Welcome home! I am so happy for you that you got through it, and I wish I could have been there, and I'm sure everyone who met you loved you no matter what, and please come to Boston if you can ever convince yourself to leave home ever again (who am I kidding?).

Think about it?

YEAH!!! You're back!!

Come to London!!!!!!!!

Oh wow, that was one fantastic trip, and I'm sure you rocked it, because you do, and by the way, how jealous am I that other people have your book already, and I am at the mercy of your publishers and amazon and have to wait for it.

Dear wonderful Crazy Aunt Purl, I am crying with some mixture of "she's so funny I'm crying" and "oh my God look how comfortable she is with herself and I remember when she was in total hermit mode" and "look, she wrote a book when she was 35, maybe I'll finish my book someday too, because hello I'm 35" and maybe five or six other things, but those are the main ones.

And also you met the Yarn Harlot, and the Yarn Harlot met Crazy Aunt Purl, and I might be frighteningly jealous of both of you. :)

So glad you have a great time. You are so adorable and I love your new hair do!

Glad you are back in the left coast.

Welcome back and congrats to you for not only taking a risk but for pulling it off so fabulously well! Also, your hair looks AMAZING and perfectly says "soon-to-be-world-famous authoress." Thanks for being such an inspiration and a reminder that life goes on (and can even get better) even though your significant other has decided to hit the road without you.

dude your haircut is great!!

All I can say is WOW! Good for you! I give all kinds of credit to the power of women. We don't realize all the good stuff we can accomplish. Glad you enjoyed our big city! Congrats, you made it!

You know what? Everyone, everyone including Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, look just as thrilled to meet YOU as you do to meet them, and they're even sober. As far as I can tell. And your hair looks great. Kiss Soba on her surly nose for me.

Your hair looks AWESOME! Congratulations on your victory :)

They had wine at the convention center? Maybe only for very famous authors who needed it right before a nerve-wracking public speaking event...

Glad to hear you made it home safely. You were great, the book is fabulous and wonderful to hear that you have made amends with your do and actually enjoyed a teensy bit of NYC (cuz your last words to me were "I want to go home now!").

And when you made the comment(s) about your pants being tight I kept thinking "those darn spanx are probably cutting off her circulation."

I love your hair! I am so proud of you; you made it through your trip and you had a good time (admit it)!

Kris I was so mad, I don't have a single picture of you and your mom! I loved meeting you, and I thank you :) It felt like even though I didn't know you, I "knew" you and it helped me to feel less about to throw up everytime I saw a friendly face. That reading was so awful but at least it is over now wnad we can make jokes about it. eeeew.

I can't say it enough - I am so Happy for you. You deserve this and so much more.

Congratulations! Your hair looks great! And you have such a healthy glow--or is it the cocktails? Welcome back!

Yeah Laurie! That's fantastical! Not only did you meet the challenge head-on, but you had incredible hair, too. ;) Yeah for you!

It is exactly that. A triumph.

Now that you've reached this plateau, you can look back. Don't Mr. X, the divorce, and the sense of abandonment look small and insignificant now?

It's always interesting to stop for a minute and look back at where you were.

Welcome home! We missed you!

WOW, what a whirlwind trip!! Glad you had fun, Laurie!!

Way to Go!! I saw you on the Harlots site today & girl you look FABULOUS!!! Congratudlation on the book - I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

Laurie, it was wonderful meeting you and your folks. You were the Belle of BEA!

Congratulations! You ROCK, you authoress, you! Crazy Aunt Purl meets the Yarn Harlot -- worlds collide!!! Love the haircut -- adorable. So proud of you, Laurie. Can't wait to get my hands on the book! :-)

Well done, Laurie. I've been looking forward to a trip report and this one certainly had me giggling. I can't wait to get your book.

You so totally rock! And the haircut is fabulous too!

Laurie, you're my hero! Congratulations on stepping so far out of your comfort zone and still having funny stories to tell about it.

Oh, and another thought about the hair...not only does it look great, there is less of it to eat while hiding in the bathroom. Not that I think you will ever feel the urge to do that again in the wake of your wonderful success. But I think Roy and them could tell you a thing or two about hairballs. Just a thought.

Laurie - So glad you survived your trip to NYC. I read your blog every single day, so I waited for your return to hearth, home and blog with baited breath. I eagerly anticipate the day that your book arrives on my doorstep. Yep, I pre-ordered because of your sales pitch - you're a natural.

I met Ms. Pearl-McPhee (aka Yarn Harlot) in Oklahoma City when she was here on her book tour. You are so right about her awesomeness: she was just as wonderful in person as I imagined she would be. Hers is another blog that I have to read daily, or suffer withdrawal.

Your hair looks fantastic. I don't know why you were ever worried...says the forty-something chick that wears her hair in a ponytail because she can't deal with the trauma of a new haircut.

In response to your pondering: I do believe that hugging is a Southern thing, as is charm. You have both in spades.

isn't it great to go away and realize just how wonderful home really is. your home. your own home.

congratulations, Laurie!!!!!!!!

Hurray! I am so pleased for you. What a wonderful trip!

What a great trip. And may I say, you look Gorgeous in the Yarn Harlot's picture of you.

Oh Laurie! I smiled the whole time I was reading. Like I was your proud mama. You look beautiful and are such an awsome girl. I am so happy for you to have these experiences. And I am so happy for the rest of us that you shared. Have as much fun as you can - life is short.
Wow, I (know) a published author! Well we all feel like we know you. And Love You!
Congrats.

Oh Laurie I saw your picture on Yarn Harlot's blog and just thought "oh, those two must have had so much fun".

Congratulations! You looked like you had a great time!!!

what a great trip, and a wonderful description of it! I love seeing our city thru your eyes! there ARE way too many people and wayyyy too many germs in NYC, but hey, whaddya going to do.
in the photos, you look like someone who is happy and successful, & no one could guess there’s any fear or doubt going on inside. You were a long way from home – in more than miles – and it’s so cool to hear you describe this current victory. To find our homes, sometimes we have to leave them, I guess.
You may not want to hear this, but you’re such an inspiration to so many of us – some of us are more wounded than others, and some of us are just A-ok, thanks, and yet walking along this life reading your columns, I think we all come away really inspired to be OK and more patient with ourselves, and/or with other people.
I hope I can be as brave as you are some day. Brava on your first Expo! you did it!

yay for inappropriate hugging! BTW, your hair looks terrific!

Looks like you had a great trip! Any chance you'll be doing a book tour (hint come to Pittsburgh hint)? Or maybe hitting ALA? Please? Or should I just start looking for library jobs in the LA area so I can check out all these places you keep talking about without stalking you in the very least? :)

Welcome home - to the place you never though could be home ;-)

I'm so damn happy for you Laurie, I'm crying here at my desk at work.

What a great trip! Nothing like meeting a bunch of celebrities, knitting or otherwise, while drunk off your butt. It's a great way to get autographs and stuff.

Your hair is adorable! Geaux Laurie!

Yea CAP!!! I'm so proud to know you! What an amazing event and I know you were the belle of the whole shabang!

Bravo! Great job! For me, the eventual moment when I was happy being alone (because being alone is not necessarily lonely) was also wonderful. I seriously thought I was going psycho prior to that--having lived: at home, in a dorm, with roommates--because it was so scary. It was a turning point in my life to be happy to go home and be by myself, and it sounds as if you are experiencing the same thing.

Well, Laurie, you did it again. Here I am, sitting in my cubicle at my Dull Government Job, thinking about making the jump to something -- better? Else? -- and wondering if I had the nerve to do it. And I read your posting and got all misty with pride, for you, whom I've never met. But I can relate to you on so many levels that I'm going to stop typing now in case you think you've got your own little stalker.

