no way FIRST?!! come to hotlanta, Purl!

OH heart be still.. I get to comment in the first 100 comments? Is it because I am awake at 1:01am on a THUR AM???

Don't get all flustered by the 'in the future time thing'.. remember I am like 20 zillion time zones ahead of you. :D

DO a good job.. and just stretch out those vowels all southern like. :D

I love that gift basket lol it contains cheetos!! good luck on your tour and I love your book!! my sis who lives in missoula found it for me yesterday! since where I live we don't have it yet at B&N (I swear its a conspiracy I tell ya!). Keep it up!

40 pouns skinner = Spanx! Even Tyra Banks swears by those!

Hash Brown Casserole = Mama's Love on a Plate!

Oh darn.. I would have been FIRST.. had I not typed more WORDS and with an injured tendon in my left hand and all.. so, I was handicapped..

But, hello.. I got to comment before the 299th comment.. and maybe, maybe you'll read it? :D

Your parents are absolutely the coolest ever . . .

AND.. you know my words travel so much slower anyway... since, they have to fly through the INTENETS AIR all the way from Seoul, South Korea to California.

I'm just so excited.. to be able to post before 299th comment..

Of course, I might risk being a 'cranky school teacher' tomorrow on limited sleep?

hey, as one who would live in and marry a potato, particularly a potato covered in cheesy goodness such as the hash brown casserole at CB, i have a good recipe for that casserole that actually has mostly non-fat reduced fat ingredients and i SWEAR you cannot tell the difference!! if you want it, let me know-i'm not in any way impying you NEED lighter ingredients or any such nonsense, just if you WANT them is all. you know what i mean, right??? anyhoo, i've got the recipe and now i want to go make that and eat it all myslef RIGHT NOW. thanks a lot.

I love me some Cheetos and a sturdy Cabernet!! Bring your sweat and come to Atlanta - we have Cracker Barrels and of course, Waffle House on every corner. You haven't lived until you've had your taters scattered, smothered, and covered!

Try the Editor Pant from Express. These are my go to pants for any event. They have some magical power that makes your bum look higher than you ever remember it being, and they suck everything in with their spandex. They are really magic. Get black, a black cashmere sweater from Costco and some semi expensive turquoise jewelry. Oh, and tall shoes. Really tall shoes. You will be fine!

Tomorrow! So excited, and puffed Cheetos!

I heart your parents. They are the best. Everyone should have a Mama and Daddy like yours !

Heart ! Heart ! Heart !!

And those shirts are the coolest. LARGE! BOLD! GRAPHICS! Frankie WHO ?!? LMAO !!!

Cheers and have a safe journey with no barfing !

(((Hugs!)))

Your parents are awesome! I wish you would come to Chicago. Love your book, love your blog! I bet you'll do fine on the tour. :-)

OMG Laurie, your parents are to damn cute! LOVE it!

Please come to NYC so I can stalk, stalk you!!!

You will be great. Remember, we love you BECAUSE of the social awkwardness and the babbling and the inappropriate hugging. Good luck! And come to Atlanta! We have tasty Southern cooking!

You are going to do fine tomorrow-- remember your audience already adores you.. you don't have to win them over like a 'regular public speaking' would have to.

Enjoy the book signing everyone who lives close enough to attend.. and I hope you win the basket of goodies.

I love that your parents got shirts with the book cover printed on them! That is totally something my mom would do. You know, if I wrote a book. I'm so excited to see you here in the midwest. Now if only I can make my boyfriend understand why I'm driving several hours to have a book signed!

You will be lovely because you will be you! That's the whole reason why we all come to visit you every day! And your parents are so cute, I just want to take them home :)

oh my gosh! Your parents RAWK in a big rocking way! That is so awesome!

And, having been to a couple book talks/signings, I admit that I love the Q&A part. Don't worry - everyone who is there wants to like you and they will. And uh - ginger. good for the barfing. :-)

As a part time employee of Yarntopia, let me assure you that sweating and barfing will not be necessary. We will keep the a/c low and the stress level even lower!! Happily, the Houston humidity is supposed to be practically non-existent on Saturday- your hair will be faboo!
Note to the 'rents: theres a market for braggy t shirts (I'm just sayin')

Can't you make a little detour about 375 miles north and do a book signing in San Francisco or Oakland? Wherever you go I think you'll be mobbed by loving and supportive fans who won't care if you're sweating or hugging inappropriately; you're just yourself, that's enough and we all love you for it!

I'm so excited about meeting you on Friday! Good luck in Los Angeles and we'll see you in Houston. P.S. Rumor has it the humidity will be pretty low by Houston standards!

Your dad looks so cute in his shorts and comboy hat! Go Laurie's parents!

Your parents are fabulous! I mean, how cute are they, really?

Please come to New England. You know you want to ... and the foliage ... and you can WEAR wool hand-knits ... come on, please?

Dang I wish you were coming through Atlanta! I would take you to every single Cracker Barrel in metro Atlanta and we could test the hashbrown casserole at each one. Alas, I need those magical pants too but have no leads on where to buy them.

I have a Waffle House about 1 block from my house but I don't go there. Cracker Barrel is worth the drive.

You know something funny, my mother in law that lives in Beaumont probably saw them, lol. I sure wish you were coming my way, but alas its not meant to be. But if there is ever a chance Memphis, TN would be a great place to see.

Your parents are awesome, and so cute wearing your book. I wish they were going to be at B&N tomorrow along with you, it would be great to meet them.

Can't wait till tomorrow night. No worries, you'll be a smashing success. How could you not be??? It will be a totally friendly & supportive audience, and we'll all be rootin' for you, Laurie! Congrats!!!

As others have said, We ALREADY LOVE YOU, Laurie. Why else would we be haunting this blog, buying your books, traveling miles and miles to see/hear/meet you? An awful lot of us have read you from the first page of your blog a hundred years or so ago, we know your foibles and your funness(!), and your fears. (love alliteration) You don't have to dress up and wear your party face for us -- we're family. Just accept it -- YOU ARE LOVED. (and not in a stalker-ish way [sort of])

Oh Lordy, this is a hilarious post. And I will see you Friday. I am so nervous about my own sweating and awkward talking and inappropriate hugging, that I promise not to even notice yours. Cuz yea, inappropriate behavior when nervous. Got that down pat.

And now, I remember my own inappropriate public barfing nervousness. 6th grade choir concert. Sorry, Tobin. I hope it came out of your pants. (Oh no, rereading that, inappropriate!!)

I love your parents and may move to Beaumont to live with them. Hope they don't mind. And I hope to not inappropriately tell them I love them on Friday.

It's funny because the anxiety has nothing to do with who's going to be there, it's more... well. Social anxiety is a weird thing. It's not logical, you know? It's a physical issue, an actual physical problem that manifests as flight-or-fight response. I'm working on it, but it's just one of those things. Bleh. Why couldn't I have butt-acne instead of social phobia? huh?

Hey, I have an idea. How about everyone coming to see Laurie at the Grove tomorrow has a tailgate party in the Farmer's Market parking lot! I'm sure Laurie wouldn't mind staying up and cooking 3000 pieces of fried chicken!

Gee, thank Neil. hehehehe

I can't wait to read your post after your first book signing. I just know you are going to do great.

Rebecca, I swear you are the third person this week who told me about those Express pants, they must be awesome! I have got to make a trip there myself!

enjoy your tour! Sorry you are missing Idaho. Maybe next book!

