get enough time off work do it.  I am absolutely gutted.  I'm sure they will find someone great but I wish it was me.
Sigh,
L


6/16/09
Long time, no blog.

I guess I've been dealing with a lot of change in the past few months.  I have moved countries which, unfortunately, necessitated finding new homes for a dozen pets which could not be brought to NZ.  Island nations with endangered native wildlife take a dim view of importing reptiles and rabbits.  We also have magnificent fish which will have to go back to a pet store who is willing to take them.  This is a photo of our Lookdown fish.  He is about the size of a bread plate and about as thin.  We adopted him when he was small because the shop couldn't keep him.  "He'll school up with those other two just fine," they said.  But he moved in with the Lookdowns who had lived happily in the tank for about 8 years, promptly murdered them, and grew to double size.  It took me a while to stop hating him for that.


The good folks at Medusa, an amazing reptile shop in LA, have kindly taken our gorgeous Crested Eyelash gecko that Julius adopted because she didn't have a tail.  A few weeks ago, our dragons had a terrible fight and one of them was left bleeding.  Obviously they had reached sexual maturity and needed to be separated, which we did.  Three weeks later at Medusa, the guy said, "Looks like this one is full of EGGS."  Phew, I am so glad that we didn't wait longer and then I'd have to find homes for those little guys too!

Now I only have my kitty to worry about.  Quarantine in NZ is 6 months after a rabies blood titer.  It's a pain in the neck.  He can't even come down till the 6 months is up and then actual quarantine is a further four weeks.  He may go live with a friend in LA but he's an outside cat with lots of street smarts and she never lets her pets out because of coyotes in her area.

For all of you who were wondering, the YouTube video of my squatter in LA is in fact just me and my buddy Jason.  Some of you may recognise him as the guy who played keyboards in the first LA show, Chicago and NYC.  I think Daisy was holding the camera some of the time.  J did an animated show called “Len Fish” some years back.  It's genius.  Plenty of Jason's twisted humour.

A good deal of my time has, of course, been wrappping my head around a new character in a new show, SPARTACUS.

The lead role is played by Andy Whitfield.  He is a great star on and off-camera.  I love what he brings to the role.  He is a gentleman and a family man and I think that is what gives his character so much depth.  Naturally, he's bloody handsome to boot.

I am playing Lucretia, the Lady Macbeth character.  I can't distill her down in a blog, but it's a terrific role and I am proud of the work I am doing.  My husband, Batiatus, is played by John Hannah, who is a scream.  My other favourite person to work with is an Aussie actress called Viva Bianca.  She plays my Paris Hilton.  She is so mad on screen and so sane in real life.  She's the ideal colleague -- like Renee O'Connor.  Once again, I have lucked out.

Hoo-hah,
Lucifer


5/22/09
My latest project with Greenpeace.  Ask the fans to check it out.  I am trying to make good on the Feel the Love promise!!  It is a campaign for NZ’ers to petition for carbon emissions reduction: 40% by 2020.
L


3/28/09
Thanks for all the great thoughts for Earth Day/my bEarthday.  We are going to turn off all the lights/computers tonight and unplug anything that uses a phantom charge.  What a great idea.  Thank you for drawing my attention to it.  And thanks for joining in!!

March 28 also being my 11th wedding anniversary, I gave my husband two gifts.  1. I would go fishing with him.  2. I would not complain - (even on the inside).

For our anniversary, he gave me two gifts.  1. I would get my quota of fish.  2. He would smoke 'em for me.

Boy, do we know how to tear it up.  Apart from having to face the awful truth of killing what one eats, it was a lovely day out and we had a few good yuks with the crew.

This month we adopted a puppy from the SPCA.  She is a Shepherd X with we don't know what.  A “bitsa” as we call them in NZ - bits a this, bits a that.

Her name is Koha and at 14 weeks, she is proving to be quite the guard dog.  I am signing her up for obedience training because she may be a little too fierce for the gardener's liking.  I slept on the couch for a few days and had to take her outside every three hours to make sure she didn't pee her bed.  I train and walk her, so I am definitely her #1 human.  In a couple of months we will get another one, but I'm not looking forward to the week on the couch.  The next dog is not going to be as easy as this one to house train.
Photos to follow . . .
Love,
Lu


2/24/09
I am packing up to go to the jungle next week.  I feel it is a chance to see my kids in their natural habitat.  We are doing an ecotour in Ecuador.  We are going to be gone from LA at least 6 months (not all spent in the jungle).  I have been driving around this dirty old town saying goodbye to the places that have become familiar.  I'm already sad to be leaving our friends and our pets.  For a long time, my favorite radio has been Adam Carolla in the morning.  The second I got the kids off to school I'd tune in.  Without any fanfare he got axed last Friday.  Boy, that blew a big fat hole in my day.  Sometimes, I'd just have to sit in the garage once I got home and finish listening to some rant and laughing my ass off -- the bit about Queen Latifa was priceless.

I went in search of him online and managed to catch up with his first two podcasts, which he is broadcasting out of his basement.  Despite showing a much moodier/gruuuuesomer side of himself, he still managed to have me snorting uncontrollably on the sidelines of my kids' karate class, tears streaming down my face.  There's always something in his shows that you never heard anyone say out loud before.  The dude is now completely out of control and I gotta say, I love it.

Check it out: carollaradio.com

I spent a fun day with the fabulous Gail Zappa recording a song from one of Frank Zappa's unproduced operas, “Hunchentoot.”  The song we did was “FLAMBAY.”  It's about the alien Queen who is in love with this big ol' spider, Hunchentoot (who has a harmonica over which he hunches and toots).  She is lamenting that though he lets her fondle his privates, he is, nevertheless, holding out for a woman with eight arms.  This unrequited love is driving her mad.

Gail came to my show at the Roxy and came backstage afterwards.  She invited me to come record with some of the musicians from Dweezil's band who won Grammys the next night.  She said I could sing any song I wanted, but she really felt “FLAMBAY” was something I should consider.  I listened to it with Joe, her producer, who worked on a heap of Frank's stuff, and I thought, holy shit, that's waaay too hard and in too high a key.  We chose “MAGIC FINGERS” instead and then at the end of the day we had half an hour left and I said, why don't you throw on “FLAMBAY” and we'll just see what happens.  I had never sung the song out loud before, thnking that the key was too high, etc.  But something crazy happened, something alchemical.  I have never done anything that outrageous before, and you all know that's really saying something.  You will all get to hear it in time, I guess.

We just did it in one take, but Gail and Joe were in tears afterwards.  To get the original music online, they had had to open a reel of tape from 1979 (or was it '73?) and it brought back a lot of memories for them.  They cracked a bottle of wine, and Gin for me, and we toasted what was a great week for the Zappa family.  I love those guys.

Hope you are all having some laughs where you are.
Love,
L


2/5/09
Hellooooooo!
Had the greatest time ever with you all this weekend.  This one was so challenging, I never want to go back to regular shows again.  I love a good musical and this was one rock-opera I would like to develop further.  Maybe add a couple of other songs and work out the lighting design a bit more.  Big thanks to Joe LoDuca for making it all happen.  He put together a fantastic team and it all went brilliantly.  The band brought all their good humor and talent and I love them for it!

Special thanks to Laura Sperrazza, my lovely co-star.  She was everything I could have hoped for.  I saw her in Frank Zappa's “Joe's Garage” and thought, that girl looks kooky enough to play “Gloria” in my show.  Turns out Laura and I work very similarly and we quickly developed an easy working relationship.  I'd love to get her to reprise this role once more and see how the character develops.  Sperrazza is part of my dream team.  Thanks, Laura!

Cat Crimins was wonderful as MC for the evening.  She makes the greatest nun, don't you think?  Funny, Cat!  I don't know if you realised it at the time, but Cat was working in the themes of the evening: Temptation/ Sin/ Love/ Redemption.  I believe these are things my fans understand because most of us have found ourselves on the margins of society and we all crave transcendence through love.

I really have to thank the folks at Creation, without whom I never would have done any of this.  Adam and Gary, who believed in me and set their team on the job to realize each project.  They put up the capital and handled the business end of producing these shows and cons.  My head would explode if I had to complete the tax formalities of even one band member.

Sharon, who has needled me into action and who first encouraged me to do the very first Roxy show.  Honestly, had she not been there at that moment the impulse would have died on the vine, as it were.  Without her, I would never complete a blog.  Thanks, Sharon.

Warner, who has become a gun editor of my stage shows.  Thanks, Mate!  And Stephanie and the rest of the Creation Team.  I don't know what the heck you guys do, but you look good doing it!

The gorgeous Gail Zappa has invited me to cover a Frank Zappa song.  I am incredibly honored.  I am looking through his oeuvre.  That's a whole lot of oeuvre!  Any suggestions?  You know I like things fruity.  Suggestions?

Most of all, THANKS TO YOU!!! -- for coming so far, and when the economy is so strained.  I appreciate your continuing love and support.  You still blow my mind with your generosity to one another, to Starship and to your own communities.  I boast about you -- I truly do.  No actor feels more pride over the goodness of their fans than do I.

The band was SHOCKED by your fervor.  I tried to tell them, but they never get it till they are having their eardrums blown out by 500 Xena fans.

Love, Love, Love,
Lucy L


1/16/09
No, I'm not illin'.

I am just working on myself.  I need a mental/spiritual tune up.  Don't you feel it's time to keep our family and friends close?  I don't know where we will end up, but it will be a simpler life, for sure.

Hey, maybe we should focus Feel The Love Week on reducing our carbon footprint?  Whaddaya say?  I'm sure we can all discover ten ways of putting Mother Earth first.  Like, why do we buy huge heavy-duty rubbish bags to put all our unrecyclable plastic in?  That's just stupid.  Why shouldn't we keep a box up in a cupboard to start a collection of blown lightbulbs and dead batteries and then dispose of them once a year at the recycle center?  It's just not that hard!

What other things can we come up with?

There is no reason this planet has to go to Hell in a hand basket. Let's get on it!
Hugs,
Lucy


1/11/09
Dear Friends,
Something is happening here.  I have a bit of business to take care of Downunder and then I will be gone a while.  I have some studies to do and may be off the radar for some time.  So this month is like a going away party!
I am excited to see you one more time!
Best,
Lucy aka, Unco aka, Polly Butter, aka, Fog.


1/3/09
I just had my first run-thru with my guest artist, Laura Sperrazza.  I saw her dancing and singing her ass off in Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage here in Hollywood.  I immediately went, "That's the girl!"  The part in Pleasuredome was initially conceived for a WASPy type, but this girl's energy is so infectious, I had to throw out that concept.  I think the fans are going to love Laura!

Saffy, played by me, is a schoolgirl who, despite warnings by Mother Superior, goes to the city and is mesmerized by Gloria, played by Laura, a denizen of the night.  Saff is introduced to a whirl of Temptation: Drugs, sex and violence.  Can love pull her through?
More to come!
L


12/8/08
I am just back from Thanksgiving in NZ after which I jetted to NYC to play a role in FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS.  It was awesome.  Those guys are every bit as cool as you would think and waaaay more intelligent than their characters, as one would hope.

Apart from the jetlag, I caught up with a heap of friends.  Co-incidentally, Marissa was preparing to go into her stint on Broadway to finish up HAIRSPRAY in style with Harvey Fierstein.  I went to her rehearsals and caught up with Richard Griffiths who is starring in EQUUS with Daniel Radcliffe.  Both were excellent in their roles.  Richard and I met on the set of BEDTIME STORIES, which comes out December 25.  I have had a lot of laughs with that guy and love him dearly.

I also had a crap time in Soho, which is full of poseurs who can barely afford to eat there, let alone live there, and yet, who check out your shoes before they deign to talk/serve you.  They never smile.  I have renamed it “Sad-Ho.”  As far as I'm concerned it's a ghetto for assholes.

So now I am getting excited about the Roxy Show.  The juggernaut has begun to move.  Today I was out shopping for fabric with Alek Adorian in the deepest recesses of the Garment district in Downtown LA for something challenging.  All those of you who are coming, dress for a night at the Pleasuredome!  Think sexy.  Boys-will-be-girls-will-be-boys Glamour!  Prudes need not apply.  Check your inhibitions at the door!

I can't wait to  see you there.  We are all going to be going through a wild night together!
Hoo-hah!
L


11/24/08
Hello Gang!
I am down in NZ where we had a huge Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family.  It was terrific.  Rob cooked the biggest turkey that ever lived and smoked schnapper (which is how we spell “snapper” Downunder).  All the kids went swimming.

Thanks for the many kind words regarding the passing of my Uncle, Kevin Ryan.  He was an amazing man, a defense lawyer who went to bat for the lowest on society's totem pole, the most impoverished --financially and spiritually.  I have come to have the utmost respect for defense attorneys, whose job is not to get criminals off the hook, but to protect the rights of ALL citizens to a righteous defense, no matter what circumstances you were born into.  An aggressive defense is not merely the domain of the wealthy.  He was a champion of the underdog, a great husband and father.

Whether we realise it or not, defense lawyers are the bulwark that any of us have against overzealous and improper prosecution.

This week they are auctioning off the portraits of well-known New Zealanders painted by Marty Welch.  I love that he has tried to get to the heart of people.  These works are great pieces of Kiwiana.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!!!
L


11/5/08
What a great day for America and the world!  Congratulations to you all.  Now I can become an American citizen, I guess.

It was a momentous relief for me to hear a President mention “Global Warming” with the gravitas it deserves, not a nebulous concept to be buried under platitudes.  Over the course of my life, weather patterns in the country of my birth, NZ, have changed dramatically.  Perhaps we are more sensitive being a long, skinny island nation.  We also have Antarctica in our back yard, so we feel any threat to the ice caps as our own.

I am sorry for Prop 8.  The laws of a nation should be about safety and fairness.  They should not enforce second-class citizenry.

   

I have my own issues with “marriage.”  I think it is a throwback to feudal times.  It ought to be phased out.  We should have agreements that get revised at ten-year periods.  I can't think why gay people should necessarily want it, but if they want it with all its strictures and ownership over one another, then let 'em have it.  What's the big deal?  What the heck are we afraid of sharing?  Our sacred heterosexual rite?

Being raised in a moderately religious home, I grew up being taught that marriage was a Sacrament -- Sacred.  I was told, "No one must come between a husband and wife."  Then I would look over at a relative with a black eye meted out by her husband in the privacy of their sacred matrimonial chamber, and the bruises on her child, and I knew that was bullshit.  There was nothing holy there.  Only love is sacred and heterosexuals don't own that.

