Lauren was flying in from New York and would meet me at Quimby’s just before the event. I wandered in early and had some time to say hello to a few friends. When AEM showed up I apologized for throwing away all of her potted meats, but was able to hand her copies of Cambridgeshire Life and Lady magazines, along with a box of Man Size Tissue and that candy that claims it isn’t for girls.
Joe Meno reported that he took my book on a plane trip. He said that when he got to the Road Trip chapter he shouted No! Why?? – much to the consternation of the people in surrounding seats.
The only thing I remembered for sure about Lauren was that she had curly hair, but we managed to find each other and work out a set that would last for the whole tour.
By the time I went on stage jetlag had kicked in; I’m never nervous during events but at one point it literally looked like the words were floating off the page. I was sufficiently confused that I started to laugh at the phrase suction catheter and had trouble restraining myself from giggling through the rest of my piece.
I met several people I’ve only known via the internet, had dinner with Dan and AEM and Lauren, and then we set off for the wilds of the midwest.