OK, so Rebecca didn't tell ME about the pants, that came out wrong. I meant the third person who mentioned them.

Please come to Chicago. I know you are going to be in Peoria but that's like eleventy billion miles away from me. Boo!

So, what does the audience wear to a book signing? And can we bring wine? And cheetos? Hmmmm hash brown casserole.....

Hmmm. Go to the reading on Friday or skip my RWA meeting and knit with Purl? Decisions, decisions.

JODY - POST THAT RECIPE!!! Nobody doesn't love hashbrown casserole. :)

Ahem, Laurie - i'm so excited that you're coming to Nashville that i've got my mom coming up to visit that weekend! :)

I have no idea what I'm wearing! Though it will be black, hides sweat better. I'm also wearing fancypants shoes because shoes don't ever give you a big butt LOL.

I wish I were coming to Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, travel travel... but you know I have nothing at all to do with the schedule. It's actually shocking I'm being toured at all! HCI doesn't tour authors often (or ever) and especially not first-time unknown cat ladies. It was surprising that all of this happened at all. I guess it's pretty expensive and logistically nutty to tour someone. I don't know how Stephanie Yarn Harlot does it! But of course she's so good at all this, she's very personable. Plus I could barely get enough time off work! I'm back at work on Monday and every day in between traveling. This month is crazy.

I read your book last Friday - got it Thursday, spent Friday night reading - it's great!

You'll do great. We all love you and your cats and that amazing knitting basket raffle.

Wish you were coming to Olympia!

Yes, Jody, post that recipe!!!!

"U.S. Department of They" -- I love it! Can't wait to see you in Minneapolis. And your parents are the cutest parents ever!

sorry you aren't coming to the east coast. maybe one day we'll meet when i go on a book tour ... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

seriously though. have a great time.

and your parents are very cute.

Laurie- Good luck, I know that you'll do great! Wish you were coming to St. Louis but I'll keep my fingers crossed for the next book.

Love the parent photo and question, what is on your parents t-shirts under the title of your book (looks almost like a post-it)??

a. You have the best parents.
b. Your first reading (tomorrow) is on the same day as my X wedding anniversary.
c. therefore, barfing is allowed.

Good luck this week!!

#1 Parents are gonna be there too!

((Dreaming about running away to Houston......))

I'm so happy for you and know you will ROCK the HOUSE!

Maryse, do you get the boston globe? Can you send me Sunday's paper? I'll send you something in return :) They apparently reviewed the book on Sunday.

So glad you mentioned buying books during the booksigning. Stupid as it sounds, it had not really occurred to me that this was important to the bookstore and they might care whether I bought your book at the booksigning or ahead of time at another location. So now I'm kind of glad the Victorville Barnes & Noble only had damaged copies of your book. (Who slices the spines of books? I do not understand.) I was heartbroken at the time, but apparently it's for the best.

So, for those of us who might not know LA as well as you, this store is actually at Farmers Market, right? Which means there's parking, right? I would be so sad to drive a hundred miles to see you and then be driven into a mad screaming frenzy by LA parking issues.

Amie, I think it's the subtitle. It does look like a post-it note!

Also, they think the ad issue has been resolved from yesterday so I am turning the ads back on. But if anyone sees anything funky, pop-ups or whatever, please let me know. And thank you again for letting me know about yesterday! The ads help off-set the cost of the server but they can't behave badly. That is just tacky.

You have the sweetest parents! I could just give 'em both a big (socially inappropriate) hug for wearing your book on their shirts!

Sure do wish you were going to the Boston area - I'd give up my fright of the city and go just to see you. Lurve the book and the cats and just everything - been using your lovely budget spreadsheet for two years now -- my credit rating is up 80 points!! Thanks!

Amanda -- yes! It is at the Farmer's Market on 3rd and Fairfax. The Grove is so weird, it's not a mall really , it's all outdoors and they even have this little double-decker trolley thing that I forced Drew and Faith to ride with me the first time I went. I mean I had gone inside the Farmer's Market for stitch 'n bitch, but I had never been inside the Grove part.

If you park in the open parking lots (in front of the grove) you get a ticket and it can be validated if you just buy a coke somewhere.

If you park in the structure at the Grove, I'm not sure if they validate or not. Probably they do, right? Or is it free? Does anyone know?

(I only park in the open parking since I am a creature of habit and if I try something new I'll lose the damn car.)

What chapter will you be reading? (when I was reading your book, I kept trying to guess...)

Your parents are totally adorable!!

I love your parents! What a sweet thing to do. And the basket is tres kool.

Boo :( The closest book signing is over 10 hours drive away according to Mapquest.

I hope you have fun and there is no barfing involved!

I bought your book Saturday afternoon. At one point, my son wondered how I'd gotten halfway through a book I'd just bought. I actually finished it that evening. Too bad you're not coming to a bookstore near me. Oh, yeah, I was the grand prize winner of the "We Love Annie" drawing that you had linked to. Thanks.

I think everyone (including CAP) should wear pajama pants to the book signings.

And hey, your Dad and Uncle Skipper are using Tervis Tumblers for their beer. I heart Tervis tumblers because they bounce when you drop them and they're guaranteed for life.

Hi Laurie's Mom & Dad **waves**

Laurie, I get the Globe, and I haven't finished reading Sunday's because I was away this weekend. I'm so excited for you that they reviewed the book! I'll be checking it as soon as I get home. I can send the review to you!

CCR, thank you! Thank you so much!

Marilyn -- I LOVE LOVE Tervis tumblers!! My whole family is addicted to them.

Laurie(too) ... I don't know yet. I have it narrowed down to two!

Oh my, your parents are just too darn cute and could they be any more supportive? You are blessed!

Good luck this weekend. I will be sending non-barfing vibes your way. Surely nothing can be as nerve-wracking as your first book reading (which, from the listening side, went better than you seemed to think). Here's hoping that pretty soon it's old hat: oh yes, la-di-da, I have YET ANOTHER book reading this weekend, ho hum. (But also hoping that it's still new and exciting and unbelievable enough that you are enjoying all this, too!)

Oh, good luck! If you were coming anywhere near where I live I would so come to meet you!!

You have the best parents ever. (and they are cute too!)

Congratulations!!

Those. shirts. are. awesome! Great parents too!

Laurie,

LOVE your parents (they are so darned cute!)(And so darned proud of you!)

LOVE their shirts - - you need to sell those shirts on your tour! I would definitely buy one! :-)

Counting down the days to Peoria!

"Imagine a client whose main issues are sweating and barfing and saying "porn" at weird times." This made me shoot coffee out my nose.

I'm loving the book, and hoping that at some point you'll come try to not barf in the greater Toronto area up here in Canadia. If you come in the winter time, it's even comfortable to wear the knitting!

Have a good first few signings.

Your parents are the best. I love how proud they are of you. (and not the least afraid to show it!)
That's great.

Wish I could come to a book signing and be hugged inappropriately. Just rememeber, all those people are there because they think that you wrote a great book.

Frank and I will be there! We are so excited to finally get to meet you in PERSON!

You won't barf! You'll be great!

Your parents are absolutely adorable!

Have fun this weekend. I can't even imagine how many great people you're going to meet. And even though it's fun to read about the events and what's going on, it kind of rubs salt in the wound of irrational feeling of left-outness since you are coming nowhere near where I live.

It's going to be wonderful, Laurie. Enjoy it all! I'm certain you're going to do just fine.

Love that your whole family is coming to the Houston signing. Sure wish I could see that! Sounds like such a fun time.

