first!

I am such a dork getting so excited about being first. My heart is actually racing! Just wanted to say that the Ph.D in Drunkenology line is a classic. It should be awarded to anyone who writes a book with "Drunk" as the first word in the title AND gets it published AND goes on tour. You will be part of a very elite group.

Laurie!
LINK!
How're we supposed to give you shirt feedback with no pic of said shirt!!???

I'm so glad you're having a good time- and hey- if those women weren't empowered enough to appreciate your PhD in Drunkenology, they're NOT empowered enough! Give them some wine!

I am so happy for you! You look beautiful and glowing and like you're having ever so much fun.

Be sure to take some alone time when you need it, and remember that your sweethearts will be waiting when you get back home. How lovely it will be to cul up with a comforter, the kids, and some wine. Maybe Cheetos, too, you never know.

I do believe that we now have the title of your next book!

At the LA event, you said you wrote your first one in 5 1/2 weeks. It's about that long until Christmas, so, with any luck......

How bummed am I that I missed you in Houston?! I totally hope you come back, because maybe I won't be so shy around you and the fact that you're only three inches taller than me (when the world is usually a billionty eleven feet taller than me) might help. :)

Hey, if you come back after mid-January of '08, I'll be able to take you out for a drink! Fun!

Doncha ever get a hankerin' to come up to Canada? specifically Victoria BC.
please
:)

Please remember that people love you *precisely because* totally weirdo stuff comes out of your mouth. If I were able to come see you (Birmingham, Alabama? Please???), I would be so pissed if you didn't say at least one slightly off-color thing related to drinking, cats, or cleaning.

Oh I can't give ya'll a link to the shirt ahead of time because it's the only clean outfit I have left after all this, so if you tell me ahead of time how bad it is, I have no option but to wear it anyway. On the other hand, if you say it's bad AFTER the fact, we can make jokes about it heheheheh.

Like, "Remember that time I wore that hooker shirt in Nashville...?"

It was great to see you in Minneapolis -
You were magnificently entertaining & the kind hearted "heckling" by Annie made the night even more fun. If only I'd been gutsy enough to introduce myself to you (I used up all my courage introducing myself to Annie).
Ahhh - the life of a wallflower.

I'm glad your tour is going so well. I am totally tempted to hop in the car and drive to Nashville - it's the closest you are getting to Charlotte, NC - but, it's an 8 hour drive and I don't think I would make it in time.

You are an inspiration to me!! I know how it is to have social anxiety. It took me almost 20 years to get a college degree because I was so afraid of the Oral Communications required class. I kept putting it off. But I finally made it. It's so great to see you do what you're doing, making speeches and all.

I'm glad you are having so much fun (despite the social anxiety, which I totally understand). Enjoy your great adventure!

And yet you still wear shiny shirts and jackets...amazing. I'd have abandoned that kind of clothing for much more ninja-like wear a long time ago.

Oh wait. I did.

You! Pictures! Pretty! Now one of the Tanya Tucker Shirt, please?

i am a total airplane picture taker too! :) dontcha just love it when you DONT get the window seat and take pictures anyway, i'm sure my aisle-mate never minds...they do? really. oh well.

still sad we wont be seeing you in buffalo, but so glad that the tour is going well! :)

It was great seeing you speak in Minneapolis!

Hopefully the next time you come, B&N will have more chairs :)

Laurie,
Your trip looks so fun. I love going on business trips!! It makes me feel so important to charge through the airport with my rolly suitcase. You should totally come to Ohio!

Laurie, you ROCK and I think the nervousness will go away over time. At the rate you're traveling, before long you'll be ready to audition for The Amazing Race! I only wish you were coming to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Great update on the-tour-so-far, thanks! Almost as good as being there ... but wait, this is from you *without* caffeine? I'm a little scared now. (Unless you meant "more" caffeine?)

Well, regardless, if you get the chance to come to Boston, do!

You are so close, couldn't you have come to Michigan too? Specifically Grand Rapids! NOT DETROIT! Everyone goes to Detroit and us poor west siders never get to see the cool people.

Yeah, I'm so glad you are not a make-up snob. I love reading Revlon and Maybelline. Not all of us NEED or WANT some $58 mascara.

Can I have your eyebrows?

I'm looking forward to meeting you tonight in Nashville!