I am so very impressed with your chutzpah that I'm going to take a leaf out of your book. If you can write a book, fly to NYC and sign copies in front of masses of total strangers, than *I* can pick myself up out of my present crappyass situation.

I really like your hair, too, but it's weird how you get used to hiding behind it, isn't it?

YAY Laurie! Just look at you out in the world schmoozing it up! I'm glad you had such a grand time. And your hair looks fabulous!

(((((me clapping)))))
well done, your awesomeness!

Dear Auntie Purl,
Long-time reader, first-time commenter here. I am so happy for you and so proud of you! Reading this post just gave me all kinds of warm fuzzies in that place in my chest where all the warm fuzzies are born.
Lots of love from Texas,
Adrienne

WOO-HOO!!! Go Laurie!

Laurie, this description of Yarn Harlot also applies to yourself. YOU are inspiring to us in ways that exceed even yarn. YOU open doors for women in ways you may never even know. YOU follow your own path and are yourself.
Yes, you are nervous and human and obsessive about germs, but look how far you've come. And you've let that journey be public knowledge. That is an inspiration to us all. I've not experienced all you have, but you have inspired me in ways I can't write because you know, I'm not the writer here, you are. :)
Blessings.

ROCK ON, LAURIE!!! You're so inspirational =) Congrats on "making it"!!! I wish I could've been there. I'd have been the nervous, shaky girl who was overly excited to meet you and smiled like a total lunatic while taking a picture with you (cause I'm from the south too!) No doubt they would've offered to call security for you because I too, randomly and inappropriately hug people.

Sounds like an awesome beginning to the sequel.

Oh, Laurie! I am so puffed up with pride for you that I may just tip over!! I'm so glad that you had a great time and got to share it with your beautiful family and Faith.

Did you stay at the Marriot Marquis?? All the time I lived in NYC I could never get up the nerve to even go in there!!

Oh my gosh, I know everyone has probably already said this, but you look adorable. You are bright, and sunny, with beautiful rosy cheeks and wonderful blond hair that is cut just the right amount. And, excuse me for pointing it out, but you have cleavage! I am most jealous. It is so exciting to read about your adventures, Laurie. Congratulations on all your success.

even before I read it, I must say....how great your hair looks!! Congratulations on what looks like a great weekend and the start of you being Famous!

If a guy came up to the door this minute and handed me $10,000 I would grab my knitting basket, kiss my kitties, leave a note for Superhub get on a plane and FLY (how else?) to LA because I am SO wanting one of those big hugs and face hugs and I'd go buy Grandma toys for the cats and take you out and buy a glass of wine for each of us and you can have mine too. I read you every day (sometimes - like today - more than once) and you are a perfect, stunning, precious young woman for whom I am completely nuts for. Congratulations on every single minute AND thanks for every word.

Okay. I am crying at work again. Congrats on a successful trip. You look great! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your hair.

Laurie, you totally rock.

Now I know that that tilt I felt over the weekend was you rocking NY so hard that it bumped into MA (we are the next state over, after all) and rocked it too.

And furthermore: lying perfectly motionless on your rug and loving just being back in your own space, you still rock. Totally.

Laurie -

RE: "I missed this home, the one I never thought I would be able to stand sleeping in alone. I missed it so much. That in itself is a triumph. A small, perfect triumph."

Beautiful - it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you

Another cryer here. I'm so happy for you!

Spankx ROCK!

And you don't have to be raised in the South to hug inappropriately. I was born and raised in NJ and I always hug everyone inappropriately.

Most importantly, thanks for sharing the trials of coming out of the cheese doodle and wine phase and becoming a new healthy happy you. It is inspirational to me. I'm trying to find that path myself and knowing that you (and so many of your commenters) have done it, helps me keep fumbling along looking for my path out.

You Rock!

Oh, Laurie,
As you can tell, we all love you so much! Your mom and dad and Auntie Pam all look so proud of you -- and I'm truly jealous of Faith who was able to attend a BOOK SHOW! Wow!

I read the description of your book on Ms. Klose's blog. It sounds like it'll be worth the (way too long) wait. I'll kiss the postman when it arrives, and I'll give him some sweet tea and a hug and tell him (in my finest Southern accent), Those were greetings from my Crazy Aunt Purl.

Thanks, Laurie, for keeping me in stitches and tears -- at the same time.

The distance you've traveled in the past two years is phenomenal. You and the Harlot - two women who are shaping the knitting blogosphere - making us aware of who we are, celebrating each others successes and wiping each others tears. I don't believe any woman could do any better than you're doing, Laurie. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us.

Congratulations! I'm just beaming for you - your hair looks fabulous, your parents look proud, and all of us are proud of you too! What an awesome story, can't wait to read the book. (I hope those people that got free copies know how damn lucky they are!)

thanks for giving us the recap. i feel as if i were there with you. you looked great and you look like you had a wonderous time, tight pants and all.

welcome home.

I'm going through some "stuff" and the way you got through all your "stuff" completely inspires me.

Glad you're back, and far from being the cautionary tale you once described yourself as, you are an inspiration to so many of us in so many different ways. You deserve every minute of this wild ride to fame! And your hair looks fabulous!

"She is simply herself every day, following her own individual path, and by walking it she opens doors for women in ways she may never even know."

you might as well be talking about yourself here. people love you because you're you. because you don't pretend, you don't put on heirs, and because you reveal what we all know to be true. that we all have our own insecurities, our own fears, and we're not alone. there's not a woman alive that hasn't felt the things you write about. the things you so courageously put out there for the world to see. thanks for always making me laugh to the point i could pee in my pants.

Congratulations! I can't wait for the book to be released! Your haircut is super cute!

Congratulations! You are a super star with super star hair. I'm very proud of you! Can't wait til I get my book!

Congratulations! You did it!

Look at you, living a life you (and despair) never thought was possible. As always, you are an inspiration to women everywhere.

Also? Welcome home.

Laurie, it was so nice to meet you too! I'm almost done with the book and I don't want it to end ... but wait, it doesn't have to because you're back in LA and your blog. Yeah! I'm so glad you had a good time and that you're glad to be back home, what a weird and wonderful feeling that must be. I hope to meet up with you again sometime, those few minutes sitting on the floor were not enough. :0) Hugs!

Oh, and I teared up reading your post too, especially the part about controlling and hiding and emerging. Thank heaven for lonely cubicles.

Congratulations! You had a great time, too!

Oh Lord, girl! What a hoot! I guess I will have to quit commenting and sending stuff and trying to lure you up north because, clearly, you are now out of my league!

Country girl made good in the big city. YIPPY!!!!

Dang, I was just ready to cut and paste what bugg said. Doesn't matter, it bears repeating. You rock, totally. And sharing yourself with us -- thank you.

Mazel tov! I hope you a plenty pleased with yourself!

Your hair looks fabulous, and that's a BEAUTIFUL photo of you on the Harlot's blog.

Way to go, girl!

Germs! My husband had to practically wrestle my hand away from my tongue after I shook Neil Finn's hand (Crowded House--it is always great to meet your heros!) I was convinced that licking my hand and absorbing his germs and dna would some how make me a better person. To this day, part of me still wishes I had done it. :) !Yarn Harlot! You lucky dog!

That is all so awesome! And I would have been dying from anxiety myself...so no worries there. Now you are home you can finally relax. Yay!

And I think your hair looks great! I was totally expecting a Susan Powter infomercial look...I was scared for you Laurie!

I wondered where you went....

Your trip sounds fantabulous and the not-breathing-because-of-the-tight-pants thing? Bet they all thought you were being funny ha ha, not brutally honest :D

Sounds like you had a happy trip! Yay!

