Hi. May I please just be the first to say, you come from a long line of VERY HANDSOME MEN. And the chicks aint bad, neither.

And also? That cracker barrel shot is hardly what I'd call eating one's pants off, unless One was Barbie (the doll, not the person).

Lastly (for now), do you ever get the feeling that you and I are like {{gesturing wildly between my five head and yours}} connected?! With your 300 billion commentors, I have amazing luck. Or I'm just a little more stalkery than I'm willing to admit.

That was the Cracker Barrel appetizer plate, right? And your dinner hadn't arrived yet?
And there were chicken & dumplins in your future? Or some cobbler? Or a slab of meatloaf & mashed taters? Because, girl, if that was all you ate at the Cracker Barrel . . . well, let's just say that it ain't right!

Monkey, we are connected by an imaginary line of alcohol :) You are a girl after my own heart and you know what I mean by that!!!!

Also may I remind ya'll that each bite of hashbrown casserole has something like 800 calories? I had to be in some pants! And I can't eat much before events because of the... you know. barfing.

So. Much. Fun!

Where were the cutie patootie male relatives at the Yarntopia event?!?! You were fun and all but how 'bout them brothers!

You are ridiculously cute... and the boys in the fam aren't bad either. :)

I will have to try this hashbrown casserole of which you speak.... Growing up in the Northeast, my yummy/salty food is more along the lines of clam chowder. Say it: CHOW-DAH!

Hashbrown casserole is holy and therefore does not contain calories. And because it was eaten in honor of your new book and book tour and family and all that, it's like going into negative calories. :)

I'm glad you had fun and it wasn't as scary as you thought it would be. I only wish you were coming closer to the Tampa area than Miami. :( We have some wedding thingy to go to that weekend so I can't make it to Miami.

Oh, and loved the book and now the boyfriend is reading it and stalking your blog and reading all the archives. :)

Patti nice to see you can forget me so fast!! Yes I know my brothers are cuter. BUT I AM SMARTER. Or at least smart-asser.

Congratulations on your book tour! I so wanted to see you in Houston, but the Evil Grad School would not let me. Your book is at the top of my post-grad reading list!

Looks and sounds like a fine time was had by all! And to think you were afraid LOL.

I'm off to the flickr albums~!

It was WONDERFUL to meet you at Yarntopia. I'm the one who congratulated your boyfriend and had the Yarn Ho t-shirt.

The readings look like a blast! Oh, how I wish you were coming to Northern CA

Oh my gawd, I sweat your brothers (which in Philadelphia urban slang means I luvvvvvvvvvv them). Please bring them along on all your book tours>>>??

wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
You deserve it.

So proud of you and FOR you ! ; )

Cheers !

JUST got the book over the weekend and Loved it. As a fellow Divorcee with more cats than sense, I can identify. Congratulations!

Just looked through *ALL* 300+ photos. You weren't kidding!! How cute are you?! I can tell the difference between TX and CA - your hair got bigger! And no, your arse did NOT!

Sounds like you had a fabulous time!!! No offense to Al, but your brothers are HOT! Dang.

Looking forward to your trip to MN.

Laurie-I am so excited for you and even more excited that I finally got the book yesterday. Borders ordered and its 30 min away so I ran up last night. I am almost done reading and LOVE IT!
Karli

I am all teary again at the profound goodness and exciting victory-ness of it all. Your first book's, first book tour! And, then I saw the first pix of you and your dad...did me in. Your family is (as I agree w/those above) very good looking! Bravo, welcome home.

glad that the other signings went well! you do NOT have seven chins; i have now met you and can confidently say that.

Thanks for the thousands of pics since I can't (sniff) be there. And yes you're brothers are cutie patooties, but ummm is MonkeyGurrl HOT or what!!! (jus sayin is all)

That John Deere shirt is the coolest thing ever!! :D
Just had to let you know...

Congratulations! It sounds like it was a blast and no barfing mentioned, so it's all good. And your brothers are cute, and maybe they're taller than you, but you are just as cute and fit in airplane seats more comfortably. (Just sayin', as one short-ass to another). And you know, tall people exist to get things down from high shelves, stuff like that. For us, the real rulers of the universe. Yeah.

FYI, I finished two (2) Halloweenie Beanies and have put a picture on my Projects page at Ravelry. (With the kidlets wearing them). I haven't posted them on my blog yet--I'm always either too busy or too tired lately. But if you don't allow yourself into Ravelry because of the addictive nature of the thing, I will let you know when the blog post goes up. I'm hoping to get it done ... well, sometime this week. If you do go to Ravelry, I'm Divina there. xoxoxo!

Come back to Houston when you can! There's lots more food goodness here. Also, you're not short, your brothers are unnatrually tall (as is mine, who uses my shoulder as an arm rest).

Yeah... I knew you'd be fine as soon as you opened your mouth and let those 'southern sounding words' wash over the crowds.

