Screams for a Lush bath, really.

Speaking of products, I was rolling with a guy this weekend and he paused and said "Aveda?" Boy (he's 22) got my hair product right! Damn weird, let me tell you, since it's a very slight smell.

exactly! Before V-Day= beer and whiskey. After V-Day= reasonably priced champagne and flowers!

It's win-win.

My data does not indicate that Mexican Coke will be affected by the holiday, so Allyson should be all set regardless.

You misspelled, "all champagne will be marked up because of Valentine's Day hype."

Weird. I got some on sale. But this isn't the first time I've seen indications that the midwest does things ass backward.

But this isn't the first time I've seen indications that the midwest does things ass backward.

Or I'm just cranky and assuming!

Jen! From the other side of my day, I return your lovely wave.

Also, of course, if it's Kristin's birthday, it's also MFNlaw's. Silly me. Happy birthday, Maria! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year!

It's getting good presales from the chains and we're thinking that this book might be the "sleeper" of our fall list!

I can't be happy for Allyson without understanding all the big words. What does it mean, that it's the "sleeper"?

Also, when is it going to be possible to pre-order it internationally?

white and black goes with blacks.

I'm so worried about the white losing its pop. And I have a lovely skirt my mother gave me that's palest off-white with a brightly coloured border. Which runs. On itself. So I guess that skirt's now dry-clean only. Because I sure washed it in cold.

Aveda products are instantly recognizable to me. However, I cannot say anything about the wider world because their scents happen to be ones I am hyper-sensitive to.

Allyson, you should give yourself a spa day. It's good for...stuff.

What does it mean, that it's the "sleeper"?

A "sleeper" generally means something that most people do not expect to do well (or have not heard of) that does well anyway, surprising all but a few insiders or something.

Hmm... maybe not the best definition....

Most of the Aveda scents are anathema to me. I have to hold my breath just to shop there. I use their stuff for sensitive skin, which is unscented, and I use their humectant pomade, which has none of their signature stinging minty smells that triggers my migraines.

eta: And thus my surprise at its recognition. Stuff barely smells and certainly doesn't smell typical.

I think in this case a "sleeper" is a book with the publicity budget of $1.27 and some stale cheetos. If it sells despite no full-page ads in the New Yorker, it wins!

(N.b. I think nobody but Stephen King gets a bigger publicity budget than that, in the trade book world.)

Allyson, please schedule your booking with Jon Stewart now.