I finally found your book locally, and sat and read it in an afternoon- loved it! You really are an inspiration.

I'm with you on seeing more of the U.S....I've seen a lot of the eastern seaboard but the deserts and such in the west still fascinate me! I spent part of my growing up years overseas and was lucky enough to see a lot of the world, but like you I now want to see more of our own country.

Love your site, can't wait to read your book!

1) I hope you have never been to Michigan so you can work it into both your book tour and your 50 states list. But don't come on April 1 (just ask the Yarn Harlot. Detroit or GR is fine with me - I'm smack in the middle!

2) Harper Lee has more than one story? 'Cause I would totally read that.

I am soooooo excited for tonight!! And lest you think you are the only one....I am hoping the top I wore today looks good. And I brought my makeup to work so I can touch up before tonight. I would just be devastated if my picture with the famous Laurie didn't turn out well! Malinda, Courtney and I can't wait to meet ya!! (oh, and I know Malinda and I will both be buying the book tonight....so B&N will make a few sales on you!)

AAAHH! I just found out last night that my mom was there for the show (selling handmade candy suckers, if you had a chance to walk around). I would have had her come by and say Hi if I'd known. She's got that Southern thing where she meets a stranger and knows their life history in 15 minutes, and finds out they're related in another 10.

You might have been shaking on camera, but you looked fabulous. I envy your hair mojo. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you make it to St. Louis!

"a Harper Lee story" ... I meant it in the same way one would say "right out of a Margaret Mitchell story" as in: He could have been in that era. What? Did that not make sense?

Because I am tired people. Cut me some slack, ok? And yes I have been to school and know there is only one Harper Lee book. Have you not heard I have a Harper Lee fixation? Really? Because I kind of talk about it all the time. I thought it would be fine to never leave my house because she didn't either.

I do need coffee.

We want the hooker shirt!
We want the hooker shirt!
Hooker shirt! Hooker shirt! Yaaaaay!

You'll have to forgive me. I used to say it was an immutable law of nature that at most one Massachusetts pro sports team could be good at any one time, but the universe appears to be seriously off its rocker. Also, not enough sleep.

I wish I could immediately fly to Nashville (hey, that was where the gal who wouldn't come to Boston was based, wasn't it?). Please take lots of pictures. See, I am scaling back here.

Thanks for Coming to Mpls Laurie! It was lovely to meet you! Sorry that you also met "crazy" at your signing table. Oh well.

Best of luck in Nashville.

Okay, I apologize if anyone has already mentioned this because I am not a regular commenter here but ... have you tried Certain Dri? It's a prescription strength roll-on and you put it on at night before bed (maybe this is because pretty much as soon as I get out of the shower in the morning the anxiety sweating has begun, unless it's a weekend) ... anyway. It works! It smells gross and will also stain the crap out of your clothes but - again - you only use it at night (I don't recommend wearing your cute matching jammies on Certain Dri nights) and then in the morning you shower and put on some kind of nice-smelling deoderant and all is well. And your dry-clean-only sweaters can be worn more than once.

There is also Secret Clinical Strength deoderant and anti-perspirant which actually smells pretty good but doesn't work as well.

Also, I think this is my first comment so I'd like to apolize (again! twice in one comment) for going on at such length about armpits. But it's really a problem.

(And also I am aware of the school of thought that connects aluminum - the active ingredient in deoderant - to alzheimer's but the link is pretty tenuous and also, I figure I'm only losing the crappy years at the end anyway.)

Do you ever check on your ex? I had a bad dream that I was living with my ex and he served me with papers-again! Just wondered if you get a chance to rub your ex's nose in your creative success.

You are doing GREAT, girl!

Still finding the funny, and that's the important thing.

Have fun tonite, and we'll keep the Internets going till you get back!
.

You know what, you totally don't have to worry about the PhD in Drunkology thing. You're cute, and funny, and Drunkology just adds to your charm as far as I'm concerned.

OMG! I can relate to the shirts for women who have boobs-thing! I'm totally checking her out. Also... don't know if you know about these fine sistas in the UK but bravissimo makes bras that rock my world. Pretty and supportive. They have a website (bravissimo.com) and ship internationally. The downside is you pay in pounds and because the dollar sucks it (ouch!) but if you ask me, they're worth it. Victoria's Secret can just go to... well... you know...