I sure hope you'll be reporting in during the tour. Since I can't come to a signing, I want to live vicariously through your blog. Hee.

your parents crack me up. love the shirts! i got through 50 p of your book in b&n (too poor to buy it yet) and i'm dying to get back and read the rest. your honesty and openness were amazing. and as far barfing goes, why not plan on it for the first event and get it over with? then you won't have the horrible anticipation waiting for it ;) seriously though, good luck!

Hi Laurie,
Amazon delivered your book yesterday and I stayed up into the wee hours reading!! Your book was a great and cozy read and I will share the book with friends. Are you coming to Ohio?

Hi Laurie,
Amazon delivered your book yesterday and I stayed up into the wee hours reading!! Your book was a great and cozy read and I will share the book with friends. Are you coming to Ohio?

Ok I LOVE the fact that your parents are wearing t-shirts!!!!!! How cool is that?!?
Also I checked out the book signing schedule, the one in Miami (its the closest to Orlando) and do you know that during the Miami Book Fair you will be in the company of Jenna Bush, Ralph Nader and Rosie O'Donnell???
Bought your book over the weekend from Books A Million (full price too! Buy the kitties something special with my part of the royalties) and as I'm reading how *somebody* had to get his creativity back, it looks as if YOU are the one who got her creativity back. Kind of like Stella and her groove. Better living is the best revenge.

I was the one who mentioned the t-shirts with the book cover on them - your parents look so awesome in them!! And I feel just a tiny bit proud... sniff...

Oh my gosh. For reasons undetermined (It's so sweet that they're so proud? It's the cutest thing I've ever seen outside of a fluffy golden retriever puppy?), I cried at the picture of your parents in their t-shirts. Cried like I was at the happiest wedding.

Thank God you appreciate your parents so much, as otherwise I would snatch them for my own.

I'm late to the party. :( Had to work. :(

Daily Candy (which you've prolly already seen) had these: http://www.dailycandy.com/t/click/7/F198280/800413/1

You could look like an Olsen twin (which one, I don't know...)

De-lurking here to say thanks to Christina for the "Q" and you for the "A". My book is still on back order from Amazon (are you popular or WHAT?). Lurkers are thinking, so? She lives in MONTANA. Not on the tour. But wait! I will be in Portland on the day you'll be at B & N! I'm planning (hoping) to be there empty-handed, until I buy the book you sign. So, if you have a little deal going with Amazon to make people buy 2 books it's working. I figure the unsigned one will make a great gift for the person who told me about your blog, which gives me a laugh when I need one, plus housekeeping hints, and lets me channel "cat" since I'm allergic but I love them. So thanks -- and remember your umbrella for Portland.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/10/07/heady_approaches_to_midlife/?page=2

Laurie here's a link to the review in the Boston Globe. You might have to become a member of the website (it's free) to read it since is was in Sunday's paper. Nice review.

Oh, and if it's any consolation, I've been having some health issue that makes me feel like I'm gonna barf all the time. Seriously. And you know how nervous I get in groups. So we'll be in the same space.

Your parents are so cool!

Yipeee...the books arrived!! Your parents are very good looking (got some legs there mom) and I teared up at their joyful t-shirts. Gee, your entire family must just be lifted-up (as they say) what with this wonderfulness going on. Have a great time with all the people who admire you and have received inspiration from your column and first book. If your next tour gets anywhere north of Santa Barbara I'm there!

Laurie,

ur parents r 2 cute!!! Have a great time this weekend with your folks. I can't wait for you 2 come down to Miami!!!

Thank you so much for your book. (I was going to use the e-mail button, but my computer won't let me and I never win arguments with it.) I'm a native Californian with Southern parents so your rules of life and comments about life in California are spot-on for me. Got your book two days ago and laughed uncontrollably for five minutes at one point. I too grew up in the 80's and now find myself divorced with three cats and a dog, not to mention my three kids and my (also divorced) mother whom we live with. (P.S. My mom loves the book too.) Please expand your tour to the San Francisco Bay area so I can stalk you. If you do I'll knit you some legwarmers.

Laurie! Your parents are the cutest things ever. They are so proud of you! And with good reason!

I bet your readings and Q&As and signings will go splendidly. In my opinion it is way more fun to go to such an event to see someone who is so real and honestly herself than to see some slick professional speaker. Your audience wants to meet YOU, and honestly they might be as nervous as you are. That said, you want to come to Boise, Idaho?!? We've got yarn shops and B&N's! I honestly tried to figure out how I could get to Portland (an 8 hour drive) just to come to your signing.

Ooooh!!! I love Marilyn's idea - we SHOULD all come in pj's!!! Lawd knows, at the end of the day, there's nuthin I like better...

Oh, I think I remember seeing an author who's parents tattooed the book cover to their bicep. Mm, hmm.

(I'm sitting back and waiting for tomorrow's post, wherein we see Crazy Aunt Purl's Mom and Dad in the tattoo parlor).

Your parents are awesome!

Please please please come to Boston and inappropriately hug me. (Does the number of times I've mentioned Boston count as inappropriate begging yet?) And I am so totally 15 at these things. Just ask the Yarn Harlot. She'll tell you. Last time I participated in the Q&A I asked her about her clothes dryer. Really. Totally lame.

Seriously? I think I love your parents. Now, I know, you like them too and all, but the front-n-back photo shot of the book cover t-shirts just made my afternoon.

We love you out East Laurie! Come out to the Baltimore/D.C. area! I will stalk you nicely!

Oh, and I lust after that divorce recovery basket. Could have used one about 4 years ago when going through the ol' divore there! I want mine now anyways!

(removing crankypants)

Anyways, you will be wonderful. Blush and stammer if you will, people will only love you more. It's all good. Repeat: "It's all good!"

Pants that instantly make you look 40 pounds lighter = a skirt!

Seriously! Just do it! I don't care if you THINK it's less comfortable, we are going for looks here. Buy a black skirt that is right at or just barely above your kneecaps and you'll look way thinner and feel flirtier.

You asked; I gave.

Mmmm....Cracker Barrel.....hashbrown casserole and fried okra..mmmm...

Love your parent's T-shirts! That is too funny, and also very sweet.

Just wanted to tell you that I read your book and loved it! However, it was sitting on my kitchen table, and I had my daughter (6 mo) in her baby seat, and she sort of accidentally, um...threw up on it. My husband picked the book up, saw the title, and said "Drunk, divorced and covered in baby puke" was probably not what you had in mind... Good luck on your tour and please come visit Richmond VA!

I've been trying to come up with some way to get to Houston for your booksigning ... oh, and to visit my folks too. Can't be done for both time and money reasons, but I'll be sending "no barfing" vibes your way! (My folks and my sister and her family all live in Spring, if you know where that is). I am lucky in that my list of phobias does not include public speaking, but then I don't have anything to speak publicly about so that's sort of a waste. If I could trade phobias with you, at least temporarily, I would! (You wouldn't mind being phobic about wasps and bees for a while, would you?)

And about the people who are coming to see you, we're probably not quite as anxious as you, but we're still anxious.

I felt so silly that I came to meet you at the SnB, thought you were just the nicest person, then proceeded to hardly say a word to you because I was afraid to be too pushy! I'm still glad you hugged me and I hugged back, and I don't understand what's inappropriate about hugging, unless it's like the President or something and the Secret Service will wrestle you to the ground if you do it. If we ever get to see each other again, I promise I'll talk if you promise you won't feel self-conscious about any hugging impulses that come your way.