I am thankful that the days of anti-intellectualism are over.  The last 8 years were like a steady diet of Ho-Hos for the brain.  Both Al Gore and John Kerry were torpedoed by this and the vicious assertions of a wicked propagandist, Karl Rove.

Ironically, it was Karl Rove's own predictions about the outcomes of each state that we were following last night.  He's undoubtedly a genius, but something got twisted up inside him and he should go down in history as a creep and frankly, a traitor.

Who the hell forced Palin on John McCain anyway?  Some pale imitation of Rove?  "Let's put another slogan-totin' cowboy up there, only let's put him in a skirt and get the wimmin's vote!"  What a horrible mistake.  And yet, THANK YOU!

I must say that Rob and I stopped the tivo and got the boys in to watch John McCain's concession speech.  We wanted them to see how a great man behaves in the face of defeat.  I believe he is a good man and if he had won the Republican nomination 8 years ago, the world would look very different to us now.  Still, this diet of hotdogs with Clinton and Ho-Hos with Bush are what has brought us to a new craving for something holistic and someone substantial who will walk beside us through the dark days ahead.

The next eight years will be undeniably hard, but with Obama, I don't think we will feel so alone.
Up and at 'em!
L


10/27/08
Sharon here: I spent time with Lucy and filmed her latest blog.  I'm going to put it up in daily segments.  Here's the first one about Feel the Love Day.
UPDATED 10/28/08 -- Lucy talks about working on the Zoe Bell movie, Angel of Death.
Check out the interview with Zoe and photos of Lucy on Tubefilter.tv
UPDATED 10/29/08 -- Next comes Lucy talking about doing the Dave Hill Explosion.
UPDATED 10/30/08 -- Here's Lucy talking about the character she's thinking of channeling at her upcoming Roxy concert in January.
        
Feel the Love Day    Angel of Death            Dave Hill Explosion  Roxy 09 Concert
QT   WMV                  QT   WMV                   QT   WMV                   QT   WMV


10/14/08
Tell the fans I am planning to co-opt the script that Rob and Joe Lo Duca were working on, Pleasuredome.  At the Roxy, I will be playing the lead character “Sappho.”
Let's take Sappho on the road!
L


10/3/08
Hi Gang!
I am in Vancouver working on The L Word after a fantastic experience in San Francisco.  Michael Orland and the guys from the Rrazz Room helped turn out a splendid show with the help of an incredible band.  Ted P made those quiet songs ache!  And my backing vocalists, Peggi & Terry, need their own shows!

Sharon managed to pull together four of the best fan videos for the backdrop.  There were many terrific ones that we just couldn't get our hands on in time, or use due to technical problems, but the ones we had were awesome.  Special thanks to all of you who sent in vids, especially the ones we used, Sara (France), Berkin (Turkey) and Angela (USA). 

You are all wonderfully talented and generous.  Thank you!

I am grateful to all of you who came from near and far, particularly in this financial climate.  You helped raise money for a wonderful charity, REAF.

Thanks also to the St. Francis Westin in Union Square and Fusion Hotel who put us up in support of the REAF.

I am in awe of your kindness towards one another and your committment to Feel the Love Week.

I wish you all love and laughter.  Let's all go out and . . .
Rock the Love!
There is nothing else.
LL


9/21/08
Hi guys!
Someone asked me today if I knew that Sarah Palin's supporters are calling her “Xena.”  I had to ask, "Oh, is Sarah Palin a lesbian too?!"  I don't see it on her bio anywhere . . . nope, not there.  Curiously, in her earlier life, Xena traded motherhood for a career as an evil warlord.  Hmmmm . . .

But you have got to feel sorry for the kids of Obama and Palin.  As a child, my Dad was Mayor of Mount Albert in Auckland, New Zealand.  When I was 13 years old, the Springbok rugby team, from South Africa, toured NZ, sparking riots in the streets.  South Africa was then deeply entrenched in a system of Apartheid, in which a minority white government enforced strict racial segregation and discrimination.  New Zealand homes were bitterly divided between those who “just wanted a good rugby match,” (rugby being the national sport), and those who felt any truc with the South Africans amounted to tacit support of their regime.  The main rugby pitch in NZ was located in Mount Albert and I remember being home ill from school during a period of bomb threats to our house.

Even in a period of stability, there are so many people who are enraged that their water rates go up, enraged when they don't like a certain law, enraged when they don't take their medication, who think nothing of ringing the children of the public figure and letting them have it.  It's incredibly frightening and hurtful to have your beloved parent mocked, suspected, hated.

I can't imagine how it must be in these days when so much is at stake and fevers are so high.  It’s gotta be murder.  Mr. Palin and Mrs. Obama are going to have their work cut out for them filling in the parental voids while their life partners are chasing their goals.

Mind you, Chelsea Clinton worked out all right.  Improbable, but seemingly true.

I've been off doing a role on CSI: Miami which airs around Oct. 20(?) I play a tart with no heart, for a change.

Also, look for me on The L Word at some point.  Can't tell you anything about that -- it's deep in the closet.
L


9/2/08
I am going to Feel the Love this year with a concert at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, September 27.  I am inspired by the fans and their incredible generosity of spirit.  I will take none of the proceeds from the box office.  Anything that might have been my portion will go to REAF's Help is on the Way organisation, which does such a great job with AIDS-related charities in the Bay Area.

Some of you have edited together some pretty amazing video montages over the years.  I am going to see if there is the capability to screen them in the background of my September show.  If any of you want to donate the use of them for this or any other show, I will try to make it happen.  Some of them are pretty genius.  Naturally, there will be zero compensation or credit.  It's all in a good cause, right?

I just did a guest judge spot on RuPaul's Drag Race which is the new tv version of Paris is Burning.  "Who will be the next Drag Superstar?!"  It was actually hilarious.  I have always loved RuP, whose beauty, inside and out, is undiminished.

Last night I went to a screening of Return of the Living Dead with Tony Gardner and Debbie Carrington and their friend, Don Mancini, who wrote and directed Child's Play.  I was able to tell him that there is a whole room in the House of Horrors at Universal dedicated to “Chuckie” with blood-spattered merchandise covering an entire wall.  I guess the 20th anniversary is coming up and they are gearing up for a big party.  I have to tell you, the folks who make horror movies are way more normal than the rest of Hollywood.  Is this because they wear their id on the outside, whereas the rest are in denial of theirs?  Or do I just say that because I am a Freak myself?

Over to you.
Love,
The Infamous Miss Butter


7/22/08
Hi, gang!

This is the loveliest place on Earth: Queenstown, NZ.  There is no better feeling than you get after a day in the great outdoors.  I am thrilled to report that Arturo Mesta's surgery went well, (more on that later.)  And my best buddy is expecting a baby in the next two weeks.  I am hightailing it back to the States to make an appearance at Comic-Con, aka. Nerdvana.

I hope that you are not all melting in the heat.
Love,
Lucy


6/29/08
Thanks for coming out in force last night, gang!  You give me a lot of courage.  It would be weird to go out and do a show like mine without you.  Imagine all those bewildered movie-goers thinking, "Who is that woman, and what is she bumping and grinding about?!"

I have to say, I have had a miserable flu season and have never truly been well in the last few months, but my voice held up, thanks to Mr. Vetro, who came home from Vegas where he is working with The Divine Ms. M, to give me a vocal warm up.

I think I am going to go more in the direction of that 1970's playmate look.  Yeah, I came over all Xaviera Hollander last night.  I think it's working for me.

And my special thanks to the band: Michael Orland –- Musical Director and Keys (and Tambourine!)
Lynn Keller -- bass
Candy Girard -- fiddle
Ted Perlman -- guitar
Sammy K -- drums
Terry Wood and Peggi Blu -- my gorgeous BV's

They did the gig for a fraction of their normal fee because they had such a good time at the Roxy.  I thank them so much for their talent and generosity of spirit.

And, of course, thanks to Mama Rose for all the bullying and spraying me in the face with throat spray.  Nice aim, Ma.


6/22/08
Hi Gang! 
I am back from the fiery North.  I have finally wrapped on the Adam Sandler/Disney Xmas movie, Bedtime Stories.  I spent the last week in a fatsuit, playing a troll in 105 degree weather.  It was 90 degrees in the shade and 200 degrees in my pants!  I'd love to show you pictures, but I'm afraid I'd be knee-capped by the publicity  department.

I met some awesome people.  Guy Pearce is truly a doll.  He is genuine and gracious, a bit kooky.  Russell Brand, also gracious, kooky genius.  Keri Russell and Teresa Palmer are Broads! -- the highest of compliments.  Debbie Carrington, my drinking buddy, is an awesome actress.  She played “Tammy” on the Seinfeld episode about "heightening" – which, incidentally, is purely a figment of Larry David's imagination.  The crew were wonderful, like crews everywhere.  I will be forever grateful to the Adams, Sandler and Shankman for the experience.

I was on Russell Brand's radio show this week on BBC2, where we generally behaved badly and used language and themes that would make my family in NZ cringe.  Tant pis!

I now have about three seconds to get ready for my show up Universal CityWalk next week.  Fortunately, I am doing it with Michael Orland, my American Idol, and the gang from the Roxy so we all have a great history.  It'll be a little more rock'n'roll than the Roxy show.  To whit, I've finally done it!  I decided to go dark for summer.  Will officially unveil the new look next Saturday at the show.

Love,
L


5/21/08
London was a wicked show!  Again, first rate musicians (Thank you, Joe) and venue, (Thanks, Gary and Adam for that.)  I always have to come home and put my head under a rock for a few days afterwards.  I think I found my new groove this time.  Or did I say that last time?  I felt I sang so much better the second night, but when I look at some of the performances Sharon filmed, I must admit that the first night had a wild kind of energy that is pretty appealing.

I have been asked to do a set up at Universal City Walk on June 29 and I figure that's a chance to give you guys a free show.  So come on along if you are in town.  It'll be great to see you.

Not sure what the set will be.  I'd like to crank it up to something like London, though I may have to tone it down in terms of the ass-less chaps.  Quit groaning!  It's a family show.  Still the chaps, just with pants on.

I want to thank all the new English fans who came out for the show and, in particular, my crazy American friends who jumped the pond.  There was some pressure on me to back out of the London show because of filming commitments (the uncertainty of which made us decide not to go ahead with the high cost of filming it), but I knew some people who had committed their hard earned $$ to barely refundable airfares/ hotel, etc.  The show must go on.  In the end, it was a wonderful experience and I loved being part of it.  So, thank YOU!

Dancing With the Stars is over.  Thank God for that.  I like that Kristi girl, to be honest.  Dancing aside, she and Mark are pretty classy human beings behind the scenes.  All Marissa's friends were completely demented in trying to make it fun for ourselves.  Every time Cristian, in the long black dress-coat, did that wild pose at 
the end of his tango, we screamed "VOLDEMORT!!!!" at the top of our lungs.  It's a reference to one of the most watched things on YouTube, a puppet show of all the characters from Harry Potter doing a rap using only their names.  It's been watched nearly 40 million times.  Can you believe it?

Marissa took all her friends on a wild ride over the past 12 weeks and we are all so relieved to be off.

So on we go!
Up and at 'em.
Hope you are all enjoying Spring, wherever you are.
Love,
L


5/14/08
THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU, THANK-YOU!!! to all of you for keeping Marissa in the running so long.  I was as sick as a dog coming home from London and fell behind in my letter writing campaign, but you guys were awesome and I am so grateful to you all once again.

She has a horrendous denouement in that she has two days of travelling and press saying, "Yes, I got kicked off the show.”  But I'm sure you will all agree that her grabbing that mic and yelling that we should all go out, “… and shake what yo Mama gave you!" was pure genius.  And if she hadda gone to the final and gotten third or even second, she would never have been given that moment to say goodbye in her own inimitable fashion.  We need that on tee-shirts all over the world!
                       "Go out and
                        HAVE FUN,
                       FEEL SEXY
                             and
SHAKE WHAT YOUR MAMA GAVE YA!"

Wish I had thought of that one myself!

Love, love, love,
Lucy L


5/2/08
I have to rush back to Los Angeles to be with Marissa, who is down to the final 5 in DWTS.  She was in the bottom two last week.  See what happens when I leave town?!  Usually I am there making rude gestures across the dance floor, like I'm pulling a noose tight, just to stop her taking it all too seriously.  Still, I want her to get through another week.  Please don't forget to vote!
L


5/1/08
Okay, so here I am in London where they are worrying about the election results, petrol tax and the dramatic upswing in the number of women arrested for drunkeness.  But don't worry, I should be out in time for soundcheck Saturday.

My chaps arrived from Los Angeles as promised.  They are as nasty as all get-out and I am ashamed of myself.  The band members are all on the case and seem prepared to have fun.  Annie is going to wear her big black boots and long brown hair, just like the chick from the Jets, "BE MY GIRL.”  And we're going to break out some Garbage too.  It's going to be the sweatiest show ever.

You know what to do.
L


4/23/08
Hellooooo, Kittens!

Congratulations to you all on getting Marissa through the first few rounds.  I think the campaign has picked up steam.  She has relaxed into the job and is now having fun.

She even inked a deal to do her own talk show next year.  I toyed with that myself last year in a fit of pique with acting.  But fate intervened and I have now pitched my tent at Camp Sandler.  Which, frankly my Dears, is a damn fine place to be!

Getting ready for the London gig and it's going to be a doozy.  The whole set is built around “G.L.O.R.I.A.”  by Patti Smith.  It is reportedly a song written in reaction to her strong Jehovah's Witness upbringing.  It's about a punky girl aggressively exploring her sexuality and owning it.  Bloody powerful song.  It starts "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine . . ."  I have to confess this was a tough line for me, Catholic girl that I was -- fallen though I am.  The rest is a wild sapphic rant.  It's so damn powerful that once you hear it, you can't ignore it.  Plus Patti Smith is to American punk, what Nina Simone is to Soul -- both High-Priestesses.  I could not back down from the invitation to dance.  I met Patti Smith about 1996 and she invited me to visit her in NYC which I did.  Some young boy answered the door and I asked if that was her son and she replied, "No, that's X, my boyfriend."  She just don't quit.

Wrapped around that is some Garbage "SHUT YOUR MOUTH," some Marianne Faithfull, "BROKEN ENGLISH" and even an ode to masturbation in the Divinyl's "I TOUCH MYSELF."