Thank you for coming to Minneapolis. You know one of the reasons we love you is BECAUSE of the impromptu things you say. We all do that, too, so to hear someone as cute and funny and famous as you makes us all feel better, like maybe we could write a book and go on tour and be famous, too. If only we were as talented as you :-)

Well? Did you buy shoes at MOA? I'm disappointed I missed your signing - but it looks like you are having huge success with the masses! It's great to see "it" happening for you! Congratulations. You must be floating on a cloud! I hope it continues on and on and on...

I was at the reading at the Barnes & Noble at the Mall of America--I am a mere speck in some of those photos. I just wanted to say you were wonderful and I loved your Southern accent--you sounded just like Reese Witherspoon & you were adorable. I had to leave before I could get my book signed, but I thought the reading & Q&A were great and you did a fabulous job--I could not tell you were nervous. You were sweet & funny--Minneapolis loved you! I read your book this weekend--you are so inspiring to me.

who is harper lee? Love, love the fact you took pics of your hotel room. So chessy, but in nice cheese filled way.

I don't know about sweaty, but you look great in all the pictures. If I was on a book tour, they'd have to give me a teleprompter to prevent idiotic and embarrassing things from jumping out of my mouth, but I don't cause I still haven't run out of reasons why I shouldn't leave my house, nor have I written a book. Congrats on your success.

kmkat, yeah, that's the hook there - we could do all that IF we were as talented! hee!

Yay, more crazy weirdo stuff coming out of your mouth! I love it! I am so glad you're having such a fantastic time. This is a whirlwind for you and I'm sure you'll be glad when it's all over and you can get back to normal (well, CAP normal)with your kitties. But until then, what fun and memories and just the experience of it!

You just have the BEST smile, CAP!!

Also? Your name is really awesome, too.
Tai (aka the one-day-in-the-future Laurie Perry.)

you wrote that without coffee?
LORDY.

Oh, and I love seeing faces to go with the names like Dale Harriet! So cool!

You were awesome in Minneapolis! You were exactly the person I expected from having read your blog, and that rocks. I get all star-struck when I meet authors, and you totally put us all at ease and made me forget to worry about seeming like a squealing fangirl. Also? The grey shirt was gorgeous and very glamorous. Nicely done. :)

We are Minneapolitans, evidently. I know this because Wikipedia told me. I had no idea for the first year after I moved here from Florida and kept calling myself a new Minnesotese or Minneapolese. I think sometimes I was a Minnesotian, which is much like a Martian only with hotdish.

Nashville? I live in Nashville! I'm totally there! Yay!!

Two words for you:

Den.

Ver.

Sounds like you are having a great time. Wish I could come and see your reading. I wanna see the shirt! How can we help you out with wardrobe issues if we can't see it? Duh :)

You look gorgeous! You absolutely glow in all those photos and not in a "they say 'glow' in the South, instead of 'sweat' or 'perspire'" sort of way! And you are SO not fat! (because i wear the same size you do, and ummm, yeah. Not fat.)

OK, so I gave copies of your book to my mom and my two sisters at my WEDDING, which is kind of weird, but they all read the book and LOVED IT and my Mom was quoting from your book afterwards, so there! (They also remember the hell I went through after my divorce.)

This is the best road trip eh-ver.

Hi Laurie! Sounds like you are having so much fun! And you totally have to have a PHD in Drunkenology - how else could you have written your book? It's in the title. BTW you look stunning in that blue blouse! That is soooo your color. Enjoy Nashville!

I am so jealous. I am from Minneapolis, I miss Minneapolis, I not living in Minneapolis anymore and you were there. Come to the East Coast. Lots of knitting and liquor out here.

You were great in Peoria - even all those non-knitters loved you! And we all thought the "PhD in Drunkenology" comment was hilarious!

First, You. Are. Not. Fat.

Second--oh, my, I thought I was the only grown-up in the world who loved staring out the airplane window! SO glad to know I'm not alone. You're braver than I am, though--you actually take pictures. I totally agree--our country is so beautiful to fly over!

I seriously doubt anything Tanya-Tuckeresque will be any kind of problem in Nashville, unless it's literally slit to your navel. I bet you're fine.

