So I did my signing at the Barnes and Noble on 6th Ave last night, and I just have to say I LOVE New York City! I've always suspected that this love is in some way genetic. Both my parents grew up near here (Dad in Little Ferry and mom in Bloomfield), and most of my family immigrated here within the last 3 or 4 generations. Never lived here, but it's always sort of felt like home.
The signing last night was great! I got my usual crowd of 20 or so folks thanks largely (if not exclusively) to the efforts of JaneKnowles. Other fellow Kossaks in the crowd included `ask,' this wonderful lady who's name temporarily escapes me (you were the first one there! You deserve credit for that!), and Jeffrey Feldman of Frameshop fame. Since Jeffrey and I are on the same panel at Yearly Kos I was able to guilt him into buying a book. !8)
Today is my first "day off" since I got here. Two days ago I was in D.C. for a signing at Busboys and Poets. I got off the plane at Reagan National at about 2:15 p.m., and set off for the studios of RNN at 400 N. Capitol Blvd. I was scheduled to be on Richard French Live at 3:00, and made it more or less just in time. This was my first T.V. appearance, and it was way more nerve wracking than being on radio. I'm naturally a fidgeter, and I talk with my hands. It was very difficult for me to sit there like I was posing for a portrait. Still, it seems like the gig worked as sales for my book spiked after the segment aired.
The D.C. signing was a mixed bag. I had a pretty good crowd (10 to 15 people), and they asked a lot of questions and seemed to enjoy themselves, but I didn't wind up selling a lot of books. I'm sure he was only trying to be nice, but the bookstore manager annoyed me afterwards talking about how great these events usually are, and how many people were here the week before for another author. Gee, thanks. Worse, because I took so much time answering questions I missed the 8:30 express train to New York City and I wound up having to take the 10:00 local. That put me in NYC at about 2:00 in the morning. Still, the train ride was pretty cool. I've never taken regional rail like that before, and sitting in business class I was way more comfortable than I'd be on a plane. As an added bonus I got to charge my laptop (why can't planes have 120v plug-ins?) while I did a little blogging. I was hoping the train might have wifi or broadband, but sadly I had to use my cellular wireless card.
That reminds me, lots of people have asked me how I like the cellular wireless thing. I'm with Cingular and I use a Sony Ericsson cellular card to connect. The best way for me to describe the experience is to say that using cellular wireless is a lot like digging a tunnel with a spoon. Can you do it? Yes, but why would you want to unless you had absolutely no other alternative. On more than one occasion I've found myself splurging ten bucks on a t-mobile day pass at Starbucks rather than using my cell card.
Though I bitch about it, the card was still good enough to keep me connected to `Courtside Live' at NBA.com, so I could keep up with the Dallas-San Antonio game. Friggin' Mavs. Now I'm out of teams to root for in the playoffs.
By the time I got to NYC I was tired, already homesick, and a little bummed. Over the next 24 hours all that would change. The event at Barnes & Noble on 6th was great! Lots of people, lots of laughing, lots of questions, and we moved a lot of paper. Afterwards the local DL folks took me to Boxer's and I was able to knock back a couple of much needed Boddington's while having a great time talking politics.
So now I'm reinvigorated! Last night my ego got a boost, my book rank got a boost, and my blood-alcohol level got a boost--all three good things so long as you're not driving (which I wasn't). Today I got to just hang out in the city. I ate lunch at Chat and Chew on 14th near Union Square (free tip: get dessert), did some touristy stuff around Broadway and 42nd Street, and generally rode around on the subway like a `big boy.' A couple of times during the day other tourists would ask me for directions. How cute! The think I'm a local! I got a kick out of that.
So now I'm sitting in a Starbucks near Times Square, just relaxing and enjoying myself. In about 5 hours I'll be on the Majority Report with Janeane and Sam, which is a huge thrill. Then tomorrow I get to go home, which is an even bigger thrill! Still, I thank New York for the much needed energy boost!
Now I'm off to the station at Broadway and 42nd to catch the Q back to the L back to the R back to Brooklyn. At least I think that's how I got here. Doesn't matter. Folks will still ask me for directions. Must be in my blood.