And isn't coming home the best thing about being away?

****hugs****

Laurie,

You rock on girl!!! What a great trip and I love the way you summed up your return home!! PERFECT

Thank goodness I found the water-proof mascara this morning because you've got me crying, girl. I am so proud of you and inspired by you. No, I'm not coming out of hiding anytime soon, but you do have me thinking about it.

Thank you, Auntie.

Can't wait for the book tour - - am assuming there will be a book tour????

My coworkers are eyeing me nervously because I'm giggling and wiping tears away (trying to do it quietly, but hey).

I bet you were much more fabulous than you think.

Did you know that Stephanie/Yarn Harlot is offering one of your books as a prize for a fundraiser?

Congratulations, you sleek-coiffed, boobilicious darling!

I was starting to worry about where you were! I'm glad you had a good time in NY with your beautiful family and got to meet all those cool people!!! Please come to Atlanta on your book tour!!

Good on ya! It's hard to step outside the comfort zone - that makes you brave!!

Yay You! And dude, your hair looks amazing.

I think my favorite of all those pics (besides the Harlot one) was the one where someone took a pic of you taking your head shot pic.
That's just priceless.
Is it weird that I have always wondered what that looked like?
:)

The world is your oyster. Well done!! You are makin' me get all teary.

Some comments, in no particular order:

- I loved meeting your folks; they were the nicest people!

- Faith was radiating with warmth and tasty goodness; we could all use a friend like her.

- If you indeed had a few drinks before your appearance, it wasn't obvious! Girl can hold her liquor!

- You were incredibly pretty, and Jules is right about the impressive cleavage.

- I absolutely loved meeting you! You were exactly as I pictured: funny, warm, approachable, and very, very huggable.

- I paid the price for my greediness among all the books at the Expo -- sore shoulders the next day from lugging those heavy tote bags.

- Read your book in one sitting and loved every minute. Later while doing chores around the house I came upon my husband, lying on the sofa and reading it. He was favorably impressed, and gave you one of his highest accolades; "She's really funny!" I agreed, but told him that you are much, much more than that. Lots more.

- I'm glad you like the notebook. They are my personal favorite kind to use.

- Did I say how much I loved meeting you? And you made my day, no my month, or perhaps my year so far when you told me I looked too young to have a teenage daughter! I've got almost 10 years on you! You, who look to be about 25!

- I think I've used up my allotment of exclamation points!

Your life is only going to get more and more exciting and rewarding -- I'm enormously happy for you.

Looking forward to seeing you on your book tour!

I'm Canadian, but I was in Time Square the week before you. I was in the "Bubba Gump Shrimp " store. I sooo thought of you and started laughing and I wondered out loud what you would have thought of that store. The staff looked at myself and my unsuspecting family and asked about this ' Crazy Aunt Purl ' I speak of. I told them you would be around next week, watch out for her, she's one of a kind.

So happy things went well for you.

not that this has anything to do with anything..but you look totally tan!

OK, now for an observation only a teenage girl could make: I like you with the shorter hair, I think it frames and accentuates your face in an uber flattering way. Not in a weird, "look at me" kind of frame, a normal way. It's cute!

Go you! And I knew you'd be happy with your hair if you gave it a few days ;)

I finally had to come out of lurkdom to say how much I love your blog... not just when you make me laugh out loud but even when you make me cry (silently cause I'm at work). As you did to me today.
If we ever meet I hope to God you will inapropriately hug me. I'm proud to be a hugger and I'm not even Southern (though since I moved to Virginia I have started saying Y'all).

Congratulations on making it through. Sometimes that's really a hell of an accomplishment, and I'm sure you did better than you think you did.

It looks like you had a fab time. I can sympathize with the sweaty, shaky thing. Even though I do public speaking as part of my job, I still get all sweaty, butterfly in the stomach before each talk. And tomorrow I have to model some safety gear for a presentation! Gah!

Delurking to say...
Congratulations Laurie!
You look so beautiful in your pictures. I am in awe of your courage.
Thank you for reminding me of why I fight my agoraphobic tendancies and stay in the world outside work and home.

Yeah for the crazy lady! How wonderful and totally fun, it has been great watching the MAGIC happen. Rock on!

Laurie -

You.
Are.
Amazing.

I have tears in my eyes, feeling so proud of you - and yes, we've never met but I'm just like that - ok?

Can't wait for the book I've preordered.

You look FABULOUS in all those photos! Love the hair!

What an exciting trip! You look great, love the new do! Congrats on your triumph! So, is there anything in the works to get our pre-ordered copies signed by the lovely CAP?

Good for you!

You and the Yarn Harlot together. Add Lime and Violet and it would have been the best expo ever. Just imagine the love and laughter, yarn, wine and beer flowing.

Congratulations on surviving the big, bad city, Laurie! By your pictures, I can't tell you're a tourist at all. ;) You look radiant and happy and I'm so proud of you for getting out there and for blogging about it. (even though you don't know me...yet. someday you might.)

xo

I am so happy for you... YOU MADE IT~~ with a certain je ne sais quoi!
And you look like you've got loads of joie de vivre!

I'm so happy for you! And so jealous of everyone who got to see you :)

Yay you!!!!!

You never know what you can do, til you have to.

Good on ya!

I am so very happy for you, proud of you, I think you are such an exceptional human being/woman, love your hair...and (now don't get creeped out) I love you.

delurking to say:

I thought the same thing as Sarah (12:31pm) You look totally tan!

All I can do is echo what everyone else has said.

Girl.YOU.are.AWESOME.

OH MY GO! That is so awesome!! You met some amazing people! And you're on The Yarn Harlot's blog! OH MY GOD!!!!

congratulations, laurie. on ALL of it.

<3

I'm so proud and happy for you! I am so looking forward to the book. This post brings tears of laughter and joy and love for you through the "innernets."

Congratulations. And your haircut is great!

You looked so beautiful- did you feel like a California girl? Because you sure look like one!

Congrats, you are the bestest ever!!

So very, very awesome. You totally deserve everything you go this weekend and so much more.

So proud of you right now I could cry. :)

All I can say is WOW! And as far as the ex....amazing to see how you have blossomed since you got rid of excess weight.
And I so wish I lived in NY again, I would SO have been at that book signing!!

man you are just the awesomest!
sounds like the best trip ever. I was thinking of you all weekend.
I really need to get my own life!

All I can add is a true Philly holler! Wooooooooo-HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

I am so proud of you and admire you so much! I can't wait to read your book!

Much love to you, your cool family and your furry, four-legged sources of love and affection!

Proud of you!

Your joy is just so freakin' infectious girl!!! I do have to ask - are your cheeks sore from all that smiling? I mean, you seem to be a smiley kinda gal, but that was a lot of ear-to-ear grinning.

Enjoy it & bask in it shamelessly - you've earned it!!

Oh I've been waiting for your blog about this! How cool! Love the hair, can't wait for the book and I hope you do a book tour in Texas!

Congrats on a successfull BEA! I can't wait until you come to Cincinnati to do a signing. You HAVE to do that you know! Oh and then you are required to drink wine with me! And knit! I'll bribe you with yarn AND wine AND chocolate to come here you know!

Hooray for you!!

You are looking great! You should definitly come to England and be touristy - they have funny hats and all sorts. (We're also the home of Rowan yarns - there is even a shop called 'Up Country'....

You look beautiful. Congratulations on your many accomplishments!

What a great trip! Congratulations! We all knew you'd do just fine, and wow, you did even better than that.

Your family and Faith look like they were having a great time too. I can hardly wait to read the book, which I've already pre-ordered of course.