I take photos out of plane windows, too! I didn't know that made me a dork. :-(

(I am still going to do it, though.) *ha*

I really wish I had your stealth photography skillz. I was in B&N this weekend, in the bargain books section, and they had a "knitting for your dog" kit. It had a set of knitting needles with a bride dog on the end of one and a groom dog on the end of the other. And the dog on the cover was wearing legwarmers! I just about died.

Also, I made a Halloweenie Beanie for my mom and mailed it to her. She was so excited that she took it with her to church yesterday to show all her friends.

Oh and here I had just gotten down to six "SQUEE"s a day, too. Let me tell you, just from a non-stalker ordinary kind of way, you're doing SPLENDIDLY. First of all, remember that you're surrounded at each of these things by people who a) love you to pieces; and/or b) are proud of you like we were your very own grandparents; and/or c) wish we were you; and/or d) are also crazy knitting cat-people. I.E. Kindred Spirits. Also, scrawny is overrated - I can tell you, scrawny people NEVER have nice Jewish bubbes of ANY variety because they clearly are not eating enough and it's a crime. I don't know how anyone else is reacting to your programs (except my daughter who seems to take after me) but I haven't quit smiling since we got up out of those chairs. Fortunately I haven't been to any funerals or murder trials.... Carry on, Crazy Aunt Purl. You're spreading delight, laughter, confidence, inspiration, yarn fumes (yes, only YARN fumes, trust me, we were right in front) and kitty-love all over this land. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Pete Seeger's making up a new song about you right this very minute.

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to see a picture of Dale-Harriet!

xo

Just wanted to add that there's also Drysol for the little glow problem. Works the same way as Certain Dri; you put it on at night (it's actually a little painful really - it stings and burns a bit!) but it really does work, so worth the suffering. You'll definitely feel more confident if you're not thinking about pit stains while meeting your adoring fans :-)

I just wanted to say thank you for your book. I purchased it Sunday and began to read it at 4 p.m. I'd finished by 9 p.m. (with several breaks in between). My only complaint is that it should have come with a warning to not read it in public. I was sitting (alone) in a food court when I began to laugh out loud. I noticed people moving away from me. (My laugh is not delicate or demure -- it has been compared to a chicken about to lay an egg.) What a blast -- please write more!

You know, if I were lucky enough to see you in person and you didn't say something along the lines of "PhD in Drunkenology" I would be seriously disappointed. : ) I'm sure I'm not alone.

You look great in all the pics !!

I'm working on that phD in Drunkenology! Damn, wish you could stop by Idaho and see us!

Who do we contact to petition to get you up here to the Bay Area?? I know for a fact that we have more than a couple Barnes and Noble bookstores...

hey laurie congrats on making it out of Mpls alive! I totally get your PhD in drunkenology reference, as I just celebrated my 40th bday this weekend at a surprise party where I was completely surprised! And drunk! D R U N K ! But my cats hid the whole time. I wonder why?

So close and yet so far away--I'm about three hours from Peoria and couldn't get away. You know, that whole "work" thing. :( And we just love you more for saying funny things, so I wouldn't worry about it! In fact, you should just enjoy it!

This is probably one of the funniest things I've read all year. And the year is practically over, so good on you.

I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated by your credentials. I only have a Master's in Drunkenology. but with enough perseverance, I'm sure that someday I can rise/stumble to your level of accomplishment.

Long time listener, first time caller.

I take pics out the plane window too! Flying over the Grand Canyon and all those badlands is fascinating, and then there are the Rockies, and then there is loooooots of flat. Flat is good for napping. Before the flat I love tracing the lines of wtercourses, whether or not water is in them. Plus I am dead scared of heights. Go figure.
Saying silly things is normal when one is flustered. Just don't dwell on them. Apologise where needed and move on! :-)

Keep on rockin' all across this fine land, lady! You seem to be doing just fine. 'Cuz, guess what? We should all be having foot-in-mouth moments now and again. We're humans, not robots. So there.

You look gorgeous!! I love love love your hair, PS.

Can you ask Kim to send you to San Francisco, pretty please????

XO

We could all understand you in Minneapolis, and you were fantastic and told great stories. And even though I live here, I have no idea what people from Minneapolis are called. I would have guessed Minneapolites. Or Minneapolitans. It was great to meet you, have have fun in Nashville!