Ok, I'll be the brave one to say it; ARE ANY OF YOUR BROTHERS SINGLE?????????

:D I feel so proud of you-- all the way over here!

I can't wait for Nashville!

Fabulous! Please come to Boston and bring your entire family.

Ooh I

Success! Looks like it was a FUN time.

And you are just as pretty and cute as your brothers are handsome. Does that make sense? I mean you aren't handsome and they aren't pretty but y'all are all a beautiful family. Oh well, I think you get it. :)

Going to look at the flickr pics now.

Congratulations! It looks as if everyone is having a lovely time (except perhaps abadoned cats who will plot mayhem in your absence?). Will you have a NorCal stop on your tour. We love you up here, too, you know!

Awww! You're ALL marvelous! Glad this is so much fun.
Wish I could see you in Seattle, but I live on an Island now (I'm not even on the continent any more!).
Such a looong way to go! Includes ferries and driving and zooming around and border crossings...egads!

OH! And your book? WONDERFUL! Thank you so much for writing it!

Hey Crazy Aunty! Soooo excited you are back. I have been checking in every ten minutes since your last post just to have a little vicarious experience of the book tour. And now you are here and I have seen and when I finish this epic comment I shall go see flikr.

Beyond pleased and thrilled that there was no barfing and all was as fabulous as you deserved. Your Dad and brothers are way cute but loving Uncle Skip's shirt bestest.

Looks like all y'all had way too much fun for such a serious occasion and pleased that pink cheeks were due to fun and love not alcohiloc content.

But just quietly Lisa mentioned a boyfriend? I think we should be told?!?!?

And one other tiny detail.. since both of my parents are now dead.. I do believe that that LEGALLY makes an orphan.. (hey, I'm going to pretend that there's not a legal age cut-off on being an orphan)

Do you think you're family would want to adopt me?
I've already put myself through college, have already seen the dentist for cavities and yearly upkeep, so there wouldn't be any 'money outlay'...

and besides.. as a bonus, I could send them fun gift from 'places far away.'

THEY are adorable.. your entire family seems wonderful, loving, supportive, and so proud of you.

It was so great to meet you Laurie! I'm totally in some of the pictures from Houston?!?! OMG!

You did a wonderful, admirable job. I'm halfway thru the book now. It just keeps getting better.

Hugs congrats on a job well done, not only on the book, but life in general.

Seeing all these pictures makes me even MORE anxious for you to come to Peoria - - can't wait!

I knew you would do good, Laurie! :-)

Pretty red cheeks and family shenanigans and knitting and ohmygoodness what fun.

Are the folks at work jealous as all get-out, or do you have to do OT to make up for travel time? ;)

So glad it went well! :-)

Look out world, Laurie's on a book tour!

I am loving your book! Why can't you come to the San Francisco Bay Area to promote? We knit and crochet here, too. In fact, we have a S&B group right here in Menlo Park, and a bookstore right around the corner, and a LYS around that corner, all within walking distance. Come see us!

Also, yes, a BF mention? Do tell....tho I suspect she's talkin' Drew...unless there's SOMETHING we do not know.

Girl, you did great! Hopefully you realize how awesome you are and now have nothing to be nervous about! ;)

What a whirlwind this all must be...enjoy the trip!

Oh yeah...Miss Anna-Liza....you haven't met this amazon yet :P I gots all kinds of skillz (aside from reaching things in tall places)!!

my boyfriend AL GORE!

Laurie, those brothers of yours are *seriously* cute. And they both have that slightly wicked gleam in the eyes ... oh my. Ahem.

I am so glad you had such a great experience to kick off the publicity jaunts, it bodes very well.

And I would seriously buy 5 of those John Deere shirts, no questions asked.

Are you bringing those cute boys to Peoria with you? And how come Drew's always in the front of the picture?

I think it's funny that I moved from San Antonio to Iowa City, and am still within driving distance to see you on your not-very-nationwide tour!

It would be great if you could do some yarn shop visits (especially here in LA). Your book didn't arrive until this Saturday so I missed your signing on Thurs at the Grove and it would be great to meet you. Congratulations on everything!!!!

Standing Room Only in LA. waytogo.

Laurie,

I don't know how in the hell I avoided finding your blog until now, but all I can say is that I'm thoroughly entertained. I am currently reading through your archives and have plans to go pick up your book at Borders tonight. Basically what I'm saying is, can we be best friends? Also, I am verily pissed that I missed the LA branch of your book tour due to my own ignorance.

Fun!

I try and fail to get CB food when I'm in Louisiana. Funny, no one will go with me.

So glad it all went well and you are enjoying yourself!!

...and no, you DON'T have seven chins!

I love you, your blog, your sense of humor, and your hawt brothers! (Esp. the one in the hat.) Thank you for sharing the pictures!

Laurie's home! and she brought pictures.

Love all the photos and thanks for sharing the happiness!

