Meeting publicists is sometimes a bit nerve wracking in this town.  Most are out promoting a client, a benefit, a new project or something.  I am not putting that down, I've been doing it for twenty plus years myself.  But few stand out as really nice people who also have great abilities.  One such publicist is Kristen May of CB Media.  I met her through the very talented Bruce Robb, a music legend who is still performing and producing great hits.   Kristen is very pretty, enough to become an actress if she wanted to, but she loves public relations and promotion.   Bruce told me, "She's the best at what she does. I've been lucky enough to work with a lot of publicists over the years and many have been great, but thus far Kristen seems to throw out all the methods that can get you into a dead end promotional gimmick and she takes everything on fresh and knows how to make it new and exciting."

I agree.  When talking with May, I agreed to sign up myself.  That's the greatest approval one publicist can have, is having another publicist as a client.   Because we recognize great potential when we see it.   She's also very much into the "green" way of things and that's another thing that makes her and Bruce click so well.   "I am lucky, I learned so much about the business from my parents, but the publicity business I learned from my dad." Said May.    Kristen's career also once involved real estate.   That's probably what makes her such a great sales lady.  She is signing on clients every day and is certainly one of the best already in her field.   You can reach her by going to her official website at:  www.cbmediaonline.com .  Tell her Tommy at Canyon News sent you. 

Then there was one.  One Tom Ford, that is.   Firstly, from his wonderful coffee table book to his very handsome looks.  You know this man is full of surprises.   I spent a few hours at his new store in Manhattan at 845 Madison Avenue recently after their star studded opening and came out of the store with nothing.  Well, not because there wasn't anything in there I wanted.  It was because I was on Canyon News' expense account and the Publishers have put me on a budget at this place.   The sunglasses were superb, the colognes all heavenly and stylish.  I wanted everything and couldn't afford anything.   The employees are so gracious, the sales staff very kind, all refined and poised.  Each one looks like they could be a Tom Ford model.  

This store is destined to become New York's number one shop.   There is nothing on nearby Rodeo Drive here in Beverly Hills that even compares.  And we have some stylish store fronts around town.   Tom Ford was there, I tried to make sure he didn't notice me.  I was after all wearing an Armani suit.  He is much more handsome in person than in his photographs, as hard as that is to believe.  Working with his staff, you could tell he was very hands on and very easy to work for.  While I was there for only a few hours, surely he racked up over $100,000 in sales, everyone leaving with more style and pizazz than they walked in with.  I wanted to ask the sales clerk for a bag, so I could walk out of this oasis in the middle of Manhattan in style.  But I didn't get up the nerve.   I have met princesses, billionaires, stars and politicians, never was I so awe struck as to meet Tom Ford.   Mr. Ford, I was the one with the shaky hands in the Armani suit.  But your store, I promise you, when Canyon News gives me a raise, I will be back, maybe for Mother's Day.  My mom would love everything in your new store.  And my next suit is a Tom Ford original.  I promise!

Those of you who know me, know that I am from Virginia.  The tragedy near my home on the Virginia Tech University Campus hit very close to home in many ways than one.   I hope that it opens a dialogue in America about how to handle the mentally ill among us.   In the sixties we all worried about privacy and rights for the mentally ill and we went way too far.  Now it's time to bring the laws back to a common sense approach and make sure that people are able to have a say and be safe to make reports on a student's, neighbor's or relatives mental fitness in society. 

Thanks to CNN for sending Anderson Cooper to Virginia to anchor "360."  He brought attention to this problem as only Mr. Cooper could have done.  Having lost his brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper to suicide and mental illness.

-