Crap -- I am missing you by *one* day in Nashville. I'll get there on Tuesday. Boo Hoo! Not only are you not (yet?!?) coming to San Francisco, I'm missing you in other parts of the country.

you're wicked cute.

by the way, i have a lot of experience sherpa-dom. just ask stitchy mcyarnpants. i've acted as her sherpa on several occasions.

I totally understand the social anxiety problem.

I transferred schools to get out of having Speech as a required course. (switched from a private Catholic school, to a public school...ohmygosh, that was a culture shock!)

In college, in a medical ethics class, my teacher had this annoying habit of putting us together in groups to ad-lib medical ethics situations in front of the rest of the class. I couldnt do it. I told the girls I was partnered with that they were going to regret getting me as a partner. At least the teacher was understanding and realized that I just couldnt do it. She quit doing the ad-lib exercises for the rest of the semester. (yay!)

I think it's cool Laurie, that you're able to get in front of all your adoring stalk...errr...ummm...fans... I could just never do that...which would be why I havent attempted to write any bestseller books, or tried to become some famous crochet designer.

I had a chance once to meet a famous crochet/knitting designer when she came to Omaha a few years back, but my social anxiety works both ways. It's really difficult for me to walk up to famous people and ask them to sign my book. I ended up not even going to the signing at the yarn store because I was afraid people would want to talk to me.

I'm just a few steps away from being a total agoraphobic.

Haven't read the comments yet. Hope everyone says this too... You're not fat!

And now, hours later, I see why you didn't post a picture of the shirt.

Gosh I are a doof.

Hi there,

Just want to say I'm sadly disappointed I can't make it tonight to Nashville. I live about 2 hours away (in Kentucky) and would love to meet you. I finished reading your book yesterday and I laughed my *ss off!! I've been through divorce and can totally understand where you are coming from. I'm sorry to say I didn't take up knitting until 4 years later, but I'm so hooked on it. Love love love your book, I hope there are more to come!!

That liquor store that delivers is the only thing that makes living in The Valley bearable!

So I'm the person in MPLS that you told about saying in Seattle Roy was reincarnated as a horse- and instead of saying something nice like 'we all say interesting things when we are nervous'; I babbled about my lynx point blued eyed boy being born on a horse farm so of course Roy was there-Lordy it must be a southern thing.

2 bathrooms and nary a photo of you in said shirt?
I am disappointed.
Have a great final leg...we are anxiously awaiting to hear what other things you might say :)

Forgot to ask...

Just how nice were those bathrooms?? Did they have a bidet? Towel warmers? Were the fixtures made of solid gold?

and...what hotel was it?

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in May (and yes, I feel smarter for it!) and it was great. The bathroom there was cleaner and way bigger than my bathroom at home. It had a HUGE whirlpool bath in the room...a living room, a bedroom with a bed that's nicer than mine, two tv's, and a balcony that opened out onto the lobby. It was great.

Laurie,

I just finished your book (so did 3 other people I know). We all loved it. It made me giggle out loud, smile knowingly, and cry... And I so know about "shopping to fill up the empty".

Linda in VA

laurie -- loved loved loved meeting you in minneapolis and listening to you speak...your twang makes me miss my aunt in texas somethin' fierce...i'm fixin' to e-mail her after i hit "post"

take care! safe travels!
that chick with the awesome tattoo ;)

Laurie! Thank you for visiting us in Peoria! Always start with the word "porn." Get it out there, know it's been said, and move on. Loved it. And you. My goodness, Laurie, you are one fast talker. I loved listening to you. I actually didn't want to laugh because I was afraid I'd miss something you said. If I tried to talk that fast, my tongue would get tangled around my eyeteeth and I couldn't see what I was saying. But you were so darned cute, I'm sure all of us would have stayed all night just to listen to you and your stories.

Thank you also for being so gracious to all of those who stood in line to have you sign our books and get a picture with you. Wow! I'm going to have a print made and framed, put it on the bookshelf next to the print of the goddess Nora Roberts and me (with that same look of starry-eyed wonder on my face because I know I'm in the presence of real talent -- and nicenss).

And that was such a great story from Kim and yourself about how HCI contacted you to get you to write a book. How many authors would love to get a call from a publisher begging them for a book. You are living the dream, girl. And if that wasn't your dream before, I belive it must be now.

When's the next book coming out?