For a moment there, I thought Ty Pennington had turned up at your book tour and then I realized it was your other brother. Not Guy, the other one.

But both are hot and could I please have one?

Congrats on your well deserved success!!!

My best bud Rachel said you remembered me at the Houston signing. I'm so honored! It made my Friday night... as instead of having fun with y'all I was jeans shopping... I know, can it get any more depressing than that?!!

wow, my brother isn't nearly as cute.
But that would be disturbing.
You look like you had the time fo your life girl!!

Love the flickery pics.
Just one thing...please be kinder to your beautiful self. :)

I can't wait to see you in Beaverton on Thursday! But I am SO not looking forward to the traffic. Yuck. I'm easy to spot. . . I'm 8 months pregnant! I was going to try to have one of my cat sweaters done in time for your reading, but, um, I haven't even started it yet. Oh well!

You come from one good-looking family. Those brothers of yours look dangerous! But I think you got the best genes of all. :)

Laurie's back! YAY!

Your family is just as adorable as you are!

FYI, there's a new show, "Pushing Daisies" that comes on Wednesday nights - one of the main characters KNITS - and he - yes, HE, was taught by the owner of one of the LA Yarn shops (one of the expensive ones, can't remember which) who also whipped up a bunch of knitted props for the actor to have.

Apparently, it's going to be a continuing plot point, and now the actor really knows how to knit! In fact, a knitting needles saved his life in the last episode, so there you go.

I have to say, all of you are pretty damn hot! You got some serious genes there.

Honey, you may be the shortest amongst the siblings, but you are also the prettiest. You really have an amazing smile.

Oh, and coffee is not the law up here in the Seattle area, it is just recommended you either have coffee or a microbrew.

hellahelen... will you promise to ask a question? My big nervous moment comes just as the reading ends and you take that deep breath and wonder if no one has a question!!!!! It's so nerve wracking!!

Oh no!! You're going to be in my town (Seattle) on Wednesday?! I leave town that very day! Sad face!

I didn't say I forgot you Laurie, I merely mentioned that your men folk are cute. I feel your pain-I have 4 (yes count'em four) good lookin' brothers and two stunningly beautiful sons (perhaps you'll recall the photos I was rubbing under your nose). Nothing is more important than "smart-assedness".

Dude, your brother is HOT! LOL

That's me in the picture of the LA signing!!! Third from the left standing in the back.
I am FAMOUS! LOL.

Seriously though, you did so awesome at the book signing. You rock!

I just want to say that your whole family is so attractive, I could just spit. (I don't know why I would spit about attractive people, but it did sound properly Southern, didn't it? Hee!)

Sounds like you're having a hell of a lot of fun with this book business! I sure hope you can bring the fun to Ohio sometime! :)

Oh, and I totally forgot: Congratulations to your boyfriend Al! Cute AND smart, he is.

Those brothers are cute! Mine aren't nearly that adorable. But you are definitely the most adorable of all.

I did have a question that I couldn't quite come up with at The Grove...and I mentioned in your comments in last post. It's about Paris...and Rafy (maybe that's the name of the hunky guy in the one of the Paris photos, which has a mysterious caption). Pray tell, what is the story??? I've been waiting for so long to hear, and really really hoped you would tell all about it in the book.

One last thing, I was in tears on page 22, just picturing the moment between you and your dad. I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it.

You are so brave Laurie! I relate so much to your housebound tendencies and you give me so much hope when I see ya do stuff like this!

Guess what. YOU'RE book is at my library and I just put it on hold. I think that is so cool. I can't wait to get it.

Ummm. Al's been my boyfriend since I saw him on TV at the Democratic Convention in 1992. Just sayin'.

Looks like you had a fun time on the road. Wish I could have been there.

Oh, and while my relatives like Cracker Barrel as well, I am more of a fan of Waffle House.

Laurie,

I bought the book. I loved the book. I am recommending the book, although, you will see I am not a knitter, no matter how hard I tried:

http://bumblebeeblog.com/journal/2007/10/9/finally-a-use-for-those-knitting-needles-100907.html

Good going, Laurie! I am so very glad the book tour is a success!

Knit on!

--Robin (Bumblebee)

Oh lawdy, the whole entry was awesome but the "Dumbass" sticker was the BEST! I adore your blog and keep on keepin' on, girl!

I will definitely think of a question to ask--I'll consider it my job! So if you get a really dumb question from a big pregnant girl, you'll know who I am!

Were you ever a "That 70's Show" fan? Remember the episode when the President is coming to visit and Red is assigned to ask him a question? He wants to ask something really pointed and blunt, but he's assigned to ask "What's your favorite parade?" And then Eric Foreman and his buddies streak through the audience wearing Nixon masks? Well, I promise not to do that. But I might ask something as dumb as "What's your favorite parade?"

If you like Hashbrown Casserole, you'd probably really enjoy HotDish.