SO, YOUSE WUZ WARNED!
NO PRUDES AND NO KIDDIES AT THIS SHOW.
WEAR YOUR LEATHERS.  IT'S GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE.
BELIEVE IT.

Love to love ya, Baby,
L


4/1/08
Marissa is safe!!!  Thank God for that.  And thank YOU!!!  We were really sweating.  Not because we thought she should go but because life just isn't always fair. 

When she was declared safe, we all spazzed out.  I felt they would at least torture us by making us wait till the final two. 

I tell you what, it is very sobering to be voted safe and then to have to watch your beloved co-contestants squirm.  It is truly awful for everyone.  Been there, done that. 

I noticed a new cameraderie happening amongst the contestants this week.  They have realised that they are slowly facing extinction.  Each week is Russian roulette.

For the first time in weeks, Marissa came out for a bite at a restaurant afterwards.  She has not had an easy time of it lately.  She and Tony were working waaaay too hard and all the joy was getting squashed out of the experience.  I thought Christian really exemplified the spirit of the show last night.  He was exuberant.  I 
think we will see a whole new dance team in Marissa & Tony next week.  This is as much about entertainment and relatability (is that even a word?) as precision in dance.

Also, these reality tv people have this format down to a science.  Are we all just little sheep, voting along subliminal guidelines?  I keep asking, "Who produces this show?  Satan?!!"

BSG starts this week, I hear.  I am still doing looping for it.  Also, I did a chatroom Q&A for Sci-Fi when last in New York.  That goes out Thursday.

In other bits of news, Adam Sandler broke his ankle and the schedule is being overhauled.  I have been doing some crazy schtick for B-roll.  My most insane act to date.  I hope you will get to see it soon.  Only my fans will know it's me.  I am totally unrecognisable these days.

I also did a small role as Mother Superior, alongside the gorgeous, Renee O'Connor in BITCHSLAP, who is a naughty novice in the convent.  She is confessing her dark fantasies to my character -- just as she does in real life.  Ha-ha, not really.  (Yes, really.)

BITCHSLAP is an epic exploitation movie written and produced by Herc/Xena producer, Eric Gruendemann and directed by Rick Jacobson, (one of my all-time fave directors on Xena).

It also stars Michael Hurst; stunt co-ordinator, Zoe Bell.  Kevin Sorbo also makes an appearance.  So it was a terrific reunion for us all.  Renee and I were spectacular.  Just don't blink.

On the other hand, it is a very pornographic, un-PC piece of madness and I absolutely FORBID you to see it.

That's it.

go back to work now.

quit lookin' at me

Shoo!


3/25/08
Hi, All!!

As I write this, I have no idea of the vote tonight, though I just know our girl came through.  She had a wardrobe malfunction when her heel got caught up in all that pink fringe last night.  You couldn't really see it on the tape, but they bunny-hopped their way out of trouble.  I am so proud of her.  Ahh, costuming -- you live and learn.  I just wanted to thank all of you who voted and encouraged others to.  Bless you always!

I missed the show last night and tonight because I have been working on Bedtime Stories, an Adam Sandler pic.  I have to tell you, this guy is a wonderful producer and human being.  He and his partners are incredibly generous of spirit and treat their crew reeeaally well.  I haven't been on a set with this kind of levity since Xena.  I had completely gone off acting last year, as many of you know, but this job has completely turned my head around.  You are going to see me be a wicked, cheeky monkey.  Guy Pearce plays my venal boyfriend sublimely.  He actually helps anchor my insanity. Sandler pushes me over the edge.  I have got to go scrape the goop off my face before the results show.

Love to love, ya, Babies!
L


3/18/08
Letterman went great.  I went with 9 other BSG cast members who sure know how to have a good time.  Our segment doesn't air until Weds.  I am sitting at JFK at 3 o'clock in the morning, LA time.  It was the only way I could get back in time to see Mariss dance.  I am so excited!!!  We have to help her in the first couple of weeks.  She doesn't have a fan base yet, but she is a champ and I predict she is going to turn a lot of heads.  You wait, she is going to be our little dark horse.  I am so proud of the way she has been training.  She has never looked better.
WIN WITH WINOKUR!!!
Lucy


3/3/08
Hey, there!
It has been an action-packed few weeks.  Right after the Roxy, I succumbed to the flu that had been trying to get me before the show.  It was a doozy, as many of you undoubtedly know.  But in the midst of the fevers and the bellyachin', magic happened for Ma and me.  She scored a place in the line-up for Dancing With the Stars, a longtime dream of hers.  Personally, that'd be my worst nightmare but she is beside herself with joy.  Now I am driving her onwards to success, telling her my best moves, etc.  (Heh-heh!)

We have been working out like fiends and she is training several hours a day, EVERY DAY, with her partner, Tony.  He's a bloody slave-driver, but secretly she probably thinks that's hot.  Her body is curvy and cut.  You gotta see it!

Her first night is the 18th of March and we have to propel her through the first few weeks till the rest of America realises what a damn Champion they have on their hands.  I seriously believe that with us behind her, she is going to go all the way.  Start flexing them dialling digits, kids!!

The same day Marissa finally got cast in Dancing with the Stars, I got an interesting call.

A woman came to my Roxy show, a friend of Ted Perlman, my guitarist.  She came backstage afterwards and gushed that I must come down to her office and meet Adam Sandler.  Terrific!  Yeah, yeah, let's do that, I said, not really expecting anything from it.  Well, the next week, I got a call to come down and meet Adam and his producing partner, Jack Giarraputo.  I felt well enough to get off my deathbed.  I had lost several pounds from 5 days of a high fever, and looked ungodly pale, which I knew was perfect for the role.  Then I had to read for Disney, which I did, but realised I was waaay sicker than I thought and felt clammy and out of it all through the session with the casting director, Roger Mussenden.  But I guess something was working for me coz I got the job in Bedtime Stories.  (I really owe Roger for that one.)

I nearly did a back flip when I realised that my “boyfriend” was being played by Guy Pearce!!!  Plus, I am being directed by the incredible Adam Shankman, who was the mastermind behind the new re-telling of Hairspray in film.  I didn't want to like it, I put off going to see it for a week, but when even Marissa admitted it was genius, we went along and I was blown away.  It was charming and had real weight in all the right places -- and I don't mean Travolta's arse!  Plus, it makes you jive in your seat.  Can you remember the last time a movie did that?  If you haven't seen it yet, go out and get it.  Do yourself a favour.

Between the two Adams, Guy and I there is fabulous chemistry and you are going to see me be naughtier than ever before!  Keri Russell and Courtney Cox are starring as love-interest and sister to Sandler's everyday hero, Skeeter Bronson.  And I get to be the young Cruella DeVille.  No wonder Disney likes me!

In between playing Mama Rose to Marissa All-the-Way-with-Winokur, I am shooting and trying to get a new line-up for the London concert.  “Bitch” is certainly in (coz, let's face it . . .)

. . . but I don't know what else yet.  Some Patti Smith (G.L.O.R.I.A.).  Those turkeys in Utah never sent me my chaps.  I'm done with them.

So I'll hunt for new leathers and learn my lines, work on songs, rub salve on Marissa's nasty dancer's feet, and train for the life to come. It's all good.

Love, love, love,
Lucy


2/7/08
Hello, Babies!!!

Thanks so much for coming to the Party!!  I had a wonderful weekend with everyone who came to LA.  Man, I wish that I had more time to finesse that set; get rid of some songs and pump up the end.  That's always the way when you have an extra short run.

Next time, I have some cool ideas.  Someone backstage at the con suggested that I do Meredith Brooks “I'm a Bitch.”  Funnily enough, that was a song that my friend, Da, suggested, but, two days out from the show, there was no time to get an arrangement done and rehearse.  Bummer!!  Plus, I was a bit fluey and was already snowed with getting things together for the Roxy.  But I promise not to forget that one.

Marissa thanks you for the warm reception, too.  She was supposed to be one of my backing vocalists but life intervened and she had to go out of town on family business.  But she was a great sport and managed to charm the audience in the “Friend Off,” which is where a so-called best friend of mine goes up against a fan to see who knows me best.  Naturally, the fan always wins, since my friends have no interest in my former life or career.  And, truly, I am fine with that.  With fans like you . . . !

I want to thank Mr. Michael Orland, my Musical Director and friend, who helped pull that show together out of thin air.  We first met on the 5th of January, without a clue where we were going to start.  It all came together with a minimum of fuss.  The band members he found were real virtuosos and so quirky.  Lynn Keller was the little devil on the bass, (everyone loved her leathers!), and Candy Girard was the angel on the fiddle.  I loved how she jumped in as the romantic violin during the “candle-lit meal.”

Slammin' Sammy K. kept us all in line with drums and brought along some extra percussion to give texture to other songs.  Ted Perlman was my Guitar Hero.  I loved everything you did, Ted, and am especially grateful for bringing life to “Wide Awake” which demands real virtuosity.  That is one hell of a number.  My leading ladies –- Terry Wood and Peggi Blu!  I love your voices and your generosity of spirit.  You girls came to the party and really helped dish back some of the love that my fans bring to each and every show.  I have the greatest fans in the world and I never want to let them down.  My thanks to all the band for showing my gang a good time.

Of course, there are a few other people that made the evening unique.  Renee burst out in song in the middle of “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”  I had asked her to dance to “Kiss You All Over” and she said, “Lucy, that’s just weird.”  Impeccable taste.

Kit-Cat Crimins is the greatest MC in the world and also embodies the spirit of the Roxy experience.  She and the inimitable Tig Notaro really round out a great evening.  Tig is becoming quite the comedy star nowadays.  I am just crazy about her.  I only regret that I cannot be out front watching her.  So much of her act is visual – you kind of have to see it to believe it.  It’s torture standing backstage lstening to her act.

Thanks to Gary and Adam of Creation for rolling out the carpet for us all.  It wouldn’t have happened without your support.  To Sharon and all the Creation team, thanks for bringing me together with the fans.  You can’t please all the people all the time, but I know that is always your aim and you do a great job.

Most of all, thank you to you, the fans who came from all over the 
world.  You may have been the single greatest support network the striking Hollywood writers had and, by golly, you might have helped resolve the issue, too!  Blessings on you always.
You are the greatest!
Love,
LL


1/13/08
Wow!  I had a fascinating week.  For some reason, NBC-Uni (Sci-fi Channel), wanted me to be part of a panel on “How has sci-fi impacted technology and vice-versa?”

The panel included Neal Stephenson (writer of The Diamond Age and other novels), Walt Mossberg (Techno-guru for The Wall Street Journal) and Dean Kamen, scientist and inventor of diverse "gizmos," (to use his word) such as bionic arms for Iraq vets, heart stents, portable dialysis machines, the Segway, all-terrain wheelchairs that go up stairs and about 436 other patented inventions.

Neal said he was glad I was there so that the panel didn't look like Mount Rushmore, but they couldn't have been more fascinating.  I got to know Neal, who is a huge BSG fan, and Dean, who is not, over dinner.  Walt was not yet in town.

Dean has sent machines that run off cowshit to Bangladesh to power villages and that distill 1000 liters of water per day, to produce potable H2O out of any goop available.  Now you know I have a soft spot for Bangladesh, having visited there a few years ago with World Vision.  I have seen firsthand the horrifying effects of arsenic-tainted water that rises up every year with the monsoons.  It causes ghastly birth defects, children with double-yolker eyes (sorry, but that's what it looks like!), or legs like a chimp.  The fact that this technology is available and yet not attainable is a bloody crime.

Dean and his colleagues are not interested in bureaucracy and excuses.  They tend to make things happen and let protocol-bound organisations drag their arses to the table when they can no longer ignore the demands of the people.

He has got me signed up for F.I.R.S.T, his initiative to get more kids involved in engineering and science.  It's kind of like the robot olympics and any kids or school can participate and be mentored by experts.  It's a golden opportunity to blow a kid's boundaries sky-high.  F.I.R.S.T. is very interested in getting more minorities and girls involved.  I guess careers in these fields are not presented as being exciting or important.  Of course, a starring role on Girls Gone Wild is guaranteed to land you your own reality show!  When you meet someone like Dean, you realise that science and invention are the most important tools we have for saving our planet.  You can't help loving this guy when you meet him.

Now I am in a whirlwind of Roxy show prep.  How to throw you guys a great party?

I've spent my whole life running from country music (despite the fact that Cowboys are my Weakness).  I always thought it was too easy, too hokey, too . . . white.

Well, I finally fessed up that I am a white girl and the fact that it seems easy to me is a sign that that is what suits me.  Anyway, you've got a heapin' helpin' of Cowgirl Action.

So!  I have ordered a new set of Chaps from a special workshop in Utah, where I spent Xmas.  Remember Kat Crimins, my MC last year in that red gown that was open to the navel?  She was a very handsome debutante!  This year I intend to get her in long gloves and something Jessica Rabbit.

As for you, my friend, CLOTHING IS OPTIONAL!!  As long as it is Western wear or evening gowns.

You KNOW I am not kidding around here.  This is going to be a crazy costume party.

Come prepared!

Love to love ya, Babies!

L


12/12/07
It's been a while since I wrote.  I've been undergoing a winter transformation, I guess.  A lot has changed.  I read my last blog after the Chicago show and noted my expectation that my next show would be heavily influenced by the Chicago groove.  But I was mistaken.  That was perfect unto itself.

But something has twisted around in me and I feel the need to do something really grassroots.  I cannot outdo the other shows for their size and complexity, the horns, the voices, the rocked-out showbiz-iness of it all.  I am doing a 180-degree turn.  This will be the antithesis of what you may have been expecting.  There is going to be more talk, more conversation, Tig will be back and my back-up singers will be my oldest friends.  It will feel more like Jerry Springer crashed the Bing Crosby Christmas special.  I want it to be truly intimate, but, knowing me and my awful best friends, it can't help be a little kooked.  I will spend the next six weeks thinking of ways to surprise you.  It doesn't help that at least 300 of you bought up two nights in a row.  Now I have to shake up the shows so you don't get two of the same.  Maybe one night Tig does her new material and the next night she and I have duellng interview questions, "Tig, is it true that you're a Big-ass lesbo?"  "Who are you calling Big-ass?"  I can only imagine what she'll ask me.

So if you're looking for a slick Rock/R&B/Blues set, this is not the show for you.

If you are looking to come to my post-Christmas Christmas party, c'mon over!