Oh, and I heartily agree with Rebecca RE: Express's Editor pants. They are weirdly synthetic but somehow make the tush seem to be carried high and the thighs diminish. Amazing.

Oh, Laurie, I love you and I hope you come to Ann Arbor someday. Also, I love that picture of your parents so much it almost made me weep. They are so great. Love you, Laurie's parents!

p.s. If you come to Ann Arbor there is a Cracker Barrel only 20 minutes away - the only place up here that I can get sweet tea.

Hey, no Canadian dates, Western Canadian dates, Alberta Western Canadian dates. Is the book released in Canada at Chapter's? Just wonderin'.

When your publicist gets all quiet, I think she's thinking, "oh my, I thought I had talked her out of worrying so much about saying something dumb because really she doesn't."

Wish I could go but you are not coming anywhere near me. I'm so annoyed that as soon as I move out of Houston it gets two new yarn shops (one just blocks from my old office) and then you go there. So the Yarn Barn in Lawrence, Kansas, it's a good place, maybe they'd have you in for a signing.

And something almost completely random: the thing about aliens and probes? My one cat is completely terrified of going to the vet, and when I tried to look at the situation from the cat's point of view, I realized... it was a lot like the alien abduction stories. Right? You get picked up by someone much bigger and stronger than you, transported strangely and scarily to a strange place with bright lights and other weird creatures around, and then people you don't know and can't communicate with start poking and prodding and inserting things in places that as far as you know are not meant to have things inserted in them. (I think the thermometer is the cat's least favorite part, and really, who can't sympathize with that?) Maybe all those alien abduction people just identify too closely with their pets.

Am so jealous all these peeps get to meet you and listen to you read the book OUT LOUD!

Am so jealous that you are not coming to Ohio or even to Pittsburgh..........just hop a plane and do a book signing at the airport. I can be there in less than 40 minutes.

Be safe. Have a good time. Try to enjoy these moments because they go by so swiftly. Don't get caught up in the moment and remember to breathe.

You are wonderful!

ps..........who's watching the cats, hmmm?

Aaah dear Craziest Aunty. We blog readers are so proud of you and the fact that you are living the dream.

I am so sad that I will not be at any of your undoubtedly fabulous events but the commute between work L.A. and home Valley L.A. and autumnal Engerland is just too much for even a superwoman such as you to manage. However.... I know you will be superb and wow everyone with your wit, sunniness and inappropriate hugs.

Will be looking forward to vicariously reading about all the events, most especially the Houston Purl family get together.

All 40 pounds less and anti-barfing vibes heading your way.

RE: Express's Editor pants

I live by them. I own black ones as well as jeans in the Editor cut. They are AWESOME.

I also agree though that a skirt could work as well, though.

You really need to come to Chicago! With our winters up here, there's a shitload of knitters that live here that would love for you to visit! =)

Of course they did. Your parents are the absolute BEST! I hope I can be half of that. You are going to be great no matter what, just because. I wish I could come see you. And you could hug me inapproprately, if I didn't hug you first (which is something, as I'm not a hugger, but I really do want to give you a hug). Have fun, and if you do throw up, it could be the punk book signing tour.

Your blog is so educational. Now if I ever get on Jeopardy and the answer is, "This wine goes best with Cheetos", I'll know the question! And I'll have you to thank. :-)

Enjoy the book tour! Once you get going, you'll be fine. It's the anticipation that kills us 'anxiety' folks - the reality is much less traumatizing than we have imagined. Remember the people are there because they LIKE you - it's just a room full of friends, nobody is forced to attend (other than maybe a spouse or two, but I'm sure you'll win them over, too). Try to think 'best case scenario' instead of 'worst case scenario'. You become what you think, so think of yourself as a comfortable and confident speaker who thrives on these events. Give it a shot - can't hurt, right?

/end unsolicited advice

what wonderful parents you have.

You're parents are too cute!!! I'm so bummed I don't live in Portland anymore or I would be able to come and see you. Are you sure you don't want to make a trip to the Oregon Coast and do a special book signing just for me? :) I can take you to a couple yarn stores. :) Okay so yeah like that's going to happen. Have a great time and hang in there you can do it! If you can make it through a divorce you can certainly do a book tour.

When I saw your parents photographed the book at WalMart, I wondered if that was a book they brought to WalMart and stuck on the shelf. Then I thought it would be fun to take your book, which I read and loved, to different locations and photograph. Location ideas: someone reading on the toilet (you know it happens), book in restaurant, book at water cooler, book in bed, book in liquor store, book in court?, book with zucchini . . .

ok, HOW CUTE ARE YOUR PARENTS!??! I heart Momma & Daddy Purl.

And what is this hash brown casserole of which you speak so fondly!? I'm from Northern California and we don't have the love affair (ok, I do) with the mighty potato that you Southern Folk do...

I must find a recipe on these here Interwebs.

Good luck on the book tour!! Can't wait for you to come to San Francisco! We knit! And get divorced! A lot!

Every time I visit a book signing I am so nervous that I cannot speak properly. That is why most of my signed books have my name or town misspelled. So, everyone will be nervous except for your parents who will just have a grand old time.

A black skirt with tights and maybe some rock star boots - everything in black of course.

I am so jealous of all of those who get to meet you this weekend! I wish lived anywhere near where you are going to be. Dammitall. The divorce basket is very cool.

How totally, utterly exciting!! I am so sorry you won't be anywhere near southern Ontario - YET - but know things will be great!

And really, could you ask for more supportive parents?!

How totally, utterly exciting!! I am so sorry you won't be anywhere near southern Ontario - YET - but know things will be great!

And really, could you ask for more supportive parents?!

Oh, and the Divorce Survival Basket? Brilliant!

roflol

stalk...stalk...stalk....

(preferred slimming method - Assets from Target (cheaper than spanx - same thing) and these pants from Kohls - http://tinyurl.com/2gm9xw
they aren't the most well made pants but they wash w/o needing an iron and they make ass & thighs look smaller)

How I wish I did not have school tomorrow so I could come & meet (aka Stalk) you!!!! Enjoy your wild ride!

I LOVE YOUR PARENTS. Any mom and dad that willing to promote their daughters book deserve some kudos! Are you near Eugene, Oregon anytime soon? I'd love to join in the quiet enjoyment :)

Oh. My. God.

I think you're Uncle Skipper is my former Boss-From-Hell! I'm having PSTD flashabcks looking at that picture. Does he have a wife named Chris and two sons, and study developmental toxicity, in particular tylenol overdose, and about two years ago moved to Seattle? Which although is completely across the United States, is still not far enough.

Your website is no longer my happy, safe place... Post a kitty pic quick!

Can I just say I love your parents!!!! Awesomeness in all their loving of their knitting cat loving daughter!!

I'm in Tampa, Florida and hoping to get a group of crocheters/knitters (purl groupies) together for a drive down to Miami for your book tour.

Be safe and enjoy the wine where ever you go!!!
~dani

I don't know what's cuter, the pic of your parents in their T-shirts or the pic of your dad and Uncle Skipper! TOO CUTE! Good luck with the tour - I'm so happy for you! Wish you were coming Philly-way, but post lots of pics and I'll live vicariously through the other lucky peeps!

Laurie, I promise I'll buy my copy at Barnes and Noble, but I may go get it early since I live in downtown Seattle and I'm kind of guessing that they may get a bigger crowd than they expect. They do have them out now and aren't hoarding them, right?

See you on the 17th.

I love your parents! I don't know them, but I sure do love them!