HotDish has tater tots, hamburger, green beans, cream of chicken (or cream of mushroom...or both), onions, a spoonfull (or eleventy spoonfulls) of mashed garlic, and MORE TATER TOTS in it...oh yeah...dont forget the CHEESE!

It's a baked casserole... it's very tasty, probably really bad for you (the green beans make it somewhat healthy), but it has tater tots in it.

My dad made some last month. I'm going to have to insist that he make it again soon. I'm craving it now.

Laurie, why are you not coming to Nebraska (specifically Omaha) We have Cracker Barrels here! At least 3 that I know of!

Holy crap, is your little brother available? I'm in Dallas! I'm only a handful sometimes :) Oh, and only a firecracker sometimes :) Sounds like yall had a wonderful time, I'm jealous.

Also, I understand the being mocked by family for being the shortest. My baby brother is 6'3" and outgrew me when I was in high school. He was in the 5th grade. I refer to him as "Baby Brother" and he calls me "Little Sister."

Christine, I will have to tell you over wine, you have to come over when all this craziness settles down. It involves Shannon getting locked in Pere Lachaise cemetery and all sorts of tomfoolery.

Okay so congrats! I just went threw all of your photos and let me just say you and your family are soooooo flippen cute!

Lordy, hash brown casserole and cute men in cowboy hats, damn I miss the South.

Congrats on the tour. Looks like so much fun!

ahh ya, through.. not threw.

Now I KNOW you're from Louisiana if you have a brother named Guy! Heehee...

You got a fun family (and I lurve the John Deere shirt!!!) Looks liek a grreeaaatt time was had by all!!

Laurie,
I'm so excited for the fantabulous start of this tour!!! My copy arrived from Amazon on Saturday and I'm about 1/2 done. I've only cried about 4 times. Grins and giggles at your turns of phrases. Love it.

So happy for you!!!!

Congratulations Laurie! I'm so happy it went well for you. I'm STILL holding out hope they will add Atlanta to your tour schedule....

I had Cracker Barrel last weekend. Sadly, I forgot to order hash brown casserole. I always order it. I have no idea what happened to my brain that morning.

Totally unrelated topic here, but I went to my local Barnes & Noble today (without my camera - dead batteries!) and lo and behold if your book wasn't right on the special eye-level display shelf. Unless you've got relatives in western NC (possible with the John Deere shirt :-)) your book just really IS being put out front!

Yay for you!!!! :)

Looks like you and your family had a GREAT time!

Hope your book tour gets extended and you come visit Massachusetts, I know I'd be there. :)

Congrats!!!
Kelly

1. Yay for your book tour! Please come to Ann Arbor.

2. Yay for Al!

3. Yay for John Deere clothing!

4. Dayum, your brothers are hot. (No offense to Al, who is also hot, but maybe in a different way because of, you know, global warming and all that.)

5. Your hashbrown casserole extravaganza had me laughing. When I was in grad school in Atlanta, there was this great little place where you could order a meat and 3 veggies, or just a plate of 4 veggies, and there mashed potatoes were so freakin' good that I would go there about once a week and say to the guy behind the counter, "I would like the 4 veggie plate, and I would like all the veggies to be mashed potatoes." Mmmmmmm. I love my starches with a side of starch.

So when I heard about Al the first thing I said was Laurie will be so happy. Is that weird? Seriously, I can take the truth!

I can't wait for the Nashville stop!! Any other plans here besides the book signing? There's a Crackle Barrel close to the mall....you know....just in case...

I love seeing all the people knitting during your reading...now I know I won't look like a dork if I bring mine.

Ok, laughed out loud at the picture where you commented that you look 18 months pregnant (hyeah...right!) I seriously look 5 months pregnant all the time....and, trust me, THAT is so not possible...

I knew I should have made the drive to Houston from Austin. Your brothers are cute! But I knew they would be because you are too!

hi laurie,
~so glad you enjoyed yourself. i think the public speaking thing will get even easier as you do more of it...
~i think you ned to ask your mom and dad about the eric-n-uncle-exact-look-alike-cloning thing.
~ i too have celebrated dear al's prize day. here's a link to the piece i made for a digi challenge to make something in a pop art style. the comment about che rivera had me laughing. its true!http://www.pbase.com/creativematrix/image/87150412
i hope you can get in to see it. i'm not sure if its members only or not.
~your hair looked absolutely wonderful for the event! fluffy, nicely layered and swooping where it oughta....lol...i'm glad you let them cut in some layering. it frames your face well.
~monkey gurl may well be a stalker hee,hee,hee...

I went to look at your photo-flicker-thing, and am laughing so hard ... 345 photos! I think we were separated at birth! Are those all from this trip? I can't look at them all right now: I have to sleep tonight!

Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you!! Is the publisher keeping you up to date on how many copies of your book have been flying off the shelves? Can't wait to read more on your other book signings.....next best thing to being there!