Laurie, you totally have to wear the rhinestoney shirt in honor of Porter Waggoner, God rest him. He would love to see the young people wearing rhinestones!

Wish I was close enough to Nashville to show up tonight! Shopryland. Ha!

For the love of all that's holy (or even holey), when will you come to Virginia???

following your book tour from afar and think you're 'grand' (can you tell I'm just back from Dublin?).

This world needs people to say innapropriate things at the right time otherwise there is no fun to be had.

Hope the shirt choice (like there was any, huh?) was fabulous b/c I'm sure you were tonight.

OMG! You are totally putting out the 'Hot Weather Girl' vibe. Which I totally mean as a compliment. You look so polished and together and I am so proud of you and just so thrilled for your success.
Smooches!

K's are always klassy - and sometimes even classy! ;)

p.s. I take pictures out of airplane windows, too.

Sweetheart, you are totally losing weight left and right. Call it the book tour diet. Or exercise plan. Hey, I see another book there! Well, maybe a pamphlet. How much can you stretch out sweat like crazy and eat nervously and run around airports dragging ginormous luggage in heels? Just make sure you drink plenty of liquids so you don't get dehydrated. Yeah. But here's a question, have you called home yet just to leave a message on your own answering machine so the kitties can hear your voice?

Your hair looks FABULOUS! Blow dry from the roots? Flat iron? Mousse or no mousse? Hair spray? I strive for that hair every day and utterly fail.

drunkenology is just fine.
the shirt will look amazing I'm sure.
and you wear 3 inch heels? wow lol.
glad the tour is going good!!!

TONIGHT!!!! WHOO-HOO!!! Can't wait to meet you - I will be front and center in a houndstooth (black and white) shirt, black pants (telling you these details so you won't be alarmed when a stranger gives you a big ol' hug!) And yes, I did stand in my closet this morning and think..."oooh, I want to look half way decent for the book signing. What should I wear?" I also repeated to myself over and over to be sure and take your book with me to work so I would HAVE a book for you to sign. "Don't leave the house without the book..." Whaddya think - did I remember? Noooo. So, you will rack up one more sale tonight. See you in 2 hours. Yippee!!! I hope we can talk you into going somewhere for a glass of wine afterwards :)

Oh and I just LOVE this : "I wish I could have pulled an 'Eat, Pray, Love' but I was broke and living paycheck-to-paycheck in a rented house in the valley and the closest thing I had to a religious experience was when I found a liquor store that delivered." - I am reading this book right now and all I can keep thinking is gee, must be nice to be able to deal with a life tragedy by taking a year off of work and traveling around the world!

You are just the cutest thing! Why don't ya come to Austin? It's nice here!

People from Minneapolis are Minneapolitans. Take it from a girl who grew up there. I am glad you lived my city! I live in Florida now, and miss home. Especially when other people talk about how much they like it!

Sounds like a great tour, seeing lots of fabulous people and hot US of A country!

Love the pictures!

you are sooo cute! I finally finished reading from the 1st posting - you have changed and grown so much it is amazing.

I have to say I got stuck at Ohare one time - all the flights cancelled to beautiful Bloomington, IL
all rental cars gone - there was one man about the same age as I was (mid 20's at the time, ahem)
and he suggested sharing a Limo - I called the work folks I was meeting and gave them lists of info on the guy and the driver too. But it was just fine - we even drove thru Wendy's (that was a hoot in an actual limo) - and the man, well we spent at least 1/2 of the trip viewing the pics of his wedding and honeymoon - he had only been married 2 weeks and already had to travel to State Farm on business. The work folks were waiting impatiently at the hotel for my arrival, they had to pay the driver, too - all in all a good trip and turned out safer than spending the night sleeping in the terminal.
I had no credit cards in those days!
Wish I could get to Nashville - we will just have to live vicariously thru the blog

What's so weird about taking pictures out of airplane windows? I do that all the time...

I'm really sorry I missed you in Minnesota, stupid being in Michigan for grad school. Could you maybe go back sometime after April? ;-)

Good luck with the rest of the tour!

Laurie - you look terrific! I was wondering if you're planning on visiting the Bay Area (back in good old CA) any time soon? We have many wonderful yarn stores up here, heck I'd even take you on a tour of my favorites. Please come see us!

Darling sweetpea, when you're a lady author from the South, there's no such thing as too much rhinestone.

