kyburg | It's been a very good day

Mind you, it isn't always a fun thing to get with the alarm clock on Saturday - but hey, when you got an event you want to get there early for - who cares?

caitlin told me about a book signing

alton_brown (this guy) - was holding in West LA today - a fella, who is by his own definition, a minor celebrity - and someone who looks like a relative.

I was number 11 this morning. I have signed copies of Emeril Lagasse's books - why not?

Stupid me. The neighborhood the bookstore was in was a mecca for a junker like me. I also love glass. Stained glass, blown glass - I'm your bitch.

I bought a couple of new books - I did a bunch of shopping for

silverkun and

ceolyn's wedding, too. And bought some pretty things for myself, including a lovely hand-blown glass dish to put on the living room cedar chest, and two colored glass candlesticks. 50% off and I'll never get the opportunity again - one of a kind pieces.

Alton Brown showed up as we were putting our purchases in the trunk - it's a gorgeous sunny day, BTW and he's dressed like he's interviewing for a new job. Jacket, satin tie, the works. I'm wearing a Hawaiian shirt, of course. But we're cool, we Don't Approach The Celebrity and we go back inside the teeny little bookstore and get in line. I get stuck in a doorway and try to make myself one with the wall for about twenty minutes while everyone files past.

People who are in line to get cookbooks signed are NOT little people.

High points? The lady with the minature schnauzer in her purse. Two little girls about 7 years old in their best dresses - and people who talk food, not attitude. They can all stay.

Alton Brown?

His first priority upon getting set up was NOT to sit behind the table they had ready for him, and he went down the entire line of folks waiting for him (*inhale excuse me *exhale*) saying hello, introducing himself and thanking us for wasting a beautiful day inside a bookstore for him.

I had three books and a DVD to sign - but I asked if he wanted to sign them all. "Bring it!"

Impressions? He's less than three inches taller than me, and older. Older, I didn't expect. Sweet. But the impression of "gee, you look familiar and I don't mean I know your face from television" impression didn't go away. I could stand my younger brother next to him and pass him off in a family picture - hair color, eye color, hairline...expressions, confirmation of the shape of the face, body posture and he even parses words similarly - so I told him. "You look like a relative."

I hope he took it as a compliment. "REALLY?"

Gee, was I pretty? Maybe? Don't ask me, I haven't a clue. But I think he liked the idea - at least he didn't take offense.

I got my picture taken, and got a hug - he hugs nice, BTW. He was also very fuzzy - I think he had a week or two's worth of beard working. I complimented him on the suit and tie (which he had ditched by this time, smart boy) - and then got out of there.

caitlin and I then went to Hollywood and ate lunch at Pink's.

Jim has to work tonight, so no fun for him - after lunch, I drove us back to the house, waved goodbye and took a long-ass nap.

And now, I am up boring you to death.

It's been a very nice day. Tomorrow, I go to Hemet. Boo-yah.