No worries Laurie - being tall & sober is over-rated I'm sure!

As a red-cheeked girl myself, I know that it is not always the wine (usually, but not always)! I think we might be related, at least in the family name pool, Guy, Regan, Truman, etc. Cousin! Congratulations on the book tour!
Kt

P.S. I had a facial and got some expensive serum that REALLY helps the red-cheekiness. Maybe won't stand up to wine AND being a famous book writer being on a book tour AND getting warm and standing up in front of all those people, but I will go home and get the name of it and post it for you.

And... Eric is single and you're bringing him to NW Ohio/SE Michigan, right?

Congrats on the tour—just got the book at B&N and am loving it!

Hi Laurie! It was so nice to meet you in Houston. I'm Faith, the one who you mentioned that your best friend was named Faith. It's ok if you don't remember, you saw so many people! I just wanted to tell you that you did a GREAT job. Even better than I expected. I looked forward to it all week. I'm sure the rest of the tour will be a breeze for you. =)

So glad you had a good time! It sounds like it went great and it's so nice to see your happiness! You definitely deserve it and please keep in mind how much pleasure your writing has brought to so many people.
I lent one of my 4 copies :) (Christmas is coming, you know!) to a woman at work who had just been through a break-up; she said she was laughing out loud on the subway reading, so you know it MUST be fabulous, not just good!

Lordy girl, your brother is smokin' hot. Congrats on getting thru the first stops on the book tour (with flying colors, as we all KNEW you would!!) - now you can relax more and just enjoy the tour and soak up all the love!

Oh and of course, congrats to your Boy Toy for that Nobel thing too...

So was it the brother with the green shirt that stuck the sticker on your back?

Please consider visiting Phoenix on your tour...the weather is really nice right now.

Loved the book - Congratulations on all your success.

You rocked Houston girl! My husband enjoyed chatting with your menfolk too. I was the one in the hat, Tiggie and Hart's Mom.
Blogged the event, now my friends are getting into you too. Why the heck doesn't someone make a TV show about you? Everyone would tune in just to drool over your brothers!

Congrats, and what a wonderful way to start your first book tour, at your current and previous homes with friends and family. I do have some serious advice for you, though. As a former Peorian, born and raised, tho I haven't been there for years and years, DO NOT WEAR THE JOHN DEERE SHIRT THERE! Peoria is the home of Caterpillar, you know. Maybe someone there will present you with a Caterpillar shirt. Can you wear yellow?

oh a duh....i meant che guevara...i think. so sorry. so sleepy!

Ok, Seriously.. I have 4 (count them, four!!) brothers, and none of them are as cute as yours are!!

YAY for getting through your first book-singing-talking-excursion. I did look at all your photos.. and I heart your dad. (more since I read your book)

HOLY HOTNESS - MR. CAMMO COWBOY HAT! Wow. Very nice.

i'll be there wednesday and i am only 5'2" so i promise to stand next to you and make you feel tall. unless you are the same height as me and then, well, it's the thought that counts.

seattle is excited for you to visit!

PLEASE, PLEASE come to New York City on a book tour! I couldn't go to the trade show. I am so ready to meet you in person and have my copy of the book signed. I'll have questions ready for the Q&A, too!

Congratulations on your success. I am so thrilled for you, and I am eagerly awaiting a sequel.

Congrats, sounds like a great time! And lotsa coffee here in Portland, too. ;) As to tall brothers...well, hey, you *all* got the wonderful bright blue eyes, and yours are just as good as theirs are, so you can twinkle just as well as they can. (And if you ever need revenge, you can just write about 'em. That'll fix 'em! Heh. Remind them of that quote about scholars and tigers.)

OMG, Guy looks just like your dad, and Eric looks just like your mom. I am sure I am not the first to make this observation. Drew looks cute, and you look just plain happy. What a wonderful set of photos. Hope you had as good a time as it appears!

Welcome back! Hey, my local independently owned bookstore has your book on display as a Staff Pick right up in front of the store with a glowing review from the staff member that picked it! I was so ready to take a picture with my cellphone, but chickened out (I need public cell shots on the sly lessons).

Glad you had a great time. And btw, your brothers are so cute! (And you got plenty of the cuteness, who are you trying to fool? :) )

PS - And oh, honey, you have not *seen* 7 chins until you see me in a photo. Trust me on this. ;)

(Also, I'm pouting 'cause I sincerely doubt I'll get out to see you at Powell's Beaverton on Thursday. I have a phone meeting that day for which I'll have to Xanax up and *still* will be panic attacking before, during and after. An agoraphobic riding the MAX train 2 hours out to Beaverton after Xanax, panic attacking and medicinal tequila just *so* ain't gonna happen, y'know? Inappropriate hugging wouldn't be the word for it. I'd likely have inappropriate questions [Dutch courage, y'know] and you'd regret even *thinking* that you'd been worrying about the lack of questions! So as you land and take off, consider yourself waved at from an apartment very close to our airport!)