Check out this pic of Sarah Jessica Parker wearing BIG GRAPHIC TEE on the set of the Sex and the City movie...

http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2007/10/10/sex-and-the-city-movie-wardrobe-5/sex-and-the-city-movie2jpg/

anon, and scared: no. He runs an oil platform off the coast of Dubai. He's lived on a ranch in Texas when he's not offshore for like 20 years. He's only home now because he had a knee replacement. You can rest easy now ;)

YEAH!!! to the parents - you guys ROCK.

Can't you come to ORLANDO, FLORIDA?????!?!?!?!?!? I'm just sayin'...please???!?!?!? :)

Oh much wootage! You'll be here in seven days!! Frabjus joy! I still have no idea what to wear, but that's ok, I'm going to see you not show off my lack of fashion sense.
(snoopy-dog happy dance here)
I am so looking forward to seeing you! And, I am sending out your Floor Cleaning Kit on the 15th, so when you get back home you'll have a present from me! More wootage! Also, I have lost my mind and need to eat.

Love you Crazy Aunt Purl!

Aunt Purl! Come to New York City and I promise to buy your book and take you to a CHOCOLATE RESTAURANT for delicious delicious food... I even know of a yarn store here in New York that has Paton's Up Country. For 3.99. For serious. (It's Smiley's, and you can order it on the web. But I think you should come get it in person and do a signing while you're here. Yup yup.)

Your parents are so so cute I could just squeeze them. And so awesomely supportive! I am a bit envious of you for having them, but also so glad for you that you have them cheering you on. We should all have such cheerleaders. Yay Purly Parents! This one's for you! You will soon be as famous as Laurie. :-)

Lord, I love your parents!

Hey, if everyone who'll be at your L.A. signing tomorrow brings their knitting/crocheting and maybe extra yarn, and you do too, we can pretend that it's just a normal SnB, or maybe a yarn store. And you don't have any reason to get nervous at SnB or a store, so no more barfing problem!!

Which open parking lot do you use? I've been to the Grove exactly once, with family, and we parked in the structure. That was also the first time I'd been to Farmers' Market since 'way, 'way before they built the Grove.

Leftover from yesterday (and the '70's) -- in early '04 I was looking at condos and saw one with a really high avocado green shag carpet with the shag cut into patterns. And it was only about a year old!!! I was actually in escrow on that place (it fell through), and spent a month dreaming of ripping that thing out the minute I got the keys.

Laurie, I asked Neil to give you a hug and a kiss from me, so don't slap him too hard. He might enjoy it!

Bon voyage and au revoir!

Not sure if anyone already addressed your worry about no one buying the book tomorrow night, but you'll be selling at least one copy! I already got mine last week, but my sister-in-law couldn't find it at any of her local booksstores (and she's totally bummed that the closest you're getting to Iowa is Peoria!) so I offered to get her an autographed copy tomorrow night!

It is weird enough to look forward to seeing someone I think I know but how weird is it that I'm terribly disappointed not to meet your parents?

As luck would have it, I will be in CO while you are here in Houston for the signings. I am SO bummed! I was really looking forward to meeting you! Maybe next book!

I knew you couldn't be related to anyone that mean! If your uncle ever needs a look-alike body to stage his own death, one also conviently named Skip, I can hook him up. Gladly.

Also, black pant tips! Thanks!

Eeyore - CAP gets nervous at the regular SnB. I KNOW!!! And we're all so nice and accommodating (well, except maybe for Mean Missy FAITH). So while your thought is good, it won't help out the puddling ooze of goob that is CAP.

But we wouldn't have her any other way.

You come from a long fine line of dorks.

That said, if you say something dumb, ignore it. How dumb can you say? Yr book is about the dissolution of yr life as you knew it and now you iz published author......We love you. Don't have tshirts yet hahaha but love you nonetheless.

I would be a weird, not-even-eye-contact-you stalker. In fact, I so not-eye-contacted the Yarn Harlot that I was barely in the same state (skipped the event because she might have talked to me. Dork! Double Dork!!) But my poor family would have to hear about you for days beforehand and then hear me moan about my hideous stalker skills for days after. Poor Double Dork Family. They were glad I chickened out of stalking YH. I'm still thinking I could ignore you, though.......

Oh Laurie God bless your parents! They rock so hard!!! I'm reading the book, I'm on chapter 2 and I love it so very much! I also wanted to let you know I tried the Feliway diffusers you love and I know why you love them! They are working so well on my "we recently moved to a new house and were totally freaking out" kitties! Thanks!

CAP, you know I love you. But I think I have a more than passing interest in Dork Suzie. She so eloquently put in writing what we're all trying to say.

Abbie,

What chocolate(!!!) restaurant with delicious delicious food in NYC?

do tell.

I think anyone who comes to your book signings will expect you, nerves and all. Just don't throw up on anyone's shoes and call it a success! If you get up to Reno on your tour, I'll come say hi and I'm all in with the whole inappropriate hug thing. Once I met a bunch of cyberfriends for the first time at a convention and we were hugging. I just went down the line hugging everyone. Until one person I hugged and the room fell dead silent. I stepped back and said "I don't actually know YOU, do I?" Turns out I had hugged some famous so-not-touchy-feely artsy celeb type person. People were shocked into silence and, I think, waiting for me to go up in flames or some equally flashy way to die. But the so-not-touchy-feely artsy celeb type person turned out to be gracious and let me live. I can even take you to the best buffet in town (and perhaps best buffet ANYWHERE) and if you can still walk after stuffing yourself silly, yarn shop.

ok, I can deal with Atlanta if you don't make Chattanooga. but I prefer Chattanooga, cause it's looking like Nash ain't-a-happenin. we have a cracker barrel close to the BN. I would even bring you a bowl of the hashbrown yumminess. pleeeeeeeease...
you'll be fine. no reason to barf. It's not like we're Al Gore or something. ;)
and I don't have the book yet. or a groovy shirt like that...

Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you in Katy, flop sweat and all!

p.s. You won't be the only one nervous and sweaty, I guarantee.

I am so excited for you! Have fun and enjoy yourself! I would drive to LA but I work Thursday evenings. I will be there in spirit. So happy for you!

Oh no you di-int. MG. Are you trying to start sumthin? I love that we're having a throw down in Laurie's comments.

Laurie,

I am so excited, I finally got my copy from Amazon! I so wish I could get you to sign it. One of these days I am coming to your SnB (I live "down south" of Encino Adjacent--you know by the border) and I want to get your autograph! I wish I could get up there tomorrow night but there is no way I could swing it.

Congratulations! Barbara (in SD)

Your parents are so adorably supportive!! And I hope you don't barf. And can you come to South Carolina? Thanks!

speaking of reviews, didja know that you were reviewed in OK mag?

Your parents are the most hilarious awesome people ever!

SUR YOU ARE KIDDING ME!!! really? like the US version? was it good?

Laurie, you MUST do Q&A in Minneapolis. We want to hear you speak. Please!

If you don't say porn occasionally out of the blue, how will we know its really you and not your publicist wearing a wig? No, you have to say porn once in awhile and maybe barf and name all the cats at least twice.

Sarah

Your parents are fabulous. Seriously fabulous.

I just want to jump in my car and drive south till I get to Houston. But darn it all it's like 12 hours to get there. Please add more cities to your book tour. I'll drive really I will. Good Luck and remember that everyone in CAP blog land is behind you.

Faith,

Better a throw down than a throw up in CAP's comments. Although, the later might be more appropos to today's post.