But how about bringin' your Southern gal self up to the Northeast? We have mighty fine scarves and hats weather ready, just for you.

Laurie! I'm sorry I missed you at the Mall of America. I live like 10 minutes away but I couldn't go because I had class. :( Oh well. Glad you had fun. Love you!

I am still crying inside because while you've been traveling all over I have also been traveling all over and I keep missing your drunkenology '07 tour. I just flew from Minneapolis to Portland and took pictures out the window too! (Hey, was that damn big river we flew over the Missouri? Mrs. Anderson my 4th grade teacher would be so annoyed with me for not knowing that now out of guilt I'm haveta ask the google.)

On the up side -- airplane time is knitting time!

Drunkenology Tour '07

Sounds like it needs to be on a t-shirt.

With cat paw prints all over it.

My dear Auntie P- I hope you realize and appreciate just how amazingly and beautifully photogenic you are. I see now that I have no hope of ever being a famous author, as I am just NOT photogenic. You look fresh and perky in every photo- even the red-cheeked ones!

Love it! I am only on my master's in drunkology, and as such I appreciate the work and dedication it has taken to get your Ph.D.

Keep up the great work. Sorry I missed you in Pee-oh-ria.

I think being called Minneapolitans makes us sound kind of like an ice cream. Not that there aren't worse things to sound like, I suppose. You were very sweet and wonderful at the B&N. Happy trails!

My middle daughter's favorite book is "To Kill a Mockingbird", so she wanted to name her son-- Aticus (sp?)! Thankfully son-in-law prevailed and Harper is now a busy 3-year old young man.

I finally got my birthday present last weekend (birthday was in May)--oldest daughter preordered the book for me. It was awesome--lots of nods of understanding (been there, done that), sniffs, and laughs. They say living well is the best revenge. I think if you're living well--revenge is the last thing your mind.

I don't take pictures out of the window--but I love the window seat and always set with my nose pressed up to window--marveling at this wonderful country we are blessed to live in.

Laurie, I drove from St. Louis 3 hours to Peoria with a friend - she was the un-shy 4'10" Phillipino gal who foisted herself on you and took a picture of the three of us right before things got started. We sat in the front row. I was the shy mortified one! You were awesome! You are funny & beautiful & inspiring. When we met at the signing, I stuttered something out about passing your blog to all my coworkers and friends and something about my mother in CA! I read your book in two days and laughed and cried and gave you hugs from afar! xoxoxoox. Rachel

Hey Laurie-
I came to the Mall of America to see you!(I am the Kathleen with the black velevet blazer you admired). I loved your talk and your Q&A session. You are an inspiration to me. I am D-i-v-o-r-c-e-d
(for 11 years now!) And it took many years to find myself and become the kind of woman who knits in public and goes to book signings alone and eats in good resturants by herself. I loved your boots and your handbag, too, by the way. Keep it up. I love your blog and your writing!

None of this surprises me...you're writing is fabulous and funny and I bet you would be great to see in person no wonder everyone is enjoying meeting you....lucky them!!!!!

Glad you're having a blast ! Maybe your next book could be this Textbook:

"Drunkenology 101" (Subtitled: "Which Wine Goes With Cheetos, Greenbean Casserole, Fresh GROUND Burgers, etc.")

LMAO ! Laurie, YOU ROCK !! ;)

Wave as you fly home over Memphis. I'll see you, I'm sure. I'll be the one jumping up and down, spilling my wine.

Cheers !

With apologies for three record-settingly annoying comments in one day, I just couldn't resist commenting about your picture on Sarah from the Yarnery's blog. Hysterically cute.

I am still waiting for your Bay Area appearance. As for the "totally weirdo things," not that weird. Seems perfectly sane to me. Then again, I may be in deep need of therapy. Or maybe it's more wine. ;-)

PS: Forgot to mention...

I help proctor the ACT for our local college every other month. This past weekend, the assistant assigned to me had forgotten to bring something to read for the (almost) 4 hours we are there. I just HAPPENED to have two books: A Sci-Fi/Fantasy paperback and YOUR book. Since I'd already read it ONCE ALREADY, I offered it to her. She was grateful and started right in on it. I could hear her snicker a lot. A LOT ! Betcha she goes to the bookstore so she can finish it. She was 1/3 of the way into it when testing was over.