See you at the Roxy, Babies!
Love,
Lucy

10/30/07
I am back to work on the spaceship, BSG, after a year away.  I can't believe it's been that long.  I finished there right before Celebrity Duets in Nov '06 and, boy, what an action packed transformative year it's been.

Michael Rymer, one of the Exec Producers and stellar directors, was remembering how he had advised me not to do it but now has become a supporter.  He is a cool guy and one of my all-time favourite directors.  He is one of BSG's most influential forces and has gone a long way to helping make it the break-out hit that it is.  He is also the least recognised.  There's a lot of credit to go round on a great show like that.  I hope he gets all the good things coming to him that he deserves.

Chicago was the high point of my concert life thus far.  The band was remarkable and with Joe Lo Duca, they really helped take me to places I could never have otherwise gone.  I'm not sure what the shape of my second Roxy show will be next January, but it cannot help but be influenced by the Buddy Guy's experience.  I actually got to meet the great man himself.  He sat in on both shows and made me promise to come back and visit anytime.  I certainly will.

What I loved about the musicians in Chicago is that playing seems to be more of a religion than a job.  They play because they can't help it and even if they are not on a paying gig, what are they out doing?  Jamming with their friends, that's what.

I was away in Vancouver when Curb Your Enthusiasm aired.  There was some confusion about the air dates (perhaps you noticed), so I didn't hear about it till the day after.  I got a heap of emails.  I saw it some days later and was surprised how small my role had gotten.  I thought it was all about ME, ME, ME!!  I may be kidding myself, but despite the dearth of ME, it was a really terrific episode, maybe the best ever.  So much was going on.  Cheryl and the plane, Cheryl leaves Larry, the Blacks, the restaurant drama, Larry's long balls, Ted Danson.  So much to see, so little time.  And Larry was on fire that episode.  I was okay but the episode was amazing!!

Most of all, I loved hanging with you all in Chicago.  Together with the Northwestern Memorial Hospital, we raised $10,000 for United Way, which runs community outreach projects in underpriviledged Chicago.  I am so proud of you all.  Plus, my brother-in-law, Randy, who works at the hospital, tells me that there is a bank that will match us dollar for dollar.  So hooray for everything.  I think United Way were very pleasantly surprised.

I want to thank all the gang at Creation who made it all possible and to Chris, the photographer, for helping the photo ops all run so smoothly.

I'm tossing round names for the Roxy show.  Write your suggestions down on the noticeboard.
Up and at 'em!
Lucy

P.S.  Also, I have finally had to relinquish two costumes to the Iyengar Institute as I promised so long ago.  This means I will have to get new chaps made for the Roxy show.  Also I gave them the pink go-go dress and the sparkly tooth-shaped necklace that I wore at the Roxy and the Canal room.  The chaps are a bit groady, having been worn so much.  They are sewn on to the jeans.  No doubt there is DNA on them, which, frankly, is a minus in my book, but it's out of my hands.  I'll let you know when they go up on ebay.

10/16/07
Message given to me over the phone from Lucy:  "If you're reading this Tuesday night, I'm cowering under my seat in a movie theatre at the premiere of my husband's new film, 30 Days of Night.  Me, who was raised on vampire movies, found even the trailer so scary, I was watching it from between my fingers.  As soon as I can crawl out from under this seat, I'll be posting a blog about Chicago."

9/22/07
Thank you all for continuing the phenomenon of “Feel The Love” Week.  Gee, does two years make it a tradition?!
You are the greatest fans anyone ever had.  I love that you are going out into your own communities and enriching the lives of people who are unable to help themselves.  You are sharing your health and vitality, your hard-earned bucks and your skills to make our world a better place.  Your offerings to the Greater Good are really inspiring.  I am always tremendously touched when I read your letters.  You make me feel that I have been part of something really worthwhile.
Blessings on your houses,
Love always,
LL


9/18/07
Hi guys!
This is an announcement from the family and friends of Aleida Santiago who passed away last year. I just want to authenticate the sale and the signatures attached. Aleida had collected more Xena stuff than anyone, including myself.

I think about her often and know that she lived a rich and brilliant life. She always worked to improve the lives of the underpriviledged and to bring about justice.

Her partner Grace and her beloved friends continue her work and this sale is testament to that. Renee and I never asked that she support our causes, in fact we felt it was important that the money they raise go into causes that reflect Aleida's life and work in the community.

Bless you, Aleida and Grace. The world is a better place for your having been here.
Love,
Lucy

Last October the Xenaverse lost one of its biggest champions, Aleida Santiago and in her memory starting on September 16th, her extensive Xena collection will be going up on Ebay. Aleida was not only a huge supporter of the show but of Lucy and Renee's charities as well.  Grace, her surviving partner, would like to honor Aleida's memory by donating a large portion of the profits from this auction to Lucy's charity The Trevor Project and a charity of Renee's choice. Aleida was a passionate collector of all things Xena/Lucy/Renee and through the years acquired an impressive collection, from costumes, to props, to trading cards, to photos and much more. For example Xena leathers, Lucy's stunt riding boot, props used on set and signed by Lucy & Renee such as swords, a sai, the actual Ring from the Valkyrie Trilogy, entire sets of trading cards, and hundreds of photos including some from the Photo Club. These items can be found on Ebay under the seller name Cuban40, new items will go up every Sunday and the auction will continue until everything has found a home.
Signed,
Grace and Aleida's Crew.


8/27/07
I am CONSUMED with prepping the Chicago show.  Obviously, we want to rock the house, but my main concern is that this be a meaningful “conversation” with the audience.  Joe Lo Duca, my old friend and genius composer behind Xena, Herc and a hundred other soundtracks, has a unique appreciation of my audience.  After all, the Xena fans were his audience, too.  He has put together a band of fantastic Chicago R&B musos.  We are mixing in a little funk to get the room thrumming.

On the whole, I have chosen songs that reflect how I feel about my fans and being alive in general.  I want to give you the funnest night of your life.  That said, there is a quieter section in the middle where I pay homage to one of the most life-altering spirits I ever encountered.  (She was not a fan.)  We met in devastating circumstances and her passing touched me deeply and propelled me along a course of looking after the little guy.  One song in particular represents the redemption I felt I desperately needed.  Redemption for me, for her, and for the way I saw the whole damn human race.  Some stories can only be told in song.

As usual, I went to NZ, had a great time, did no exercise, ate biscuits (cookies) and turned into a donut.  It's weird to admit it, but it kind of made me happy!  I am digging being a fat bastard.

Unfortunately, I will not get through a Lucy show if I don't shape up quick-smart.

Drat!
Love,
Lu

8/18/07
Hi there from sunny New Zealand!  First off, I'd like to apologise if anyone was insulted by the array of boobage in the last few video blogs.  It was entirely uncalled for and I won't let it happen again.
(Unless you ask really really nicely.)

Actually, it's raining cats and dogs outside.  I am enjoying a stint in lovely Wellington.  We are checking out Weta Studios where quite a few of my old friends from Xena are now working.  I have been incredibly busy travelling back and forth across America --LA/Miami/San Diego/ Michigan/San Fran/ then to NZ.  As usual I'm a wreck when I get here.  But two weeks of family, biscuits and cups of tea usually set me right.

Miami was ridiculously good fun.  Bruce Campbell got me a wonderful gig on his new show, Burn Notice.  It stars Jeffrey Donovan who is knockout in this role.  Very sexy and idiosyncratic as a spy who has been given the cold shoulder by his own agency.  It's kind of the next generation of Miami Vice and it's wonderful!  USA Network, Thursday nights.  My episode, “False Flag” is on Sept. 13.  Thanks Bruce for the most fun I've had in ages.

I am turning my mind to the Chicago show.  It will be different to the other show I've done.  I am collaborating with Joe Lo Duca who was the genius behind the music of Xena all those years.  We had talked about doing something together for ages and now I think I am strong enough to front up with Joe, whom I have loved and admired so many years.  It's going to have a Chicago feel.  Put in your vote if there are any songs you all feel I simply must include and we'll take it into consideration, though each song has to fit within a whole.
Love,
Lucy
 
7/20/07
I just got an interesting call to go to Florida to play with my old pal, Bruce-Old-Spice-Campbell on his new show, Burn Notice.  It's getting great notices and plays on the USA cable channel.

I am playing a fragile woman who has lost her child to my maniac ex-husband.  She enlists ex-spy, Michael, to track down her child.  The outcome is, let us say . . . “mixed.”

It's really nice to get the chance to play women on the edge.  I have played burnt-out, fragile women before.  It is much harder than playing tough.  I love it.

The downer is that I am going to miss The Simpsons premiere.  Better late than never on a movie, eh?  I love that shot in the trailer where Homer is dragging the pig across the ceiling.  Hilarious.  As for the series, I don't know how they have managed to keep the quality of writing at that level all these years.  Groening and his team are geniuses.

I should get done with Burn Notice just in time to get myself to Comicon for the TV Guide Panel on Sunday morning.  Should be fun.  I am excited to meet the other women on the stage, especially Allison DuBois, who was the real-life inspiration for Medium.  That will be fascinating.

Have you done anything scary lately?  I hear the pay-off is awesome!
Lots o' love,
Lucy

P.S.  I have gotten word that the Iyengar Institute is losing its lease at their LA location and they are madly fundraising to get a new home.  B.K.S. Iyengar is one of the greatest teachers of yoga living today (and some would say ever!).  Iyengar yoga has been my salvation after years of poor posture and a fractured pelvis that I feel could not have been fully rehabilitated without Mr. Iyengar's teachings.  I am going to put up a couple of my costumes for a silent auction.  What do you think if I auction off my chaps and my silver space suit?

All proceeds will go to the Institute with gratitude.  Watch this space.
Love & Peace,
LL

7/13/07
Greetings, Earthlings!

I am making antennae and sewing a wig for tomorrow night. I have written a very silly speech for my contribution to the HRC's San Francisco Gala tomorrow night. The focus of the evening is getting the laws altered so that companies may no longer discriminate against workers based on their sexual orientation, gender identity. Most large companies already have this in their company doctrine /mission statement but in 30 states, technically, a person can still be fired for being gay or transgendered, even if they are stellar workers. Of course this doesn't apply to religious organisations, nor even to companies of ten people or less, since even a frivilous lawsuit could wipe-out the livlihoods of those ten people. But it doesn't seem too much to ask that the law actually reflects blind justice.

In any case, I have taken it upon myself to be the comic relief. With many human rights luminaries speaking, how else could I hope to have any authority? Elizabeth Edwards is a keynote speaker and Leonard Nimoy is introducing George Takei who is receiving the Equality Award.
Gotta go to bed.
running . . . out . . . of juice.
L u
        c


              y
                 .

6/12/07
Wow!  Thanks, gang for an unforgettable experience in NYC!  I learned so much and boy, did the show evolve from one night to the next.  I learned so much about showmanship and producing, etc.  Michael Orland, my Musical Director, was fantastic, as was all the band.  Sharlotte Gibson cut loose singing, “When Billy Comes Home" again.  Her mother, Harriet, was there, too.  I love that woman!  We picked up some new musicians in NY -- lead guitar, Oscar Bautista, Dan-the-Animal Gross (drums) and Stephanie Alexander (backing vocals).  And they were spectacular!  New Yorkers have great chops and great attitudes.  Thank-you guys!

From my Roxy gig, you might have recognised, Frogs on Bass, Ralph Smith on Keys and two special performers, Tig Notaro and Renee O'Connor!!

Renee has never looked more gorgeous!  She shook her booty to “What'd I Say” in a red go-go dress, AND THE CROWD WENT WILD!!!  Tig riffed on a balloon in search of new material.  She truly loves 
working for my audience.  She finds you all so fun to be with.  And don't we love her?!

I am working on a one-woman show which involves music and memories of my crazy life.  It's going to take years to put it together so don't hold your breath, but now that I've typed it out loud, it must be true.  I'm committed.

Gary and Adam from Creation are trying to get me to do more shows.  I am trying to figure out how to get the ticket price down so that more people can come.  See, if I have a smaller band, or just me and a pianist, it needs to be a more intimate environment.  I think we just have to be stationed somewhere for a longer run.  Anyway, we'll figure it out.

I hope you enjoy some of the photos that will be up shortly.  These are just for starters, but we have thousands still to sift through.
Best,
LL

5/24/07
I am psyched to tell you that Tig Notaro will be opening my show in NY.  She is an old friend from way back who worked for Rob and was sometimes given the task of chaperoning our 10 year old around LA.  Tig took her on many inappropriately mad-cap adventures and taught her the gentle art of feigning complete mental retardation and unprovoked attacks on Joe Normal.  Despite this, Tig is now a stand-up comic of some note and my daughter is chaperoning her around NYC.  Tig, you rock!

I am going to be doing some radio shows in NY with Dee Snider and Jim Breuer on different nights.  I will keep you apprised of dates.

I am looking at some interesting job opportunities for later in the year.  I may forsake tv to go back on the stage.  Also was sent a fascinating script that is everything Football Wives couldn't be.  Dirty business, sport.  Plus, now I've got my dander up.  Hmmmmm...
Love,
L

5/13/07
So 'Footy Wives' died a horrible death on the operating table.  As late as Friday morning it was on the slate as the 10pm follow up to Grey's Anatomy, then it had a sudden and fatal myocardial infarction and it was all over.  One conspiracy theorist suggested that ABC and ESPN are owned by the same people and so our portrayal of some players and their wives as wretched Ho's engaged in drug-fuelled skulduggery was incompatible with life.  Bummer.  Sounds like a surefire hit to me.

I've realised that acting is really for people who don't know how to do anything else.  I swear to God, if I had a career option, I'd have taken it long ago.

So now I'm really thinking about what I'm going to do next.  NY is a go-go.  Then I have no idea what I will do next.  I kind of like that.  Up and at 'em!
L

5/7/07
Hi, all!

I have been in a long dark tunnel.  I really allowed myself to get drowned by world politics, the war in Iraq and our head-in-the-sand attitude to the health of Mother Earth.  I have to say your birthday card and the Celebrate Lucy Birthday list, with all the kindnesses you fans have laid out upon our table, was a turning point for me.  I want to thank you all for your incredible generosity.  You guys had me bawling at my computer!  How's that for cheering me up?  I even recognise some of the names and was so pleased to find that I have such incredible fans spread right across the world, from Brazil, to England, to Aussie.  God bless each and every one of you.  It really doesn't do any good carrying the weight of the world on you like so many wet mattresses.  I loved that your compassion was accompanied by joy!  I totally forgot "Spread More Joy!"  Didn't I used to say that all the time?  I totally forgot.