XOXO

I don't really know what to say - except that I am so very happy for you. you have earned every bit of this happiness - so enjoy it. and don't forget us non-booky fans when you're big and even more famous!

XO

Thank you for the last 4 paragraphs. You have no idea how much they mean to me.

"Bald," huh...that must be like "shy"...

You said:
The funniest part is right now someone is saying, "Oh Lord have mercy, how can you be so socially awkward and still smile in these pictures? You are a big dumbass."

No, dear, what we're thinking is, "What a beautiful smile Laurie has. And her hair looks gorgeous." NYC scares the beejeezus out of me (not a big city kind of girl) so I am endlessly impressed with your ability to cope with it. You are amazing. Repeat after me, "I am amazing."

*hug* Just because you're wonderful and I don't know what to say. :-)

It's really something when you find out that you can handle way more than you thought...isn't it?
Gives a boost to the ol'....what do other people call it? Tall people? Oh...yeah. "Self esteem."

It was wonderful meeting you.

(PS. Where the hell did you find the wine?)

CAP, totally rock. And you just made me all weepy.

Thanks for sharing your journey with us - I'm so in awe of you. Welcome home!

Yeah! You wore black like I suggested! :D

Sometimes it's OK to just go for the 'illusion' and that's enough. :D

I think you probably did way better than you thought you did. Now, if this had been held in a place down south like: Atlanta You would have felt better all around- because you were in your Element! :D

Southern people are charming and gracious if nothing else. So, I know that everyone was wowed by your charm and excitement. :D Honest!

Oh, the only time that I was in NYC. I had been on the Amtrack train for an overnight lay-over and arrived one day about 2pm.

AND I made the hunky 'see America by backpacking and riding the train tourist' from Sweden who had sat beside me for the past 24 hours.. go with me to see the Empire State Building. He had only 3 hours before his connecting train was to take off-and we didn't know exactly where the Empire State Building was located- having not been there ever before- But, as I told him.. why not? Since we were at Penn Station?

So, we walked out- looked up and we found it immediately. It was well worth the night before- freezing on the train.. (FYI: They don't give you blankets on the amtrack train- like the airplanes do) so, being southern and all and since, I didn't have any bailing wire around to solve any other pressing problems- I did the next best thing.. I suggested that we use the newspaper as blankets.

So there we were.. the hunky Swedish guy and the southern gal in our summer shorts all tanned and with goosebumps from the cold AC... wrapped up for the night in newspapers like the homeless on a park bench. FYI: IT did work and worked well.. and gave the train guy who came around to check our tickets quite a chuckle. :D Heck, there might have even been photos taken by others as the got on/off the train.. I'm not sure?

OF course, this was when I was younger, tanner, much slimmer, and hunky Swedish tourist guys would be willing to wrap up in newspaper because some sweet gal from the south suggested it in her southern drawl. Ahh the power I had and I didn't even KNOW IT!

Look forward to hearing more of your adventures and seeing more photos.

Love, love, love the haircut! Glad you had fun in NYC.

Hi Crazy Aunt Purl,

I think you're super pretty and your new hair rocks! I'm really proud of you!

If you ever come to boston for professional reasons or other, please, please tell me and we can dork out and do tourist crap together! Boston is not nearly as scary as NYC. I am in theatre and my fiance is in the food industry so we could totally smother you with all the east coast tourist traps and culture you can handle. (Prounounce "cul-chah!")

Your hugest Boston Fan

You are an inspiration to me!! Thank you for sharing your life and resiliency with us!

You look ravishing. Like, really. This is the chapter where your inner beauty overcomes your outer experiences.

Love the new 'do!

Congrats on surviving NYC! I loved my trip to that city. When my cousin and I decided we needed cookies at 3 AM, no one even looked twice at us as we walked down the street in our jammies and tennis shoes. You have to love a city like that.

YAY!!!!!!

I'm glad you had a good time and I'm sure you were absolutely delightful during your reading. I am jealous of everyone who got to hear you read and got to read the book early!

And your hair does look fabulous and you are just glowing in every photo!

Welcome home! I think Canadians could move south and still feel like we are home, except for maybe the heat. I can smile like life is rockin even if you interrupt me in the middle of a roaring fight. Not that I would roar or fight or anything so out there like that.

So glad you have such a heart-pounding, sweat raising, germ fighting good time.

Can't even begin to tell you how very proud I am of you -- for just being the southern gal that you are ! Can't wait to get my book.

Auntie Purl you've come a long way in the past months and I feel blessed to have to be invited into your world.

And, don't you ever feel you have to apologize for a your hugs. The world would be a far better place if we had more hugs.

Love from the Southern Plains of Oklahoma !!!!

Congratulations on rocking the hell out of Book Expo! I hope you'll be back in New York at some point with more time to play...

Laurie, you made me cry at the end there. I suffered the end of a marriage in 1988 and still have the bruises and scars (psychological, not physical) to show for it. Your ability to rise up and love yourself is inspiring to many more people than you probably realize. Thanks for sharing with us in your unique way!

Well, we couldn't make it to NYC to see you, any chance you will go on tour for the book? And maybe you can come to Maine and we can have lobster (Canada has NOTHING on Maine lobstaaa!) and do a book signing thingy at the shop and you can have your own guest room at Mom's farm and she'll give you free yarn and lots of wine!!

Oh, and is there any way to order a bunch of books for the shop? You know, all professional like, through your agent and all? I have a group of die hard blog stalkers up here in Maine who are clamoring for the book!

Chills!!! Welcome home-missed you!

I haven't posted on my blog for months, it used to be something I enjoyed. But somehow, along the way I lost my real voice. Maybe I never had it in the first place. Whatever the case, I'm working very hard trying to find it, and in the meantime, you are a true inspiration.

PS - Who knew you could get wine at the Javits? I'll be manning the booth at a medical trade show next week. Wine will make it better.

yay you.

:)

OH MY GAWD GIRL. You look fabulous! And, as much as one can tell from a picture, happy on the inside, too! And did I mention HOT?

The Yarn Harlot inspires you . . . you inspire me in so many ways I can't even count them. Thank you!

(And did I mention that you are HOT?)

Yay!! You are a triumph in and of yourself girl - you conquered so much by going there, and girl, you obviously looked fabulous the entire time! The photo of you and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee totally made me cry! Hurray you!

Wow. I just sat here and cried and cried over this post as I read it because I was bursting with a motherly kind of pride and so so so so happy for you and so happy your parents and Aunt Pam and Faith *waves* were there to experience it with you and those last few paragraphs sent me right over the edge then you finished with that pic of the Statue of Liberty and girl, I just KNOW you are gonna get yer bad self on Oprah.

OK. I'll blow my nose and be all better now.

Welcome home.

What a lovely "homecoming" story. Congatulations. You've arrived!

Blessings!

YAY YOU!!!! I'm so happy and excited for you!! :)

Thank you for sharing your BEA experience with us :)

Congratulations, Laurie!
When your book becomes a best-seller (And it will!), can we all line up at BEA-LA next year and say "I can't believe that I'm about to meet the lady who actually *overcame* her fears and wrote the yarn-best-seller (and auctioned off the movie rights?)"

My only question2:

1. Which cat will get to play Bob in the big-screen movie adaptation of your book?

2. How's your *second* book coming along? You are going to start it this week, right?

You are such an absolute treat! Even before you said you were okay with your hair now, I looked at the first picture of you and thought how sophisticated it made you look! (Looks can be deceiving, huh? HA!)
Welcome home...and damn you for meeting the Harlot!

"Also, I will not lie and pretend to be a cool girl, about every ten minutes I said out loud which cat I was missing at that moment."