Oooooh... I just thought about something: I hope we don't get into a lot of trouble for BEING A DISTRACTION !!!!! XD

Cheers ! (again.)

Laurie, I really enjoyed your talk - I thought it was funny but very real and you went above and beyond on the "polite to ex" front when discussing Mr. X. I really liked the grey shirt as well. Stop by the blog when you get home, okay? I make you a virtual glass of ice tea!

You have a liquor store that delivers?!?!?!?!!!

Can I get a "Praise the Lord and AMEN, sister!"

Next your gonna tell me about coffee shops with drive-thru latte pickup or some other such crazy talk! :)

-R- and Anna are right: it's "Minneapolitans." Though that always makes me think of ice cream, so Minneapolins works for me.

I was with -R- at the reading. You were lovely and charming, and I noticed no flop sweat; I swear.

-R- and Anna are right: it's "Minneapolitans." Though that always makes me think of ice cream, so Minneapolins works for me.

I was with -R- at the reading. You were lovely and charming, and I noticed no flop sweat; I swear.

Yikes. Didn't mean to double- (now triple-)comment. I swear it's not my first day on the Internet, really. Sheesh.

Rock on, girl! (rocking in Boston could be fun, too...we have wine!)

When flying, I always ask for a window seat, NOT over the wing. I look out the window the whole flight, and have many rolls of film of far away, cool looking, abstract land masses. Enjoy every insane moment of your well desserved, hugely successful, first book tour!

Love PhD in Drunkenology! You must have a bit of Canadian in you somewhere.

When are you planning on coming up this way, we can turn the heat down and pretend the "crowd shaking" nerves are really "damn cold" shivering and the Mother Nature type A/C keeps the sweating down a little. Not completely I can personally assure you of that, but every little bit helps. Plus wool comes in handy as do layers of dark clothing.

Also, you can keep your PhD current.

One - you have a lovely smile! And you don't look sweaty or shaky! So, yay!

Two - you're amazingly funny.

I know that compliments aren't beta-blockers, but they sometimes take the edge off. Go rhinestones!

Oh, and I am so with Kath on the concept of a liquor store that delivers. So even though you are a Doctor of Drunkenology instead of Divinity, I think you might have the beginnings of a new church.

You look radiant and beautiful in every photo!

After all that, you need CAFFIENE?

I'm very glad my home town (Peoria) treated you well. Keep on keepin' on!

Oh, and sorry to disappoint, but IL is currently debating laws banning indoor smoking, so by the time you are 60 you may be out of luck. ;)

I have to chime in and agree wholeheartedly with the couple of commenters who mentioned Certain Dri and Drysol. I used to be so mortified by my sweating issues (always having to wear a jacket or a cardigan or something that would hide the sweaty marks) but Certain Dri is like a miracle. Just put it on every couple of nights and voila! Not a sweat stain to be seen. Not ONCE in the three years I have been using it. I don't ever have to think about sweat stains when shopping for shirts anymore.

And sorry to just talk about sweat. But I am passionate about my Certain Dri. If I were a celebrity I would totally do endorsements for them!!

Laurie, I don't believe it ever gets glamorous, even for the big-name writers. At least that's what my writing teachers all tell me.

Check out the beginning of this post by Stephanie on touring:
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/09/21/atlanta_charm.html
Congratulations on making it through your tour.

On another note, I bet a woman who has seven cats totally got the Roy as a horse thing and did not find you one bit crazy.

Oh my.. on LIVE TV too? My oh my.. was the 'green room' really GREEN?

I've always wondered about this and did they have snacks?

Hi, Laurie! My BEST FRIEND gave me your book for my birthday over the weekend and I can't put it down! I'm so bummed that you were in Chicago and I didn't know... when will you be back this way? I'm a recent addition to the knitting world (5 years? 6 years? I can't remember anymore) and my mother-in-law, best friend (she of the book giving) and I started a small company that sells our knitted with love items in an actual store!
Thanks for your blog. You crack me up! Christina

Oh, my. i DO wish i'd read this before i went. i would have much assured you that your top was absolutely adorable and VERY flattering and not Tanya-esque in the least.
Can't wait to see you at lunch! :) And yes, my mother - and her laugh - are coming too . . .

Honey, sounds like you have the makings of another book just from the book tour!