Laurie, you have to come to San Francisco! It's very close and there are lots of us knitters. I promise to think of a good question!

Laurie, don't forget about me! I've planned my week around your book signing! I WILL BE THERE!!

Laurie it was so great meeting you! I'm glad your back home for a litte R&r before you hit that road again :) can't wait to see more pictures.

Hey, Laurie, I went into B&N a couple of days ago and they had posters up for your signing, but I couldn't find any of your books. The staff all knew who you were (and commented that there were posters up all over for you - so apparently Erin is doing a bang up job) but no books in yet.

I had them put me down to get an e-mail when they came in but haven't heard yet. Hmm. Maybe I'll call tomorrow. The e-mail may have been eaten by one of my many layers of virus protection.

Laurie, you look so happy and pretty in these pics, and everyone is your fam is radiant, too. Thanks for sharing, and keep having an awesome time.

Now I have to get down to Cracker Barrel after seeing those pics, dang it! :)

Laurie:

1) I am so darn proud of you (faithful non-stalking reader and all) I hope your ex is chewing his arm off right now reading each and ever comment about how happy and much loved you are and how successful you have become. Wonder how that "finding his creativity" thing is working out for him now? Just askin is all. It's the polite thing to do, ask after others and such.

2) I think it's been said, but in case you haven't picked up on it, da-yum are your brothers good looking. Are you bringing them with you to Powells on Thursday? I just want to make sure I bring enough micro-brew, kthx.

3) I, too, though of you first when I heard Al Gore had won the Nobel. We are a sick group of people, we are.

4) Did I mention your brothers are cute?

5) Can't wait to meet you on Thurs. I'm trying to think up a question that is appropriate for class participation time. I'll try not to use the word "porn" in the question. Now you've got me worried about saying it inappropriately! (Is it ever appropriate?)

I tried hashbrown casserole from the Barrel out of curiousity a couple of weeks ago, and yes IT IS THE SHIZNIT. Are you going to come to Little Rock, Arkansas? Its in the south, we have a Barnes and Noble :)

Awww, it looks like you had a rockin' start to your Cat Hair World Tour '07! I can't wait to see you when you hit the Midwest!

PS, I get the red cheeks too that give away my non-soberedness!

Hey Laurie -

Congratulations on your very successful book tour! Also, I bought your book last week and I read it as my husband drove us home from an appointment in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I just thought I'd let you know that even though you haven't made it all the way up here yet, your book has. And I loved it by the way, lol. You'll have to come up and get your picture taken under Mac the Moose someday. Here's a link to Mac:

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/sask/mac.html

And here's a list of "Large Canadian Roadside Attractions" for you to peruse as another incentive.

http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/sask.htm

Ooh, I love the story preview. I'm ready with the wine when you are. And you know the next book has to be Adventures of Crazy Tourist!

I'm so sorry I'll be missing you in Seattle. Hopefully I'll catch you at an S&B the next time I'm in LA.

And I hope you're resting well between flights. :-)

You have one seriously gorgeous family.

Congrats, Laurie. I knew you'd do good.
.

i just got my copy of the book a few days ago, and i'm just thrilled. i just wish you were coming to SF on your tour so i could bring you more wine.

congrats on all your success, laurie. you deserve it.

I will be at the Seattle signing in spirit only. I'm very sad I can't be there in person. Your book is great and I can't wait to start on one of the patterns for Christmas gifts!

I am so proud of my signed book and enjoyed the read so much that I have put my copy in my "special" bookshelf, right in between the Bible and the "Joy of Sex." In LA, you were so funny... and looked terrific. As KABC Eyewitness News Entertainment reporter George Pennacchio might say, "Four stars for Laurie Perry!"

How do I get one of those T-shirts? I love the support that your parents give you. Very heart warming!! Come to Maine and sign our books!!!

Love the book!

Goodness! Someone has been busy! I find running on wine as fuel is the best way to go!!

I read your book over the weekend. Of course you don't need me chiming in but it totally rocks. I related to so many things.
I have loved your blog for a long time but thank you so much for writing the book.

P.S. Come to Kentucky!!! Like Louisville or Lexington I'm smack dab in between the two!

So Laurie are you coming to PITTSBURGH???
sure hope so!
You really looked like you were having a ball... it's wonderful that your family came out to support you..did that make you nervous???
Now at crackerbarrel, you seriously didn't only have ham on a bisquit and hashbrown casserole? LOL!!
And yes, I agree, your dad and brother are very hot!

PLEASE COME TO CANADA!! Toronto is close enough, but Newmarket would be even better! I'm enjoying your book---you've got me crying you know. Enjoy your adventure!

Great photos, Laurie! Looks like you had a good time.

When are you going to pursuade your publisher to release your book in the UK?

