That said, these days, there is some nonsense with domestic travel where the slightest turbulence now confines all to their seats. It never used to be this way. Nothing angers me more than decreased liberty due to increased safety measures probably the result of some lawsuit or another but the actual consequence of which is to make respectable grown adults feel like either infants or cattle. Possibly both.
Arrived in Houston safe and sound, caught Taxi to hotel, changed into dress, and got the Hotel to shuttle me to the bookstore across the freeway. Strange to find an enclave of “my folks” in this part of the world, but that is defiantly what the Murder by the Book people were. I was instantly shepherded off to sign books in the back, the Jaye arrived, and then Nicole.
We had a brief discussion and elected not to do readings but just to do a Q&A session. Then we snaked out and took our seats in front of thousands. (Well, like 40 or so, but definitely my biggest event so far.) It was great! People asked some wonderful questions, we had a wide range of responses. Then everyone lined up according to number, very politely, and I signed books.
I got to meet peeps from facebook and twitter. It was so exciting ~ my own little Hadron Collider: cyberspace reality and physical reality crashing into each other! There were many photos shot and “wait, I know that name!” discoveries and that kind of thing. I wish I had had time to sit down and have tea and a proper chat with each and every person I talked too. If there is a next time perhaps we can start earlier have a social salon afterworlds.
Then the girls and I went out on the town. I ate my bodyweight in crayfish and generally had a wonderful time. My resounding impression of Houston was that the cars are very big, and the seats are large and rather low. Returned to the hotel, slept like a dead thing, flew back to Cali. Ah the jet setting life (it’s hell on the skin I tell you but wonderful on the pallet).
Quote of the Day:
“The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was during the great fire of 1666.”
~ Email forward