I think this is totally normal for anyone who really loves their cats. We only have one cat, but when we were on vacation last week I said to my husband about 8 times a day "I wonder what Honey is doing right now?", and at night I would wake up confused because I didn't have a cat body snuggling up against my feet.

I loved reading about your trip, and I can't wait to read your book!

Laurie! You were in the same state as me at the same time! I am honored. It's too bad I was at the opposite end of the state, 350 miles away.

I can't wait to read the book--you are the best!

Cathy

You rock! And you so deserve this success, way to go, girl!

Was BEA not the coolest thing ever?

I'm so way down on the comment list I'm sure you'll never read this, but, Congratulations! I thought about you all weekend, waited anxiously for the "all about the book signing" post (which is fabulous!), and - call me nuts - worried about how your kitties were doing without you. It's wonderful to hear you had a great trip, but even better to hear you're back home and all is grand at Chez Poopsalot! Hoorah for Crazy Aunt Purl!

I don't know why this made me cry but it did. I'm so pleased for you. Bravo!

Congrats on your successful wandering back out into the world. You have successfully face hugged awesome people and probably given a lot of people hope, or at least a good laugh.

I'll have to lintroll my Maine Coon, Rocket sometime. For now, she enjoys being shaved. Yes. Shaved.

Way to go woman! You look fabulous darling! And you look like you were having the best time in the world - and so does everyone who met you!

Jealous Linda in VA

Way to go woman! You look fabulous darling! And you look like you were having the best time in the world - and so does everyone who met you!

Jealous Linda in VA - who wants to meet you too! If you ever come to the D.C. area, let me know!

Oh, my cat, Boobs loves the lint roller too and also loves when I use the dust buster on him.

BRAVO - Having a Margarita right now in your honor ;o) PLEASE come back daiyown saiyoauth (say it out loud s.l.o.w.l.y. ok now laugh at your hick-ness!)to Hotlanta!

And did you know that Tyra Banks totally showed the studio audience (and thusly, the TV audience) her Spanx just a while back?? Right on, baby!

Laurie, you are going to be a HUGE SUCCESS!! No, let me rephrase that, you ARE a huge success! You are so funny and honest and self-deprecating that there is no limit to how high you can climb. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!

I'm so glad you enjoyed your trip. What an experience and the people you got to meet! I'm sitting here waiting for my book to arrive. Hurry, October, hurry!

God I love you! You are such an original, wonderful woman.

And right in my backyard - I'm in Culver City... Any chance that my LYS (in Santa Monica) can book you now for a reading??? How the heck do we do that anyway??? Do you have 'people'??

You brought tears to my eyes too. From someone who's been there - life is amazing.

Email me and we'll set it up. We'd love to get a crowd here for you!

First off... your hair is FABBY! You look amazing...wonderful how divorce and climbing up from the depths becomes you! (you know who must be gnawing his face off right about now)
Secondly, I am awaiting my book, not patiently mind you.
Thirdly..how many people have asked if they send you their book, will you sign it? *wink* LOL

ps~ Spanx are awesome!!!

Welcome home. I miss NYC like you missed your home, and sometimes, frankly, in the middle of the night, I do wonder if going on just to see what tomorrow is like is worth it. Thanks for the reminder that it just might be.

Welcome back. I saw you on YH's blog and just want to tell you that you are so BEAUTIFUL!

This past weekend I was in Toledo for my granddaughter's wedding reception.

Before leaving, my daughter said how wonderful the reception was going to be, but there was one bad thing about it: we couldn't go to New York and try to see you.

Laurie, you're an inspiration to us all.

Everyone has had bad things happen in their life. You make us all feel that if you can pick yourself up and become a success, so can we.

Thanks.

I'm so glad you had a great weekend!

Oh, and your hair looks great, too.

Sounds like an awesome trip!

Hey, I was thinking about Victor the onion earlier when I was tending to my sorry garden. Can we get an update pic?

"And now I know you don't give up because you never know what this life holds. You just never know how much of your ownself you can be."

Amen, sister!

And cheers - I am lifting a pomegranate martini in your general direction.

OK - you are hilarious! I just happened upon your site today.....I will definitely be back and I MUST purchase your book! Thanks for bringing MORE wonderful humor to the world of knitting!! :)

~ Knit Witch

Wow!

Good for you Laurie. You have faced so many different fears and dug up the courage to face them and do it. Truly an inspiration to us all.

Saw your photo on the Yarn Harlot's blog and you look amazing. Seriously, you look so very happy and really beautiful.

Ditto to all of the above comments on your NYC book event: the hair, the cuteness, the family, the Faith friend (what a name for a good friend!), the inappropriate hugging, the wine, AND the *tear-i-ness* at reading your always, can I say...profound... wrapping-up -of- your experiences -at -the- end -of -your- hilarious- blogs. Oh, and you are one hell of a writer. Can't wait to read your book!

I freakin' love your hair cut. It is adorable, flattering and just the right length. In fact, you look an awful lot like my little sister who is 26 and perfectly adorable! ;) Sounds like the BEX was an awesome expereince. I can't wait to read your book.

So. Freaking. Awesome. Glad you had such an awesome trip! How does it feel to be a big shot?

well written! enjoy your accomplishments =)

You're awesome, Laurie.
And I LOVE the hair!

Laurie, you looked absolutely gorgeous at BEA, and more importantly, you look so genuinely happy. I know you were nervous, but it looks like you were having a wonderful time. Congratulations on climbing one more little mountain.

This was a great post, I felt like I was there with you, laughing, hugging, drunkingly hugging, and then really glad to be home! -Pam Gillette

Yeah!!! Congratulations!

Oh my god you met my friend harlot, thats so cool.

Hair = Awesome!

i felt like i was listening to you tell me this in huge breaths, and speedy words. what a satisfying description, and i love how you told of all your adventure. seriously, i kept thinking, this girl needs to breathe, she's talking too fast, and then i realized i was reading, and i was the one excited for you.

what a triumphal return. and long live southern girls and awkward hugs.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Oh, and by the way...the hair: FABULOUS!

Laurie, I just wanted to say you look very sexy in those pictures. I hope you don't think it's weird of me to say but you look really good.

Hooray, you're back, and you survived! That's an accomplishment, and more proof that you're pretty darn cool.

On a different note, I have to say that Deb Stoller is pretty awesome. I went on a cruise with her in February, and...whoa. I hung out with Deb Stoller, and she's just cool.

You are totally cool! I am so proud of you. You are my Stephanie Pearl-Mcfee! Congrats on the book and the famous people and the signing etc!

The hair is gorgeous, you are gorgeous, and I am so happy to see you enjoying your sucess. I hope some day that miserable POS Ex of yours accidently gets a peek at you coming out of some stylish venue laughing and surrounded by people who love you. He will never understand what he threw away. And, all things considered, you were lucky he didn't know what he had.

Two uplifting thoughts -- and I'm glad you thought of one of them before the end of your post:

1) The "nearly bald" hair is beautiful.
2) Mr. X got nothing on you! Look at who you are now, versus a year ago. I mean -- you're a published writer, with hundreds of fans, working Book Expo 2007 in the Big City. Heck! I'm married and I, uh, well I'm more of a dog person, and I'm buying your book.

OK. I am totally on my fourth glass of chardonnay and I'm trying not to get inappropriately emotional and mushy with cyber person I've been stalking for several months. Not doing a good job.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You look SO beautiful!! Smile, cause the world is your oyster, bask in it!

p.s. you are famous too, you know!

I don't know much about knitting, but you are a total hottie in that new haircut, so I might just buy the book solely for the photo of you on the back of the book.

Thanks for sharing your amazing adventure. I'm sure there will be even greater ones for you in the future.