I love your parents! Can I borrow them sometime?

Is that the De' Arenberg Laughing Magpie wine?

Laurie...I'll be seeing you in Nashville...hurrah! We're ALL going to be nervous, for you and for ourselves, too. We will be unsure of how to express our love and admiration for you, our dear friend yet also a stranger to us. I know we would all just love to hug you and thank you and tell you everything is always going to be alright.

Darlin, you're going to take us all by storm! A fellow hash-brown casserole lover,

Deven

I'm really looking forward to getting to meet you at the Grove. Don't worry, I'll be buying my book at the store so let your publicists know that at least two books will be sold!

I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but it looks like your dad and uncle are wearing cowboy hats made out of giant Pringles. I'm just saying is all.

When will you come to North Carolina? Asheville is a beautiful place.... lots of knitters...

I'm so bummed you're not comin to Dallas, get BIG D on the schedule!!!

I FINALLY received & read your book (in one day)....thank you Amazon.ca. Loved it! Funny, sad, insightful, did I say funny? Great Job CAP.
I've since passed it on to a memmber of the knitting group I attend.
Good luck on your book tour. Can't wait to hear about the fun of it.
LOVE your parents and their fancy t's. Too great!
Must run...babies are waking and must put knitting down!

Just a funny story buried in the comments...

At the only book signing I've ever been to, one of the authors (the book was written by two archaeologists) was so nervous he did sign his name wrong. He must have been looking at the title page with both authors names listed, because he signed his own first name... and the other dude's last name. And no... they're not a couple.

Laurie, I read your book in less than a day and I loved it. Some of it was just freakin' hilarious. So as far as I'm concerned, you feel free to blabber on about the book as much as you want!

And when are you coming to the Bay area! We're not far, you know...

Too funny -- all of it!

Wish I could come to your book signing. Perhaps after your second book you'll hit the mid-Atlantic region? (YES, THERE BETTER BE A SECOND BOOK. Just sayin'.) ;-)

I just finished your book last night. Enjoyed it, as I knew I would, and was sorry to see it end. Now I want to know what happens next! And if Charlie really IS Mr. X's name. And if Robert really IS doing underwater welding now. And if so, why can't he come up for air once in awhile and go out to dinner? Just sayin'! ;-) See you definitely need a sequel!

Love the shirts!

Don't you dare not post about every place you go. We are so Not bored with the book talk.
Take pics of the people and of the places and of you and of.....
Well you get the idea, those of us who can't get to one of your tour places want to pretend we did by reading and seeing pictures. Post plenty during your 30 hour days, cuz I mean, you do have 30 hours in your days don't you?

I second the Spanx recommendation, in a big way. ;)

Laurie you are a very lucky girl. Your parents are so cute and that is the sweetest picture ever. Have a wonderful tour and please tell your publicist that even though I bought my copy on Amazon, I will buy more if you come to Providence or Boston. Have FUN!

Oh. My. Goodness. My aunt lives in Beaumont! She owns a bakery there, the Something Special Bake Shoppe. Your folks should go visit. It's got great cakes! I sure wish I could go to the signing, but college calls. Good luck!

Just a thought - have you practiced your autograph so you can do it nicely and quickly??? (My son plays college ball and has little kids asking for his autograph after games - he actually spent hours coming up with a distinctive yet readable signature)!

Just one of the perks of fame-dom!

And dearheart, no barfing, please, just jazz hands and inapproprite giggles! XXO

CAP, I hope you don't mind me "goin' there" with Faith in your comments. 1., it makes me giggle, and B., she scares me in real life, what with her ink, motorcycle gangs, and work as a celebrity body guard.

Monkey, you are hee-larious, no worries. And she scares me too ;) LOL

Wilsonian, now that was a funny nervous author story! I may sign my name "No my first name ain't baby, it's Janet, Miss Jackson if you're nasty"

hee

Gawd, I *finally* got that song outta my head from this morning, and now it's back in.

Well. Might as well go home. S'not like I'm getting any work done today.

Those are some FINE looking Texas dudes!! Since you're not coming anywhere near the Arkansas wild, I won't get to see your sweaty self--but my thoughts with be with you and I sure hope you get a big plate of home-fried okra. And have some FUN!

Laurie, I am planning on seeing you in HOUSTON. If I can get my hubby to take me that is! I'm only about 45 min away from the Memorial area, but I don't know the area too well.
So, I hope I don't act all starstruck if I get to see you. I have waited for this for so long. See ya! (litterally) i hope ;)

Laurie,

this is to Kitty. Believe me, I am no bad boss. I am just sorry I am so ugly.

Unlcle Skipper

Uncle Skipper!!!! You are too funny. I think you're quite good looking being as we are of the same bloodline and all. I cannot believe you are commenting on this goofy website. See you in two days!!!

It is going to be my pleasure and I can not wait.

Love you

My copy was delivered today! Unfortunately it was delivered to work, and I am at home. But tomorrow! Yes tomorrow I will be reading my Aunt Purl...I wonder what that will be like?

awwwww... your parents are so cute & sweet, it made me weepy too. With support like that you know it will all turn out just right!
And- I second the SF Bay area thing- so close, and so many good yarn shops!
And- just where is that recipe for the hash brown thingy?? I didn't even know Cracker Barrel was a restaurant... thought it was just some cheeeezzzze.

You are going to be fabulous. Relax and enjoy the ride. You are a published author. These will be folks who read your blog and love you, love your blog and love your book.

I am so happy for you.

Hi there - I'm the Community Relations Manager (not as schmancy as it sounds...) for the Seattle B&N, and I take care of the signings & such. Just show up (a little early never hurts), hunker down, and have fun! We'll provide said folding chairs, you can bring your knitting projects if you like, and yes, we have on-site caffeine. I'm a divorced knitter myself, so I'm actually stoked about this one! You may feel free to email me with questions - see you there!

I LOVE your mom & dad! Sweet T-shirts.

See you tomorrow night at the B&N/SNB. Hug me inapropriately. I look forward to it.

This is all so awesome, Laurie!! I wish I could be there tomorrow night, but I will be working the evening shift. Spare a good thought for all the knitting librarians, 'kay?

There is NO SUCH THING as "inappropriate hugging" in this whole booksigning trip deal. Well, there is but you know, I bet some of us are going to hug each other, and (with permission) you, and if you hug any of us well -- I think that's very cool. And I want your parents too but - well, they're younger than I am so can I adopt them as honorary niece and nephew, do you think? And you know - I'll bring a baggie, if you feel like barfin' just let me know, I'll hand you the bag and tell stories 'til you get back. We all love you - I'm guessing we've all barfed - and you always feel so much better afterward!

Just wanted to let you know I bought the book this weekend at B&N in Ventura this weekend and couldn't put it down. I'm so excited for you that you've been able to share your coping with this situation with others. I hope it sells millions!

I have not been through divorce myself, but every member of my family has, in a very similar method to yours, and so much of what you say could be written by me (well, not as eloquently and frankly with a few more "ya'll"s thrown in here and there). Best part though, was when I was reading the first chapter, about your X's finicky palate and realized "woah...I think she's talking about my DH." Then he said something and I looked up and snapped at him "Why can't you eat a vegetable that wasn't canned once in a while?!!!" He realized he needed to steer clear of me until I finished the book and it was out of my system.

Please, do us all a favor and just let us know if "Charlie" knows what an international superstar you've become. Or lie if you must, and say he's begged you back now that you are famous and you've had to say "no thanks, I've refound my own creativity and it doesn't involve you!"

