So, we are getting rowdy and excited for the premiere of Southern Fried . The Colonel and Valarie are all safe and sound after their trip to Ottawa, though their luggage went off the radar. We had ourselves a time, to be sure. And I'm thinkin' -- hoping -- that the Canadians won't be the same after us. You'll find out more, when you hear about our dinner party with Black Boot Trio. Delicious food and even more delicious people.

After my luggage also went AWOL, I spent the night in a suburban Toronto hotel and skinny-dipped in the hotel pool . . .that's how I roll.

Thank God for unlimited long-distance! I have been scurrilously busy, interviewing the coolest guys in Southern rock.I get first listening privileges on their music, too! I had to put a rubber-tire casing on my IPod, because I'm so hard on it.

This weekend, I am a judge of the Pocahontas County, WV Roadkill Festival. I will be sampling auch delicacies as wild boar, groundhog and moose. I'll let you know about my adventures in a future issue, guaranteed.

What can I say? Life is good. Happy New Year, members of the tribe!

Here I am, in the process of putting together the premiere issue of http://www.southernfriedmagazine.com

However, it's not something I could ever do by myself! I am so grateful for the support, advice AND hard work from Bruce Wall and Bobby Booth. Bobby even got his wife Jenny in on the program!

There are lots of contributors who are pitching in -- all great. They will probably be rotating in and out of the magazine on a seasonal basis. Kinda like sweet corn. Catch 'em while you can.

However, one of my "Friends for Forever" will be with us through thick and thin -- Art Editor Tim Hall. Tim is known in some circles as "The Colonel," for his ability to put deals together, for knowing everyone in the world, for knowing the music business, and well, for just knowing. His art is as cool as he is. Don't you just love our logo?

Tim and his s/o Valarie Hardwick (attorney and writer from Louisa, Kentucky), are going to Ottawa, Canada to report the cool Southern rock influence on our friends in the extra-extra North. I can't wait!

Ads!! If you want to take out an ad in our fledgling webzine, we'll give you one hell of a rate.

Ah, controversy. If I were afraid of it, I couldn't be in this business. We have a new advice columnist -- a gal who's involved in the music AND the adult film world. She goes by "Paris Chilton" and don't you think she looks cute and professional in her black suit? I don't know about YOU, but I don't want my advice coming from somebody who looks like they're from the set of Little House on the Prairie. If you submit questions to my email at tfleishman@toad.net , I will pass them onto her confidentially. By the way, that's me on the left, looking ready for a bike rally, and I'm a lawyer. So, don't judge a book by it's cover and keep an open mind. It's all about rock 'n' roll.

Love and kisses,
Tamar Alexia Fleishman
Editor in Chief,
Southern Fried Magazine