YOU MET THE ANTI-CRAFT GIRLS?!?!?! Gawd, I am *so* jealous. They are like, TOTALLY my heroes. Well, next to you, of course. :) I finally saw the "Bodies" Exhibition, and there's a teratoma in there, and all I could think was, Wow. I like the one on the AntiCraft much better!

YOU LOOK FABULOUS. And it sounds like you had fun and kept everyone in stitches. Get it?! STITCHES!!! HAH. I crack myself up.

Hopefully, we'll be seeing each other soon.

You are such a great storyteller - you had me hooked all the way through! Well done, you, for making it through a stressful week. Looks like you came out the other end...

Dude, thanks for the lint-roller tip. I think the wounds may heal by Labor Day. Oh well, it was nice to think there was a solution to the cat hair. I still love you anyway.

You know, this is like reading about Cinderella going to the ball, minus the foot-fetish prince of course. (Though you did have new shoes!)

Thirteen years ago I was broke, separated and crying into the carpet. I've enjoyed watching your progress because it reminds me how far I have come too, which is sometimes easy to forget. I can see how well you are doing and cheering you along from the sidelines makes me feel like I am helping even though you are clearly doing it all on your own! This sounds repulsively patronising, but I'm so proud of you!

Welcome home, sugaree. Your pants mighta been tight, but I do believe you were wearing your big girl ones. (Which in my speak means, you're all growed up now.) Good for you.

1) Congratulations and way to go - you made it through!
2) Yes, the Harlot IS of the awesome. I gave her beer and a dishcloth when I met her...I would much rather have signed a book for her, but at least she signed a couple for me. :)
3) My girl cat comes running, yowling, and begging when she sees me lint-roll myself, and purrs loudly and unnaturally when I lint-roll her.

Welcome home!

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!

Congratulations!

I just couldn't help thinking about the irony of someone leaving to get his creativity back, and YOU really blasting off in a very creative and fabulous way. Very, VERY enjoyable.

We love you madly, Laurie! Thanks for being so cool...

Congrats!!! What an awesome and wonderful experience! You're right about life having something fantastic always waiting just around the corner.

I'm so proud of you! You did it! Something you don't realize, or give yourself credit for is that you too, are an inspiration to women everywhere. WE LOVE YOU! Glad you are home safe and sound with your felines and ugly brown carpet. (I heart mine, too.)
Congrats!
P.S. Love your hair!

oh oh oh! My MOMMY was there, too! She's a PR type manager person for a huge, well known book store chain in Orange County (the CHAIN is everywhere... but my Mommy is not.)

CONGRATULATIONS!! Woo hooo for you!

Welcome Home, Laurie! You did great!

But I have news for you - you think the Harlot is "famous"...guess what?

SO ARE YOU!

I'm proud of you, Valley Girl!

Yay you! For doing, smiling, hugging, photographing, being gleeful and sweet and telling us all about it. You're fab. Keep it up!

What they all said times two! You went, you saw, you conquered!

I've been reading your blog since I took up knitting 5 months ago. When work invades me life & makes me miserable (more & more daily), I will check in to see if you've posted anything new. And when you have, I laugh & some of that misery dissipates, and I'm inspired to make it through one more day.

Thanks for sharing your life, with such humor, with the rest of the world. :)

Oh, Laurie - I am tearing up! You are so inspiring! Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. :D

You might've been terrified but you look great in the photos! Apaprt fromteh enrves, it sounds like you had a great time being a fan-boy. And yes, it is hard to leave everything you know and go to a Big Scary Place. I am quaking in my shoes, I tell you!

I just got an advance readers copy tonight and I'm already on Chapter 4. I'm really enjoying it!
P.S. Thank you for openly sharing your appreciation of the booze. I can relate.

Woo-Hoo! Good for you! I'm so glad you conquered the Book Expo! (And doubly glad you are settling into your chic new 'do!)

OK, next project--deal with the germphobia. While one ought to have a healthy respect for germs, wiping down an entire cab is a bit much. Besides a lot of that anti-bacterial stuff actually doesn't kill the really scary germs and can actually grow some stronger, more resistant germs. I know, you really wanted to hear that right now, but I can't help myself--I'm an anti-anti-bacterial crusader.

so happy for you. now you need to come up to the bay area to sign my copy of you book. please

Laurie, you are SO radiating vitality, happiness, and HOTNESS in those photos.

From one southern girl in 'the valley' to another, you totally rock it hard!!!!!

Your hair looks great, and you look gorgeous! I wish I could have been there... wanna come to Munich, Germany?

I almost never comment on your blog because I figure after the first couple hundred, well, what's the point.

I just wanted to congratulate you and tell you that you look fantastic in these pictures and so much more free and happy than you did a year ago. You must have had men falling all over you!

I can't wait to see you on morning TV shows. :-)

Now, see, I'm betting that every person who saw you and got their booked signed by you was thinking, "Oh, my gosh. She's famous! I've met THE Crazy Aunt Purl."

It's all relative.

This is a first for me posting here as I normally just lurk quietly but I just wanted to say, congratulations and well done.

Ain't life just plain grand some days?

Laurie, you look gorgeous and happy and awesome in all those photos! Yes, you do! Go, successful book author, go!

Like the Yarn Harlot, you are an inspiration to women everywhere - old women, young women, knitting women, divorced women, married women, single women - we've all had the same experiences and thoughts and feelings that you give voice to, and that helps us feel good and "normal."

Your blog gives us the space to breathe!

I am so pleased for you, Laurie. I read your blog everyday and can't wait to get that book!
I know you suffered tremendous heartache and loss when Mr. X left you but you know what?? Don't you wonder now how this was the path you were steered to because of that trauma? Life is funny that way...Black cloud, silver lining kind of thing...Sometimes bad things make good things happen. I have seen it and you are just another example of how miracles happen for YOU and how you pass them on to others that need it as well.
Bless you always, Laurie

So. Very. Happy. For. You. Be proud of yourself for doing good despite any gawky goofiness. It didn't show in the photos, so you probably pulled it off at the BEA. WTG!

Dear Laurie,

I think I maybe love you just a little tiny bit because you are so inspiring...Sometimes I feel like I can hardly get out of bed in the morning and when you write things like this it kind of gives me hope. I'm not divorced like you (though sometimes I can really identify with what you say about being married to somebody who isn't really there...), but there are other bad things in the world that can make a woman feel horrible and awful and bad about herself and when I read your blog I feel better, because it gives me hope...that life can get better, that I can get better...I've probably said it in comments before but the fact that I tend to be a shut in (like you used to be, afraid to go out, just really really not into putting myself out there) and am painfully socially awkward and shy (but in the nervous talking way) and also a Cancer year of the pig girl makes me feel like we have things in common (even though we probably don't at all) and that probably makes me a weird blogstalker (but whatever) but because I can see bits of myself when I read your blog and because you've put yourself out there and found yourself, and are so happy, and confident, and free it makes me think that maybe I can do it too (even though I probably can't) (also, I think that was the longest run on stence ever). So...congratulations on your book and your signing and on being you and being happy and finding yourself (even though I really hate it when people say that...). And thank you for blogging about your journey...becuase it helps some of us a lot more than you could know about.

-name changed to protect the stupid-
Arianne

Girl, there is an absolutely gorgeous picture of you on the Yarn Harlot's Blog! I hope you've checked it out. She was as excited to meet you as you were to meet her- isn't that awesome!? You looked fantastic, I adore the haircut and I'm so glad you went up and told people that your pants were too tight. That's totally what I would have wanted to hear had I been in the audience. Congratulations!