I am planning to spend 5 minutes at 1pm each day meditating on the planet as we desire it to be.  You know, with plenty of clean water for all, pure foods responsibly consumed, ice-caps reformng, happy safe and loved children, reforestation, no-impact energy sources.  Join me, anytime you can make it or choose five minutes at any convenient time of day.  Every new reality starts with a shift in consciousness so let's make it a good one!  I'm not going to accept the fear-mongerers (I call them the Negatives) into my life ever again.  If someone/something is not life-affirming, then they don't get in.
Note to self: get Teflon Raincoat for the Negs.

SO!
I am gearing up to do three shows in NY at the end of the month.  It is scary and wonderful and I am flying by the set of my pants again.  Every time I do this, I think, “Dang, there's my big mouth getting me in trouble again!”  I'm always on some high when I come up with the idea and then at some point reality bites and you have to "Screw Your Courage to the Sticking Place,” to quote a really tough-ass woman, "Then we'll not fail."  Okay, who was that?

Michael Orland from Idol is my Musical Director this time.  He was supposed to do my last show but was booked that week in Atlanta.  We are choosing songs.  Some I will lose from the Roxy set, so get your orders in now if you want to vote on fave songs to keep.  I am making sure that my act works well in the Canal Room.  Every space has its own demands and constraints.

I am having a crazy catsuit made which makes me look like I am made out of liquid metal -- kind of like those guys in Terminator as they morph from one world to another.

Frankly, what I do is daft.  But, boy, what you guys do with it is meaningful.

Thanks, Gang.
See you in the Big Apple!!
Woo-hoo!
L

3/27/07
I am nearly done on FW.  I spend a night in a swamp up to my armpits in wickedness, then go to Palm Springs and act like a nun.  A NUN, I tell you!  You know how I love golf, well, all sports, really, and the Dinah Shore Open draws me like a magnet.  That's a joke, son, a joke.  I am not a sports fan, just a humble *ROCKSTAR*  I am singing at the Grrrrl Bar event on Friday.  Midnight, actually, which I guess is technically Saturday.  I am trying out new material for my NY shows in late May, early June.

In response to the wishes of my fans, I will be singing “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles and two other rock songs.  Naturally one of those will have to be a Melissa Etheridge song, cos life without Melissa is no fun at all.  I won't have my band with me, but have some hot dancers behind me ensuring maximum joy for the audience. I can't wait!

See you there!
L


3/18/07
Stop me if you've heard this before but: "This is the funnest gig I've ever had!"

I know I said it with Xena, Battlestar, Duets, Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Roxy, but this Football Wives is my new, favorite thing!  They have all been perfect working experiences in their own way and each has led to the next.  I am just so thrilled to be working with this amazing director (Bryan Singer) and cast.  I really dig working with Bryan, what a pleasure.  I will be forever grateful to Marco Pennette for kicking my arse into gear.  Thank God that ABC had the foresight to pick up on this sensational British series.  We are all hoping to make good on its promise so that the network will see fit to take it to series.  It's a big one.  A show like this can't be cheap to produce so we really have to make it worth their while.  I have been avoiding watching the original series until recently.  I was afraid that I would not be able to make the character my own if I hooked into Zoe Lucker's brilliant portrayal of Tanya.  In fact, after I got the job, I realised that the role was waaaay more complex than 
it first appeared.  I realised I didn't have all the building blocks within me to bring her to life, ie. I didn't truly understand what makes a woman like her tick.  For god's sake, if you behaved like Tanya Austin in New Zealand, you'd be voted off the island in a second.  I actually went and talked to a shrink about the kind of 
personality that would allow behaviour of the most venal, avaricious kind.  He was most helpful.  She's starting to flesh out with a little help from my friends.  Honest to God, I'll steal a good idea from anywhere.

Everybody on this show is bloody gorgeous!  You should see the guy who's playing my husband, Eddie Cibrian.  Holy cow.  They've even managed to scrub me up.  My fans will not recognise me.  The glam squad has made me so darn swanky that I hardly recognise myself.  Thanks, guys.

Had a rockin' scene with Ving Rhames yesterday.  Could life get any better than this?

And really, the best thing about working on Footy Wives is the chance to work with Mark Ovitz, who will never see this, but 
HONESTLY, Mark,
you're
a
Peach.

And I'm not just saying that.
L


2/20/07
I am off working on Ted Raimi's internet pilot this morning.  I am playing an executive with a nasty problem to solve that involves polaroids going to the wrong recipient.

Ted's brother, Ivan, is an ER doctor and would regale us with the tales people tell to excuse the curtain rod stuck in  their bottom.  Or the jam jar or whatever.

I was thinking we could incorporate some of those crazy stories.  I always needed a strong director to stop me going too far.  Over to you, Ted.

We'll see what falls off the back of the truck, eh?

Then my prep for Football Wives really begins in the afternoon.
I'm going under . . .
Glub, glub . . .
Glub.
L


2/13/07
I never told you guys about Curb Your Enthusiasm!

I worked most of last week on it.  That Larry David is something else!  I'm kind of in love with him.  I gave him one of those Xena Hallmark cards on the first day which said, "Welcome to the Lucy Lawless experience."  He thought I was nuts.  Now he knows it.

We had a lot of laughs.  I had worked with Dave Mandel, Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer on Eurotrip after they saw me on Saturday Night Live.  They have provided the perfect work environment.  It is the closest I have ever come to the Xena set.  It's a bunch of fun people doing what they love and answering to no one.  Larry is the final arbiter and he was a joy to be around.

He likes to keep you on your toes.  At one point my character is supposed to be pitching him an idea for a show and he was off set nutting out the scene.  “What could this show be about?" he muttered.  "Well, how about a singng and dancing show, coz, y'know, that's where I'm heading," I replied.  "Oh, yeah, good," says Larry.  So they roll tape and we enter the scene, "Hey, you know that singing and dancing idea?  Lose it.  It ain't funny."

A lot of actors are creeped out by improv, but I LOVE it.  There's no telling what that guy is going to say next.  So you have to be really listening, which is the basis for all acting, right?

Anyway, that was the perfect experience.

Then Rob and I flew to NYC to see the Evil Dead musical.  It was fantastic and the cast so talented!  It is about to close soon so get along and see it if you are nearby.  It showed me once again how much talent there is to be found outside Hollywood.  Amazing performers getting paid relatively little but doing stupendous work on and off Broadway.  It's not that they don't get paid a lot, but the cost of living is so high in NY that $1000 a week doesn't get you far. NB. I have no idea what those actors are getting paid, I'm just using  a figure off the top of my head.  I remember all those hungry Grease actors eating my left-overs.  I doubt things have improved much in that regard.

Also I am in a rigorous training schedule for Football Wives.  Mama Rose has signed me up for ballet!  Believe it or not, she has.  And my calves are killing me!  I am also working with a trainer.  I can't believe it myself.

Funny that the week my youngest child gets accepted into school, this job moves into my life like a freight train.

Next week I am supposed to be doing “chemistry reads” to find the right guy to play my husband.

My colleagues so far are Gabrielle Union and newly cast Kellie Sanchez, who I hear are wonderful women so I'm looking forward to meeting them.

Onwards and Upwards!
L


2/9/07
Okay, I am now working on a show. I fought it.

I have been wary of signing on to a show for years.  My kids were too little, the workload too demanding, whatever.

So last week in pure frustration I wrote to my agent, "How come I can't get arrested?"

Consider me arrested.

I am playing a lead role in a new ABC show called Footballers' Wives.  I heard about it weeks ago but refused to go in on it because A) I don't like football and B) I don't play “wives”!

Never say never, eh?  For the past couple of months I was having to hang up on Marissa and Eric who were desperate for me to do it.  "She's an I-D-I-O-T!!!" they bitched behind my back.

Their other best friend, Marco Penette, the show's producer, and Mike McDonald, show executive and Rob's colleague from Herc and Xena, days both rang me and demanded I come in and at least try the role on for size.  I did and I guess it fit pretty good because five minutes after leaving the Network, I had the job.  I hadn't even fired up up the P-Bird in the parking lot.

Now Marissa is doing a little jig and they are trying to find the right guy to play my husband.  Someone big, stoopid and vulnerable, please!

I am a little bewildered as to how this all came about.  It has dropped out of the sky on me with all the subtlety of a falling refrigerator.

Oh, well.  Clearly, I am not in control of this bus.  Just riding it to the end.
We'll see what happens.
Love,
Lucy


2/4/07
You know, I am so grateful that my family is in good shape and we have a roof over our heads BUT . . . may I bleat for a moment?  I have to tell you, my life isn't all fabulous.  (Just in case you thought there was some mythical life other people were having that you are missing out on.)

Last week, due to my own stupidity, I failed to show for a “casual read-thru” of a movie script, which turned out to be a massively important studio deal.  I had read the call-time wrong and was heading across town -- scooby-dooby-doo -- thinking I was 50 minutes early and got a frantic call saying, “Where the hell are you? You're 50 minutes late!!"  I was so discombobulated that I could not recover.  I screwed up important jokes, making myself seem like an amateur.  I was out of step with the rest of the cast who were all phenomenal.  The role was such a no-brainer for me that really, it should not have been possible for me to fail.  The producer was most cold to me afterwards. 

I shamed myself in the worst way.  My agents, who used to tear their hair out about me, now just shrug.  That Lucy, she's just freaky.  I turn down scripts that are sure bets.  (For good reasons in my mind.)  But I confound them with the things I DO want to do.  On the other hand I was so bitterly disappointed with myself that the next project I went in on, I took the prep really, really seriously and managed to salvage some self-respect.  It doesn't mean you get the job, but you have to feel you are capable of doing good work, otherwise you'd leave, wouldn't you At least, I would.

Cat Crimins sent me a card saying: ". . . whether it is clear to you or not, doubtless, the universe is unfolding as it should."  It has always been my experience that this is true.   It's just that right now I ain't feeling it.

You know in the time that it took me to proofread this, I got over it.  I'm bored with my own whining.
Gee, sorry about that.
Thanks for letting me unload.
L


1/14/07
Wow! Thank-you guys so much for making my LIFE!!!!

That was so much fun.  I can't wait to do it again.  i don't want to lose any of the spontaneity but I hope I can fix some things that were lacking.  For example, i kept messing up the M. Etheridge song.  I know it so well!!  But, heck, live performance is always a gamble and you just have to flow with whatever happens.

I want to thank Sharon Delaney in particular, without whom this never would have come to pass.  She and I were sitting at my computer one day after Duets and I said, "I wanna do a show," and she jumped right on board.  Without her unconditional support the idea might have died there.  She gave it impetus and kept the momentum between my flames of fantasy.  Thanks a mil, Sharona.  It takes two you know.

In fact it takes a village.  I met some really phenomenal women thru Aleida Santiago, the Uber-fan.  Aleida is no longer with us, but the friendships continue.  Kelly D, Kit-Kat Crimins, Nora Manz and latterly, my assistant, Chalis, have been the life-blood that kept me laughing when everything was falling apart.

So with Sharon and the rest of the Creation Team we made a wonderful evening for our beloved fans.

Special note: Gary and Adam from Creation have been trying to get me to do a show for years and I was never ready to put my neck out there.  I thank you guys for still having faith in me and still being willing to take the risk that a show like mine could work out.  I have never had so much fun in my life!  The background singers also said this was the most fun gig they had ever experienced.

I love that the fans were so much a part of the show.
I bet not even Cher has fans of this caliber!
Love always,
Lucy Lawless

1/8/07
Good evening, Young Ones.
Today I had to postpone BV's (backing vocals) meeting with Miss Sharlotte.  Instead I went to my brilliant ENT doctor to get a handle on this virus that's set up shop in my head.  He hosed out my sinuses with a little vacuum cleaner.  Gruesome!  Then he dug for gold in my ears.  I stopped yelling at people to "SPEAK UP!!!" after that.  And he shot me full of B12 and anti-histamine.  I am going straight to bed after writing this blog.

I ate a matzo ball as big as my head for lunch and silverbeet (swiss chard) for tea.  This is the first day in many moons that I have gone without a soy latte.  I am bugging to get back to them.  But the show must come first, right?  Right.

Once I got home, I realised that I had totally forgotten my commitment to co-host Rita Gonzales’ show on IMRU.  Fortunately I got there on time and despite being a bit groggy I had a really good time.  They were talking about how "the Anglican Primate of Nigeria is spearheading the anti-gay marriage movement within the Anglican/Episcopalian Church.”  I thought it jolly unwise to cast a primate in that role in the first place -- after all, it's hard to take an ape in a cape seriously!  Or is it just me?

There are many things I wish I had said and a few things that I wish I hadn't, like: "I knew I had made it when I saw myself in claymation getting Calista Flockhart stuck up my bottom on Celebrity Deathmatch."  But it's true, so what's a girl to do?  Lie?

Yes, I think the drugs are kicking in again and I am floating off into Lu-La land.
Goodnight, Darlings,
L

1/6/07
Oh, Boy!  What a crazy 24 hrs it's been.  I have had two rehearsals, dealt with lawyers, done graphic art work on the cd “come2me,” fought bitterly with a friend (we actually quite enjoyed it), hosted sleepover, washed the pots, done singing lesson, looped Battlestar, done a promo, delivered cd to the production facility.  Hopefully it will be ready by next week if there are no more glitches.  Specifically, I met with my backing vocals captain, Miss Sharlotte Gibson.  She is PHENOMENAL!  I have asked her to sing a song of her own at some point because they're so damn good.  I think my fans will really dig her.  She and I get on like a house on fire.  It's weird though.  Someone screwed up.  It's like, at birth, we were transplanted into each other's body.  I wonder if it's too late to swap?

And I ironed out some ugly kinks (keeping only the nice ones) in two songs with Michael Orland, whom I met on Duets.  He's also a fixture on the American Idol scene and a wonderful man.

I told you I was hitting the gym because I had only six weeks to turn from frump to fabulous.  Instead, I went to New Zealand and turned into a fricking donut!  Usually I go home a broken shell of a woman and this time was no exception, only now I didn't have the will power to resist all those great kiwi sweets, custard tarts, chocolate and biscuits (cookies) that I have loved since I was a child.  Naturally the relaxation spread to my waist.  Now the excitement of getting the Roxy show together is burning it off again, though I wish I had time to go to yoga.  My two yoga teachers are coming.  I'm crazy about them.