I'm still pouting because you're not coming to the Bay Area. It's because I still haven't picked up my copy of the book yet, isn't it? I tried last week but the B&N I was in was out. I plan to try again this weekend.

You should come down to the OC too! :D Thursday traffic is so horrible from here to LA! :x Le sigh!

hey Love!

Will be there tomorrow night to stalk you. Am bringing knitting friend Devon to meet you as well. All will be well.

Gnomes!

I'll be in Peoria to see you, even though, frankly, the Women's Lifestyle Show sounds a little scary! Can I bring my knitting anyway?

How adorable are your parents?????!!! I love the family support.

Hi Laurie,
Best of luck on your book tour. I know this isn't the same as an actual print version from the Boston Globe, but here's a link to the story.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2007/10/07/heady_approaches_to_midlife?mode=PF

That photo of you parents made me smile! They must love you like crazy, they look so proud. Congratulations. You deserve it.

Even better! Congrats!

Heady approaches to midlife
By Caroline Leavitt | October 7, 2007

Going Gray: What I Learned About Beauty, Sex, Work, Motherhood, Authenticity, and Everything Else That Really Matters
By Anne Kreamer
Little, Brown, 209 pp., $23.99

Crazy Aunt Purl’s Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30- Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split
By Laurie Perry
HCI, 284 pp., paperback, $15.95

Forty Things to Do When You Turn Forty: Forty Experts on the Subject of Turning Forty
Edited by Ronnie Sellers
Sellers, 256 pp., paperback, $14.95

Getting older has its perks. You might not stress as much, you usually have a better sense of who you are, and if you feel like you're floundering, there are more than a few quirkily helpful books that can come to the rescue.

There is that old chestnut that age is a state of mind, but in Anne Kreamer's "Going Gray," age is really a state of hair color.

Kreamer always thought she looked great until, at age 49, she spied her reflection and saw that her dyed brown hair made her look like someone she didn't know anymore. Yearning for a more authentic life, she stopped coloring her hair and began to investigate the phenomenon of hair coloring. Is life better au naturel? Should readers get back to their roots? Well, it depends. It should be noted that Kreamer stacks the deck with her back-jacket photos, one of herself as a dowdy brunette and the other as a snappily dressed silver siren. And when the married Kreamer, in an experiment, posted gray and dark-haired versions of the same photo on Match.com, she got many more hits with the former. Was this because gray locks made her more "real," or did men simply think she'd be easier to win? But while love is one thing, money is another, and despite Meryl Streep's luminous gray-haired magazine editor in "The Devil Wears Prada," the workplace overwhelmingly still equates colored hair with youth, drive, and talent.

Kreamer chronicles her own positive rite of passage into gray, along the way talking to style consultants and pro- and anti-gray-haired icons like Emmylou Harris and Nora Ephron. While the book is illuminating about the choices some of us feel forced to make in a youth-oriented society, something about its premise kept nagging at me. Why is it OK to choose clothes and makeup that make you feel good but not hair color? Boosting your shade can boost your spirits, and despite Kreamer's claim about expense, home coloring can cost as little as $9 a box (trust me, I know). Yes, we should be attuned to what really matters, but isn't the choice to be who we want part of what it means to be authentic?

Self-renovation can happen at any age. Laurie Perry's ebullient "Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair" is a hilarious best friend of a book. Not only does the sassily Southern Perry bare her soul about how she got up from under the rubble of a failed relationship, but she makes you feel that if she did it, why, so can you - and she will help you.

Perry's the mistress of the addictive knitting blog Crazy auntpurl.com, and her writing has the sunny tartness of a mint julep. When the love of her life left her to "get his creativity back" (translation: he moved in with another woman) Perry fell apart. She drank Jack Daniel's out of coffee cups, listened to way too much George Jones, and kept busy with her four cats. But when she was dragged to a knitting class, her life began to change. She got out into the world again, dipped her toes into the dating pool, and found she could be happy on her own.

Rather than trot out cliches about how to survive, Perry offers fabulous knitting patterns as self-help. Not getting flowers from dates? Knit your own. Worry wrinkles marring your looks? Knit a wide-brimmed hat to cover them. Life, Perry says, is like knitting - no matter what the mistake, you can always go back and make it better. If I were going through a breakup, this is the one book I would want, along with new bamboo knitting needles.

Forty may be the new 30, but it's still a milestone. "Forty Things to Do When You Turn Forty" is a casual and comforting collection of essays about the big 4-0.

A lot of the names weren't familiar to me, but the collection does include Oprah-anointed Tawni O'Dell, Amy's Bread owner Amy Scherber, and graphic novelist Jonathan Ames. Broken up into predictable sections like "Speak Your Truth" and "Master Your Money," these bite-size essays are, surprisingly, as addictive as pretzels. The advice is mostly basic: Call your friends, don't e-mail them; take up golf. Author Michael Ruhlman advises that the best way to see things in a different way is to either stare into the flames of a fire pit, or make a substantial and permanent change in your dwelling. And, of course, there's inspiration, like the story of Tina Grant, who "went backwards from a custom kitchen to food stamps" and achieved her dream of being a teacher.

While nothing said here is earth-shattering, there's a delicious sense of self-confidence, hope, and camaraderie in this volume, making it perfect for a 40th-birthday gift. The publisher also has books for 50- and 60-somethings, too, which just goes to show you that age is both a state of mind and a state of book publishing.

Caroline Leavitt is the author of eight novels, including "Girls in Trouble." She can be reached at carolineleavitt.com.

Hey FaithW- don't worry about finding the B&N for Friday night. It's really easy. It's in a shopping center on the northeast corner of Beltway 8 and Memorial. I don't know which direction you're coming from, but if you can find the Beltway, you can find B&N.

As a side note, they occasionally have mounted police patroling in the parking lot. This is how you know you're in Texas.

the basket looks fanTAStic and I am very very jealous of the winner whoever she or he is. but did you forget the chopsticks for the cheetos? that was one of my favorite tips from your "early blog" period, before you became a published author and all :)

I LOVE YOUR PARENTS AND I WANT THEM TO ADOPT ME, PLEASE!!!

Oh how I wish you were coming to NC and I would have a chance at that lovely basket. And don't worry about boring us with the book tour - we're just happy to read anything you write!

I will be in New Orleans for a conference when you are in Portland or I would SO be there to see you. Your book arrived from Amazon today and I can't wait to jump it but I'm saving it for the looong plane ride (or tonight...still not sure).

Congratulations.

Laurie - thank you SOOOO much for giving me help to attend your signing . . . OMG! Tomorrow!!!

Sorry I already bought the book at *blush* Borders last week (no B&N in middle-of-nowhere, CA,) but I hope travelling 3 hours one way is some small indication to your publicist on your popularity.

Dude - you have a PUBLICIST! That's like *people*! You have *people* now.

Get on wit yer bad self, lol!

Enjoy all the moments of "the most crazy thing ever to happen to" you! See ya real soon.

Love,

That Crazy Knitting Chick in Porterville

Good luck with the book signings! I might have to plan a drive down to Nashville (from KY) to come see how AWESOME you will be. And don't worry; Nashville has people way more crazy that you are!

Pants: visit TravelSmith.com and search for "one size slimmer." They have several varieties that could help with 10 pounds or so. The whole website is full of travel-friendly wear, though some of it looks a little too "Grandma" for me.

The parents are HIL-arious! Seriously though; it just shows you how proud they are of you. Go parents!