Darlin',
Your hair is fab, so fab. And when I saw your photo on the Harlot's site I thought, "you go girl, you got some great cleavage!" I'm so glad you showed NYC and BEA how much fun a charming, smart, witty Southern girl is. CONGRATS on your debut (I suppose this would be your writer's debutante ball, with Spanx and wine, no white dress and no dancing with Daddy)! I'm so proud of you!

hugs to you and the kitties-
lauragayle

I am so proud of you I cried! I have been reading your blog -oh - for at least a year, and it is like having a virtual daughter. (Although I have a perfectly perfect daughter of my own!)
Well done, and you are just as inspiring and humorous as the Yarn Harlot.
Love to you and the cats from England
Liz

Hi Laurie - I have been reading your blog almost since you started it and have enjoyed the journey. Congratulations to you for your heart and courage and sharing. YAY!!! for your book, and going to New York, and meeting other self-help authors and being a tourist. You are uniquely you & I find courage in your blog to start allowing myself to be me. Maybe I'll never write a book, but if I learn to be OK with myself - that will be something. Thank you for your blog! Congratulations! Can't wait for the book to come out in October.

Awwww, you were staying literally two blocks from my apartment. Had I known I would have stopped by the front desk with a large pepperoni "pie" and demands to get your autograph.

Congrats - it sounds like your trip was awesome. I bet your public talk went a lot better than you think it did. (I have to speak in public myself sometimes and I usually feel like you felt about it, but then I often hear afterwards that it was actually OK.)

Here I am out of lurkdom (lurkdum?) to tell you that was one of your best posts, EVER. I read every post. Every one. You are so darn cute and funny and the best writer, and did I say so darn cute, and funny? Congratulations on your book and your trip!

By the way, you are one of my "best friends" even though you don't know it. Heh. No stalker here, just a girl who would totally hang out with you in my circle of knitter friends.

Thank you for your awesome blog! Now, have a great day!

Well done you!

Welcome BACK!!! I so wish I had your book right this very second. I know the second I get it I will not put it down it until I have read it cover to cover.

Yep, it really happened. To you. As it should. How much fun is that?

Damn. I'm out of breath just from reading your whirlwind NYC/BEA experience! You looked absolutely amazing, your hair was cute! with a capital exclamation point, and I'm thrilled for you.

You know, some of us, although we love the Yarn Harlot, would rather meet you. :)

"And now I know you don't give up because you never know what this life holds. You just never know how much of your ownself you can be."

Beautifully put. It's been wonderful to read your blog entries on your (at-times extremely difficult) emotional journey. But look at you now, girl! You are fabulous! You always were. It just took you some time to see that.

What an awesome trip! What awesome experiences! Congratulations! I can't wait to read your book.

Awesome, totally awesome. Renee Zellweger for the movie!

Somebody's birthday is coming up!! I'm not sure of her name but I heard she's a newly published self-help author!! ;o)

when are you coming to Boise again??? hint hint...

A BIG FAT CONGRATULATIONS to you Laurie for getting through it all in your own endearing style! I for one have missed your blog and hope I don't sound too stalkerish by telling you that I was worried about you while you were away. Lint-rollering the cat? I totally get that and welcome back!

Laurie,

I was so happy and excited to meet you at the BookExpo. I felt even more of a dork than you led on that you felt. ; ] You probably don't remember signing my book but I was the one who went to the booth on Friday--I went to get another book and was so excited to find you there because I thought you were only going to be at the Expo on Saturday, and I wasn't. Let me tell you. I was so excited to see you that I didn't pick up the other book that I headed to the booth for. I was dizzy with excitement.

I just had to come to your blog and tell you what a positive experience you made the BookExpo for me.

Have a glass (or bottle) of wine and give those cats some QT for me!

Looks like you had a great time! I'm jealous! And btw, the hair looks fab!

Wow. What an inspiring post.

Your hair looks great by the way.

You are a amazing testament to all who read this that anything is possible. You are a testament to perseverance, tenacity, survival and wine 101. You are a testament that regardless how something can completely unnerve you, take you out of your comfort zone, make your hands shake and your pits sweat....you do it anyway and it's ok. I cannot imagine you being any other way but YOU. The authentic you...had you gone there all stiff professional and blandly cordial it would have been a grave miscarriage of literary justice. I couldn't be more proud of you if you were my own daughter or niece or much younger sister. I am an artist but have had such trepidation about putting it out there - selling it - tooting my horn about it. But after reading this and knowing you came through fire to sparkle like a fine champagne....I can do this now. I'd hug you, I'm a hugger too, if I could. Don't ever change Laurie, not even when you appear on Oprah. (oh yes, I am putting that out to the universe for that to happen)
Cheers!

Brava!! It really happened...to you...and most of all, you made it happen and went for it when the doors opened up! WOW...and hi kitties!

I love your update from BEA! You inspire me with all your braveness. I'm a southern girl, too, and I feel that tug between being polite and being terrified. Next time I feel like skipping an event because I just can't put myself out there, I'll think about how you shined in this HUGE book event and got to meet so many wonderful folks.

I've already ordered your book from Amazon and can't wait to get it!

You got to harass... um, meet... Debbie Stoller?! Jealous! And meet Stephanie Pearl-McPhee?! Oh, you had such a glamorous day with the booksigning. I am so happy for you and your success and can't wait for your book to come out. I hope you're doing a book tour. If I get to meet you, I would freak out.

It was great meeting you at the Book Expo. New York City loved you!

Hey - I've only recently discovered your very humorous blog. Looking forward to finding your book too.

My revenge in the aftermath of my divorce was to write the bimbo he left me for a heartfelt Thank You note (on a pretty card no less), stipulating, no returns! Yes, call it a sudden burst of maturity, but dang it felt good. I know that I'm so much better on my own (raising my son) than being with the wrong person. You are too I'm sure. I know I grew a lot as a person from the experience.

Keep sharing yourself with us - it's great.

Oh my goodness, what an adventure! Wow! I read you a lot but hardly ever post, but this was serious. And I want you to know that your hair looks just fantastic, no more tears over that, ok? Ok.

great post! my vote is your hair rocks!!

I am so jealous of and happy for you in equal amounts at once, I don't know what to say.

OK. Happy-for-you wins.

You have whole new life of your very own. And you have a wonderful family. And your cats. And your house, and your yard, and your pepper plants.

You have a book. Which, I am sure, translates into your FIRST book.

You and the Harlot have basked in each other's knitterly glow. And, BTW, you look smashing with your new hair.

You have been to New York City as a Famous Writer, and also as a tourist. You did mildly strange things in a New York Taxi, which everyone should do at least once in their life.

Mr. X, on the other hand, does not have a book. One day he will walk into a bookstore and see yours. He will buy it secretly. He will not take it home, where it will upset his new wife. Instead, he will take it to his office, where he will read it on his lunch breaks. He will hide it in a file cabinet, and revisit it from time to time. He will brood, and the New Mrs. X will ask him what's wrong, and he will not answer. And he will marvel at how he ran off to "find his creativity," and instead, gave you a reason to find yours.

And he will say to himself, "Dude, did you f**k up, or what?"

The only way this New York trip could have been any better would be if you'd found yourself in the Cash Cab, with your whole family, and all the questions were about knitting. :-)

GREAT BIG HUGE INAPPROPRIATE HUGS TO YOU!

Congrats on taking a bite out of the Big Apple! SOOOOoooo looking forward to your book release in October and hope to hear of signings in LYS's in the LA area! Kudos!!!!!

I know this will make me sound completely nutty, but I was in NYC this weekend for a mini vacation and we took the boat tour around Manhattan. When we passed the Javitz Center, I thought about you and how hard it would be for me to be in there with people looking at me and talking to me and expecting me to form coherent sentences and possibly even remain upright. And I sent you all the good vibes I have to offer. Apparently my vibes are more intoxicating than helpful. Sorry about that. I'm glad you made it through.

dez,

I think Laurie should send the book to him.