You know what I'm really into right now?  There is an artist whose work I have been trying to buy for the past year.  Her name is Amy Bird and even though she is a starving artist, she has been unable 
to sell them because she has been building a collection to sell in a gallery.  Finally the day has come and today her exhibition opens at Milo Gallery, 6130 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.  I am psyched to finally get a chance to hang one on my wall.  I love the migrant worker ones.  And I think she was doing some forest scenes, too.  It's very modern, but accessible.  Check it out if you can.

Love, love  love,
Lucy

1/3/07
Hey, there!
I am officially back on the job.  I am going crazy putting things in place for the Roxy show.  I have friends coming from my Xena life, Battlestar buddies and from Broadway who are all shameless exhibitionists and whom I will have to taser to get 'em off the stage.  Hell, there's only room for one shameless exhibitionist at 
this show.

I am reallly thrilled that my old friend, comedian Tig Notaro, is coming in from New York to do a set.  She has fecently been on Comedy Central (sometimes you just gotta leave the typos in ). Anyway, she is one of my all-time favorite standup comics and I am so happy that she can come.  She's really good looking too.

I have an MC for the evening.  Her name is Cat Crimins and I'm trying to bully her into high heels, but she's resistant.  I told her she'll look hot, but she only wants to be a cop.  So we went shopping at the Pleasure Chest in LA and found a really nasty outfit with a badge that says "Breast Inspector" or something.

She also MC'd our buddy Aleida's funeral and she made that a riot so I forced her to help me with this project.  I'm not sure why she agreed as there's nothing but humiliation in it for her.  And that's a promise.  Seriously, Cat, you're my hero.

Today I went to see Alek Adorian, who made a good number of my frocks for Duets.  He is making me a kick-ass costume, which is going to make all those leather freaks out there very happy.  So all you people who got hot and bothered about the leather trousers from “Total Eclipse” with Bonnie Tyler can stop asking.  You're covered.

Ummm, what else?  I'm spinning my wheels somewhat because I can't meet with the musicians till next week.  That's the trouble when you have musicians of this caliber -- they work non-stop.  But since I need to “feel” each song as it comes together with their talent, I don't know which songs to lose, which songs to keep or take in some other direction.  I called Rickey Minor in a panic yesterday saying, "make me feel good about this, Rickey!"  He replied, "Lucy, if it were anymore under contol, I'd think it was a set-up."  I don't know what that means except that Rob Leifer, who is musical director on this, is totally on top of things and I should chill the hell out.  Rob Leifer is also a guitarist of some note and just did a show on VH1 or MTV and he's playing for me!!!  My God, how did I get this lucky?
Rock On!
L


12/3/06
NOTE FROM A HOUSECLEANING SHARON:  While I was browsing my files, I found a note from Lucy about her appearance at the Factory that some forgetful gremlin forgot to post.  In light of her upcoming Roxy appearance, it seemed appropriate.  I also sense another t-shirt in what she wrote <G>

To all the posse who turned up to the Factory and all those that couldn't, but were there in spirit, THANK-YOU!!

It was an awesome evening and one of the most exciting of my life.  A special  note to the girls fromToronto and as far away as Miami, for all your support.  What do I call you, the Posse . . . the Pink-Posse . . . the PinkPossecats?

Man, I tell you, performing on stage is a rip-roaring high.  I don't know what else does that.  I always flat-line right afterwards and nobody can get boo out of me, but I wake up high as a kite the next day.

I'm still not entirely comfortable up there but I'm getting there. Thanks for your support.

Love to you all,
Lucy  


11/25/06
Darlings!  I am so excited that so many of you have already bought tickets for the Roxy gig!
I am planning that it will be hot and heavy, so dress appropriately.  Make sure you smell good to start with because by the end it's going to be awfully close in there and we don't want to smell like a pack of truckers.  I'm debating the merits of stage-diving.  So don't stand up the front if you can't support 140 lbs coming at you full force.
You were warned.
L
P.S.  I'm including the lyrics to a couple of songs I wrote which I may perform if it feels right.
COWBOY SONG LYRICS
DOWN ON YOUR KNEES LYRICS


11/17/06
To all the Gang!
Thanks for giving my career meaning.  You will never know what you have meant to me.
'Feel the Love Day' and the ‘Celebrity Duets Petition’ rocked my world.
Semper Fi,
Lucy L

PURPLE HATS
In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.  Here is an "angel" sent to watch over you.  Pass this on to five women that you want watched over.  If you don't know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck_
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later.  Now go get washed up for dinner."  There would have been more "I love you's" More "I'm sorry's."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute . . . look at it and really see it.  Live it and never give it back.  STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more or who's doing what.  Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.  I hope you have a blessed day.

If you don't mind, send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends.  Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier.  Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month.  If you do, something good will happen -- you will boost another woman's self-esteem.


11/15/06
LUCY ANSWERS SOME BATTLESTAR GALACTICA QUESTIONS:

SD:  What did part did Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials play in your discussion with the Battlestar producers?

Lucy:  At first I was attracted to the role of D'Anna Biers, because she examines some major philisophical questions about the afterlife, re-incarnation, the nature of God, within and without.  These are also central to His Dark Materials.  I bought this trilogy up with David   Eick in particular, because it's just so darn heretical in parts and it forces you to examine your own beliefs in much the same way as BSG does.  Of course you can get away with these musings in fantasy and Sci-fi, but we geeks know there is a whole lot of truth hidden in a good joke.

SD:  How did they film the pan around the table, without cuts, where duplicate and triplicate D'Annas, Cavils, etc. are sitting?

Lucy:  Smoke and mirrors.  This scene took three quarters of the day.  You try to plan the shape of your three characters' interactions and plot them according to the motion of the camera.  So when the camera hits a certain point, D'Anna1 will shoot D'Anna2 a conspiratorial look and the other will shy away from the look in a different take.  So when they knit it all together, it looks as if I am having a conversation with myself.  Sometimes I create little scenes like that to keep myself busy during long scenes when I have nothing else to do.  I got used to huge plays of triple character action when we did Xena and that was before the new computer editing, so you really had to perform some major, sustained mental gymnastics.  I love it.

SD:  Six's love of Baltar was the impetus for her to commit the first   Cylon on Cylon violence in their history.  What does that say about love?

Lucy:  Love sux?

SD:  Cylons talk a lot about god.  Whose god?  What god?

Lucy:  Now isn't that the question?!


10/19/06
Dear friends,

Well, it's been quite a week!

I'd like to start by thanking the vendors of my photographs who withdrew them for sale after inadvertently buying them from a bad source.  Thank-you, chaps.  I looked at them and realised that some of them are far from the best.  I have much cooler ones to come.  I am excited about them.

I am trying to arrange a show early next year in LA.  It's taking shape.  I'm thinking duelling blues songs and will announce my opponent as things develop.  But it will be a rockin' evening when it happens.  Honestly, I can see it and hear it.  I get a knot of excitement in my stomach when I think about it.  That only happens to me when something is as good as real.  Will keep you posted.

On the personal front, we are supporting a dear friend in making the transition from this life into the next.  I guess the main thing is for her to be comfortable, to feel heard, to feel that her wishes are respected and that she can voice her anger, fears, gratitude and love.  I told her that it will just be a breath before we are all together again.  I don't know why I even say these things, they just kind of fall out of me.  But I reckon that's what it will seem like on the other side, barely a moment will pass and her doorbell will ring as we file in one by one looking for a party.  She's just going ahead of us to prepare a room.  I'd ask her to make up a bed, if I didn't think she'd tell me to go to hell.

We are trying to have as many laughs as we can fit in a day.
Be generous with your love, it all comes back.
Love,
Lucy


10/11/06
Hello!

I'm a little distressed that someone has gotten hold of my photos and is passing them off as their property for sale.  Any disco photos of me with the long blonde hair are ONLY the property of the photographer, Darrell Redleaf.  I have done no others.  Darrell is a dear friend, my erstwhile make-up artist -- he even painted me for 
Duets.  This photoshoot was his debut as a photographer.  Please don't help criminals rip him and me off.  They were due for use on the Pleasuredome project and my own music cd, so I am really pissed at anyone who illegally accessed them and is distributing them.  That's just sleazy.

I will send you a preview of the shoot and we will make beautiful prints available for sale so that the photographer gets a payment.  Please note that I will never sign a bootlegged copy.  Legitimate prints will only come via this fanclub and are copyrighted.

Thanks for calling our attention to this, guys!
Love,
Lucy


10/1/06
Guys, thanks for keeping me in the show till the end!  It was such a blast.  I am so happy that I got to choose the last song and do it my way (with a little help from my friends!).

Somebody said they felt they had let me down by not dialling quicker/with more phones.  Imagine if you hadn't all gone out on such a limb for me!  Would I have made it past the third round?  Possibly not.  Don't worry your pretty head about it!  I feel so proud of myself and so grateful to you all.  It's not often that I say I feel proud of myself. It has been a long time since I was engaged in anything that challenged me as much as this.  Plus I got to be mentored by the best in the business. Every one of those singing stars and judges taught me something that none of the others could and at exactly the right time.  They have helped evolve me as a performer.  Talk about being on the fast track.  I truly feel that the universe is unfolding just the way it should.

To whit: Alfonso sang like an angel.  He is a wonderful man with a wonderful charity.  He wanted it.  He wanted it more than anything and now Fresh Start, his charity, is going to be able to help a dozen or more children with severe deformities get the corrective surgery that will enable them to rise above the poverty-stricken circumstances into which they were born.  It is hard enough to grow up poor with normal features.

I am so proud of Alfonso and all of the contestants who had the brass to get on that stage in the first place.  The Duets producers will likely struggle next time to find 8 contestants whose motives are so pure.  Our gang recognised from the start what an honour it was to share the stage with these legends and wasn't calculating what the show might do for their careers.  After all, the show was a complete unknown quantity.  It could have been a big flop.  So our desire to learn and enjoy the opportunity had to outweigh calculations of net-worth, so to speak.

Eleanor Roosevelt was right, definitely do something every day which scares you.  Courage is certainly not the absence of fear.  Before I got on stage last night to sing “Tell Mama,” I had a total panic attack.  After the opening number, my throat was so dry in the cold air of that studio that I began to cough.  In my anxiety I began to hack up phlegm until I gagged.  Marissa was telling me to calm down and drink warm water.  I knew it was a case of mind over matter.  Between Hal's song and mine there was an ad-break and, mercifully, Smokey and Gladys sang a duet.  That gave me time to imagine my vocal chords melting like honey, relax my throat and run through an old hymn that I loved as a kid which always calms me down.  It's funny how singing the 14th psalm can enable me to go out and be bad-ass.  What's up with that?

Thanks for the flowers, you crazy chicks!  (You know who you are!) 
Thanks for the signs, the RSI in your dialling fingers, thanks for being the greatest fans in the world!
Love always,
Steeeeellllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!


9/26/06
I was so shocked at Jai's leaving that I made myself sick.  I had to spend a day in bed.  That's what happens when you sing with a great Diva, huh?  There's no room for anyone but her on the stage and let's face it, try to fight back against Patti LaBelle and you're shooting with blanks!  But I have to say, I am sooooo thankful to last one more week coz this week is going to be a doozy!!!  I am really doing backflips over my next two artists.  One is a returned artist and one is one of the greatest anthems of the 80's sung by the original artist.  She is unforgettable in her own right.  I cannot believe I am getting to share a stage with her!  For the record, Hal is truly one of the best fellas I ever met.  I'm not kidding you.  He is so genuine, he's stuck on go but since I have a son like that, it doesn't faze me in the least.  He is non-judgmental, sincere and bloody funny.  Alphonso is my hero, who saves my neck every time I fail to come in on my line.  He thinks like a director, always three steps ahead.  I can count on him to bail my sorry ass out of a sticky situation and laugh about it.  Love him!
Too good, Too good!
Love,
Stelllllllllllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!


9/25/06
LUCY ANSWERS 10 FAN CELEBRITY DUET QUESTIONS

1.  Has it been hard for you to relax?
Yes.  The first two weeks were difficult because my family was away and though it gave me a lot of time to concentrate, there was no one at the end of the day to take care of.  I had no one to think about but myself.  In the end, I found it rather unpleasant.  I took my Sharper Image back massager to work and have been thrilling my colleagues with it in the make-up room.  We are all feeling more relaxed and loved these days.

2.  When was it that you felt the most "yourself" while performing?
I felt the most “myself” with Smokey Robinson the first week.  Perhaps this was because I could not “play a role” in his presence.  He was just too much of a superstar in my mind for me to get to that place of I-don't-give-a-damn that stage singing requires.

3.  When did you have the most fun?
The most fun was last week with Richard Marx singing “Should'a Known Better.”  Richard was the first one who acted like I was his equal.  The guy just doesn't have any baggage at all.  He's from Chicago, which seems some kind of an explanation.  Love those Midwest folks!  I'm going to take that feeling with me everywhere. Thanks, man.

4.  What would be your dream song to sing and with which female icon would you like to do a duet?
I'm doing it this week!

5.  Has participating in Celebrity Duets affected your attitude toward singing professionally or any ambitions you might have had in that direction?  Would you like to cut an album?
Dang, you know it kind of has.  Would I give up acting for singing?  Before this week, I would have said, “No way.”  Now . . . ?  I possibly would.  I did produce a couple of songs with friends last year, but got so busy with acting, it kind of went by the wayside.  Hmmmm. Will keep you posted.

6.  What is the hardest thing you feel you do in your preparation and performing?
The hardest thing is conquering your panic.  Wynonna said, "Just show up and wait for God to walk in the room."  I swear that works!  The panic is just your ego.  It ain't you and it ain't God.  You have to 
treat your ego like a yapping, whiny little dog that your grandma 
left you.  I like to tell it that I'm just going out on stage for a little while and it can wait in the dressing room.  It won't be forever, I'll be back for it in, let's say, 15 minutes.  Every week I get better at what I'm doing.  How could you not improve when you are being mentored by some of the best performers in the world?!

7.  Do you have a specific genre you prefer singing, like country, blues or jazz?
Kind of shocked how much I like rock or rather how much rock seems to like me.  Haven't been given the opportunity to sing country.  Blues is coming up!

