December 2000 Hi, everyone!

   It's that time of year again when I am reminded of how many loyal and caring fans I have. Thank you for all the special holiday wishes and loving thoughts you have sent to the kids and me. I always feel so blessed when I read them. Jake and Skylar are so excited! They have decorated the tree and colored their Christmas cards? Santa will be treated to their home made, hand decorated cookies on Christmas Eve. I tell you, I feel like I am living with two mini Martha Stewarts! I however am not renowned for my domesticity. All I can say is thank goodness for Betty Crocker, the little Pillsbury guy, and instant soup mix. Ah, the fine tradition of the Easton family dinner continues even in this new millennium!

   "At the Copa" is dark for Christmas so I get to celebrate the holiday in a much more relaxed manner than I'm used to. It's actually quite a strange feeling not being burned out at the end of the year. If I were smart I would learn something from that. Maybe something simple like slowing down, taking more time off and not feeling guilty if I'm not overworked or over achieving? Hey, maybe all my therapy is finally kicking in!

   I could spend a whole page detailing all the work projects I've been doing this year, but I know the web site keeps you up to date on most of that stuff. So instead of giving you a list, let me just say that it has been a particularly fruitful year for me with many rewards and opportunities to keep on doing the things I love.

   I have particularly enjoyed being in one place for most of the time. It is a rare treat to be able to perform 8 shows a week, and not have to live in hotels and airports for the privilege of doing it all. My contract is up at the end of January, and David has recently announced that he is closing the show when I leave, so our "Copa" family will be going our separate ways. Many of the cast have already been snapped up by other shows in town eager for their talent, so if you saw the show and have your personal favorites, look out for them on the strip early next year.

   I feel very at home in a theatre environment and will miss the cast and crew when it is over. I have made some good friends here in Las Vegas and when I return home to LA, I will take with me many fond memories, and great stories I can't repeat in polite company! It is always bitter sweet when a creative project comes to an end, but I must admit I am really looking forward to doing something fresh. You know me, I love a challenge!

   I don't know exactly what is around the corner for me next. I will be doing some promotion for the new CD "Fabulous" in Europe and Japan early in 2001. I spent some time recently in London doing press and was reminded that doing interviews is the least favorite part of my job. It is always such a high in the studio making the music and a real pain in the ass having to explain it.

   The BBC did a "documentary" about me, but please don't be misled into thinking that it resembles a biography. If you manage to catch it you will see a lot of shots of me looking busy, coming in and out of doors, getting dressed up and made up, and the usual sound bites in response to the usual questions. They had quite a bit of brand new performance footage that they chose not to use, and a 4 hour interview where I talked about a lot of the things that are important in my life now, but 95% of that was cut too. It doesn't contain much new information and there is a lot of rehashing my beginnings and the story of my life according to the tabloid headlines. So if you tune into it hoping to get an in depth look at my life or some idea of what I think and feel, forget it. If you want a harmless fluff piece with lots of shots of me from twenty years ago, go ahead and watch. It's actually worth it just to be reminded of my bad hair days and tacky fashion choices then and now. I guess some things don't change!

   I hope you get a chance to hear the new CD. It's a real retro dance blast. I loved working with Ian and Terry, the producers, and, of course, I always cherish any chance I get to sing in the studio.

   Because I was tied up with doing 8 shows a week I didn't have to handle the usual stress of overseeing the whole project. It was a breeze, all fun, no sweat, and I think the lighthearted approach was appropriate for such a party album. So what's in store for me in 2001? Who knows, more theatre? More recording? Definitely more music.... And maybe just a little time off.

   Well I've got to close now as the Jake and Skylar magic show in the living room is about to begin and the performers are getting restless. I'd better get in there before they unionize!

   I hope you all get a chance to be with the ones you love at the holidays, as it's the only thing that counts.

God bless, and keep in touch,
Much love,