2/2/2011 Booking Signing in Ridgewood, NJ

[jbracciante]

Have fun Dave!

I guess if I was a true fan I'd walk the 118 miles to get there. What a horrible horrible week to lose a car.

[Elvis]

I got tied up with a last minute work issue so I didn't get there until about 4:45. It was much smaller place than yesterday. Maybe 75-100 people left in line (actually plastic lawn chairs) when I finally got downstairs a couple minutes before 5:00. About a dozen people arrived after me, and I was out by 5:45. Just took some candid photos. They were doing posed photos, but I was scatterbrained from the last minute work thing, and... something else ... so I forgot to take a posed photo. He did mention he liked my photo from last night so that was cool.

When it was my turn, Al started signing and didn't look up until after the autograph was over. Then he kind of rolled his eyes and did the whole disgusted thing and turned to his security guard and said something along the lines of can we get rid of him? The security guy (same guy as yesterday) was like oh, he came back from last night. Then I asked him about my ... something else ... and he obliged. Thanked him and left, got home in 20 minutes, cleared some ice, fed the cat, emptied the dehumidifier, folded some la--- oh wait, you know what, you don't care about all that.

For those keeping track, Jay Levey was there, though he disappeared about 5 minutes after my arriving.

Dave

edit: A few candids:





Making a goofy face.

[You Make Me]

I did end up making it to the signing with the wife. Got there around 3:30 and there was already a decent crowd there. The place really filled up as it got close to 4:30, to the point where it was standing room only and there was pretty much no standing room left either. I was pretty impressed with the big crowd considering the weather and the fact that was a weekday afternoon. Al came out, and I couldn't believe all the photographers there. Had to be at least 5-7 professional photographers snapping away while Al posed with the book. Some of those pictures are here: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/peopl ... /pictures/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The line moved pretty quickly, Al was cordial as always. I asked him for some Hawaii advice since I've never been there and he was beyond helpful especially with the huge line still behind us. Got a great picture and then it was off for some buckwheat hazelnut pancakes!

The only thing that would have made this cooler was if there was a Q&A session and maybe Al reading a passage from the book. I realize they were pressed for time because there was another signing at 6:30 but maybe for his next book tour The other signing I've been which was for Les Claypool was great. He came out, read a passage from his book, did a Q&A session, and then did the book signing thing.

[Alinite27]

So glad that you and Terri had such a great time, Dave! Wish we could have made it up for this signing anyway. Sounds like it was fun, despite no Q&A or Reading. I wonder if that's something that Al just chose or the bookstores chose. My guess would be it was Al's decision. Wonder if that would go back to not having enough confidence in his literary abilities or thinking that people wouldn't have enough interest in participating. Who knows?

Great review! I wanna see y'alls picture!

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Al with a very very young fan

[Wizzerkat]

Next, Al poses with a fetus! Well, he may have done that already

[Orthography Enthusiast]

Next, Al poses with a fetus! Well, he may have done that already

Absolutely he has done that. Or didn't you find the easter egg on Poodle Hat?

[TMBJon]

Al with a very very young fan

[Wizzerkat]

Well, I meant a fetus fan

[fred27]

he looks so content in that pix, think he may want another one