8.  Similarities/differences between preparing for acting and preparing for singing?
In both cases you prepare as much as possible beforehand, then go out on the stage and forget all about it!  I'm not kidding.  You can't act if you are trying to hit certain notes that you penned in your script earlier.  That's about as spontaneous as paint-by-numbers and will fail to move your audience.  It seems to me that my performances are changing because I am willing to have less and less control over the output.

9.  Of the three judges -- Marie, Little Richard and David -- which one has given you the most constructive criticism?
Marie is the most consistently constructive, though I have gleaned 
some important little nuggets from both David and Little Richard.  Sometimes the criticism is just petty, which works just as well.  Sometimes I want to say, "Don't make me turn all Xena on you, Marie.”  Even Little Richard, if indeed that is his real name, thought I would be voted off last week.  Between you and me, there is a savage little animal that lives in my breast and no amount of music will soothe that.  It's coming atcha little Richard!

10.  What lessons will you take away from this experience?
This has been a great lesson in courage, to take your career in your 
own hands, though others think they know what's best for you.  I have never had so much fun in all my life.  I feel so proud to still be 
here after 5 weeks.

I am learning to get back to a time and place when singing was an expresssion of joy and freedom and not a nightmare.  I have not felt this good about singing since I was playing Nellie Forbush in South Pacific at the age of 16.  Since that time, any singing I have done has been more therapy than pleasure. 

I have learned about the nature and depth of my fans and how much they love the Earth, themselves and me.  I thank them for their undying support.  Semper Fi.
Always Yours,
Lucy L


9/18/06
Okay, I feel totally sick.  The other night, I left out some people vital to my Duets evolution.
Judah Miller is the awesome guy who hand-picked off the rack some of my most show-stopping frocks.  He has an unerring sense of taste and ought to be gay, except that he's marrying my best friend in three weeks.  Maybe he is, what do I know?
Rickey Minor is the musical director who guides the direction of the show and has charted the course of my larnin'.  Can't help lovin' dat guy!
Dorian Holley, the set-side vocal coach, is trying to get me to open my darn mouth and troubleshoots all our performances.  Thanks, D!
Travis Payne is our choreographer and a huge part of my confidence.
Michael Orland, the best friend a singer could have, plays the piano in one key whilst reading the music in another key altogether.  Such a genius and the guy Eric Vetro called the wittiest man on the planet.
And of course Sharon Delaney, without whom the fans would have no access to me.  It is she that pokes, prods, cajoles and bullies me to break away from the little dirt track of my mind onto the superhighway of information to service my fans in some way.  It's not that I wouldn't want to.  I just don't have the skill set to contribute appropriately.  Without her guidance, expertise and generosity of spirit, Lucy would be as remote as a Dwarf-star, formerly known as Xena.  One of the most important jobs she is doing this month, in addition to her real job, is shepherding our precious guests into hard-won seats.  We have some friends going through some pretty harsh medical treatments who need not to be standing in long lines.  Some of them were turned away the first week due to over-crowding despite having tickets.  The show was gate-crashed by industry insiders.  My poor little housekeeper had bought a new dress and everything,  so excited was she.  Sharon has made sure these very special friends get the consideration they deserve and I thank her for it.

I am meeting my next artist tomorrow.  One of the proposed songs has been canned.  Drat.  Would have been a tear-jerker.  Evidently it can never be sung because the person who made it famous died and the artist cannot bear for it to be sung by anyone else.  My recipe for happiness is to never spend one second moping for something I can't have.  No wonder I am so unsentimental.  (Yet wonderfully flexible!)
Love always,
Lucy-Lou
aka.  Stellllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaa!


9/16/06
Oh, Baby!  Thanks a mil for your support tonight.  I didn't hear the telecast as I was out with Jai having our first martini in many moons, but we saw it in a bar in West Hollywood and it looked darn fine.  We got up and boogied down to Alphonso and Denise, surely the nicest woman on the Earth, and rocked out to Hal.  Boy, what a shock when Carly went, eh?!  We were NOT expecting that!  On the other hand, a nuclear bomb couldn't dislodge my little cucuracha, Cheech, from his stoner throne.  I hope Carly sees this as a triumph, not a failing.  After all, you can't win a gold your first time out, right?  She did so well and we are all so proud of her.

I have many people to thank for putting me up on that stage every week.  From my biggest fan, Rob Tapert, to the production team, my lovely (Tony-award-winning) assistant, Marissa Jaret Winokur, vocal coach, Eric Vetro, Hair and Make-up, Craig Gangi and Darrell Redleaf.  And how can I forget the man who designed my frocks, Alek Adorian?  Every one a winner!  Plus Lorelei, my boob-wrangler, who sews bras into my gowns and Warden O'Neill and his team in the costume dept of Duets.  You can see why this is such a team effort!

All of whom vote for me in many ways, but my greatest thanks is to the hundreds, maybe thousands of fans at home who have shown me their fiercest loyalty over the years, through thick and thin.  I love you and honor you all the days of my life.  You know who you are, best love and gratitude,

Lucy
P.S. Did you notice that I got Xena up on that stage tonight?

9/9/06
Dear Friends,

Thanks for your unbridled support!  I can feel it flowing in from Florida to Vancouver.  Finally the song "Wind beneath my Wings” makes sense to me.  Please God, don't make me sing it.  I don't like it THAT much.

I had the time of my life last night, as you may have noticed.  Stella finally got her groove back!  (Me Stella.)

Kenny Loggins is one of the most generous people in the world and with his support and friendship I managed to pull out all the stops.  He spent time with me helping me find “my voice.”  Truly a great guy.  I actually had an epiphany yesterday two or three hours before the show.  I remembered that the main prize of this show is to give $100,000 to charity.  The charity aspect sent my ego flying out the window and freed me up to go out there and shake my groove thing.  (I'm doin' it for the children y'all!)

That ego is a horrible, controlling little monster.  It makes you afraid to fail, to the point that you become fixated on protecting yourself and sabotage the whole experience.  Then Wynonna told me her pal Bono said, "Just show up and wait for God to walk in the room."  That made all the sense in the world to me.  It meant I didn't have to DO anything.  That I was enough just as I am.  And it let me just go out on stage without any anxiety.  It all felt so effortless.  So much so that I went out right after to the Aretha Franklin tribute at the Kodak theatre afterwards.  The night before, after the Thursday show, I would not have had the energy.  I went home and blubbed uncontrollably over the Diane Sawyer story about babies born to widows of 9/11 victims.  I think it was a  combination of poignant story and frayed nerves from trying too hard.  I felt I had peaked too soon in the day and had wasted all my performance energy by the dress rehearsal.  I now realise how important it is to pace yourself.  In any case, when they showed the little babies faces next to their Dads', and I saw how alike they were and knew how much those men wanted to raise and love those kids, I fell to pieces.

This week I am singing with another veritable legend.  How did I get here?  This is too amazing.  Can't wait to find out who everybody else got.

Wynonna and Clint Black are hysterically funny people.  Clint is highly intelligent, witty and wry.  Marissa had an enormous crush on him.  His wife Lisa Hartman Black was there and she looks like a great gal, which doesn't surprise me in the least.  And that Wynonna is truly Xena with a guitar!  I just wanted to hang out in the tent where she was, to breathe the same air, despite the shrieks of protestation from Mama Rose to get back to my darn dressing room.

You don't get any time to rest on your laurels, though.  Just when you think you've earned a weekend, they tell you your call time for the next day is bright and early.  This juggernaut doesn't stop rolling.  Gotta get fit for it.

Lots of love and thanks,
Lucy

9/1/06
Hi, Gang!

Thanks for all your good vibes for last night.  I have to say that it was one of the most joyous experiences of my life.  I never for one second thought I would even meet Smokey Robinson, let alone sing with him.  I really tried to pay attention and breathe him in so as not to miss a thing.  He was the main reason I came on the show in the first place.  Even if I were to get voted off next week, I can only say THANK-YOU!!

I really love the crowd I am working with.  The Duets Production team are great fun to be around because they love what they do.  The other contestants are wonderful and very supportive of one another.  I think there is a growing sense of camaraderie now that we realise the Russian roulette nature of this gig.  I think we all thought that we were in a Broadway show of sorts where everyone is vital to the whole and you become a real community.  Of course, on Duets one of us is publicly eviscerated.  Terminated, even.  God, we felt sick last night when we lost Chris Jericho.  Everyone loved him and it was a shock when he got kicked off the playground.

Yep, we definitely have the feeling that we are facing extinction and need to hang together.  Yikes.  Now it's in the hands of the audience.

At least we have broken the ice by getting the first show out of the way.  Things should be a little more fun from here out.  The anxiety of the build-up to last night's show means that I have to have a wee collapse.  Marissa says there's always payback for that kind of adrenaline rush.  She ought to know.  She is my Mama Rose.  She is like the mother in Gypsy and tells me to stop talking coz I'm no damn good to her if I can't sing next week.  She says, "Oh, you're going to do this!  You're going to do it and do it well, cuz it's all FOR ME!  FOR ME!!  FOR MEEEEEEE!!!!"

She's insane, as you know, but she's so darn kitsch, I just can't bear to throw her out.  It's a little bit like having a motion-sensor Little Richard doll on your bookshelf that you forget about and it scares the crap out of you every time you go to the loo in the night.  Holy Cow, they are going to be in $2 Stores all over the world by Xmas.  The Little Richards not the Marissas.  She's very high end.

These judges, let's face it, are great television.  They are genuinely nutty and you can't imagine what they are going to say next.  I do not believe they are encouraged to be wacky, they just are.
Hooray for everything!

Love,
Lucy


8/22/06 --
Hi All!

The Duets prep is coming along.  We are all having a great time.  There was a heap of press the other day for myriad outlets, even CNN, which i was particularly excited about.  I guess it's part of the I-can't-believe-this-is-happening-to-me phenomenon.  Indeed the other day, when I got another pleasant surprise on the show, I had to ask myself whether I had had a stroke.  Was I simply imagining the whole scenario?  It's all beyond my wildest dreams.

Today I did something with Access Hollywood.  They followed me to a voice lesson at Eric's and recorded twenty minutes of unusable banter, like . . .

"La-la-la-la . . ."
"Now, go up the scale, holding your tongue and gesture with your free hand."
"How's this gesture, Bud?"
"Ooooh, what a lovely gesture!  Ev'ry inch a lady."
"Well, enough about you, Eric . . ."

etc, etc, etc..

I have found out my two singing partners for the two-hour opening night and which songs we will sing.  I am so excited, I can't tell ya!  More tomorrow.

Love,
Lucy


8/13/06 -- (conversation between Sharon and Lucy)
Lucy’s yelling at me.

I’m not yelling I just forbid you to ever write “Here she be” on our
website.  “you sound like an old Pirate!”

What’s wrong with old pirates?  A recent old pirate made 300 illion bucks!

Buccaneers?  What the hell does that have to do with anything?  You can’t sound like a fool, foo’!

You’re besmirching my fine Irish pirate heritage!

Besmirch?  Is that even a word?

It’s a fine word used by old farts who say “here ye be.”  See, I got it on the page.  Ha ha ha

Damn you, Red Baron!

With my trusty sidekick Snoopy who will now fill us in on the latest hot news.  You’re up Snoopy.

I told you not to call me ‘Snoopy’ in public.

What’s the latest on Duets, Snoop?

Well, I did two interviews this week.  One for Associated Press and one for TV Guide.  I guess they go out the week of the show.  And, yeah, I’m doing it!  I must confess to some hair-raising anxiety dreams in the night.  That ol’ “Oh, my God, what have I done?” nightmare.

6/22/06 --
Hi Gang,

I just did the voice of an animated cartoon for Paramount, called Dragonlance.  Obviously it's a fantasy story, with gods and monsters – (no lesbian subtext).  I never felt I nailed animated performance before, so wanted to get a handle on it.

I played a character called "Goldmoon,” a Native American.  We played around with accents awhile.  I didn't know she was Native A till I got there and so didn't have time to research the accent (not many of those where I come from).  More staccato!  More comanding!  More warm!  Less disjointed! . . . Ummm, do you just want me to do Xena?  Ahh, yes!  That's it, do Xena!  The voice is perfect!  So warm, so commanding, so . . . yeah, yeah, let's get on with it.

It was actually really fun.  At last I have done something my kids can actually watch.  My son is gratified that I am not playing a bad guy.  He can't stand me going to BSG every day to be mean to humans.

Oh well, it's a living!
L

5/27/06 --
Hi Y'all, still loving Vancouver.  This is consistently rated one of the most desirable places in Nth America to live and I can see why.  Lots of hiking trails that run steeply up the sides of ski slopes.  At first it's shocking how many housefraus and geriatric Canucks are steaming past you up the Grouse Grind, but you can't help being inspired by their athleticism.  Man, I wanna be like you when I grow up!  The only thing is that they can't help giving you a little dig about stopping to gasp for air at the quarter-way mark, where I'm sure the air is thinnest.  "What's the problem, lazy bones!?"  I tell them my angina's playing up.  I admire them and I hate them at the
same time.

Galactica is running smoothly.  I have come to really love the cast and crew.  I am done here in August and will move off on my next great adventure, whatever that is.  (stay posted).

I have been part of BSG photoshoots for TV Guide and Maxim but don't remember when they are due out: June and Oct respectively(?)

Hope all is great with you,
LL

4/13/06 --
Hi, Everybody!

Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts over the last two months.  My beloved Dad is finally on the mend.  Yikes, what a ride. I have been watching The Sopranos go through the same thing only in three hours flat.

I am now in Vancouver where we just started shooting BSG.  Everyone is fresh and excited.  Daisy remarked that they all seem to LOVE their job.  They certainly are deservedly proud of it.  Peabody award, did you hear?

Thanks, everyone.  Ummm, no I am not in Robert Rodriguez' movie.  Zoe Bell is the star of Quentin's next movie and they are considering me to play one of her buddies, which of course would be way too much freakin' fun.  Zoe took me out for my birthday in Auckland with all the stunties and we had such a wonderful time, I can't tell you.  If they did want me for the role, it would be up to BSG whether they could let me go.  I do have a couple of eps off so it could conceivably happen.  But heck, it's in the lap of the gods.

i also went to Vegas for the Maxim event.  The biggest surprrise pairing was Rob and I with Anne Heche and her husband Coley Laffoon.  They are my new favourite people ever!  (Don't tell Eric and Marissa!)  They are so funny, and brave and charming and open.  They told us the story of their love affair, we told them ours.  We ate phenomenal food at Barlotta in the Wynn hotel and danced like fiends at the Maxim party.  It was the first time in 7 years that we went on holiday without the kids.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  And you know I needed a doctor after that cussing spectacle in NZ on the Holmes show.  I think the pressure of pretending in public that everything was just dandy, when it was horrendous, got to me.  I went a bit doo-lally (nuts).  I became totally dis-inhibited.  You guys know that I've never pretended I didn't swear like a sailor, but I usually manage to keep it under wraps a bit better than that.  I actually had no recollection that I said, "there's nothing to do but f**k" three times.  THREE TIMES!  It was supposed to be a joke about the fact that Kalgoorlie had two derelict drive-in cinemas and thirty brothels, but my sick father was not impressed, I can tell you.