- Pam (sure I could rustle up a couple of fans for you)

Congrats on all of it. So, how do you manage to get time off from White Guys in Ties to do all this traveling - you lucky dog!

I would come to a London UK book signing. Your pictures are great. Your family must be so proud of you, hell, I'm proud of you. Can't wait to get the book!

and Al Gore is MY boyfriend!

Looks like you had a great time on your trip. THtere were one or two good looking Cowboys in your photos. I'm still waiting for the So CA tour portion.
In regards your devotion to Al- have you seen the shorts on Cafe Press. As simple as I love Al to giant head shots on polo shirts. A wardrobe essential.
http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Al%20gore/-/cfpt2_/cfpt_/source_searchBox/copt_

You have the BEST family! I'm so happy to hear that you had fun and enjoyed the Q&A.

Great job, Laurie! Glad it's going so well for you and you're having fun - you deserve it!

Finny & Buddy send purrs to Bob, Soba & Frankie.

Nora

Uhm, I know all about you and all about your kitties... How did I miss the fact that your brothers are damn cute?!?! Lots of single women reading this blog. They had better watch out! lol

Whoooah!! When I adopted you as my Honorary Granddaughter I had no IDEE about the rest of the fambly! Although, they don't look like they need any short Jewish Midwestern grandparents, they are A-DOOOR-able. You hear about genes? Your kinfolk got the handle on 'em, waaaay back when. I'm so delighted you're having such a good time - we got our room reserved and will see you in the Twin Cities! (I'm lining up for one o' them inappopropriate hugs on account of, as an adopted Bubbeh, it's NOT inappropriate, but I promise not to pinch your cheek, although there's some fierce temptation along those lines!)

You are just beaming in every single one of those pictures. Can't wait until you come to Massachusetts (you will, I hope). I LOVE your uncle's John Deere shirt--it looks like my nephew's sheets!

My favorite meal at Cracker Barrel is hashbrown casserole, greens, and fried apples. Because if you can take something healthy and fry it, you should!

Also, your brother is hot. Hotty hot hotness.

I wish you were coming to SF!

Also, have you seen this: http://current.com/people/algore ?

Laurie, if you ever make it to Atlanta, please, please PLEASE bring your brother Eric. He's tall and dreamy....

Thanks for taking a half-way flattering picture of me with my friends at Yarntopia! I am usually so un-photogenic that my Irish face just washes out to a moon-face in photos. Must be a skill you picked up in Tinseltown. It was great to meet you, loved the book.

ps- I was the one in the "punkin" colored crocheted shrug - remember there's a whole new crochet frontier out there...lol
www.bethelscrafttalk.blogspot.com

Are you trying to do some match-making? Because with cuties like that for brothers, when you post pictures of them to the whole world, you're just asking for millions of marriage proposals.

Looks like your family is a lot of fun, but don't take this comment as a proposal. I'm already spoken for. I was just noticing their handsomeness. And, I'm really irked you were in Houston (where I'll be visiting my parents in early December), and I missed you.

Lol!! All the cute comments about your brothers! Your pics here made me smile and I haven't even seen your flickr ones yet, which I'm fixin to. I'm only sorry I didn't get to come to Houston. You need to come to Dallas next time if they'll let you!

This is so exciting! I'm so excited for you! And I could just picture whenever you got home that you were covered in kitties! Aw, they missed you! :)

When I was commenting to my husband how happy I was for Al Gore, he reminded me that Joseph Stalin and Yassar Arafat also won the Nobel Peace Prize. What's up with THAT?

YAY SEATTLE!! MY HOME OF HOMES!! MY BORNING PLACE!!

Say hi to the mountain for me. And give a holla at my family if you bump into them.

Congrats on your successful event! Please come to Bloomington, Indiana! We have lots of knitters here, and I promise to bring you a John Deere present.

PS Your brothers are hawt! But that's no surprise...your dad's a cutie, too :)

Is there a stop in Albuquerque in your future? We have wineries. And brew pubs. I got your book yesterday afternoon and finished it this morning. Din't get much else done, and that despite the fact that my mother-in-law arrives at 2 pm for 2 weeks. I was laughing out loud a lot--that's the part I wanted you to know. Safe trips, and safe home--Jenn

Wooozers look at those handsome men!!! :)

I'm so glad your first book thingy went so well. And yuppers they were all there for you :)

Hope to meet you in Florida :)

Be safe, drink wine and be merry
~dani

Looks like you had a great time! Yay! My daughter read your book already - she got to it before I did, dang it.

And...um...your brother is...ooo... hot beyond all reason. Good golly. Must go think of other things, now, somehow.

Holy crap! I'm on CAP's Flickr page! I've made The Big Time. Also, she said I have perfect tension. That glow off to the south is me.