Woo hoo!!! I get to meet you tomorrow!!!

You're funny. Hehe.

I'm sure that at all of your events, everyone will be so thrilled to have you there that your nervousness will just disappear--or at least not be noticed.

So, after you've practiced on all these cities, fancy a tour stop in good ole San Francisco? We have yarn and Papa Beard's Cream Puffs...

We have Cracker Barrels here in Boston, too...just sayin'

OH! I forgot! Have you watched ABC's new show Pushing Daisies? It is so cute, and the supporting male character KNITS!!! And, wow, can he knit oh, so, productively, but that's neither here nor there. Yay for males on TV who knit! And knitting on TV, too!

I will be at the Seattle one. I will bring you a snapshot of my Jeep without the rear-view mirror, so you'll know it's me. I will probably try to hug you. I will probably not barf--I only do that when I drink too much--but I probably WILL blabber on about nothing. I do that on almost every occasion!

You parents RAWK!

I'm sure everyone will love you even if you barf ;-)

I seen one of those infomercials where you have the neck to knee spandex sucking all the extra wobbly bits in.. I am concered is it really compressed or pushed elsewhere??? I mean, who wants to look like dolly parton cause your bum cleavage has been relocated!

I think you and your parents are a HOOT! I love your cat stories too.. I am no knitter (the opal wool socks are a testament to that) but I LOVE your blog... and I'll be sure to look out for your book!

Dude, looks like Seattle is a go. Don't do the dance yet, but yeah, probably.

There may be several of us there. "us" as in the mysterious knitting community us.

You may hug me, but barfing on me is right out. And I'm doing Q&A even if you decide to cut that part out.

LOVE Hash Brown Casserole too, SO, I can confidently recommend Gap Long and Lean Jeans to "lose" 40 lbs. (maybe you can't wear jeans there?) The bold graphics and leg warmer posts KILLED me with laughter. Loved it. Good luck!

Sweet lord I need to get some Depends(TM) 'cause I just laughed a whole lot.

Amazing,
your parents
your book
your tour
your basket
YOU

OMG! Your parents were in Beaumont?!?! That's where I live! I wish I had a chance to meet them. I so want to drive to Houston on Friday and meet you. Hope I'll get the chance to. Love your blog!

I will be there tonight! I'll probably be the only married, straight, non-knitter, male, CAP-reading guy in the audience, but I will be there!

Can I get Roy's autograph?

Bob! I meant to type "Bob"! Honest! As in "Why is there no Bob on the cover?"

I read a random chapter of your book at our LBS over the weekend. It was laugh-out-loud funny.

When you appear on the "Oprah" show to talk about your best-seller, can we all say "We used to read her *before* she was famous!"

What do we have to do, give you something specific to worry about? Would it help at all, or would it just add to that Sierra Madre O' Worry that you have going on? Because if you really want, I'm sure we could all show up in our best stalker gear (baggy hoodies over baseball caps with big sunglasses, a thousand cut-out pictures of your face plastered over pictures with us, binoculars and what-not) and just stare at you from the crowd anonymously. I'm sure it couldn't be any worse than what you're picturing already.

Also, your parents win teh intarwebz.

Recipe is up!! come 'n get it!!!!!

hey laurie -- i'll be coming to the book signing tonight at the grove. which, uh, needs an updated address in google maps: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=the+grove&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8# -- right now, it's pointing to grove dr. in riverside.

Love your parents!!! :-)
When are you coming to New England?

My dearest Laurie!~
I'm super excited for you! and happy for you! and proud of you!

Tip- instead of saying porn, just say pron. It's nerdslang for porn. and most people will just look at you like "yah, I totally know what your talking about!" when they really don't. But it's a lot better than "why is she talking about porn...?"

I'm very sad that the Mall of America is three or four or 7 hours away from me. I wanted to meet you! I might try to arrange some stalking with friends. :-)

My dearest Laurie!~
I'm super excited for you! and happy for you! and proud of you!

Tip- instead of saying porn, just say pron. It's nerdslang for porn. and most people will just look at you like "yah, I totally know what your talking about!" when they really don't. But it's a lot better than "why is she talking about porn...?"

I'm very sad that the Mall of America is three or four or 7 hours away from me. I wanted to meet you! I might try to arrange some stalking with friends. :-)

Just wanted to say I love your book and when are you coming to the New England area? Houston is a little far for me to drive (I am not a stalker, I swear). Good luck with your book signing!

Oooh, tonight's the Night! I'll be thinking about you, luvvie.

hmmmm, that is so weird, when I click on the link it takes me to 189 Grove Drive, Los Angeles! bizarro!

See you all tonight! I will not have email access for who only knows how long but will try to update as I go.

May I sweat less on you than I have at other times. Amen.

I didn't see a tour stop in New York City. You should come, we'd love to have you here. I'm not a big book buyer (I usually spend my money on important things like Zappos), but I'm going to get your book this weekend.

And I think your parents are too cute, your publicist should hire them to help promote your book.

Wishing you the best of luck tonight!

Congratulations on the book tour/signing. My parents live in Houston. I only wish I could be there, but my boss got a little cranky when I asked for a few days off to stalk one of my favorite blog (now book) writers. Anyway, have fun and good luck!

I loved your blog so much today that I am actually trying to think how I could get to Houston. The prospect of seeing the whole fam-damily is really tempting, for some weird, stalkerish reason. I think that is seriously at least 50% of the appeal! It will just be SO FUN!!
have a great time; I bet you find you love being in a room w/adoring fans. I hope they can make you feel at ease. Go with it, baby!

I am on page 28 of the book (just got it in the mail and had to finish my other book before I started), and I am thrilled with it so far! I even gave it some love on my blog so that maybe someone I know will go out and love it too. I won't be able to make it to the reading tonight, but I wanted to wish you luck. Congratulations on your success!!

Your parents are too darn cute! I love that tshirt! And I like the pic of your dad and uncle, too. I'm sad I can't see you but you'll do great, everyone just wants to see the real you and you are a really real girl, if that makes sense. You're not pretentious or putting on airs or anything, you are a real girl who wants to barf and we love that! hee hee! Go Laurie!!

I LUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRVE me some hash brown casserole. Hmm, wonder if I can find a Barrel on my way to North Carolina this weekend. Have a great book-event filled weekend!

P.S.- It's been in the 30's and 40's here in Minnesota!!!! Be Prepared!!!! Dress warm!!!!!!

So jealous I do not live anywhere near Houston. Please come to central NJ!!

I would love to hug you and your parents!!!

The Grove, according to the maps I can find, is located right next door to the LA Farmer's Market, correct? Just east of the corner of Third and Fairfax.

La Brea north from the ten is faster and easier than Fairfax, especially when driving at night. But if you do this, make a left on Wilshire and then go right on Third. There isn't a left-turn light at Third and La Brea, so traffic can easily back up there.

for a tourist, you seem to know alot about directions and traffic!

That's always the one thing tourists don't know anything about, i thought....

Hey again-it's the potato queen-for some reason before the link to my blog wasn't right so now it should be fine-so now, REALLY come 'n get ur hash brown casserole!!

Good luck tonight!

Laurie -
Best wishes for a great tour! But you need to come to the east coast, too - in particular, the DC metro area. I'm a relative newcomer turned regular reader of your blog. - Finished your book last weekend & loved it!

oh thank you so much Jody... I confess that I will no doubt convert the Hash Brown Casserole recipe back to the FULL FAT version to really savor the creamy chee