On one hand, I think it is good to see how people really are instead of a carefully manicured image.  But, I think it's not kind to subject people to foul language, when they haven't signed up for it.

C'est la bleeding vie!
Or should I say, -- C'est la Guerre!
L

3/12/06 --
Good!  Morning!  Everybody!

As Aunt Daisy, famous NZ radio host of the '30s and'40s, would say.  I am absolutely APPALLED at the potty-mouth who wrote the last column under my name!  I am here in NZ minding my own business, when I spied the rantings of a dingaling on my web page and decided they had to go.  You know I would never cuss in print or in life.  But enough of that.

Auckland is beyond lovely this day.  The parks, full of sculpture, are bursting with life and the sea is all asparkle.  (Surely that's a word. It should be!)  I have been here spending time with family before moving to Vancouver for a few months.  My kids have forgotten that they ever went to school and are spending all their days barefoot out on the beaches of the wild West Coast.  You have to be careful of the rip-tides here, but the surf is pretty fabulous.

I am trying to answer the questions of Battlestar Fans who are worse sticklers for detail than Xena fans ever were.  Sooner or later they will twig to the fact that Lucy just doesn't retain certain kinds of information and will stop asking.  Phew!

Hope you are having a lot of laughs where you are,
L

2/24/06 --
Okay, that is totally embarrassing!  I called it Good Housekeeping party, when  it was Ladies Home Journal footing the bill.  No wonder the editor kept looking at me blankly when I was thanking Good 
Housekeeping for all their support of “Unexpected Dreams” (Eric's album).  She must have thought I was really, really ballsy or a complete dingaling.  In any case, I knew it was a title which had nothing whatever to do with my lifestyle of complete domestic avoidance.  Sheesh, let's just face it: -D-I-N-G-A-L-I-N-G!!

I never can manage to schmooze effectively.  I never get educated before a screen test, so I can act like a director's biggest fan.  My friend, Marissa, is an evil genius and knows everything about everyone, their filmography, ratings, pay-packet, but I am just a dingaling.  I try to tell myself it's my Grace not to be a kiss-ass, but maybe . . . ah who gives a shit, this conversation just got old.  I bored myself.  Why should I do it to you?

I am thrilled to have been painted by the great, Dave Mack.  We knocked around a few ideas and came up with the idea of a totem pole of my family, which is en route to me as we speak.  He also did a few studies of me just for the hell of it.  I told him all I really wanted to be was a cowboy and he made me look like a total Fox!! . . . in a Brokeback Mountain sort of way.  I thought Dave had to be about 50 because of his reputation.  I guess I had it in my head these comic strip geniuses were all grey-bearded dudes with ponytails and roll-yer-own fags dangling from their mouths.  (Not a Brokeback Mountain pun.  Shame on you!)  Turns out he was born in 1972 is a  yoga-loving Fox in his own right.  Check out the website about him davidmackguide.com.  It even has photos of him in Aotea Square, Auckland.

Umm, what else?  It's Mardi Gras time so spare a thought for all our friends in New Orleans who, Fat Tuesday or not, don't have homes yet.  They wanted me to go to New Orleans to help draw attention to the continuing plight of its inhabitants and emergency services personnel, but we have been having a family emergency of our own.  As it turns out, the health scare has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the relative in question.  It revealed a much bigger problem that, left unchecked, would have been fatal.

As a schlebrity, you get asked to help out a lot, and it is a duty and pleasure to do so.  But sometimes your ego gets away on you and you think your job is to “save” people by just showing up to something.  You think you should help everyone, everywhere as much as you can, but sometimes you just have to save yourself.

All the same, New Orleans is still a chronic mess and Washington and FEMA need to DO THE RIGHT THING.  Say, why not pull out of Iraq and spend that money at home?  If we all drove vege-oil cars, we wouldn't need Iraq's fossil fuel, you wankers.  And the corn- growing States would be psyched.

That's dingaling philosophy today.
Amen.
L

2/3/06 --
Hi gang!

Thanks for coming to see me at the Xena-con.  I felt that Xena has the best, truest fans there are.  Thank you for being gentle, forthright and for your compassion.  You know, if there's a new Xena comic out, then the brand is being re-invigorated. Why on God's green Earth shouldn't a Xena movie follow?  Let's put that out into the universe!

Ummm, so news to date:  Yes, I am officially doing Battlestar as of this afternoon.  I appear briefly at the end of this month as D'Anna and then there is a lull of I don't know how long.  The role should be a doozy, and a whole lot of fun to boot.  I really like that cast and crew so much.

I am also talking to someone else about another job right after.  Oh, it's so exciting!  I finally feel ready to go back to work.  Fun, fun, fun in the big city.  I'll keep you abreast of developments.

What else can i tell you?  My cats are making everybody sneeze.  Our dog has his nose very out of joint about them.  My daughter has a green mohawk.  All the regular stuff.

Going to Grammy party next week and a Good Housekeeping party -- because I just love cleaning house!  Actually, it's a party to honour Teri Hatcher being on its cover and she has been gracious enough to use her moment to share the limelight with my good friend Eric Vetro, whose lullaby album is coming out late next month.  I thought that was really cool of her.  I, and our best friend Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray, Tony award, blah, blah), sing on that album by the way; songs that Eric wrote himself.  It's called 'Unexpected Dreams' – I think.  Don't ask me, I have a mind like a sieve for details.

So, that's all the news that's fit to print.
Peace.
L

1/12/06 --
I want you guys to know that barring earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes, I’m likely to be doing a 10-episode stint on Battlestar Galactica later this year. I’m not lookiing to guest on other people’s shows per se, but, in this instance, the plot twists and character development proved to be irresistible to me.   It won’t get in the way of my doing other projects, but we’ll keep you up to date as things go along.  
Lucy

12/15/05 --
Ohhhh, New Orleans! How I love you.

It was wonderful to see the pulse quickening down in the French Quarter, but it is certainly an isolated island in a sea of darkness come nightfall.  There is no electricity in many areas, which is hampering rebuilding.  My N.O. friends tell me that while single folk are starting to get curious about returning, families won't start coming back till January and truthfully, for thousands and thousands, there is nothing but toxic waste to come home to.  The heavy metals deposited by flooding have covered miles with poison mud, now dried to a thick dusty crust.  Bulldozing kicks up a lot of mercury, arsenic etc. which is an added hindrance to recovery.

Today a Louisiana native came to stay with us till she gets on her feet.  She's relocating to LA.  She has lived here before and did not love it, but she is strong, talented and resourceful and she's going to make it. 

The police and emergency services begged me to keep talking about New Orleans.  They feel so alone and they fear that everybody has forgotten about them.  I'm afraid they might be partially right.  I am just sick at their isolation and their vulnerability.  Any kind word of support just makes them melt.  Forget any stain of corruption or rats jumping ship.  These officers and emergency personnel have remained at their posts through thick and thin.  Their marriages are under awful strain, their children are living far away.  In many, many cases their houses are destroyed and some have lost family members to the flooding and the pestilence that followed.

The wealth of a nation is not about having a Walmart at every off-ramp.  It is not about a free clothes iron with your mail-order vacuum cleaner.  It is about the quality of caring between strangers.  Last year, I visited Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries on Earth, where 80% of usable land floods every year.  I have seen poverty, and more pernicious inter-generational poverty, which destroys the fabric of caring even to the point of mothers throwing their 4-year-old children on the roofs of trains just to get rid of them.  I understand now that even the mother-child bond is eroded, destroyed or never develops where survival is threatened.  What hope then for the bonds between strangers?

Hurricane Katrina has lifted the lid on our own dirty laundry.  The poverty that we have too long ignored, the ecology that we have undermined further stressed inadequate infrastructures for the above and blasted out of the water the hopes and dreams of hundreds of thousands of people.

It seems a bitter joke that, like Blanche Dubois, New Orleans natives have come to rely on the kindness of strangers.  But to me this care is the glue that binds us in a social compact.  You cannot have civilisation where there is no trust/respect between strangers.  It proves the strength of a nation.  This is Unity.  It seems to me that this is something the United States should know something about.  This holiday season we could forgo the latest gizmo and pledge a gift to a stranger in our community, or in New Orleans or even overseas.  Every time we do this we add a thread to the fabric of care that binds all beings on this planet far more securely than all the political manoeuvring in the world.

Let us be Conscious.

Love always,
Lucy L

12/9/05 --
Thrilled to report the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. want the Xena cossie.  Isn't that amazing?  I tried to reach Ngila Dickson, the designer but she was in South Africa filming way out in the sticks, so I left a message with her husband.  I hope she freaks out.  Mind you, the woman has won Oscars for LOTR and accolades for Last
of the Samurai so we shouldn't be surprised, but it is a wonderful honor in tv world.  Or any world for that matter. 

I wonder where they'll put it.  The tv section or the space exhibit for characters who have their own planets/moons.

Lucy

10/19/05 --
I will be at The Factory in West Hollywood on Friday, Nov. 11, 2005, singing a couple of songs and getting comfortable with performing in a new environment.  Come along if you can.  Not sure what time yet.  Stay posted.  If I can wrangle my arranger in time, I may even sing one of my own tunes.
 
(QUIET IN THE CHEAP SEATS!!!)


10/12/05 --
Hello Darlings!

By the end of next week we should have our official Home page up.  We are working with a graphic designer to realize my vision.  I need to get the photographer to sign off on the new artwork.  I am very excited to show you all the new me.

I’m coming out, Baby!  Like a Flower.
We’re going to have a lot of fun.
Buckle Up!


10/5/05 --
The last two days I have been visiting t-shirt wholesalers to find garments I'd be proud to put my name on.  My best friend, Marissa, and daughter, Daisy, came along and gave invaluable advice about what they look for in a tee, given our differing and glorious body types.  Some of the colours I wanted were not available.  Some of the sizes I wanted were not available.  Some samples were just downright nasty and would fall apart en route to your house.  As we're tip-toeing into this, you'll have to forgive the obvious teething troubles of our fledgling fanclub.  I've tried to keep it simple this first time out.  I am creating a logo, which, while it doesn't scream 'Lucy Lawless', nevertheless lets the initiated know -- you're in the club.  At first, only the people who know will know.  By and by, you will see that logo on all sorts of products and projects that are little secrets at the mo.  But when they happen, you will be the first to know and I'll post it here.  These first shirts will be a little primitive but very limited edition!

We are starting out with only T-shirts:

Colours: Ink black, NOPD-blue (that's navy), balloon-pink, charcoal and Fat Albert-brown

Styles: Classic men's cut, women’s 'baby doll' (puke name) with cap sleeve.  I've been very careful to make sure that the sleeves aren't too tight.  That is totally unflattering on anyone, particularly if you haven't been working your biceps for the last twenty years or so!  Also my favourite, the singlet, sleeveless undershirt -- aka a 'wife-beater'?  A name we will most definitely NOT be using on this website.

We will be having a lot of fun photographing the Tees.  The shirts I eventually bought came from different manufacturers and vary a great deal in their interpretation of S, M, L, & XL.  I've decided that to make sure you all get the truest idea of the sizes, I'm going to get one model of, say, size 12 to wear all the shirts.  So sometimes she may be swimming in fabric and in some sizes she may not even be able to breathe.  If nothing else, it'll be bloody funny!!

All will have my logo on it.  I'm going to torture you guessing what it is for a few more days.  Sorry!

Love,
LL


10/3/05 --
Everytime Sam Raimi hassles my husband, Rob Tapert, about loving making television so much I say, "Aww gee, Sam, is there a planet named Superman? I DON'T THINK SO!!!!"

I rang the Mike Brown at Cal Tech today to thank him for this senseless act of beauty.  Fancy naming a planet and her moon after your characters?!  That is just craazy!  Renee was at my house yesterday and Sam too and we were all just in disbelief.  I had heard 'Xena' was the unofficial name, but didn't dare hope it would stick.

God bless us all. That's just CRAAAZY!!!

Incidently, Mike Brown has just become a father and wasn't in the office when I called.  I'm sure he wishes he had named the planet after his newborn, Lila, but as she wasn't even a twinkle in his eye at the time, he's just gonna have to get cracking and discover an eleventh planet for her.

I was talking to Andrew Young from the Starship Children's Hospital in New Zealand and we decided to jump in the Starship and make the rounds of our new property.  Isn't that what it means?  Didn't they give us that sucker?  That beats an Emmy, I guess!

Thank-you, thank-you.  I feel very humbled by this honour.  I'd like to thank the Academy of Balactica and the good folks at Cal Tech for giving me my very own planet.  And I'd really like to dedicate this to the fans, coz without them I'd just be a housewife from West Auckland.  Not that there's anything wrong with that!!!
LL


10/1/05 --
Hi Gang, yes this is me after all these years. Wanted to keep you abreast of developments, because we all love being abreast, right? After a long time in hibernation, this spy has come in from the cold. I am waking up again. Finally. I've been through many changes in the past 4 years, even through a recent blue-period, post Katrina,  where I questioned whether what I do is of any merit at all. I don't
know the answer to that but can only conclude that i don't know how to do anything else. So I guess I just have to keep putting myself out there. Whether anyone else comes along for the ride is their choice. And I'm good with that.
Shine On, you crazy Diamonds!
Lucy Lawless

Be warned: this is not marketed to children. I am irreverent, a little wacky and I cuss like a sailor. Got it?
Good.
Lucy Lawless


9/05/05 --
Okay Gang, here it is.  It's taken me 10 years to get off my arse and start my own website.  My thanks to all the Xena webmasters who carried the flame all this time.  At the time of writing, if you google my name, it comes up with 297,000 references.  Holy Tschit!  I can't imagine why anyone would be interested in a single word I say, but here's my blog anyway.
-- Lucy Lawless

N.B. Parental Guidance Recommended