(no subject)
Last night was my final night of stalking Neil Gaiman. I'm actually sad that it's over, which is strange, because I still don't really like his writing. But it was so nice to be (very peripherally) part of a fandom, to share an interest (sort of) with other people, and to have fun fannish activities to do.
I know. Strange.
He did a brief Q&A at Barnes & Noble and read the first part of his new book, Anansi Boys. Unfortunately I couldn't get there until right before it started, because I had work, so I was standing in the back and couldn't see him at all. Plus these twits next to me talked loudly through the whole thing, so I missed a lot. Ugh.
And I finally actually met the guy, after almost SIX HOURS of waiting. (During that time, I read half the new book, which I disliked, and half of one of his children's books about wolves, which I liked. And I listened to a True Fan in line near me as she summarized nearly everything Neil Gaiman has written.)
When I got up there, he complimented my hair (Chuck Palahniuk did the same; it's like an instant conversation starter) and I told him that I'd really enjoyed the story he read at CBGB's. (Which is true, I did enjoy it.) He seemed quite interested in that topic and stopped signing for a bit to talk about it, emphasizing that he was very uncertain how the story would be received, and that it turned out unbelievably well--that despite the loud music coming from next door, you could've heard a pin drop in the room where he was reading. I agreed and also complimented his reading voice (which did set the mood well) and we did the whole "it was great to meet you"-smile-eye contact-thing. (Cynical sidenote: I wonder how much of his success can be attributed to the fact that he's personable and charming? [That's rhetorical, Neil Gaiman fans, don't attack me.])
So anyway, that was interesting.
I had a corn flavored beer at the Heartland Brewery afterward (meh) and then went with Chen to a Mexican place closer to my apartment. As we passed the Barnes & Noble at midnight, we could still see the slooooowly moving line for autographs. I'd gotten mine at around 11pm, and there was still an entire roomful of people behind me. I wonder what time they actually finished--the man is an incredibly slow signer. But very cool, to stay for everyone.
Anyway, so Chen and I hung out, and I got to bed around 2am. My cats are angry with me for going out the last few nights and not spending the evenings with them. I keep assuring them that I will make up for it by spending the weekend with them; of course, being cats, they're not impressed by this rationale. Lucifer woke me up in the middle of the night by rubbing his head against mine and then attempting to eat my hair, while Angel climbed all over me all night long, so that I barely slept. Evil, but I understand why.
And then today was the second day in a row with no hot water in the morning. I took a cold shower, because I couldn't stand not taking a shower, but it sucked. I'm betting the owners turned down the water heater to save on energy bills. >:(
I was thinking of going to Gothstock this weekend; they've got good bands, like the Cruxshadows, Bella Morte, Genitorturers, etc. But their organization seems incredibly unprofessional, and it would be a pain to get up there, and I'd have nowhere to stay, and the public transportation options aren't great, so I'm going to skip it.
And then I was thinking of going to see KMFDM with Bella Morte opening, but the closest they come to me is Rochester, NY, which is like a $150 Amtrak ride. So... no. *sigh*
But I AM going to Dracula's Ball in Philadelphia on Halloween, dammit. (Alone, on a Monday night, in a city I don't know.... *sigh*. I don't care, I'm going.)
I know. Strange.
He did a brief Q&A at Barnes & Noble and read the first part of his new book, Anansi Boys. Unfortunately I couldn't get there until right before it started, because I had work, so I was standing in the back and couldn't see him at all. Plus these twits next to me talked loudly through the whole thing, so I missed a lot. Ugh.
And I finally actually met the guy, after almost SIX HOURS of waiting. (During that time, I read half the new book, which I disliked, and half of one of his children's books about wolves, which I liked. And I listened to a True Fan in line near me as she summarized nearly everything Neil Gaiman has written.)
When I got up there, he complimented my hair (Chuck Palahniuk did the same; it's like an instant conversation starter) and I told him that I'd really enjoyed the story he read at CBGB's. (Which is true, I did enjoy it.) He seemed quite interested in that topic and stopped signing for a bit to talk about it, emphasizing that he was very uncertain how the story would be received, and that it turned out unbelievably well--that despite the loud music coming from next door, you could've heard a pin drop in the room where he was reading. I agreed and also complimented his reading voice (which did set the mood well) and we did the whole "it was great to meet you"-smile-eye contact-thing. (Cynical sidenote: I wonder how much of his success can be attributed to the fact that he's personable and charming? [That's rhetorical, Neil Gaiman fans, don't attack me.])
So anyway, that was interesting.
I had a corn flavored beer at the Heartland Brewery afterward (meh) and then went with Chen to a Mexican place closer to my apartment. As we passed the Barnes & Noble at midnight, we could still see the slooooowly moving line for autographs. I'd gotten mine at around 11pm, and there was still an entire roomful of people behind me. I wonder what time they actually finished--the man is an incredibly slow signer. But very cool, to stay for everyone.
Anyway, so Chen and I hung out, and I got to bed around 2am. My cats are angry with me for going out the last few nights and not spending the evenings with them. I keep assuring them that I will make up for it by spending the weekend with them; of course, being cats, they're not impressed by this rationale. Lucifer woke me up in the middle of the night by rubbing his head against mine and then attempting to eat my hair, while Angel climbed all over me all night long, so that I barely slept. Evil, but I understand why.
And then today was the second day in a row with no hot water in the morning. I took a cold shower, because I couldn't stand not taking a shower, but it sucked. I'm betting the owners turned down the water heater to save on energy bills. >:(
I was thinking of going to Gothstock this weekend; they've got good bands, like the Cruxshadows, Bella Morte, Genitorturers, etc. But their organization seems incredibly unprofessional, and it would be a pain to get up there, and I'd have nowhere to stay, and the public transportation options aren't great, so I'm going to skip it.
And then I was thinking of going to see KMFDM with Bella Morte opening, but the closest they come to me is Rochester, NY, which is like a $150 Amtrak ride. So... no. *sigh*
But I AM going to Dracula's Ball in Philadelphia on Halloween, dammit. (Alone, on a Monday night, in a city I don't know.... *sigh*. I don't care, I'm going.)