I saw you at BEA and you did just fine with your reading! :)

I got halfway through the book on my train ride home and the other half was finished the next day. It was FANTASTIC! Congratulations on surviving BEA... it was so awesome to see an author that was so *excited* to be there. :)

Fantastic post, fantastic hair, fantastic pix - and you and Stephanie make a great pair! A wonderful read, Laurie, thanks...and CONGRATULATIONS! ::inappropriate hugs:: [g]

(Heck, if I ever make it down to visit my cyber-sib Grace down in Culver City again, I'm gonna Xanax myself up and drag her along to your S&B - she's a newish knitter and could use encouragement to knit more [eg] - in hopes you'll be there that night, and we can share inappropriate hugs all 'round. The world needs more inappropriate hugs!)

Sounds like you had an amazing time - Congratulations on your successful trip to the big city!

Nah,
I think 'MR. X.' should spend his OWN MONEY to buy the book! :D

Even better that way. :D

Laurie,
I hope you are printing off all these lovely comments to save for another day when you might need a burst of 'confidence, love, encouragement, and all the wow's' you might need. It's a printed form of: LOVE and YOU ARE SPECIAL. :D

I'm so proud of you and remember the power of the southern charm and you have it in buckets.

My old neighborhood in NYC! I miss living there. I'm so glad you met with such success. You truly, truly deserve it.

I am so happy for you!

Laurie, can I just say that I HEART U!! You make me laugh, then you make me cry. Literally. There are tears in my eyes after reading "small, perfect triumph." I can't wait to get your book. (I wants it. I wants it NOW!) Your social awkwardness and inappropriate hugging are what we love. You are fabulous!

And p.s., your hair looks so cute!

Hi Lil Laurie, this is your uncle Skipper. You look great and I am very proud of you. Your mom looks great as always. Your dad looks like he is out of place. I know he enjoyed it and we are all proud of you in Texas.

Love ya.

Laurie, congratulations. Have a glass of red for me! I hope you every bit of happiness you deserve. It is a southern thing to smile when you 'd rather be crying. You give me inspiration.

"Self Help Authors are evil and cruel as it turns out and also rather funny."

Heh! You must have had fun!

I am so proud of you, I remember when you hated your space, now you own it! You are an inspiration to me (yeah me and about a gillion other people) we've never met, probably never will, but know you've had a positive impact on my life, just by being you and I am so appreciative.

ok I'll stop now.

You Rock!

Laurie,
I just finished reading your experience of your book expo (was anxiously awaiting your return to the blog) and was so happy and proud for you that I clapped out loud! (Cat and glass of wine by my side.) Hearing about how you managed your fears and did them anyway was so inspiring. Like you, I have also transformed in the recent past. You are right when you say that you never know what the future holds even when in the darkest days it's hard to imagine anything different. Keep on going...you are doing great! (I knew you would!)

Go Laurie! And your hair looks great!

While you may have doubted, the collective WE out here in blogland never have, for even a moment. You are human and you have your moments like the rest of us, but underneath all that, you have something "special" that shines through.

I couldn't be happier for you, because I know this is only the beginning of all the good headed your way. You worked hard for it, and you sure have earned it. It couldn't be happening to a nicer person.

Yay for you, Laurie! You deserve the success, and I'm thrilled that things are going well for you. :)

I hope your new 'do survives the LA shower rationing!

I am laughing and crying at your words of wonder and inspiration. I may or may not be going through a break up right now (doesn't limbo suck?!) but I know I am strong and sooner or later I'll get back on that airplane. Thanks for the laughter and tears!

I'm so glad you had a wonderful time! You look incredible... but best of all... you sound incredible. Your post exudes such confidence, happiness and self-esteem. Thanks for sharing your pictures and your NYC experience. Congrats!!

Oh... and let me get this straight. If you go to that book signing, you get a copy of the book NOW? I am frustrated having to wait for the book to show up!!! UGH

Laurie, congratulations! You did it ALL! What a happy, happy post. I'm smiling and saying "go girl!" just because you are so happy right now. Indeed, life has many twists and turns and unexpected sadness as well as unexpected happiness. As Winston Churchill said: "Never, never, never give up." (Or something like that.) Now you feel it in your own bones, huh?

Your hair looks mah-vul-lus!

What you said about the Harlot? About how she's great because she is who she is, and follows her own path? That's you too.

Also, love the new hair.

Look at you silly girl!! I'm sitting here with tears coming down my face...(my son thinking I am a weirdo - well yes) so happy for you to have come so far. You give me inspiration...Good for you!! :O)

Yay! now all you need to do is come to australia :) lol, i promise much wine (many pubs), a very luscious yarn store in sydney.....

WOW! I had to grab a cuppa and have a little lie down after reading of your adventure - all I can say is well done you! I am with chopsueyluey - come to Aus - we'd love to see you!

I am getting very impatient for my parcel from Amazon......

You inspire me to do more in my life.

Way to go, Laurie. You have earned every bit of your success.

Hey Crazy,

I read your post yesterday and in today's St. Petersburg Times there is an article about the book fair. It included quotes and comments from a bunch of authors and I looked for YOU! Sorry to say I couldn't find anything from old Aunt Purl but it was fun trying.

Looking forward to the deliver of the book (another pre-buyers)...

CAP, you are a true inspiration!!! Congrats on your book and making the journey so fun. And thanks for sharing YOU!

You are so adorable! Can't wait to read the book and meet you when you tour...coming to Minnesota???

Yay for Laurie!! I can't wait to read your book. I think you should do some sort of travel guide for your next book, because I love your accounts of all your adventures across the globe.

Melissa

Well, Sugar, you're famous too!

Hello Crazy Aunt Purl! I so want to read your book, October seems like forever! Your blog inspires me when I'm having a bad day or a fat day.... I even got around to posting a picture of myself in the mirror - check out http://needlesofsteel.blogspot.com/2007/06/about.html

Keep on keeping on!

I'm so happy for you Laurie.
You bring me to tears far more often than a blog should.

Great pics and stories - enjoyed it! Congrats on the success of your book.

I have a question from a post a few weeks back - I just purchased the sheer mocha lipstick you recommended and tried it when i got home. My lips are all gummy and sticky...what am I doing wrong? Do you sit around with your mouth open in an O shape while it dries? I don't know what to do - the corners of my lips are stuck together and I want this to work for me! Please advise!

are you tanning or using self-tanner? Your skin looks great! :) Congratulations on the book! It sounds like the trip was a whirlwind success...now how about those horrorscopes? That's right. No rest for the wicked. ;)

Queue the music!

.....You're going to make it after all!
Duh-dah-duh-duh......MEOW!!!

Damn, just found your blog. I would have so loved to meet you and get your book at bookexpo and instead I was standing in line for a beach book from must love dogs. (actually she was pretty fun too).

Isn't NY crazy? Looks like you had fun though!

absolutely lovely post. i just found your blog, and i've been reading each post in a row (backwards, as is my way), and i've laughed out loud too many times to count. congratulations on your book, and on the sense of well-being you expressed in this post. what a wonderful feeling, truly being one's self. amazing.

It sounds like you had a great time! I am proud of you, I would have been so nervous!

"And now I know you don't give up because you never know what this life holds. You just never know how much of your ownself you can be" - This is SO true and it took my a long time to come to this after my divorce! Thank you so much for your insightful and touching posts.

Hello precious little lady. Just wanted to wish you a very Happy Birthday.
Your mom and dad are in KC with your favorite uncle. I am sure you wish you were there.
Myself, I am very happy here in the hill country of Texas.

Love you and Happy Birthday

Uncle Skipper