I woke up early this morning, glanced through the headlines of my morning paper, well the newspaper is named Evening News, a little confusing if you are not familar with it, then browsed through 740 emails in my blackberry's inbox. One email which I received from a person whose name I have never heard before was particularly strange. A quick Google search on Amanda brought me to her bio.

"Buongiorno, il mio nome Amanda Chapel.

I have 15 plus years experience in marketing communications. I am a former vice president in the Consumer Marketing Group at Weber Shandwick, one of the world's largest PR firms. Prior to Shandwick, I spent about 10 years bouncing around various top agencies. This includes senior posts at Cone Communications in Boston and Porter Novelli in Chicago. I cut my teeth at Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising in London.

Truth is, I have a killer portfolio. I've been involved in award winning campaigns in key consumer sectors: food and beverage, health and beauty, retail and fashion. I've worked with and advised many blue chip organizations including Kellogg Co., Procter & GambleProcter-and-Gamble Oct-07 , Motorola, American Express, Frito-Lay, Porsche, Kodak, Anheuser-Busch, Mexico Tourism, to name drop a few. But... food and beverage is really what I'm best at. Love food. Giada De Laurentiis is a personal friend (and my hero). I am passionate about all things Italy.

Bottom line professionally speaking, I am 5' 4" tall, athletic, Pantene shoulder-length black hair, perfect perky boobs. I present well and am most accommodating. I've slept with clients. I sleep with my boss. I am the consummate PR strumpette. When I was 7 my mother told me I'd "never get anywhere with that mouth." I've apparently dedicated my life in proving her wrong.

I have a BA degree in Economics with a minor in Italian Literature from Columbia. I graduated cum laude. I went on to get a law degree from Yale but flunked out after two semesters. They were just way too snooty and serious. To be fair, I think I was just bored.

As far as memberships, I was a member of PRSA but got too cynical and quit. I presently put in a lot of hours doing volunteer work for the local pet rescue group PAWS. At least they're honest and one can occasionally see a meaningful outcome in your efforts.

I am divorced (Chapel is a nice name; it's all I got from my ex and I am keeping it). I am living in Chicago. Having way too much fun. Might just be the poster girl for ADD."

I woke up early this morning, glanced through the headlines of my morning paper,
and replied to emails which were waiting for me in my blackberry's inbox

From: Engin Sezici [mailto:engin(at)sys-con.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2007 11:44 AM
To: 'Amanda Chapel'

Amanda, we can debate this subject over lunch at Lou Malnati's..
________________________________________
From: Amanda Chapel [mailto:chapel(at)strumpette.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 10:05 AM
To: engin(at)sys-con.com

http://java.sys-con.com/read/446768.htm

Shameful.

Who Is Amanda Chapel?
I replied to her email but never heard back, naturally. Well, I have a pretty good idea about who Amanda Chapel is. However, this question was not asked for the first time. A few years ago, when SYS-CON published a controversial story about the identity of another anonymous blogger, Pamela Jones, the article created such a reaction and also caused the biggest cyber attack aganist any media company in history. The subject of "Who Is Pamela Jones?" later became a cover story to Forbes Magazine.

Since Amanda emailed me about my blog entry from this Monday, she may very well be one of the names mentioned in my original story, -or- she may be working for one of these firms, you never know:

Jodi Amendola, Amendola Communications; Sonia Bovio, Brodeur; Laurie Rubenstein, Cdigix; Joseph Mondy, CIGNA HealthCare; Amira Rubin, CooperKatz & Company; Brian Parrish, Dodge Communications; Michelle Perkins, DPR Group; Kelly O’Brien, Intermarket Communications; Don Jennings, Lois Paul & Partners; Ted Weismann, Lois Paul & Partners; Audra Tiner, Metia; Cathy Spencer, Mulberry; Steve O’Keeffe, O’Keeffe & Company; Caryn Marooney, OutCast Communications; Glenn Goldberg, Parallel Communications Group; Patrick Brightman, SGW; Kimberly Stoddard, SHIFT Communications; Hilary Ives, Softscape; Nazli Ekim, SS | PR; Josh Inglis, Strategics; Jerry Gowen, Symantec; Bob Dirkes, Tech Image; Dan Green, Tech Image; Lawren Markle, Tech Image; Jon Boroshok, TechMarcom; Matthew Podboy, VOCE Communications; Joe Austin, Ventana.

And why does Amanda think my blog entry was shameful? I will let you know as soon as I find out after my lunch date with her. In the mean time, your guess is as good as mine. I think she is jealous of Mariana's success as compared to where she was 15 years ago, and on top of it, as you can see from her bio, she may have other serious issues, who knows.

Isabel Arvide with the author of this blog in Palermo, Sicily. The photo was taken by Salvatore Genovese

On a lighter note, I had lunch with Isabel Arvide yesterday at a remote mountain villa outside Palermo, Sicily. Isabel is an independent Mexican journalist, who became internationally famous with her fight against the drug loards in Mexico. She often travels with up to eleven armed body guards. Isabel and I talked about many subjects besides Sicilian cooking, including, of course, her 2003 Chihuahua experience, which will be the subject of another blog entry.