Laurie did great on Friday night. No one could tell she was nervous at all. She must be getting more comfortable with speaking in public, because she didn't whisper porn in the middle of Barnes & Noble. She said it loud and proud. In front of her parents. Better you than me, sister!

how about you come out to pennsylvania and bring those brothers of yours with you!!!! ;)

It looks like you are having a ball. When is the fancy book publisher sending you to NYC, it would make my week/month/year...

Congrats on the fantastic start to your book tour! Your entire family is adorable and obviously very, very proud of their shortest member. (Ha)

Your parents wearing the CAP T-shirts around all day? Sounds like something my folks would do... and your brothers? After this, they're gonna have to beat the girls off with a stick.

All of the men in your family are cuties. I had to grin at some of the fashion choices: your younger brother sporting a camo cowboy hat was a particular favorite and I loved the nod to fish and fishing on your older brother's shirts, but nothing beat the John Deere shirt your Uncle wore! They all cracked me up and made me miss my own crazy family.

Set Oklahoma City up on that book tour, will ya?

OK, that makes two of us here in Toronto. You MUST come now!!!

That is the glow of success on your face, my dear, and no one deserves it more than you. :)

I'm married, but can I just say...Your younger brother is sooooooooo cute!!!

Wow ... For a moment there, I thought you fell in with a gang of male models! Your brothers are yummy!!

There are lots of us in Toronto ... when are you coming here??? Crowds of divorced, cat-loving, knitters are a sure thing.

Congratulations on the tour!

So great to see those big smiles that come with seeing loved family members (nothing to do with the wine!) - I have some like that, and I get them out when I am missing being hours travelling away from my folks and giggle at how goofy we look!

So great to see those big smiles that come with seeing loved family members (nothing to do with the wine!) - I have some like that, and I get them out when I am missing them all, being hours travelling away from my folks, and giggle at how goofy we look!

So glad you had a good time in Houston! You know that LA loves you!!! Glad you got the Flickr site. After looking at ALLLL of the photos, there's not one of ME at the LA B/N reading! I suppose I was flitting about too much, taking photos of my own! Others of us need some media face-time too, you know!!!

Welcome home!

"(I think it is a law in Seattle)"

Just the law of the capitalist jungle: if you don't give them coffee, they will not buy your books or shoes or used car parts or whatever it is you sell. Businesses learn fast, or go under. Hah.

God I miss Seattle.

Let me be the 8 billionth person to say: Mercy dahlin', you sure do got you some mighty fine good-lookin' brothers! And I bet they open the car door for ya and pull out yer chair and everything, too! Although from that mischievous grin, I'm gonna guess the younger one probably pulls out yer chair... from under ya.

I love me some Cracker Barrel (and omg their beef stew is awesome), and I sure am disappointed that you skipped over poor ol' Louisianne! Contrary to popular belief, we have books in this state, and most of 'em we don't burn. ;-) Also we have a couple of knit shops. Not many, but like 2. Also, we don't have THAT many snakes, gators, and mosquitoes (ok so I am definitely lying about the mosquitoes). But you should totally make it down here, too!

I think all the attention from potentially lonely, cat obsessed knitters is freaking Eric out. He was looking a little wild around the eyes and shooting nervous glances at the signing line on Friday night.

THE BOOKS ARE HERE! I just got a call from B&N and your book has arrived in Seattle.

Be prepared for rain and highs in the 50s.

laurie!!! I THINK YOU HAVE BENDY, DOUBLE JOINTED ELBOWS LIKE ME!!! (judging from the last pic here)

I'm sure you don't read all your comments, but here I go anyway...I really enjoyed chatting with you at the Grove. Thanks for making me feel comfortable and welcome. And thanks for the invite to the SnB party in November - very tempting, though I 'spose I should pick up that knitting again and get beyond my couple rows of the knit stitch already.

Have fun up north!!

Look at you with your sweet rosy cheeks. You are living other people's fantasy. Enjoy it.

It was great to meet you at Yarntopia/Houston - many thanks to what I'm guessing was "The Crochet Dude" connection that helped that along. Loved the book. I've enjoyed the blog since the beginning. I'm coming out your way in the spring and can't wait to prowl through all the shops you've mentioned.

Cracker Barrel - YUM - it's my all time favorite; they're the only folks who know how to make proper chicken and dumplings!

When are you coming down to Southern Louisiana? Is NOLA not getting an appearance? :)~

Good Lord, your brothers are hot! Loved the family shots. Ya'll all look so happy and having fun.

The phrase "...pants off at a Cracker Barrel" of course caught my eye immediately. Reminds me of this one time...

Holy chamoli, may I please have the number of your brother Eric? Because he is the cuteness!

And here I thought I was a lesbian. Just goes to show ya.

You are adorable and your brother is HOT. Wow. What a freaking cute family.

Did I get deleted again? LOL sheesh

Eric gave me a copy of your book to read - I am loving it! He loves that hat that he bought while he was visiting everyone in TX- :)
I have two cats & I love them... Eric keeps his distance! I would love to meet you sometime!